(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

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Swing time with a break in the rain.

Nathan says, 'It's a shiney day!'

We went to the beach again yesterday. The boys just LOVE spending time there. Cookies!
Sand castles
and flying the remote controlled air plane that flies across the water with ease!
SO FUN!

Brent Returns To The Cage.
Last night Brent returned to the cage for MMA Fighting.
Brent came out on top with a win! I was so excited, nervous, you name it, I felt it! ;o)
Nathan and I took Brent to the place where the fight was early and Nathan got to run around in the cage!! Oh how I wish I had a video camera. I know it looks like he's dancing, but he was running around throwing punches. It was so cute!
It was a great night! Afterwards we went out with some of the other fighters from his team to celebrate (two other guys from his team fought too).
Big thanks to Caroline for hanging with our boys at home! It was nice to have sorta a date after the fight. Hey, at least it wasn't the hospital!!! ;O)

I started this Scarf back in April. It was going to be mom's mother's day present. Let me tell you, it was HARD to send this away because it was so pretty and soft!! She received it a day or so late because I was slow mailing, but her birthday present was in there too, so that was super early. haha. This scarf is an easy knit with fantastic outcome! The pattern is easy to memorize, and it looks awesome on Mom!! Check it out!

Seafoam Scarf by Ali Green
Yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino 2 skeins (knit til I ran out of yarn!)
Lacey also got her socks I showed you a post or so back! Doesn't she look THRILLED!! That little handsome guy in the background is my nephew, Luke. (Spittin' image of my brother. It's almost scary!! haha)Check out Luke's face... as if to say "What's the big deal?? They're socks!" LOL I also made her a little sock blocker Key chain to match. (Thanks for putting the keyring on Mom and Dad!)

Happy Mother's Day.

I had a great day today. Spent the day with my boys!! Jacob woke me up about 10am (wow I can't believe I slept that long!) and gave me a gift he made a school. I loved it. There was a Tea Bag, Biscotti biscuit, and Hershey's Kisses inside. YUM.

Then after breakfast, (Brent cooked), the boys gave me a card with a disk in it.

Yeah! I've been eyeing this game for awhile and Brent said it was all Jacob's idea to get me the game.

The A frame for my swing was no surprise but it's part of my mother's day gift too. I'm super happy with it and the boys even scored a disc swing on the end. The bench swing was a gift for Brent and I, handmade by my father about 6ish years ago.

Happy 10th Birthday Lacey!
Brent and I apparently called her at the same time tonight. I called my dad's phone and got ahold of her and Brent and the boys called my brother's phone. She had us on at the same time! Lana, her sister, just turned two a couple days ago. Lots of family things in May.
I miss my family.

Knitting, Sewing, Knitting, Sewing.

Either way things are getting done. I finished two sock bags the other day. I swear those little sheep just make me smile everytime I look at the bag! On the inside of the pink skull bag I used the knit talk fabric I got last summer in Kentucky.



I also finished some socks for Lacey. I really liked this sock yarn. It was Maizy by Crystal Palace Yarns. I think she'll like the colors too. I made her a sock keychain to go with them.

Wallet Fever. It is going around. My friend Dulcey is making some out of duct tape. I think they are neat! I pulled out the sewing machine (finally!) and tried out something I found on Craftster.org under the monster list of handbags, wallets and purses tutorial list they have.

The first one I did, I did not cut to size like the pattern was written out, so I got a BIG wallet with big pouches... I like it, but it's too big.

The tab up top is to attach a snap onto. Just have to decide if I want to buy snaps that snap on or just use the ones I have, but that means hand stitching them on.

The cards kinda slide in the slots on the inside (above) but I like the fabrics together.

This next one I like MUCH better. I used the sizes suggested and it came out a little better. This one needs a snap too. The cool fabric came from my good friend Sonya. She finds the COOLEST fabrics!! Can't wait to do some fabric shopping this summer with her. Or just knit, whatever! :)

The card slots on this one are snugger. (is that a word?) I like this one. Next one I make thought I think it needs a little interfacing to make it a tad stiffer. Again, need snaps.

So I think tomorrow I'll try to do some more sewing. I had fun today with it. Maybe I can get myself in gear and cut out some more wallets tonight and then sew them tomorrow. This would be great to hold on to for gifts when I need them.

**swallow your coffee, use the bathroom, This is a warning. This is a spewable/laughable pee in your pants post**

Kids are entertaining. Kids say the darnedest things... and so on.
Being the mother of two boys, ages 7 and 4, is a fun job.

So what's the disclaimer above about?? Your not laughing yet? OK here's the story.
Last night I got the ole visit from old Aunt Agnes and wasn't quite prepared. You know what I'm talking about. So explained to the boys I needed to go to the store for "girlie things", that's exactly what I said. I HAD to take the boys because Hubby is out of town. (Seriously I thought about calling someone to come over so I could go alone but I thought, nahhhh)
So we get to the store and I'm standing there picking out my "girlie things" and Nathan LOUDLY asks "CAN I HOLD THE BAND AIDS??"
Quietly I answer "Yes."
So then off to the counter to pay with all the "girlie things" and Nathan plops the "band aids" on the counter and announces again (and still loud, why don't children come with a volume knob?) "I HAVE THE BAND AIDS." and I get a comical look from the check out gal. I simply smile, pay for my things and leave. Guess who wants to carry the band aids.....
ANYWAY... so we are in the car on the ride home. Jacob asks me "Mom what are those things for?"
I tell him that I have a little bit of a tummy ache and those things will help me feel better (yeah right... work with me, I don't want to tell him too much).
He then says "A tummy ache, well, shouldn't you be puking by now??"
Me: "Um...I'm not that sick!!" What is he thinking????
SO... yeah it goes on more. We get home and we are going in the back door and Nathan is all kinds of excited, "MOM! Can I help you put the band aids on?!?!"
Me: "Um....NO!"
Jacob: "Can I help?"
Me: "NO...I can take care of myself."
I had tears rolling down my face. Those two made that trip so fun. I mean have any of you ever had that much fun buying "girlie things"??
I love my boys!!