Good news….I’m all done!! And way ahead of schedule. I even had a bit of a detour and got it all done. *wink*

Project #2: my mini-album scrapbook of my time at the Art Institute. Pictures, design, and journaling. All done.

Project #3–knitting project 1 of 3

My toe-up socks. I am so glad these are done. I like the idea of knitting two socks at a time and knitting them from the toe up, but I wasn’t crazy with the heel of this pattern and how they turned out in general. I will keep looking for the perfect pattern. In the meantime, these are great ‘snuggling up on the couch’ socks.

Project #4–knitting project 2 of 3

A shrug made out of some bamboo yarn from Paris. I changed the pattern a couple of more times before I found the perfect one for this yarn. I love it and have worn it several times since finishing!

Project #5–knitting project 3 of 3

STOCKINGS!! Knitted, names embroidered, cuffs sewn on. Done. I love them! And the boys love that they have more room for Santa to put things in.

And the day after Thanksgiving…we hung our new stockings. Just love….

Project #6–cross-stitching.

Even *I* was doubtful that I would get this one done. I am thrilled! I haven’t gotten it framed yet, but it will be. After the holidays, I think I’m going to start on one of the other horses. I am so motivated.

Oh right…that detour…I made these little guys.

Avery took some in to his class for his birthday goodies, and Benji took the others in to his class for Halloween goodies. So cute, and so quick.

Since finishing all of my projects, I have done a few others, but most of them are Christmas gifts, so I can’t post them just yet. Next up on my list…Christmas cards. Yikes! How did it get to be December already?!?!?!

So, in hopes that accountability will give me the boost I need, I want to share with you all my finished project and the 5 projects that are on my radar to get finished by the end of the year. (Yes, I did it. I set a deadline. Eeeeeks!)

Project#1–the finished one!

I knitted myself a vest! I really didn’t realize how crazy the colors/pattern would be on this vest, but I like it!

a little close-up…

Project #2–no pictures of this one. I am doing a mini-album scrapbook of my year and a half at the Art Institute of Colorado. I have everything packed up in my scrapbook bags so that when I actually get the time to go scrapping, all I have to do is grab and go. Hopefully I’ll have some pictures soon.

Project #3–knitting project 1 of 3

This will probably be the first of the knitting projects to be finished. I’m knitting two socks at a time, toe up. They’re coming along nicely.

Project #4–knitting project 2 of 3

I haven’t technically started this one, yet. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ve *started* it three times and ripped it out three times. I need a different set of needles, and I haven’t found the right ones. I’m headed to Michael’s tomorrow to see if they have what I need. The yarn is the last two skeins of yarn that I bought in Paris. I wanted to do something fun and special with it. I found this pattern for a cute little shrug and thought it would be perfect. If I get the right needles, it should be a fast knit. (Might even be done faster than the socks…)

Project #5–knitting project 3 of 3

This is the only one that has a hard and fast deadline. Last Christmas I realized that the boys really needed new stockings. They all have “baby-ish” stockings (according to them). We went shopping at after Christmas sales, but really didn’t find what we wanted. Then the inspiration struck! I could knit stockings! I had a year, no problem…. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha….oh, sorry. Moment of insanity. I have one done. ONE. It’s June 20th. *sigh* I need to get my butt in gear. Oh…did I mention that I was going to embroider our names on the cuffs that I am going to make out of fleece and sew on? Yeah. I’m that crazy.

Project #6–cross-stitching.

I miss cross-stitching. I used to do it before I found scrapbooking and knitting. I finished this carousel horse and had it framed just after Wade and I were married (14 years ago…). I found out that it was one in a series of four. This one is the Winter horse.

When I found out that there were patterns for the Fall, Spring, and Summer horses, I found them all on Ebay and they became mine.

I started on the Fall horse on September 1, 2003. No, that is not a typo. Almost 8 years ago. Here it is…

It is so close to being done, I can taste it. Sadly, this will probably be the last project for me to work on. If it gets done before the end of the year, I will be totally surprised. But I really wanted to put it on the list because I *want* to do it. I don’t want it to be an unfinished project forever.

So there you have it. My 5 projects to finish before the end of the year. (Or close…) Help me out. Hold me accountable. Remind me how good it feels to be done. And if you hear of me starting another project that is not on this list….knock some sense into me. Seriously.

Today:
–Is Friday. Thank goodness.
–I have 3 weeks until I walk at graduation. It’s my second degree, but first time that I will be walking. I am *so* excited!
–I have 12 days until all of my work is due for final grades.
–I have 13 days until the first sitting of my next tattoo. (My artist thinks that it will be at least two sittings for a total of 5 hours. My last tattoo was only one hour…hoping I can get through this one!)
–I had to pull my oldest out of his extra-curricular activities so that he can focus on getting back on track academically. He seemed to take it ok. And things *seem* to be looking up a little already. This whole experience has made me realize how much I am really grateful that we have the boys in the school that they are in.
–I was supposed to finish up my business plan that is due in 11 days. This did not happen. But I did get all kinds of other photography work done.
–I bought ingredients for rice krispy treats, but I also bought Breyers coffee ice cream. The ice cream is winning….
–I am looking forward to the photoshoots that I have this weekend. The final shoot with Annie for my advertising final…this assignment has turned out to be one of the most fun that I’ve ever had. And a family photoshoot with a friend of a friend. Mom and her two little boys in the studio. It’s going to be a great one!
–Benji brought home a note telling us that his artwork is going to be in a public display at the school district’s main office building. We will need to go and check it out!
–I am not so very patiently waiting for my new business cards and writing pens that I’ve ordered for portfolio review (and also for the business in general).
–Wade and I will be trying to work out the details of the party that will be happening here after graduation.
–I worked out that the thing that my really great friend wants to happen at my graduation party might actually be do-able and could be some serious fun. (hahaha! Does that make you want to show up just to find out what it is????)

And because I know her mom has been waiting patiently (and she has too…), a quick look at one of the pictures from my first shoot with Annie. There were so many great shots from this location, I am going to have a hard time picking one for the assignment.

Hopefully you’ll be seeing me around here a little more often… Until next time!

I’m trying out something new with this post. Video! (Everybody’s doing it…) Wade got me the Canon 5D Mark II for Valentine’s Day and it takes amazing videos…really, I’ve seen them on the internet! We tried it out a little to see if we could put something together, and after three days I finally got a final product. Hopefully the next round will go a little more smoothly.

Disclaimers… Please ignore the mechanical clicking…that’s the camera motor. We got an external mic to try out for the next go around. Please ignore the children in their jammies…I couldn’t wait for the daytime to try out the video stuff. Please ignore my weird facial tics…why didn’t somebody tell me I do that?!?!?!

Benji on christmas morning with his razor scooter and new lego indiana jones 2 wii game. He was a happy boy.

Tyler with his new bike. He’s a happy boy, but he hasn’t gotten to go out and ride it yet. (too much snow and too cold!)

Santa brought Avery a terrarium and a book about White’s tree frogs. He got right to reading about his (about to be) new pet.

So, without further adieu… We introduce our new family member… Fern the frog. Isn’t she the cutest thing?!?!?

The boys got to take turns holding her for the first time tonight… (she looks like she’s smiling…)

Benji was tickled…literally!

Avery is too happy. He just loves her! He’s already fed her a cricket…now *that’s* love, for real…

No…I did not photoshop this…she changes color! I am sure there will be more of Fern’s adventures to come…

Time for bed…we’re taking down the Christmas decorations tomorrow. xoxo

A few weeks ago, Tyler came to us and told us that they were holding auditions for the middle school musical production of Twinderella, and they were opening up the auditions to the fifth graders as well. He told us that he wanted to audition and the following week signed up for a spot. Last Thursday he auditioned by singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and reciting from memory the Robert Frost poem Dust of Snow. For that alone, I was extremely proud. Today he learned that he has a part in the play!! More details are forthcoming, but in the meantime, we are basking in the glow of his middle school musical stardom.

In other news, I know that it has been a long time since I have updated the old blog, and for that I do apologize. I have been extremely busy with school and keeping straight A’s in all five of my classes. I hope you will forgive me. I’ll try to find some time to do a more complete update sometime this week. For now, I must go type up my final paper for my last Fundamentals of Design class tomorrow.

xoxo
Heather

I meant to blog on Thursday when everyone had a snow day, but the day totally got away from me. So now Holly is bugging me for pictures…geesh! (you know I love ya, right sis? heehee) I thought I’d put a few up from Avery’s birthday and Halloween. (hang on to your hats…)

On October 18th, this little boy turned 8.

We took the boys and a few of Avery’s friends to Elitch Gardens (amusement park) for the day. It was beautiful! Almost 90 degrees in October! The park was decked out for Halloween, so all of the ponds were filled with ‘blood’.

Benji was the only boy who wanted to ride with me on the tilt-a-whirl.

Benji on the kiddie bumper cars…I wouldn’t want to bump into him, that’s for sure! LOL!

The Dragonwing ride taken from our spot in line.

Avery in the seat behind me.

The view from the Dragonwing at the top.

In line for the Twister 2 (old wooden coaster). Benji did not want to ride. (I didn’t have permission from the other parents to post the whole pic…so it’s just Logan, Tyler, and Avery in this one…) The Twister was our last ride of the day. All of the kids had a great time! (and parents, too.)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnndddddddddddd….here are the costumes! All four hand made. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

My three Musketeers. (I love these boys so much!!)

Benji!!

Tyler!! (He wanted to look serious.)

Avery!!

At the school for Trunk-or-Treat.

After Trunk-or-Treat…the candy trade…

And then I had dinner with these characters….

And now the time change has completely kicked my butt. I’m off to bed. Goodnight!

Last night, I gathered all of my school stuff…my new book bag, my new purse (just finished on Sunday), and my new coffee cup (thanks, Arleigh!!!). I think I may have a ‘problem’…I love that fabric so much!

a little closeup of my coffee cup. It’s one of those that you can screw off the bottom and personalize it. I totally had not thought about adding pictures until Wade suggested these…

This morning, we all got up a little early so we can get the boys to before school care and me to class by 7:30 (yes, that’s A.M.). The boys were good sports and all went smoothly. I had Wade take an obligatory first day of school picture…

First class of the day…Speech. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. The four hours actually went by pretty quickly. We learned about the different types of speeches. Then we learned about the speech we would be giving next week. (lol!) And then we got to prepare for the speech we had to give today! I had a really good idea that we would have to do an introductory speech, so I had already been thinking about things I wanted to say. But there was a twist! We had to make a ‘visual aid’ with newsprint and markers. I learned that I am the oldest in my class (by only a year) and I have the most children (the lady that is a year younger than me has two). There are a *lot* of culinary students in my class, and a few photographers. There is also a married couple in there! Our speech for next week is a demonstration speech. I think I am going to demonstrate how to make homemade cookies…

The second half of the day was spent in History of Photography class, ok. The professor is a really nice guy, ok. He gave us a choice, ok, of either having a quiz on each assignment, ok, or having a mid-term and a final, ok. Oh, and he says ‘ok’ a lot, ok. hahahahaha I think I would find it annoying, except that he is a really nice guy and he is actually making this seriously dry subject totally palatable for me. This class was also four hours long, but it really didn’t seem that long, except for the copious amounts of notes that I apparently took. The middle finger on my right hand feels bruised. I have two more chapters to read before next week…

Tomorrow, I have Fundamentals of Design and lunch with Wade. Life is good.