Halloween

I always wondered why my mom disliked Halloween so much. I had a hard time controlling my two little ones......She was a teacher and mother to seven. I'm so sorry Mom! Saturday we took the kids to Boo at the Zoo. We went with my friend Kim and Her two kids. Last year rain kept the crowds to a minimum. I was not prepared for the amazing number of people there! I just have to remember my mantra of forgetting the last 15 minutes of anything you take your kids to!! (Try it! It really does make your memories sweeter!) Tuesday morning we went trick or treating at the mall and again with friends later that night. I took the kids back to the neighborhood I grew up in. It was fun to take my kids to the same houses I went to. It really hasn't changed much. We were even able to stop by Gunter Newman's bakery for some yummy doughnuts! I wish I had been able to take more pictures. Not only did we have battery issues, but as soon as the cap came off the lens, Aurora went from being a cute little bug to a page out of The Very Grouchy Lady Bug! Eve was more than happy to pose for the camera!! Thanks to her amazing (and very generous) Aunt Amy she was the cutest little bunny I have ever seen!! They had so much fun! Now to just keep them out of the candy. I honestly caught Eve climbing up the fridge to get to it!! *sigh* As I look back the kids had a blast, and we were able to spend time with friends. What more can you really ask for??


Now, to the more relaxing.......knitting!! Thanks to a somewhat hilarious gauge mishap by a friend, I found a great pattern to knit shoes for Aurora's beloved doll, Rena. I made the sweetest little booties to match her Halloween costume. Apparently, Rena like the attention because she has requested more pairs in a variety of colors!! LOL I am still working that fabulous baby alpaca scarf. It is so nice I am beginning to think I might have to keep it for myself....we will see. I cast on a simple blue sweater for Eve. I think I might make Aurora one to match. I should have made them earlier....it would have made a nice Christmas card. Speaking of which, I need to get a jump on my Christmas knitting. Plus there are the other various Christmas projects I have going. If we could just work on getting 2 maybe 3 more hours into the day (and convincing my sweet Eve that naps are good) I might actually finish it all for Christmas!! Now to cast on the crown I am making for Aurora's birthday.

Other than that there is nothing new here. We did find out that our moving plans have been tabled (YEAH!!!). Jeremy is still looking at his options, but for now we are staying put.

Found!!!

I woke up this morning to an email from Misti. I spoke with her briefly this afternoon and she called me back after the kids were down. I just got off the phone with her!! Wow!

Now I need to go and hunt down more people.....Liz, Nicki, Shannon, Julia and Rene watch out....I'll find you too! :)

Lost Friends

I have been thinking a lot about my best friend from Junior High and High school, Misti. We were joined at the hip from 8th grade until my junior year. Then something happened and we had a bit of a falling out. We did stay in touch a little after high school. I saw her about 6 years ago, but 0nce again we lost touch.

I am in a bit of a flux right now. I have lived in this house for a little over 4 years. For much of that time I was working and that is where I had my social life. When I was home it was family time. I didn't have time for friends. I quit working after my second daughter was born and it was then that I realized how socially isolated I was. In the last 19 months I have established a support system. I have a few wonderful close friends and La Leche League. It all started falling a part when one of my across the street neighbors moved to the suburbs. It isn't far, but she isn't across the street anymore. The first month I still saw her quite often, but as time passes I see her less and less. Life is just so busy and it is so hard to coordinate schedules. Last week another across the street neighbor moved too! Again, out to the burbs. This last move was about 10 days ago. This was a very close friend and someone I really miss. We both have 2 kids and are busy so we didn't see each other everyday, but our kids play together often and we even had a babysitting swap worked out for date nights. Our kids played one last time as neighbors as she and her husband (as well as my husband and some kind neighbors) packed the moving van and I cried when she left. Again, she isn't far, but she isn't there to watch the girls at a moments notice or to take out my trash cans when I am on vacation. I miss her a lot. Now I am facing an even bigger crisis. My close friend and knitting mentor, Kim, will be moving soon too. I have known she would be moving for at least 6 months, but I have been in denial. Now it is becoming real and I am very sad. I swear I won't make friends who rent anymore. Renters moveaway! Only homeowners from here on out! Now to be fair there is a very real probability that my husband will be accepting a new job out in booney land. I try not to think about that. I am feeling isolated with my friends moving....I am not sure my soul can handle the thought of our family moving too. I know that with cell phones, emails, this blog etc I can stay in touch with the friends I have now, but I have lost touch before......That brings me back to Misti.

I googled her and her husband and did get a couple of hits. Google is amazing. I found her husbands email address and sent him a letter. I hope the address is current. It would really mean a lot to touch base with her again. I will keep you updated. You know it isn't that I haven't kept in touch with anyone. I have. My younger sister and I had the same group of friends my senior year (she was a sophomore). I still talk to all of those girls when I can. We set up reunions when ever possible. However, there are so many friendships that have simply drifted away. I am terrified of that happening again. I don't want to lose 6 years of friendship with anyone else!

The weird part is that I am pretty good at keeping in touch. I am great at returning emails. I email a few women at least once a week. Some of them I haven't even met in person. I also belong to couple of bulletin boards that I post to very regularly. I know things about these many of these women that their husbands don't even know!! In some ways.....well in most ways actually, I have a more active social life online. The problem is that even though I really cherish those friendships they aren't all that real. I can't see or touch them. I can't go to luch or cry ontheir shoulder. The friends I can see and touch are moving and even if they weren't I probably am. I know I can make more friends, create a new support syste, but I love the ones I have now. My best friends are becoming scattered. One lives in Idaho, my baby sister is in California, one lives in the burbs, and now one will be moving to the midwest. Some one needs to work on that transportation beam they have on Star Trek. I feel like having a bit of a tantrum.

I don't want to make new friends!! I want the ones I have now to stay close!!

You know the kicking, stomping and crying really does help. Maybe my little ones are on to something!! LOL

Finally!

Okay, I have had this blog for almost 3 months now and yet.....nothing. Nada. So here goes!

First thing, I learned to knit. A few moths ago I was admiring this really cute little bag one of my friends had. She said "Oh, they are so easy to make. You just felt it." She said it like I should know what felting is. Like this is something one does quite often. I inquired further to find out that the bag was knitted and then felted. Felting is basically washing and shrinking your wool knitting project. (If you have ever accidentally thrown a wool sweater in the washing machine, you know what I am talking about.) Anyway, I have always been quite sure I couldn't knit. I crochet, I do not knit. I am not sure why. I am usually pretty good at that sort of thing, but the 2 needles threw me off. I finally convinced myself to give it a go and with the help of a great mentor and a book written for 12 year olds I am now a knitter. In the past month I have made 4 purses and 1 1/2 scarves. The green purse is my latest creation. It isn't at all what I had intended to make, but I am pleased with the finished project. My new project is the cable scarf. So far I am really liking cable knitting.

I better attempt sleep, but first, I found this today and have been having fun with it ever since. Try it!! You won't be able to leave it alone either!! (maniac mode is the only way to go!!)