Is it really over?

So, I think PC said it best last night when he said he "feel(s) like a kid who got too many toys for Christmas- (he doesn't) know what to play with first."

There is the overwhelming feeling in the Mini-PC household this week. Is it because the house is a disaster area right now? Is it b/c there are dishes in the sink and a Mini who is pretty much flat out refusing to cook? Is it b/c I have to finish my Dad's sweater ASAP and the cat ate the needles and ripped out a good 2 inches??

Nope. It's just that time of year. The time of year where you feel like you were supposed to get your life together, but you didn't. So much has happened in 2006, I am having mixed emotions over letting it go. A quick recap? Here we go:

Dad getting cancer.
Dad battling chemo, radiation and a very scary surgery.
Dad's heart stopping... more scary doctors
PC and I moving in together at one of the most awful times of my life.
PC proving that, among other great talents, he is the strongest person I know.
Finally standing up for myself at work and taking a career leap.
Having the career leap smack me in the face.
making another one.
Learning I can't do it all.
Learning to ask for help.
Learning to accept help.
Two words: the cat.
Quitting smoking.
Not smoking for 301 days and having wanted to each.and.every.day.

It's been a long, winding year. I can only hope that this year (2007) is less "eventful" and more "event filled". We have several new babies on the way (friends, family) and that is always a wonderful thing to look forward to. PC and I are looking forward to our life together in 2007.

There will be some exciting blog news this weekend--- stay tuned! Stop by here before New years' eve for a contest announcement and some great prizes to be given away!

:) Mini

I hope everyone out there in Blogland had a very merry christmas or at least enjoyed the day off. :) This Christmas was a year of firsts in the Mini & PC family.

• Our first Christmas in our own apartment
• Our first Christmas living together
• the first time my father didn't eat Christmas dinner in my parents' house (our family has always lived in that house)
• the first Christmas eve with my brother's new girlfriend (of one year... truly lovely girl)
• the first Christmas that PC and I weren't at my parents' until 1am or later (home by 11!!)
• our first tree....
• with our first cat....
• first time hosting a "holiday" at my house!

So, here is something I did for my tree this year that I am definitely doing again! I made garland from Fimo dough --- shaped like gingerbread men. I cannot explain how happy these made me.

Pumpkin T. Cat: applicant for giftwrapper at the mall. All our gifts had little holes in them b/c Pumpkin was "helping" wrap presents. Too cute. She seemed to love Christmas!

Do you see what I see??

The button band for my mom's sweater with the crazy buttons I picked.

the gorgeous shawl collar with picots....

Finito!! and I have to say, it looks FABULOUS on her! She wore it for Christmas day!

Pattern: Sierra Cardigan from IK Fall 2006

Yarn: DB Cashmerino Aran, 11 balls

needles: Addis US8

Once the dinner was done, the gifts opened (PC bought me a new Vera bradley bag that will be my primary knitting bag... it's gorgeous! and had TONS of pockets.. he also bought me yarn (cherry tree hill!) and US0, US1, and US2 bamboo dpns. *grin*), it was time to think about the future. So, armed with a gift card from PC's parents (v. generous), I headed out with my brother's gf to the natick mall. Macy's was having a good sale and I had a goal: COACH. Yup, as a collector of Coach bags, I wanted to get a new one this winter... so, we headed over to the Macy's to look at their selection (FYI: the after-christmas sale is the few sales where higher-end goes on sale). I went in wanting a brown satchel and walked out with a black pebbled leather shoulder tote--- LOVE IT!

Also, we have been very fortunate: many family and friends had given us some NICE furniture for our apartment. But, some stuff was going to need to be upgraded: very specifically,the dining room table and the cocktail table in the living room. :) Our current dining room table is 42 inches long by 30inches wide. It seats 4 if you don't put the food on the table. So, yesterday, I went to Jordan's and i found this:

it's reasonable, very pretty and will seat 8 when fully extended...

Overall, a great Christmas... I will update more tomorrow.

FYI: I am getting a cold. ick.

:) Mini

Christmas is when?

Monday?

ugh. My high hopes are sufficiently dashed. I am going to do something I have NEVER done before. I am not going to be able to finish a Christmas gift. I know, I know... the ultimate shame. But, before I get admonished back to the days of garter stitch scarves with novelty yarn, let me give you the context:

1) PC and I decided to have my parents to Christmas dinner at our place. this involves cleaning my house. a lot.
2) #1 also means I need to grocery shop, bake cookies and make a pie.
3) Saturday we have our last pre-Christmas Christmas party.
4) I still have to go wait in line for gift cards at Barnes and Noble. yeah, start laughing... anyone around Boston knows this means I will be waiting in line to get into the parking lot first!
5) I have started a new job. A great job. A job I love. A job that is mentally taxing and doesn't let me out of work until 5:30 -6pm. ( I used to get home at 4;30pm)--- by the time I get home, make dinner... eat... I don't want to do anything else.
6) I feel like crap. I have felt like crap for 2 weeks. I am done with feeling like crap.

So, the present i am NOT finishing? My dad's sweater. I have the front (mostly) done, the back done, and I need to knit the sleeves. And no, my dad would not LOVE LOVE LOVE a sweater vest ( I tried that, PC vetoed anything that will make my dad look like a "tool"). So, now I am without present for Dad... what to do?

Double thick hat in superwash wool ( thank you wild and woolly for being open today!)--- knit on US 8 and knit top down to the brim, row of purl, then knit bottom up from the purl row--- then simply insert one hat inside the other! this will be a fun project for Friday night. Of course, the note with the hat will be:

"I didn't make my deadline,

I am so so very sad....

At Thanksgiving, I made a beeline

to the chosen wool I had!

Best intentions were announced

and onto the wool balls,

Pumpkin did roll and pounce;

me, thinking, I could do it all.

Along the way,

something went awry.

I knit and knit, and never make headway

Each row is a new try...

but, give me a little extra time,

and you will surely say

"this sweater is great and mine, all mine!

I'm glad you took an extra day!"

So, here's a hat for you to wear,

I know that it really can't compare...

but, by New Year's Night

your sweater'll be done... if that's all right?"

So, think Dad'll forgive me?

:) Mini

a meme...i never do memes!

I stole this from Maryse at bag'n'trash.....

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate with cool whip! and a candy cane to stir!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Santa wraps everything--- even stocking stuff!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
white for outside and inside decor, multi for the tree!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Not this year

5. When do you put your decorations up?
this was our 1st year in our apartment and I did the decorations the weekend of thanksgiving
.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Easy--- Nana's fudge. I'm the only grandchild who knows how to make it.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
My dad standing on our roof, stomping his feet and shaking bells so we would go to bed, thinking it was Santa. My parents made Christmas magical--- we set out food for Santa, carrots for the reindeer (thank god, my parents taught the dogs to eat carrots) and all three of us would sleep in my brothers' room (me on the floor between the two of them) and wake up at 5 am (not knowing my parents went to bed at 4:59am)--- running to wake them up. We never had to wait for a dollhouse or remote car to be assembled-- my dad always did that for us the night before.

8 . When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Oh, this is somewhat embarrassing: 13? My parents had to sit me down in 7th grade b/c they were afraid the other kids would tease me. I think the reason I love Christmas so much is because I believed for so long... I hope my kids will believe. heck, I still believe in Santa.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
yup, Dad's family is Norweigan and we opened one present on Christmas Eve-- usually from my grandfather.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
it's covered with homemade gingerbreadmen garland ( I love me some Scuply!) and angel garland--- held together with ribbons. and the ornaments are all over the place... we had PC's parents and mine over to help us decorate it! we have new ornaments, old ornaments, and a gorgeous set of pewter ornaments from PC--- the 12 days of Christmas.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
as long as i don't have to drive, I love it.

12. Can you ice skate?
yes, but not well.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
a little doll who roller skated-- -my Nana gave her to me.

14. What's your favorite thing about the holidays?
hugs. i have a big family and we all get together for the holidays and there are so many hugs. I love the music, the tree, and especially midnight mass... it's' magical and makes me feel like soaring.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
nana fudge

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
PC and I go to see A Christmas Carol at the North Shore Music Theater each year, and watch the little ones in their velvet dresses and little sweaters... it's a great show, and it kicks off our holidays. I also really like the Christmas eve at my parents' house... it's a lot of fun!

17. What tops your tree?
Winnie the Pooh, dressed as an angel, holding a star (gift from my brother, Jon, and I love it!)

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
I like getting presents, but I truly like giving them more!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
God Rest Ye' Merry Gentlemen ( I love the barenaked ladies version) sung by anyone!

20. Candy canes yuck or yum?
Yum!!! they are on the tree solely so I can eat them at any time.

21. What's number one on your Christmas list this year?
Good health--- I just want my family to be healthy. I have been blessed to have my dad's health improving.

Yarn Aboard package received! In all honesty, I had almost forgotten about this swap! My package came from Adriane (no blog addy provided?) and has the best stuff in it! I will try to take a crappy cell phone photo of it tonight (yarn, some vintage patterns, a jingle ball kit....) b/c we have determined the following:
home computer + digital camera = nothing. Nope not working.

So, I don't know if I can use the work one (I'm still new... don't want to push it!), so after-holiday sales abound: Mini's getting a computer! Possibly a laptop! We don't need much, but with me starting school this summer, I'm going to need it to be portable!

So, cell phone photo tomorrow (if I can figure that out!)

And, tonight: filling the box! :)

:) Mini
PS- Christmas knitting update:
1) sweater for mom: needs blocking and photo and buttons
2) sweater for dad: back done
3) mittens for bro's gf: need thumbs
4) scarf and mittens for SIL: need thumbs
5) mittens for grandmother: still 2 skeins of yarn!

I have made some hats, etc... but they don't need to go out until after Christmas :)

Shopping is almost done too! need to hit the B&N to get all the little ones gift cards-- I love giving the gift of reading!