I have a bunch of little dolls and monsters to knit for little people for Christmas. Like, around 14. Or more.

Here’s two!

So cute.

I want to be asleep. I really do. I NEED to be asleep as I’m sick and coughing and exhausted and haven’t slept through the night, pretty much since Clark was born in 2006.

These boys are going to kill me.

They just won’t sleep through the night. It’s more Max now than Clark, but if it isn’t one, it’s the other, and if it isn’t either individually, it’s both.

When they’re sick, as they were for the last couple weeks, the maternal thing kicks in and of course I want to be there to comfort. When they’re not sick, it’s frustrating and hard not to martyr. When I’m sick….. I JUST NEED TO SLEEEEP! For heaven’s sake.

So that’s that. I’ve whined. Now I can talk about these really cool books I picked up today. Well, technically it would be yesterday, but since it isn’t really time to be awake yet today, yesterday still feels like today. ‘Cause that’s not confusing.

There’s a silent auction coming up to fundraise for my girls’ church group to go to camp in the spring. I thought about revisiting the past and knitting some Best Friend Dolls again. (Oooh, and this one and this one and this one). I’ve been wanting to knit them anyway because they’re so darned cute, and this seemed like a good opportunity. Then I was wishing I had something that cool to make for boys. So Nate and I went to the book store today (yesterday) and found this and this.

Knit monsters and, wait….. crochet?

Yup. That Amigurumi book is really cool! I finally found a pattern (or patterns) that make me want to learn crochet. So I bought some hooks and I’m telling myself that I can totally figure it out.

‘Cause I can totally figure it out. Right?

Of course, I’m going to need a bunch of worsted weight wool now so I have lots of colors and textures to choose from. Most of my stash is sock yarn, lace, and dk.

I’m excited. Which is good, because it wouldn’t be hard in my current condition, (horrible chest cold, fatigue, sleep deprivation, violent coughing with nasty side effects, that awful pit in your stomach that happens when you don’t get enough sleep, cold sweats, and have I mentioned that I’m TIRED?), to be flat out miserable and grumpy and not wanting to do anything.

Hooray for yarn. And color. And funky things to do with them.

Nate and I also went to a yarn store in south Austin today (yesterday). She said she had a lot of Cascade 220. She clearly doesn’t know what “a lot” means. There was not a great selection of anything. She was very nice, I liked her, but how I missed The Weaving Works and Serial Knitter! I hope I can find a good yarn store down here. I guess I was spoiled up in Seattle and took it for granted. There’s quite the hopping fiber arts community up there to support a well stocked shop. Even the yarn selection at JoAnns was dismal.

Ugh. I’ve run out of things to say. I’m sooooo tired, but after getting up who-knows-how-many-times to comfort crying boys or to cough myself silly, it seems pointless to try to lay down again. You stop being able to sleep because you’re keyed up waiting for the next interruption.

Martyr, martyr, martyr.

Well, we’ve been sick over here for a couple weeks now. I’m so tired of being 24 hour nurse. And now that I’m not feeling well, I’m really tired.

So, here’s a recap of what’s been happening, chronologically, in pictures…

Max turned 3 at the beginning of October,

but we didn’t have cake and gifts ’til about a week later.

Here’s a picture of some of the crazy weather we’ve been having. Dramatic fluctuations in temperature, but for the most part, it’s warm. Lots of wind and really interesting clouds.

Clark got a DOT dirt bike helmet so he’s safer when riding to school on the back of Nate’s scooter. He was excited.

Veronica had her first band concert. There are, like, 250 kids in her 6th grade band.

Here’s Max eating a Honeycrisp apple the size of his head

We finally celebrated Max’s birthday

Abby had some friends over to get ready for a Halloween dance

Here’s the boys watching the Avengers. We’re big fans over here.

Liv decided she was tired of being a redhead, so we dyed her hair brown

I finally made a recipe I’d been wanting to try. It’s Dutch Oven Artisan bread, and it’s amazing. It also makes fantastic croutons, which is good since the Costco down here doesn’t carry the croutons I like, and I really DON’T like the typical, grocery store variety.

In late October, Liv, Veronica and I drove an hour + west to Enchanted Rock to watch my sister and her boyfriend in a rock climbing competition. It’s a beautiful place, granite everywhere, and we hiked around for over 7 hours. It was fantastic.

Veronica played at the last high school football game of the season in something they call Bandorama. Here she is, warming up. I didn’t get a picture of the actual performance.

and while we were waiting around, I took some photos of Liv.

The weekend before Halloween, we had the party at church. Clark was the Hulk this year.

I took first place in the chili cook off with a white chili recipe my sister-in-law has graciously shared with the family. It wins all the time.

Here’s my sister playing some Taylor Swift and singing with Liv

and my nephew, Solomon and Anne’s boyfriend, Roland

We had our pumpkin carving party again this year, tho’ it’s our first in Texas. A smallish group, but it was really fun.

I found these super-cool old guitar stools on Craigslist for cheap

Here’s a picture of my sister and Roland on their way to a wedding. I’m guessing the bride didn’t appreciate the competition… jk

My dear, dear husband turned 41. Wow. 41. So weird.

and a rare photo of Abigail! And she’s actually smiling!

Finally, (and I mean finally), here’s Solomon, Liv, and Max playing around on the driveway.

See how gorgeous and warm it is? And it’s NOVEMBER!!! Awesome.

Ok, so that’s it from me. I feel crappy, so I’m not overly witty and interesting today. Later!