OMG- It's almost December!

Wow, last post was before Halloween! It's been an eventful month and a week since then. (Not much knitting progress...kids were sick for most of October- ugh. Then I got strep throat and a sinus infection the first week of November. I hope we're done for a while!)

Halloween was fun. Kids enjoyed trick o' treating back in IL. Here are my sweeties with Daddy on the big day... L was Thomas for the third year in a row (he knows what he likes) and R is big into being a Princess this year.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. The first one in a while without family visiting. I really miss my parents, sister , best friend and Boston this time of year. We had a lovely, quiet day at home though and the turkey was yum!

We took the kids into Chicago on Black Friday. I can't go into stores...flashbacks from my past retail days! We walked the Magnificent Mile/Michigan Ave. from one end to the other. It's our first holiday season back in IL since 2007 and I have a renewed appreciation for Chicago. The kids loved the Christmas lights and hustle and bustle of the city. We had a lovely meal at the Sheraton Chicago, C's first hotel in Chicago back in 2004. Good times in Chi-town.

My sweet Tara turns 5 today. I just can't believe it was 4 1/2 years ago that I saw my girl on Petfinder and she came home to our family. Happy Birthday and I love you Miss T! (She's resting on top of big bro, Rooney.)

Last, but not least...WE SOLD the HOUSE in MD on November 20th! WooooooHooooo! Such a relief and burden off our shoulders. Really feel like I received an early Christmas present! Having said that...I will miss the Maryland/D.C area, mainly because of the amazing women and friendships I made there.

So, wishing you all a very Happy Holiday season! I probably won't post again until 2010! :)

Brrr...

The first few weeks of October have been chilly and rainy, especially early in the morning at the bus stop. I decided to make L a Fall hat to keep him warm on those chilly mornings. We're saving the thick L.L. Bean one for the winter. God knows we're probably going to need it now that we're back in IL. We have been spoiled by the milder climate in the Mid-Atlantic for the past two years. The winters in MD were nothing compared to IL or back home in Boston.

I decided to use sock yarn and stash-bust. Of course after R saw that I knit L an hat, she demanded a pink one. Here are my two in their new Fall hats...hope they get to wear them for a while before we pull out the all the winter gear!

Well there's always next year...and I hope Papelbon will still be there in 2010.

The Red Sox were swept by the California Angels in the ALDS on Sunday. Major bummer, but one I'm used to since I have been a die-hard Sox fan for over 35 years. Growing up, I was used to ending the season with that old phrase, "Well there's always next year!". And then 2004 happened...that magical year and the 86 year drought came to an end. I will never forget it. It was the first time in my life that I lived outside of the Boston area (moved to Chicago in February 2004). I cried that night we beat the Cardinals in Game 4. I was thinking of my grandfather and wishing he was alive to see the Sox win the World Series.

We scored another WS championship in 2007. Theo Epstein really is a genius and I love Terry Francona. I was reading an article yesterday and this writer's opinion was that Papelbon will pay for Sunday's loss. I really hope that doesn't happen. I love the guy. He's a bit of a nutjob, but such an amazing closer and integral part of the team. He went into Sunday's game with with a 0.00 ERA in career post season games. Yes, he blew it. But the offense (excluding Youk) has been struggling all season- stranding man after man on base and not bringing in runs. I hope Papelbon is not measured by this one game. I hope he's back next year!

Well September came and went...

without one post. It was a good month though and very busy. The most exciting thing was getting an offer on our house in MD. I know from experience that it's not a done deal until the END of the settlement. (Our home sale in IL fell through at the actual closing back in 2007. Of course, God works in mysterious ways and we're back in that home now.) But fingers crossed, everything is progressing- home inspection done, sellers obtained their loan and the settlement is scheduled for the end of November. I just pray this works out.

L has settled into school nicely. He was the Star Student of the Week in the beginning of September. Each day he had to bring in a favorite item or pictures and give the significance of each item to the class. I was thrilled when his teacher reported back to me that he enthusiastically shared with his classmates. Here's a pic of my Star Student with his proud sister-

We had a nice day one weekend at Starved Rock, which is about an hour south of us. Starved Rock is a huge rock glacier with many other rock formations and waterfalls. Out trip was cut short by a thunderstorm, but we'll definitely go back. It's really beautiful. Here's a pic of the kiddos inside the Lodge there.

Another weekend, we attended Frankfort Fest in nearby Franfort, IL. We had a great time and the kids loved the carnival rides!

And here's another pic of my babies enjoying the chocolate chip muffins that I made for them.

On the knitting front, I finished a quick baby hat and blanket lovey for one of Conrad's employees. He gave me a whole week (yes, one week) notice! I also finished a project for a secret surprise gift, that I can share after the gift has been given.

My BFF from Maryland, Dorothy (a.k.a. Pheelya) had a work conference in Kansas City, MO last week. Lucky me, she was able to stop by for a night in Chicago. It was wonderful catching up in person and we hit the LYS, Knitche, in Downers Grove this past Monday. Of course, we did NOT walk out empty-handed! I scored a few skeins of a gorgeous colorway of Malabrigo and D walked out with a bit more than me, LOL! :)

I also decided to become an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. I love the products so I decided to try it as a hobby, but mostly for personal use!

So all in all, a good month! Looking forward to Fall, October and Halloween!

The First Day of School, well second day really....

I spent the last final days before school running around like a crazy woman. Going to meet L's new kindergarten teachers and speech therapist (both for his regular Kindergarten class and Developmental Kindergarten class), labeling school supplies, figuring our acceptable lunch options and trying to boost my little man for the first day. All good stuff, except dealing with the bus situation. I was told L's information wasn't in the system and therefore no bus. Then on Monday I got a letter confirming his bus # and pick up/drop off times. When I called the bus company back, they said they still had no record of L. So after numerous conversations (with conflicting information) between the school and the bus company, I was really wondering if a bus would show up on the first day of school.

Good news..the bus came! Bad news...L didn't get on it. He woke up with a temp of 99.9 and he was sick to his stomach. He had more energy in the afternoon and began eating, so I wondered if anxiety manifested into a illness. But then the big man came home from work with a fever and nausea, so something is going around.

Thankfully L woke up today feeling better and without a fever. So after two waffles and a pep talk, he was on the bus and off to school! It's his first year of being away a full day at school. R and I will miss having him around. Good luck little man...

TGFR

That stands for Thank Gawd for Ravelry. Srsly.

When I moved from IL to MD, I found the Columbia Sip N' Knit group through meetup and also Ravelry. I was a beginner knitter back then. I met some truly amazing gals. Not only did they give me the inspiration to be a better, more fearless knitter...they also became dear friends.

Then back to IL from MD this summer and through Rav, I have found another wonderful group of lovely and talented gals that I can knit with on Sunday afternoons. I've been here less than two months, but feel so at home again with the discovery of this great group of ladies.

Forget about all the amazing features that Ravelry offers... Jess and Casey, the couple in my beloved Beantown who started the site- You.Guys.Rock.

Thank you!!!

Car Show

L is obsessed with cars. So what would be better than a car show? We took the kids to their first- a country car show in Elburn, IL. The weather was gorgeous that day! We had a great time looking at all the vintage cars and enjoying a little picnic.

Great day...we'll go back to this one again next year!