On the hook in 2014

Rail Fence pattern - learning the join-as-you-go technique

Off the hook in 2013

Infinity Mobius

Chevron Sweater - my first ripple pattern - I love it.

Wool Hoodie perfect for the Chilly temps this year

After it was all together I noticed that one sleeve is inside out, but I don't think anyone else but me can tell. 

Made for Andi

Made for Jake and Cassie

picture updates of home projects

Future Family Room.  gutted and ready for pain and floor

Laminate from downstairs reinstalled upstairs

Family Room Done - before recliners and junk moved in

Downstairs Floor Out

Handscraped Hickory

Dining Room

Living Room

Glutened

Today I am a hot mess.  I have been in denial thinking that I could cheat and sneak a few bites of gluten here and there.  I need to face the facts.  I have had a sinus infection since before Thanksgiving and thought it was just seasonal.  After two rounds of antibiotics I realize now that it's the gluten causing the inflammation that's causing the infections.  I feel like I have been hit by a truck. My ears hurt, my joints hurt, my back hurts, my face hurts.  I am so bloated and gassy and I have no energy, but can't seem to fall asleep.  And I haven't given myself any time to recover.  And today I compounded it by eating onion rings like an idiot.  Today the brain fog was so bad that if Ara hadn't been with me running errands I would probably still be driving around Williamsburg mindlessly.  I WILL NEVER EAT GLUTEN AGAIN. 
On that note, I really really wish Ara would take an interest in cooking.  I also HATE cooking.  I love eating though. 
lots and lots of tea and plain chicken in my future until I recover from poisoning myself with gluten.

Parenting Daredevils

I don't care how well behaved you think your child is, lurking inside of every child is a little daredevil.  Whether it's the staying up past bedtime to read or sneaking into the pantry to eat all the good stuff before the siblings get to it OR sneaking out to meet friends in the middle of the night, dancing in the street or jumping off bridges the daredevil streak it there.  I originally started this blog to write about the ups and downs of raising pre-teen/teen children, but then I quickly found out that wasn't easily done.  Firstly, I realized they should be allowed to recover from embarrassing mistakes with out the world knowing.  After all I wouldn't want all my mishaps documented.  Their brains are so flooded with crazy hormones, they can't think straight.  Secondly, I discovered that other parents of pre-teen/teens are very judgmental, and even catching wind of your little daredevils adventures could warrant them not allowing their child to play with yours.  Pre-teen/teen mishaps are a little more devastating than a third grader being too busy at recess to go inside to potty.  No one makes their kid stop playing with yours because they wet their pants after lunch. But any middle and high school offense of any nature puts your parenting skills in question.  Which is insane, because as parents we are all in this together and should be supportive.  But it doesn't work like that. So in the end I didn't write about the good, bad and ugly of parenting teens.  But I just want to let other moms know, you are not alone. It may seem like little Johnny down the street is so awesome and has his act together, but a lot goes on behind closed doors.  Even the best children can be  unbearable at times.  It's hard to be patient 100% of the time, and it's not realistic to expect to be. Just as your children are growing and learning, you are to.  It's just as exhausting to parent teenagers as it is preschoolers.  And I am discovering parenting adults not to be as exhausting, but emotionally wrenching at times. 

New Challenges

Ara and I are two weeks from our last weigh in with the doc for this weight loss plan.  I have lost 7 this time and he has lost over 20 - all since Feb.  I wanted to lose 5 more but seriously doubt if that will happen in the next two weeks.  Little does Ara know, but our next challenge will be training for a mud run.  Maybe not the official Tough Mudder, maybe just a fun run, but something.  As soon as we're not in weight loss mode, I plan, with or without Ara's consent, to get a gym membership and trainer. 

Job changes are in the works for me.  May is so crazy.  Jake swears in (US Army) tomorrow and turns 21 Wednesday.  My oldest is 21! He is slotted to leave the end of May and start BCT (basic combat training) in June.  I overheard he and his GF talking JOP wedding.  Cole got accepted into Airborne school and after that goes on to RASP (Ranger Assessment ? ?), then will deploy with a Ranger unit for 4 months and then come back and train with Rangers until they feel he is ready for Ranger school - then he will be an official Army Ranger.  Andi gave up her Junior prom to go to Cole's graduation, I think she was really bummed, but was a good sport about it because she also missed her brother.  She has also started running. 

Cole Cole Cole

People are getting sick of hearing me go on and on about Cole.  Seriously, if you ask, I will talk your ear off about everything that has happened in the last 14 weeks with him.  I am so stinking proud of him.  I think the other two kids are feeling displaced and a little neglected.  Ara even bought a HUGE frame at Target to fill with Cole pics - even I thought it was a bit overboard.  Cole posted this Facebook status the day he graduated, "It's not that I finished and made it, it's that I had the courage to start, to put the welfare of the nation before my own!"  What parent wouldn't be proud of that.  It made me cry.  He's going to turn out just fine, and go far.