And it rained all month until the very last day.

(Pics not necessarily in order.)

Trick-or-treating.
Dinner is served.

Pumpkins '09.

Decorating for the party.

Our Tiger Cub waiting for Uncle Barney to come and join his group in a trip to the arch. He is selling popcorn right now if anyone is interested.

I babysat this crew. They are all showing off their musical talent.

Declan's party and a traditional pic from the valley.

Trick or treating on Main St the day before Halloween.

October ended with a whirl wind of activity. Ariel had a celebration down at Lost Creek to celebrate Declan's graduation. I obviously celebrated a little too much. Wendy had her fall piano recital. Getting over the jitters is going to be a real challenge for her. She might preform again this December for some Christmas festivities her instructor is on to. Bri's Mom and Dad had their 50's wedding anniversary party and Bri's sister, Mary, flew into town. That was fun. And then Halloween, of course, the most important holiday season of the year. It was soo much fun. We had a house full of peo, food and enough trick or treating to fill up all the kids treat bags. I think we may have wiped out a few of the candy bowls in the neighborhood. I never got a head count of how many kids we had and it was prob a miracle that we came home with the same amount, not one less and not one more.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Everyday is a day for some thing. Tonight we actually have a night off but it will dedicated to making and decorating note shape sugar cookies for Wendy Mae piano recital Friday night. She has 3 songs memorized to play. The last song she learned just this last week. The goal is to play 5 songs but I know from the last recital that goal is a tall one. Wendy was the only one that had her music memorized much less 5 pieces. It will be a good experience for her. I am loving to have to collect the fancy dresses for the events.

My knitting is moving a long. I think I am on mitten number 7. It is a repeat of the last one. My selection of mittens is getting more particular. I am going to start on some very traditional designs. Yesterday I got some yarn for my "Mittens of the Aran Islands". I was really wanting to get started on these Sunday but had to get the right yarn first. While the kids are at school or in bed I am working on some of their gifts. Wendy is always wanting flip flop socks and new slippers. Beck is always wanting all the crazy creatures he sees on Ravalry. I have decided to knit all the kids some kind of toy. After I finish Wendy's socks I will start on some of those.

I have been busy trying to get a room party together for Becks class. DELEGATION is the key word. There doesn't have to be a lot to do but there is a lot of correspondence to make it happen. Most of the time I let other peo be the "head" room mother and just be a helper. I didn't get that choice this time. I think I am on top of everything now and have all the donations and bodies I need so I am feeling pretty confident with this event.

Both of the kids are having a great school year. They both have great teachers and that really makes all the diff in the world. We all have been healthy (knock on wood) and I am hoping that we all stay that way. I am looking forward to Halloween, having peo over and trick or treating. The kids have had their costumes picked out and ready since September. The count down has begun.

Comforts Of Home

I imagine all peo have some little thing that reminds them of home, baking, games, whatever, it could be anything. The thing that brings me back more than anything is rain and snow. Ironically I would never allow myself to get rained or snowed in the valley now. As soon as the creeks look as if they might rise I haul my ass out of there. Still, the rain brings with it a kind of peace I don't find in many other things. I am loving this weather.
Bri has been home since last week. He worked on my van in the cold and drizzle the last two days. The power steering has been making noise for forever, now it is finally less whiny than I can remember it ever being. The fact that he had to detach and then reattach the air bags worries me. I guess I will just drive it around with my seat back as for as I can possibly put it and coast to all stops. Better safe than sorry.
Last week was a bang up knitting week. I didn't see Abe until this Monday night for dinner. Marley had flu and Dec and Ariel stayed home with the kids. I appreciate that they kept their illness to their selves but I sure missed my kiddos. I knitted like a mad woman to compensate for it and have 5 pr of mittens completed. I'm at the point that I will have to start buying more yarn. I am going to start on the fingering weight ones next. I am not there yet, I have yarn for two are three more pairs and today I hope to get to the library and pick up some more pattern books. I will try the drive through reserve pick up window for the first time. Could they make the library any more awesome. The last two days I took a short break to knit a hat/cap for Beck. It is like the snowboarder hat with the brim. I am hoping it works. Abe and I have to head out to the store today and get materials for the brim.
It seems like we have been super busy with Bri home but all I have talked about is my knitting. Bri had a work picnic that we all went to and Sunday we went to Daniel's Pumpkin Farm. The weather was really wonderful and I was glad because we were out in it the entire time. The kids came over for dinner on Monday. Marley is so funny, she wants me to write down my gravy recipe. She is 5 going on 30. I got a call from Wes last night, he and Michelle are closing on their house on the 19th, very exciting. Last week they had the walk through and settled with the owners to fix almost everything, they were very happy about that. I still haven't gotten to see the place and expect to finally do that this weekend or next week for sure. They are going to need everything. They got rid of everything they had collected before when they were living with Michelle's Mom.

Knitting

Knitting, knitting ,knitting. I finished both of the boys sweaters and I couldn't be more pleased with the final result. The combination of pattern , color and yarn is perfect. It could possibly be the worlds softest wool on earth. I only finished Abe's yesterday and I still have to block it, it is beautiful. Yesterday afternoon I started on my first pr of mittens. Most of the mittens I have chosen use diff techniques than I have used in the past. I have already come up against a snag but lucky for me Ariel will be coming with Abe this morning and I hope she can help solve my problem. I am soo excited about knitting mittens and all the peo I can give them to. I have found patterns for Maine lobster men's mittens, Russian folk mittens, pirate mittens and even a witchy pair. Some peo have hinted mittens weren't their thing. I have gotten over finding that offensive and moved on to making a diff list of peo to give my gloves to. I realized that my gloves are made for special peo who need them as much as I need to make them. Peo who go for long walks, boot up computers in cold rooms, play instruments in frigid classrooms, moped riders (I am positive they need mittens). Anyway although I have lost a few peo from my initial list my list keeps growing. Yeah mittens!

Abe's fall sweater before it is blocked. Beck's sweater. It fits perfect.Beck tried to look happy about playing dress up, he was trying real hard.

Wendy has informed me she wants want of those stylish jackets all the other kids have in school, aka hoodie (maybe one with a monkey on the back????). I just don't know? I spent last night looking up pretty cardigan patterns that would be beautiful on her. I worked at the school store before school this morning. I did notice not all the girls wear hoodies. She just might have to work with me on this....

"61 Ford Apache

This weekend was dedicated to Wes. Bri and Wes spent the weekend looking at trucks and Wes bought a 1961 Ford Apache (sp?). It is awesome. The owner before him did some really good restoration work on it and after a weekend of labor by Brian I hope it is road worthy. He loves it and that is what is really neat. Now it is after 7 pm and Bri finally got to do some fishing with Beck. Brian did not however get to work on any of his own projects. He will survive. It was a busy weekend. It started on Thursday. The kids had two days off for Parent Teacher Conferences. Fri the kids and I went to the Zoo and then Fri night we went to the German Festival down town with Dec, Ariel and kids. Yesterday we turned off the tube and kept the kids busy in all sorts of other activities. We had Wes and Michelle over for dinner Sat and Sunday. It has been a long time since we have been able to do that because of their work and school schedules. Speaking of Wes and Michelle, they signed a contract on a house last Fri. We didn't get to see it this weekend but hope to be able to next weekend. They still have to have approval for there loan but everyone seems to feel confident that that will happen in time. It is being held up by paper work I think. As for as knitting news I have finished Becks sweater now twice. The first time I had to take it apart and lengthen the sleeves. This time I think it will work and I only have a few things to finish off before I can block it. I need to take lots of pics but that requires me dumping all my pics onto a disk. I will get that done the first of this week. Finally now after a most beautiful day it is Sunday night and although Bri leaves again tomorrow and we have a busy week ahead of us I will perhaps get a chance to rest, at least Monday will be a day of semi rest.

Knitting News

Actually, there is no knitting news. I am getting really, really, really anxious to complete the top I am doing for Wendy Mae. I already have a project bag set with needles and yarn to start working on the boys sweaters and am collecting even more mitten ideas. Yesterday after putting the front band on the top I realized that the whole top was to short. Wendy is very long waisted and I hadn't added any extra length. I had to take it all apart and add length to the back and then wait until this morning to measure it against her to see how it will fit. Today I will work on the sides and hope to finish it for sure this weekend. Speaking of this weekend, it will be a busy one, so much is going on. Tonight is the balloon glow at Forest Park and tomorrow the Irish festival in going on down at the river. The kids and I will really enjoy these events. Sunday Beck has his first Tiger Cub meeting. I hope he isn't too disappointed to find out they aren't holding giant snakes or shooting sling shots. I imagine this meeting is mostly organizational. I am only going because of that reason. He has already announced that he would rather have Brian or Uncle Barney (in the case that Brian isn't in town) taking him to the meeting. He is totally looking at this as a GUY experience. I hope the sight of all the other mom's at the meeting doesn't totally put him off. ??? We'll see how it goes.

Swine Flu

Not - Beck has been having flu like symptoms since late Sat, he has been laying on the couch now for over two days. Yesterday when we went to the Dr she tested him but alas he only had the normal flu. ?? It isn't like they would do anything either way. Unless you have a life threatening illness, elderly or an infant you probably won't be treated. The good thing is that he can go back to school tomorrow. Actually he looks pretty ready right now if you ask me but since this is the first morning I have been able to maintain a normal temp without medication I will keep him home one more day. Today will be a test of patience for me as I have two houses to clean and Beck I suppose will be "in tow". Beck is the reason I quit cleaning houses yrs ago. We will see if he can actually hang out with out breaking or spilling anything and for god sakes the last thing I need is any help. Eeek! It make me tense to think about.