First Communion

J celebrated her First Communion today.  She was so excited.  We bought her a special dress and veil for the big day (that hopefully will be used by three more girls in our family someday.)  She looked beautiful and she did a great job.  We are so happy for her on this special day.

Feeling human again

I have been away from this space for some months now.  I was taking a short "early pregnancy break."  I kept thinking that I would post again when I wasn't feeling so tired and so sick and just so overwhelmed.  I really thought it would happen before now.  But, man!  This pregnancy is kicking my butt!  I don't know if it's because I'm officially "advanced maternal age" now.  Or if it's just because every pregnancy is different.  Or something else.  Whatever it is, my all-day sickness lasted months longer than with any of the others.  It's finally letting up and I'm starting to feel human again now that I'm six months along.  Just in time for the uncomfortable third trimester in the summer!  :)  But I'm trying to focus on the positive and the good news is that I am feeling better and I do have some energy now.  I was hoping to have spent the second trimester knitting up a bunch of really cute baby things.  Since that didn't happen, I'm trying to choose just a few of the most important items to focus on for the last three months.  While M was at a friend's house, the girls and I went to the yarn store and I stocked up on enough yarn for my three top priority projects: a baby blanket, a baby sweater, and some booties.  That probably doesn't seem like a lot, but for a slow knitter like me, it's probably more than I can handle.  If I don't finish before the baby comes... well, then I'll have plenty to work on while I'm up nights rocking the baby.

Sweet Moments

It's times like this that I want to remember forever.  M played a very cute game of hide-and-seek with T last night.  He helped her count, hid in very easy places for her, and pretended not to be able to find her right away even when she hid in the exact same spot every time.  Each round ended with them both bursting out laughing and running into each other's arms.  Then after the game, he snuggled up with her on the couch and read her Christmas stories. 

  Eventually each of the older girls snuggled in to listen as he continued to read.

Sometimes they can be so sweet.

Snow and Santa

We got our first real snow of the winter yesterday.  By "real" I mean it stuck and stayed more than a few hours.  The kids had a great time playing in it even if it was only a couple of inches. 

And, surprisingly, we only had a few tears getting everyone into their snow clothes.  T had the most trouble and I thought for a while that she wasn't going to go out at all.  But after watching her older brother and sisters having such a good time she decided that she could put up with her snow pants being a little uncomfortable.

 

 

  

 

We also saw Santa this week and T was very brave.  She climbed right up into his lap with no tears this year.  So sweet!

St. Lucy's Day

St. Lucy's Crown to celebrate St. Lucy's Day yesterday

 

Felted sweater tote bag

I have a bunch of all wool sweaters that are no longer suitable for wearing like this one.

A while back I had used part of this sweater to make a hat and mittens for myself.  Hence the clipped out parts.

 

Now I decided that it was time to use up the rest of the sweater.  This is what I made:

  

And the inside:

 I was thinking I would use it to carry around my current knitting project.  But J might have other ideas.

 

Yarn Along

 

 

I'm joining Ginny for the first time in her Yarn Along.  I'm currently knitting yet another hat.  It must be the sudden cold weather here. And the quick projects satisfy my need for instant gratification.  A nice break from the looong project I've been working on for the girls that definitely won't be ready to show until well after Christmas.  On my night stand with the knitting are the other "yarns."  The Trumpet of the Swan is a read-aloud for the kids.  The Wives of Henry the VIII is a book that I borrowed from my sister-in-law months and months ago.  It's not exactly light reading so it's slow going.  But it is fascinating!  Antonia Fraser really makes these women come alive for me.  Highly recommended!