Giggles And Wiggles

Last week I started knitting on a sweet little short sweater for Saiya's birthday.
I worked and worked on it and when I wasn't working on it... I was thinking about working on it. It seriously was such a fun knit and I'm anxious to make another.
I had it off the needles just a few days after starting it.
I hand washed and laid it out over the weekend.
And finally was able to attach the button Monday morning.
Here is the finished project!

I'm pretty sure she will be able to wear this a while.
Seems that it may be a smidge big on her but I'm not for sure because I refuse to put it on her seeming as how it is a birthday present and I don't want her to see it.

(haha like she'll notice, right?)
But while her sweater was drying and untouchable I decided to do something extra special for her that I know the little girl in us would appreciate.

I went to the mall in search for the perfect teddy bear.
I went to a few stores and found my way on over to target which honestly didn't have a very big stuffed animal selection.
I thought that I wouldn't find what I was looking for there until I saw the cutest little bear randomly placed on a random end cap. It was perfect!
So I bought it :)
I took it home :)

I cut the tags off :)

And
I knitted it a sweater to match Saiya's!

Though she will only be turning 1, I know that someday she will grow to appreciate the things her Momma did.
Special and just for her. :)

Now, Brodey.
We went to WalMart over the weekend with one mission in mind.
Yarn.
Not just any kind of yarn.
"Wiggles Yarn"
Brodey loves this Australian singing and dancing group called "The Wiggles".
Most moms have heard of them and most moms try to avoid them but I was not so lucky to dodge the power of their wiggly moves.
There's four men and all wear different colors.
Greg (in more recent things it's Sam now)- yellow
Murray- Red
Anthony- Blue
Jeff- Purple
Well my mom and I thought that it would be a good idea to make him something yellow because that is the color of his favorite Wiggle, which makes it his favorite color.
In fact he loves the yellow Wiggle so much that I hear every day about how when he grows up he is going to be a Yellow Wiggle. And with his personality and musical talents... that is a strong possibility. lol
This idea snowballed into buying all 4 colors of yarn to make him a hat and mittens with all 4 colors.
To me that means that I make the knitted items and incorporate all 4 colors in 1 hat and one pair of mittens.
To him that means I knit him 4 hats and 4 pairs of mittens using separate colors to complete a set of each color.
Momma is not doing that because by then end of it I may not be able to wiggle my wrists into knitting any longer.
It should be fun though! When I start and finish the set I will be sure to post it when its done.
Until then... I will hear about it non-stop from him.
He sure does love the Wiggles and I sure do love him!

Well off I go to prep an order.
I hope that you all are doing well!

Love you ALL!

Caren

Short and Sweet!

I absolutely love this comic!
Seriously makes me giggle!

www.knitprincess.com

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

I love you ALL!
Have a blessed day!

Caren

Finally!

So I FINALLY finished an order that I had been working on for the past three weeks.
It was my goal to get that done before I could start anything else.
The "Anything Else" that I've been wanting to start is this cute little short sleeved sweater that I've been wanting to make for Saiya for her birthday.
I finally was able to cast it on last night!
I will be working other orders while I work on this but at least I've started it and have made some good progress.
Here is what it looks like.

This is a picture of the yarn that I am using.
I thought I'd show it to you knit up because sometimes when it is all wound up in a ball it doesn't really do it justice in showing just how pretty it is.

The yarn is called Rustic Wool which is 100% superwash wool.
I figured it would be good for this particular project seeming as how she is still so little yet and has a good possibility of being spilled on.
I'll be sure to post a picture of it when it's all finished.

I do have a winner for the giveaway!
I really enjoyed reading what everyone posted and really appreciate your support of this blog.
Though it is little and doesn't have too much traffic... I really enjoy doing it.

The winner was picked via random David.
I told my husband to pick a number and so he did and the winner is...

ASHTON

I seriously wish everyone could have won!
Thanks again for your participation!
Ashton, I have your contact information and will be in touch with you.

I hope you all have a blessed day!
I love you ALL!

Caren

Pass It Along

Knitting is a craft that has been around for ages.
It's a craft that has been passed on from generation to generation.
From family member to family member.
From Grandmother to grandchild.
From mother to child.
From friend to friend.
From co-worker to co-worker.
It's just one of those things that is shared and bridges the gaps between age, race, gender, etc...
Well I want to pass it on and though I can't sit down and show everyone...
I can at least get it started!

Here is your GIVEAWAY!

Item #1 - "The Knitter's Handbook" This book is full of how tos and helpful tips for beginner knitters! It is full of illustrations to help explain what they have written!

Item #2- Knit Picks straight Harmony Needles size US 8. Though the picture doesn't show it too well these needles are smooth and multi-colored! I seriously squeed when I saw these bright colored needles because they kind of look like they have been tie dyed!

Item #3- Brushed Baby Alpaca yarn from Plymouth Yarn in a pretty baby blue. It is 80%baby alpaca wool and 20%acrylic and is approx. 110 yards. Super super soft and knits up beautifully!

So there ya have it!

How do you enter for the "Pass It Along Giveaway" drawing?
1. leave a comment on my blog (not on facebook) telling me why you want to learn how to knit or why you started knitting.
2.pass along this post by posting it onto your facebook page or blog to someone you think would like this giveaway and leave a comment (not on facebook) telling me where you posted it.

So you can have up to a total of 2 comments/entries which will up your chance of being randomly selected!
I hope that's understandable. Don't know how well I explain things sometimes. :)
The drawing will be done on Aug. 22nd (which is this upcoming Monday) and I will be doing a blog post with the results of who the lucky winner is!
Best of luck!

Love you ALL!

Caren

Bills and Brodey

I've been meaning to post this for a while now but somehow keep getting distracted by other things. So no more procrastinating or forgetting on this fun knit.
I was asked by my friend Brenda to knit her a hat with a bill.

I'd never done it before but found this cute and very simple pattern.

Brenda is the beautiful lady on the left and might I say that she sure does wear this hat well!
It looks super cute on her and it was so much fun to knit up.
For my knitting friends out there, the pattern is right
here!
I'm thinking that I'll have to make one for myself!

This week has been a pretty long week so far.
Needless to say I am ready for the weekend and until then I will settle for a short snoozer between the hours of 10pm and 6am.
I'm hoping to get some knitting done so I can finally get started on Saiya's birthday things. :)
She is going to be 1 yr old in just a few short weeks!

Brodey will be starting Pre-K in a couple of weeks.
Guess it hasn't really quite hit me yet that my little boy is growing up as we rapidly approach this milestone in his life.
I hear other moms talk about how upset they got when they took their kids to school for the first time and I think to myself "Oh, I won't do that." because I honestly don't see myself as being an incredibly emotional person but the more I think about it... the more I could cry! lol I guess we will just see when that time comes but for now...I'm good.
I am so excited to see him start this part of his life but at the same time I am kind of nervous.
The thought of bullying always crosses my mind and as he gets older he will learn things I am certain I wish he hadn't.
At least at home I can sensor things and protect him somewhat from the corrupt, outside world but once he starts public school I am certain I will either have to explain things, correct things, or discipline.
But I guess we will cross that bridge when it comes and for now I will enjoy Brodey as he is.
I hope that he never stops
Singing
Dancing
Smiling
Laughing
Drumming
loving Jesus.

What a blessing he is in my life!

I hope that you all are having an awesome week.
Love you ALL!

Caren

Californ i a!

I had written not too long ago about a trip that David and I would be taking to California which was a big deal for us because we rarely leave the state let alone leave this town. And usually where we go, the kids go as well and they weren't able to go on this trip. You'd think that parents would be all super excited to get away from their kids and enjoy a few days of no dirty diapers, no whining, no crying, no responsibility. That was not the case for us. I dreaded the thought of leaving them behind and fought in my heart and in my head the choice that I made to go to California for 5 days but I did manage to pry myself away and had an incredible experience. Thought I would share with you a little about my trip.

The purpose of this trip was to attend the Celebrate Recovery Leadership Summit in Mission Viejo. 10 people from Casper attended and we all went ready to learn and ready to bond. :) Some of you may not know what Celebrate Recovery is so I will give you a brief run down of the program.

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ centered 12 step program for ALL hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Many people think of drugs and alcohol when they think about recovery and though Celebrate Recovery does help with that... it is not limited to that. It is a place for ALL hurting people suffering from addiction of all kinds or emotional turmoil where they can get to the core of their pain and find healing through working the program and most of all by building a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you were to speak to people who attend and work the program you will often hear that the people at C.R. are their "C.R. Family". Often times you build bonds with these people as they become your support system, accountability partners and work along side you with like issues. Celebrate Recovery doesn't just focus on healing for adults but also has a teen program (called "The Landing"), children's program (called "Celebration Station"), and a program for those that are incarcerated (called "C.R. Inside"). Thousands upon thousands of lives have been changed through this program with all thanks and praise to Jesus Christ. So onto the summit :)

There is a picture up top in the little collage that I made of the actual conference. A total of 3,500 people from 45 different states came to Saddleback Church (which is the birth place of Celebrate Recovery 20 years ago) for 3 days of learning, growing, fellowship, and praise. There were many impactful testimonies and awesome guest speakers such as Pastor Rick Warren and John Baker of Saddleback Church, Dr. Henry Cloud, and Dr. John Townsend. Oh and the workshops! So many workshops to choose from to get a better understanding of how the program works and how we work as individuals and as a team. The resources provided seemed to be limitless with books, media, and teaching material for programs that were just starting up or that are already running. Needless to say there was a lot to learn and accomplish in the 14 hr days that were planned out for us but all in all the experience was amazing and I walked away with so much knowledge and a better understanding on a lot of things. I have been a leader for almost 2 years but was just recently made the encourager coach for my local C.R. program and so I was ready to learn and soak it all in as I prepare to be a support to all leaders, small groups, and my board mates here in Casper. I can honestly say that blessings have poured out as I have found a purpose by serving others through this program by not just being a leader but also by sharing how Christ has greatly impacted and changed my life and my marriage. There is nothing more amazing than to watch the hurting find peace and healing through a relationship with God and by working the program. Celebrate Recovery is life changing and you should get involved!

I did manage to do other things while I was gone. Note the pic of the yarn. :) David googled a list of yarn stores in Orange County and found one that was not too far from where we were! "Yarn Lady" was the name of the store and I tell ya what.... walking in there was quite overwhelming (in a good way) as I saw an incredible selection of at least $100,000 (if not more) worth of yarn. I spent about 2 hrs in there as I carefully looked over each kind she carried and then proceeded to carefully pick out my treasure. :) I probably will never be back in that store again so I had to make it count! Fortunately she does have a website and you can find it here if you're curious and would like to take a look! Bless David's heart for being so sensitive and giving towards my yarn need. :) I sure do love him for this reason in particular. lol

Another picture that is posted is of San Clemente Pier. Such a beautiful place full of gift shops, pizza stands, and restaurants. David and I walked hand in hand as we explored this new world together. Digging our toes into the sand, dipping our feet into the water and then walking on the pier that extended far out on the pacific ocean. I enjoyed a steaming hot cup of clam chowder at the end with yummy little oyster crackers. Each bite was full of clam and tender veggies and satisfied every bit of hope I had of how good it would taste. We enjoyed looking out as we watched dolphins come up to the surface to say hello and play with one another and as we watched pelicans land on the railing of the pier to observe people and basically beg for food. One pelican almost stole my soda right out of David's hand! lol I couldn't believe it! We walked back to the walkway along the beach as a couple ran to their friends. They just got engaged and I couldn't help but to grin as the couple posed with their buddies with a surfboard right in the middle of them. lol It felt like a whole different world as I observed my surroundings and soaked it all in. For a moment I was envious of the people that lived there and thought of how it must be for them to know that the OCEAN was so close. But I reminded myself Wyoming is beautiful and there is much that I experience and see here that they don't there. So I just enjoyed the moment and thanked God for his creation as I took a breath in of the cool, moist air.

I did get a chance to play in the ocean but it wasn't at San Clemente Pier. I can't remember the name of the beach for some reason but we went there our first night in California. I ran out, full force into a wave only to have my feet taken out from under me and carried along with it. They don't call it salt water for nothing! lol It was fun though. All of us for a time were children again as we jumped into the waves, decorated ourselves with seaweed, and collected rocks from alongside the beach. Not to mention the collection of pebbles that collected in my clothes and poured out onto the bathroom floor as I pealed away the layers to wash the massive amounts of sand in my hair and that covered my body. I couldn't pass up the chance to swim in the pacific!

And of course the last picture is of me and David. :) That pic was taken while on the plane and on our way home. I can't help but to smile as I look at my sun kissed skin and David's sun toasted skin. :) Might I add that the lighting from the plane window was perfect thousands of feet in the air? Of course! lol

Did I knit on the trip? YES I DID! On the plane and at the summit. :) I completed on project and worked on a scarf that I've had on the needles for a few months now. Figured I wouldn't be bringing anything to complicated seeming as how I would be distracted often and I think that was a very good idea because with as much as my brain retained... there is know way that I would have been willing to work on a complicated pattern that would actually require me to think.

What else did I do? I ate at Krispy Kreme!!! That was a nice treat :) I was shocked to see that they were still open at 10 pm! lol Oh Caren, so unhealthy to eat anything so late at night but I must say that it was well worth it!

Well, I guess I've written enough but figured I'd make it lengthy since it's been a while since my last post and I just got back from a trip :) I hope you all have been doing well over the past couple weeks and appreciate you checking in to and reading my blog. I love and appreciate all of you. In fact... so much that I will be doing a giveaway, so keep your eyes pealed!

Love you All!

Caren