Let it Snow!

It doesn't often snow where we live, but it you go 6 miles up the highway, you enter a tiny town at the bottom of the mountains. It snows there! We have some friends who live in the tiny town and they called us this evening and said there was 7 inches of snow.

We grabbed all of our coats, gloves, scarfs, and hats and we headed out. Not half a mile from where they live, there was just rain on the ground and rain falling from the sky. I was thinking, these people are just yanking our chain, there is no snow. 100 feet later, there was snow all over the ground. We had to put our SUV into 4 wheel drive or we would have never been able to enter their neighborhood.

We bundled up and played in the snow. Unfortunately, our youngest son had on sandals. I didn't see until it was too late. Thankfully our friends had some kid boots (that were about 3 sizes to big) and some thick socks. He walked funny, but he was happy as could be and I think he had more fun than anyone else out in the snow. Peanut was not sure what to think about it at first, but she decided she really liked it. Her shoes weren't the best for snow either and her feet got cold quickly.

We built a snowman, had hot chocolate and hot chicken noodle soup for dinner. We stayed for about 2 hours. When we left, there was several inches of snow on our SUV. About 4 miles from our house, the snow was gone and we were just on wet roads with a light sprinkle of rain. I was kind of sad. I want to go back to that tiny town and see snow falling silently outside of my window.

Thanks to our friends, we had a wonderful time!

Happenings

Things have been so busy lately. I feel like I'm falling behind in so many things, but for the most part, I'm happy. Well, not happy to be falling behind or loosing my mind, but just over all happy.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving.

My one year old is crazy. I can't describe her. She is sweet, she is a pill, she is busy, she is smart, she is into everything.

We put up our Christmas tree today. I put together the tree and put on the lights. I let the kids decorate. It's not too bad. Now that my older boys can reach the higher places on the tree, the ornaments are a little more spread out, not just on the bottom half.

My oldest son brought his cello home for the long weekend. We enjoyed hearing him play and practice.

I crochet another snood, it's light purple. I'm having so much fun. I've started another. This one I've begun will be white. My mother-in-law helped me through a new snood pattern. The problem was, I didn't look at the fact I would need an enormous hood and just crochet with my normal hook. Instead of a snood, I ended up with a cute little beanie for my one year old. Well, the snood didn't work out, but I learned a few new terms in reading crochet patterns, and I reviewed a couple of stitches I hadn't done in a while. It's all good. I'll have to get pictures up later.

I can't remember things anymore. I forget a lot almost as soon as I think of it. I carry a pen and paper with me most of the time, but by the time I get out my paper and pen, I've forgotten whatever it was I was thinking about. It's been frustrating. (See, i just thought of something else I wanted to write, but it's gone from my mind before I could type a new sentence.) Oh well, I'm turning out all the lights except the Christmas tree and I'll be enjoying it's colorful glow soon. Happy Holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a day it's been. I really should be cooking. Nothing except two pies are done yet. Instead, I'm holding a sleeping baby through her morning nap because she woke up too early. Hmmm, what's more important on this thanksgiving day? Cooking or holding my baby. I think I'll be sitting here for a while and love her. Lunch can wait. Shhhh.

(whisper)
Happy Thanksgiving!

Getting ready for the week

So much to do, so little desire to do it all.

But, there are two very important things that need to be done this week:

Clean daughter's room. It's a mess and Grandpa and Grandma will be staying in it this weekend.

Thaw some turkey!

Now, I've had quite a few people tell me lately that I don't post enough pictures, and if I did, they would enjoy my blog more. OK, here you go... It's my son at the end of the day on his birthday. So much fun with friends, cakes, presents, and playing that he just got tuckered out.

He is in his new alien shirt. Shhh, happy birthday little buddy.

Busy, busy

The kids are squabbling, the house is a mess, the husband has had a constant migraine for about 2 weeks. Can I just hide under the table for a while?

While all those things are true, life isn't too bad right now. I went to the post office today to mail off my 10 pages of manuscript to the interested publisher. Yesterday I spent most of the day rewriting the second half of my book. I just didn't like the way it flowed and it needed a little something. My mom provided me with a really fun idea, I added it in, and I really like the way it is turning out. I just hope the publisher likes it too.

My in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving. We are very excited. They haven't seen the kids since the summer and Peanut seems to change and grow each week. We hope we can get Peanut to sing for the grandparents.

Things are busy as always. We've been working on Boy Scouts with one son and Cub Scouts with another... I finally bought pants for my youngest son (he has been wearing shorts even in the chilly weather) but pants for that boy are tricky. He has no rear end to speak of. Nothing to hold up those pants. I accidentally got him a size 3T. They fit perfectly in the waist and for now they are a perfect length, but if he grows even a tiny bit, those pants are going to become highwaters. The other pair I got was a size 4T. They are a great length, but they fall off his skinny body when he runs around the house. I guess I'll be sewing those up a bit.

There is always something going on. Life is never dull here.... Oh, next post, remind me to tell you the haircutting story.... :)

No Way!

At the beginning of October, I sent in a query to four publishers for my book I had finished. The info I had about each one said a reply can be expected anywhere from 2-4 months. I was thinking today how I could start hearing from publishers soon. I expected they would all be rejection letters. That sounds bad... I expected to be rejected, not because I don't have faith in what I wrote, but because I never heard of anyone getting accepted right away.

Today I checked my mail and saw one of my self addressed stamped envelopes. I was excited, my first reply on my book. It was a form letter and at quick glance it said "we will no longer respond to unsolicited submissions" hardly surprising, but then I realized they responded to mine, so I read more closely, "we will no longer respond to unsolicited submissions UNLESS interested in publishing."

NO WAY! They are interested!

Now I need to get 10 pages of my manuscript ready. This is in no way an acceptance letter, but it better than I could have hoped for. Now, if I send in my 10 pages and they do not like it, I will never hear from them again. If they are interested, they will contact me. This could take up to four months.

This is so great! My idea intrigued them, lets just hope my story does too.

Christmas snood

So, I've been learning to crochet and for my first project I decided I didn't want a scarf or a blanket, I wanted a snood! I'm totally crazy for these now. With the help of my friend JoAnne, I've finished crocheting my Christmas snood. I still need to put the elastic on it that will make it wearable, but the crochet is done!

What do you think?

(OK, I just realized this isn't the finished picture, but it looks like this, only with a few more rows along the top)

I'll get a picture of me wearing it next. Watch out!

Birthday time

This week we had two birthdays in our family. One was on Tuesday and the other is today! Happy Birthday kids. It's hard to believe how fast they have grown, how big they have grown, how mature they are becoming, and how funny they are.

Yesterday was the party with friends. We had 4 girls and 2 boys come to the party. It felt like about twice that many and the girls made enough noise for about 100 kids. They were really fun and I enjoyed having them for a couple of hours. We played pin the nose on the clown, Twister, and they played dress up in my daughter's room and out back in the sand box. The boys played in my son's room most of the time. We ate hot dogs, chips and cupcakes. Is there anything better for birthday parties?

Now, we have a birthday break. The next birthday for our family is in April. Thank goodness. I think I'm birthday-ed out for the moment.

I'm so snoody!

Over the weekend, at the Faire, I discovered the joys of a snood! I bought one because I thought it was so elegant looking, but I have found it to be quite practical.

What is a snood you might ask? Here is a picture of one:

Yes, technically it's a hair net. But, the snood has been around for centuries. It was last most popular during the 1940's. My snood is black and beautifully crochet. I love how it keeps my hair out of my face. I feel so pretty when I wear it, too.

A friend is teaching me to crochet and I found a snood pattern. So, I'm making a Christmas snood! It is red, white, and green. I love it, but I've come to a part in the pattern I don't understand, so I'm going to have to get together with my friend so she can show me what to do next. When I have it finished, I'll post a picture.

Yes folks, I'm a snoody snood lover!

picture credit to knotsindeed.com

Meet me at the Faire!

I've sat down to write several times recently, but I always get distracted. From the sounds coming from the kitchen (where Peanut is) I'll probably be getting distracted again. haha!

First of all, today is my youngest son's birthday. He is 4! I can't believe it. He has grown and changed so much this past year. He has become a sweet boy. He still has his moments, but really who doesn't have their moments. He has the sweetest laugh. He loves to play "spider" and his active imagination has created his friends, Jayden and Caden. He loves to help me cook and I'm sure he will be helping me later when I make his cake.

This past weekend was the local Renaissance Faire. I love that kind of stuff. I love to see the local artist show their work, I LOVE the costumes and the music. I got to see one Scottish dance. I have an idea of my own crafting that I could try and sell. I'm going to work on that for the next year. Maybe I can sell them next year at the faire.

Things have been so busy lately. I got to hear my oldest sons orchestra play last week and I'll hear them again at the beginning of December. My second son has started piano lessons. The younger kids always keep me very busy.

I've been so distracted so many times since sitting down to type, I can't remember what I wanted to say anymore. Oh well. Today, besides being a birthday, we have several errands to run and food to cook and a very special cake to bake.

Off to be busy!

Shoes make me late

I'm one of those people who are early to everything. I never like to arrive late to anything and perfer to be there 10 - 15 minutes before anything begins. I've always been this way. I have continued to be this way until baby #5 came along. She is 19 months old now and I can not get out the door on time for anything. I am always rushing out the door and usually yelling at my kids to get out the door too.

There are many factors which is making this so, but I think the number one reason I'm having a hard time getting out the door on time are kids shoes. We can never find shoes. I can't press them enough that when they take off their shoes to put them in their room, in their closet. The closets are always empty of shoes. We have to go on a shoe hunt for 2-3 kids every time we go out.

There are other things that make it hard to get out the door with the kids, but the missing shoes is the biggest obstical. I'm going to have to get a shoe basket and put it right next to the front door again. Something needs to be done about the shoes.

Lights

I'm not ready for Christmas and I don't want to put up the Christmas decorations just yet, but can I have Christmas lights up in the house without all the other decorations?

I love Christmas lights.

Weekend recovery

What a fun weekend. What a mess it left for me today. I knew the bug guy would be coming this morning at 10:30. My boys room was a disaster. Not only were there a great many books, clothes and stuffed animals all over the floor, there was a crushed popcorn ball, a dead half eaten apple, and several smashed peanuts. I didn't need the bug man to see that!

I cleaned all evidence of popcorn, peanuts, and apples from the floor of their room.

I've noticed an interesting thing about my kids. None of them are very neat, but considering their parents, I can't expect Mr. Clean for a child. With all the candy they got from Halloween, I've noticed that each child gets rid of their candy trash in different ways. Let me explain:

Son #1 - 11 years old (going on 15) - his candy trash is all over his desk and the floor. None is in the trash can that is sitting next to his desk.

Son #2 - 9 years old - Candy trash into the trash can! Hooray!

Daughter #1 - 5 years old - Candy trash goes right back into her bucket of candy. It isn't thrown away, but it isn't laying all over the floor either.

Son #3 - 3 years old - Some goes into the trash, some goes on the floor, some goes back into his bucket. There is potiential for good here, with a little work, he could be like son #2.

Daughter #2 -19 months old as of tomorrow - She can't open most of the candy and surprisingly, she doesn't each much of it. She will take a bite and be done, so I find trash and candy all over the floor.

Well, it's time to clean more before dinner preperations begin.