Lilac yarn

shetland yarn
Originally uploaded by princess and the purl

Here's my finished product! I plied it with a metalic thread and beads....looks much cooler in person...ooohhh sparkles.

Fibery Goodness!

Here is my first attempt at hand painting! Spinning it made it more pastelish then I was hoping for, but it is still pretty cute!



Some people braid their roving. It looks cool, but I think you can see more of the coloring with it just rolled.

And...tadaaa...this is the roving all spun up. I got about 95 yards out of it. I am thinking of plying it with a metalic thread and maybe add some beads to it....we'll see.

Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day Parade
Originally uploaded by princess and the purl

Here's one of my favorite shots from the Memorial Day Parade. The boys love watching the Shriners. There seemed to be a never ending line of them this year: tiny motorcycles, the cars, mini jet planes, clowns...did I miss anything?!? One of the men in the little cars was so tall that his knees almost came up past the stearing wheel...had to have been a long parade for him!

The parade was pretty long as usual....boys got lots of candy (much more then I would ever want them to consume!).

There are more pictures on flickr. Hope you all had a fun and restful holiday!

Remembering

Take time today to remember those who are serving, have fallen or have served our country. Remember the sacrifies they made so that we could live a life of freedom and comfort.

Thank you

Grandpa W.

Grandpa C.

and

Grandpa S.

Can we say...S.P.O.I.L.E.D.?

J had his birthday party at Grandma Coat's house yesterday. I have to admit...it was great not hosting it at our humble abode....no cleaning like a mad woman or running around like a chicken with my head cut off! Well, maybe a little crazyness running around, but once at my in laws it was really nice! J wanted a Navy party. He got lots of airplane stuff (he wants to be a Navy pilot) clothes, and an air craft carrier from Aunt Crys and Uncle Duane. My mom went to the recruiting office and they loaded her up like it was Christmas....all in all I think he had a great time!

I made home made hamburger buns and an ice cream cake (soft yogurt rolls and ice cream cake from bakingbites.com) The buns were awesome....made 3 batches and have plenty left for the leftover hamburgers...mmmm! The cake was pretty good, not thrilled with the frosting, but pretty good. It was really simple, one of those ahahh moments. Basically, you cover the pan of your choice with plastic wrap, put the ice cream in...freeze for a day or two, wrap it up, take it out of the pan. Bake the cake(s) in same pan and viola you have a 3 layer ice cream cake....who knew?!?! My only hindrance was the frosting. Some frostings aren't freezer friendly (Kathy if you have any suggestions I would love it!) so I went with the one in the recipe. It was the Real Vanilla Butter cream: boiling sugar, whipping egg whites and adding like a million pounds of butter. Trying to keep an eye on the candy thermometer and check if the egg whites were forming stiff peaks at the same time was a little spastic, but I finally got it. The result was a very dense, not too sweet (which I liked), very greasy frosting. I really liked the cake part, but I could have skipped the frosting (sweet frozen butter anyone? yum!). I'll post a picture of it tomorrow hopefully!

Today is keeping the craziness going! I am taking a break from the folding of laundry, washing of dishes and other mad dash items to cram before Miss Nicole gets here to babysit. Jim is doing 12 hours of clinical time today, at 2 there is a friend's bridal shower (no gift yet, not exactly sure how to get there..sounds great huh?), and then at 5 is Carrie's husband, Alex's birthday party.

To top things off it is now thundering. It's going to be a B.E.Autiful day!!!

Words of wisdom a la Grey's Anatomy

Ok, so it's out...I am a Grey's fan. The basis of the story is kind of annoying, but every week they seem to make me cry! Tonight was their season finale....pretty good, but one thing seemed to stick out for me. At the end the chief resident said that we can't do everything and still have everything.

Did you get it?

We can't do everything and still have everything!!!!!

For as long as I can remember I have been the do-er. Last year everything seemed to just fall apart. I likened it to juggling while running down a mountain with a giant snowball chasing after you. One mistake and you either drop all your balls or you are crushed by the mammoth, ever accumulating pile of crap. Last January both things happened. Guess what...I survived! I am no longer the juggler of all things. I can enjoy my life!

I may not be doing everything (sometimes it feels like I am doing nothing), but I now realize that I have everything that matters!

For those of you who know me I can't be sugary and flowery for very long..so, grab a dose of insulin...back to reality!

While writing all this touchy feely stuff, I am watching Monty Python! Can't help it...it's a classic!...and really if you listen there are some real jewels of wisdom (yes I know, I'm the optimist of our family!) The more I watch it, the more that I realize that our life is kind of like the search for the Holy Grail....without the searching for the Holy Grail part that is!

Most of the time I am a lot like the old man in the village...I'm not dead yet...really, I'm getting better! I'd be willing to bet that Jim would love it if I took on the same attitude as the girls in castle anthrax..ha ha..nice try hun! Jim's the King Aurthur of our bunch....keeping up the search, never quitting no matter how difficult the task. Jamie would be our Brave Sir Robin....wanting to be so brave, but always ever so cautious. When it comes to Corey, he'd be one of the French Soldiers...farting in everyone's general direction....taunting his brothers...and when all else fails the thrower of large farm animals! The black knight would fit my tough little Riley....tis just a flesh wound....come on ya pansy!

The only difference would be that we really don't eat Spam a lot (I know, ha....ha....ha)

Enough of the silliness, remember don't try to do everything....look at the big picture, breath...enjoy the show!

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

Grandpa and Grandma were in Minneapolis this week. They came bearing gifts...really you shouldn't have! (at least you could have added in some advil or mellow mommy in a bottle!) The title is a favorite of ours! Jim is an absolute Monty Python nut! At any moment one of us could break into "I don't want to talk to you no more, you animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction (that is even more true now that the boys are obsessed with bodily functions!). Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"

Dad was getting fitted for a new prosthetic leg....a C-leg. He will now officially be the bionic man. There could be a new reality tv show on it called pimp my prosthesis! It comes with a battery pack, lots of bells and whistles..only problem is figuring out how to walk in it! They said the trick is not to think about it, easier said then done when you're about to fall on your face! No, but really this will be a total blessing for dad. His prosthetician (?) Amy did an awesome job getting through all of the red tape. She has been with dad from the begining, always fitting him in for adjustments, questions..you name it and I'm sure she's gotten answers for dad! Thanks Amy. You're the best!

These were J's birthday cupcakes (chocolate cupcakes filled with strawberry chocolate ganache and frosted with chocolate glaze and butter cream). Sounds difficult, but if I could figure them out there is no reason to ever buy a box mix again! The recipe came from an awesome sight....Kathy: you can try the lavender cupcakes and let me know what there like...boys probably wouldn't go for that! Anyway here's the link
http://cupcakeblog.com/

Yesterday we ended up going to see Speed Racer. If you have boys they will love it...a couple areas of questionable language, but it was done kind of on the sly so the boys didn't ever get it. I still have a headache from watching all of the crazy racing scenes from the very top row of the theater!

On a knitting note, I just ordered 3 pounds of merino to hand paint and then spin!~carpal tunnel anyone?!?! I hope to have pictures soon.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Happy Birthday J

Mr. Cool
Originally uploaded by princess and the purl

More later....off to have some birthday fun!

My heart is in his hands...and yours could be too one day!

Jim has a huge test tonight. It's over a multitude of things including ecg readings. He's nervous. There are so many little things that you need to remember depending on which lead the rhythm was seen on, patients history. Every blip and bump means something. It's just a lot to remember, but I have total faith that he'll do great. Jim always gets nervous with tests....he just called and he passed with an 86%!


We have been together since we were fifteen...that's half of my life spent loving, fighting, laughing and crying with this man! I love him more then words can say. He is so dedicated to us and making a better life for our family. These last few weeks he's been working 6 days a week, most of the time he doesn't get home before 10 pm if he comes home at all. I guess that's the life of an emt, but I know it's hard on him.


I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!!!! I respect and appreciate the sacrifices he makes for us. Sometimes I forget how hard it is for him not being home very often (most of the time I'm so focused on getting away from here that I forget he must miss us). He pushes his body and his mind to the limit. Thank you Jim for taking care of us. I can't wait until we are on the other side of this chapter of our lives!


I love you Jim. Have a good 48 hours. I'll be waiting for you on Sunday with open arms!

History

Kathy's birthday party
Originally uploaded by princess and the purl

Yesterday was Kathy's birthday party (She's 30...3...0..years old!!! And she can kick, strut and KICK! sorry SNL flashback!) I had a great time! We were at the Terrace in Madison which is extremely cool, especially yesterday..burrrrrrr! Kathy is in the pink shirt, posing it up with Kim.

It was really pretty interesting, seeing a couple of people that I really hadn't talked to since high school. Sure I've seen Kim off and on again, here and there. Amber was the real treat! (there is a photo of her on my flicker page...I can't seem to ever get a good picture of her!)

So anyway, back to history. After we graduated I lost track of pretty much everyone that we hung out with. I started xray school the week after graduation. So while all my friends were having fun with their last summer, I was studying things like A&P and radiation physics. I really felt like I was going one way and everyone else was going another. One thing lead to another and I just stopped talking with them.

Kathy and I started hanging out again after Jamie was born...She cracks me up! (if it's possible I think that Corey inherited her wonderful capability to burp like no one else I know!) Fast forward 12 years and I am running into Amber at Kathy's birthday party. It was nice to catch up and hang out. I really hope that we can get together sometime soon!

All this traveling down memory lane makes me realize that the glory days really weren't all that glorious. Lately I've been wondering how did I get to this place in life...now I'm wondering how did I make it from there! I'm definitely not that same person from 12 years ago....in fact I think I'd like to forget about her all together! Sure life is crazy and things sometimes seem to be going down the drain, but I have 3 great boys, a loving husband and I feel so close my Heavenly Father! It's amazing that all of those stupid things I did, or even those that I am doing now, he forgives and casts them as far away from me as the east is from the west! In His eyes I am the perfect mom, perfect wife and perfect daughter in Christ! 1 Corinthians 13:11 says:

When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man I did away with childish things.

I'd like to think that I've done away with my childish things...but if given a chance it's so easy to jump back into being a child! It was cool to talk with Amber as adults....we've all ready gone through that terrible stretching our wings phase....now we've settled into who we are in this world. It's just nice to see where we've been and now who we are! Soooo if you read this Amber, give me a call..maybe we could meet up for coffee or something!

munchkins and mohawks

mowhawks
Originally uploaded by princess and the purl

Jamie has been begging for one for a while, now Corey and Riley want one too...stylist suggested faux hawks for the little guys that way we can keep their hair normal if we want! The bottom picture is Riley's new favorite stare down pose...nice huh?!?

More Domesticity!!!

I almost forgot! Last night we had the best grilled chicken!!! I absolutely love the recipes on http://www.bakingbites.com. We used the orange honey and chipolte glaze and it was exceptional! I also made the soft yogurt rolls. They are pretty much gone today so I will definitely be making them again! Jim has put a request in for them as hamburger buns for J's birthday....nothing like fresh hamburger buns...mmmmm! I would have snapped a pic, but the boys devoured everything before I thought about it!


Again, have a great weekend celebrating moms!

Domestic Otter

I'll be the first to admit it...I am not a homebody! While pregnant with Jamie, I was put on bed rest...I not so lovingly called it house arrest. Talk about climbing the walls! I was working full time doing cat scans so I was used to a lot of adrenaline and being on the go pretty much all of the time. Then, BAM, I was at home getting my fix watching ER shows on the discovery channel!

At church we did personality tests. You were either a Lion (leader), Beaver (smart mathematical type), Golden Retriever (helpful, people person) or an Otter (the social butterfly of the bunch). I tested out as pretty much all otter with a little golden retriever thrown in for fun! (Jim was a Beaver/Lion aka bossy perfectionist! just kidding honey!!!!)

So here I am, a home schooling stay at home mom. It would be pretty accurate to say that the transition was less then spectacular! Life seems so out of whack. The kids are really stressing me out. Honestly, the last couple of months have been terrible. I feel like I am constantly yelling, or grounding someone. My voice hurts, my head hurts and my bubbly fun loving personality is in the toilet!

A couple of days ago I was able to get some quiet time (quiet seems to be a virtue that we seriously lack in our home!). I was praying for God to guide me to something, anything to gain control. I turned to Philippians 4: 4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God , which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Gentleness is not something I've tried...loud and mad yes, gentle and rejoicing..no. That got me really thinking: Am I contributing to the lack of control? If the boys and I are constantly in a tug of war, are we accomplishing anything other then establishing who can out last the other? I haven't been joyful. In fact, I have been the exact opposite of this passage! In the heat of the moment I don't stop and pray. I am anxious about everything, am I the best mom that I can be or will we ever get through this!

So here I am declaring that I am going to be gentle and rejoice in all things! I am going to take everything to God in prayer! I am going to give up control and let the peace of God guard my heart and mind!


Philippians 4:9 takes it one step further!
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable---if anything is excellent or praiseworthy---think about such things!


I have been pretty negative lately with the boys, always pointing out their faults. I am going to try the opposite and focus on what they do good. (not that I will just let them do whatever they want) If I focus on praising the good, maybe it will decrease the bad!

I hope that you all have a wonderful mother's day! May you take on gentleness and receive the peace that transcends all understanding!!!!!

dumpity dumpity

Last night we took the boys to playland at McDonalds...only way to get a date...oh the romance in our house! We were the only ones so the boys could go crazy.


Corey loves that yogurt commercial, the one with the lady doing yoga on a ball...he's always trying to strike that pose! This was the first time he actually somewhat got it...he was so proud of himself! He is really into telling stories now. When we were eating he got as close to me as he possibly could and said "Once upon a time, far far away...Dumpity Dumpity sat on a wall. Dumpity Dumpity fell off the wall...All the kings came and said 'Poor Dumpity'..And he stayed broke." He was so serious that I had a really hard time not laughing at Dumpity!

They kept trying to be a train going down the slide....somehow Riley always got to be the first one down..sneaky little brother :)
Jamie has graduated from the happy meals...I am kind of sad! He doesn't want the toy anymore and he likes to drink a big drink. I can't believe that he'll be 8 in 15 days (we get the count down at least once a day). Where did the time go?!?

Jamie and Riley were glued to Jim all day...first time all week that he's been home for more then a few hours. J didn't even want to go to kidzlink which never happens. Instead, he sat with us through the entire adult service (he had to go to the bathroom 3 times...probably from the pop I gave him to help his "tummy-ache") I really think the boys are starting to really miss having Jim around...his school breaks for the summer in June so hopefully that will help!

Still Raining, but I can see clearer now

Well it is still rainy in IL today, but things have gotten better since yesterday on the homefront. It's crazy how things just build and build until everyone just explodes. Life is really like a thunder head....rain and destruction during the storm, but after the colors of the sky and grass are so brilliant!

Jim (the hub) is going through paramedic class right now, on top of working 2 full time jobs. He is incredibly busy and I admire his determination and strength to get through all of this. It is just really hard having him gone all the time and then home schooling the boys on top of that. I never would have guessed being a stay at home mom would be so hard!!!!! Don't get me wrong, I love my kids more then life itself, but somedays I really need a break! My friend Michelle says it best " Lord I know you love these kids, but are you sure their mine?"

Here's a picture of it pouring outside this morning...we got some pea sized hail along with it, oh joy of all joys!

Storms on the horizon

Storms are funny things...today was a sunny warm day and then all of a sudden, bam a cold front is going to swoop in and turn everything on its head....wind, rain, thunder and lightening, hail, maybe even tornadoes.

Life seems kind of like that right now. A couple of years ago things were going great. Jobs were secure, babies were wonderful, and married life was such a blast. It's strange how fast things get turned upside down. We get busy and loose sight of what really matters. Little things start to irriate, frustrations mount and tempers flare. Before you know it you're sucked into an up draft.

Right now I feel like we are getting whipped around in this hectic storm of life . I feel like we are getting pulverized by all of the flying clutter that we've allowed to build up. I need to calm down and trust in God to bring us through. I firmly believe that God is working in all of this. It just is so easy to focus on the situation. As we were driving home from getting dinner there was a song on the radio talking about how God never said it would be easy, but he won't leave us alone in the storm. Psalm 62 says: Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people, pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

So today, I am choosing to trust in Him who strengthens me...to find rest in God alone. We will get through this and we will be made stronger from our sufferings.