Mother Nature Wins Again

My computer is in my unheated craft room, which isn't normally an issue, but it's been so cold lately that my poor little space heater never had a chance in the battle with Mother Nature. I want to blog - and post things on Ravelry - but I'm a wimp when it comes to frozen fingers and toes. So please pardon the sparsity of posts and the lighting round of complete projects below, skimpy as they are on the details.

Mary's Christmas scarf (click link to go to my Ravelry page) -Acacia Scarf by Megan Marshall. (Color is more accurate in the photo below)Love this pattern and will definitely be making it again.

Another Sunrise Ripple Scarf, my own pattern that I'll get around to writing up one of these days. Probably the day before I teach the class for which this sample is destined. Love how the yarn (Schoppel 'Gradient') has so many shades of my lovely orange.
Four more squares for the Tunisian Block-a-Month class. This is Round 2; the gold/white block is my definite favorite in this group. It was supposed to be a Brick Stitch block, kinda like this, but I misread the directions decided to go my own way and came up with something entirely different. Pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Two more blocks for the crochet block-a-month class - 
 Cabled Beauty, a 10" version of 'On the Road Again', one of my favorite blocks;
 and Kitties on a Rail / Kittens on a Fence / Cats in a Row - so many different names for the same basic stitch pattern. This one's been on my to-do list for awhile; glad I can finally cross it off.

If anyone's interested, my entire list of classes for January through April is here. 

On The Second Day of Christmas

Two days after Addy and company landed in So. Cal., we headed down to Disneyland. Yep, on a Sunday. During Christmas week. 
 
Hubby and I thought it was going to be a crowded disaster; that we'd be lucky to get on a couple of rides in 8 hours. But the holiday gods were smiling on us - or the weather gods were frowning, I'm not sure which. It was cloudy and drizzly - with patches of lovely sunshine - all day . . . which meant no crowds! 
 
I've never minded a bit of weather at Disneyland. You're already dressed for the outdoors, so it doesn't take much to ward off a bit of rain. Fortunately, most people see "rain" in the forecast and stay home. Hooray!
 
We did the biggies first - Pirates, Haunted House and Splash Mountain - and then Rachel and I took the girls to Fantasyland while the others headed to the roller-coastery rides.
cutest photo bomb ever

 Dick and John got to the front of the line at Star Wars . . . just as the ride broke down. So they ran over to the newly revamped Matterhorn, stood in line for 45 minutes and just as they got to the front . . . . the ride broke down.

  

They toughed it out for 2 hours - being told "it'll only be 15-20 more minutes" several times - but finally did get to ride. And they both said it was worth the wait.

 
We did both parks, hitting California Adventure in the evening, but the highlight of the day for me - and for Addy and Leia, I think - was the surprise appointment I'd made for them at Studio 365, the Rock Star alternative to princess-themed Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
 
They were primped
 
and pampered
 
and styled
 
and made-up to their heart's content.
  
Both were thrilled with the attention - and, as Rachel had predicted - it was a  welcome break for two very tired little girls. 
  
They both almost fell asleep in their chairs, despite the yanking, braiding and pinning involved in their fancy hair-styles.

And what do Rock Stars do, once they have their second wind? They smile for the paparazzi,
 
toast their friends, 
 
and party into the night.      

A Gift For Me

The one thing I wanted for Christmas was a picture of all the baby-grands. And with Addison in town for the week, it seemed do-able. Kind of. 

Between tamale day (huge success!), Disneyland, Christmas, San Diego, parents working, and Naia leaving for Sacramento, the only day we could schedule the portrait session was Christmas Eve. Rachel and I loaded all the girls into two cars (kid car seats take up a lot of room), Breanne and Travis drove up from Culver City, and we met at Picture People in the Topanga Mall.

Fortunately, our photographer had tons of patience. And she needed it with Leanne screaming anytime I put her down, Travis more interested in playing with his toys, and Leia getting the giggles and flashing 'peace' signs at the camera. We finally got Leanne to sit in her stroller, covering it with a white cloth so it blended better. And we got this -
 
the only photo where Leanne isn't crying and everyone had a decent expression on their face. I love it. And I love the memory of how we got here even more.

Clockwise from the top: Addison, 6; Naia, 11; Leia, 4; Travis, 1 year and 1 day; Leanne, 22 months.     

Merry, Merry!

Today was wonderful*.  It was very nice having all my chicks and grand-chicks under one roof for the holidays. 
 
Santa presents.
 
Christmas decorations, before bedlam erupted.
 
Present opening frenzy, complete with spectators and paparazzi. I love the energy in this picture.
 
PopPop, helping Leanne open her pencils.
 
Pretty Naia, age 11.
 
Leia, age 4.
 
Leanne, age 22 months, still agog at the wonder of Christmas. And one of the best presents of the day -
 
this was Marie's Strawberry Shortcake house, that she received when she was just a bit older than Leanne and that PopPop carefully stored in the attic since Marie outgrew it many years ago. After a good, looooong scrubbing by PopPop and Auntie Rachel, it was successfully passed down. Leanne looks pretty happy with the deal. 

Edited to add pictures that Scott and Marie took.
 
Addison, opening her presents.

 
Hubby with one of his gifts.
 
My gift from Matt and Mary.

Proof that Leanne does occasionally let Uncle Matt hold her.

*If you don't count the cold I'm getting or the kink in Rachel's neck that keeps her from moving her head at all. Bah humbug.

Let The Holidays Begin

Now that Rachel, John and Addy are here, it feels like the holidays have finally begun. Here's our day - and the previous night - in quick pix...

Leanne rocked her sunglasses

then carefully placed them on the Christmas tree, because that's where important things go this time of year.

We checked out the local Candy Cane Lane, where the hit - for us at least - was a bit non-traditional.

Today, while the guys checked out the battleship USS Iowa,

we girls started a new family tradition of making tamales at Breanne's house.

And may I just say, they are the best tamales e.v.e.r.

The little girls enjoyed playing with Travis's toys,

while the handsome Mr. T enjoyed all the attention he got from Auntie Rachel

and grandma. Such a sweet cuddle boy!

Tomorrow, we're off to Disneyland. Hope the rain holds off until Monday, but if it doesn't, at least Disneyland will be less crowded. In theory, anyway.


Merry almost-Christmas!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Christmas Program

When I picked Leia up from preschool today, she was not happy about returning in less than 2 hours for her holiday program. But then I mentioned that she got to go on up stage . . .  and suddenly she could.not.wait for it to be time to go. 
 
At program's end, the kids got to stay on stage so parents could take pictures. Leia finagled 'Baby Jesus' away from 'Mary' and used him as a prop. Think she might be just a bit of a ham?
 
In the videos, Leia is the first angel to the right of the manger. First song is "Glory to God"; second is "Baby Jesus, We Love You". 

Fabric Burritos

First, you make one looooong burrito. 
 
Or five, if you're on a mission. 
 
See the stuffing?
 
Then you sew a few seams, and presto change-o, pillowcases! 
 
I love making these. So fast and fun; a lot of bang for a bit of fabric and thread. And even better, all this fabric was already in my stash, either given to me or picked up from the remnant rack at Joann's.
 
These have all gone to a new home. A friend organized a sew-in for tomorrow, to make pillowcases for servicemen and women, but since I can't be there, I gave these to her last night. Hope they bring cheer and holiday joy to five young people far from home.