Perserverance takes Patience (that I May or May Not Have)

I've been working on this shawl for almost a month now, and I'm crawling out of my skin because of it!  I'm so used to smaller projects that don't take a lot of time, like hats or mitts.  I can dash off a baby hat in one night, two tops.  That's why the baby hats that I'm working on are good for instant gratification, while this marathon-of-a-shawl indicates perseverance and steadfastness.

I love the yarn, it's Lion Brand LB Collection Baby Alpaca.  This is the first time I've worked with alpaca, and it's very soft, warm and cozy and drapes beautifully.   This baby will eventually be made of ten skeins of yarn!!  I'm *almost* to the third skein.  I was lamenting that it was taking time for it to come together at Knitting Meetup last Wednesday and I remarked that it would probably come together better if I didn't cheat on it constantly.  Someone said "You cheat when knitting that?  Tell me, how do you do it??"  I had to laugh, because when I say "cheat" I mean I'm led astray by other flirtatious knitting projects.  She thought I meant that I had found a way to knit it faster.  Which got us to thinking:  wouldn't it be neat (albeit creepy) to have a knitting elf while you slept?  You leave your scarf/shawl/bag/mittens-in progress on your coffee table and go to bed, then get up to find that there's another inch or so of progress?  That would be a real find for when you're burning the midnight oil, furiously knitting towards a swap deadline.  Or asking for a handmade gift back as soon as the recipient opens it, so that you can finish it?  Yes, I'm guilty of that one. 

Man, I hope I can have this one done by Christmas.

Autumn in New York

Brian and I celebrated our ten-year anniversary with a weekend trip to New York City.  Now I can say that I've been there!  Well, other than driving through to get to Philly, or dropping off my brother-in-law when he lived in Queens.

We stayed at a very swank hotel, in a posh room on the 37th floor.  Woah...that"s quite an elevator ride.   We dined at "Maze" which is a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.  (see Blue Plate Special for details) and then trotted down Broadway to see "Promises, Promises", a new musical with Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.  WOW!!  What a great show.  The part of C.C. Baxter was practically written with Sean Hayes in mind, he was very funny!  I always knew that he could sing, since he did a little singing as "Jack" on "Will and Grace."  He's beyond talented though, and I look forward to seeing him in something again sometime. 

After the show we were too tired to go with our original idea of going out somewhere for dessert.  We opted instead to stop in a little eatery and bring home an oreo brownie and some German Chocolate Cake to our room.  After dessert it was about midnight so we passed out and slept like the dead until NINE AM.  That never happens with children in the house!  We ventured for breakfast at an Irish restaurant across the street, and upon checking out of the hotel, we ventured to find the Lion Brand Yarn Studio.    This is an attestment to just how much my husband loves me....he not only took me yarn shopping while on our anniversary trip, he stuck it out through Manhattan traffic to do so!  The yarn shop was delightful and I brought home a bag of goodies for projects that I am working on in the near future. 

After fighting some MORE Manhattan traffic, we were on our way home to our munchkins.  But not until we stopped for dinner at a restaurant from our dating days...Paul's Pasta in Groton, CT.  Anyone who's ever been there KNOWS how awesome it is!  What a great way to sum up ten years....going back to a restaurant that we frequented in the days that it all began.

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend with just the two of us.  Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Ten Years of Wedded Bliss

A College Chick and a Navy Guy, a chance meeting in a seedy dance club one Thursday night in downtown Providence, RI. 

That fated night has led to many things.  Deployments and joyful reunions. A dropped transmission while searching for an engagement ring.  A "surprise" proposal Graduation weekend.  Our own personal game of "Survivor" while stationed in New Hampshire.  Settling down and purchasing our first home.  Later on, being blessed with two beautiful boys.  Combining our strengths and weaknesses and making a good team.  Lots of Laughter, Lots of Memories, Lots of Love.

I can't believe it's been ten years.  Happy Anniversary, My Love, My Best Friend. 

Wordless Wednesday: My Little Pumpkins

Despite My Best Efforts...

....I can't seem to be on time anywhere!  It doesn't matter what time I get up to get ready for work, something is bound to get in the way of getting out the door on time.   If I arose at 5am something would happen and I *still* would be hustling the family out of the house precisely when I'm supposed to be at work.  This morning the Big Kid didn't want to get out of bed.  His exact words were, "Come and get me after you put on your makeup, Mommy.  I'm too sleepy to get up."  The Little One however, is always ready and raring to go!  He stands up in his crib and stares at the door, making adorable noises and blowing raspberries.  I always leave my own breakfast as the absolute last thing, and usually end up scarfing it like someone is going to take it away from me. 

Luckily, I know that I'm not alone.  In talking to some of my knitting friends who are also working Mommies, we ALL do it.  We all tap dance through the morning routine, packing lunches, convincing kids that their allergy cough is NOT enough to stay home, that the dog doesn't actually need to eat that leftover cereal, cursing the fact that the baby who is now mobile only wants to crawl UNDER the crib and then cry about it while you're looking for your other shoe.  Thank goodness it isn't just me! 

A Burlesque Show

Know what makes for a fun, interesting Moms' Night Out?  Drinks and a burlesque show.  OH YEAH.....a burlesque show!

I headed out with a group of Mama friends last night to an old hotel that has an actual speakeasy.  It was a 21+ show, where women flirt on stage,  dance and disrobe.  It wasn't like being out at a stripclub or anything, it was more artistic and vintage.   There were a lot of women there in kind of the same way we were, a bunch of ladies out on the town and having a good time.   And I've got to say, I've never been to anything like that before but it was intriguing!  Women of all different ages, sizes, walks of life.  Some more dressed than others.  The thing that blew me away was the confidence of all of these women.  If I was up there swaying and shimmying, I'd have my eyes on the ground and barely be moving.  One woman in particular danced onstage three or four times.  Now, she was not a small woman, but she moved like she owned the place.   The closing number was a fast "mambo-y" number, with the girl dressed in balloons that she popped.  The energy in the place was amazing!  And the running commentary from the friends that I was with made it that much more fun! 

I'm kind of a straight-laced girl.  But every once in a while it feels good to step out of myself and go a little wild.  This night out with the girls was the perfect way to do that.

Can You Take Our Picture, Mommy??

It's all right here--Brotherly Love!  Every morning, the first thing that Will wants to do is play with Sean.  When Sean cries, Will brings over his beloved Brown Doggie to cheer him up.  He's also appointed himself as Sean's Protector.  When I chided Sean last week for trying to eat the dog's food (to him it looks like Cheerios, so it MUST be fair game!) Will yelled at me, "Mommy, don't yell "no" at Baby Sean, you're scaring him!"  Earlier in the week we were driving to a restaurant and Sean was crying to beat the band in the car.  Will touched his hand and said "Don't cry Sean.  You hear that?  Mommy and Daddy are taking us to Chili's!"   If Will laughs at something that Sean is doing, Sean grins and keeps doing it.  (that "something" is boxing the dog....which Joey faithfully accepts and I break it up as soon as I can.)  Yesterday while I was browsing Ravelry for mitten patterns Will asked if he could hold his brother.  I obliged and as soon as Sean was in his lap Will said, "Mommy, can you take our picture?"  Of course I will, Buddy.  :)

I know that the days are coming when the boys will get on each other's nerves and resort to fighting.  And I'm pretty sure that those days aren't as far away as one might think!  But for now, this snuggly love that they have for each other, I revel in it.