Joining Ginny and Nicole

Why, hello there. I’ve been a bit silent for the last week, my apologies. It was my birthday this past weekend (thirty-three…Sigh) and Gabe whisked me away to a lovely hotel for the weekend. In preparation for the trip, I was too busy getting myself and the kids ready (first time they were left overnight with a sitter and they did wonderfully) and once we were there I completely shut out the world. No, phone, no iPad, no internet. It was wonderful. Gabe and I returned home Sunday evening and I have spent what seems like the past three days getting caught up on the household chores, grocery shopping and sleep. I don’t know how it is I can have such a relaxing weekend only to return home exhausted. I blame the pregnancy.

We celebrated my birthday with the kids before we left, mostly because once Sam realized it was my birthday all he could talk about was cake. My mom picked up a cheesecake on the way home from dinner one night and brought it over. I look tired and you can see the bra strap from my super-supportive third trimester maternity bra, but other than that I think it’s a great photo of the me and the kids. Ha.

I took a photo of one of the gifts I received from my mother: an adult coloring book and colored pencils! I’ve colored about a quarter of a page since then but it was an enjoyable experience, short as it was. I’m excited to experiment with color combos and hopefully work those combinations into my knitting somehow. Gabe gave me the hilarious “Naked Hug Time” card and I couldn’t stop laughing…until I opened it and saw my children had signed it. “You had the kids sign this card?” I asked him. Gabe admitted that he saw the card and found it hilarious (it’s totally our sense of humor) but for some reason, when he got home, instinct took over and after he wrapped my gift, he had the kids “sign”the card out of habit. The inside of the card says “Naked hugs are the best,” and it’s oddly creepy and funny to see my kids’ names below the punch line. Oh, and instead of signing the card “Gabe,” he signed it “Daddy.” He knew it was a mistake the moment he did it, but by then it was too late to go out and get a new card. I’m glad he didn’t. I have it sitting on my desk and every time I look up and see it, I laugh. Plus, it will give our kids something to complain to their therapists about when their adults.

Oh, the leg of lamb. I should probably explain that. Doesn’t it look gorgeous? I’ve never cooked an entire leg before. I rubbed the marinade over it, and now I am supposed to let it sit for anywhere between four hours and overnight before cooking it slowly in the oven. I have to say, there is something very satisfying in cooking a lamb that was conceived on our farm, raised and butchered on my parents’ farm and then wrapped, frozen, and ultimately prepared by my mother and myself. This lamb led a happy, healthy life and I feel good about that. I believe strongly that animals are a food source that deserve respect in both life and death and I want my kids to understand that raising their own meat is both a blessing and a great responsibility. I’ll let you know how it tastes.

I’m working on the Milo vest. It’s a fast knit and Lord, it’s adorable. I opted to do the owl motif on the cable portion because, well, it’s owls. How could I resist owls?

Glad to be back, everyone. Now it’s time for me to check up on everyone else’s blogs and see what I’ve missed these past few days in the knitting world!

Happy Wednesday, my friends.