(singing)All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye (LATER DUDES!!)
But the dawn is breakin
It's early morn
The Suzuki's waitin
Brent's blowin the horn
Already I'm so EXCITED I could cry (gonna see my family!)
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go cause
I'm leavin In my Suzuki
Don't know when I'll be back again (ok ok ... late July)
Oh babe, I can't wait to go

Oh please John Denver forgive me for thrashing one of your great songs. We are off to Kentucky! I can't friggin' wait. It's 7:36am and I swear if those men folk don't wake up I'm going to explode!!! This time would probably be well spent packing my knitting instead of blogging, but just wanted to say, "SEE YOU IN KENTUCKY!" Watch for post from there. Manchvegas girls...save my seat.... I'LL BE BACK (in my best Arnold S. voice)

(singing) Mama, Mama I'm coming home!!!!!!!!!

Last day of schooooooool!!!!!!!!! Yeah and I kinda over slept and missed my morning walk with Marion and Debbie. Sorry girls! BUT!! That did give me time to work on the gift card package for Jacob's teachers DD Gift Cards. Check it out.

I think they turned out super cute!! I had fun getting the paper, inks and stamps out and making the card holders. The little pockets for the hand written note and the DD gift card just makes me smile. Pockets in cards are fun! I "wrapped" them in some bags that I got soap in from Ericka, so they smell wonderful too. (yeah I kept the soap...that stuff is MINE MINE MINE, no one gets my Mow The Lawn Soap!!) I'm happy with the finished result! They looked cute down in the bags. I thought about stamping the bags, but was running short on time, so I forgot about it and said plain is good.
Now I'm off to run errands and pick up some passes to a museum from the library. We are meeting some friends this afternoon for some fun!!

School is almost over. Tomorrow is the last day of Second grade for Jacob. He is very excited to move on to Third grade. I am excited too, but failed as the Suzie home maker mom by not getting HANDMADE end of year gifts for the teachers. I had to opt for Dunkin' Donuts gift cards. Jackie did some super cute facecloths and added soap with them, too cute. Another blog I read made the teachers a cute tote bag. These are things I can do, but with our big trip looming in the back of my mind I can barely complete a sentence!! All that is on my mind is laundry, get food, and pack. Now most of you know I usually do things last minute, and I'm sure that won't change, but I'm attempting to get organized for this trip. Heck I'll be gone a month. SOOO excited.
The lovely Melissa has agreed to let Lincoln be Rusty's pal for the time we are gone. YOU ROCK MELISSA. I wonder how long until we get ransom notes saying we have to do such and such to get him back. I worried last year. LOL
Now off to Google a snazzy way to give the teachers the gift cards....I got to do SOMETHING handmade!

New Goodies in the etsy shop! Take a look through Lora's Keyhole!

More Questions for SP12.
The hostess are asking questions each week and we are to post our answers so our secret pal can get to now us better. I missed last weeks so I'll do both questions now.

Week #1 question:What is your favorite summertime drink??
Hum.... Well I like Iced Tea, but I also like Diet Coke/Pepsi. As long as it's COLD and has ice.. :)

Week #2 question: As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?
I would say I always looked forward to our annual family reunion on my mother's side. As a kid they used to be on Father's Day Sunday. Now they've changed them to October since it's usually cooler in Kentucky by October, rather than the middle of hot hot June! Swimming was fun. Sleepovers with friends. Things like that. :)

SP12 Questionairre.

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like?
I'm not super picky about my yarn. I did once work with some merino/tencel sock yarn that was super delicious!! I like Knit Picks Shine, it feels good. Some Acrylic is ok...I like Vanna's Choice, used it for a sweater for my son.
What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have the Knit Pick options set.
How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I started knitting maybe getting close to 4 years ago I guess?? My friend Tamelyn and Heather taught me one weekend when we got together in Tennessee. (Miss you gals!) I would conder my skill level close to intermediate.
Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes I have an Amazon wish list...it's over there to the right --->
What’s your favorite scent?
I like fresh clean scents. Glade Rain shower is a favorite of mine. Nothing too musky. Definitely not patchouli oil...ick.
Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
OOO yes!! I like Peanut butter and Chocolate, like Reese's Peanut Butter cups or Fast Break by Reese's. Do not like the new whipped Reese's though. I also like Chocolate cover Raisins. A new favorite, not really sweet is Wheat Thins Tomato and Basil crackers. Yum
What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sew, I bead, I rubber stamp. I do not spin. I have a drop spindle and some yummy fiber from my good friend Heather at Sereknity, but haven't spun it yet.
What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like classic rock and some current music. Elton John, Billy Joel, Maroon 5, Jann Arden, Hem, and lots of others.
What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
Favorite colors: Green and Orange...not together, but I like them both. I'm not a big fan of Yellow. If yellow is mixed in with other colors though it's alright, but just not alone.
What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a hubby, 2 sons (age 7 and 4), and a dog, Lincoln.
Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Now that I got my hair cut short you can bet I'll be wearing more Scarves. I do wear mittens. Hats and ponchos, not so much.
What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Toys for the kids! Love a lot of the Mochi Mochi patterns but don't have any. If I had to chose which I'd like to knit it would be the Uh-Oh's and Tubby.
What are you knitting right now?
Right now I have a sock on the needles and I'm attempting a new lace scarf designed by my friend Gina (and it's kicking my butt....lace doesn't like me yet)
Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YES
Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like Straight and circular, bamboo or aluminum......plastic, not so much.
Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No and No.
How old is your oldest UFO?
I started a back pack and an elephant back when we lived in Kentucky so over two years old. I think I frogged the Elephant, but I still have parts of the back pack.
What is your favorite holiday?
OH I like Halloween and Christmas
Is there anything that you collect?
I used to collect Elephants.
Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I want some yarn to make the Lotus Blossom Tank, but haven't figured out what I'd like yet, It calls for SWT Bamboo and I like the color Murgahogany. I do not have any knitting magazine subscriptions.
Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
None that I can think of at the moment.
Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes I knit socks...I wear a size 8.5
When is your birthday? August 3rd.
What’s your Ravelry ID? Lorak

It's Father's Day weekend. As I sit here and think of my Father, I think of my Mother too. They both did their best raising Scott and I. Me, Dad and Scott 1973 (I was 2)

Dad taught me to drive. Parallel parking was another thing though. One time we were practicing parallel parking and he decided to be the car behind me. Well.... I bumped him. After that he sent me to driving lessons and let them deal with my parking problems. He also taught me how to change my own tire. Something I'm very grateful for! He's always there to lend me a hand when something is wrong with the car. So Dad, when I come home this summer and you help me again, which I'm sure something will come up, Put it on my ever growing tab. :o)

He (and mom, let's not forget her on this one) spent MANY hours at Band functions. Driving us kids around, making sure other kids had rides home, and if they didn't he'd take them home. Like the time he put Demetri's bike in the van and took him home. He just made sure we were all safe.

Dad (and mom) did their best with Scott and I to make us the people we are now.

Happy Father's Day Dad. And THANKS to you and mom for giving us the right kind of upbringing. I think we turned out okay!

I was tagged by Gina for a Meme.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago I was living in Louisville and no doubt spending LOTS of time with my baby niece Lacey.... we spoiled her.

2. What are 5 things on my TO-DO list for today?
Walk, take Jake to school, pick up Jake from school, cook dinner, have the boys take a bath.

3. Snacks I enjoy: OH!! Wheat Thins, cookies, peanut butter whatevers!!!

4. Things I would do if I were a billionarie:
Buy a house, Pay off debt, Travel, spoil my family, and get a cleaning crew.

5. Places I have lived: Louisville and Manchester. Kinda boring eh.
OK here's the street names..makes it sound more interesting. Camden Avenue, Bowman Drive, Mary Ellen Drive, Dart Drive, Alger Avenue, Appleton Street and the street I live on now.

6. Jobs I have had: I worked at Everythings a $1, Baby Superstore, United Parcel Service, National Health Services and Satco Inc. Currently employed as Mother of the year. hahahahah

7. Bloggers I am tagging for this MEME:
Sonya
Tabitha
Carol
Dot
Cyn

hee hee