Strawberries anyone?

Thought I'd provide a "palate cleanser" after that last post. Strawberries as big as my hand.

Yummy!

The end of an experiment.

Ok, so when I watched this documentary I was inspired to create my own experiment. I went to "the French Fry House" one day, and despite having watched what this type of food can do to you, ate everything in my combo except for a few fries. These I stuck back in the carton, which I wrote the date of purchase on, and set on my kitchen window sill.

Now, a year later, I give you my results. This photo was taken one March 6, 2008, one year and one day after the fried were purchased.

They still look pretty yummy, don't they? They're hard and smell like rancid oil, so I don't think anyone would mistake them for fresh french fries, but its still rather scary to see that they have maintained their original shape and color without breaking down and getting moldy, like any normal food would.

I have to admit, I have eaten the fries there, even after seeing these sit around so long. But I didn't enjoy them the way I used to.....couldn't stop thinking about what might be in them to preserve them for so long.

I did think about keeping them longer, just to see if they ever break down, but I decided that one year is enough evidence for me. So into the trash they went. Maybe they'll finally break down in the landfill?

Another day, another baptism.

This time we were late and didn't get any pictures of the actual event, since we rushed from the car to the church without grabbing the camera. So again, these are just some pics from the after-party.

This is the only picture I got of the newly baptized little one, catching some zzz's while getting a ride from Daddy.

Toys were provided for the benefit of the many 5 and unders present. Note the Veggie tales coloring book behind Jim. A sign of a great party indeed.

Look! Yet another shot of Maria stuffing cake into her mouth.

I'm not sure what's going on in this picture. I was just trying to get a shot of Amelia and E. coloring. But when I looked at it in Adobe, I noticed that E. appears to be levitating. So the grace from the Baptism must have rubbed off. Either that or someone spiked the punch.

D. playing host and entertaining the guests like a good big brother.

Laundry Day....

...with two little 'helpers.'

And yes, that's the dirty laundry they're playing in.

Lunchtime napping: Part II

Thanks to Jim for the photo.

A fun day...

Here's some pics from E's baptism. All my shots of the actual event are dark and haven't been edited yet so you'll have to be satisfied with party pics.





I've got about 6 more, uh, "poses" of this shot, so if you don't like how your kids looks in this one I may have a better one. If anyone wants, I'll send pics to you (uhm, if I know you... cuz that would be weird otherwise).

Ready to Learn?

We just finished re-certifying to teach NFP for the Couple to Couple League and have started two classes. Jim took these photos one night just before class.

I love their faces in the first one. It's kinda like the look we got from the first couple who were required to come to our class. They were not happy to be there, and didn't come back for the second session.

This second shot is more like the majority of our students, happy to be there and ready to get started.

Note: the kids were banished to another room for the actual class.

Just because....

You Are Grass Green

Down to earth and a bit of a hippie, you are very into nature and the outdoors. You accept the world and people as they are. You don't try to change things. You are also very comfortable with yourself, flaws and all. Optimistic about the future, you feel like life is always getting better.

What Color Green Are You?


I think this is pretty accurate... except maybe that optimistic thing. But I suppose I'm getting better in that area... I used to be much more of a pessimist. I may also take issue with the "don't try to change things" part. I think that I do try to change the things and people around me, but I try to be very gentle and unobtrusive about it. Anywho, that's enough self-analysis for the moment. I'm going to write a real post now, I promise.

One day of winter....

Here are pictures from the only day that the girls got to go out and play in the snow. I should have posted them that day, but I got sidetracked as usual and so I'm posting them now, on one of the springiest days we've had so far.

Getting up at 4 am to play...

... may cause you to fall asleep on your plate.

WIP - Hand Huggers

WIP - Hand Huggers
Originally uploaded by gracetherese

Well here's my first project, Super Hero Hand Huggers from the Getting Started Knitting book that my sister got me for Christmas. And, yes Mom, I'm using the yarn leftover from your scarf. It's sooo pretty and soft, I just had to have something for myself made with it.

I'm done knitting them, now I just have to sew them up. I really don't like that part, but they're just hunks of pretty but useless fabric until I do, so I'm hoping to get it done today. And maybe then I'll finish crocheting Amelia's blanket... or maybe I'll start another knit project... oh, the possibilities!

The reason why I haven't been posting much...

I've found a new hobby........KNITTING! :)

Ever since I got the books at Christmas, I've been reading knitting blogs, searching for patterns, trying to find good prices on needles and yarn, going to the LYS (local yarn store) to fawn over the smooshy softness, and actually finding time to do a little knitting.

I'm prepping to attempt a pair of socks. First, some hand huggers, in a easy rib, then maybe a garter stitch wrap. Of course somewhere in there I have to finish Amelia's blanket, which I started crocheting in October. It's nearly complete... just a few more rows of crochet, piecing it together and then doing the border. But as I'm completely taken up with knitting now, it's hard to even think about picking up a hook to do finish it. And I'm not fond of piecework.

Alert readers have probably noticed that I've updated my sidebar to include an assortment of links to knitty places. (Don't be afraid of the names... they're really pretty tame) The One Planet Yarn and Fiber link will help me get yarn credits if you click through and purchase something. They've got some great stuff, all kinds of yarn and patterns and kits. Very cool site.

I've also joined Ravelry, an online community of knitters and crocheters. They have forums, groups, chat, as well as a notebook feature that allows you to post pictures of WIPs and your yarn stash, and keep track of patterns that you'd like to try and needles/hooks that you have. It's fairly new so you have to be put on a wait list and get invited to join (so it doesn't crash or something like that). It a fun site, but I can spend way too much time on there.

As a result of Ravelry, I now have a flickr account, so I may have a link in my sidebar for that too. I think that I'll only use it for pics of the yarn and my projects, so if you like yarn then it'll be worth a look.

I'll leave you with picture of the scarf I made for my mom for Christmas. Love that yarn... it was my first time doing a "fancy" stitch (popcorn) and I think that it turned out pretty well, even though you can't see the detail in this picture. I got the yarn from a shop on Esty, Yarn Lust, which sells hand-dyed yarn...I never knew that people still did that kind of thing.

And now for a quiz...

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

Amelia really gets into...

...her oatmeal.

Finally Picture of Maria's B-Day Dinner.

This year's theme? Princesses of course. (Mostly 'cuz I felt like trying my hand at a Castle Cake.) We also had Disney Princess plates since the store that I went to didn't have any "generic" princess themed plates.

Here's the cake. It turned out pretty well I think. And it was definitely tasty.

Dinner: Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Amelia enjoyed helping with the presents... and of course everything must be put on her head.

Maria was very excited about her special birthday dinner and the presents that followed. She's already asking when her next birthday will be.

She especially like the cake and having everyone sing to her. I love her smile in this picture. And if you look closely you can see the princess plate in front of her, and Jim's elbow to the right of the cake. Jim's always trying to get in the picture somehow... :)

Look! New Pictures... finally!

Ok. So I've been busy... or lazy or something. I really did mean to post some Christmas pictures earlier than this... like still in the Christmas season. But I didn't. We've all been sick with varying degrees of intensity since before Thanksgiving. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

I still have a nasty cough... but (looking around for some wood to knock on) I'm feeling better than last week. I hurt my back though, so I'm still not 100%, but I'll get there. The kids still have snotty noses, but that's not stopping them from playing so it can't be all bad.

Anywho... here's some Christmas pics. I'll post some of Maria's B-day later if my husband fixes the stupid computer which is pretending that it doesn't have a card reader and isn't reading the memory card. Again. Argh.

These didn't make the cut for the Christmas card.

Here's a few of the cookie baking / decorating at Grammy and Pappy's house.

Yum!

After a long day of travel, and more presents to open, even Maria loses her enthusiasm.

Wreath making...sort of...

Okay, so I cheated this year and instead of using the leftover greens from our tree to make a wreath, I bought one. Becky still made hers using our greens though. I just didn't know if I'd have time to do my own. I did decorate it myself though, all except for the gold bow at the top.

I think that it turned out pretty well.

Here's the pictures from our wreath making/decorating extravaganza.

A bear-y scary Santa.

A conversation that I had with Maria, before bed one night.

Maria: Mommy I want to talk to you about Ho-Ho.

Me: Yes Maria, what do you want to say about Santa Claus?

Maria: Mommy, Santa Claus doesn't claws people... Mommies and Daddies don't let Santa Claus claws childs. Mommies and Daddies protect childs from Santa Clauses clawses.


This is what I get for reading Every Autumn Comes the Bear to Maria... in it the bear claws a tree. Now how do I explain homophones to her?