* Gratitude Sunday *

Joining Taryn from Wooly Moss Roots for a weekly Sunday ritual. A heart felt tradition. A time to slow down, reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.

Although my list of gratitudes is very very long... these guys, my beautiful, amazing, wonderful children... they are what I am most grateful for this week.

Love

photo from this website

" I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." ~ Mother Teresa

May all the families affected my yesterday's tragedy find comfort and love in the coming days, weeks and years. Much love to all of you.

{ This Moment }

Joining Amanda Soule of Soulemama. This moment, a single photograph from the week, a moment I wish to pause, savor, and remember.

Phoestivus at the down town market

public art... we think it looks like a vortex

my dad's booth

love

so busy

live music

happiness

we found some friends

Tonight was the final night of the third annual Phoestivus at the downtown Phoenix market. The kids and I met up with Audrey and Derek and we all rode the lightrail downtown, which is always such a fun way to get anywhere (coming home is a different story. lol). The market was so busy, and fun. So many great booths, such lovely crafts, talkative artists, a wondering choir singing Christmas songs, a live band, and a crossfit gym doing the "feats of strength" I actually held a squat for 1 minute, I thought my legs would fall off afterwards, but I have to admit I am pretty proud of myself. A midwife group even had a booth with a lovely rocking chair for nursing mothers to use, which was so nice, Fiona and I took 10 minutes to rock and nurse and listen to birth stories. I found the sweetest doll for Fiona, so I think that is one less thing I will be knitting. My dad's booth was seeing a lot of traffic, hopefully his sales went well.
We met up with some friends and the kids visited for a bit, ate candy, cookies and cupcakes, ran around, danced and just had a great time. I just love evenings like this.

Yarn Along

 Joining Ginny from Small Things for the weekly Wednesday Yarn Along...

sagan's vest #2

more animal "pelts"

what i am reading... sort of

On Friday I was able to get to the yarn shop and look around for some new yarn to take another stab at Sagan's Christmas vest. I picked out some lovely yarn by Lion Brand, in a really nice cozy brown tweed roving. I wanted a pattern that knitted up quickly, but was still really nice. I decided to just use the same pattern I used for Caelan's vest, which is a really easy, quick knit. At the time of the photo I was about 3/4 done with it after knitting for about 2 days. I should be able to whip out the rest in short order!
THEN, it is on to more stuffed animals. I have now knitted two bears (one white and one shades of blue and purple), a white sheep and a white dog. I still want to knit up 6 more animals, they are so quick to knit up that it should only take a few days to get them all made, then to sew them all up and stuff them. Hoping I didn't bite off more than I can chew.
Sadly, I have not been reading much. I can't seem to knit and read, and since I have been "power knitting" for weeks now, most of my reading has been the back of cereal boxes or skimming magazines. I have been watching LOTS of sappy Christmas movies on Netflix, if you need a review of "Golden Christmas", "Santa Baby", or "The 12 Dates of Christmas" I am your gal. :)

Weekending

Joining Amanda for the Habit of Being...

all dressed up

busting up peppermints

cracking walnuts

making rolo turtles

derek and the peppermint bark

live music

sunset

running around the front yarn

lights on the lake

lightrail track

theater at tempe town lake

Oh my, this weekend was full up with stuff. I feel a bit of relief that now it is Monday and I can rest a bit. It all started with Mike's companies Holiday party. It was so much fun, we even got to dress up for it, which you know hardly ever happens. I tend to be a jeans and t-shirt sort of gal, but I do enjoy a fancy black dress occasionally. Saturday Mike and I got to go out again for a few hours with just Fiona Rosy while biggest brother watched the littler brothers. We did a wee bit of holiday shopping, getting a few stocking stuffers and hitting a few thrift stores and a local book shop. It was such a lovely time, so often we tag team the holiday gift buying, it was nice to do a bit of it together... especially considering most of the holiday is going to be hand made by me. lol
And Sunday, oh Sunday... Candy making day! Three types of fudge were made, two types of peppermint bark, these thingies and those rolo pretzel "turtles" were made. It was all accompanied by either the Christmas music station OR live music from Audrey, Derek, and Mike. After a lovely, quick dinner we all went for a walk by Tempe town lake after the sun went down. All the lights strung up make it such a beautiful scene.
It was such a perfect weekend.

* Gratitude Sunday *

Joining Taryn from Wooly Moss Roots for a weekly Sunday ritual. A heart felt tradition. A time to slow down, reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.
I am also joining Marcy from A Simple Life in a Season of Mindfulness. A time to dig down deep with in myself and rediscover me.

~ I am so grateful  to have had two dates this week with my husband. Time for just the two of us is very rare and to get two dates in as many days was just a very amazing blessing
~ ok, so maybe it is a wee bit shallow, but I have lost a lot of weight over the last few months and it just feels so wonderful to buy clothing that not only fits well, but makes me feel wonderful
~ as always my dear, wonderful mama friends who inspire me, who leave me in awe, and who teach me every day how to be the very best I can be
~ pay day. Money was so tight this last week that just seeing the bank balance and knowing I could go grocery shopping, do a wee bit of holiday shopping and help out a friend... well that is worth about a million blessings
~ my daughter's best friend Derek,who helps us out so much and has become a member of this family
~ sheep. I am ever so grateful for their wooly goodness
~ thrift shops... oh how I love them, allowing me to dress my family well on a modest budget
~ writer who describe the world with beautiful words
~ my lovely, beautiful, amazing husband. My soulmate, my best friend, my rock