Waiting for digital camera battery to charge...

I wanted to put up a pic of the I Do shrug progress, but my camera is almost dead, so got to recharge those batteries. I'm also plugging along on my mother's sweater. The realization is slowly hitting me that I don't think that sweater is going to be done by mother's day. It'll be close but unless I knit solely on that sweater and use every waking moment that my kids' aren't already using, I'll barely make it. I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge. Today DS, DD and I went with the preschool to a local fire station. Wow, those trucks are impressive, and all the heavy clothing they wear to protect them from fires... I couldn't do it. DS got a little freaked out by the sound of the siren and big engine, but he enjoyed the water hose! I was bummed that I forgot my camera, but as I stated earlier, it wouldn't have done me any good.

Weekends are supposed to be relaxing!

At least so I've been lead to believe. I just do not feel recharged today in the slightest. I didn't do too awful much this weekend, but we had a busy week last week, and I haven't gotten a lot of sleep the last few days. For some reason DD woke up on Saturday with her first nightmare, and DS woke up three times last night with night terrors. The worst part of last night was his cry which woke me up out of a dead sleep where I felt all disoriented for several minutes. That's just the worst. I'm trying to calm him down and feeling all icky myself. Maybe I'll take a nap when they do today. ZZZzzzzz

A ball winder and a swift

Gotta love it! My mother gave me one of each and I'm loving it! I used them to make balls out of my Cascade Sierra for the I Do Shrug from the latest edition of Knitty. It took a little getting used to, but I got some fab looking yarn balls! I'm also trucking along on the new edition of the Mother's day project. I'm hoping I have enough yarn to get the thing finished. I'd take a picture but it's a lot of stockinette in the round right now. Very boring. I've got a meeting at DS's preschool tonight, so not much is going to get accomplished knitting wise, but it is an opportinity to be out in public without the kidlets.

Spinning like a top!

That pretty much describes my life right now as well as a package that came in the mail today!!! First, things have been rather hectic in my house. My MIL came to town for a visit this weekend which is busy. We didn't really do anything, but it's just another person in the house which always seems to add activity. She really enjoyed her time with the kids, getting in a lot of bonding time. Then, I'm working two days this week at my DS's preschool, which is a parent coop. I've got childcare for my DD on one of the days, but have to take her in the Baby Bjorn on the other. I've never worked at the school while wearing my youngest, so I'm planning on having a very sore back on that day. On the positive side, I won't have to work at the school next week, so that'll be good. Of course DS has been having some separation anxiety for the past few weeks at school, so I haven't really been able to leave him on the days I don't work. It's been a bummer for DD as school hours include her first nap. Ah, the juggling act of having more than one child. Now for the lowdown on the package. My kids "bought" me a Cascade spindle and a pound of wool to practice with for Mother's Day. They are so sweet!!! :) The spindle is a Little Si which is supposed to be a good learning spindle. It is gorgeous and I can't wait to start playing around with it. I got a bunch of undyed roving so that I could not only practice spinning, but also noodle around with dyeing too. Very exciting!! My DH now says that I can't complain about his hobby, fantasy football, as my yarn/beading hobby has taken over life and half of our closet. He said all this with a smile. I'm lucky that he's supportive of my addictions!!

Dreaming of a sandy beach...

I wish! Northern California has some rocky, cold beaches. One can dream, eh? Well, what's making me think of warm beaches and fun drinks with umbrellas in them, is my finished Honeymoon Cami. I really love the finished product. I used Lionbrand Microspun in French Vanilla. The yarn was fairly easy to use, and the finished product feels so silky and nice on the skin. The yarn did want to split, so it took some getting used to. You can't beat the price, though. Also, the whole thing at the 34" size only took a little over 2 skeins. If I make another one, I think I'll try making a heart border like one of Julia's (the designer)readers did. I also just cast on for the new revised Mother's Day KAL project using the leftover homespun from the rollover pullover debacle. I've made one of the funnel neck shells before, so this knit should go more smoothly. I'm in a ton of KAL's and hosting one that starts on May 1st, the I Do KAL , so I better get cracking!

A finished Honeymoon! I wish I had a tropical vacation to look forward to! 

Here's a set I made for a black tie wedding that I'm going to. 

Another necklace for a friend. 

Here's one necklace that I made for a friend's birthday. 

What was I thinking?

Well, my mother's Rollover Pullover is no more. I did a really dumb thing and knit the front and the back pieces in two different sizes. Don't ask how I could make such a boneheaded mistake. My only answer would be, two kids ages three and 8 months, that's how. In better knitting news, I'm almost up to the divide for the Honeymoon Cami! I'm really excited to get the point where I can try it on. I also completed a couple of beaded necklaces for two friends' birthdays, and necklace and earring set for a black tie wedding I am attending in June. I'll get pics up later today for the the jewelry. Tonight DH and I are going to have a date night. We haven't seen a movie in a theater in a long time. Maybe we can actually see one!

A small FO

I lurk over at the Crochet Me webzine, and saw this cute pattern for a furry headband for baby girls. Of course I had to make one for DD. I used Fun Fur in Mango. The whole project took an hour, mostly because I'm one slow crocheter! I think she looks quite cute.

Here's a side view for those interested.  

Hello, everybody! My mommy made me this furry headband! I like it a lot! 

Wearing 18 pound child in Backpack makes a...

sore back. Preschool started up again for DS, and he had a meltdown. Here's a child who absolutely loved school. Basically, he ignored me as soon as we entered the place before. He asked me every day during spring break if today was a "school day." Woke up yesterday, ran out of his room yelling "School Day, School Day!" Got to school, and suddenly out pops the big tears. The teacher says that I can go, and that he'll be fine. I get home, put my 8 month old DD down for a nap, and get a call from the school. He's still upset, and can I come down to school. Oh no. Wake up DD who had been sleeping a whopping 10 minutes. Put her in the car, drive back down to school. Get out my Kelty Backpack that is really set up for hiking. Put DD in it, who still looks bleary eyed. Once I open the gate to the preschool, I see DS crying and being held by the teacher. He wants to leave, but I have to do yard duty which starts in an hour. We stay and he gets in the swing of things, but consequently, I'm wearing DD in the backpack for almost three hours. Plus, she gets mad around the end of the day because she's tired and is having trouble sleeping in the backpack. Aiyah!!! Needless to say, I woke up the morning with sore shoulders and a sore back. Blech! Here are some pics I took on Monday, of my knitting progress. The rollover pulli is going ok. I'm not sure I'm going to be thrilled with the finished product, but it's for my mother who likes things big and comfy. This will probably suffice for her. I like things with a bit more shaping.

The front of the rollover pulli from Hip to Knit. 

Some progress on my Honeymoon cami. 

RAK fun!

Over on the Knitty board I found the Random Acts of Kindness ring, and picked out two people to RAK. I spent much of my kid's nap time in assembly for said people, and will be sending goodies there way today. I had a lot of fun reading everyone's wishes and trying to fulfill a couple. I figure I'll send a few out before posting wishes of my own. I hope these people like what I send! I was able to resist the temptation to start a new project. I did end up buying more yarn though. The Flash your Stashers put up the yarn bug, so I had to put in an order at one of my favorite online yarn stores, The Knitting Zone . It's a small order. Mary over at Knitting Zone had Crystal Palace Splash and Fizz on sale, so I picked up a ball of both in the color Flame to make a Vegan Fox. I also picked up a couple of balls of Plymouth Encore in Petal Yellow for Glampyre knits, Mini-Sweater. I have some cotton yarn for the mini-sweater as well, but it requires a ball winder. I'm waiting for my birthday for one of those. Luckily my birthday is in June, so I don't have to wait too long. I suppose I can try to finagle one for Mother's day in May? Hmmmm... I did get a lot of work done on my Honeymoon Cami and my mother's Rollover Pulli. I neglected to take pictures, however. The new goal is get one finished by the end of the week. Hopefully by that time my new yarn will have arrived and I can start a new project.