July Update

Well, this month has been very eventful and what I would consider classic summertime fun.

We had a fantastic 4th of July beginning the weekend with Jeff's parents. We got to cook out (I love cheeseburgers, perhaps not nearly so much as my father-in-law, but still). We also played in their pool and got just a touch of sunburn. Sigh. Good times. Then we went that Sunday night to have steak, another favorite, with my family. We set off our annual fireworks in the back yard. There were some really magnificent fireworks they set off this year. I think the boys really out did themselves.

Thus began our week long stay-cation in which Jeff and spent the majority of the time playing video games and just relaxing. I read a lot of books which was a nice change. We did get the chance to hike at Cox Arboretum and then we had our first experience with Indian food- pretty good but I had some stuff that was really hot.

We then ended our vacation by going to the water park with Jen and Trist (Jeff's Sister and our brother-in-law). We had so much fun! I forgot how much I love waterslides. I also have to say I really enjoy the lazy river and wave pool. Good times. However, Jeff and I were burned to a crisp by the end of the day. It was totally worth it though. :)

Oh, and I also got glasses! They help me see when I'm driving. I have to say its a really novel experience seeing everything so crisp and in focus. The best way I can describe it is things look more 3-D.

Now for the most interesting news. I also found out this month that I will be having a baby. I went to the woman's clinic today with Jeff to take a clinic test and get an ultrasound. (I went to the clinic because my first apt with my OB isn't until September 1st.) The test was positive, no surprise there, and thus far I am at 6 weeks. I have to say it was pretty exciting to see our little baby and hear it's heart beating. I will post some pics of the ultrasound once we get them digital. We will be expecting the baby to be here towards the end of March next year. I'd be lying if I said I'm not a little scared. We don't exactly have the resources to take care of a Baby. Please pray that God will provide Jeff with a better job so that we don't have to move back in with my parents.

Other than that things have been pretty calm... ha ha. I have just started feeling sick and I'm tired all the time. I can't wait to go back down to working 20 hrs a week so I can get a nap in every day. Even with feeling gross and tired I was able to get a panel knitted in a blanket I'm making for a friend who will be having a baby. It will probably take a while to get it done at this rate but I have a few months still. Here is what I have so far. I will make a few strips and then sew them together to get a wavy pattern.

Well, I guess that's all for now.

June Update

I know this is a little late in coming sorry for that....
Things have slowed down in some ways for us now that summer has started. Jeff is off school for the summer and he is now finished completely with his science. All he has left for his degree is art classes and one computer class. That's pretty exciting for us. Jeff isn't looking forward to the art history but at least its in his field of study. We are both working full time on the summer crew for Dayton Christian, I'm on the paint crew and Jeff is heading up one of the floor crews. The way the schedule works out is in a way that Jeff is at one campus when I'm at the other so we haven't been able to eat lunch together or ride in to work together. We are going to be working 10 hr days so that we only have to go in 4 days a week. I should say try though, I'm not sure I will have the energy or motivation for such a long work day. We shall see.

I have been working on some projects. And I made something for my sister-in-law for Christmas... But it didn't turn out perfect (I twisted the stitches on a whole row) so I will either be making another or something else for her. I don't mind because I really love it and as I was making it I debated on making myself one anyway. I will have to post pics after Christmas I don't want to risk her seeing her present early :)

I did get the chance to do a little baking this month. I tried out a recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip bread which Jeff can't get enough of. I have also been making good use of the bread machine that my in-laws gave me (it had just been taking up counter space in their kitchen) Jeff and I can't eat a whole loaf in one sitting so I just make the dough in the machine and then divide it into three mini pans, cover for 30 min and bake them for about another 30 min. After that I wrap the 2 loafs we aren't going to eat right away in foil and put them in the freezer till we need them. It is so nice to be able to pull out a loaf and just pop it, foil and all, into the oven for 45 min while I'm making the rest of dinner. And the mini loaf size is perfect for the two of us.

I also made a huge batch of sugar cookies for Father's day. My brothers took my dad to a Red's game for father's day so I went with a baseball theme and gave my dad cookies decorated as baseballs and hats. I now know why people don't use blue food coloring very often: it turns your mouth blue! They they tasted pretty good but boy, I don't think I will be making sugar cookies again till Christmas, they are just so much work!

Speaking of Christmas, I have reached my halfway point for the Advent mittens garland I'm making. I will actually be making one for each day of December instead of just 24 for the days leading up to Christmas. I'm making this project for my OWL in the Hogwarts knitting group I'm in and they said that just 24 mittens wouldn't be a very big challenge so I add a few more mittens to the list. I will probably use the extra mittens for ornaments or maybe as gift garnish. I will be posting a blog totally devoted to this garland once it is finished but here is most of what I have so far:

As a side note, I woke up one morning a week or so ago to find the mitten I was knitting the night before on the floor with the ball of attached yarn strewn across the floor. Apparently the coffee table isn't the safest place to keep projects from furry creatures who love to play with yarn. Brie didn't do anything to the mitten but she did unwind a good amount of yarn from the ball. She is so funny.

I saved talking about our cat for the end of the post since I figure some people don't care much about pet antics so if you don't care you could have stopped reading about a paragraph ago :) But Brie is totally adjusted to our place now. I took her to the vet and she is perfectly healthy which is good. We have found she is super playful and she is also very vocal as well... She likes to play with string which is really cute especially when she thinks the string I am knitting with is a toy for her. She also loves sitting on the couch and looking out the window at the bird feeder.  In fact, the other day there were some guys doing landscaping in front of the apartment and had to move the feeder for a bit and they say she hissed at them when they took it down. She was pretty pissed at them. But the feeder is back and all is well in Brie's life. Here are some of the promised pics of Brie:

Here she is looking out the window (one of her favorite spots)

Her food and water dish are in the family room since she seems to like  company when she eats.