New Knitting Projects

Now that the rush of the holidays is waning, and ski season hasn't quite begun here, I'm trying to get busy on some of my lingering knitting projects.  Like all good knitters, however, I get sucked in by a good ball of yarn.  I found this one today, and just couldn't resist.

It is officially the biggest ball I've ever bought!  It's 'rag', which isn't wool at all.  It's really old rags, torn into strips and wound into a giant ball.  I'm going to use it to knit up a rug I think.

I gave scarves this year, but forgot to take pictures of a few of them.  FFM and cousin Audrey got sewn scarves, mittens, and hats.  I learned that I have a long way to go before I should sew anything very serious.  The were awfully cute, but I think most of it was the recipients...

Two fun, ruffly scarves went to my mom and my MIL.

I made one more, an interesting drop stitch for Suzie, but I seem to have neglected to take a picture of it.  It's wavy and sort of lacy, in a not grandma type way.  I borrowed a photo from a fellow Raveler, here's the pattern but Suzie's was in a dark brownish-purply color.

Bronco Cheers From Above

And the Heavens above said, "Go Broncos!"

Sunset from our driveway tonight.  My favorite part were the pink foothills.  Cool.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

A few days ago I had one of those days when everything that came out of my child's mouth made me smile,  giggle, do a double take, or just go whoa.  Here is a sampling of the gems that I managed to remember/write down.

Headed out the door as I'm scrambling to gather up purse, phone, water bottles, and other random things to get the two of us on our way:  "Mommy, I need a phone.  A real phone so I can call people and my friends.  Not a pretend phone, one that really works.  OK?"

Later that day, "I'm 4 1/2.  And 4 1/2 means I love real stuff."
Uh, I guess no more of that pretend stuff we've been giving him.

"Mommy, you're smart."
Me, "Oh yeah?  Why's that?"
"Because Daddy told me."
(methinks Daddy is the smart one!)

"I'm glad you're my favorite Mommy."
Me, in slight, mock alarm, "F, just how many Mommies do you have?"

That same day he treated the entire grocery line to a rendition of the Hot Chocolate song from Polar Express. as well as various clean up songs from home and school.  Loud and clear, ringing out across all aisles of King Soopers.  Three shoppers came by as I was paying to thank him for his singing.  It was at this moment he decided to turn bashful and hide behind my knees.  Yeah, 'cause he's super shy like that.

Christmas in Silverton

Christmas Eve brought lots of activities for young and old.  First up, visiting Santa.  Silverton is a small town (pop appx 500) and it's size and traffic patterns allow placement of the town Christmas tree and Santa festivities in the middle of main street.  Here, FFM lounges smack in the middle of aforementioned street waiting his turn to see Santa.

 Telling Santa ONE MORE TIME that he wants a truck with a helicopter trailer and a train for Christmas.

 Christmas Eve also was a game day.  Just in case you wondered who FFM roots for...

Christmas morning dawned bright and cold.  Not too early, but it was a LATE night for an anxious 4 year old who had concerns about Santa finding him in Silverton instead of Denver.  Santa, who is pretty clever, managed to find him and left him a nice bag 'o loot, including a truck-towing-a-helicopter-trailer (mom and dad came through with a train).

Silverton, being in the mountains, has some great hills for sledding and most days the gang trooped out for an hour or so of gliding.  Now, the best sledding hill is actually a street.  So sledding goes like this - you hike up the street, start your run, get close to the bottom and go careening through a four way stop at an intersetion and hope like crazy that no one from out of town is driving through at that exact moment.  That particular street has been the town sledding hill for so long that locals know to watch out or steer clear when there is enough snow on the ground to sled on.  Thanks to my BIL James for the spiffy pictures.

Eric had a go and they flew like the wind!

Faster Daddy, Faster!

Polar Express

Phew, vacation sure is fun but sometimes life is extra hectic when you get back.

Christmas was great.  While we have enjoyed finally making our own family traditions we broke our two year streak and went to Silverton this year.  Grammie treated us to a trip on the 'real' Polar Express, a very special evening for all.

The train arriving with the requisite "apron of steam."

 Yup, it really IS the Polar Express!

 The conductor asks the little boy if he believes...

 All aboard!  The cars were trimmed with lights, garland, and trees.  FFM was decked out in jammies and robe.  First order of business, HOT chocolate of course!  FFM sang along and probably would have jumped up and danced if he'd had room.

 One of our two HOT chocolate servers.  They sang and danced and guided us on our trip.

 Oh ho!  It's the conductor.  Who punched a special pattern in the kids' special golden tickets.

 The train bumped along for a while, then gave a lurch (that lurch was especially important to FFM), the lights all went out, and then we arrived at the North Pole!  Santa was there to greet us and after we saw all the lights and elves at the North Pole we turned around.  After the turn around Santa himself boarded the train to meet all the girls and boys.  All the kids got a bell from Santa's sleigh, just like in the book.

On the way back to town we all sang carols and the kiddos came down from their highs.  The production was very well done, just the right amount of time for kids and adults alike, and heaps of fun.  FFM is STILL talking about it and will gladly bend your ear if you give him half a chance (just ask the lady in line next to us at King Soopers last week).