Decorating

We got the Christmas tree up yesterday.  Also some trimmy stuff.  I am liking the decorations this year, and it is nice knowing they are not going to be torn down by a cat.  I got to work on my The "P" word poncho yesterday also.  I got the pattern from Loops, a yarn shop in Tulsa Ok.  In my opinion the best yarn shop ever.  I had made a sweater a couple of years ago and decided I would never wear it so I unraveled it and am making the poncho.  I will post before and after pictures after I am finished.  All in all we had a good week.  We saw two movies, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and Tangled.  Had deep fried turkey for Thanksgiving.  That was a very good day, and got the Christmas tree and much of the decorations up.  Very nice.   Anyway, I will go now. Nothing going on today.
TTFN

Monday

Well here we go again.  Deanna is doing much better since I started giving her Claratin.  But Devin still has a nasty cough and stuffy nose.  So he will be staying home today.  Duane also does not feel well so he will be staying home today as well.
On a up note I got Butterball turkeys for Thanksgiving.  Buy one get one free.  Yeah.  We are ready to fry.  I am so excited.  No pictures right now because I need to be getting the girls ready for school.  This is the last week before Thanksgiving break and the new Harry Potter movie opens this weekend.  We are all very excited.
TTFN

I'm back, I think

I know it has been almost forever since I have blogged.  It is not as if nothing has been going on but, I have just not had time to blog.  We had a really nice time in Oklahoma.  Stayed for almost 5 weeks.  It was really great seeing everyone.  I got a pattern for some fingerless mitts and made three pairs while on vacation.  I gave one pair to my niece Arran.  Since we have been back the kids have started school.  Devin is in 6th grade, Desirae is in 4th grade, and now Deanna is in Kindergarten.  So I have about 4 hours a day without children.  Woo hoo.

We got rid of Cali (our cat) about a week or so ago.  It has really lowered the stress level in the house.  And I am actually looking forward to decorating for Christmas this year.  Last year the cat systematically took down the decorations and took all the ornaments off the tree.  I ended up having to take the tree down two weeks before Christmas to save it from being totally destroyed.

I also got into a little kick where I was making little critters.  So I crocheted a little dragon.  I made one for each child.  And I knitted some little bed bugs.  I made three or four of those.  I still need to make one for me.

And the last thing I will mention today is that I cut my hair again.  Twice.  The picture is after the first time.  I then went back and had more cut off.  If anyone ever takes a picture of me with the really short hair I will post it.  So I hope I will keep up on this and not take so long between postes.
So, TTFN

Oklahoma

     Well, we are here at Gene's house now.  Mom and I went to Loop's an awesome yarn store in Tulsa yesterday and had a very nice time.  Deanna came with and was very good.  They have a play room in the back for kids and she played back there by herself the entire time we were there.  I got some lovely yarn and a pattern to use it for fingerless gloves.  I cant wait to start.  Then we went to Borders and got some books for Devin and Desirae.  I got them book one of three different series so they can see what they like.  We also got a floor puzzle of the USA for Deanna.  Then Mom came home with us and we had dinner and watched a movie. (Percy Jackson and The Olympians,  The Lightning Thief)  Then when I finally got the kids to bed the guy across the street started setting off fireworks.  And not just the little ones.   the ones that go way up and explode!  Awesome!!!  Then finally bed.  So, lets see that today holds for us.

Traveling

Yes, I know I have not blogged in forever.  The children spent three weeks with their Nana and then came back for The Fourth of July.  Now we are traveling to Oklahoma to visit family.  I planned on Yesterday being the long drive day so today and tomorrow shouldn't be that bad.  Only about 6 hours or so each.  We are also planning on trying to see a dinosaur museum in Tucumcary later today.  Last time through it was closed.  Anyway, now to get everyone up and moving.  So far, Devin is up and dressed.  The girls, not so much.  Onward.

Hosting coaches

Well, for the last week we were hosting coaches for British Soccer. We were only supposed to have one but they offered us two so I said sure. I am glad I did. We all really liked them both. It was a little sad that Duane was away most of the week and only was here for two dinners while they were here.

Besides coaching the little ones at soccer camp, they spent time playing with the kids in the back yard and doing crafts with them. We all sat at the dining room table doing perler beads and every time Dawn would finish one she would say Mommy I've finished one. Then I would iron it for her to keep or give away, whichever. Duane looked at the photo and said that Dawn looked like she could be one of ours. She fits right in. I think that after the kids have growing spurts Frankie will match with them because they will be tall like her. I t

hink it is impossible for Frankie to take a bad photo. The camera loves her.

Both of them were wonderful and the kids all miss them, and me too. They were unfailingly polite and sweet and always full of smiles and fun. We told them that they are always welcome here. And the kids got their addresses so they can write to them in England. All in all it was a very positive experience. And I would even consider doing it next year.

Tomorrow I am heading up to Donna's (Nana's) with the kids so they can spend some time with them this summer. It will be a little lonesome here without them. Maybe I will get some cleaning done.

The garden is coming along very well and we should be eating zucchini later this week. Yummy. I find the garden both relaxing and exciting. It is always neat seeing what is coming up. Anyway, back to getting everything ready for the road trip tomorrow. I have already gotten Devins hair cut.

TTFN

So, a few things going on. Devin and Desirae had their last day of school today, followed by a dentist appt. Do I know how to celebrate or what. Desirae and Devin both got sealant on their molars. Then Desirae got a floride treatment. To me that does not look that comfortable. But she was very good about everything. So I kept going back and forth between the two rooms they were in. And Deanna kept offering to let them clean her teeth again. She and I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago.

We then stopped by Rite Aide and got ice cream for tonight and some little TY's as last day of school presents. Desirae got a skunk, Devin got a penguin, and Deanna got a flamingo. They were very happy.

I also finished the main body of a large bag I am knitting. I still need to do a rim on the bottom, flaps on the top and handles and maybe a couple of pockets for the end

s. Then the whole thing needs to be felted. This is the picture of the bag before felting. I am in the process of picking up a rediculous amount of stitches around the bottom. I think this is my least favorite part of the process.

Yesterday after the kids got home from school we all sat around the dining room table with a bunch of yarn I had and tried out my Clover pom pom makers. They all had a great time. After a bit Desirae decided to make dolls so I did that with her too. We did discover that making pom poms is addictive. I should take a picture of everyone holding all their pom poms and Desirae with her dolls. We were yarn crazy. I decided that even though I had a bunch of stuff to do I would just sit at the table with them and I really enjoyed myself. Cleaning the house can wait.

We heard from the guy in charge of the British Soccer Camp here in town today, we had offered to host a coach. So, he asked if we could take two coaches. They have two girls coaching and one of them has never been to America before. I guess Desirae is the only girl attending soccer camp whose parents offered to host a coach, and he thought she would really enjoy it. We are all excited. Anyway, that is all for now. I guess I would not have such a back log of things to say if I would just post every day but, oh well.

TTFN