I'd rather be knitting.

Today has been the longest work day EVER! It was screening day at my school. It was orchestrated with the fine tuning of a 7th grade band class. I am so releaved it is over.

I just want to go home and knit. I am working on some Pen State colored baby hats for my sister-in-law's friend. They live in Canada so the hats are sure to be useful, eh? Just thinking about it makes me wish we lived somewhere where it snows. I could curl up with Patton all day and knit to my hearts content.

Did I mention I spent 2 hours of my life untangling a ball of yarn on Wednesday? It was totally worth it.

I love knitting and Jeremy!!

Today is a great day!

First, I got some YUMMY yarn at a local yarn boutique, Shabby Sheep. The girls there were more than helpful and I walked out with some beautiful Alpaca/wool blend.



This delicious yarn will be used for my first ever sweater. I am excited and a little scared, but more excited than scared! :)

Here's a pic of my first sweater pick; so beautiful:



I finished the booties and hat my mom ordered for my cousin's, Alaina, new baby. Her name is Emma Sophia. I think they turned out really well.




Third, and finally, I have to show you what my wonderful husband brought home for us. I beautiful dresser built in 1957. That's one year younger than out house! It's gorgeous an I love him...and the dresser.

Dog Days of Summer 2009

I heart summer!! And I think Patton does too. We spent two and a half hours at the dog park yesterday morning where Patton proceeded to repeatedly dive into the mud pit. He was an alligator stealthily awaiting innocents to naively crouch at the edge of the hole for a drink, swiftly lurching for them as they got too close, then retreating back to the murk as they fled. I can only imagine what the other dog owners thought of this National Geographic scene. When all the other dogs left Patton to his own devises he spent his time diving head first into the pit then wallowing like a pig. We played some fetch and decided to call it a day when his full body mud mask appeared to be dry. Needless to say he was decontaminated when we got home.

Patton stalking his prey. Notice his inconspicuous technique with butt in the air:


Fetch! What a good boy!


Did you say "treatzie?" I am listening...


It was worth it.

Knitting Projects

I have been knitting...alot! I love it! I finished the Christmas stocking. It came out okay but is not my favorite work to date. Other projects include:

Jer-Bear TX Scarf (please take note of the burnt orange strips):


Baby Bloem Berry Beanie (our neighbors across the street are having a little girl in July)


Stay tuned for matching booties :)

My New Years Resolution

...is not to blog more. Sometimes I get so busy living life that I forget to write about it. I'll start at the beginning of this year.

Jeremy, Patton, and I had our first big party in the new house on New Year's Eve. We invited over 5 other couples and had a blast celebrating. Needless to say, I ended up getting in a push up contest with the boys before the night was over. Yes, I was in a dress and heels. No, I did not win.





Jeremy let his facial hair grow over the winter break partly to see how he looked but mostly because he didn't want to shave and he was granted permission to be lazy. This was on the condition that he shave it into different styles for my amusement before he shaved it all off.







I turned the big two-eight on the 9th! Jeremy and I had a nice dinner at Toulouse. Cynthia took me to a girls night at Cafe Madrid. And Jackie and John made an excellent dinner and ordered my favorite cake. It was a very birthday intensive weekend.


In other news, a coworker was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and will undergo a mastectomy this weekend. She will be in our thoughts and prayers. I made pink ribbons for my school to wear this week to show our support.


Oh, and Sarah-in-law and I ran a half marathon in Houston last weekend. I was so tired the night after the race I fell asleep 5 minutes into watching "Life of Brian." They were sweet and woke me up to put me in bed after the movie was over. Much like Jeremy does every night. I love hanging out with Michael and Sarah!


So that is our 2009 thus far. I'll report back in 2010 ;)

My New Toy!

I just got the Garmin 205 Forerunner, a GPS watch for pacing runs and other sport activities. It has so many features I haven't explored yet, but the basics more than please me. I've gone on two runs since I received it on Wednesday. Patton came with me today. Naturally, he started off in full sled dog mode for about 1/2 mile then he troted at a great pace for a mile. Afterwhich he intermittently switches between full stops and zero-to-60 sprints. He's not the best running dog, but we had fun.

I am starting to settle into my new school. It is really growing on me. I'm making connections with the staff and students. And I finally had time to clean and organize my clinic.

I've been VERY busy at work. A little boy broke his collarbone playing football at recess and the gym teacher also earned himself a trip the ER with a 2 inch laceration to the top of his head. Not to mention the outbreak of lice. Oh, and I have an 11 year old girl who doesn't eat because she thinks her "thighs are too fat." She's rail thin, needless to say. There is so much opportunity to help.

I enjoy the autonomy of school nursing. It is what you make of it! I see everything from small scratches to emergency asthma attacks. The scope of practice for nursing has increased in responsibility. It still amazes me how people underestimate my job. Nursing is truly a rewarding profession!

Wade and Jenny's Wedding and a New Knit

Wade and Jenny's wedding was this past Saturday. The ceremony was at Robert Carr Chapel and the reception at the Reata. The wedding was sweet, simple, and fun. We wish Wade and Jenny a lifetime of happiness together!

Jeremy and I enjoyed hanging out with the McDannel and Walker families. Jeremy and John left early Saturday to shoot guns with Wade and his guys. They made it back intact. Although, Jeremy has a bruise the size of a baseball on his right shoulder that he shows me approximately every two hours. Afterwhich, I reply with a "poor baby," and a kiss. I really think he is milking this for all it's worth. Good thing for him I'm a nurse and a sucker.

Jackie and I were in charge of bringing five dozen Sprinkles cupcakes from Dallas to Fort Worth. We hung out at her house that morning then delivered the cupcakes and had lunch on the square- all without getting lost, which is more than the McDannel men can say. I love spending time with Jackie. I am so lucky to have a mother-in-law that is also a friend.

I especially enjoyed meeting sweet little Matalley and seeing how much Grayson has grown (Jeremy's cousin's children.) Kalley and Matt make parenthood look fun. And I think Jackie and John got a kick out of practicing their grandparent skills. Don't get your hopes up; there are no plans for children in the very near future. I haven't even learned how to knit booties yet!

But I did knit my very first hat!






Next on the knitting agenda is a Christmas socking!!