My sweet little nephew in the pumpkin hat I made for him. Isn't he ADORABLE? 

Slump what?

The first of the six bags is begun. Woohooo! My crochet hand is smarting a bit, I will perservere in spite of it. Thinking I will knit the next one to give my hand a break.

I have a good lead on a job that is just right on Monday morning, and am working for a friend of ours during the day on Monday. I was also informed that the temp job may open again. How does this happen? One week of slumping, and now jobs coming out of my ears. Let's hope things continue on this fantabulously green path.

Now I will continue with my crocheting and red wine sipping and Law & Order SVU watching. Aaah.

Slumpety slump slump...slump slump.

I am in a yarn slump, sigh. So my job is finished, I am home again, and I have turned into a slovenly piece of mom goo. I am even wearing those yoga pants that we all know are really just sweat pants in disguise. HELP!

I was working on the shrugs, the first one is okay, but I am not that fond of it. The second I am liking a lot, especially as it in Debbie Bliss Alpaca silk, EXCEPT that I am sure I am going to run out of yarn and will need to find a place to order more and I am convinced that I will run into some sort of problem with this.

I need to get going on a certain purse order and I just keeping looking at all that wool and then not actually DOING anything with it.

I also need to clean my house. I've put it off the whole week, except for some light vacuuming and now it's time to pay the piper. So far I have been good about laundry today, that counts for something, right?

I also need to actively search for a new job, which includes moving the old hard drive into this computer. I got so far as disconnecting the old hard drive and then realized I needed to get the screwdriver out and would probably end up contorting into odd positions to get all the screw out. ANNNND I will need to unhook this tower, open it up, jack around in there, and then rehook everything up. Since this is computer related something will end up being wrong so that I will need to unhook and rehook everything again. It wasn't fun getting underneath this desk when I was 40 some pounds lighter, I have no illusions it will be any better now.

If anyone has a magic solution to getting out of a slump like this, or really any sort of slump, please let me know.

The end.

My job is over. I was called and asked to come in again yesterday so I was able to get a bit more time in and have another last day.

It's hard to fully explain how much this experience has meant to me. And for me. The past few years have been tough, with my mental illness and my physical illness and remembering who I am in the middle of all it. This was tangible proof I could go out and do something, something I wanted that was important to me. In spite of feeling like I was too far out of the work world and that I shouldn't out of fear of my memory troubles and health crap, I went for this job and was hired as a supervisor. Big moment for me.

I have absolutely LOVED it. Working again, bringing in an income, and proving to myself that I can do this has done wonders for me.

The best, best, best part of this job though was what we were there for. To help the hurricane victims. Talking to the people I've spoken with and just listening when there wasn't much else to do and hearing their strength are gigantic reminders of perspective. It's been emotional, in very stark ways, but mostly it's been incredibly rewarding and touching.

On Friday I will go pick up my last check, say goodbye to the few who are left working, and that will be it. I will really, really miss it.

This is the scarf I am making for my other sister, in real color it looks just like fruity pebbles. I cast it off today and just need to add the fringe. 

The Boys Blue room, still sparse as it was just done, but it turned out well.

The Glowing Pink bedroom. This one shows the girls decorating skills. I am thinking of repainting the ceiling as this room is very, very, very pink.

Another view of the girls room, if you couldn't tell. Please don't mind the bedding piled up on the bed.

Home again, aaaaah.

First, my husband rocks. He cleaned out and threw away a bunch of junk, and he and his mom painted the kids' rooms. The boys have blue walls, the girls a glowing pink room. It was all very nice to come home to. The plan now is to do some stamps on the wall with the kids help.

It was sad to leave CA, but I am so happy to be home. The kids were hilariously excited when I came home and I was in heaven with all the hugs. Arenne lost her first tooth while I was gone and proudly showed off her much anticipated gap.

Now, for the sad news. Yesterday was my last day of work. Yes folks, I came back from vacation to work one last day. I am so sad it's done and will really miss it. Now I am on a job hunt, as we have great, affordable childcare and Col would be very disappointed to not be going anymore. Before I had a job and no childcare, now I have the childcare and no job. Hopefully I can find something I will love, or at least like a bit, very soon.

While in CA I made a gorgeous, easy scarfy shawl thing for one of my sisters, and have another in the works for the other. I also finished Jen's felted purse and made a cute little pumpkin hat for my WAY TOO CUTE nephew. I will try to get pics up soon.

Califooooornia!

Ah, finally a new post and it's extra special as it's from sunny Southern California! My really, really, really fabulous sisters bought me a plane ticket out here for my upcoming birthday and I am absolutely loving it. I've been out here for a few days, we've visited all over, been to Huntington Beach (WOW HOW RELAXING!) and had some really great food. I have been knitting and crocheting all over the place, and finished my sister Jen's purse and a shawl/scarf sort of thing for her. Pictures to come later. I was even knitting on the beach, pure bliss.

Aside from having tons of fun with my sisters I have been snuggling and loving up my little nephew man. The best ever. I am loving every minute of it.

Tomorrow is my last full day here, we are off to look at model houses, do a bit of shopping, and then swim, barbecue and sleep over at Jen's. I'm also baking cookies for them. Ah, who would've thought I was so domestic!?

He's a big kid now.

My youngest child turned 3 today. 3. Where has the time gone? He is my baby and now he is 3 years old. He informed me that he is a big kid now. It's so hard to believe.

Today has been bittersweet, and not just because my little one is growing up. This was the first birthday of any of my children that I wasn't there for-I've always been able to be off for the entire day. Colin had a really great day, and I know he won't remember that I wasn't here all day but it still makes me sad. I did have a good morning with my hilarious little guy, and he had a great birthday and that what's important.

Ta-daaa! The fun fur stripes scarves are finished, I promise to get a cute picture of the girls wearing them soon. 

It's a Knitting Milestone!

I am just so proud. I am sitting here watching A&E, one of my favorite channels, and working on Arenne's scarf. Suddenly I realized I was knitting WITHOUT LOOKING AT MY KNITTING! I was knitting away, watching tv. I didn't think it was possible for me to be able to do this, but I am!!! Oh how far I have come!

Upstaged again

this time by a Disney channel movie. I did sneak in some good snuggle time and I am now 3/4 done with Arenne's scarf.

Ah, quality time with the kids

Finally a day off, aaaah. Did some cleaning, laundry, and knitting. I had planned on being able to spend the day with the kiddos. Instead they played outside with their friends. It's not like the old days when I was the entertainment, they've moved on. Hopefully we can get some good time in together tonight before bedtime.