Projects: New and Old

Old Projects:

Patrick's stocking:

So in our family we have a tradition on having cross-stitched stockings. Sad to say Abbie and Jb got theirs last year (yes if you know us that means they have been in the family for 8 and 9 years).

Progress before we packed up.

Patrick is going to get his a head of the curve only 4 years in the family. Needless to say it's coming along quickly. That is if I stick with it. We've had company and so I had to stick it up for a few.  

After unpacking.

Patrick's Blanket: Completed

So after I finished Abbie's blanket Patrick asked for one too. Well, I was tired of double knitting (seriously too hot in Texas to do that) so I went online and found videos to teach granny squares. 

Red heart yarn is what I had on hand so I went with that.

Patrick decided that he want four colors instead of three so he picked out the green. They turned out super pretty too. I love that I did it this way so when he needs it bigger all I have to do is pick another color and add a row and column.

My supplies: scissors, crochet hook H/8, needle to weave in ends.

Two of the four different squares.

So I decided to make a 9 square square. Each had 4 solid granny squares and 5 variegated square. So like in the picture Yellow - center, white - middle and Blue - outside. I rotated each color to be in the center, middle, and out side.

One completed square

My piles of completed squares.

So to make it easier to put together I crocheted a final border in black.

I goofed up. 

So the columns are suppose to be green, blue, yellow, white. Each row would have a solid square. Well when I was sewing them together I goofed and put the white-white and yellow-yellow on the same line.

Here's three rows complete

I took out the goofed up work and worked them in right so now you can see how it progressed to up the blanket.

Completed four rows. 

So once I completed it, I held it up to Patrick. Well lets just say I will probably be making some more rows in the future. But that's all good. I won't have as many to make. 

Super Slouch Hat: Completed

I don't have a picture of my hat completed. I got the pattern from here Super Slouch Hat Pattern

 (I hope the link works I've never done it before)

I decided that cooler weather was headed our way and since I have been going to water aerobics and loving it I needed a hat that would cover my wet hair. I love this hat. I would add one thing that helped me was a knitting maker. I slipped it on the beginning row every time I moved up.

Mermaid Tears Purse: Work in Progress

I don't have a picture of this work either. I came across Michael Sellick (I subscribe to Bernat's emails) He does videos on different stitches and what not and I had some yarn I hadn't figured out what to do with yet. Here's the link to the videos: Mermaid Tears Purse 

I'm using Berroco Pure Pima in Frost and Dutch Blue I did purchase my yarn from Royal Yarns but they no longer have the frost. 

I chained extra I wanted it a little wider and I'm using two colors. I really will get a picture up here. 

Pot Holders: Work in Progress

So I don't know what happen to all our pot holders (we may have thrown them out because they were falling a part) but at the moment we have three. Not so good when they get dirty or what not. 

Well as I was crocheting up the hat I notice that it would work up as a great pot holder. So I purchased two balls of Peaches & Creme color: 02600. It's a bright variegated yarn. (I love bright colors)

The next one I'm going to work up in a square. If I like that, I may start making them up for christmas presents or to sell at the yard sale we are having with some friends.

Laundry, laundry, laundry....

I don't know what it is about laundry but it is one of the one things besides (cleaning bathrooms) I dislike doing. Well, I don't mind do the washing and drying, its the folding and putting away I have a hard time following through with. I had four baskets to fold and put away. Yep have been stubbing my toes on them all week.

I also try to get the laundry done during the week, so that frees the weekends up with the family. This weekend is a four day, who knew Columbus day was a federal holiday. So the hubs has friday and monday off. Or would if he didn't have chapel duty friday night and sunday am. So, I'm on laundry duty today. Hopefully I will follow through and get them all put away.

Volcano Cake!

So this year I asked Patrick what kind of cake would he like for his birthday?

He excitedly said: "A VOLCANO CAKE!!!" 

I was thinking of doing one for him before he even said it. He has this fascination with Volcanoes. Whenever we go to Barnes & Noble or any store that has books we head to the book section (cheaper and education that getting toys for the kids). He loves the easy reader National Geographic books. 

I do not know how many times I've read The Volcano book but Patrick can tell you all about magma, lava, magma chambers and vents. I love it because he is learning science at such a young age.

So I started planning his Volcano cake. I bought rice crispies to make a base and then had the thought I wouldn't be able to store it in my refrigerator. So I didn't use them as a base.

I went with a chocolate (his pick) box cake. Used our bunt pan. And made up a couple batches of frosting from the Wilton Cake decorating class I took back in May.

Cake out of the pan.

I wasn't worried about it being pretty. I was going to be covering with frosting.

First batch of frosting. 

I used black and brown gel dye to get the right color for the lava rock.

The rock.

I wasn't sure how much darker I want so I stopped here. It turned out really well.

Rock portion down.

I had got this far before Swim aerobics. Have I told you I work better under pressure? 

The finish product. 

I didn't get pictures of just the lava before the candles. I used orange and red gel to get the lava color I liked. I decided to make it look like the lava flowed down to spell out happy birthday Patrick. 

Lava Flows and the Vent

The back side of the cake.

The lava!

Happy Birthday Patrick!

One happy boy with his Volcano Cake. 

Weekend Recap

I'm not sure if I've ever said what my husband actually does in the Army. No? Well here it goes. He's a Chaplain's Assistant. In times of peace (nondeployments) he is a secretary. In time of war

he is a body guard. But at all times he is an ear.

He doesn't counsel soldiers but he listens and sometimes all you need is an ear. I know because there are times I unload on him and he just looks at me like why? 

A soldier in his unit we left over a year ago said this about my husband: 

"Laura....Thank you for being a supportive wife to one of the greatest men I have ever had the chance to serve alongside in the military while states side and deployed. JB has been that pillar for me to lean on during my time as a medic with 5-20. He and I have seen all our fallen soldiers from 06-07, 09-10 more than I care to mention in numbers but I dont have enough fingers or toes. Mostly he kept me strong when I was at my weakest. The thing is JB did this not for just me but all his soldiers..... So much for one man to bare and it is not possible without loving support of others which top of that list is you. Thank you for sharing your husband. Also letting him buy a remote control truck so we could race........."

No awards, commendations mean much to me as a fellow soldier (a medic who's seen is fair share of stuff) recognizes what my husband does.

My husband has since been promoted and moved up to a high slot so he doesn't get to talk with as many soldiers as he use to (I know this frustrates him). But to me he is the greatest. 

Off of that side note, this weekend we had a marriage retreat. One of the job requirements of a Chaplain's assistant. It was on the 7 habits of Highly Effective Families for the army family. I have not had this material before and would be a great post deployment retreat for any soldier and family. 

It talked about stop, pause and think and then speak when you have an iceberg. It also says that you should find your goal and work towards it together. Which is a great concept to let go of the little things and look at the big picture. 

Well, I am off. Going to work on getting my photos organized I may decided to work on photobooks soon. Who knows. My parents are coming for a visit, they promised their Grandson for his birthday and sad to say that is a little over a week away. 

Slacking

I have definitely been slacking on here. I could blame it on the fact that since Memorial day we have moved in with friends, went of vacation, were in a wedding, moved out of friends home and into our own home, unpacking, and then had a 3 year old computer mishap (resulting in computer in the shop), school started and sickness. I do not know if that covers everything but I am not lost.

We are in year 2 in El Paso, TX. I love this place. I know love is a strong word but I do. In one month we had gone to the Zoo at least once if not twice a week. Found out some interesting information. They got a male tiger so they could breed the two female tigers. They open a giraffe encounter, you can pay $2 to feed the giraffes. They have such interesting tongues and actually wrap them around the lettuce. The female orangutang Ibu turned 19 and the male Butch were out in their exhibit together. Under close monitor.

Abs started school in a new school district and I have to say so far it seems so much better than El Paso Independent School District. She has two teacher Ms. Rico and Mrs. Hernandez.  She also is doing the Breakfast Club, so she has to be at school at 7:00 am, which is kind of nice.

We bought a house. I know I haven't updated the weekly photos, but we love it. Bought a hanging pot rack. We also after 10 years have a bedroom set. Love it!!!

On to Patrick, we had a rough couple weeks with him. He took detangling hair spray and sprayed it all over my keyboard on the laptop. Took 3 weeks to get that fix, luckily they could just replace the keyboard on my MacBook Pro. Now, he is recovering from croup/laryngitis. He was admitted for an over night stay at William Beaumont. Patrick pick my hubby as the one to stay with him overnight and he didn't get any rest. Lets just say, he's recovering nicely and back to his mischievous self.

I should be updating more often now... Upcoming a 4th birthday party, grandparents visit, and life.

Memorial Day!!

Most people are having bbqs and get togethers or even out shopping the sales.

But for the soldiers and their families have a different view of Memorial Day. We may or may not know those that have died for our country.

My hubby was extremely blessed to have returned from 3 deployments. There have been 25 men that have not come home.

I truly know what this holiday is about and am thankful I can spend it with my husband.

Busy

Haven't been on here much lately. We've been super busy, which pretty much is life. We've been taking weekly pictures of the progress of our house. We have wall paint, tile, and stucco. Super excited. 

We also are packing up our rental house, moving in with some friends, heading Home for my sister's wedding. Abbie is super excited, she learned she get a bouquet after she drops her petals.

My baby girl is turning 9 next week, not sure how I'm going to get through that one. My hubby tells both the kids they are not having anymore birthdays. 

We also have 1 1/2 weeks of school left. I am excited to be over, so I can turn off my alarm on my phone. It's not that I get to sleep in, it just means I won't have to hear it. 

Was doing to checking on Abbie's new school she will be moving to next year. We think she starts on July 30th. I think she gets longer breaks within the year. I think I need a class on how to read the calendar. 

I will posting more often, well I guess until we close on our house and unpack everything. 

Busy busy in the Edmisten household.