Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a great holiday these past couple of days and will have more fun in the days to come. Probably won't post again until 2014 because I like it when my posts for the year are an even number. I like even numbers!
Kelly and I stayed on budget for Christmas this year. Our presents to each other were a little unorthodox. He let me buy more multi colored lights for the house this year, even though he thinks they are tacky. I am going to do my best to grow my hair long for him.
We both agreed those are pretty great gifts for each other!

Daryl enjoying all of his Christmas presents at once. New sneakers and two WWE dolls.

A knit hat for Bennett

Mittens for Jenny.

Meerpohl Family Christmas picture.

DIY Christmas

I love making Christmas presents! I like giving gifts that have a lot of love built into them. I got the idea for Claudia's gift on Pinterest. Claudia is Daryl and Alex's sitter, and her family has become an extension of our family.
I thought the LOVE sign made with the boy's hand print and foot print was so great but didn't know if we could actually pull it off. I showed it to Kelly and in his normal Kelly fashion he said "I can make that."
I swear no matter what plan I come up with Kelly can execute it. This is super simple and with a few supplies from Michaels anyone can do it! I wanted to do the hand/foot print first but Kelly wanted to do the letters first. That was the only disagreement. In the end it turned out very well!
PS-Knit Gifts 3.5/6 done! No worries 2 of the gifts I don't need till Saturday ;-)

 

 

Our Christmas Card

First, all this was an idea I got off of Pinterest. You Duck Tape a baby to the wall, give the tape to your older child, make them look guilty.
All good in theory.

Then you go to hang a baby on the wall. Several things I didn't account for:

A.) Weight-My baby is more of a kid these days. Christmas Duck Tape is not really for kid hanging?

B.) Kid on a Wall-When was the last time that Alex thought being tied down by his arms and legs sounded like fun? I probably should have thought of this since he cries every time we put him in his car seat. That is at least two times a day.

C.) Guilty Kid- Daryl doesn't take good posed pictures and I know this. Why did I think this funny picture would be any different? We took twenty different pictures of this scene and this is the best we got!

So we didn't actually get Alex on the wall. From the moment we strapped his first arm down he went into full on panic mode. Can you blame him? Mom of the year award right here!
So we did what any parents would do who only need one good picture, we started giving him chocolate. He relaxed. Mostly.

But nothing beats the first thing Daryl said as he came into the room where we were staging the picture.
Daryl-"Cool! We are hanging Alex up on the wall like Christ!"

Wrong Holiday?
Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas program and finished yarn!

Yesterday Daryl had his pre-school Christmas program. It was super cute and Daryl did a great job singing all the songs and doing the little motions. I didn't know how he would fare missing all but one day last week. But I was one proud mom! 

Smile Please!

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF NEEDING ONE GOOD PICTURE!!!

I can make this one work...

As usual when he was not singing he was making his eye browns go up and down, first together then one by one. Two parents came up to me after the program and asked me how he does that. They were very entertained! I would try to get video of it but as you can tell from the pictures I got yesterday he no longer does cute on command. If you don't catch the actual joy you will not get it recreated with Daryl!
Finished my frosted berries yarn last night at the Topeka Knitters Christmas gathering. It was a lot of fun and Steph brought her boys to entertain the little boys. Her boys are always a hit!
Tomorrow I am going to post our Christmas Card picture we sent out this year with the story behind the card. I think everyone should have them by then and the story of how the picture came about is worth the wait. I was almost in tears writing it! Awww the suspense!!!

Happy Blogaversary!

As of Wednesday this blog has been going for five years strong! I was going to write on Wednesday but Daryl has not been feeling well this week and I was just beat. Today Kelly is not feeling well again so now it is just Alex and I to take care of everyone else. We can do it!

Here is the link to our first Manor post. Here is the picture Daryl and I shall recreate from that post.

Ok, here is some big news. I am finally in the Hello Yarn fiber club! I have been waiting three years for my first club fiber and there are those out there that have been waiting longer than that. I was super quick when the waiting list opened this summer and got on the top of the list!
Last week I got my first LOVELY fiber. Don't you agree?






















With all this new pretty fiber coming my way monthly I thought I should clear the bobbins. I had one single of this crazy batt and I wanted a 2 ply. So I finished up the rest of the batt Monday on the second bobbin. I'm going to call this yarn frosted berries because of the bits of silk in it. They remind me of snow. Hopefully this weekend I can ply and then start on my Hello Yarn fiber! Yay! I can't wait to show you ALL OF THE YARN!
Knitting gift tally: 3 of 6 are done! Going to cast on #4 tonight.

The Halls are Decked!

Daryl's enthusiasm for decorating has spilled over to Christmas. It was just killing him that we couldn't get the decorations out before now. We spent Saturday and Sunday decorating inside and out. Daryl couldn't have been more thrilled! Since Kelly and I only add one ornament to our tree per year we have been together I was explaining what they all stood for as we hung them on the tree.
Our first ornament from when we were dating says "Our 1st Christmas". Daryl promptly asked me if there were Dinosaurs then. Oh geez!
The knitting is coming along well. I can't wait till after the holidays when I can post all the pictures. Right now 2 projects are completed,  one in underway and three left to start. I've never been this ahead of the game. I hope I didn't just jinx myself!
Daryl wasn't feeling good last night so we are home today while he is resting. He is blaming the weather, I'm blaming whatever Kelly was down with last week. Kelly went to work today for the first time since last Wednesday. At this rate everyone should be healthy by Christmas!

A co-worker told me I need more pictures of  Alex on the blog.
Here is big Al!

I love my Santa collection I painted with my Grandma Betty.
She is gone but her memory and art remains!

Under Budget!

November ended very nicely! I finished the never ending KU shawl, had a nice family Thanksgiving, took a birthday trip to St. Louis, and was $38 UNDER BUDGET for the month!
Kelly and I both couldn't remember the last time we were more than $5 under. Normally at the end of the month we are moving things around so we are right on target.
That was a nice surprise. After four years of doing our monthly budget I think we are finally getting the hang of it! Also excited that Friday is Snowball day! We will put that extra money right onto the debt snowball payment.
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. I sure did and there was so much dessert to choose from that I just had Pie for supper!
Also, Daryl found his hat!
I spent the better part of Monday afternoon raking leaves. After six trash bags and filling the trash container I did a little more than half of the front yard. I felt a blister coming on so I thought it wise to stop! My help was entertaining but not very helpful!


Before



My Help

Short lived hat success

 

 Hi everyone, remember this hat? This picture was taken on November 14th, this is the last time this green and blue hat was seen. It is not at school, the sitter's or the coat closet. Farewell hand knit hat. The two weeks we had you were good!








Better news, last week Uncle Asa, Aunt Diane, Charlie and Henry were in town! They were just driving through but they stopped to have lunch with Daryl and I. It was so fun to talk to Henry and kiss on Charlie. I can't wait till Christmas when I can see them again! Love and miss that Stiles family!

Backyard Bliss

It is a cold and wet day so I will post a pic of this weekend when it was sunny and nice. A little windy but nice. I'm proud of Kelly on getting the grass to come up so well. I know it is going to be a great yard Spring/Summer 2014!

Knitting a lot on Christmas gifts. That means I won't be able to share many details. I am going on a work trip this weekend so I will get lots of knitting done. I won't be able to show you any of it. At least not until after December 25th! I'm only making four gifts this year and I will let you know when they are done. I just don't want to be knitting on Christmas eve while everyone else is visiting. That is not fun! Don't do it folks, get that knitting done early!

It was bound to happen

Last Friday I was working hard getting ready for an event on Saturday. I had a couple of people in my office when I peeked at my clock and realized something. I had forgotten to pick up Daryl! I probably scared everyone in my office as I grabbed my keys and flew out the front door. When I arrived at Daryl's school fifteen minutes late he was in the office. He wasn't as sad as I thought he might be so that was good. Still swimming in guilt, back at work I called Kelly.
Me-I forgot Daryl at school. I feel so bad.
Kelly- yay I felt bad too when I forgot him.
Me-What! You never told me you forgot him!
Kelly- Oh yeah, I think you were out of town and the school had to call me.
Me- That makes me feel better I thought I was the first one to forget him. LOL!

Saturday was our annual 4-H achievement ceremony. It went very well!  The kids even got to pie me in celebration of all of their accomplishments. It was a great 4-H year!

The list works!

I got my to-do list done last week, so I made another one! I don't know why it pleases me so to cross something off of a list, but it does!
One of the things on the list was to finish Daryl's winter hat. It happened just in time as it got really cold yesterday and Daryl was prepared!

Not the best light but Dad was not pleased about having to stop and take a matching hat picture when he was trying to get everyone out of the door. Priorities Kelly, priorities!

Yesterday, I had the day off of work so Daryl and I had a Mommy Daryl day! It had been awhile and there was a Veterans Day parade downtown we did not want to miss. Alex went to the sitter's because Topeka parades are long and this one was cold. Not really Al's thing!
We started the day with sleeping in! Daryl came to my room fully dressed and ready (teeth brushed, hair gel'd) to get me up at 8:30am. He later informed his dad he HAD to get ready all by himself because mom was still in bed. What an independent little guy I have!


Breakfast was Donuts at Dillons!



We hung out at the park before the parade because
we knew it was going to get cold!

The main event was the Veteran's Day parade. We both loved it! Daryl is fascinated with the military and waved his paper flag as hard as he could. When the different branches of military marched by it brought tears to my eyes. I looked around and I was not the only one! Thank you to everyone who has served our country!

Potty Mouth

It seems that every week Daryl has a new bad word that he gets to say once before Mom or Dad corrects him. This time was particularly funny to Kelly.

Kelly picked Daryl up from daycare to take him to preschool Wednesday. Daryl asked him if he could play a game on Kelly’s phone. Kelly handed him the phone while he was driving.

Somehow the game locked up and no matter what button Daryl pushed nothing happened. That is when Kelly hears from the back seat.

“Oh man, What the Hell is going on?”

Kelly informs Daryl that we don’t say hell. Daryl is used to this conversation as another new word goes on the “Bad Word” list.

What cracked Kelly up is that he always uses his new words in proper context! I tell him I’ve heard Kelly say that phrase before and I think I know where Daryl learned this one!

The To Do list is going well. I’ve crossed off a few more items. All that is really left is the knitting things and clean my room. I think I shall sit in my messy room and knit! This weekend is supposed to be nice so I’m buying some time for Daryl’s winter hat.

Yesterday, Kelly and I made our first snowball payment to my student loan. We paused a bit after paying off the car to fix the back yard so it was great to start paying off the debt again. If anyone needs a plan we use this one.

My new student loan balance is 8607 and I can’t wait until Kelly’s student loan is the LAST DEBT TO PAY!!!!! I’m keeping my enthusiasm up as we throw all the extra money onto the school loans. I might be getting a little too intense as I rolled my eyes at Kelly yesterday for getting Taco Bell when we had food at home! We have to keep each other focused here. J

The come back of the To Do List!

Maybe it is all the extra sleep I've been getting but I think it is time for the To Do list to start happening again! Kelly will not be excited about this as often my to do list becomes his to do list.
I don't argue that but if he would make a list and could prove his focus to "Gettin' stuff done!" he would not have to participate in my focus. I think that made sense?
The "To Do list" theory by me, means you make a list on Monday that has to be done by Sunday. If you get it done you win satisfaction, accomplishment, and a sense of winning a life.
If you don't get it done you get a longer list next week. You win the feeling that life is getting out of control and you are about to fall off this merry go round!
So I make the lists with all good intentions and hope they keep me focused and not stressed. I find this system is very good as the Holidays get closer to make sure I'm ready for those little things called Thanksgiving and Christmas!
After all, the holidays are not fun if you are not ready and trying to do everything the week of. I've been there, and you don't want to be knitting at the Christmas party trying to get a hat done before gift giving starts!!
This weeks list:
Put away Halloween Décor
Take a dress to the tailor for a party later this month
Finish D's Hat
Put buttons on D's Vest
Laundry
Clean my room
Mail a package sitting on my table

So far it is going well!
We spent last weekend in SW Kansas and were treated to AMAZING weather. The boys played outside all day on Saturday with cousins. They slept two hours on the way back home because they had played so hard. I love these short trips home!

Pumpkin Art

Daryl talked Kelly into carving pumpkins again! They already did it once but he got more at pre school and wanted to do it again. They have a pretty good system. Daryl draws the faces and Kelly cuts them out. It is too cute to watch!
Can't you tell how proud he is!

I finished the hat! The tassel may be a little long but he isn't messing with it yet.

 

 

Alex's First Boo!

Today was Trunk or Treat at our church. I have no idea how it is already time for Halloween and costumes, we just got Daryl's on Friday. Because he doesn't care Alex was a spider and wore the same costume Daryl wore when he was one.

Daryl has known for a very long time he wanted to be an "Army Guy". So we got him some camo clothes and some camo face paint and a toy machine gun.

So the boys got to test run Halloween before Thursday. Daryl was very good saying Trick or Treat at every trunk and saying Thank You after only taking one candy. Alex was a different story.

He walked to the first car and our friend Greg gave him a piece of candy. He immediately sat down and tried to open it. We got thru about three more cars before he had had enough of this ridiculous game where people give you candy but you can't eat it. He sat on the ground and started to cry. I carried him through the rest of the cars and tried to get a picture of the boys.

That was unsuccessful.

 

Earlier today I ran in my last race of my running season. I've made no claims that I run when it gets cold. I did however sign up to run with a relay team at the first of the month. It was a very cool relay as 9 of us ran the 50 miles from Topeka to Lawrence. Kelly did it with us too! The relay was the Bison 50 our team was the Stampede Society.
I ran from just outside of Topeka to Grantville. It was mostly on dirt roads and was 6.4 miles. I ran it in 58:45. That is my best 10K time ever! Especially since it was over a 10K!

Kelly ran his 4.1 miles in 37:45. I'm very proud of him. Not just because of his speedy time but because he ran when it was 30 degrees outside. At least when I ran it was a balmy 38 degrees.

Shout outs to Aunt Barb for watching the boys so Kelly and I could do this together and to Tony and Lisa for picking us up so we could get the boys to Trunk or Treat on time! We have great family and friends.

I was going to finish my shawl this month but then I got distracted. Pointy hat patterns will do that to me every time!

Pointy hat #1 for Alex.

Questionable Parenting

I feel like this title should be a reoccurring subject. Time to time as I guide Daryl through childhood I question decisions I have made. I wonder if there may have been a better way when the outcome is not what I expected. I guess that is what you do with the first child. Figure out what works and do that for the next child!

So Sunday after church Daryl, Alex and I are all playing in Daryl’s room. This is when this conversation happens:

Daryl: I said a bad word, Daddy told me to never say it again.

Me: You shouldn’t say bad words Daryl, you know better than that.

Daryl: I know, I said I was sorry.

So at this point I really want to know what he said and Kelly is who knows where, probably staring at the backyard willing his grass to grow. So I figure I can question Daryl a little bit and figure out what the bad word is.

Me: Daryl can you tell me the letter that the bad word started with?

Daryl: I don’t know what does Ass start with?

OMG I almost fell over I was trying not to laugh so hard. After he said it he covered his mouth and was worried. I told him not to worry it was mommy’s fault he said it again. But just say butt if you ever want to say that word again!

Daryl has a large vocabulary and HEARS EVERYTHING. It is impossible for him not to hear cuss words. It is just important for us to stop him when he says them and let him know it is on the bad word list.

We had a nice relaxing fall weekend. Kelly did a project for our Aunt in Holton and I got to knit a lot on my Stripe Study Shawl. I hope to have this done this month. I do need to make the boys some hats too. The weather is getting cool enough for hats!

 

 

 

 

Dance Party!

Alex is getting new moves!

Not really what I was going for...

My owlish Cordell

Sometimes you see a knitting project and you think, that is so cute! I need to make that! Then what you make is not cute, and it doesn't look like the picture. That is what happened with Cordell.
He is supposed to be an owl but he is kind of a cross between a pelican and an angry bird. Not an owl.
pattern can be found at http://www.knitazoo.com/



The sort of owl was my only hiccup this weekend. After two months of training I finally ran my first half marathon! My time was 2:07:45 and I even had to stop to go to the bathroom!! I really wanted to finish under 2:15 and finish before any of the marathon runners. I hit both goals so I couldn't be sad about my run at all!
I took today off to recover and hang out with the boys. Daryl still went to preschool in the afternoon but Alex and I were together all day. He slept on me twice...awww..... I can't remember the last time he napped on me so I am going to cherish our mom/al day!



I've never taken a good running photo.