Rolls and Toes

Miles is growing up... I've been around and worked with children my entire life but I have never spent so much time with one child as I am now spending with Miles. You really get to know someone when you're responsible for all of their needs not just the occasional diaper change and cuddle but for everything.
This was Miles' new trick on Mother's Day:

Look at me mom, I'm learning to roll!!! Watch out! 

And then a week later, he found something new to play with:

Toes are so much fun!

These are the fun things that come with growing up. But we've now moved on to teething at 4 and a half months and it is most definitely not fun. Poor little guy is struggling to smile and giggle and play with his toys. He was such a happy little fellow that this growing pain is very confusing to him and he just doesn't know what to make of it. The good thing is that this stage will pass, like all of his firsts. And I can't wait to see what else he'll be showing us soon.

Returning!

After a very long hiatus, I have returned! Even if it is only for a few posts, I feel like an update is needed. It's been almost a year since I shared on this site and I am hoping to begin to visit more frequently but one can never be too certain of such things. So much has occurred since the last post about my dear Arnie. He had surgery, he recovered. He had surgery again and he recovered. He had surgery for a third time and he recovered one more time. Now a year later, his battle still continues and he is slated for a PET scan with a date to be determined. We are hopeful that the spot they think they see will turn out to be nothing but we can't be sure until the test is completed- a coding error with the insurance has caused the delay- stupid insurance.
A year and so much has occurred. Such a short amount of time and yet so many changes in my life. We have now lived in our new home for 13 months and I am celebrating my very first mother's day. It's such a joy to have a little one. I've been waiting so long! The time finally arrived and after three months of being scared senseless, I'm sitting here on our couch watching my husband hold my son's hand while he sleeps. Such a pleasant way to spend an early spring evening. Such a blessing to have two special guys in my life.

Hugs to all of my dear friends- those who read this blog and those who do not... I've missed you very much in this last year of transitions and I'm looking forward to a summer filled with trips to see all of you!

Day 109

I'm not sure how Amanda Soule does it everyday... something positive. Today I've cried more than I've smiled and I'm just not sure how to put a positive spin on this.... I found out today that Arnie has cancer in his left kidney. I need to focus now on other things rather than this blog- like finishing his sweater and possibly closing on the house or finding another one and finishing the school year... so I'm going to take a break for a bit. I will be back and resume posting but it may be a bit before I return. I will continue to focus on what positives there are in each day but I may just be sharing them in a different way. Thanks for understanding you twelve readers of mine...

Day 108

As you know, G is not a big fan of veggies so I'm always on the look-out for ways to sneak them in. Recently we made Thai noodle stir fry and the only veggie he passed to my plate was the broccoli. Not bad. Plus, I've learned that he likes curry. This is a spice that some people have a hard time with and was not one of the staples my mom used in the kitchen when I was growing up, but in college my friends from Nepal would always use curry to flavor their food and the warmth of it was amazing. To discover that G is also a fan was wonderful!!! I feel like this is a discovery that can only lead to new eating adventures.
My friend Kala is helping this adventure today with a giveaway on her blog. The giveaway is sponsored by Lightlife and they have some appetizing looking recipes. Check out this one for Chick'n & Bacon.

Pass the broccoli to my plate and G would enjoy. 

Plus, who doesn't love some extra veggies? Oh, right, the man I married... good thing I do!

Day 107

I brought my camera to school today to take pictures of the student artwork from the art show. Here's Ashley's piece:

It's such a great piece. I'm so proud of all the work she put into it. 

I really like the way she created two separate lids and the details in the underglaze.  

I'm teaching a Mixed Media class this trimester and for our first project we poured plaster into milk containers and then carved abstract human forms. We researched Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. We learned how to use carving tools like rasps and sanding paper and we talked about proportions of the human form. The results were amazing. I'm so proud of my students.  

Day 106

Palm Sunday at Dad's

Such a nice day both inside and out. 

(p.s. I love my camera)

Day 105

Student Art Show Day 

(ok, so this was officially yesterday but we'll just call it good and I'll post about it today...)

Five of my students submitted work to the Waseca Arts Center for their annual spring art show. Each student created an amazing piece but only one received an Outstanding with a cash price of $10. YIPPIE for my ceramic student Ashley. I'm so proud of her! I featured her work here earlier and I also selected her as art student of the week earlier this fall. I'll add a photo of her winning artwork later- I didn't get a chance to take a pic before the art show and we were pretty busy after....

During our day at the art center, the students participated in an art activity with all of the other students and these were their results:

Each school split the word INSPIRATION into five parts and then each student was to create a piece that included their section of the word. When all the pieces were put together they formed this artwork- pretty cool.....

Day 104

Friday...
Check out this stop motion film taken by a traveler on a flight from San Francisco to Paris via Air France. My computer applied arts students are working on claymation films stop motion films right now and we chatted about this piece.


SF to Paris in Two Minutes from Beep Show on Vimeo.

Day 103

Oh my gosh... what a busy day. I am now officially called a different name. That's my happy thing. Only G had to remind me of this because earlier this evening after parent-teacher conferences we called our realtor and she told us that we may have lost the house..... I'll think of happy stuff tomorrow. Right now, I'll just be sad a little while...

Day 102

What to do? I have this...

Malabrigo Sock- Candombe

Now, what to make?

Broken Cable Rib by Ann Budd

OR

Toasty Twist by Teresa Fox

OR

Socks of Kindness by Chawne

OR 

Can you suggest a shawl??? I don't wear them that often but am wondering if this yarn should be shown to the world rather than hidden under my pants.

This is a great yarn and I don't want to "waste" it.... 

Day 101

Change of plans... we will not be closing on Friday because the septic system did not pass the inspection. This is not an unexpected issue as we had already known that the sellers would be putting funds into escrow to pay for a replacement BUT we did not know that the lending agent would not approve the loan if the septic was deemed an  "imminent risk". OOPS... so the move-in date will change and the painting will have to wait and blah blah blah...
Oh well, we made homemade pizza for supper. That's exciting. And today was finally haircut day for G. Since moving in together, I have taken over the duty of G's official hairdresser (his mom had this honor as recent as six months ago- do you believe he's only paid for ONE haircut in his entire life?). Let's just say that I've been improving and today was "not sooooo bad." This is a major improvement from the last time. Hope your days are going well!

Day 100

OH LUCKY DAY!!!!!! DAY 100!!!!!!!!!

And check- my house is rented and the tenants move in on May 1st! YIPPIE!!!!
p.s. To celebrate such a glorious event of 100 days of blogging with only two days that Kala had to help support the cause (without internet, blogging is tricky!) and that my MPLS monthly mortgage payments are now being paid for by someone else, Kala is sponsoring a giveaway on her blog in my honor... oh wait, maybe not in my honor or for that matter anything at all to do with me BUT she is hosting a giveaway and you should check it out here.

Day 99

My friends are awesome! Look what we made today!

This is an egg dying resist technique called Pysanky. Kathy is our fearless leader and organized the event last year and this year making it our annual tradition. In my opinion it's the best way way to dye eggs. So much fun. Thanks chicas!

Day 98

So yesterday I went to the house to check out the fridge measurements and took a few pics of the bathrooms to help inspire G's thinking about getting new faucets. Check out the current fixtures:

Here's the rest of the rooms:

First one, room color and wallpaper not so bad but fixtures not the best. Second one, wallpaper and countertop not the best but fixtures not so bad... What to do?

Here's what I'm hoping for.. something like this would be nice... What do you think?

Day 97

Thanks for all your help with the fridge stuff! We've decided on black with the freezer on the bottom. Yea!  Check that off the list!
Today was the first and only varsity home track meet and I was enlisted to help with the timing. It was an interesting evening with many heated discussions about who was in what place. I offered to time for 8th place (last place) and still had to be assertive a few times to make sure I got the right person. Silly other timers....
It was a nice way to spend an evening outside and watch some good athletes and the sunset. Hope your Friday was fun!

Day 96

Question of the day: If all the other appliances in your kitchen are black, do you have to buy a black fridge to match? Because Best Buy is having a sale and there is no fridge in the new house.... I'm not sure how I feel about black appliances.... any suggestions?

Day 95

Check out this really cool post by Alisa Burke. She's an amazing mixed media artist that has written a very informative book and posts excellent tutorials and posts on her blog.

Doodle Easter Eggs

I'm getting really excited for this weekend's Pysanky egg decorating party and these designs are very inspiring!

Day 94

Donezo!!

Today we found out that our closing date might be moved back because the testing of the well, sewer system and air quality in the basement has not been completed to satisfaction. Not the best news but I'm staying positive and despite the fact that these socks are not identical and the closing date may be moved, I know that things will work out in the end and things will fit together eventually!

Day 93

My family has big feet AND we like tall socks. Not a good combo when it comes to knitting socks for family members. My mom's birthday was in February and I bought sock yarn for her last year so it seemed appropriate that I finish her socks in April of this year (right?). I have been working on these socks for a while and have been distracted by other projects (all house related) so I thought I should get back to these before mom comes to help paint the new place later this month. 

Mom likes things to match so I tried really hard to make them twins- identical not fraternal. I was doing great right up until I ran out of yarn on the second sock before I even hit the toe- OOPS! So I did some creative work back at the top of both socks- keeping them identical where they will be seen outside of shoes- and viola' they are nearly complete and nearly identical. Here's hoping I have enough to finish the toe...