Still on the vegan/vegetarian trail....

so-it has been 2 weeks since Kaitlyn made her decision, and she hasn't touched meat once. We have offered it to her and assured her that it is ok for her to change her mind, but she is adament.
Good thing we are not big meat eaters anyway. I have been able to make some delicious meals for the family following the vegan lunch box cookbook. Plus we have eaten more Indian food and that has been really good as well.
Last night, we treated the kids to McDonalds. Shawn offered to Kaitlyn a few of his chicken nuggets.
She looked at him for a moment and said in a horrified voice "you are eating a chick!!!"

Guess that was a NO

Just for my dear Jamie

Who I totally bummed out with my last video, this is guaranteed to make you bust a gut laughing!
*WARNING* do not watch if easily offended by foul language
The End of the World

So-it is just a few days until the grand opening of our new online store. I feel very behind. I am probably NOT as far behind as I think I am-but of course I am stressed!
Tomorrow I am skipping church and going to Stacy's to get some more work done together. I am so grateful that we have such a close friendship and can work together like this. One day, we will get our Yarn Store/Knitting place locally-it WILL be a reality and I can't wait!

Shawn took the kids to the hot springs today to give me some time alone to work this afternoon. It was so quiet, I almost had a hard time concentrating! I am SOOO not used to quiet around here.

Bella is finally not sick anymore. She had the 5 day 103 fever and it has gone. Her cough is almost gone and she is on the mend. I am so glad, I hated seeing her so sick.

One more fun thing before I go:

Surprise Surprise right?

You Are 32% Republican

You're a bit Republican, and probably more conservative than you realize. If you're still voting Democrat, maybe it's time that you stop.

How Republican Are You?

You Are 68% Democrat

You have a good deal of donkey running through your blood, and you're proud to be liberal. You don't fit every Democrat stereotype, but you definitely belong in the Democrat party.

How Democrat Are You?

so Kaitlyn is growing up

I can't believe how she is changing and making her own life decisions now.
We have always ate smaller amounts of meat. I have made a conscious informed decision the last few years that I don't believe meat is a healthy food in your diet....so we eat less.

This week the kids have been learning about where meat comes from. They asked to watch the Meet Your Meat Video and I figured they were old enough to see it.
Kaitlyn was repulsed. She had no idea that animals were treated that way. I don't think any of them really connected the whole COW=hamburger concept. So she has decided that she is going to be a vegetarian-almost vegan. I am ok with that. We are helping her to learn more about it so she can recognize it. If she decides later that she wants to change her mind, that is ok too-but for now, she doesn't want it.
My "baby" girl is becoming her own person.
I am very glad that I just got the Vegan Lunch Box recipe book. It has some wonderful meals inside. In fact, I had a lot of fun with her at the Co-Op yesterday getting things we have never eaten before. Adzuki beans, Spelt, all kinds of different organic lentils and black rice! Yummy food coming ahead!

If anyone knows of any good books for kids for learning more about veg*anism - please drop me a line and let me know!

For those that haven't seen it, you can click below. Warning, it is quite disturbing.

This just makes me sick

Police officer gets off - in more ways than 1

So this whole Jeffrey Dahmer thing

what do you think? Is it possible? Did he do it? Do you think there is enough "evidence" to take another look? Read the story here
Some bits and pieces I found interesting:

1. who are saying we were not taken seriously back 25, 26 years ago. So I think they have to look at this case," John Walsh told 12 News this week.
2. Two weeks later, fishermen found Adam's head in a drainage canal, but police never found his body
3. Morgan said he followed the man into the Sears store and lost him in the toy department -- the last place Adam was seen alive.
4. Ten years later, Morgan was at his printer job at the Miami Herald proofing the morning paper-"When the papers came in, I saw the picture of Dahmer, and I started freaking out. I said, 'This is the guy. This is the guy I saw in the mall,'" Willis said.
5. "There was a man holding a little boy by one arm up in the air. The boy was struggling, and the boy was saying, 'I don't want to go. I'm not going,'" Bowen said.
6. Bowen said the man threw the boy into a blue van and screeched off. Bowen said he only saw the man's profile, but it looked like the newspaper picture he brought police

I think those sitings are very interesting and would definitely make me wonder if he did it. I find that he was even there that day in the mall to be very coincidental.

and more:

Dennis Murphy said Dahmer repeatedly denied killing Adam. "He said, 'I've told you everything -- how I killed them, how I cooked them, who I ate. Why wouldn't I tell you if I did someone else?'" Murphy said

bull shit. adams body was never found. . only his head was - dahmer could have ate just his bodyand why would he confess? serial killers are about control and pain...why would dahmer confess to john walsh that he had killed his child? john walsh--a man known quite famously as the man that helps bring down criminals. a man still searching for answers in his child death....what better way to cause him even more pain and have more control over the situation than to DENY the murder??? what a feather in dahmers cap that would be. I am very interested to see how this plays out

Knitting For Others (moved)

ok, now that Jessica's baby shower has passed, I can post her gift.
I knit these booties for her from the Little Turtle Knits Striped Slippers pattern.


These were knit out of knitpicks wool of the andes, hand dyed by me in my pumpkin patch colorway. I hand-washed them afterwards with a baby shampoo, and boy were they soft!


I also did my first chemo cap - I did this one for a male/older teen boy. It is the London Beanie Pattern made popular by David Beckham, the popular football player from England

This was knit from Caron Simply Soft acrylic yarn. *GASP* yes I said acrylic! It is actually a very soft yarn, and upon rubbing on the underside of my chin, was found to not be scratchy at all.

Country songs just......tearjerker alert

See the video: I'll Wait For You

Joe NicholsTitle : I'll Wait For You


The snow in Montana was three feet high
The lady at the counter said: There ain't no flights
And so he called her on the telephone
He said: I'll rent a car and I'll drive home
And she said: I'll wait for you
Like I did last year
At Christmas time with your family here
And your truck broke down out in San Antone
And the gifts stayed wrapped until you got home
Oh, this ain't nothin' new
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you

Now he's on his cell phone in a Coupe Deville
Talkin' to the one he loves and always will
His heart is breakin' 'cause she's there alone
Her heart is achin' 'cause she wants him home
She says: I'll wait for you like in '68
When our child was due, but I said, he'll have to wait
Until his dad gets here and stands by my side
Remember, Dear, our son's first cry
Oh, this ain't nothin' new
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you

He didn't stop all day to eat a bite
And he finally got there around midnight
The doctor said, she's in a better place
She said to give this you this note just in case
And it said, I'll wait for you at Heaven's gate
Oh, I don't care how long it takes
And I'll tell Saint Pete I can't come in
Without my love and my best friend
Oh, this ain't nothin' new
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you
P.S. I love you, too
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you

Busy Busy

so we had our first gymnastics meet of the real season on Saturday. It was fun. Kaitlyn forgot her beam routine and fell on her dismount but she rallied back and did well on the rest.
Conner had a really good meet, and got a 9.0 on his pommel horse routine! It was so awesome! His coach said he has never had a level 4 boy get a 9.0 on a pommel routine before! Conner was totally excited of course, and I was very proud of him!

We have another meet coming up this weekend. It is the largest one in our state. This week is full of practice, set up and more. I am hoping that my mom and dad can come up...it will depend on how well she is feeling after her surgery.

I am busy knitting. my local parenting group is doing charity knitting this year, and right now we are doing chemo caps! I am pretty excited to do these and my first one is half done.

how true this is: My 2 favorite places in the world

You Are Boston

Both modern and old school, you never forget your roots. Well educated and a little snobby, you demand the best. And quite frankly, you think you are the best. Famous people from the Boston area: Conan O'Brien, Ben Affleck, New Kids on the Block

What American City Are You?

You Belong in the UK

Blimey! A little proper, a little saucy. You're so witty and charming... No one notices your curry breath

What English Speaking Country Are You?

Just too much fun

I love these...sometimes! LOL

You Are Jean Grey

Although your fate is often unknown, you always seem to survive (even after death). Your mind is your greatest weapon, literally! Powers: telepathy and telekinesis, the ability to project thoughts into the mind of others, communication with animals

Which of the X-Men Are You?

Voodoo

Well, I started out making myself VOODOO . About half way through of magic looping (knitting both at the same time on one needle) I still got the dreaded second sock syndrome and didn't want to finish!
I ended up cutting it off half way through realizing that at the size they were, they would fit my daughter!
So here is Kaitlyn and her voodoo, yarn dyed by my friend Inspired Mama

Report Card day

I have to say, I am amazed!

Noah has made the honor roll! We've worked so hard with him, and worked so hard getting the teacher to listen to what he needs in the way of how to teach him (with his brain issues-he learns differently) The teacher has finally listened. He went from a F in Language Arts to an A!! An A!!!
Amazing when someone finally listens what can be accomplished! He ended up with 3 A's and a B (in the areas that are actually given a letter grade instead of meet expectations)
I am so proud of him!

Hannah did very well too, as did Conner and Kaitlyn. They all had A's as well.

I am going to make this-so beautiful!

I got this KNITTING PATTERN A DAY calendar for Christmas from a friend. As I was flipping through to see what patterns I wanted to make, I came across this and new in an INSTANT that I had to have it!



It is called the Aran bag. I have some BFL aran weight to make it. I cannot wait! It is kind of old fashioned I think, but so beautiful and totally the style I have come to love.

A few fun things

You Are 20% Politically Radical

You're a very traditional person and perhaps a little resistant to change. In a few more years, your beliefs will be so old fashioned that they'll be radical!

Are You a Political Radical?

You Are 44% Open Minded

You aren't exactly open minded, but you have been known to occasionally change your mind. You're tolerant enough to get along with others who are very different... But you may be quietly judgmental of things or people you think are wrong. You take your own values pretty seriously, and it would take a lot to change them.

How Open Minded Are You?

Your Seduction Style: Ideal Lover

You seduce people by tapping into their dreams and desires. And because of this sensitivity, you can be the ideal lover for anyone you seek. You are a shapeshifter - bringing romance, adventure, spirituality to relationships. It all depends on who your with, and what their vision of a perfect relationship is.

What Is Your Seduction Style?

All is quiet now

Noah went back to school today. It is quiet again. I can't believe how much goes on when he is home.

I just sat down and had a deep breath of calm. :)

Projects in the works

well, I decided to tackle Little Turtle Knits stripey slipper pattern. I made one in a newborn, screwed it up! LOL and am now making a pair for Isabella. I will make the newborn again...I have a friends baby shower coming up.

I got my yarn from JoAnn's today! I cannot wait to do my new Calorimetry with the new colors

I am also starting to purge! *GASP* I am getting rid of some yarn and fabric that I don't need. I cannot believe it. My goal is to take my room back down to normal size and mess...LOL

and it keeps on rolling

So, Shawn and I decided that we are going to try and get the kids into the charter school out here for next year. Conner and Kaitlyn will be going back to school next year, and Alexis will be starting kindergarten. With the current school situation, we do not feel comfortable putting the rest of our children there next year....so last night, Shawn filled out all the applications for them and we are taking them in. It is hard to get in, so we will continue to pray that they get accepted this first year.
The school is very nice. Small and involved heavily with parents. They also follow the Harbor Method which we feel is a very good fit for our children. (the link does not take you to our childrens future school-but is a good explanation for what this method is)

Noah decreased his medications today. We could already see a difference. Lots of highs and lows with him today.

I haven't been feeling well (imagine that with all my stress!) So after we went grocery shopping, I pretty much vegged out today and kind of took it easy. It was nice to be able to rest and know that Shawn was home to help out with anything that popped up with the kids.

I got a call from my mom last night. I can't remember if I had posted that she was ill? Well, she went in for a bunch of testing last week (CT scan, gastroscopy, HIDA scan) and was due to get her results this next monday when her doctor was in. Instead, she ended up with an emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder on Thursday. Wednesday night she got very ill--called in Thursday, the on call doctor reviewed her chart and test results and got her in immediately. Her gall bladder was just rotten and there was infection everywhere. She ended up staying overnight for IV antibiotics, is home now and feeling loads better!

That's all for now!

no good title today

ok, first--as an update to yesterday, I talked to Noah's psychologist this morning. He has lowered the dosage of his zoloft until we can get the trazadone started. That is all I know for now.
I decided I wanted to go back over some of his history... , FIRST and again and MORE and MORE - and I just keep thinking...we just aren't getting very far.

onto other things....congratulations Boise State University Coach Chris Petersen, named coach of the year - First year head coach...led the Broncos to a 13-0 season..the only undefeated team this year. What an honor!


And I haven't done one of these in a while:

You Are the Furthest Thing From Grinch

You love and live for the holidays. You even love the Grinch! You're in the holiday spirit year round... because you're all about celebrating and giving.

Are You a Grinch?

Worst Mother of the Year

Yup-I swear this is me.
I just can't do it anymore. Noah is beyond my control. The medications are not helping. The doctor has yet to switch him from the zoloft to the trazadone....it has been a month since our last visit-and yet, he is still on the medications that make him worse.
I don't know what to do with him. No discipline works. He is acting out. He is stealing from the stores. He is stealing from people. He is lying all the time. His agression is worse. We can't get through to him. I don't know what to do. I dread answering the phone because it always seems to be the school calling to tell me one more thing he has done wrong. But realistically? they are picking on him....they see him do something wrong and they punish him without bothering to find out the whole story. So Noah is being bullied in school, and then being punished for reacting. The principle is a total joke. Seriously. A real class act.
And you know what? It is my fault. *I* made the choice to send him back to school this year because I could not handle him at home anymore. I thought it would be good...and I think if he would have gotten a teacher that is more than a "first year" teacher right out of school, one that actually gave a crap about him--this wouldn't be happening.
Shawn is no help with him. He doesn't understand-and gets so frustrated with Noah-and the reacts in the wrong way repeatedly. I know he tries, but it is so hard to be the one having this all on her shoulders.
A few weeks ago - I broke down and just wished for one second that he wasn't here. That is horrible of me. I can't even believe I thought it for one second. I don't deserve to be a mother.

I just don't even know what to do.

I am so impressed

In an earlier postYarn-Dye and Show there were some yarns I dyed for a craft show-and then put in my STORE

Well, one of them I sold to a fellow store owner, Amanda of Drip Drop Designs purchased it. She crocheted a few hats of it...and look how it turned out!

This is the maize colorway...I must make more!

my life-updated

wow, it has been since October! sorry guys!

if you don't see me here, I am usually posting at my Sewing and Knitting blog about current projects etc-so you will at least know I am still alive! LOL

First off...GO BSU !!!! Boise State University - considered the underdog in the sports world, ridiculed for not being good enough, sadly underestimated--beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the Tostito's Bowl!!!! see more here - now I don't normally watch football--but that game had me on the edge of my seat! I was so mad that last minute when Zabransky threw that horrible pass that was intercepted (that led to the Sooners scoring and pulling ahead in the score) but then he redeemed himself when with 7 seconds left BSU scored and tied for the OT..which led to BSU winning by 1 when they showed guts and didn't play it safe by going for the 2 point conversion.
I don't think I have jumped that high in the air since my days of cheerleading!

(oy..I go back and read that....and it is just so not right for sports talk to be coming out of my mouth...aka my fingers, so we will go on now)

OK--since October....my business has been doing good. Lots of orders - everyone seems to really like the pattern I drafted for my circular needle rolls. I have a lot of fun with it - and it is nice to bring in my own money *smile*

November was good with Thanksgiving. We stayed home and had a nice day. Shawn put up the lights and the tree, and was in a more jolly-like attitude this year. I was the scrooge though...so he had to make up for me.

December was tough. We stayed home for Christmas for Isabella's health-and it was kind of nice to be able to spend the day home. We had a nice dinner and I got to talk to all my family. My grandparents were upset that I wasn't there, and I really missed them. My mom got really sick that week and they still do not know what is wrong with her. She has gone in for a lot of tests and we are just waiting for results.

Gymnastics season is upon us, and we have meets starting for Conner and Kaitlyn. I will post pictures as we get them. Hopefully we will have a good year and Conner will keep his health this season.

and that is all-quick updates