Just a little bit of snow...

We had a big snowstorm this weekend, thankfully I am now officially on vacation and didn't have to join thousands of other brave commuters on the slippery roads this morning! I love this kind of snow. It reminds of growing up in Terrace, the snow is much dryer there than what we typically get here. This is perfect snow for tobogganing (which we are doing tomorrow since Aidan also has the day off of work), and for snowball fights, and snow angels. I was supposed to bring my car in for an appointment this morning, but it looks pretty treacherous out there so I'm going to rebook for next week. Today, we stay home.

When I went out yesterday to shovel the sidewalk, I found a bag on the front porch that a neighbor had dropped off. It seems her son had outgrown his tuxedo and she was giving it to Owen.

How cute is that! He put it on yesterday and didn't want to take it off the rest of the day. He looks like James Bond with really bad hair. Speaking of his hair, we are in the middle of trying to grow it out, but Owen has a double crown which makes for some crazy Ed Grimley style cowlicks in the back. The hairdresser assures us that when it gets long enough they will settle down...we'll see. I may cave, though, and get Aidan to shave his head again, but I'm trying to hold out because Owen really wants to be able to do his hair in a mohawk. His double crown may come in handy for that!

I wish everyone a warm, happy Christmas, and hope Santa spoils you all rotten!

Oh Christmas Tree

Rather than go to the store to buy our tree, this year we decided to take a drive out to a tree farm in Maple Ridge and cut down our own tree! We went to Alouette Tree farm, and it was an awesome feeling to make getting our tree so special for the kids. There were wagon rides, a petting zoo, and lots of different types of trees to choose from. We warmed up by a fire with hot cocoa, and filled our belly's with some complimentary hot dogs. (It's all about the free food, you know!)

Here are Aidan and the kids hunting around for the perfect tree.

Yay! We found the perfect one! It's a bit on the short side, but it is perfect.

Why yes, I am wearing my Meret!

Every Christmas this candlelit angel ornament was a big hit for us kids...now my kids love it just as much!


And at last, the tree. Perfectly decorated with way too many ornaments and way too many lights. (So much so that the tree actually fell over twice last night...Aidan had to perform some magic with fishing line to secure it until he could cut some more branches off the bottom this morning!)

I love the holidays. I get completely stressed out, and sometimes a bit overwhelmed, but creating traditions with our family is what makes it all worth it. My parents are coming to spend Christmas with us this year. I'm really excited to have them, I wish we could be with our families every year at Christmas, but unfortunately they live to far away.

I have a number of FO's to show you, but they will have to wait until after Christmas, I haven't worked on anything for myself for a while now, but as soon as I finish up this last gift that I'm working on now, I'm going to FINALLY finish my Central Park Hoodie. That thing as been a WIP far too long!

My Meret

I'm very pleased with my most recent FO. I took part in the Mystery Beret KAL on Ravelry put on by Woolly Wormhead. If you haven't checked our her hat patterns before, you really should, they are fantastic!



Pattern: Meret (Mystery Beret) (Rav link)
Needles: US 8/5.0mm
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in the Gothic Rose colorway
Mods: I added an extra repeat in Clue 2 to give it extra slouch!



I think this picture gives the truest color.

I love this hat, I don't wear a lot of hats because I get horrific hat hair, but I'm sure going to try now that I have TWO nice hats to wear this winter!

While we were at swimming lessons today with the kids, the pool had to be evacuated because of a chlorine leak! It was crazy...Owen had just finished his lesson and was dripping wet in a towel, and Maeghan was just about to hop in the pool with her class. The smell was very strong. We had to leave the building immediately, could not even spare time to get the kids dressed. Thankfully, the weather here has been pretty mild, 12 degrees C, so we just threw the kids in the car in their bathing suits and went home. I felt bad for all of the people who were swimming in the pool...they couldn't even get their things out of their lockers, just sent outside to shiver and wait until it was safe to go back in the building. As we were leaving four fire trucks arrived, much to Owen's delight, hopefully they got it under control quickly! Maeghan's a bit miffed that Owen got to have a lesson and she didn't. I'm sure she'll get over it!

So that was the excitement of the day. Back to work tomorrow! Yipee!

Happy Halloween!

Yeah, I know I'm a week late. What's your point?

Here are the kidlets in all their Halloween glory.


Evil Witch

(Maeghan told me where the exact placement of her black warts needed to be)

Angry Pirate

(Those are supposed to be scars on Owen's face, just so you know, I was never very good at art.)

We had a great night, full of sugar and laughter! This year I got to stay home to hand out candy and Aidan took the kids out trick or treating. I was relieved, I didn't feel like going anywhere. We had far fewer kids than normal, which made my doorbell answering duties fairly easy. As did the beer...I may have given out large quantities of candy to the kids...I was in a relaxed and giving mood. I was also glad that I got to stay in and start working on my Mystery Hat KAL that Wooly Wormhead is putting on thru Ravelry. I finished the second clue yesterday...now I have to wait a whole week for the next one to come out! I will post some pics of it when it is finished, which should be the end of November.

Happy Belated Halloween everyone!

Attack of the Gecko's!

I'm not very good at crochet. I find it frustrating and a little painful, yet I managed to whip off five of these cute little gecko bookmarks this week.

The kids are having a craft fair at school for a fundraiser. Every parent is supposed to donate at least 5 items that the kids can then purchase at the fair to give as gifts to family and friends at Christmas. I found it a bit hokey that I had to first pay for the supplies, take time to make the crafts, and then give my kids money so they could purchase things. I'm trying not to be grouchy about the whole thing, but it would have been much easier just to write the PAC (Parent Advisory Council) a check, kwim? This has not been the only fundraiser, it is one of many, and it is only October. At this rate I will need to quit my full-time job just to be able to take part in all of the fundraising!

Anyhoo...enough of my grumbling...look at the pretty gecko!

Ooohhhh, another one!

Pattern: Gecko Bookmark by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: the light green ones are Lion Wool, and the darker greens are a mystery yarn that my mom gave me. I think the ones in the mystery yarn turned out better, they are a bit smaller and drapier, perfect for a bookmark.
Hook: 3.5mm (E)
Mods: The first Gecko I made I crocheted as directed, all in pieces, this left a lot of ends to weave in which was quite annoying. So for the next 4 I decided to crochet all in one piece. First I made the body as directed, then I slip stitched around to each of the legs and tail and made them as I got to the right space. I think they turned out great!

I attempted to make some Frog heads with great long tongues that were the bookmark part of it, but I couldn't manage to make the head so I got frustrated and gave up. I know I just need more practice, but I'm not sure if crochet is my "thing", even though you can make such cute things like Gecko Bookmarks doing it. (Okay, as I read back that last sentence it sounds really dirty...get your minds out of the gutter people! That is so not what I meant!!!)

I hope you don't get the wrong idea from all of my grumbling above...I really do enjoy helping out at my kids school, I just wish I had more time for it! Hope you all had a great weekend! See you soon.

FO: Felicity

I love my new hat.

After knitting and ripping 4 times, I was finally able to get a good fit.


Pattern: Felicity
Needles: US 7's & 8's/5 & 5.5mm
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Merino Aran in Moss Green

Mods: I cast-on 90 st. and went up a few needle sizes to almost get gauge.
I did the increases starting with K9 M1
I increased till I had 130 st, knit 6 rows, and then started the decreases as written in the pattern. Next time I think I will add a bit more slouch by adding the 6 rows missed at the beginning of the increases in somewhere. Maybe even increasing to 140 st. total.

I couldn't get a cast-on of 70 st. or 80 st. to fit over my noggin'. And I don't think I have a particularly large head either. Anyways, I really like how it turned out. It fits better with a pony in than without, and when I make my next one (which I definately will) I will go down one needle size for the beginning band for a slightly snugger fit so I can wear it without a pony in.

I wore it out to Owen's soccer practice last night and it kept me toasty warm, and did not itch a bit. And I have a particularly sensitive head to itchiness.

Aidan is home now, safe and sound. I'm really glad to have him back.

Tomorrow we are heading over to the Carlson's for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm bringing mashed potatoes. I rarely make potatoes at home, so does anyone have a favorite recipe to share?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Brrrrr.....

It is getting rather nippy in these here parts! Yesterday I walked the kids to school and it was cold. Not freezing cold yet, thankfully, but around 8 degrees C which is scarf/hat weather for sure! I decided I needed a hat so right when I got home I cast on for the Felicity hat (Ravelry Link) by Wanette Clyde.

I cast on for this sucker THREE times!!! Apparently I really am a tight knitter, and I must have a rather large head because each time I couldn't even get it past my forehead. I'm limited in needle sizes so I have decided to add an additional 10 stitches to the cast-on. I'll let you know what happens. This of course meant that I walked to school again this morning with a cold head. I will also need to knit myself a new pair of slippers because these new floors are a lot colder than the carpeting was! I've even turned the furnace on. Every year Aidan has a little furnace war with himself, trying to hold on a little longer each year without turning it on. Considering he is in Miami overlooking this

from his hotel room (sorry for the crappy pic...it was taken from his blackberry and then emailed to me, probably to rub it in how warm he is!) I could give a rat's ass about his little war! (hee hee! Love you babe!). Apparently he went to a jazz club the other night that share's a wall with this place


That's right folks, Miami Ink. He said that if they had been open he would have come home with a new tattoo, thankfully they were closed. It's not that I don't like tattoo's, but he already has two, one of them fairly big, I think that is enough. Wow! I really sound old. Anyways, I'd better get going or I won't have a hat for tomorrow. Later!