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 linking this post because I remembered the cute picture of Liv and a little boy that is relevant to what I have to say today. Liv knit this (much bigger now) boy a hat for Christmas this year. We’re delivering it to his house Friday morning. They still fancy each other after all these years, and it’s still a very casual, matter-of-fact kind of thing. They like each other. They talk, they get on well, and while (at least on Liv’s side) it is a like-like thing, it’s still not a giggly, rollercoaster, ridiculously immature thing. I find it adorable.

He gave her chocolates for Christmas (he obviously knows her well). She asked if he’d like her to knit him a hat. He requested black.

So cute.

While digging through the ghost of blog’s past for that particular post, I felt a pang of regret. My blog used to be so colorful, descriptive, interesting (to me at least) and right now it’s a bare bones shadow of the blog it used to be.

I know I’ve whined about this before, and you all are so kind and say the nicest things like, “get over yourself, just blog what you can and be content, we don’t care.” To which I respond,

“Yes, but I blog for ME. I like writing it all down and seeing it and having it to look back through.”

But honestly, I just don’t have the freaking time anymore! So while I’m not quitting, I don’t know when I’ll get it back to where I want it to be. And it makes me a little sad.

However this is, legitimately, the holidays. And while it never actually does, January and February should slow down. Maybe I can get it back.

I’m going to take a couple pictures. For old times’ sake :-). Here you go.

Liv knitting-

The finished hat-

Our tree-

Nate and the kids did the tree all by themselves this year, ’cause I was half dead with the flu when December hit. They did a very nice job, and aside from not fluffing the tree much at all (straight out of the box in the garage was good enough for them. Many of the branches are still pointed the wrong direction, but you really can’t tell), I have no complaints.

Things are going along. The kids are home on winter break. Clark can’t decide if he has a stomach bug or not. If he does, it’s very mild. If not, then maybe it’s the holiday treats? Don’t know.

We’re all excited for 2011, and hoping it’s a better year than 2010. Everyone I talk to seems to share that sentiment. 2010 was hard. Not all bad, but hard.

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?

The years keep adding up, and the bigger the number, the more excited I get! Nate and I were married 17 years ago today. It’s hard to believe so many years have passed, but I’m so very happy to still be with my wonderful husband after all these years! Happy anniversary, honey!

I’m starting to get some strength back from this horrible flu. I’m still weak and tired and can’t breathe sometimes, but I do feel like I’m pulling out of it slowly.

I’ve been down for the count. This flu has taken me out. I’m still so tired and weak, on a very slow road to recovery. I’m on my second round of antibiotics, and a steroid. Now Nate is getting sick, and Max seems a little warm and grumpy today. I don’t understand why we’re having such a rough time of this. Everyone in the family is dropping one at a time. It’s probably been over 2 months now that someone’s been sick in this house, and I just don’t see an end.

I don’t WANT to learn patience. I’m sick of being patient.

I’ve been so very sick. I had the flu really bad all last week. I’m still not well enough to drive or do much of anything around the house.

So that’s why I haven’t been on the blog in a long time.

I finished the little blue scarf before I got sick, and it’s very pretty. When I’m well enough, I’ll take some pictures. I started a little secret Christmas knitting project today that I can hopefully finish quickly while I’m down for the count.

I finished spinning the silk last night

(it’s SO pretty!) and in my excitement to get this scarf done, I didn’t even wash it to set the twist. But I’m using so little, I don’t think it’ll matter.

After knitting a sample of the border, Nate thought that it needed to be a longer, so I experimented a little bit, and I think he’s right. What do you think?

I’m using size 2 needles to get tiny little stitches. Even though I did a provisional cast on so I could knit onto live stitches, this border is technically supposed to be sewn on afterwards but I resisted because I’m not confident in my hand sewing skills at all. However, it seems like that’s what I need to do.

It’s so cold here (snowing now and the temperature is supposed to drop further) I want this thing done so I can wear it and feel cozy.

When I got down my box full of dye, I noticed a water bottle of blue dye mixed up already. I don’t remember what blue it is, but I figured I’d use it and see what happened. I poured the whole bottle into the pot. The resulting silk is a bit brighter than I’d intended, but I think I like it.

Maybe the brightness will satisfy that part of me that wants it red. In any case, I’m going to spin it up. It will be easy to rip off and overdye if the color isn’t working out.