The thing I dislike most...

Promises aren't being kept. This time it's ME who is making me upset. I wanted to write more on here in the year 2014...and I have really NOTHING to show for it.
However my kids are happy and my house is more in order and I've been knitting wonderful items so that has kept me busy.

Right now I'll give you a little update on my wonderful family.
Rick (my husband) is in his 3rd year of Residency, when he is done in June 2016 he will have a duel degree in Family Practice Medicine and Neuromusclar Medicine. Which means he can go and teach at a DO Medical School at some point in his career..PLUS that makes him more competitive for a job. WHICH he already has for when he is done. We are heading to Wisconsin after this. We are excited and ready for the journey and I know the hospital/clinic is going to be a perfect fit for him...AND with time the town will be a perfect fit for our family!
Zeke (my now 6 year old Autistic boy) is doing great in school. He is in the same school as last year, in the same classroom, with the same teacher and a lot of the same paraprofessionals and classmates. He has settled down earlier...although homework nightly is not always fun for him...or me. He is progressing in his speech and he tries to say the words we are saying. He is also working on those social components that come naturally in other kids, saying Hello, Good Morning, Thank you, Bye...He is a boy though too...he likes to play with his cars, ride his bike, climb trees, go swimming, loves being outside in nature...he also loves his instruments. (Which is sometimes on the "loud" end of things)
Aspen (my SOON to be 4 year old girl) is loving her preschool. She greets the teachers with great joy and love! It's amazing that she is that excited! She goes Wednesday morning through Friday morning...She LOVES the time away from me I think too. And I love being able to be kid free for 3 mornings of my week. She is coming along in her speech too...but she will be getting evaluated soon. There are somethings that she mispronounces and letter sounds she hasn't quite got a hold of yet.
I have been busy keeping up with 2 kids, making up meals for our dinners as well as making up a plan for Freezer meals for later on this winter, I've also been trying to keep up with main area of the living area organized and clean which is nice to walk in and not see TONS of clutter everywhere. I just need to work on my crafting nook area (where I have the sewing machine that I haven't really worked for a while and my yarn) Sometimes the kids rooms look tornadoes have gone through them, sometimes our bedroom is not organized...but we just close doors when people are here...I mean who doesn't do that! After taking off the summer of knitting and creating...I'm back at it and I'm SO happy to be back.
Who knows when the last time I'll be here...hopefully sooner rather than later. After all I like to write about those mundane things in my life. Cause I know I don't get my words out otherwise, I mean I get words out when chatting with kids...but those are not what is that deep part of my heart. I love the conversations I have with my kids...but they aren't really always deep (after all they are only 6 and almost 4)

Three Things Thursday

Three Thing Thursday:

1- I'm SO looking forward to spending some time with my hubby this weekend! Hotel on Friday night and hoping to sleep in on Saturday! Although I'm sure I will miss my kiddos.

2- SO thankful for the ability to create things that keep me sane!

3- Got some stuff to do today! Hoping the kids help out and I can get stuff done!

What are 3 things for you to think on today!

Thankful Thursday...

So it's Thursday...I'm thankful!
I know I just did the Thankful Series. So I feel like I just want to put some pictures on here of who or what I'm thankful for. :)

Happy Aspen Girl

 Ezekiel Dude

 Studious Medical Richard

Being able to create!

Hope you have a great Thursday!

A little of this & a little of that.

 So after talking to Rick and really thinking it over...we decided to not put up our little artificial tree. We are leaving for Florida in 13 days...and I want to make sure that all my stuff is put away before that. That way when I come back at the end of January I don't have to do it then. BUT I did want it to look light and colorful in the house.So lights are up and some decorations are up...it's nice when I move from an apartment to a house...I really don't have a lot of Christmas stuff yet. I do miss putting up the ornaments though. We try and get a new one every year for us as a family and then for the kids...so I still think I need to get those. ;)

With Z in school I wanted to do something special for them. SO I wanted did a search on the world wide web and pinterest for ideas...There were some that were SO cute and then some that looked like a LOT of work. So I actually saw this and thought this was AMAZING. I found it first on Pinterest. Then got directed to Martha Stewart's page HERE! I thought it was LOVELY! SO...I went to the store got buttons (Christmas colors), ribbon in Christmas colors and wiring. I just had to find; scissors, pliers, a ruler, a lighter to take care of the fraying of the ribbon, and an eager son who wanted to help.
Here are my finished products. :)

I have enjoyed making them! Z didn't make any of these actually, he just kept putting the buttons on and taking them off. All well he had fun and so did I! What are your kids making for their teachers for presents? Leave me a link or something in the comments. :)

Thankful #2

Continuing with my miniature Thankful Series...
~ I'm thankful for a roof over my head. We are very grateful for a wonderful couple who is allowing us to stay in their home. It is wonderful for our family to "spread" out...all of our sleeping stuff is on the 2nd floor, all of our living stuff (family, play, dinning, kitchen, etc) is on the main level and then laundry and sewing room in the basement. It's so nice for my children to have their "own" sleeping area.

~ I'm thankful for the ability to create...I love the ability to knit hats for my baby niece (who is yet to be born), the ability to knit a blanket for my baby nephew (who is yet to be born), the ability to knit hats for a wonderful teenager who just had a tumor removed and who is about to face chemo and radiation treatment (please pray for her, her family and her medical team) the ability to create memories with the gift of photography, and SO much more. I'm loving that God created me to create memories with my family and create gifts for family and friends.

 One of Aspen's winter hat

 Aspen's Shrug...just need to add buttons

A "Denver Broncos" custom hat that I'm doing for an auction.

~ I'm thankful for my church. I go to The Gateway Church in downtown Des Moines. This past Sunday we had a worship night. It was very amazing! There are a LOT of musicians and songwriters at our church. A Worship CD was actually made...here is a little bit about it HERE. You should check it out.

I'm very happy about doing this...You can check out #1 series HERE! Will you please join me in making a thankful comment on my blog about what you are Thankful for OR if you are a blogger and you do a post...let me know I would love to read it!

'tis the little things

I'm joining with Lindsay at From the Aisle to Aloha! She is very talented PLUS she lives in HAWAII (at least for the time being.) Lindsay has a wonderful etsy store as well...check it out HERE!!! No really...go back to her store either NOW (but come back and read my blog) OR read my blog and go to her store later. :)
Ok...So this week we were kind of busy. Z's first FULL week of school. Monday at school...Z had a pretty hard day, I'm hoping that it's just case of being home for the weekend. But he finished the week strong and he started to actually use the bathroom there at the school! YEAH!!! I'm so proud of him! I also LOVE these little sheets of paper that tell me about his day.

I also was so happy when I opened up a package of Target brand diapers...and saw the size (as in a number) on the outside of the diaper. It used to be REALLY small and on the inside of the tab. SO when we have 2 kids in the same brand of diaper...SOMETIMES (when a certain person would put on the diapers) the kids would sometimes wear the wrong size...

During the change of seasons I love being able to wear hoodies...however it does some destruction for some of my families sinuses. So I'm so happy for...SUCTION!

I LOVE creating...these little pretties will be leggings for Aspen. (I just have to sew up the bottoms for a more finished look) I got them off of Target Clearance for $5.35...I just LOVE to create for my family and SO happy that I can do a bunch of different things; knit, repurpose, etc.

Well...now that you read my blog...you should hop on over to Lindsay's BLOG AND Etsy Shop! In NO way am I getting anything for promoting her shop...I would like to get something from it EVENTUALLY...but first I need to have money for it. :)


I hope that you had a blessed week as well as a "resting" weekend a head of you! 

Workin' it...

So my "idea" starting this "Workin' It" was to do it on Wednesday...BUT Wednesday's are a little crazy. I have Weight Watchers over the lunch hour and then the kids are usually a little crazy...I mean they are a little crazy every day. :)
So here is my Weekly "Workin' It"...such as my knitting and other crafting such!
Here you go!!!
I finished Rick's Skid Hat...it's reversible and Rick has worn it a couple times already. :) I got this pattern on Ravelry, HERE.
I finished my Gehry Hat...I really, really like this hat! It's one of the best hats to "learn" cables in the round! I got this pattern on Ravelry, HERE.
I am working on my Pay It Forward gift that I'm doing on Facebook...seeing that I put on facebook when I blog...I'm NOT posting any pictures until I know that they all have gotten mine...BUT look at what I got from my friend Danielle. SHE is the talented woman behind Mommy's Making Stuff you can check it her facebook page HERE! She actually made Aspen's Christmas Pillowcase Dress that you can see below...Along with the Pay It Forward projects I'm working on Aspen's purple sweater. As well as wanting to start the her skirt (just haven't found the "right" pattern yet...actually I found it I'm just waiting for the person to release it to me) as well as learning to knit in the magic loop so I can work on those fingerless mitts for myself. HOPEFULLY I will have 2 projects going when we make the journey to Colorado (we leave on Tuesday)...more on that in another post!

Crafty Update!!!

Oh...I really wanted to write this earlier. HOWEVER time hasn't really just landed in my lap.

We had a great weekend...and now I am able to post some pictures of different presents that have been made. :)Tom & Jean wearing their Christmas presents from 2 years ago and the ones from this year too!

For my mother-in-law...I did a purple (because that is her FAVORITE color) along with a cream scarf. Where I used 2 strands of yarn and knitted or purled them into a scarf. I did it in a ribbed pattern of 3...where I knitted 3, purled 3, knitted 3, etc. I slipped the first stitch on the row for a better edging for the scarf. Below are some pictures...For my father-in-law...I made a brown cable knit scarf. I used a pattern called The Natural. It was rather a fairly simple pattern at first...THEN came the crown (decreasing) part...then I really wanted to pull out my hair. So I could use the hat. BUT I really liked it in the end and the pattern finally made sense and it looked well...Rick really would like one...but he will have to wait until after Christmas is over and I have "normal" time to make another one. Below are some pictures...I am also trying to come up with a price list for some of the things that I have made to start selling. So stay tuned for that. Or if you would like more info on that just leave a comment and let me know I can put you on a special list :)
The next on my crafty items would be to make some gloves...I have had the yarn for a while, however I just picked up the needles today.

Craft Up-Date & Handmade Holiday...

So I decided to put this all in one post...

There are NO names because Christmas hasn't come yet. I am just wanting to know people what I am working on!

So for Rick's school (DMU) significant other group (SOS) we did a Holiday project where we Adopted a Family. We got the specifics on the family and it's a single mother, with a son & two daughters. Money is SO tight right now for us I decided that I would make two hats for the girls. One is pink & the other purple, attached are 3 flowers with a ribbon along the edge of the hat. Below is a picture.
Right now I am working on some projects...no other details given (you will have to wait until next weekend to see finished projects and their owners)

Next...I will be working on some other projects...
---A couple small painting projects
---A two-toned pink hat
---Two pair of gloves with super soft black fiber
---Some family calendars
---Some handmade cards

NEEDLESS to say I should NOT be blogging but I should be working on all my projects that I need to have done PRONTO!!!

New pics from the Film!

Grammy & "Z" (she made his vest)

Grandma Rapp now having her turn

Stella (my cousin) and Z

Z all snuggled in Pella

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!!! God Bless!

To sleep or to blog, that is the question.

I just finished putting up the Christmas tree and was in the middle of trying to decide whether I am done for the night or not...

You see it's quiet here. There is no little Ezekiel crying or wanting to my attention. Nor is there my wonderful husband pulling me to play a game or sit and chat with him. For both of my dear loved ones are sleeping. Even Edmund the cat is sleeping beside me. :)

I decided that seeing that I am up that I would blog!

1) There is still 2, count them 2 spots open for the Pay it Forward Challenge! I would really like to get those spots filled...please check it out and contact me if you have ANY questions!

2) My little family had an AWESOME time over Thanksgiving. We went up to Wisconsin where my extended family (Nona, aunts, uncles & cousins) is. Here is a picture of little Z with his great uncle Pete (it's like a big accomplishment for Pete to even hold a baby!)
We survived shopping on black Friday, we even got some amazing deals too! Our little family got to spend time just us. We spent an afternoon, evening, night and a couple hours in Chicago...we took little Z to Wrigley Field, to the Field Museum, and we slept at the Hilton!




We are TRULY Thankful for our time with the extended family and then time with OUR little family.



3) Since we have been back home, Z has been wanting to go down to sleep at night around 10:30-10:45 pm. Which is GREAT!!! I feel like I can either get stuff done around the house or spend time one-to-one with my husband! There are also times where I can do both...like the past 2 nights. Of course they have been earlier to rise then I am used to but...I guess I can grow into that.

4) Z is so close to rolling over by himself...he can get from his back to his side but can't seem to get either mad enough or coordinated enough to roll onto his belly. On his belly he likes to push up for a while and then he gets mad...but as the doctor (or soon to be doctor...Z's daddy) says tummy time is precious and he needs it. I don't know how much he weighs and all...but he is getting to the point where Rick & I are looking for the next size car seats and cloth diapers as well as looking for a exersaucer or bumbo chairs for him to sit in. We are going to his Doctor's after Christmas before the New Year for his 4th month checkup and shots. So I am sure I will update all the measurements on that.

5) I have gotten done with the Broncos blanket for my husband and son to share on a Sunday afternoon. I am very pleased with it...as of right now I only have a picture of the front of it.

6) Well tomorrow we are having a potluck and Dirty Santa (White Elephant) party with some of the Medical Students we know. It should be LOADS of fun! Thus is why I should really be done blogging right now and getting my sleep so I can finish all the stuff that needs to get done before the party tomorrow night. Let's see...if I make a list it will help get the stuff done. (in somewhat of an order but not not fretting over it)
~ Make the chili (crock pot it so it's easier) ~ finish with the Christmas decorations
~ Do some cleaning ~ Make iced tea & lemonade ~ Hang up some pictures ~ Take some pictures for people to see ~ possibly make some bread
~ Take time to enjoy life!

7) The last thing before I go...I would like to Challenge you! If you are a fellow believer of Christ and call yourself a Christian...this is for you! If you are not and you find yourself courious about it...let me know! Our church is doing the Truth Project and yesterday (it's still Thursday in my mind) the video discussion was about Labor-Created to Create. It talked about how we are all created to create and working as unto the Lord. It really stirred in my mind and heart...how I can create or how I want to create. There are so many things that I want to create but time and money always get the better of me. What also stirred in my heart and mind were how I want to make sure the things I create will glorify God in peoples hearts. I want to leave the impression of God in hearts and souls when people see what I have created.

Well that is it...I am sure that my bed is warm now due to the heating blanket that is on it. It is 15 degress outside! But it is warm in my heart due to the Spirit of Christmas!

Also another plug...if you have a hard time buying for someone on your Christmas list...check out my website www.katrinascandles.com for your candle, decor, body & home supplies!!! If you need help let me know. If you order soon...they should be there by Christmas!