Happy New Year

The end of 2007 has been quite wonderful. I wanted so badly to write about my excitment before Christmas, knowing my sister Diane would be coming to spend the holiday with us, and that our parents didn't know about the surprise! But knowing Mom reads my blog, I had to keep things in check until the big reveal. We had such a wonderful time while she was here, and I miss her so much already!

Tonight we will have the last Christmas celebration (with hubby's side of the family) coupled with the New Year's Eve festivities. Mike's brother is up from FL for a week, so it will be nice to see him again.

We are having a Italian-themed dinner tonight...Stuffed Shells, Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna, Garlic Bread, etc. Lots of other appetizers, food, snacks and desserts will be loading the tables. There will be about 50 of us there, so it will be a great time as always.

We're expecting some snow this evening and overnight, so it's a good thing we've already planned on spending the night at BIL/SIL's house. Everyone will gather again in the morning for brunch and stick around to watch football and play poker, as has become tradition over the years.

I want to wish everyone a safe and joyous end to 2007, and here's to a wonderful, prosperous, healthy, fiber-filled new year!

(photos of holiday knitting will be posted very soon, now that all have been received...and photos of the knitting/spinning goodies I got for Christmas....there were LOTS and it was FUN!)

Oh the excitement is in the air!

Yesterday Kim turned 25 (HOW did THAT happen?) and tonight we celebrated her birthday. She chose Ruby Tuesday as the place to go for dinner. I haven't been there in about 15 years. I just got the soup and salad bar, but I was stuffed when I was done. That was THE BEST salad I've had in a very long time, maybe EVER. I love salad. Love love love it. I just hate making it! I wish I could have someone prepare me a salad just like that every single day of my life. That would be so awesome!

Afterwards we came back here for cake and ice cream (which I did not eat, I was too full of salad!) and presents. Then Kim, Jake and I played a game of Phase 10 dice while Drew fell asleep on the couch, and Mike was not long behind him. Kaitlyn went out with friends tonight.

I can feel the buzz building....Christmas is just around the corner, and I am getting excited. I can't wait to see how the kids enjoy their day. I think it's going to be a great Christmas.

The past few months have been much more comfortable and secure, with Mike's new job. I am so thankful for that feeling of peace, instead of the dread in the pit of my stomach.

I got a lot done today, and just have a few more things to take care of before the "big day". I will be so glad when Christmas is here, and we are enjoying the fun of the day. Then I can look back and say it was all worth it. But at this point, I am just plain exhausted. Which is why I'm heading to bed right now.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

ps...Christmas knitting is pretty much finished. In order to not make myself crazy with stress, I told Kaitlyn that her mittens would be late. Hopefully I will get them done before school starts again on Jan. 3. If not, shortly thereafter. I hope everyone loves their handknits that did get done!

Lots of knitting, no pix

Cuz, you know, it's Christmas time!

I've gotten a few things done (YAY!) One pair of mittens is yet to be knit (or designed) and hopefully will get started in the next few days. Silly me, added a Fidget to my list. That knit up fast though...one evening and it was done. I used some Tahki Bunny Print that was in my stash. It took a little more than one ball, and I'm thinking some wrist warmers done in the same stitch pattern/yarn for the cuffs and then some gray Lamb's Pride (ribbed) for the rest would be REALLY cute, so I'm working on designing those too. I have no idea who's going to get them, or why I thought it was a good idea to just add them to my knitting list. I still have so much to do and Christmas is HOW MANY days away? 12? TWELVE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The tree is up, the wreathes and candles are in all the windows. The garland is hung on the porch railings. That's where the decorating has stopped. I don't know how much more will happen at this point.

The shopping is going OK. I have to focus on getting the out of town gifts in the mail VERY SOON. This is always a problem for me, the eternal procrastinator.

Knitting continues. Christmas cards? Well, I have them....whether or not I (or someone) gets around to actually addressing and signing them I have no idea. Baking? I got as far as stocking up on eggs and butter and sugar and flour, but no baking has happened...yet. Will it? Who knows.

I'm trying really hard to convince myself that what gets done, gets done. What doesn't...well, it'll probably only be missed by me. I stress out so much some years, and don't enjoy the process much. Then when Christmas comes and goes, it is such a let down. "All that work and it's over already?" So I'm trying to tell myself not to "work" so hard to make things happen, and to let go of the things that don't get done.

Mike is working a lot more hours at his new job, and is usually worn out when he gets home. So the shopping is falling on my shoulders, as will most of everything else. He did help with the tree on Sunday and did put the garland and wreathes up by himself. So that was a big help. I need him to get some more boxes off the shelves in the garage so I can do at least a little bit more decorating around the house.

Off to knit some more.....

Finished this today

My SIL asked me to make a felted bag to give to her grand-daughter (my great-niece) for Christmas. This is Amanda's Squatty Sidekick pattern. I used Ella Rae Classic yarn. It took less than one skein to make this really cute little bag. It knit up really fast and I love the shape of it. I just need to find the perfect button for it.

Holiday knitting continues. Socks. Mittens. More mittens. A couple hats. Who knows what else I can fit in. I hope my knitter's elbow doesn't flare up!