Swim Mom Knits

Too much excitement!

At school this week there was a bit to much excitement for my liking.  One student made death threats to teachers and students via the computer.  Luckily the student he was messaging took the threats seriously and contacted the sheriff's detpartment but it still hits a little to close for comfort.  So I am spending a little extra time this weekend snuggling with my family.

Not much to report

Well, it was my first four day weekend since the start of the semester.  I have to say that it flew by super fast.  Play practice has stepped up at school and that has made for no extra time at all.  What little time I get I spend knitting.  (This really isn't saying much)  I think I am definitely looking forward to next year when I have lessons already prepared that I just have to tweak.

The boys have been good, at least since Tuesday.  Last weekend, they caught the flu from a kid at the sitters (every family at the sitter's got hit) so we got to spend way to much time cleaning vomit up.  Nate has started a real whiny kick that is driving Shane and I nuts.  I am hoping that it doesn't last to long.

shane and I did get to spend an evening on the town Saturday night.  One of my new co-worker's boyfriend is in a punk band and she asked us to come and hear him play.  So we did.  I haven't stayed out that late in months!  What a rough way to spend a Sunday.  We had a great time.  The boys were enjoying themselves at Grandma's house.  Nate didn't think one night was enough though.  He wanted to stay longer.

The boys and I also did the family reunion thing on Sunday.  I got to play with my 8 month old cousin (so cute) and the boys spent most of their time at the park.  I do have some pictures of the activities but they are on my palm pilot and I can't get the computer to talk to it yet.  Hopefully soon.

Another week gone

This week flew by.  Between school and swim team, it feels as though we have no time for anything else.  Ben had his first swim meet of the winter season this past Saturday.  His times improved but he didn't perform as well as he could have.  After the meet he and his Dad drove to St. Louis to meet me and Nate for a wedding.  It was a nice wedding with an open bar.  I don't think I have ever seen my Dad drink quite that much.  He actually let me drive the car back to the hotel! (This is unheard of with me Dad who rarely lets anyone else behind the wheel).  Nate did his usual womanizing.  This time it was the sister of the bride and she was his dance partner nearly the whole night.  When she danced with someone else, Nate always found a replacement.  Unfortunately, my camera died within minutes of the wedding.  I got one crappy picture of the bride and that was it.

Knitting is nearly at a standstill.  I have been working on a cabled hat out of some Lorna's Laces yarn but don't have anything to show for it yet.

When my father truly surprises me!

The swingset is almost finished!!!  Seriously the idea that it would ever be usable had left the realm of possibility for me.  But it has all of its swings, two platforms (with appropriate safety bars), the slide is functional and a sandbox all ready to go.  Apparently, the slide isn't braced to my fathers standards (you know so that it outlasts my great-grandchildren, not that we could move this swingset now) but it is absolutely usable.  (And it might be useful to know that any of the adults at my house could slide down it without the slide being in any danger of breaking.  Just that it won't last 40 years into the future).  Of course, I think this will be the last time my mother agrees to a project like this.  It ate four of their vacation days to work on it.

In other exciting news, after ten years of marriage my father apparently thinks I should go back to being single.  Joking, he wrote me a check and used my maiden name on it.  Seriously I haven't used that name in nearly 13 years.  I was laughing so hard, I guess that just goes to show that little girls never truly grow up in their father's minds.

I also have finished projects to show.

That is count them, 3 baby hats for the growing babies.  (My sister and SIL are both growing babies, due one week apart in March)  One of the pastel hats is really big (in case my new neices and nephews have big heads.  Hey it runs in the family.  My nephew's head was bigger than mine by a year of age.  Seriously, straight from my mom that one is) The orange hat is for my SIL who is against pastels.

I have orders for two baby blankets, but my sis wants hers girly if she has a girl, so I am in a holding pattern for hers.  And well, my brother and SIL are going to decorate the baby's room in Harley-Davidson stuff, so I am leaning towards a blanket that will match and that will require a definite shopping excursion which will have to wait until at least November. (Thank goodness the paychecks have begun)

My weekend was spent really productively.  I made 3-d models of the platonic solids (well four of them)

I did a cube as well, but somehow it missed the picture.  This really made me feel as if my college money was poorly spent.  (How do elementary teachers do it? I will never know)

It was homecoming week this week so school was somewhat choatic.  The week culminated with the class games, which meant 3 1/2 hours in the blazing hot sun for the teachers.  I think I could have done with a little more fall like weather for this particular day.  But I guess it is better than 50 and rain.

Yikes! How has it been that long?

Really, you would think that I could post at least once in over two months.  But apparently not.  It started out with me just not being in the mood for much of anything.  A little touch of depression had hit.  Then BAM school started and all that free time I had was gone.  So my plan is to post once a week (more if I can but we will see).  Now a little update of the summer.

Nate turned five, went to Florida with his grandparents and started preschool.  He liked Florida so much that he though we should move to the hotel where they stayed.  Nate surfed the waves on a boogie board, played mini-golf and had a generally great time.  And being with Grandma and Papa, he apparently ate nothing but hamburgers and french fries for a week.  When he got back it was his birthday.  He was so excited.  Then the very next day, he started preschool.  He gets to ride the bus and he tells me he has made lots of friends although he can't remember their names.

Ben began trumpet lessons, started the fifth grade and began fall swimming.  He is really excited about swimming this year.  Our least favorite coach quit and our favorite coach took over Ben's age group.  Plus one of the boys he swims against in the summer joined the team for the winter.  Ben was totally excited by that.

Shane's life continues much the same as it was.  He has a big new project at work that makes him cranky all the time but otherwise he is very happy. 

Me, well, I started my new job.  I really had forgotten how much I enjoyed teaching.  And also how much work you take home in that first year.  It makes me realize why I had a job with crappy pay, nothing comes home with you.  But for the first time in ages, I don't dread going to work everyday.  I like the classes I teach, I like the students, I like my fellow teachers.  On the whole, I am pleased.  I would like a little more knitting time, but I will squeeze it in as best as possible.

In a spur of insanity, I agreed to co-sponsor the drama club which means I am responsible for the play and musical that the school puts on.  Thank goodness my co-sponsor knows more than me about how to put on a production, because I am clueless.  We got out play picked out and the kids are completely excited about it.    But we have to try and get the play accomlished in a short month.  Yikes!

I think I mentioned this previously, but my sister and SIL are both pregnant.  Due exactly one week apart.  I broke down yesterday (with the excitement of the first paycheck) and went to the LYS.  I bought the cutest orange and white yarn to make a baby hat.

Next up, this is long overdue but a big thankyou to both my sockpal and my secret pal.  Sockpal, the socks were absoluted gorgeous.  I love the blue tones.

Secret Pal -- what can I say, you complelety overwhelmed me with the last gift.  When I opened the box and saw the beautiful  bag, I was excited.  But then the bag was filled with goodies.  Seriously, I was stunned into silence (and my husband would tell you that is a huge feat).

So first up here is the bag.

Then the goodies.  Salsa yarn, Noro mohair, Lobster socks kit, Interlacement beaded scarf kit.  Plus...

Little sheep clips, a Yarn Angel, cow buttons, a curious george tatoo, pop rocks candy, a sheep tape measure (not in the picture, Nate stole it right away), a little knit bear and some really yummy soaps and samples of Soak!

Seriously, a fabulous gift.  Thanks!

All Swimming All The Time

It has been nothing but swim, swim, swim here.  We had a meet on Saturday, a meet last night and a meet tonight.  Unfortunately, Ben is going to miss the conference championship to go to the Ren Faire north of Chicago with his Aunt.  So his summer season will end with a whimper instead of a bang.  But he is still giving the meets all his effort.  He swam against his biggest summer competition in both Saturday's meet and last nights meet.  He got beat on Saturday in the IM (all four strokes) but yesterday he almost beat his rival.  He was ahead for three of the four strokes.  It was a fabulous race to watch.

I am still working on the sock.  At some point I will have a picture, but I just haven't gotten much knitting done this past weekend.

The visit with our Aunt was filled with a county fair.  Nate went on a ride called the Stardust that spins really fast and then lifts you off the floor.  He seemed to like it although he wouldn't go on it again.  Ben on the other hand, had to be convinced to go on the ride and then rode it five more times.  It was crazy.  I had one of my favorite fair foods, cotton candy.  Okay, so it isn't really a food, but I love to eat it.

Sunday, we spent the day resting, grocery shopping and doing laundry.  Okay the last two were really all me.  This coming weekend while Ben is off savoring the Ren Fair, Nate is going to stay with another Aunt so we will be childless.  I think I will sleep in until the dog reminds me he needs to go out.  Poor puppy was not happy to be kenneled for the weekend.  He has been letting his displeasure be known.  So this weekend will be all about spoiling him.

Swim Meets

Well, it has been all swimming all the time here.  Ben had a meet Tuesday night, Thursday night and one on Saturday is scheduled.  We are going down tonight to spend the evening with my Aunt who recently moved to the area of the meet on Saturday.  It should be interesting this weekend since Ben will actually have competition for a change.  These little dual meets just don't offer the kind of competition that he is used to getting in winter swim.  He swam his IM (that is all four strokes done in a row) against the 11-12 yr old boys and beat all of them at his last meet.  Which would never happen in the winter.  On the plus side he is seconds away from the record at the Marshall pool for numerous events so he does have something to work towards.

I have been knitting.  Slowly, on the sockapalooza sock.  I finished the gusset stitches and am working on the foot.  I hope to be into the toe (or done) by the time we get back.

Employment is Good

I got the job!  Let's all do a happy dance!  This couldn't be more perfect if I got to pick the job myself.  We don't have to move, I don't have to live away from the family for the week and I get to teach my favorite level of math.  I am totally excited.  Now I must just wait for the fear and stress of preping for the new year to set in.

I survived!

The overnight guests were far more cooperative than I thought they might be.  I managed to freak out my youngest niece when I forgot who I was putting in the pool (I tossed her in like she was one of my boys, who wouldn't notice if they could never touch bottom).  She couldn't touch and got really scared but we got it worked out and she was really happy to show Mommy what she could do on Sunday.  My poor nephew was not feeling well on Saturday and I wasn't sure I was going to take him with me.  In fact we had went back to Papa's house to drop him off while waiting for the 4-H judging to finish (I couldn't get the eldest niece until after she got judged for her rabbits).  When I got ready to leave, he went to the door to go with and I being the big softie Aunt went ahead and took him with me.  By the time we got home and had supper there was just enough time to swim for a bit and go in to get ready for bed.  I did bribe them with popcorn and a movie but they all settled down just fine. 

The little ones even went to sleep without any fuss.  I was somewhat surprised by the niece doing this as she can be difficult to get to sleep without her big sister near her.  But after talking to her and Nate (they were sleeping together) about the amount of giggling and talking they went right to sleep.  The nephew is easy as pie to get to sleep so he was not problem.  Ben and the eldest niece slept outside in the tent and after we got them situated we heard nary a peep from them.

The three little ones actually played quite well together except in the pool.  The nephew wouldn't get in at all.  But he was feeling better on Sunday and got to play cards and play outside so he was fine.

Ben's second birthday party went well.  Some of my family were in town that I wasn't expecting and they came over to enjoy the day.  Nate had a blast in the pool swimming and getting thrown in the air.  I don't think he will be satisfied with Mommy throwing him anymore.  I couldn't get anywhere near the lift the guys could.

It didn't even matter to him how he went into the water.  Face first, belly buster, whatever he just came up laughing and asking for more.  Of course, I didn't expect much else.  He has been jumping off diving boards and going down big water slides for two years.

The bigger cousins attempted to throw Ben.  But Ben is just to big to throw well anymore.  So they opted for a little shoulder standing and jumping off.  (No fears about the depth of the pool, it is over seven feet for 3/4 of the width)

All in all the boys were exhausted at the end of the day.  A fabulous second birthday party for all involved.  In fact, the littlest niece was very upset that she had to go home.  So we are already planning a second visit, hopefully with a day full of nothing but swimming.

Happy News

Not on the job front although the interview went really well.  I won't find out about the job until Tuesday morning.  And if it doesn't happen, well I have another interview in a week.  That is one nice thing about teaching math, there is a shortage of those certified to do it.

The happy news is that I am going to be an Aunt (again) twice over.  Both my sister and my brand new SIL are pregnant!  And to make it even more amusing they are both going to be due right around the same time next March.  Baby knitting here I come.  I am hoping for one girl and one boy.  Of course, no matter whether they are boys/girls or a mix I will spoil them terribly.  I already told my brother that I want to book a regular monthly visit, kinda like custody only for spoiling.  I figure I better ask now because with all the family (hers and ours)  I will have to book ahead of time to make sure I get to spoil the kid right.  Then my sister informs me that they are thinking of moving back this direction after summer next year!  It would be so exciting to have my nephew and future neice/nephew that much closer.

This weekend, we have Ben's big birthday party.  Plus just to make things more interesting, I have agreed to get not only my nephew but me neices as well tomorrow.  That makes 3 pre-schoolers in my house overnight.  I think this being off work may have warped my mind a little bit.  Two three year olds and a  four year old at once.  And my neice won't let my husband touch her (not anything personal, she doesn't like any men that aren't her Daddy).  This could get very very interesting.