Weekly update...sort of...

Scott's socks
mmmmm...Alpaca!

This babysitting business is getting in the way of my blogging time! Don't get my wrong, Baby S is a cute little bugger, but between babysitting, knitting hats, and cruelly forcing my own children to do their homework, I haven't had much time to blog this week.

So we'll do this in one fell swoop. First off. Scott's socks. Made with Alpaca Sox. Yummy! I'm doing a broken rib pattern from the Knitted Gifts book, which I think is very masculine. Should keep him nice and toasty during those Montana winters!

KAL Chicken
This is my sample chicken for the shop!

Second, I'm on to my next chicken! I delivered Chicken #1 to my cousin the other day and it was well received. Her life really sucks right now. Really sucks. And so it made me happy to see her giggle when I gave it to her.

This next chicken is for our Knit-A-Long at the shop. I hope people do it. It's a fun project and the goal is to "borrow" the finished chickens and display them all. I need to get this thing done to rouse some excitement about my brainstorm.

Third: School. School is good. Both boys love school. However. Ryan has lots of homework. Which he knew about when we agreed to sign him up for the Science/Tech program this year. And in theory he still understands that it's his responsibility to do this homework. Except for all the excuses he comes up with each and every day. So now I've taken the tactic that all homework must be done before any other activity because he has proven that he can't be trusted to get it done in the evening. Because then, you know, he's tired. And it's not really fair that he has to read for 40 minutes each night. And it's also not fair that I'm forcing him to be alone when he reads because Ryan is fully capable of reading chapter books while the tv is on and his brother is playing the Wii and mom and dad are talking....I'm really mean.

At the Tacoma Dome
Wow. We look like we're almost 41.

Fourth: My husband was a nice guy and took me to Tacoma to see Keith Urban, as a surprise. Now, I'm not usually one for surprises, but this kind of surprise, well, he can show up with those tickets anytime he wants!

This nice couple asked us to take their picture, and then they offered to take our picture. And it turned out like this. Two people who look like they are about to turn 41.

Keith Urban Concert

And then we went to the concert, which was one of the loudest events I have ever attended. Including the last Keith Urban concert we went to. But it was very very fun. And again, Mike had to secretly admit that he had a great time.

Of course, part of Mike's enjoyment this time was the crowd of people in our immediate area. Sure there were plenty of people our age, and plenty of young blond girls who shriek a lot, but, and we still can't figure this out, there were several senior citizens in our section. Not just one or two. Several. And by senior citizens, I mean people you would never expect to see at this concert. Honestly, several people in their 80's. They had canes.

The couple right next to Mike, well, they had to be well over 80. And they sat still, not moving a muscle, the entire opening act (Little Big Town) as well as the concert itself. The wife put the binoculars to her face when the lights went down, and sat in that position for 3 hours.

The couple with the cane, same thing. The woman in front of us was the best. She was old. Old. I'm not trying to be offensive here. Truly--this woman was 85 years old. And she was having the time of her life. She boogied the night away for 3 solid hours. She was having way more fun than the 55 year old next to me who complained about everything the entire night. Everytime she wanted to get out, she let me know how inconvenient it was to have me there, she got mad at the people behind her for touching her chair, she got mad at the people in front of her who stood up when Keith came out on stage, and she ended up leaving early with her daughter, who I think actually wanted to stay.

A real treat, that one was.

Well, apparently I need to wrap this up. Ryan has been waiting all afternoon to play RuneScape on my computer (yes, the boys have a computer, but we have computer issues right now. Ryan has my old computer which has sound, but no wireless card. Eric has the world's oldest working computer, and it is connected to the internet, but for some reason it's not today, and you can't actually do anything on it anyway, and my new computer works great but has no sound at the moment and apparently Vista or whatever I have won't let me open certain email programs for no reason and I can't print....) and I seem to be ruining his afternoon, on purpose, by using my very own computer for my own personal use. So, any issues you have with this disjointed post--blame Ryan.

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

3 Screwballs

Before I dive into why I do a little dance each morning as my children get on the school bus, I have to show you all this picture. A few weeks ago we spent the day at Blake's house, babysitting, and the boys watched Shrek in 3-D.

I wanted to show you this picture that very day, because this is a picture that must be shown, but it was being held hostage inside my cell phone.

This picture has nothing to do with anything I want to share with you today, but just look at those 3 boys for a minute.

Completed Socks!
Kristin's purple Narragansett socks and
Tiffany's New Year's Lights socks

Anyhoo--as I was saying, school is back in session. And having my boys spend 6 hours a day, apart from each other, in different classrooms, is the best thing that could have happened to our family right now. For the last couple of weeks, they have done nothing but fight. They are sick of each other, sick of me, sick of their best friends the neighbor kids who they saw every single day this summer, sick of this house....they are both loving school. And then they come home completely exhausted and by dinner time are fighting again. Perhaps boarding school is the answer?

Eric is becoming much more confident in his old age, being a big 1st grader and all. He has been standing up to his bossy older brother a lot lately and laying claim to what he feels is rightfully his. And Ryan doesn't like that at all. No siree. Things were much easier around here when Ryan ran the show.

And recently they both ramped up the dinnertime arguments, complaining incessantly about each and every single solitary thing they are served. Treating us as if we poisoning them. Cries of despair. Every. Single. Night. And we're talking about pizza. Tacos. Spaghetti. Not the liver and onions I had to endure at their age. So Mike and I lowered the boom and no one is allowed to say ANYTHING about what they are served. Not a word. Eat it or don't eat it. But say NOTHING. Unless you want to say "thank you mom for the delicious meal. May I have more?" you are not allowed to utter a word about the completely appropriate kid-friendly meal I have served you.

So yes, having both children in school full time--things can only look up from here.

As you can see, I did manage to finish 2 pairs of socks!

Hee hee hee hee hee

And holy toledo look at this chicken! It just needs eyes and a tail and then Lora, it's all yours! This chicken pattern was a lot of fun. So much fun, in fact, that we're going to use it as a Knit-A-Long for the shop. Which means I have to get going on my shop sample pronto. I envision a whole display window of chickens and it makes me giggle. I hope customers think it's as compelling as I do.

And in other happy news, my husband was a sneaky guy and bought tickets to the Keith Urban concert for this Saturday night. He bought them months ago, when we were jobless and destitute, so I have no idea how he pulled that off. But he did. And it was suppose to be a surprise, but he spilled the beans when I started reminding him about the dinner party we're to be hosting at the exact same time. So now dinner is at a different house, sans us, and I'll be hosting next month instead. I am actually very disappointed to miss this time with my dear friends, because I had to miss last month's dinner group as well, but with a ticket and license to drool, you won't hear me complaining.

I started babysitting 2 month old baby S yesterday, and he's lying here on the floor next to me right now, having a little conversation with me about how much he likes to kick his skinny little legs. So I better wrap this up before we have to walk to the bus stop and get those cranky boys. It's evil half-day Wednesday you know.

Q & A with the Queen

Mike and the boys have left for a trip to Target, where the boys are planning to spend the money they earned picking up pinecones in Walter's yard, and feeding the other neighbor's dog, Ginger, over the weekend. Which means I have time to answer your burning questions!

Any news on the job front?
That would be a No. To date, Mike has applied for approximately 5498751987845784 jobs. Roughly. He's making good contacts, blah blah blah and I'm sure God has a darn good reason why interviews are not filling up Mike's dance card, despite my repeated requests. I would be delighted to know what that reason is. In the meantime, we're pressing onward in the job hunt. What did we all do before the internet? That is what I would like to know.

Does Eric really use The Snuggie?
Each and every day.

Seriously?
Seriously.

So Mike is done working his temporary job?
Yes indeedy. And, lucky me, this has started during Spring Break. I have ALL 3 BOYS here with me this week. It's like a family vacation gone bad. No one in this house is doing what they are suppose to be doing. Mike is not rushing off late to work, I'm not trying to convince Eric to get dressed for school, I don't have my designated Baby Hat Knitting Time while the 3 mess-makers are where they are suppose to be....today I spent hours in the yard while the boys ran themselves ragged all over the neighborhood (after picking up Walter's pinecones. In which he is sorry he agreed to 2 cents a pinecone since he apparently shelled out much more than originally budgeted. But since most of it went to his own daughter, I find it kind of funny). In fact, I was surprised to see the phone guy show up to fix our phone line that was apparently gnawed by small animals outside the kitchen window (perhaps the same animal that broke my birdbath. I'm developing a deep hatred of small animals. And big animals. But I digress) because it felt so much like a Saturday. But no, it's Monday and no one is where they are suppose to be. NO ONE IS WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE. I know that is grammatically incorrect, but it is SO TRUE.

You worked in the yard today? Does that mean is has finally stopped snowing?
Yes, 4 days ago it snowed, and today it's in the 70's. Both boys got sunburns and begged to play in the sprinkler. And by the end of the week it is supposed to be cold and rainy again. Seattle has apparently moved to the midwest.

As The Knitting Queen, are you actually knitting anything these days?
Let's see...Mike's Town & Country sweater is currently in a big heap. I have completed 1 Duet sock, 1 sock for Pat, 1/2 of a sock for Caroline, 1 mitten for my mom, and 1/2 of another Lorna's Laces sock, courtesy of my dear friend Jane. I think I'm too preoccupied with Mike's job hunt and our impending doom because I seem to be unable to finish anything I start these days. I have so many half finished projects that I really think I need to restrict myself from starting anything else. But as any knitter will tell you, the lure of the new project is always there. Especially when you actually have the yarn and the pattern. I could probably start 7 or 8 more projects. There are times when my stash calls to me. Loudly. But my knitting is so schizophrenic these days that adding one more project might make it spontaneously combust.

Did you know Keith Urban has a new album?
Oh yes. And guess who actually had enough money in her itunes account to get it....

Is Eric truly into Junie B. Jones?
Oh yes, that Junie B--she makes us laugh. Currently we're reading Junie B. is a Cheater Pants. Eric, that kid, is an enigma.

How is that baby, Blake?
We babysat Blake the other night. He has teeth, crawls, eats food--all that real baby stuff now. He is 10 months old (I think...is that right? Maybe 9 1/2. I don't know. I'm preoccupied, people!) and pretty darn cute. The boys and I read books to him before bed and that baby sat on Ryan's lap and listened to all of If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and Donald Duck and the Case Of the Missing Peanuts with more patience than Eric has.

I think those people will be returning at any moment. Sigh.....if I can magically make them all disappear again sometime this week, you may see me again. If not, then you'll know that I've smothered by the mess that can only come from 2 boys and their father during a week at home.

And My Husband Lived To Tell About It

Keith Urban Concert

My husband attended the Keith Urban concert and did not spontaneously ignite into flames in the middle of it. He actually said the words "it was really good". He actually had a fairly good time. Of course, I think this may have had something to do with the vast amount of cleavage present last night. That, and the fact that Keith was fooling around and broke into the Violent Femme's "Blister in the Sun", which is one of Mike's favorite songs. It is even his ring tone on his phone. So now Mike can honestly say he is a Keith Urban fan.

Our seats were not great, as you can see by the picture, but the concert was projected onto a huge screen, which was very cool. I considered buying a t-shirt, but they were $40 and I needed all of that money to buy a bottle of water at the Key Arena. And realistically I would only wear the t-shirt to bed. Mike pointed out that really HE should wear the t-shirt to bed for me to enjoy it, and then the conversation just got weird. I didn't buy a t-shirt. I think my ears are still ringing a bit, but it was soooooo worth it. Really incredible show. Incredible performer. And beautiful to look at for 2 hours. Enough said.

Birthday Hat

Here is the other thing that has made me happy this weekend. I've already sold one birthday hat at Venue, so I'm going to make a few more. I forgot to take a picture of my first attempt at the birthday hat--maybe it was subconscious because it was so offensive looking. The first hat I made was white with pink stripes. And I had a large pink candle on top. The candle was a little too pink and a little to large, and a little too fat......I showed it to my bookgroup and asked if they thought it looked too phallic for a baby girl's first birthday. They were unable to answer me until after they stopped convulsing on the floor and wiped the tears from their eyes. I ripped that candle off and made a smaller, lavender one. I am now paying extra special attention to the candles I made for the birthday hats.

With my hearing loss from the concert you would think I wouldn't notice how completely annoying my family is being today. Unfortunately I am still able to hear every word they are all saying.

Only 6 more hours until bedtime.

My Husband The Music Hypocrite

Mike and I "fight" about music a lot. Mike claims to have very distinct taste in music, and to a certain degree, I agree with his claims. Mike definitely likes edgier stuff than I do, but every so often we are able to meet in the middle.

We have been to a handful of concerts together that we have enjoyed. We've seen Sting three times because, well, EVERYONE loves Sting. Even if you don't like Sting now, you have at one time liked Sting. Personally, I don't much care for current Sting, but there is not a person alive who at one point did not love Nothing Like The Sun. So Mike and I can agree that Sting was once Da Man. We both have a extreme fondness for Annie Lennox (Diva should be right next to your Nothing Like The Sun cd) and a couple of year ago we saw a Sting/Annie Lennox concert in which she kicked his musical ass. We both love Paul Simon because his Negotiations And Love Songs cd was released when we were dating and we listened to it so much, I'm surprised it still works 20 years later.

But here is where Mike is a big liar liar pants on fire. He says he hates country music. Now, I'm not debating his true hatred for Toby Keith/Alabama/Reba McIntyre/anything with a banjo. But he does like country music--he just won't say the words out loud. Country music has developed a broad spectum which he refuses to acknowledge or accept. I grew up with country music and, well, I like it. It's part of my childhood and it's a lot easier to listed to than The Cure (Mike!). A couple of years ago I bought a Keith Urban cd and, if I were not legally bound to the people in this house, I would have bumped off Nicole and become his personal stalker. I decided that if he ever came to town, my husband would have to take me to the concert and enjoy it. First of all, I have the goods on him--Mike has a secret crush on Lindsay Lohan (Oops--I guess it's not a secret anymore. And at least my guy is of legal age). Second, Keith is an exceptional musician, which Mike would completely appreciate if he would just take the fingers out of his ears and quit chanting "la la la country music la la la". But, while Mike claims to hate all things with a country music label, he listens to country music.

Mike likes Lyle Lovett. He owns Lyle Lovett cds. According to Mike it doesn't count because they play Lyle on The Mountain (http://www.kmtt.com/). The Mountain is known for playing GOOD MUSIC, and is not loyal to any particular genre. So they play Sting, Los Lonely Boys (country!), Toad the Wet Sprocket, Norah Jones, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Allison Krauss (country!), Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Jackson Browne...you get the picture. They play old and new alike and are often introducing their listening audience to new music. Mike is so loyal to The Mountain, you could play The Wiggles on that station and he would listen to them.

Mike likes Johnny Cash because his grandmother liked him. Mike likes Pasty Cline. Mike likes The Eagles. MIKE LISTENS TO COUNTRY MUSIC. When I point out that Elton John plays country music Mike will dismiss it as a crossover. Bon Jovi has a new country inspired album (not that Mike is a huge Bon Jovi fan, but it furthers my point). Crossover. Lucinda Willams? Crossover. Bonnie Raitt? Crossover. If they play it on The Mountain, it is worthy of Mike's ears. If the exact same song by the same artist is played on a country music station, then it is country and therefore banned from the soundwaves hovering around Mike's ears.

Now it's starting to get funny because in Mike's new office there are a couple of young girls who work along side of him. One of the girls recently won a radio contest and was given Stray Cats concert tickets. She's not going because she's too young to know who they are! A little piece of 38 year old Mike died inside when he heard that. But she does listen to a country station on the radio at her desk and he can't change the station, like he tries to do to me. So he is held hostage every Tuesday and Thursday by her radio. He mentioned the other day that he is taking me to the Keith Urban concert in September and her response was "oh, I LIKE him!"

So come September 15th Mike will be attending the Keith Urban concert, with the tickets that he purchased with his hard earned money. I'm going to take a picture of him actually enjoying himself. And I'm going to buy him a t-shirt. If only Lindsay Lohan were opening for Keith....

Closet Redneck

These are the lyrics to my new favorite song:

"I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks"

Brad Paisley

Mike has already very reluctantly agreed to take me to the Keith Urban concert. I think if he had to see Brad Paisley in the same year a small piece of him would die inside.