First Communion

Our biggest little boy is growing up faster than we’d ever expected. Yesterday was First Communion for the entire second grade class and it was amazing and sad and beautiful and lots of things I’d never anticipated.

I am so proud of you, little man!  Congratulations!

And it began….

We made it home from Florida without much incident and were happy to have almost two days to get ready for the return to school.  My daughter spiked a fever on Sunday evening and wasn’t able to go back to preschool Monday–she was none too happy about it, either.  Other than that, things have been status quo.

Except for one little factor:  Spring Sports.

This season, my oldest decided that he reallyreallyreallyreallyreally wanted to play both soccer and baseball.  It’s his third season playing soccer and his first for baseball.  Thankfully, the practices are on different nights, but Saturdays will become the busiest day of the week for us now that we have both sports’ games. I always swore that I wouldn’t over-schedule my kids, but when it comes to my oldest and sports, if he asks I’ll let him play. If he doesn’t play something, he’s perfectly content to sit on his butt and be the laziest kid on the planet. I am less okay with that scenario than I am with him playing two sports. The added bonus is that most of the kids he plays with on both teams have younger siblings for my younger kids to play with. Yay for that!

Since sports aren’t nearly enough to keep busy, we’re still searching for a home closer to the kids’ school… In fact, the home I posted about previously is now under contract again… Only this time, we’re the ones holding the buyer position!  We’ve been keeping tabs on the house for months now and when we noticed that the home was no longer listed as under contract, we pounced.  Within 3 hours of it being placed back on the market, we had a signed contract in place.  Now we’re waiting for what seems like FOREVER for the bank to reply to our offer.  The home is a short sale, so things are taking much longer than my impatient self can handle.  Any happy thoughts you want to send our way will be well received! 

With all of the above information at hand, you can imagine I haven’t been knitting all that much. In the past month I have finished a few things but just haven’t taken the time to blog them. I finally finished the rosary bags that will be given to all 18 girls in my oldest son’s class when they receive their First Communion on May 2.

I’ve handed them over to a super duper mom in our class to package them up nicely for presentation.  I can hardly wait!

My daughter asked me to make her some socks, so I made some generic toe-up socks for her using Bernat Hot Sox in Hippi Hot color:

I’m working on several other projects, but none have enough progress to really post about.  In fact, it’s time for me to run… gotta make it to our first soccer game in an hour!  Have a GREAT Easter weekend!

Take a seat

It’s like someone knew we were coming so they went to the trouble of making us comfortable…

Look closely and you’ll see the built-in cup holders!

Hope you’re having a great day!

We made it!

After an incredibly long day of travel, we have made it to Florida. The weather is so much nicer than we left… at last look, Chicagoland was anticipating 2-8+ inches of snow! SNOW! Barely missed that one! We’re in the 80s here.

I hope you’re enjoying whatever weather has been thrown your way this weekend and will try to post some fun pics over the week we’re here!

Going for a ride…

It’s Spring Break time around here and we’re headed to Florida for some much needed relaxation and warm sunshine.  I hope to post some pics while we’re there, but won’t promise anything for fear of becoming a liar!

I will leave you with the most recent pics of the kids… they’re growing so dang fast I can’t even believe it!
The boys:

and the girl:

See you soon!

Do you see what I see?

We did some Spring clean-up outside today and I found something…

Doesn’t look like much, does it?

But look closer…

Do you see the buds among all the icky yucky brown?! Spring is finally coming to Chicagoland!! YIPPEE!!

I hope you’re seeing some Spring-like signs in your neck of the woods, too. 

Kate the… Bumble Bee

Because who doesn’t need a hand knit bumble bee toy? I mean, really. Who doesn’t need this?

Pattern: Kate, the Cat with Britches from Knitty Winter 2005, also City Mouse Toy from Lion Brand’s website (registration required) for the wings.

Yarn: Red Heart Super Savers in Black, Bright Yellow, and White. Not sure of the amounts, but not much of any color.

Needle: US5

Started: February 23, 2009
Finished: February 25, 2009

I am in love with him. LOVE. I didn’t make him for anyone or any occasion… Just spotted this one on Ravelry and had to be a copycat. Can you blame me?

Lost in translation

Anyone out there able to translate what this tube contains?!? I’d be eternally grateful!

If it would help, I’ll email the largest size file I can to you so you can zoom in on the symbols!

Barrage of FOs

First, thanks for all the well-wishes. I am a firm believer in fate and things happening for a reason, so I know this wasn’t to be, but it’s frustrating nonetheless. We’ll find the right home soon, I’m sure of it! Now for the barrage of knitting…

One:

Pattern: Basic Cabled Hat from Stitch n Bitch

Yarn: Malabrigo in Cactus Flower, about 2/3 skein

Needles: US8

Cast on 108 and knit additional two cable repeats before decreases.

Two:

Pattern: Birthday Cowl

Yarn: Joann Sensations Dolcetto in purple/pink, less than a ball

Needles: US8

Three:

Pattern: Cross between Very Warm Hat by EZ and Pokeball Hat by Sasha Stavsky (rav link)

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash… don’t remember how much of each, but mostly white since the inside is all white.

Needles: US7

Four:

Pattern: Elijah by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Bernat Cashmere Blends, ~1.5 balls

Needles: US4 and US7 (for ears)

The color is completely washed out in this pic because it was super super super cold and the sun didn’t shine well for weeks. I needed to take a pic and send it out before the baby came!

Five:

Pattern: Twist Cardigan by ChicKnits

Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman Wool, ~2.5 skeins

Needles: US7 and US8

I would never ever ever use this yarn for a sweater again. I’d only use it for felting and only if I had a coupon to buy it with. It’s one of the scratchiest and uncomfortable wools I’ve ever used. Bummer. Live and learn, huh?!

Six:

Pattern: Shetland Triangle

Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow in Oregon Coast Heather, held double, ~2.5 skeins total

Needles: US8

Knit 12 body repeats and it measured 61 x 30″ when blocked. Given as a mid-year bday present to a mom friend at school.

Seven:

Pattern: Basic Mitten Pattern by Ann F Budd

Yarn: Malabrigo in Cactus Flower, just over half a skein

Needles: US7

Eight:

Pattern: Cabled Baby Hat by HeyJulie (rav link)

Yarn: Bernat Cashmere Blends, just over half a ball

Needles: US8

Nine:

Pattern: Elijah by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Bernat Cashmere Blends (just under half a ball) and Wool Ease in Oxford Grey (about 3/4 ball)

Needles: US4 and US7

Ten:

Pattern:  Warmest Mittens by Kris Percival

Yarn:  Wool Ease Chunky in Black, one ball

Needles:  US7

Ta-Da! That’s the extent of my knitting since just before the end of 2008. I’m currently working on stash-busting and hope to have some projects to show very soon. Thanks for hanging through the post!

Blog silence ended by some venting

I had some great plans for some great posts explaining how we had found a wonderful home to buy that would put us very near our school and back in the town we never should have left in the first place.  I was going to explain that the home we found was THE ONE and we wouldn’t have to move until the kids had to bury us.

I was.   Then things went wrong with the deal.  Very very wrong.

Apparently the woman who owns the home has some control issues.   From what we can tell, she ordered the listing agent not to divulge any details to prospective buyers.  You know, details like she’s already in negotiations with another buyer or that she’s unwilling to accept offers below a certain dollar amount, or that she is only willing to entertain one offer at a time.  Pretty significant details that any prospective buyer wants to know and asks about.  When the buyer isn’t able to get answers and instead feels as though they’re deliberately being deceived, the deal is headed south.  Quickly.

It’s truly unfortunate how things played out.  The home is in foreclosure and is not the owner’s primary residence.  We offered a low amount knowing that the bank would counter with a higher amount.  Admittedly, we were looking for a deal.  We will not be putting our current home on the market until the real estate upswing begins, so we’ll be carrying two mortgages.  A good deal would soften that situation a bit.  Anyway, the exchanges became less enjoyable and more adversarial.  We got emotional and backed out, only to find two days later that she had an offer on the table and the home was now contingently-contracted.  We went back to her and offered list price, knowing that this is a home we both can envision ourselves in for many many years.  She refused.  She refused what we think is ~ $75,000 because of a personal vendetta, as best we can tell.  Why would anyone do that?  I can only hope that Karma will pay her visit sometime down the road.  Right now, I drive the kids 25 miles each way to a school that I truly love and believe in.  It’s completely worth it, but it’s frustrating and exhausting.  We didn’t make the decision to enroll at the school lightly.  Much deliberation was done.  I wouldn’t change it for anything, but I sure wish we hadn’t moved to the home we’re in now to begin with. As they say, hindsight is always 20/20.

We’re still searching for the right house.  Deep down in the mature part of me, I know we’ll find it.  For now, I’m (not-so-)secretly hoping that the current contract falls through and we’re able to buy this home afterall.  I certainly don’t wish any ill toward the owner or the prospective buyers, I just really want the house! 

I’ll be back soon, I hope, with some knitting to show.  Enjoy your weekend.  I’m thrilled to be able to see some of our grass again!