Mommy's little problem

So I have this weakness for sticks. And we had a wind storm here last night followed by the unintentional coincidence of a trip to the park this morning. See what Mommy brought home? Yep 2 giant tree branches and the trunk of a chopped down neighbor's fig tree. (granted, it is small, but I see tree blocks in its future.) I just can't pass interesting branches. and now that I have children and a book with lovely needlefelted mobiles... Well, let's just say that they are getting even harder to leave alone.



And seed pods? They are the little interesting cousins of large branches. There is a small basket more of these babies:

A non-holiday photo session

And then here are the boys with Ez's sword's and shields from his birthday.

So long Hanukkah - Till next year

Some of my favorite Hanukkah memories from this year:

• every time we would start singing the candlelighting blessings, B would start trying to blow out any candle he could reach
• Ezra asking starting at 2pm if it was candlelighting time yet and choosing everyone's candles for each night. I am amazed at how much older he seems this year.
• My dad being here for the first night.
• many well loved and already used items. Ez loves his sewing kit, his Knifty Knitter, the paints and holder, the juggling stix (which he has dubbed his best present ever) the books (especially Papa and Safta's Paper airplanes book) and later today he will be beside himself when he and Daddy go to Lowe's to buy the materials to build a playhouse for B and him.

And here is Ez building his very own Phantom Tollbooth.

p.s. Some of my friends have had photos stolen recently on Flickr, so I am changing the pictures of the boys to a friends/family only option. If you want to be included in this list, let me know and I will help you to become listed as a friend on Flickr if you need it.

Nearing the end of the projects

Whew. And now it is time to start thinking about what I'm going to work on - LEISURELY - when this is all over. In the meantime a few pics.

This is B's new doll. I (obviously!) haven't made his shirt yet, but I am in love with him he's soooo cute. I'm going to make another doll in the new year just for practice because I have wussed out and bought a premade head each time and it is time to learn to make a head myself!






And here is a shot of the boys.






And here is some fabric I found yesterday while I was at the store purchasing Wonder Under to patch some jeans. Ezra has requested an apron out of this. I think that would be adorable!

Keeping up with us

Here is Grampy and the boys from the his last day with us before he had to go back home.

And Mr. Easy Rider

And Z with the babies in his dumper



And, ssshhhhhh, don't tell him, but his socks are finished.



FO Report:

Socks for DS
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Watercolor colorway
Just basic socks, but in a new size for fast growing feet! Now I need to make another pair in toddler and then 2 hats in the matching worsted weight.

6th Birthday, another lost tooth and Solstice Walk

Here's Dad at the ocean. I've never been to a natural burm. It is seriously beautiful! The 2nd pic is Dad (Grampy!) and B

And B making a stone sculpture at the burm

Here's the birthday boy with his newly lost tooth. And, because he is rarely seen in these pictures, Michael! Here he is with Ezra making Paper Airplanes with his new book from Papa and Safta.

More to come. Presents were opened, but because it was 6:30 in the morning at the time, noone had the insight to grab a camera!

Non-Holiday Shopping

Nothing is worse than needing to shop for everyday items during the holidays. Ezra needed new shoes and new pants, so off we went to the mall because where else do you want to be in the middle of December. At least it wasn't a weekend. So here is the proud owner of new Stride Rite shoes (on sale. One of the pluses of non-holiday holiday shopping)





















Also, on a related note, any idea how hard it is to buy a present for someone who is right there and nosy as all get out? Yeah. It is difficult. But I did it and Ez will be getting a new shirt from Old Navy that he really wants as well.

Also purchased:
GapKids jeans and Khakis
More Time Moms Calendar (my 5th. I really like them)
Hanukkah Gelt
Old Navy shirts for B

And in other news. Presents are inching towards done. I started a doll sweater for Pokey. Ez's socks are almost finished. Trellis scarf is nowhere near done. B's socks are unstarted. Both kid's hats are unstarted. Michael hasn't made playhouse plans. Ez's sewing basket needs assembling (but is all purchased but the thread)

And my Dad arrives in town tonight!!!! Yay!!!

Stringing up the Hanukkah yo-yo's

And Hanukkah has arrived here at the house. Just in time too, apparently one of the other Jewish parents from Ezra's class is coming in today to make latkes and play dreidel and talk about the holiday. DH ended up hanging around to read a Hanukkah story to the class. Tomorrow is Divali with another parent. I think. Definately the Divali. Not so sure about the parent part.

Here are the yo-yo's in their place of honor. DH was worried about them looking a bit "garland-y" and therefore Christmas-y. I think they look great though and so does he now that they are in place.















Here is B helping decorate the sliding doors.





















And here is one finished sock and one on the needles for Z for Hanukkah.

















And a shot of the nature table moving into winter. Note the olive tree wands and the little mouse on the wood.

Winter Fairies and yo-yos

Here is one of the winter fairies of which I speak (the other was on his other arm.)















And then the yo-yos (not hung up yet)

















And look what came in the mail yesterday. Yep another project! This time B's new doll. You'll see I took the coward's way out and ordered a premade head. So sue me. I have a week to get it done! :)

















And, as a special bonus, I found my regular camera and figured out how to use it with my computer. You're welcome!

Busy busy busy

My hands have been very very busy the last few days. Mostly knitting but a little sewing as well. I've been sewing those yo-yo's that are so popular among crafty bloggers right now. I'm making Hanukkah themed ones and will use them to decorate around here.

And then the knitting. I am almost finished with DS#1's 1st sock. The heel is turned and I am halfway through the length of the foot. I can't take a photo because he's awake! Then I have the Mason Dixon Washcloth I just finished (but still need to block) for DS's teacher. Here's a photo:
















FO Report: Mason Dixon Washcloth-started 12/02/06, finished 12/6/06, for DS's teacher
yarn- Crystal Palace cotton chenille in yellow
needles- Addi Turbo circulars, size US8 24" and 4 skacel dpns, us size 8
notes- Seems to be knit a bit loose although according to gauge (at least at the beginning. I didn't check afterwards) Pattern error in round 24 (noted on the Mason Dixon Website)

And then there is the Halfdome hat from Knitty modelled by both of my boys!

















FO Report: Halfdome hat-for DH
yarn- Debbie Bliss Cashmerino
needles- Crystal Palace, size US3
notes- Made according to pattern for child size, realized it was way too big for my almost 6yo and made it longer to fit DH (I had intended to knit him one as well) I need to double check my gauge, although it seems to fall into line when I swatch.

So much for Holidailies

Wow. 4 days in and already I've missed a post. Poor DH. His computer was hit by an ugly trojan virus and so we've been working hard to rid him of it. And that's in addition to all the other things we did this weekend. Speaking of which, I got started on the socks for Hanukkah. Here's the 1st one on needles:

















I'm using Lorna's Laces in the "Watercolor" colorway. And I lucked out because I got some worsted from the same dyelot that I will knit hats from. I love it, although it looks slightly Mardi Gras color-wise to me.

In kid news, B went to the doctor again today. This time for some nasty splinters he had in his hand. Michael and I were able to get most of them out, but there was this one particular one that was really really deep and right at the bend of the knuckle. The doctor got it out really quickly though, so I do appreciate that! In trying to figure out where he picked up the splinter though, the only thing I could come up with that matched the type of splinter he had was the wood chips from that garden mulch. I've been meaning to get those all up anyway so I can dig the beds for spring planting, so I got out there this afternoon and cleared out most of the mulch (all I could anyway) from the main gardening bed. Once I amend the soil and dig it well, then I will work in some soil building compost and then cover it over with some more and then wait for spring planting. I am really looking forward to it!

DH's sister was kind enough to send money for the boys to have playstands built (by DH) this year, but we got to thinking, and if it is alright with her, we'd like to use the money to build them a playhouse outside instead. A friend has one for her kids and it is fairly simple and I think it will add quite a lot to the play value of our upper courtyard. Of course I've already dyed the playcloths for the playstands, but playcloths are always useful.

Lazy busy morning

There is so much going on around here that it is hard to get motivated to do any of it. At all. We were up late trying to save DH's computer which is being eaten by qhost trojan virus. And we have been busy at it this morning. We created a rescue disk from my computer this morning to try to save his. So it is going now and frankly I don't hold out much hope for him. Don't tell him. :(

I also need to do laundry and then take it to the laundromat to dry. Darn dead dryer.

Then go to the fabric store to buy fabric to make Z pants followed by a trip to the yarn store to buy yarn for socks for both boys.

There's also shopping. And the winter faire I had hoped to go to today (1 1/2 hours drive from here) and the Parade of lights at the Harbor this evening. Oh and the Farmer's market in Ojai tomorrow. And hiking. Meal planning. Shopping. Working on my Trellis scarf. Felting another project. Ironing. Maybe a concert tomorrow afternoon. Sewing. Other sewing (for DS's other gift) Hanukkah cards. Scrapping (which I am definately not getting to. The tooth scrapbook can wait until after the new year.)

:yawn:

What have I done so far? Washing two loads of laundry, dressing the children, feeding the children, dressing and showering myself (not in that order) and making a resuce disk.

Holidailies 2006 huh?

OK, I'll give it a go. If other people can succeed at NaNoBloPo, then I will give this a go. It'll be good discipline. If I make it...

It is a particularly busy month for me with Z's 6th birthday, Hanukkah, my Dad coming in town, school being out for 2 weeks, Dh being out of town, knitting, crafting, gift preparing (and buying) and so on and so on.

I'd better make a plan.

Did I mention I spent $175 today at Trader Joe's and there is nothing to eat in the house? Seriously. It is all in kosher meat, fish, frozen fruit for smoothies, fresh fruit and veggies and staples (like olive oil and Rice Dream) Makes me want to cry. And DH wonders where my grocery money goes. My cart was full too. Like overflowing-I-need-to-pay-now-because-I-can't-fit-anything-else-in-here-or-it-will-slide-to-the-ground full.

I have sock yarn to buy this weekend and hat yarn (and maybe Kureyon Kozy yarn. But that would be wrong. I have hats to make. and socks. and felted boxes. The tea pot is already warm.)