I’ve been wanting to order this yarn (Pirate King) for a long time, and I finally did last week. It came today, and it’s even more beautiful in person!

I’m going to make Clark a pair of socks! We’re both very excited.

Pretty pictures…

Lunch yesterday-

Max with his haircut-

Clark’s haircut, along with the fleece shirt he’s worn every single day since receiving it-

Max loooves books!-

I will frequently see him up on the couch, quietly looking through a book. He also frequently brings books to us when we’re sitting down and looks expectantly on, waiting for us to read it to him. So very, very cute.

I dyed a pound of GORGEOUS wool today. It feels so weird to dye wool brown, ’cause although it started out white, it still looks “natural” when it’s done, like I didn’t do anything to it. Anyway, this wool is now the color of an irish setter.

It’s lustrous and luscious and pretty much irresistible. I’m excited for it to dry so I can start working with it. I have big plans.

Also, I sold 3 more batts last night on etsy! Hooray! To a blog reader, too! (Thank you again)!

You may recall that we returned Abby’s horrible lovebird and bought a baby parakeet several months ago. His name is Meiko. In the last 6 months, he’s grown quite a bit and has livened up significantly, which is good.. I was worried for awhile, ’cause I’m not remotely exaggerating when I say that for months, he might as well have been a stuffed bird that pooped. He didn’t move, or tweet, or eat when anyone was watching….. I think he was extremely young when we got him. Of course, he DID finger train in 1 try, and that was the point of getting a baby bird, so it’s all good.

He’s a sweet little thing but as his temperament is developing, he’s getting a little feisty, which makes me laugh because he’s SO not scary. We’re really enjoying him. His cage is in Abby’s room, but he spends much of the day on his playground which is out in the main living area with me (minus over half of those obnoxious toys).

So, Nate’s still looking for more clients. Max is keeping me busy. I’m working on my Tweedy Batts and have an etsy shop up, but there are only 4 colors on it right now. I have 3 more that I plan to post really soon. Check me out if you want.

Here’s a preview of 2 colors I’ll post soon…

the third is an amazing blue that I’m really excited about.

Liv gave Clark what for the other day for eating all of his chocolate bar while she was at school, after promising he’d share it with her. So this morning, when I gave him the last 2 squares of a chocolate bar Nate bought a couple days ago, he said, “I’m going to save one for Liv.”
I said, “You don’t have to do that. Just eat it.”
To which he replied, “But mom, I crossed my heart!”
Oh! I could just smooch him to death, he’s so sweet.

It’s amazing more men don’t spin, considering how fascinated men and boys are with the mechanics of it.

This spinning wheel has been Clark’s favorite race car track. He’s spent cumulative hours pedaling while holding a matchbox car on the wheel as it spins. Now Max is taking an interest in moving one part and watching how it makes other parts move.

Action shots…

As diversified as we were 2 1/2 years ago in Nate’s business, he’s lost clients (most have gone out of business) one by one at a pretty steady pace, and attempts to replace them have not been fruitful. This week, his last big client gave 60 days notice.

Nate is a brilliant graphic designer with extensive experience in advertising, magazine editing and publication, incorporating database systems, business efficiency solutions, etc.

If you know of anyone looking for his services, please let us know. Thx.

I finally got pictures of Max! He made it extremely difficult, ’cause he wouldn’t sit still for nothing, but out of nearly 60 pictures, I got a few. (Digital photography is the best).

So here’s the baby, 16 months old now…

Those elbow dimples make me weak in the knees.

Clark has preschool today, but the girls are home as it’s the end of semester and the teachers are grading.

Nate and I watched It Might Get Loud last night, which is a Rockumentary (love that word) on Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White. It was so cool. And as I’m listening to these guitar legends talk about songwriting, I could totally relate to some things they were saying. It was a bit surreal.

I’m having a hard time balancing housework and songwriting. Songwriting is rewarding and fun. Housework is not fun, and only lasts for an hour or so ’til the savages run through and destroy it again.

Hmmmm. Tough decision.

But if I ignore it too long, I get grumpy with the mess and heaven knows no one ELSE is going to do it. So I guess it’s time to switch back over to “housework” mode. Dangit. I don’t want to.

And while I’m procrastinating, I’ll tell you that I have a number of new songs I’m starting to work on, having just finished 2. My short term goal is to get a group of songs done and ready to be submitted for copyright. I think 6-8 will be enough. I had 8 in my first group.

Cool stuff! I admit to having been out of the loop. Clark, Max and I went toy shopping yesterday with a couple gift cards to Target and Toys R Us. It was a very fun morning. Clark amazes me with how pleasant and reasonable he can be.

At Target, we happened upon a 10 piece Playmobil Fire Truck set that had no price, and when I took it to a scanner, it came up at $3.66. I wasn’t familiar with Playmobil, but I knew that couldn’t be right so I asked two “Target Team Members” and it was confirmed. $3.66. Being the coolest fire truck in the store (and really cheap) we bought it. He played with it all afternoon, evening, and is now up first thing this morning and playing with it again.

Here is another new toy, the MagnaDoodle. He’s getting so good at writing his name!

So that was a lot of fun yesterday.

After the whole house taking turns being sick for the past 2+ months, I’m SO ready for the new year. I think we’re mostly healthy now. Nate and I have residual sinus yuck, but that’s it.

Playing games Christmas Eve day

This would be all four of them. They crashed quick.

I’m so grateful to have a family to share Christmas with. I’m grateful for Christmas and what it stands for. I’m grateful for Jesus Christ, that He came to Earth to save us.

I’m so annoyed. Everywhere I go Christmas shopping, I intend to ask for a gift box, and continue to forget. I haven’t remembered once. Now, I know that stores don’t give out gift boxes like they used to, which is also annoying, but I have all these things now that I have to find garment boxes for. I’m going to have to go to Fred Meyer to buy some I guess.

So annoying.

But, that aside…. Nate and I went out on Tuesday and got a good start on the Christmas list. And this morning, I had such a nice time shopping for the kids, just me and Max (and a baby-pacifying butter cookie or two). So, I’m not done yet, but feel quite confident it’ll all come together. (Once I buy the stupid boxes).

I don’t have a clue what to get Nate. Any ideas?