Pattern fun and Pink-eye

So I finally got my pattern all written out, only to realize I didn't actually make any projects from it yet! Well, ok. I did, but I wrote a single crochet pattern, then translated it into half double crochet to save time (essentially, it's the same directions, just a different gauge), but I have no hdc FO's to put pics of in the pdf file! So, I have to retranslate it back to sc, or just have my testers do the hdc version, then use their pics for my gallery... decision, decisions. I think I will work out both versions with notes at the end or something, and just stick with the pattern the way it's written out for now. I can put my sc pics in as an example of a sc FO, at least.

Now, for the pink-eye. It sucks. I don't know how my kids have ever been able to stand it. I have had itchy red, puffy, watery (*snotty, as my son would say!*) eyes for going on the third day. So I finally called the doctor, after using random antibiotic drops I found in the closet from who knows when, and couldn't get in. My family doctor is a teacher at the local Med School, and is never in, which means his partner is always booked up. So I got to spend about 30 minutes looking up providers online, then another 15 minutes on hold, trying to get in somewhere. But I finally have a booking and will be leaving shortly. I hope I don't scare anyone with my Twilight Red eyes on the way there.

At least I can knit in the waiting room, because I sure as H can't do it when I'm home anymore. Kids can be so needy sometimes, sheesh.

Spring!

Yeah! Almost Spring!

The sun is shining, it's gonna be around 75 degrees today, (and I have my typical spring cold, but) it's almost here!

I have been dreading, yet pining for Spring this year. This was a long, cold, cooped up winter for me, and the kids have all been suffering from it. They have been crabby, and ready to get out into the warm. I really love that time of year when I can just kick their butts outside and let them go (as far as the neighbor's house, but you get what I mean).

As for crafting, man, I have a million ideas! I think I will try to get some of them down for once this summer. I want to set aside time every day for this. Something I always say I'm going to do, but I think I may be able to this year. I'm not pregnant, working outside the home, or dealing with watching more than one daycare child right now. Yay!

Right now, I'm working on two knitting tester patterns for friends, and I have some sewing to get finished, but when that stuff is done, I'll be able to work on some other stuff. I can't wait! The first pattern, I posted about last time, but the other one is from Tina from SugarBubbie: http://hyenacart.com/Sugarbubbie. It's so cute! I'll be glad when it's done. K will have some cutie clothes this summer!

On the down side, my hubby is an umpire, and will be gone much of the summer. Oh, I'll see him once in a while in the evenings, but he will work full time and officiate on the evenings and weekends. I'm looking forward to this, but I'm also not liking his absence. He will make great money, though, and with my daughter going to private high school next year, we'll need it. I'm so glad he is willing to provide for us like this, but we will miss him!

Now, to go hang some dipes on the line, and enjoy my naptime!

Falling behind.

The kids are out of school today. I thought I could use this time to get caught up a little on some projects. Not. I got only about three rows done on a skirt, and then a massive migraine hit. It always seems to come up really fast, like a truck. I took some Tylenol, and that took the edge off, but I'm still sufferin' succotash, and didn't get much done. I am so excited to get this skirt done, too! It's a pattern I'm testing for a friend, and it's really cute. I've not made many things besides longies / shorties for my kids, and nothing really for the older ones, so I hope it turns out and she can wear it awhile.

I'm also working on some shorties, some legwarmers (hello, it's March! I know, I know...), a skirt, and still have several baby items to work on, and man, I just don't have the time. I am really wanting to have a whole day to myself to get these things done, but that's not gonna happen. I have to say that I really look forward to school being out in a couple months, so I have time with the kids around to help, and no rushing off to school to drop off or pick up.

I am loving Ravelry right now, though. It's a great place to go when I can't actually work on anything, and I can just dream. And when I'm nursing, sometimes just browsing around passes the time, ya know? Someday...

S.A.D.

Or as I like to call it, Stupid A$$ Depression. Actually, I think it stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, but whatever.

I just can't seem to get myself motivated on these cruddy, cloudy, rainy-type days. I just want to crawl under the covers and never come out. We have playgroup today, though, which will take all morning, then it's lunchtime, then nap time. Only 3 more hours, then covers, here I come!

Geez

So we went to a Lenten Fish Fry last night. At our school's Athletic Association Fund Raiser, some friends of ours had bought at auction a package where we would get tickets to the fish fry, a limo to drive up to 10 people there, and back, and two cases of beer. So we found a sitter for the baby, and left the other kids up to their own devices, and off we went. We got there around 6:30, and the line was already twisting like an "s" through the parking lot, around one building, then into it, under the tunnel between the two buildings, then up into the second building. It's a good thing we Catholics love to socialize, because the line was three hours long. For twenty minutes worth of fish, french fries and cole slaw. And by the time we got there the ice cream was gone.



This particular fish fry is basically a reason to drink, and I don't really. So it was interesting seeing early on the families with little kids and grandparents, then the older couples, and their adult children, then the college students from Creighton in their high heels and tight jeans and bottles of Rum, from a sober perspective. There were many broken beer bottles and spills to say the least! We got to kick around a playground ball, and get to know intimately the bricks on the side of the building as we crawled along in line. As the drunks got louder, the crowd was deafening by the time we got under the tunnel. And the smell of fish hit you like a brick when you got back up the stairs into the cafeteria. The place was so humid that moisture was literally dripping down the walls. I still can smell fish in my hair.



So, since all my companions were drunk, when we got back to our hosts' house, I was the des. driver, and got to drive 45 minutes round trip to pick the baby up from the sitter. It was 10:30 by this time. When I got back, my husband decided that we should stay and play poker. Then my daughter called and asked what was taking so long. Her siblings were all asleep, and she was up waiting. Since our hosts were the parents of her good friend and she was also still up, I went home to pick her up to bring her over to stay the night.



But when I got home, the 3 yo had peed the couch, and when I woke him up, everyone woke up. So I spent twenty minutes taking kids potty, walking them to their beds, finding blankets, pillows, etc. By the time we got back to their house it was midnight. It was a fun night, but I think next time I'll send my husband with his buddies, and I'll stay home and knit. I can make fishsticks.

Transition...

Well, I decided to close my Hyenacart store. I just was feeling so much pressure to keep up with a deadline, and I was feeling very much a failure for not keeping on top of things. I do have an Etsy store that I haven't stocked in ages, so I think that I will just list things as I finish them, and not worry about the pressure.

Plus, I have some ideas for a toy I'd like to try, and less pressure is better for my creativity!

I'm really sad, though. I have wanted an outlet to sell my crafty things for ages, and now I feel like I didn't fulfill my potential, so to speak. There's that mommy guilt again, rearing its ugly head. I just wanted it to be more successful, and it wasn't, so I panicked. So I feel like I wasted some time and money which could have been spent better. I have always been bad at following my own advice, which would have been, just don't try so hard to do everything.

I quit my part time job and last night was my last night. I'm so glad to have my evenings and bedtime back! My favorite time of day is when the kids are in bed, and I'm knitting or crocheting in bed, watching tv with my hubby. It's boring, I know, but it really relaxes me, and I feel very productive then, for some reason. I look forward to this summer, and long afternoons at the ball park with my crocheting and some cold sweet tea! And no deadlines.

Yay!

Baby rolled over today! She's been rolling from tummy to back, but she rolled back to tummy today!

=)

Also, I got about 1/3 of my pattern written, and all the socks are matched up and put away! Woohoo!!