...in which I learn to share

365.240 ...in which I learn to share, originally uploaded by zzwhitejd.

My LEGOs from 11+ years ago meet LEGOs purchased just this very afternoon. I took the kids to the new store at Concord Mills and we had fun on the Pick a Brick wall then came home and spent hours playing. Even Jack has done really well with them, I've been impressed.
I gave my Dory an unopened pack from Micky D's Happy Meals from 1999... she put together her first instruction led build. Oh, the milestones.
All of them (secondhand via Grandma Marcille, today's purchase and what I can share from my past), they *almost* fit into my old bucket. Almost. Heh.
(In front of Dory is the tub with the rest. i.e. My Hogwarts Castle & Express train and some Star Wars are still in hiding in said tub. Not sharing those. Not yet. Can't bring myself to do it.)
I might have a slight problem and I can't wait to share it with them both.
I love my kids.
I love LEGOs.
I think I might just love Kindergarten.

Ba & Olivia

Ba & Olivia, originally uploaded by zzwhitejd.

Oh, that Ba, churning out another bundle of snuggles & smiles... introducing sweet Baby Olivia Jane!

First in forever haircut, front & back

First in forever haircut, front & back, originally uploaded by zzwhitejd.

It's been AGES since Dory had her hair cut. Oh, several years really? Last time we shaved her head for the 2nd time in order to squelch her Trichotillomania. It worked. Her hair was down to her waist and getting to have split ends... it needed a trim and she was ready for it. I think it turned out great, and she is thrilled. Yeah!

(Sorry for no posts in so long.)

365.191 Just as you are. Right now. Today.

365.191 Just as you are. Right now. Today., originally uploaded by zzwhitejd.

Mary Heather (rainydaygoods on Ravelry) posted on Flickr a super sweet photo of herself for Operation Beautiful. Like quite a few of us who do the whole project 365, I was quite taken with it and decided to do one myself as my 365. I scrawled out a quick sign on Dory's art paper with her crayons and dashed out the door with Jack to the park where Dory was in camp to pick her up.
Once I had her, I set up the camera, set the timer, let the lady sitting at the table behind the camera stare at me all puzzled, and made the mad dash back to the kids before the timer set off.
Overall, I'm pretty pleased with it. What a wonderful thing we women need to be reminded of!
However, unbeknownst to me until yesterday, this photo became my very first to hit Flickr's Explore! I'm in shock. Floored. Who knew? I won't begin to try to understand why or how the Explore really works with it's mythical 'Interestingness' factor... but I'm so honored. So I just had to share with you!

See?!? Here is page #22:

Spud & Chloe!

Spud & Chloe!, originally uploaded by zzwhitejd.

My prize from the Blue Sky Alpacas contest arrived. What a great morning I'm having, even with the near constant tantrum from Jack and Dory's attitude.

O hai, Ohio!

Oh, how I am SO glad to see you...


The trip up... ha.

Near Death!!

YIKES.

Okay, let me back up... we had a great drive to Ohio yesterday. The kids *didn’t* squabble in the back, they played nicely with their lap boxes and few new toys. I tell you, those were a freakin stroke of genius on my part! I will TOTALLY toot my own horn on that one.

Anyway, I even convinced Dory to take a nap by telling her it would make the time pass quicker and the two of them took a nice nap while it rained, no - torrentially downpoured for a few hours.

It was a good thing they both slept. A really good thing.

I couldn't see more than about, oh, 30’ in front of the car. Complete whiteout haze and rain. So, when the white truck in front of me that I could barely see stated fishtailing and hydroplaning... well, I paid attention. Of course it didn’t take more than a split second to see why... a tidal wave of mud and dirt was flinging itself across the road in front of me coming from the left. It was if a giant machine was digging and flinging it as hard and fast as it could - but I couldn’t see it. Between the whiteout and the mud wall flying at me I am amazed that we came out the other side to see a tractor trailer coming to a halt in the center median, folded in two, in my side mirror.

It jackknifed right in front of me. Had I been 50’ further up the road... we would have been toast.



But, we weren’t. Whew.

I got off at the very next exit, in Corbin KY, in an attempt to calm my nerves. It was nearly 15 more miles until I was able to do that. My teeth were chattering as if it were 32F outside.



I called John and told him I loved him and called my Mom to tell her THANK YOU for the safe travels prayers.

We didn’t have any other issues the whole drive. All except for those few moments of terror were long car ride unheard of bliss.

Now, was it worth it? I’m not sure I wouldn’t have preferred screaming the whole way. Really not sure....

That said, we had a fun/cute little lunch stop. :)

More knit designing news!

I won another contest. Ok, I think I might get it now... I'm not too shabby at this. Blue Sky Alpacas ran a design contest for their new yarn line release, Spud & Chloe. I entered, and was one of the winners! (Ravelry link, sorry Non-Rav peeps) The contest was for a design with any of the regular BSA line, in anticipation of the S&C release... with a arm full of the new yarn as half of the prize. My pattern will also be highlighted on their website for a month sometime soon.
I have already released Traveling Bivalves over on JonquilMom.com as a free download.


Also, as I hinted at a few entries ago, I have agreed to license several of my patterns to Buffalo Gold. In order to switch gauges and pattern nuances over to their yarns... a sweet box of sample yarn landed on my porch this morning from Ron at Buffalo Gold. (Pretty sure the yarn will be my 365 today... how could it not be?!?!) Since I didn't feel like I could ethically license one of the patterns they were interested in, I'm cooking up a new pattern for the Mythology Series. :) I'll let you know when it's released and it will be available from me as well.

Anyway, I'm a wee bit excited with the recent career path that seems to have come from thin air.

What a week...

So, I've alluded to my ankle in the last post about Jack wandering out the door...

Monday looked just about like this all day. Did I ever say this was fun? It's not, in case you were wondering. I'm sick of it. My foot is a very lovely shade of sickly yellow-green now and not anywhere near as swollen... but my butt is killing me. I honestly hurts from sitting so much with my foot up. Bah humbug.

Over the week I have become more and more bored, and finally decided to rent a movie via iTunes since Netflix wasn't fast enough for once. I debated and debated... and in the end decided that if I was going to rip on Twilight as I had been doing among friends that I should go ahead and finally watch the movie.
Dang, I'm a total sucker.
I've had such a hard fall this week... make that 'falls'.
By the 24 hours expiration period that iTunes gives you, I had watched it nearly 3 times. Now what am I doing?
Yeah, I bought the book. Just one so far... I figure it will force me to take them slower and spread my apparently inevitable irritation, that all of the other fans feel, out just a bit. I don't know quite what it is about vampires and teen flicks that I adore so much... but good grief. I feel nothing but absolute shame right now.

Speaking of blood suckers, more enjoyment this week:

Yes, my red blood all over my white pajama pants thanks to this little evil thing. She bit the ankle that I hit on the bed while frantically trying to find Jack. Ouch. I feel even worse for Dory, she has 5 from a walk with my mom on Friday... and she welts like I do. Sorry kiddo.

My highlight of the week was that after we had to cancel the trip to Tricia's house on Monday due to the first thing in the morning before-I-even-got-my-coffee sprain Tricia decided to come and visit us on Thursday for a few hours. The kids were so very excited. She got to spend a little time with each of us while she was here...

Have I mentioned that this pretty lady is getting married? Yep... and our household contains the Flower Girl, the Ring Bearer and the Matron of Honor.... (since this wedding will be in the summer in Charleston, I think it's gonna' get pricey quick.) I'm so excited for her! :)

My other highlight this week... there was fluffy yarn mail. That always helps. :)

The meaning of PANIC

I wake up every morning with Jack crying or calling my name. This morning was a wee bit different though.
To back up a tiny little bit, our A/C is out and the windows upstairs were all open for air. It's been very humid and it's getting pretty warm this week.
In the middle of the night Dorothy decided to crawl into bed with me to snuggle since John was gone and we woke up to hear Jack crying/screaming mad. Since my ankle is busted I had Dory go get him from their room so he could come crawl in the bed too.
However... even though the gate was locked, he was not there.
Uh oh.
I hobble out of the bed and whack my good foot on the bed bracket instantly bruising and ripping some skin off...
I glance around upstairs, but he's not here. I can still hear the crying.
I hobble down the stairs with my cane as quickly and safely as I can, trying to listen for the direction of his yells in between calling his name. As I came around the corner off the stairs I see the back door is WIDE OPEN.

Um.

Yeah.

Huh.

Ummmm...

I sat down on the ottoman to collect my panic and try to formulate a plan for chasing a toddler though the neighborhood at 6:30am while I have a busted ankle and am only half dressed... when I just call out to him.
He came waltzing through the door screaming mad.
As he collected his anger and I collected my nerves he stared telling me something about Abby. Abby was apparently outside. I called Abby and, just like Jack, she came waltzing in the door.

Jack had, apparently, decided Abby needed to be let out, hopped his gate, figured out the lock on the back door and let the dog out. He was crying mad because he couldn't work the latch on the dog's lead.

Geez. Way to wake your Mommy, Sir.

365.147 Swatching Buffboo

365.147 Swatching Buffboo, originally uploaded by zzwhitejd.

It's a hint of news to come... but it's related to Buffalo Gold yarns. I'm really very excited!