Graphic Designer

We went to Jessica's last night and got home late. Shortly after Tug and I went to bed Sugar came in and said she couldn't sleep--this was around 12:30. Needless to say she is still sleeping this morning and it is already past 10. This creates boredom in Boo so I let her design the new banner. You likey??

They might be learning

Wow, the kids just might be paying attention during school. While driving home from Mass on Christmas Eve
Sugar: Can you turn up the radio (we often have the back speakers off because, like us, the girls are quick at picking up lyrics-luckily they don't often understand their meaning)?
T & R: No.
Sugar: Um, we heard this song the other night when Daddy was driving Boo and I...
T: Boo and me.
Sugar:...home from the store and I said he isn't following one of the Ten Commandments because he wishes he had Jessie's girl.

That provided me with a good little laugh. I, of course, couldn't let it go
Mom: Which Commandment is he breaking?
Sugar: Ah, though shall not...ah...covet thy neighbors, um goods?
Boo: No, thy neighbor's wife.
The next day Sugar informs me that she was correct because she isn't his wife.

Have yourself

A Merry Huge Christmas!
Here are the girls. Dig those hats (SP has hers too high in the pic)

Where's Ham you ask? He wouldn't participate...

And, here are the kids putting out the cookies last night. Funny how Ham would hang out by the cookies but won't pose for a pic.

Letters To Santa

These are the notes the girls wrote:

Hi Santa
I relly love you
Do you love Me?
(From Boo)

Dear,
Santa Thank you for all the presents you give me. We are leaving 3 Macadamia nut cookies for you and a cup of milk. We are leaving carrots for the reindeers. I can name all 8 reindeer, Dasher, Prancer, Doner, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Vixen, Dancer, and Rudolph! This year for Christmas I want, a knitting kit, rollerskates, mabey you could give me a picture of you Love,
*Sugar*.


I'm not sure if Santa likes macadamia nut cookies, but I know Tug does. Off to find a picture of Santa :)

Hi there

Hi, I'm Candy Cornina. Can you guess why Tug named me this? Regina didn't want to use any of her "good" yarn and she didn't want to buy more yarn because she wasn't sure she would be able to complete me. She says if I am lucky she might make my dress so I don't have to be naked but who knows. I wasn't really built for standing so that is why I am crooked-oh and because one leg seems to be longer than the other. Perhaps I should get some of those shoes with lifts in them?

Bye-bye now. Can you see my thumb? Regina really thinks my thumb is cute!

Thanks Amy for finding the cute pattern! See her creations here

Pattern here

The cobbler

I must say, I never thought this would become of me but here is my latest project. Sweet Pea doesn't have any shoes for her Christmas outfit so I made her some.

I clearly need to work on my tension since the sizes are quite different but not too bad for my first attempt!

Pattern from marthastewart.com

Candy Cornina is almost done. Perhaps her debut will be in the next few days.

Are you my buyer part deux

Hmmm, I don't recall signing up for secret Santa but we got yet another unknown-giver gift. This one was addressed to both Tug and me and it didn't have the invoice but it also didn't say who it was from. Any ideas??

Regardless of who it is from, we can't wait until the big game to use it!!

Christmas meme

Jessica meme'd me with this eons ago, but that was at the start of the crochet revolution and I forgot all about it until I saw Amy finally do hers so, here goes:

Wrapping paper or gift bags?
For Christmas I wrap. For other things I re-bag.
Real tree or artificial?
Real. As a kid we had this awful artificial tree and I now refuse them. In my teenage years we finally got rid of it. I think we used that lame artificial one for about 20 years.
When do you put up the tree?
No time in particular, just whenever we get around to getting it. This year it was a few days ago. I remember one time (teenage years) we got a FREE Christmas tree because we got it so late (think on Christmas Eve). Guess my mom figured since we no longer believed in Santa we no longer had to have a tree. That thing was massive too! We literally had to tie it to the wall to get it to stay up.
When do you take the tree down?
As soon as possible. Not the Catholic answer I know, but Tug and I are both pretty anal about getting it down. Think I can also attribute this to my childhood since I fondly remember one year having a competition with my sister throwing candy canes at the tree (point being to get them to stay on the branches) while watching Ms. America. Think it was around February.
Favorite holiday theme?
No themes here. We hardly have any decorations let alone a theme.
Favorite gift received as a child?
A red rider bb gun. Actually, I don't really remember any gift in particular. Probably just clothes. Oh yeah maybe when I got a 25 disc cd player (which broke about 3 months ago) but I wasn't a kid, think I was a late teenager.
Do you have a nativity scene?
We do, but now that you mention it I just realized we haven't taken it out this year.
Hardest person to buy for?
My mother in law.
Easiest person to buy for?
Sweet Pea since I haven't bought her anything. Guess all the kids really.
Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
The Christmas of my senior year of High School my mom's boyfriend bought me a James Dean mouse pad (I LOVED James Dean). Fine enough but what sucked was I didn't have a computer. There was a big box in the corner (this was in 1995, computers came in big boxes and lots of them) and I was anxious hoping my mom had gotten me a computer since I would be leaving for college later that next year. As kids we always got one big gift then some smaller ones. It ended up being a word processor which would have been fine had I not gotten my hopes up for a computer due to the mouse pad gift. Looking down, guess what my mouse is sitting on. :)
Mail or email cards?
Mail, with pictures. I don't do the Christmas brag letter.
Favorite Christmas movie?
I guess A Christmas Story-though I don't much care for movies.
When do you start shopping for Christmas?
When I am forced to and can put it off no longer.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don't think I have but I wouldn't put it past me.
Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Food. I love all food. Ham if I have to pick something specific.
White lights or colored on the tree?
White only. Don't care for color--does this make me racist?
Favorite Christmas song?
Carol of the Bells
Travel for Christmas or stay at home?
Stay home. I have never needed to travel for Christmas but since we live so far from family now this may have to change occasionally.
Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Without google? Here goes. Donner, Dancer, Blitzen, Cupid, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet::should I google now to see if those are right? Rudolph and of course Olive, the other reindeer.
Angel on the tree top or a star?
Currently a star that Tug is complaining about so we will probably change it next year. As a kid it was an angel.
Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Day. As a kid we used to go to midnight mass then to my aunts then open presents once we got home at about 3AM. This was fun and we might switch to this once the kids are a little older. We try to go to mass on Christmas Eve still though. Makes Christmas day much more laid back.
Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The new pc aspect of it. Happy Holidays, no public creche etc.
What I love most about Christmas?
Watching the kids open presents. I know sounds very secular and materialistic but I like how much fun it is for them.

If you read this blog and you have a blog, you've just been tagged. If you read this blog and you don't have a blog do the meme and email me your answers then get yourself a blog.

O Tannenbaum

We were going to be out of town this entire week. Unfortunately one stretch of road where we had to pass had about 10 inches of snow and since Tug's mandatory meeting was cancelled so was our trip. The girls cried while I unpacked all the luggage I had packed the night before. To make them feel better Tug took them to get a tree yesterday. We then spent the day baking cookies (Tug bought the tube kind), listening to carols and decorating the tree (all Tug's idea). The girls were very excited to receive their first present today. It is from Auntie Erin and Uncle Chendo and they are anxious to open it since it is from their favorite place.


Off to the post office to cancel my 'hold mail'. Hmm, post office the week before Christmas, I should be in and out in no time!


The rest of the presents are for Tug and me from the girls. They picked random things from their room and wrapped them.

OCD

Like me, once my kids find a new hobby they work it to death (for at least a day or two). Last Thursday we got together with a few families to read Christmas stories and eat cookies (details with Jessica). Prior to going I told Sugar and Boo that Amy's girls knew how to finger knit so they begged to bring yarn with them to ask the girls to teach them. Sugar sat diligently while Amy's girls (two oldest, can't remember their blog names right now) taught her. Boo and Amy's youngest were more interested in the crafts and cookies. Once home, Sugar showed Boo how to do it and they are now both hand knitting freaks. This is how I found Boo the other night (marker on her arm). We now have lots of 'scarves', 'bracelets', and 'belts' to go along with their crocheted ropes.

Keeping the Sabbath Holy

Mom: Since you guys did a good job helping Daddy clean the kitchen today (Saturday) you can watch a movie during quiet time instead of cleaning your room; BUT, if you watch a movie today you will have to clean your room tomorrow because it is a mess!
Sugar: Did you know God doesn't want us doing hard work on Sundays?

Are you my buyer?

We received a package today. It was addressed to Tug so I opened it. It contained this jacket. We don't know who it is from.
Funny thing is it had the invoice and the bill to and ship to address are both listed as Tug. Tug says he didn't buy it. Best we figure is it is a Christmas present from someone, but who? Was it you? If so, please tell us so you can be properly thanked (unless you are a close relative, I mean who sends thank you cards for Christmas presents to their close relatives?)

I called Eastbay (where invoice lists) to ask who paid for the jacket. They say Tug did. I say no he didn't. They put me on hold. They come back and say it was purchased through Amazon so Tug must have an Amazon account and for me to go check his account. I say he doesn't have an Amazon account. They say that is weird. I say yup. They say I would have to call Amazon to try and find out more details. I say bye. I say "Tug, don't take off the tag until we figure out what's going on with this." Tug says "Too late." So, I don't call Amazon and we still don't know who this is from. If it was you, big THANKS!

Help needed

So, I made SP a new hat because the one with the beads was just killing me--totally don't like it. What I need help with is deciding whether or not to keep the flowers. I am thinking not, but what do you think? Tug doesn't like that it has so many colors, but I kinda do.
I think she looks like Amelia Earhart (spelling??). This was my first attempt at ear flaps. I don't think I am going to add any tassels to the ends.


And this is her Christmas hat. I am going to get a different ribbon. This one is transparent and I want one more satiny. Also the bow is tied too big but oh well, you get the gist.



Oh yeah, I changed my comments options so you can now leave them anonymously which means anyone can leave a comment and no account is needed. Be nice and sign your name though :)

My new love

Ever since I found crochet this blog has taken a backseat. Don't get me wrong. I loves me blog BUT me blog can't provide Christmas presents to me loved ones like crochet can! So my new love and I have been busy and my old love has become the step child. Still sticking around. Still nagging me brain to update it. Still trying to think of quirky things to say when all I can think are sc's, dc's, rounds, and rows.
Anyhoo I am almost done with said Christmas presents. Just have one more hat to go (possibly 2 if I can squeeze the other one in, though I want to make the girls each a hat for their Christmas outfits, ARGH that's 4 more hats already when I just said I only have one to go)!
Except for that last hat (wait, last 2 hats) all presents are wrapped and mailed (THANKS in large [all] part to a wonderful hubby).
Tug just told me I have too many hobbies. Wait til I start trying my hand(s) at knitting. Oh and sewing. Oh and maybe embroidery. Too bad I don't have any culinary interests!

Slight funny-I helped teach in Sugar's CCD class on Sunday. The teacher was giving a lesson on being nice and posed the question "If you had a friend over and your mom gave you 2 pieces of cake and one was bigger than the other what would you do?" Sugar raised her hand and said "Cut the bigger one in half." Don't think she quite got the concept.

Nite-nite

Dinner

I made Marlboro Man's favorite sandwich for dinner tonight (from pioneerwoman). The girls begged to help so I let them. As we sat to dinner
Boo: Thanks for dinner mom.
Sugar: Thanks for dinner mom.
Ham: Gank you, ma.
Tug: Yeah, thanks for dinner mom. Tastes great.
Boo: Thanks for cooking dinner Boo.

Tug also commented that the sandwiches tasted especially good tonight. I said perhaps it was because the girls helped. He then said "Oh, so it has a little slice of love!" As if I don't cook with a slice of love! The nerve...

Action Figures

Yesterday I went to an Arbonne party. I wasn't suckered but the lady who sells the Arbonne stuff also sells Blessed Toys. I got suckered. I decided to get Ham a Goliath figure and a David figure. Tug complains when he plays with the girls' dolls so I thought these would be great for him. I called Tug on my way home to tell him the good news.
T: So how was your party?
R: Good.
T: Did you buy any Arbonne crap?
R: No, but I did get some toys.
T: Toys?
R: Yeah. She also sells Blessed Toys and she brought them since I didn't go to the last party.
T: Oh, what'd ya get?
R: Well, you know how you always complain that Ham plays with the girls' dolls? I got him his own. A Goliath and a David.
T: Oh good. So, to keep him from playing with dolls you got him dolls?
R: What? I thought you'd be happy.
T: For him to have his very own dolls?
R: But they are for boys. Goliath is big with big muscles and David has a sling shot.
T: Boy dolls.
R: Argh. They are for boys. It's better than American Girl stuff.
T: Dolls.
R: They're like GI Joe but bigger. Like action figures.
T: OH. Action figures. That's great. Cool. David and Goliath action figures. They can beat each other up. Awesome.
R: So now you think it's fine.
T: Well, yeah. They aren't dolls, they're action figures.


Along the same lines, today I had to stay and help in Lauren's ccd class after Mass so Tug took Sweet Pea and Ham with him to the grocery store. One of the things on the list was new toothbrushes for the girls. In the car on the way home the girls asked him what kind of toothbrushes they got.
T: I got you the same crayola ones and Ham got a SpiderMan.
R: Why'd you get Ham a new toothbrush too? He didn't need a new one.
T: I don't know, cuz he was there and kept saying Doe-a, Doe-a (Dora the explorer) so I said 'No, you aren't getting Dora. Here, you get SpiderMan'.

The few, the proud

Alright, so these probably aren't Marines but it made for a good title--advertising works.

Again received in an email from Tug's uncle. Funny he gets so much Buckeye stuff considering he went to Duke.

Good to know our country is in the hands of people with big brains!

Mmmmm Salty

I have a little thing I like to do to Hammie. I like to eat him. He is just soooo tasty. I love nibbling on his ears, neck and nose. Yes his nose. He has such a cute little button nose-I just can't resist. (Can you guess where this post is going)?
We went to pick Tug up from the airport tonight around 5 so he suggested we stay in town and get dinner-I NEVER turn down eating out. After dinner while we were piling into the car I put Ham in his car seat. Well his little nose was right at eye level so I just had to stick my mouth around it. Then I said, rather casually "Hm, something salty. I think I just ate a booger."

This then started a discussion on boogers between Sugar and Boo. The only thing I took from eavesdropping on the conversation was Boo saying "Boogers don't taste salty!" Wonder why she would know.

Comment Confusion

There appears to be a problem with comments on blogspot right now. I have not deleted any comments--Duh, they make me look like I have actual readers. I am also not getting the emails to let me know that a comment has been left. Jessica is having the same problem so it isn't just me. Just letting you know in case you leave a comment but then find it MIA.
Resume hiatus

Hiatus

Oh fiddle I'm up to my middle in yarn
It would seem I am on temporary hiatus from blogging. I don't mean to be I am just so involved in the crochet projects right now that I am finding little time to do much else. It wouldn't be that big of a deal except that all the projects are ones that have to be mailed so I need to get them completed quickly.
Oh heck I'm up to my neck
It could be worse. I could be completely boring you by posting pictures of these projects. Don't worry (or do, whichever the case may be)-regular posting will start shortly and the hilarity will again resume.
Oh dread I'm up to my *hmph*

How long

I wonder how long a person can crochet non-stop before they develop carpel tunnel syndrome or arthritis? It isn't a good sign that my hands are sore and slightly numb and I am not even halfway done with my Christmas projects! I need one of those little project percentage done things on my blog like Amy has, though I think it would only depress me.

Lions, Tigers and Toucans

Oh my.

Tug recently said I am obsessed with crocheting. I have finally come to terms--by George I think he is right (bye, buy?). It started with the hats. I took a shot at one of the ones for the girls and liked how it looked so of course I had to do another for the other girl. Tug started getting annoyed at Hammie putting on the flowered hats so I had to do his. Then I couldn't leave Tug out so I had to do his hat. This weekend the girls insisted on wearing their hats to mass so one had a coordinating scarf. Well yesterday I had to start on the other coordinating scarf and finally finished it today. I had plans to go to bed early tonight then made the mistake of looking at crochetme.com and found some adorable "safari sniffers". I thought they would make a cute present for Hammie and the girls (maybe stocking stuffers) but wasn't sure I could do it so I just had to try. I have finally finished the lion (at the very bottom). I need the orange, yellow and purples so I will have to finish the others later. But if I plan on giving them to the kids I can't do it when they are out here so I don't know when I will get around to doing them. Maybe I will just say they are for other kids when they ask that way I can do them during the day.
Oh yeah, my mom also wants me to do a hat for my aunt--though she lives in El Paso which never dips below about 80.
Oh and my sister wants one too.
Oh and Tug wants me to figure out how to do a Buckeye helmet one.
Oh and I thought I might do one for one of Tug's aunt who actually lives somewhere that it is cold enough to wear a hat.
Why didn't I figure out this crochet thing back in April or something. Of course I wouldn't have thought far enough ahead for Christmas present anyway but still...

****************

This was suppose to post last night but didn't for some reason so here is a pic of the lioness (for those who are too lazy to click the link)

For my critics, I tied them uneven but they are not sewn uneven.

Last night my mom asked me if I am trying to be Martha Stewart. Absolutely not, she went to prison--though that might be a fun escape, especially cupcake prison like the one where she was.

It's Official

Alrighty--BCS bowls have been announced and we are going to the National Title Game in Louisiana against LSU (practically a home game for them). Oh yeah, we are #1, they are #2. Now for the background story, Les Miles (LSU's head coach) went to Michigan, played football for Michigan, met his wife at Michigan AND coached under Bo Schembechler. Now, before LSU's game yesterday (SEC championship game) Herbie announced that his sources told him Miles had accepted the Michigan job. Miles then came out (about 2 hours pregame) and said there was misinformation going about and that he was staying home in Louisiana. He later (after the game) said he is a Michigan guy and will always go for the blue especially when they are playing Ohio (jackalope didn't even say Ohio State) but that he was staying at LSU. Well it now looks like he will get his chance at beating Ohio State without going to Michigan.
I am nervous! Another SEC team. Another long layoff. Hopefully not another debacle! If we lose I can only hope it is at least close. We certainly aren't the best team and we certainly stand a good chance of losing but hopefully there will be redemption.
Off to update widgets and whatnot...

Creation

I suppose it only fitting that on this first day of Advent I have a creation post. First, here is our Jesse Tree with today's ornament (for lots of Jesse Tree info and ideas visit Jessica). I made the ornaments out of clay and the kids helped paint them. This is our first year doing a Jesse Tree and I am really looking forward to focusing on "the reason for the season" (I've always thought that was a cheesy quote).

And, here are my newest hat creations. We lucked out when we noticed that a scarf I made last year matches the hat Sugar is wearing (in the group photo). I am still working on a coordinating scarf for the hat Boo is wearing. The other pic is just a closeup of the flower. Daddy insisted Ohio State colors for his and Hambone's hats.

USCCB and movies

I just read this article saying the USCCB gave a glowing endorsement of The Golden Compass. It also says they favorably endorsed Brokeback Mountain. I can only hope (and pray) that faithful Catholics (and any others who happen to look to the USCCB for movie reviews) do not fall for this endorsement!
Hmm, wonder if I will go directly to H-E-double hockey sticks for calling them idiots. Go directly down, do not pass Purgatory, do not collect $200.

Careful what you wish for

Inconceivable!
West Virginia has lost to Pitt. That's #2 West Virginia. That is no longer #2 West Virginia. Because of this it appears Ohio State will indeed make it to the National title game!! With about 10 minutes left in the game Oklahoma is beating Missouri but that isn't as important anymore other than to cause confusion as to who the other team will be in the title game. I just heard on ESPN that if it stays this way LSU should be #2 and we will be #1. Of course Mark May says something like "I don't like the way Ohio State is making it into the title game. If it is against LSU I think LSU will win." What about the way LSU is making it into the title game. They lost TWO times this season and were ranked #1 both times!! ARGH, I hate Mark May.
I won't update widgets or our bowl location until the BCS rankings come out tomorrow. Ohio State doesn't get much love and I truly wouldn't be that surprised if the pollsters somehow rank them as #3.
Oh yeah, I would rather play Mizzou SO disregard that last post and start cheering for Mizzou (though it doesn't look likely).

Sooner Schooner don't crash now!

Today is the day. I don't generally go for Oklahoma--don't much care for them. Truth be told, I NEVER root from Oklahoma. NEVER, that is until today. Should they beat Missouri we are going to the Nat'l Championship game. So, whether it's Boomer Sooner, Okies from Muskogee or lyrics from the musical...

And when we say
Yeeow! Ayipioeeay!
We're only sayin'
You're doin' fine,
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma O.K.

...all I can say is GO OKLAHOMA!
Hopefully Missouri will "show me" a loss :)