The Next Big Event

October 18 is the big day, we get the new Series of Unfortunate Events book. We won a free copy of it at the Potter Party's costume contest. Now, of course, my kids expect me to make them Baudelaire outfits for the Snicket Party. Nope. Not going to happen.

They keep tempting me though. My oldest daughter got a bunch of patterns on sale last week and pointed out that if I dressed in a particular Gibson Girl dress I could look like Aunt Josephine. Baby could go as Sunny. My eldest would go as Violet (of course). My youngest wants to go as the Quagmire girl, and my middle one wants to be Uncle Monty.

"Mom, all you'd have to do is dress the baby in one of our old christening gowns. Sunny always wore long dresses in the books. And I could wear a lab coat and take a rubber snake. "

"Mom, I'll help you sew everything. I know the pattern has three million seven pieces, but I'm home all day with the baby. I know I didn't have time to take a shower today and the sewing machine is buried under a mountain of baby laundry, but I could do it if you could help me find the machine and watched the baby for me."

"Mom, I could also use the costume for Halloween, and I could be Violet for Halloween, or maybe Princess Jasmine if you want to make me a Jasmine costume too because I don't like the one they have at the store because it itches and also I don't have dark hair so I would have to wear a wig for that and if I was one of the triplet girls from the book nobody really knows what color her hair is and then I could also wear the dress to church or even for picture day and...." (I must admit that at this point I shook my head and walked away. I'm sure my youngest daughter has already set the world record for the longest run-on sentence spoken without taking a breath, but frankly I'm just too tired to try to find out.)

Today I'm skipping school and taking a trip to the yarn store. I know, bad me, but honestly, I deserve some yarn. I'm making myself a shawl/shrug/thing to throw on around the house and snuggle up in. Yes, I said myself. And I want some yummy yarn to make it with. Estimated date of completion on this item: sometime around the birth of my first great-great grandchild.

Broadband a-go-go......

My modem has officially died. So I'm sitting here at school trying to catch up on my email and stuff. The provider should be out sometime next week to figure out what's going on, as this is the second modem I've burned through in less than a month.

It's funny, but when my connection is great, I don't seem to spend much time on-line, but when I'm on a lousy connection, like the dial-up I have at home, (best speed to date-30.2) I think of about a million things I need to look up, do, etc. and the slowness frustrates me so much I can never do them.

I have three tests this week, so not alot of knitting going on. Still working on the sleeve for my daughter's sweater, but alas, no pics since I'm here at school.

I'm now in the phase where I'm looking for my next project. I'm going to do a sweater for my middle child, same pattern, then I dunno. I'm thinking about actually doing something for myself (gasp!).

Up all Night

I'm pulling an all-nighter because I have a test in the morning. Yes, I know, bad study habits, but this is about the only quiet time I get to study. Tonight, however, I'm not alone. Baby is in here with me since we're having a fussy night. Although right now she's zonked in the swing. And I believe if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

My eldest child is trying out the knitting machine, making a sweater. We had tons of black cotton yarn, and so she decided to do something with it. Also a good way of putting the machine through it's paces. I can't wait until I get some time to have a go at it. Though it is nice to have something on the needles to do while I'm waiting between classes or at a doctor's office or something. Of course I would NEVER knit at work or in class. Right.

Had my first win on an auction on ebay today. What a thrill. Got some stuff for Baby. This stuff could get really addictive. Also bid on some clothes for the other girls, but those auctions won't end for awhile, and I'm not holding my breath.

Well, I guess it's back to the books - I really am enjoying school, but the studying is going to kill me. When I was younger I never had to study, guess that's why my study habits are so horrible now. Off to put on another pot of coffee....

The Potter Party

Finally scanned in the pictures we took at the Harry Potter party in July. We had such a blast, and we even won the costume contest. Since we had already pre-ordered book 6, we got to choose another book. We got a free pre-order ticket for the new Series of Unfortunate Events book, due out this month, I think.

Anyway, my middle daughter went as Ginny Weasley. You can't really tell from the picture, but I had used temporary hair color to dye her hair red. It looked really cool. I made an iron-on of the Gryffindor patch and put it on a polo-type shirt. The socks I knitted, you can kind of see the gold and burgundy peeking out just under her skirt. My oldest daughter sewed the skirt, and we both worked on the robe. The wand I made with Sculpey and a paintbrush. When we walked in everyone knew she was Ginny.

My youngest daughter went as Fleur Delacour's little sister, Gabrielle. For some reason this is her favorite character, and she also likes the Beauxbaton costume. I did the same thing for the patch on her shirt that I did for my middle daughter, but we made her more of long cloak than a robe. The material is much lighter, sort of airy. The skirt and socks I bought at a school uniform store. Her hair is naturally blond, so no tricks there. Since getting into the books herself, she no longer wants Slytherin stuff. She used to like Slytherin because their color is green, and it matches her eyes.

My oldest daughter went as Tonks. She used that spray-in stuff to turn her hair pink, and made the T-shirt herself, borrowing the design from a band's cover art. You can't tell in this picture, but she was 8 months pregnant with Baby at the time. She and my youngest had to explain to people who they were. Oh, well, I guess everybody can't be freaks like us.

And of course there's me. I went as Mrs. Weasley, and everybody knew who I was supposed to be, too. I knitted the tam, my daughter made the skirt, and the shirt I bought. It took us a long time to find the right purse, but we finally found one that I think I could load several days work of stuff in, and still have room for more. I also dyed my hair red, but it doesn't show up in the picture.

We had such a great time, and are really looking forward for the movie to come out in December, so we can once again let our freak flags fly.

Spamming the Blogs

While perusing my little piece of heaven here, I noticed that I had a spam comment. So I turned on word verification. I think this is a pain in the ass, but I had to do it. I mean, not many people visit me here, but when I get a comment, I want a real comment, you know?

Basically I'm just killing time while here at school - brought my knitting but forgot to bring my needle case. I have been using the Denise needles, and they are great. But I need to put the half of the sweater I've already finished on a holder, and I don't have anything with me.

Today we took about a dozen cans of powdered formula to school for the Katrina victims. My kids' school is taking up stuff, so I let everyone at work know. The formula rep brought in tons of formula samples. He's bringing in more tomorrow too. Baby is breastfed, so we also sent along all the bottles and formula we had received for her.

Looks like it's time to go back into class. Then to work, then home. I can;t wait till this week is over.

Anywhere but here.

Today is one of those days where I don't know where I want to be. When I'm home, I want to go out. When I'm at school, I want to be at home, and when I'm at work, well, I never want to be at work. But I just don't know what I want to do or where I want to go. I just know that it's not here.

Finally got around to taking a picture of the sweater I knitted for the grandbaby. I used Caron Simply Soft, and made it a little big since Baby was born in August and won't be wearing it for a few months. She's already outgrown the gorgeous hat my daughter made for her, though she did have the best hat in the nursery. And we can always make her another hat to match. I got the pattern from the book Style Your Own Kid's Knits. I must admit that when I first looked at this book, I wasn't too impressed. The motifs in the back all looked my then-6yr-old had drawn them. But I received it as a gift for my birthday, and I love it. I'm thinking about modifying the basic pattern for the knitting machine, and making matching sweaters for Baby and my younger daughters.

Baby had her first official doctor visit yesterday - she's up to 8lbs. 5 oz. (a gain of 17oz. from her birth weight) and has grown 1.25 inches. She's awake more during the day, and about three times a week we can get her to sleep for 6 hours at night. Right now her mom's giving her a bath - which she doesn't seem to be enjoying too much.

As for myself, I'm off to bed. I guess I finally figured out where I want to be. Asleep.

And the beat goes on....

After an almost year-long hiatus, I'm back. Miss me?

Life here is pretty much the same in alot of ways. Still living with my mom, still broke, kids still driving me nuts. But things have changed too.

For one thing, I'm a grandmother now!! Three weeks ago my daughter gave birth to the world's most beautiful baby. And she named her after me. I was in tears. And yes, the bunny and hat were knitted. By my daughter. The blanket was a gift from a friend of mine.

Also, my kids now have visitation with their father. And I get a (very) little child support. So far they'd seen him three times. After seven years of nothing now he expects them to be all happy. They don't even know him. Another rant for another day though.

I'm also back in school - nursing school this time. And I'm actually really enjoying it. Even though I have three tests this week. I made an A on the one I had today. And the one tomorrow I've over-saturated myself studying for. The one Friday is Anatomy. This test is in biochemistry, and since I'm already a biochemist I'm not worried. My only problem is I want to over-answer the questions, like "define ATP". I went into a long explanation about the chemical structure and chemical equations and reactions and stuff. They just wanted "ATP is used by the body for energy". No joke. At least it was only homework. And my teacher counted it right because I did mention energy somewhere in my answer. Next time I'll just try to keep it simple.

As far as the knitting goes, well, slowly would probably be the right word. I'm working on a sweater for my youngest child, almost done actually. We recently acquired a knitting machine, and I'm waiting for fall break so we can crack it out and play with it. SO far I think I'm really going to like it for making blankets (I've made four baby blankets this year) big pieces for sweaters. For fancy stuff it seems like it would be easier to hand-knit, but I really haven't had a chance to do much playing around.

Finally got my autistic child into the sleep lab. They put her on melatonin at night and gave us a light box to sit her under in the morning. It has helped SOOOO much. At least, she's sleeping at night, so now I can sleep some too. She's now getting 7 to 8 hours on a good night, where she was only getting 3 to 4. And she's doing better in school, though we do seem to be having alot of "autistic moments" in the afternoons. I chalk it up to the visitations and the new baby. I gave her a hard rubber teething ring to bite (as that's generally what she likes to do when stressed) and that has also helped.

Hopefully I can update other stuff soon. Good to be back.