A couple of pictures of my new haircut. My hubby took my cutting 5+ inches off my hair better than I thought he would!! Got it done on vacation back in early July. Peer pressure helped and the fact that I couldn't find the blow dryer or my irons when we got to the cabin. We found them when we got home in a bag we never took out of the trunk!! OH well. I like that its short but it's different not being able to just put it up!

These are my just finished socks. First attempt at Magic loop and hand dying a sock blank from Knitpicks. I love how they match and that you don't get second sock syndrome! I know there are a couple of errors, but for a first time with a new method and all I don't think they turned out too bad. They fit and will do the job. I will go for perfection next time around. I will definately do another pair possibly with a more interesting design.

These are my dad's Birthday present...sshhh don't tell him.:) They are boot socks. I made him a pair a couple of years ago and he loved those. They were an acrylic blend and these are real wool. Glad he is retired and does alot around the house now. Mom is allergic to wool so he will have to hand wash his own socks :) These are so easy to knit up. Thinking of making the guys in my family some of these for Christmas, except for DS#1 he is in Houston for one and won't really need warm wool socks and he let me know long ago that socks and underwear are not Christmas presents! Kids!! :)

Back to business.

We had a blast on vacation in northern Minnesota. First time for hubby and lil dude to travel to this part of our wonderful country. I had been near to where we stayed but not in the actual town. This was a so called "family reunion" type of trip. My parents and all of us kids and our families decended on the Bemidji area and stayed in a cabin on the Mississippi river between two lakes. We have friends that live up here and we enjoyed getting together and "catching up" with them after almost 30 years. My hubby and brother in law were not as thrilled going down memory lane as they were not part of the original storyline but they hung in there and appeared to enjoy themselves.

It was fun but now we are back to reality.

We will just have to wait until next year. We are Cubs fans so that is a well known phrase! We have lots of photos for us to enjoy and remember our trip "Up North". Here are a few to show everyone our fun.

Lil Dude enjoying the waterslide.

My honey & nephew ready to race!!

My honey's big catch! It was a record setter... on the board at the resort!

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox

We just walked across the Mississippi!!

Turtle Races!!

Nephew ready for the pool.

This is the cabin.



We plan to go back with a few minor changes. We plan to go to a different resort. All get our own cabins instead of cramming in a small one. Also it was agreed to travel up the way we came home....much faster route.

Whew!

This is what I saw when I was backing out of the driveway yesterday morning. I had to take a picture as they are all in bloom at the same time. I love lilacs not sure what the tree is a flowering crab apple maybe?? and the darker pink one is I think honeysuckle?? If anyone reading this can identify please let me know. I'm not much of a gardener and have never lived anywhere that was landscaped professionally like this new house obviously was.
Even Zoe is enjoying her new lawn. She is all worn out in this picture. Lil Dude runs her ragged. She loves ever minute of it. The minute he is in bed she climbs to "her spot" on the couch and passes out, until I get up and go to bed. Then she follows me. On a rare occasion she just goes to bed on her own. She is so good it's hard to believe she is only 9 months old.

We finally have the storage unit completely empty and mostly gone thru and put away. We have a good amount for the garage sale and my "craft room" looks like a bomb went off. I will take pictures to prove it.

On the needles I have a shawl/wrap for mom. I started a similar one for her a year ago and got frustrated. This time is was frustrating but I think I've worked thru it. I also went up a needle size. Recently finished a lapghan for Sara Smiles Project from left over baby yarn. It's from Connor's blanket so it's not baby colors. I like the way it turned out. Crochet lapghans go so much faster. I really need to get back into that. Hard with summer coming tho. Gets too hot to have a big blanket on your lap. Made a few dishcloths for the new house and a swiffer cover it kinda works on my laminate floors. I think I need to make a thinner one too tho.

Still getting settled in.

We took the weekend off of working around the house. We had an overnight stay at a local hotel that included dinner. This is becoming an annual getaway for us. Purchased from the auction(thru my office)I bid it up every year and end up with it. It's alot of fun to get away even if it's only a few miles from home. I also enjoy being able to honestly answer questions when I get phone calls or emails about staying there. This year.. babygirl joined us. Now please understand I love my puppy and she is almost a year old ( almost 9 months) but she is terrible in the car and obviously away from home too. She is the biggest whiner... she needs cheese to go with the whine... one positive note, dearest hubby now will not hesitate to put her in the kennel for vacation! I sleep with earplugs, but she kept waking him up with every sound. So pet resort her she comes.. that reminds me I have to arrange that today for July's trip to MN. Hope to post new baby pics soon. He is growing like a weed. We had a get together for mom's birthday. I made her a sack sock and some dishcloths plus a gift card she really will enjoy.

DH is off today and is trying to get the storage unit cleaned out. We hope to get it emptied by the end of the month. He asked his son to come hang out next weekend. I know better.. it's hang out (help me move things around) and make a few bucks :) Better him than me!! I just can't do what I used to after this ankle thing last year. I know we will think long and hard before moving again!!

Introducing Connor William



This is our neice Aly. She is two months younger than Sara. Happy to hold her new cousin.


Mama holding Connor. Look at his hair!! Lots of it!


I had to see his adorable little legs.



Good Morning Aunt Sue!! My sister sent this to show me he does open his eyes. He is all brighteyed today now that all of the meds from delivery are wearing off.


I got to spend some nice time with my tired but happy sister last night. So far Connor is a good baby. We will see how he does after he gets home! My sister and I had time to talk about the fact that she really did just bring another little person into the world after for so many years thinking Sara was her last. He is meant to be here and hopefully will lead a full and happy life. We will all work to help him acheive that goal. He is the new bright spot in the family. Welcome Connor.

Happy Birthday!

Connor William came into the world this morning at 2:06 am. He weighed 8lb 10 oz. Mom and baby are doing great. Mom also said he doesn't look like his sister or brother. I can't wait to go see him this afternoon. I will post pictures asap.

Finished!

The baby blanket I've been working on since Christmas is finally done. I expanded the original pattern because I felt the original was too small. I made it almost twice the size, this will help explain why it took me awhile to compelete this. I know the colors don't exactly say baby but those are the colors my sister wanted.


These are the booties I made for her. I had to give her something at her shower that I actually could finish in time.



The picture is kinda blurry but they are still beautiful. My valentine roses from my hubby. He has great taste. Even had them delivered to my office for the girls to see! He's a keeper!