I was on the way out the door to have lunch with a friend. My mom had come over to watch the kiddos...and the earth started shaking. I live probably 10 miles from the epicenter. It shook quite a bit here. Only the shower doors fell off. Thank God they fell into the shower and that the glass didn't break. I was able to fix that easy enough.
6 is still pretty shaken up. I found some color pages from the USGS that explain the earth's crust, mantle and core, and also show types of faults. I hope this satisfies his curiosities. The other kids were less disturbed by this afternoon's events.
So while that was fun...my lunch was the real FUN!
I got to meet a knitter at the local Corner Bakery. I went to high school, college, and even China with this special knitter. Then when we lived in different cities, we lost touch with one another. I was so surprised to see her in Michael's a few weeks ago. And really excited to discover that she's a knitter and even on Ravelry too. It will be so fun catching up...and maybe soon we can start exploring some of the not so local LYS in our area together. Thanks for a fun lunch. =0)
7.29.2008
7.28.2008
Stereo Update #3
I think we're getting closer. I did ask M if we'd be able to watch the Olympics, and he wasn't sure. I don't think I'll sign up for the Ravelympics. My knitting time is totally sucked up by the construction project. And if I'm not watching my favorite sports on TV, then I probably won't be sitting knitting.
Here is the speaker in the backyard. Those wires need to connect to the back.
Here is the left side of the fireplace. The main channel speaker will go in the MDF panel that's there. There's another panel like this on the right side of the fireplace for the sub woofer.
Here's the end of all those blue tubes. Each wire needs to be connected to something on one of those plates.
There are a few holes like this in the house. They were cut when there wasn't space in the attic for the drill to access the wall. These will need to be patched. Then the wall repainted. There's some discussion about what color the wall should be. M is leaning towards metallic blue. That has me a bit nervous.
As of last night, all the holes in the ceiling are cut and speakers are connected to the wires in the attic. We can't test them until the wires are connected to those plates and then the equipment is brought in. When we get there, M will pop little grill plates on each of the speakers. They'll be white except for the wall speakers that will be painted wall color.
Each of the bedrooms and the kitchen now have these little power/volume controls next to the light switches.
Our kitchen light gave out, and since he was in the attic anyways, M looked to see if we could put a can light in this hole, or locate a speaker here. Neither works as there is house structure in the way. We need to pick a new light...so I can see to cook, but we're having trouble agreeing on one we both like.
Here's the entry light. (Ballard Design)
Here's the light over the kitchen table. (West Elm)
The kitchen light will be between these two. We tend to like lighting that we can't afford, so we search forever to find something that we like that's inexpensive. We have this one in our front bathroom, but would consider buying it again. I like this one, except it's more than we can spend on a light, and fabric isn't a good option in my kitchen with all the little ones (you wouldn't believe the number of times I've cleaned yogurt off the ceiling...and my kids are good...it just splashes when spilled). I like this one, but wonder if it looks more like it belongs in a bathroom than a kitchen. This one (in the checkerboard) is M's favorite. I think I like the pleats, but I'm not sure. And this one is good too, but M doesn't like it. Any opinions?!? Suggestions?!? Please help! If we can't decide soon, the time will change, and I'll be cooking in the dark. For now, we're lucky that it's still light at 8pm and we have lots of windows.
I almost forgot...and here's the speaker in the garage. This one is connected at the speaker, but M needed a soldering iron to install this switch and the one for the backyard. Yes, those are Christmas lights. M strung them from the rafters last year, and decided it was too much work to remove them, so we've been enjoying them all year. We have a little remote switch for those.
Here is the speaker in the backyard. Those wires need to connect to the back.
Here is the left side of the fireplace. The main channel speaker will go in the MDF panel that's there. There's another panel like this on the right side of the fireplace for the sub woofer.
Here's the end of all those blue tubes. Each wire needs to be connected to something on one of those plates.
There are a few holes like this in the house. They were cut when there wasn't space in the attic for the drill to access the wall. These will need to be patched. Then the wall repainted. There's some discussion about what color the wall should be. M is leaning towards metallic blue. That has me a bit nervous.
As of last night, all the holes in the ceiling are cut and speakers are connected to the wires in the attic. We can't test them until the wires are connected to those plates and then the equipment is brought in. When we get there, M will pop little grill plates on each of the speakers. They'll be white except for the wall speakers that will be painted wall color.
Each of the bedrooms and the kitchen now have these little power/volume controls next to the light switches.
Our kitchen light gave out, and since he was in the attic anyways, M looked to see if we could put a can light in this hole, or locate a speaker here. Neither works as there is house structure in the way. We need to pick a new light...so I can see to cook, but we're having trouble agreeing on one we both like.
Here's the entry light. (Ballard Design)
Here's the light over the kitchen table. (West Elm)
The kitchen light will be between these two. We tend to like lighting that we can't afford, so we search forever to find something that we like that's inexpensive. We have this one in our front bathroom, but would consider buying it again. I like this one, except it's more than we can spend on a light, and fabric isn't a good option in my kitchen with all the little ones (you wouldn't believe the number of times I've cleaned yogurt off the ceiling...and my kids are good...it just splashes when spilled). I like this one, but wonder if it looks more like it belongs in a bathroom than a kitchen. This one (in the checkerboard) is M's favorite. I think I like the pleats, but I'm not sure. And this one is good too, but M doesn't like it. Any opinions?!? Suggestions?!? Please help! If we can't decide soon, the time will change, and I'll be cooking in the dark. For now, we're lucky that it's still light at 8pm and we have lots of windows. I almost forgot...and here's the speaker in the garage. This one is connected at the speaker, but M needed a soldering iron to install this switch and the one for the backyard. Yes, those are Christmas lights. M strung them from the rafters last year, and decided it was too much work to remove them, so we've been enjoying them all year. We have a little remote switch for those.
7.24.2008
3-isms
Last year, I'd post 2-isms. I've been saving a few good ones and meaning to type them out.
In a public restroom with my mom, 3 says: "Hey, they have bird houses in here!" (She was looking at the feminine waste receptacles. The ones that sit on the floor between 2 stalls with the swinging lid.)
After church: "I got to stand on church's couch so I could sing!" (She meant the pew.)
Walking up to church last Sunday: "Ope! That's my church's hat!" (I went to their website and I couldn't find a photo to show what she means. But, our church's main building sort of looks like a pizza hut.)
In a public restroom with my mom, 3 says: "Hey, they have bird houses in here!" (She was looking at the feminine waste receptacles. The ones that sit on the floor between 2 stalls with the swinging lid.)
After church: "I got to stand on church's couch so I could sing!" (She meant the pew.)
Walking up to church last Sunday: "Ope! That's my church's hat!" (I went to their website and I couldn't find a photo to show what she means. But, our church's main building sort of looks like a pizza hut.)
7.19.2008
Bullet Points
Right now, I'm not sure how else to organize my thoughts. They're so random for this post.
- I've had internet all week, as not as much work gets done on the house during the week. Also, I anticipated the drywall going back up soonish. And that's another time I'll be un-plugged for a bit. I realize now, that won't be happening until next weekend at the earliest.
- M came home with paint samples, except it's a two part system. To even test out the colors we'll be mixing the parts. He's leaning toward a metallic blue. I picked a black cherry.
- We started staining the shelves that go on either side of the fireplace. I figure there's somewhere near 30 hours of work that need to be done on just the shelves. YIKES!
- VBS is next week. I'm in charge of the crafts for Kindergarten 1. There's so many kids...we have 2 rooms of Kindergarten. I'll post some of the numbers because it is just unreal to me. I'm blown away every year. This is my 3rd year working VBS since having kids.
- If I don't have time for email or blog next week...VBS is why.
- I ripped out my Sanity Sock. Last night I CO with 60 stitches. Taking out one of the purl stitches between pattern repeats seemed the easiest fix. I'll update when I get a few repeats in and can see where this is going. If this doesn't work, I found that there's a simple sock pattern on the Jitterbug Ballband...so I'll be trying that.
- Rosa's socks are still a toe away from starting #2. I might just leave these on hold until I can show someone in person and get an opinion. Photographing my own feet doesn't leave the most pleasing results.
- This week, I finally moved Square Cake over to a NEW bamboo circ. I'll have to figure out where I am in that pattern. I really want this for M's office Christmas party next year. It's one of the few times M and I enjoy a fancy dinner out.
- I CO for a BYOB. I didn't check gauge, just grabbed the recommended needles. I'm way off. But, I figure this will just make a bigger (not quite as sturdy) bag. I know I'll be making more than one...as a looser bag, this will be good for beach towels at the least. I'm using some stash and the yarn from Grace in my Dishcloth Swap package.
- I was cruising Ravelry and found a link posted in a group for a free CD download. I just downloaded it, so I can't give a full review yet...but if you go here...and get the CD for yourself, let me know what you think of these boys.
- I'm nervous for the start of the school year, but I'm looking forward to the return of routine. It's hard for me to remember what day of the week it is this summer.
Orange Day
The Friday before VBS we celebrated ORANGE DAY!
We started off the morning with our ORANGE collages. Early in the summer, the kids helped to separate all the craft supplies by color so it was easy to quickly pull out a box. Only ORANGE colored pencils, markers, crayons, stamp pads, foamies, stickers, and yarn. I let the kids have hole punches, scissors (plain and zig-zag), glue, glue sticks, tape, and double-stick tape. They have a ball with all these supplies.
Our snack before our friends came over to play ORANGE kitties.
In cleaning out her garage, my mom found a stack of ORANGE cones. They must have been from when my dad was my brother's soccer coach. The kids had a blast with 10 ORANGE traffic cones. And I know I'll appreciate these for setting up relay games in the future.
Our lunch was...mac-n-cheese, carrots with orange fiesta dip, mango, nectarine, mandarin oranges, cheetos, and TJ's tropical carrot juice. The kids all did great trying some new things. 3 LOVES mandarin oranges. Who knew?
And the highlight of the day....our little science experiment. In case you want to try this at home. Here are the supplies: shallow pan, milk, food coloring, dish soap.
Pour a enough milk to cover the bottom of the pan and drop food coloring around. Notice how it pretty much stays where it is. Here we used Red and Yellow...because we wanted to make ORANGE .
Just a drop of dish soap and BAM! This is so fun.
After about a minute, the kids decided this looks like Mars.
You can google if you want to know why this happens.
We started off the morning with our ORANGE collages. Early in the summer, the kids helped to separate all the craft supplies by color so it was easy to quickly pull out a box. Only ORANGE colored pencils, markers, crayons, stamp pads, foamies, stickers, and yarn. I let the kids have hole punches, scissors (plain and zig-zag), glue, glue sticks, tape, and double-stick tape. They have a ball with all these supplies.
Our snack before our friends came over to play ORANGE kitties.
In cleaning out her garage, my mom found a stack of ORANGE cones. They must have been from when my dad was my brother's soccer coach. The kids had a blast with 10 ORANGE traffic cones. And I know I'll appreciate these for setting up relay games in the future.
Our lunch was...mac-n-cheese, carrots with orange fiesta dip, mango, nectarine, mandarin oranges, cheetos, and TJ's tropical carrot juice. The kids all did great trying some new things. 3 LOVES mandarin oranges. Who knew?
And the highlight of the day....our little science experiment. In case you want to try this at home. Here are the supplies: shallow pan, milk, food coloring, dish soap.
Pour a enough milk to cover the bottom of the pan and drop food coloring around. Notice how it pretty much stays where it is. Here we used Red and Yellow...because we wanted to make ORANGE .
Just a drop of dish soap and BAM! This is so fun.
After about a minute, the kids decided this looks like Mars. 
You can google if you want to know why this happens.
7.16.2008
Stereo Update with photos and socks
Here's the photos I took last night. The blue things now have wires running through them. I know they go to the speakers...but I'm not sure what all the connections are for yet.
Here's the hole in the wall in the kitchen. The orange box will have a power/volume control. There's one of these in each room.
Here's my knitting chair, covered in an old sheet, dripping with insulation. My floors look like this. Or at least they did when I went to bed. By the time I woke up this morning, M had vacuumed.
There's holes in the ceiling like this. So far, M's only cut the holes in the living room. I'm trying to keep this one room at a time since the heat from the attic comes through if we don't get the speaker up right away.
Here's the box from the speaker. We actually connected 4 speakers this morning...but I'd already started this post. I'll take photos of those later.
And my Sanity Sock (rav link). The knitting that keeps me sane when my TV is in the kitchen and unplugged. When the living room lamp is on the kitchen table. My sock is too big. You can see a little gap here. I don't think it should be that loose.
If you have a Holiday IK 2007 and can comment on the pattern, it's Socks for Veronik. This is Collinette Jitterbug in Summer Berries. I'm using Addi DPN's in 0. I love the pattern. I even like the way the dark berry color is spiraling around my leg. I'm not sure if this...
...will block into this...
Those are the from the same shot, but one is stretched up. Will a sock block that much. I know I can get the vertical stretch in the length of the foot, but I'm not sure about the cuff. And where the sock is loose (see above photo), should I take out one of the purl stitches on the chart? Then the gutter between repeats would only be 1 purl stitch. I would CO 60 instead of 66. I think these socks need more width when they pull up higher on the calf. I wasn't going to do the 10 pattern repeats. I like a shorter sock.
And yesterday, I made a note on this sock on Ravelry. It's Rosa's Socks (rav link) by Grumperina in Austermann Step. I think I like this yarn better on the sole of the foot where it's plain stockinette. But, I'm not sure what my plain sock recipe is for my foot. I thought this pattern would be a easy one because it's just a little more thought than a 3x3 rib. It does stretch well to fit. But, is it so ugly that I would never wear it? Or, are these good plain socks that will hide well under jeans? I'm at the toe decreases of sock #1. These socks have been sitting like this since mid-May. It's a shame I haven't photographed them at all. Is that a sign that I don't like them?
Here's the hole in the wall in the kitchen. The orange box will have a power/volume control. There's one of these in each room.
Here's my knitting chair, covered in an old sheet, dripping with insulation. My floors look like this. Or at least they did when I went to bed. By the time I woke up this morning, M had vacuumed.
There's holes in the ceiling like this. So far, M's only cut the holes in the living room. I'm trying to keep this one room at a time since the heat from the attic comes through if we don't get the speaker up right away.
Here's the box from the speaker. We actually connected 4 speakers this morning...but I'd already started this post. I'll take photos of those later.
And my Sanity Sock (rav link). The knitting that keeps me sane when my TV is in the kitchen and unplugged. When the living room lamp is on the kitchen table. My sock is too big. You can see a little gap here. I don't think it should be that loose.
If you have a Holiday IK 2007 and can comment on the pattern, it's Socks for Veronik. This is Collinette Jitterbug in Summer Berries. I'm using Addi DPN's in 0. I love the pattern. I even like the way the dark berry color is spiraling around my leg. I'm not sure if this...
...will block into this...
Those are the from the same shot, but one is stretched up. Will a sock block that much. I know I can get the vertical stretch in the length of the foot, but I'm not sure about the cuff. And where the sock is loose (see above photo), should I take out one of the purl stitches on the chart? Then the gutter between repeats would only be 1 purl stitch. I would CO 60 instead of 66. I think these socks need more width when they pull up higher on the calf. I wasn't going to do the 10 pattern repeats. I like a shorter sock.
And yesterday, I made a note on this sock on Ravelry. It's Rosa's Socks (rav link) by Grumperina in Austermann Step. I think I like this yarn better on the sole of the foot where it's plain stockinette. But, I'm not sure what my plain sock recipe is for my foot. I thought this pattern would be a easy one because it's just a little more thought than a 3x3 rib. It does stretch well to fit. But, is it so ugly that I would never wear it? Or, are these good plain socks that will hide well under jeans? I'm at the toe decreases of sock #1. These socks have been sitting like this since mid-May. It's a shame I haven't photographed them at all. Is that a sign that I don't like them?
7.15.2008
Stereo Update
I don't think that I had a good idea at all of how long this would take. In my head, we would be putting up the drywall about now. That's so not going to happen. M and I talked about this last night, and it probably won't be this weekend either. I told him, that he'll need to take a few half days in there to finish this. I'm not so bothered that the walls are missing, but rather that when the shelves were moved, the place where M found to have them wait out the construction phase blocks my homeschool books. My personal goal was to be done with the planning before the 1st of August so that I could have 3 weeks this year to not actively think about school. I just lost a week with the craziness that has my kids thinking our house is a circus just because the walls and ceiling look like swiss cheese.
I started socks...and told M it was a race. To see if I could finish the socks before he finished the audio system. I knit a few inches, but I'm not sure if they fit...and I'm not sure how to fix that. I needed to knit, not think so last night I CO BYOB. I finished the bottom of the bag before I decided to check gauge. I'm way off. I just figure that this will be a roomier bag for the not so heavy things. I'll make the next one at gauge. I'll try to photograph today. I really want some advise on the socks. Happy Tuesday. So glad tomorrow is park day.
I started socks...and told M it was a race. To see if I could finish the socks before he finished the audio system. I knit a few inches, but I'm not sure if they fit...and I'm not sure how to fix that. I needed to knit, not think so last night I CO BYOB. I finished the bottom of the bag before I decided to check gauge. I'm way off. I just figure that this will be a roomier bag for the not so heavy things. I'll make the next one at gauge. I'll try to photograph today. I really want some advise on the socks. Happy Tuesday. So glad tomorrow is park day.
7.10.2008
Why I won't be blogging much next week...
Just below those blue things is where my internet connection comes in. I had no connection on Wednesday. And then we plugged it in today so I could email, but I had to take kids for shots and it was our library day and I spent this evening painting murals for the walls in our Kindergarten room for VBS. And now, I'm so tired, that was a bad run-on sentence and I don't care. In the next few weeks, M will be installing ceiling speakers in the whole house. When my kids start to sleep in, I'll be able to use the stereo to wake them up. And we'll have music for the backyard. I'm going to be reminding myself how exciting the finished project will be. In the mean time...I have no walls in the living room...and all the living room furniture is scattered around the house. The TV is in the kitchen...that's the only place we could move it. And it's not plugged in. I'm ok with no TV for 2 weeks...it's tough maneuvering around it though. I'll post progress photos when I can. And if I can figure it out, I'll blog from my husband's blackberry.
7.08.2008
Blue Day!
Fresh on the High of Red, White, & Blue from the 4th of July...we celebrated BLUE Day with our friends. We had such a fun morning...and this friend gave permission to blog her kids. =0)
We started off with BLUE collages. Here I forgot to take photos. Then girls went off to 3's room. It was so quiet, and I'm not used to that, I went to check on them. They had set up an entire tea party.
Our BLUE lunch. PB&BLUEberry jam sandwiches. BLUE potato chips from TJ's. BLUE ranch with carrots (I just couldn't dye the carrots...they don't need that much food coloring). And dried BLUE berries. They had BLUE powerade to drink
After lunch the boys played Legos. I love my Lego drawer. I have a salvaged flat file from my architecture days. I painted it, and put it on casters. In all the other drawers, I have large photos, and art paper. I emptied the bottom drawer this spring to hold the Legos. Now, the kids can just pull out a drawer and be playing. Clean up is easier too.
Here's 5's creation. He followed the directions! He has needed more help with this before. Yeah!
And 6 has been building lots!
And our friend, also 6, loved our Mission to Mars Legos so much he had to rush out and get some of his own.
Since it was so quiet...guess what I did. I helped J learn to BO. She learned to knit as a child from her Gram and it's all just come back to her (except I CO for her at the library story hour right now). Look here...BLUE in the yarn, needles, and shirt. I couldn't leave this photo out.
We also played BLUE playdough and read BLUEberries for Sal and had BLUE jello for an afternoon snack. I'm so glad we started these color days. It's building some great memories.
We started off with BLUE collages. Here I forgot to take photos. Then girls went off to 3's room. It was so quiet, and I'm not used to that, I went to check on them. They had set up an entire tea party.
Our BLUE lunch. PB&BLUEberry jam sandwiches. BLUE potato chips from TJ's. BLUE ranch with carrots (I just couldn't dye the carrots...they don't need that much food coloring). And dried BLUE berries. They had BLUE powerade to drink
After lunch the boys played Legos. I love my Lego drawer. I have a salvaged flat file from my architecture days. I painted it, and put it on casters. In all the other drawers, I have large photos, and art paper. I emptied the bottom drawer this spring to hold the Legos. Now, the kids can just pull out a drawer and be playing. Clean up is easier too. 
Here's 5's creation. He followed the directions! He has needed more help with this before. Yeah!
And 6 has been building lots!
And our friend, also 6, loved our Mission to Mars Legos so much he had to rush out and get some of his own.
Since it was so quiet...guess what I did. I helped J learn to BO. She learned to knit as a child from her Gram and it's all just come back to her (except I CO for her at the library story hour right now). Look here...BLUE in the yarn, needles, and shirt. I couldn't leave this photo out. 
We also played BLUE playdough and read BLUEberries for Sal and had BLUE jello for an afternoon snack. I'm so glad we started these color days. It's building some great memories.
7.07.2008
A Weekend In The Life...
I haven't taken the time to do this in awhile...and we had a busy...but restful 4th of July weekend.
Tuesday, while trying to find Crocs for 5, I headed to a local sports store. I remembered that I've been wanting a tent. (I know...not something you just remember...but I think I've lost my mind to motherhood.) I bought the tent for M's birthday gift. When he got home that night 3 said, "Dad, don't peek at the tent in Mom's car, it's a surprise." =0) There went that surprise.
Thursday, library story time. The kids sang Happy Birthday America!
I quickly planned a Backyard Campout for the weekend. I grew up camping, but M had never slept in a tent. I wasn't prepared to do all the packing required for a REAL camping trip by myself. But, as far as the kids know, this was GREAT. We grilled over "campfire". And even made banana boats for dessert.
If we had really packed up and headed out of town, we wouldn't have had striped juice. I can't remember where I saw this, but when the sugar content of juice is different then with careful pouring they won't mix. Here we have Red & Blue.
And a close up of the Jello.
Setting up the tent. 6 asked, "Mom, why do you know more about setting up a tent than Dad?" I'm glad we practiced this in the yard. Hopefully, we'll be heading out for a real campout soon.
I found a great tent that has 2 rooms with a breezeway in-between. The kids on one side...Mom and Dad on the other. And it was roomy. I'm sure there are fancier tents out there...but this will be good for us.
Fireworks.
Backyard wildlife. This fountain was M's father's day gift. I'll have to post more about it. We love that it's a magnet for the birds.
An unwelcome guest...
Another lost tooth...
Ready for church...
Our church's Sunday Funday after the service. Bounce houses...
Dunk tank...
And playing in the newly constructed playground.
We came home from church, and needed to unpack out tent. I finished up the laundry and got ready for another week to begin. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend celebration. Let Freedom Ring!
Tuesday, while trying to find Crocs for 5, I headed to a local sports store. I remembered that I've been wanting a tent. (I know...not something you just remember...but I think I've lost my mind to motherhood.) I bought the tent for M's birthday gift. When he got home that night 3 said, "Dad, don't peek at the tent in Mom's car, it's a surprise." =0) There went that surprise.
Thursday, library story time. The kids sang Happy Birthday America!
I quickly planned a Backyard Campout for the weekend. I grew up camping, but M had never slept in a tent. I wasn't prepared to do all the packing required for a REAL camping trip by myself. But, as far as the kids know, this was GREAT. We grilled over "campfire". And even made banana boats for dessert.
If we had really packed up and headed out of town, we wouldn't have had striped juice. I can't remember where I saw this, but when the sugar content of juice is different then with careful pouring they won't mix. Here we have Red & Blue.
And a close up of the Jello.
Setting up the tent. 6 asked, "Mom, why do you know more about setting up a tent than Dad?" I'm glad we practiced this in the yard. Hopefully, we'll be heading out for a real campout soon. 
I found a great tent that has 2 rooms with a breezeway in-between. The kids on one side...Mom and Dad on the other. And it was roomy. I'm sure there are fancier tents out there...but this will be good for us.
Fireworks. 
Backyard wildlife. This fountain was M's father's day gift. I'll have to post more about it. We love that it's a magnet for the birds.
An unwelcome guest...
Another lost tooth...
Ready for church...
Our church's Sunday Funday after the service. Bounce houses...
Dunk tank...
And playing in the newly constructed playground.
We came home from church, and needed to unpack out tent. I finished up the laundry and got ready for another week to begin. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend celebration. Let Freedom Ring!
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