Sick chickies

Thursday night and I am just beginning to see the light at the end of the long whiney, fevery, runny nosey, lethargic tunnel...

Exhibit A: Double ear infection.



Exhibit B: Double ear infection + 6 teeth coming in! Poor chickie.



And of course the growing post-modern art installation taking over every sink, tub and other water tight basin in my house...


Now, I'm not a germ fearing lady. I'm one of those people who believe some germs are good. You know, they help build up a strong immune system! But after being sick myself with a bad cold for 10 days now and after caring for two little sickees all week, I feel the need to air out and super mega de-germify my house!


Three sets of bed linens washed in high-temp: check! Play-mats and all plastic toys soaked in vinegar water: check! All floors vacuumed/washed with vinegar water: check! All light switches, door knobs and solid surface in my house lysol-wiped: check! Knitting: lying in a heap by the couch since last week :0(


But the mailman came this week with a little box of joy which is sitting on my kitchen table and beckoning...


Like I said, there's a light at the end of the tunnel ;0)

The last 5 days...

In the last five days since my last post, I finished knitting this...

Monogrammed Christmas sweaters for the boys (Lolo's is finished too!)
Knit from Valley Yarns Berkshire on US 9s in my own design.
Really cute, really soft, but pilly as all get-out!

And 7 and a half toddler and baby socks for my Martha-inspired baby sock advent calendar (I know there are just 6 below, you'll have to trust me on the other 1.5!) ...

{1} Stripey green toddler socks in Knit Picks Swish in Dublin and Bare
(34 sts, tubular cast on, 6 row stripes, short row heel, round toe)

{2} cabled toddler socks using quietish's pattern with bulky yarn
(Valley Yarns Berkshire) and size 9 needles for 3yr size

{3} basic socks also in Valley Yarns Berkshire and size 9 needles.
Embellished with duplicate embroidered tree.

Trimmed the tree...


Wrapped a garland around the banister to display my baby sock advent calendar in progress...


Distracted a sick toddler (he's all better now thanks to your sound advice, extra cuddles, tandem nursing, steam/humidity, and lots of extra playtime with mommy to keep his mind off how miserable he was feeling) with an art project! I introduced him to pencil crayons (ooh!) and we made little card stock circles to adorn a tiny tree on the kitchen table. Between this and hours of tea party, he managed to forget that he couldn't breath through his nose ;0)


Helped dig us out of what seemed like 12 million feet of snow!

Survived Lolo's first cold (he barely slept for 3 consecutive nights because the poor thing couldn't breath through his nose which meant he couldn't nurse for more than a second at a time)! Got a cold and beat it myself. Went to Stephen's office Christmas party on Friday night. And hunted down DDR Hottest Party for Wii for my honey (what a lucky boy ;0)

Amazing, eh? I can't beleive I got that much done considering and I'm feeling so empowered that I'm thinking I just might be able to knit 3-4 pairs of mittens, 10 socks, and Joseph in the next week all while making 'green' wrapping paper with Julian, wrapping gifts of course, and going out 2 nights in a row on Friday and Saturday nights!

What? It could happen!?

On this very same day...

...three years ago, Stephen and I vowed to love and honour each other forever.

We were married on a rainy morning in the chapel where Stephen was baptised. The youth choir that Stephen had sang with since he was just a lad sang for the occasion. It was very solemn. And beautiful. And meaningful. We exchanged vows and rings and gave each other communion. And when it was all done, we walked back down the aisle hand in hand to the choir singing the Beatle's anthem, 'love, love, love.' It was perfect!



Then it was off to the community centre nearby for a cocktail and five course lunch. We found the caterer through the local wedding show. We were trying to keep the wedding to a budget and were weary of all the glossy flyers we had picked up. There were a few photocopied menus we picked up somewhere and figured this is one we might be able to afford. And it was. Except it was delightful! The caterer was so sweet and kind...and genuinely excited and happy for us. She loved to do weddings and really went all out. We knew she would do a good job but were totally wowed when we walked in to the reception and saw all the first courses laid out. It was an asparagus and lemon feuillete and on each plate was a beautiful violet orchid. The plate looked like something right out of and epicurean magazine. Like I said, she was amazing. And everyone still talks about the wonderful potage crecy, the veal and of course the chocolate cake with marzipan fondant. Mmmmm.

We also hired a brass band to set the tone. We wanted an easy jazzy sound while we all munched and chatted with our guests. No dancing here...well just one for the bride and groom to the classic 'fly me to the moon.' The band leader was our former high school music teacher who we had tracked down for the occasion. They were great! The whole thing was so us. It was sophisticated and elegant, yet easy and simple.

In fact, we did a lot of the work ourselves from the invitations to the centrepieces (cream roses in clear glass vases with green glass votive holders and river rocks strewn casually about), to the cd 'seating cards' which doubled as favours (picture below). I even made my own and the bridesmaids bouquets before leaving for church! It was really nice to be involved so intimately with the little details. It's where the love is, you know ;0)

The best part though was that we felt so connected to each other and to our community. Everyone was so eager to help and lend a hand. And we let them. The whole thing was over by dinner time and Stephen and I got to go to our new home together. We got the house and moved in together at the same time as the wedding so really home is the only place we wanted to be.*

And we lived happily ever after...;0)

Wait, what's that you ask? What about the anniversary sweater? Well I didn't quite finish it in time for Stephen to wear during our actual cotton anniversary year which ended on April 16th. I've got the front and back as well as two-thirds of one sleeve done but didn't quite make it.

We'll pretend it is knit from leather (the traditional third anniversary gift) and I'll gift it to him this year for sure ;0)


* We joke around that we honeymooned at the home depot. It's one of those jokes that's funny because it's true! So this week, we reminisced by taking care of our house, doing some painting and door fixing and putting up blinds...well, let's just say we spent a lot of time at the home depot ;0)