Milestones

Today was the last day of summer for us. N goes to kindergarten tomorrow. Wow, just typing that and I am tearing up. I realized over the past few weeks that having a kid is seeing them learn to do many things on their own and learning to let go. I noticed, everyday N needs me for less and less. The flip-side is you get to see this wonderful child grow up and become and independent individual. 

I decided to take 12 days off of work to spend with N. On Aug 14, he had is tonsils removed. We spend a week in recovery. I thought it would be a lot simpler but it was like having a newborn all over again. The pain he woke up with in the middle of the night was just heartbreaking. However, after 8 days he seemed back to almost normal. The surgery has appeared to be successful and he sleep appears to be much deeper and more restful then ever before. It was worth the risk but I am still glad it is over.

The second week off was a bit hectic. I spent all day Monday with him just hanging out and doing fun things. Tuesday I had to work so Paul spent the day with him at home just relaxing. Then Wednesday we packed for our last trip of the summer. We headed to Door County for 4 days. We traveled with another family from daycare and had a great time. Everyday all of us spent time in the pool, biking and just relaxing. The kids had a wonderful time and the trip was a perfect way to end the summer.

Finally, today was the last day of the summer. N and I had plans to go to Chuck E Cheese and then the park. He had a blast. We played games against each other, won the "super bonus", got tons of tickets and enjoyed a giant lollipop prize. We headed to the park to play with another little boy and followed by dinner and an early bed time. 

The whole time together was full of fun memories, pictures and laughs. I am completely at peace with sending him to kindergarten because we got time to celebrate each other, spend quality time together and bond. At the end of the time together, we decided to start a new tradition and take the week off before school every year and just bond. 

Deep down inside, I want to cry because he is at the next step in his life. However, this stage of his life is just a gift for me. We communicate well, I am learning about his own personality and he is finding his independence. While it is sad that he is growing up fast and the preschooler stage is in the past, it is exciting to hear all about his new adventures so the tears can flow but there is also joy to be had.

A little of this; A little of that

Hello world.

I feel really behind in my blogging! Wow, it has been a while. The summer is over in the blink of an eye. We are getting ready for some big changes. My little man, N is going to kindergarten. How is that even possible? His last day at daycare is tomorrow. He is excited about all the changes but still asking a lot of questions. Before he starts school little man gets his tonsils out. Ugh, I know it is routine and necessary but I always worry I am making the wrong decision. I will just be glad when the day has come and gone! 

One last adventure before we go back to the new semester, we are headed on vacation with another family from daycare. We are headed up North to the beautiful Door County. I am so excited to just ride bikes, eat, sleep, be in the pool and turn my mind off for a few days. I will have lots of pictures to show once we return.

I have been a bit overwhelmed with the number of WIPS I have lately! I started finishing them up one by one. Since the last time I blogged, I have finished 2 pairs of socks. 

 Two coworkers have had babies this past summer. I found out a bit late that their wives were expecting so I had to make something quick and super cute! I love cables and it is very cold in WI during the winters so a cute little (not too little so it still fit in the winter) hat. Here is what I went with

 Here is my current WIPS: 

 and here is the stash I am dying to jump into!!!

  

My partner in crime, M has been super busy enjoying some dying and creating.  With the distance between us I have not been very helpful but once you see her yarns, she does not need any help! They turned out wonderful. Please check them out for yourself:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowPondDyeworks

If you want to stay up-to-date with her new products, like us on Facebook. 

As for books, I finished Girl on the Train and Inferno. Both we great reads. I started Digital Fortress and cannot put it down.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Thanks for reading until the end, it was a long update.

WIP Wednesday

Hello knitters. It has been a long time since I blogged. I love the summer and I lose track of days when trying to soak up the sun. I hope you are enjoying your warm weather as well. I have finished one sock of the helix pattern and I love this pattern. I will be knitting more socks with this pattern very soon!

 

Simply stunning if you ask me! I received a skein of yarn from a friend called "Cloudy with a Chance of Rainbows"  I cast these on and the sock knitted up so fast. I love the bold colors within the rainbow and the contrast with the gray. Just beautiful.

 I will end with some family pictures of us fishing and just relaxing. My husband's birthday is tomorrow and I cannot wait to celebrate with him.

As for reading, I finished the Hobbit and have moved on the Rippler series. It is about a teenager who can go invisible at any point and a group of unknown people trying to kill anyone who can ripple. It is a teenage book but I love the suspense and basic love story. I read journal articles about chemistry all day, anything simple and easy to follow is my kind of bedtime story. Happy Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by.

WIP

Hello Knitters.

Wow, WIP Wednesdays have been sneaking up and passing me by lately. It has been crazy busy because of the end of the semester. I love working with students. However, it can be so overwhelming and at times life is just flying. The end of the semester is always a flash. However, we have 3 days left. The light at the end of the tunnel is pretty bright!

On my quest to finish some WIPS, I picked up my zigzagular socks. I finished them and wore them right away! They are so comfy and cute!! They will be perfect for cold winter mornings.

 While digging through my stash I found these socks that I started 3 or 4 years ago. Maybe it is time to finish this project?

 These are the South Fork socks in Tosh Sock. These colors remind me of the fall leaves we drove past while in college. I never knew how beautiful they were until we moved and I did not see them daily. 

Mother's Day was quiet. We just relaxed and hung out. The evening before my husband and I had another date night. We celebrated many things and went to a concert after dinner. It was a great time and I love that we have scheduled date night. We have another scheduled for tonight!

I cannot wait to see what is on everyone's needles. Happy Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday

Hi there.

It has been a long week and weekend. Ugh and it is only Wednesday! GAH! This past weekend was suppose to be an uneventful, sit at home and do nothing weekend. However, everyone got the flu. It was still a do nothing weekend except we were all very sick. Oh well. It was over as fast as it came on. Thank goodness.

This week I am tackling Kindergarten. It feels like a huge decision but it really should not be. After school programs, bus options, lunch... and what school we should go it is just the beginning. Everyone has an opinion and I have no idea which one is right. Truthfully, our son is very lucky, he lives in a safe town with good education all around. His parents are both highly educated and value a good education. He will turn out just fine but for right now, I am flooded in paperwork and decisions.

I was able to gain some focus and regroup by knitting and exercising. It has been officially a month since I started running and I love it. I bought new shoes (and was given a second pair, THANKS SUZIE!) for running.  They helped so much. A good pair of shoes goes a long way.

It took a while to get use to finding an hour a day to work out. However, I cannot imagine not working out now. It is my time to relax and just forget about everything else. I have lost 5 inches on my waist, no actual weight loss yet.  Now that I have made running a habit, I would like to tackle my eating habits. Anyone know any delicious salad recipes??
My knitting has been going well. I have decided to stop casting on new projects and to finish some of the WIPS I have. I just finished my Rah Rah socks. I love how they turned out and the fit like a glove.

It has finally become spring and my roommate introduced me to a new park. I love it. It was calm, relaxing, and the perfect place to regroup.

As for reading, I finished the Time Travelers Wife. I loved it. The end was amazing and I cried. While, I am sad it is over,  I decided not to watch the film. In my head, I have a version of what everyone looks like and the whole picture is just how I would imagine and I do not want that to change due to the movie.

I have started the Hobbit. It is such a fun read!! I cannot believe I did not read this sooner. I am excited to also move on to the Girl on the Train. It looks awesome!

I will end with a quick picture of my husband and I on a date night. I love that we have scheduled date nights to be husband and wife not just mom and dad.

thanks for reading until the end. have a great wednesday knitters.

WIP Wednesday

Hello Knitters-

I hope this Wednesday finds you well. I am just working on random projects. Of course they are all socks and none of them of them are finished.

Above I am working on the Intrepid Traveler socks using Claudia Hand Painted Yarns in (I believe) the ancient pottery colorway. I love doing socks 2 at a time because I actually finish the second sock!!

I am still reading the Time Travelers Wife. It is turning out to be a great read. I am excited to find out the end.

Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams.

WIP Wednesday: A quick update

Hi!

I have started yet another pair of socks. But who blames me when you have such beautiful yarn:

This was purchased by my knitting buddy. Her family was in town this weekend visiting for my sons big 5th birthday. It was such a great, relaxing weekend but it always goes so fast.

I also got a bit farther on my Rah Rah socks, the first one is complete!

I am still reading The Time Travelers Wife... I am not reading as much lately. That tends to happen when I am grant writing. I get home and just want to not think, at all. I promise, next week will be a better, more detailed up-date!
Joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams.