Note to self...

Dear Kari,

I know you have been very busy and lots of "stuff" has popped up during the last week or so. Saying that you need to be reminded of just a few things:

1. There is always a little time to work on Dad's socks. They are almost done. Take them with you so you can get them finished by Christmas. Put them out on your desk, a few rows between kids. They'll be done in no time flat.

2. Hot chocolate is delicious especially at your desk, on a snowy, cold day. See those socks sitting next to your cocoa. It's a good time to put on one of those rows.

3. Bryspun (a really nice plastic) double pointed needles used to knit on Dad's socks should only be used to knit socks and occasionally scratch your head NOT stir the hot chocolate that you were too lazy to go to the cafeteria to get a spoon to stir. You will end up with an interesting sculpture and no needle to knit with....

A Public Service Announcement

A few months back you may remember a post about my health and how I was better, blah, blah, blah...

Well, here's the PSA. Listen to your bodies folks. As busy people we tend to push our health to the back-burner. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of the others in our lives.

On Monday, I mentioned to my doctor that I was having shortness of breathe and I didn't want to make a huge deal out of it, but was there any testing that could be done to make sure that the blood clots weren't back in my lungs again. He said no and scheduled a CAT scan (when you hear that word to do automatically see the Gary Larson comic of the doctor scanning a person with a stiff orange cat - I always do). The scan found three small clots. My heart is ok, but I am now on medication again.

So the moral of the story is LISTEN TO YOUR BODY when it is telling you something is not right.

On a happier note. Ian had a singing part in the holiday program. He also got to do some break dancing. He was so excited.
Here's one of Simon - wearing a head band that I made for my secret santa.
Do you think I can still give it to her OR should I be a good mom and make another?

The allure...

For the most part I like winter. I don't mind the snow or the cold. I have all of the right winter gear. I'll go out. I am someone who chooses to stay in when the weather gets yucky (my definition: sub-zero and lots of snow, ice or slush).

However... I do understand the allure of California, Arizona, and parts south and west when I don't have a choice on going out into IT.

When I got inside I had a serious case of hat head, my gosh -I'm not showing you. Lucky for me I work with kids and their hair is much wilder than mine and they don't care what I look like!

Ahh winter...

I still have one flower blooming in a pot in front of the house. This picture is from yesterday afternoon. This morning it didn't look this good. It was wilted and very frosty.

Isnt' it funny how nature works sometimes?

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch

The tree in front of our house finally lost all of its leaves. We had a ton of fun raking and playing.

Look very carefully. They are waiting to see the whites of the squirrels eyes. (See those little orange dots? Two boys are attached to those nerf guns.)

The hunt was not very successful.

Are you going to throw that stick?

Sometimes I'm a ding dong

I have a confession to make. I was not big on going to the library. My friends all go to the library and love it. I didn't want to join that band wagon. I enjoy going to bookstores and buying books. I love the smell of the paper and ink and coffee. I always make sure that I pick a book that the binding hadn't been broken on because so that I am the first one to actually read it. AND I also felt/feel really guilty going to the bookstore and looking at books, then putting them back on the shelf. The library, yah it has the paper smell, but it's not the same.

I'm getting to the ding dong part, really I am. So I've started using the library. The boys and I go a couple of times a week. We've been checking out books and videos. I've found a new love of mysteries - there are mysteries set in knit shops and with yarn spinners. I've found some that also revolve around quilting, too. I'm really liking the library ( I guess I didn't realize how much I spent on books!). There are even brand new books - I've been the first to read a few!

However I have been waiting for FOREVER for a few books that are a couple of years old - ones that "no one" probably wants. I've been waiting for the email that my books are in. Well, it occurred to me that maybe I was doing something wrong when we were at the library yesterday. I kept adding books and videos to my list and it kept getting longer. I couldn't figure out why there wasn't anything on my holds list.

I figured it out this morning. I have to "request" the item, I can't just add it to my list and expect to get sent to me at the library (ding dong).

Just what the doctor ordered

My cardiologist called yesterday (well my former cardiologist).... I no longer need to be on warfarin. I no longer need to see a cardiologist!!

Let's have a collective "YEAH!!!!!"

The last few months have been trying and kind of hard at our house for a number of reasons. One of them being my health. In May, I spent most of a week at UW Hospital because I had massive blood clots in my lungs and my heart was enlarged due to them. I saw the cardiologist last week and my heart was back to normal and he contacted the "lung guy" and whala. Here I am smiling.....

Now to get through the revisions on that &^j%$ paper.

Have a great day everyone.

ps Contact me if you are in the need for the name of an A-1 cardiologist in the Madison area - I have a great one!

A Nice Fall Walk

A couple of weeks ago the boys were at my parents. Kal and I had the weekend to ourselves. It was just what we needed. We went for a walk at Pheasant Ridge Conservancy in Middleton. Nice easy walk through woods and prairie AND there is this really cool spring.

Does anyone know what this is?

Anxiety

I'm feeling a bit anxious. I know that I am the one who puts the pressure on me. I am the one who leaves "things" to the last minute (sometimes...not all the time). BUT now I have a real time-line for finishing my paper.

My advisor sent me an email today saying that she would like to see my paper in entirety (draft form) on October 1st. That was my personal goal, BUT now that she said it...well... that's FREAKING ME OUT!!!!!

How do you do that 3,4,7 breath again? Are those the right numbers? It's a yoga/relaxation thing.

Oh by the way, feel free to call me and tell me to put down the book, knitting, wine, chocolate bar, etc...etc....etc....

First Day 2009

As for many in our fine state, Tuesday was the first day of school for Simon and Ian. AND it was very successful. They like their teachers and have friends in their classes so all is well. For now at least.....

A Better Pic

Here's a better one of my mom!

Thank you

My Mom (with the silly face) and Dad

Happy Anniversary to the two who made me (and mine) possible.

(Mom my is a beautiful woman who takes a yucky picture - Sorry mom, this was the best I had).

Growing up

S: Hey Ian (I know I know we use "hey" quite a bit in our house)
I: What? (Read this with a little bit of soon to be 7 tone)
S: I used your man wash today in the shower.
I: Really... Come here (Ian sniffs Simon). You smell good.
S: Yah, I know. You gotta try that stuff.

Exchanges like this make me smile. The boys are growing up (I know that is part of the process of life) but...

Have a good weekend everyone. I'm off to brave the cold with friends at the farmers market.

The End of Summer Randomness

I am sitting at my desk at this moment taking a break from getting ready for the big day - next Tuesday - and wondering if any one will notice if I take out my pinwheel blanket and knit for a bit. You know, I brought it just in case....

I am trying finish writing all of my paper (yah that one that was going to be done in April) by Labor Day. I think that is possible if I don't procrastinate TOO much.

My gorgeous tomatoes have late season blight. I'm sad. They were beautiful and now they are rotting on the vine. I have been picking the fruit that I can, but it doesn't look good for freezing/canning.

Hint, Hint

I: Hey Mom
K: Yes Ian
I: Just so you know...Walgreen's has school supplies priced reasonably.
K: Ok buddy

I guess it is time to start thinking about the new school year. We need to get school supplies (Grandma is going to pick them up), get back into going to bed early, and eating breakfast by 7:00 am. Tomorrow is registration and pictures. I'm not really sure why the school takes pictures before school starts BUT I guess it is a good idea because he will at least have a clean face...

We have been filling in my last week of summer with lots of fun - going to the library and getting stacks of books, visiting friends, going to the park and going to karate class (Ian only, Simon sits with me and gives the running commentary of what is happening). I have exercised everyday this week and am hoping to keep it going next week before school.

Creatively...hmmm....I've finished a baby quilt complete (I promised myself that I had to finish my Ch. 4 before I could deliver it - that's tomorrow's job). Worked on an anniversary present and my pinwheel afghan. I'm getting sick of it, but I am not going to start a new knitting project until this one is done!

Don't knock it....

We had corn on the cob the other night. Of course, we didn't have any spread cheese for on the corn. I know some of you may think only butter and salt, but a little cheddar, hmmm hmmm. My budding gourmets tried something a little different.

First, a few pieces of American cheese...

(I have to admit- I tried it - not spread cheese but it wasn't that bad)

Then, it was ketchup....

(I couldn't bring myself to try this one)

Any way you serve it, corn on the cob is deelish.

More trip pics

The Upper Shores

My posers - on the last whale back boat

Last week we visited the North Shore of Lake Superior. Oh it was beautiful. The water and beach.... I was informed when we got home that we were there during the best weather so far this summer. I am thankful for that.

The Light house B&B at Two Harbors

Trying the water

Why didn't I think of this before?

One tent in a shady spot in the backyard....

Several trips in and out to get the needed supplies ....

Time to get the painting complete (well almost - the ceiling isn't done - but that's for a different day.)

Tomorrow trip pictures - I know you can't wait....

Gibraltar Rock

Saturday we went to Gibraltar Rock. The guidebook said," moderate to strenuous hiking". It did not say that it was straight up, mountain goat style at some points, but the path was paved and it was so worth it.

Enjoy.





***We are working our way through Madison - 60 Hikes within 60 miles by Kevin Revolinski.

An adventure

On the way home from swimming yesterday, we stopped at a nature trail and took a walk. It was still drizzling out, but we (I) could not go home quite yet. The trail was beautiful, even with the mosquitoes that were "trying to eat us to the bone". The sky was blue by the time we finished.

"Keep moving Mom - those mosquitoes are going to eat us to the bone"

The berries were delicious. If the bugs weren't so bad, we would have had tummy aches from eating too many.

Ian spotted the Mother and fawn. I took the picture that is blurry.

Next time maybe he will take my advice and wear some shoes (he left them in the car).

July 4th, 2007

We love 4th of July at our house. This year family and friends came to celebrate with us. It was a beautiful day for the parade (not too hot). We walked down to put out chairs at 9:20 and the only place left open was at the beginning of the parade route - not a bad place.

patiently waiting

My Mom and Me

The Bag Heads

Ada in Ian's Screaming Eagle - Look out Danika

Waiting for the fireworks - not so patiently.

The fireworks were phenomenal!! Our small little town can put on a show - the ground display was really good this year.

Our day

Today was designated zoo day at the beginning of the week. I promised the boys that they could play at the playground. Simon took this picture of me before we left.

We met Kal for lunch. This was the second Noodles we went to because the first one was so busy. Do you think those boys could get any closer to their dad?

"Take this one so Grandpa can see me"

We have a gazillion pics of the boys on this turtle. Someday I will make a book with only those photos.

"It's like we're petting him"