Holiday Handmades

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday!  I can finally share what I've been working on for holiday gifts this year!  I have been busy knitting and sewing away, therefore, all of the creative juices have been flowing in that direction.  I have barely thought about interesting meals at all.  Ask Brian.  The dinners have been very uninspired around here.  Back to the menu planning next week!

I digress....  Here is the crafty goodness...

Jamie is a U of M fanatic!  I have reports that he sleeps with the blanket every night and it is hauled to the couch first thing in the morning.  I'm so glad he likes it!

I love the one I made for Sophie.  I told her I would keep it if she didn't like it, but she smiled and shook her head.  Apparently that means I did well choosing the colors!  I'm still the cool aunt!

I had to keep up with tradition and make Mimi another shawl. She got a shawl pin from my parents and pinned it right on and wore it the rest of the day!  

Terttu Shawl  

Raveled Here

Springtime Bandit Shawl for Mom
Raveled Here

Mom loved her Christmas shawl.  I think she will get a lot of use from it!  I also made her coasters, but I can't find the picture!

I think I will start next years gifts in a few weeks.  I always say that, but maybe this year I will actually do it!

Spending time...

Spending time at the park by Gabby and Gup's house

I got to spend a week at the lake with my favorite kiddos in early August.  That is when the weather is the best.  The lake was perfect.  We spent hours swimming, jumping off the neighbors raft, floating on anything floatable, searching for the perfect rocks and shells, picnicing, eating and making new friends!  I loved spending so much time with them and really hope that Melissa and Dave let me steal them away for a week every summer!  Jamie kept saying that he wanted to come back for a few more days!  I love that!

I can't believe she is 5'1"!!!

Sophie and Jamie on the St. Clair River on the Lightship Huron.

We fed Pringles to the friendly squirrel in the park

We visited the Lightship Huron and saw the Bluewater Bridge.

Sophie and Jamie on Lake St. Clair

They even got to perch fish with Gup and their dad before they went home!  

My poor neglected blog... getting back on track post #1

I'm sorry, I truly am.

Between having the wireless card in my computer die an untimely death, working with AT&T to determine why exactly I had internet one minute and none the next, and heading to Best Buy to purchase a wireless adapter, and a million other things, my blog has been very neglected, and all of the intended posts are a little behind the times now, so I guess I will just give a brief overview of what's been going on...

FYI - this is going to be a very picture heavy post....

Memorial Day Weekend (wow, that was a long time ago) was lots of fun, we smoked ribs at my parents house with the Milo's and Messings...

Bri, Dad and Ivan and the cigar holder....

Dad and I ..  I don't really smoke cigars, but I like how they smell...  and I had to hold Brian's so he could take pics...

(Notice the handknit that I now have to wash because I wore it around cigar smoke, Doh!)

Lori makes THE BEST homemade rolls and I wanted a lesson, so I asked her to bring them for the party.  Ha, sneaky sneaky!

Along with 4 different kinds of ribs, we had a HUGE pan of mom's mac and cheese, salad, Lori's rolls, bourbon apples with ice cream, & strawberry rhubarb crisp.  Fun times!

Come back tomorrow for the next update on my neglected blog!  Fourth of July weekend, better late than never!  See you tomorrow!

Weekend Views...

A few quick pics of the Mighty Mackinaw Bridge for you on this bright sunny Friday morning...

Mac and Jamie checking out the beach.... I don't know what Jamie was looking for, but Mac was most definately looking for cows!

Jamie's Birthday was on Monday, so GABby (Great Aunt Barb) made him a giant b-day cookie...

Uncle Brian and I could not leave the Bon Jovi concert without getting this guy a t-shirt for his 8th Birthday!  He sang Bon Jovi and played air guitar all the time with he was little...  "I'm a cowboy...  on a TEAL horse I ride....."  He couldn't say his s's!  It was priceless and he still loves Bon Jovi! 

Hope you had a happy weekend too!

The Big Three OH!!!!

I don't like that number!  But I did have a great birthday, regardless.   My hubs, love him, got me a much craved after Kindle!  Lucky girl!  Mom and Dad got me my Serger! (pics soon, I promise)  Very lucky girl!

Mom and Dad came down for our annual girls birthday dinner out and we got to go to The Melting Pot!  It was wonderful! 

All the fab desserts to dip in Amaretto Dark Chocolate Fondue and Bananas Foster Fondue, I think the cheesecake and the strawberries were the best!

On the weekend my aunt and grandparents were all over for our birthdays and mom had Mary, our phenomenal cake lady, make me a cake (Cherry Chunk of course, because when you are making cakes from scratch, Cherry Chips just don't cut it!) it had a button box on top and a ball of yarn with knitting needles.  Mary loves it when we order cakes because she always gets to make something she has never done before...  shells for our wedding cake, a button box, buttons, yarn and needles for my birthday cake!  Thanks MARY!!!  You make the BESTEST cakes EVER!