Just a glimpse of St. Patrick's Birthday Parade

To give you an idea of the crazy mayhem of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, please click on the news story and video below. And NO, Norah is NOT in these pictures.

But please, just please, wait and I will post you a story of the O'Birthday Girls that is beyond magical. What a birthday this little girl had. What a birthday! According to Grandpa, 10,000 people wished her a Happy Birthday.

Mom and I sat with the throngs on 5th Street in front of the Landmark Center by Rice Park. I knew 4 people in the parade! My daughter, Norah. Her Grandpa. My cousin, Jessica and her friend, Eric. The only one I did not see and make a spectacle for was Eric. For a German family that's quite impressive.

Total magic for a darling 4 year old.

Oh, my Lil' Shamrock and her Grandpa had more fun than you could ever imagine!

And that's no blarney!

Today I drove in 3 states, mostly unpacked, re-united the family, worked on 3 IEPs, and readied myself for work tomorrow. That is why no posting of pics tonight.

St. Patrick's in St. Paul - News

WCCO Story

Glimpses of Green

Our front door decor is where I hang one of my favorite gifts received several years ago. I change the bottom hanging part to whatever sign is the current season or holiday. We had to add hooks and a loop to be able to hang a birthday along with St. Patrick's day.

Norah painted 4 hearts and a stem to decorate the front window. My kids love, love, love the window static clings. We have them up from Halloween through Easter. By Easter, I am glad to have my 10 feet of clear window back.

Not a quilt. Truly, not a quilt. Just a blanket.

That is the same on both sides. I bought the fun fleece last year, but discovered it was one sided when I got home. I also bought the green flannel last year. Just finished it today.

So you can see the fabric up close, and show you that I can have all corners almost meet perfectly. This is why I am not a quilter. This fleece was quite curly and stretchy. Not my most perfect work, especially the top zig-zag stitching all the way around. I used a new stitch (my simple machine only has 7. Three straight, three zig zag, and I assume one for knit.) I tried the "knit", and my opinion is that it would be worse if I chose just the zig zag. I also had a helper on the top stitching; her job was to run the foot pedal as I guided it through the machine. May have caused some trouble, just some.

And the happy Lil' Shamrock!! This should keep her cozy during tomorrow's and next weekend's parades.

Green attire. Last year's shirt and skirt, still fit her. I sewed the shamrock on the shirt but ordered the skirt.

Gotta have green toes! I do have shamrock laces to add!

And her outside attire. My sister made the hat for me, it's a bit tight. Do you realize how large kids' heads really are? This has fit her for a couple years and should fit her for years to come. Just change the ribbon to whatever color I choose, and I call it quite the versatile hat. I bought the jacket last year on super sale, added the shamrock and zipper pull.

I always buy her something green for her wardrobe. This will work for spring, on cool summer nights, and next Christmas. Maybe even next St. Patrick's Day too!

And she always needs cotton shirts for the summer! I love her in kelly green in spring and summer!

So much to love! I love birthdays, and Norah's on St. Patrick's Day is fun. I'll doll her up as long as I can.

11-11-11

Norah is the month, Simon is the day, and I am the year. This framed picture hangs in our dining room.

Here is how we woke up on Vertical Day, 11-11-11! A vertical table cloth, tall candle, and a vertical gift on the table.

Simon made me a card for the special day!

Then, we headed to the city to Eleven City Diner, at 1112 Wabash for our lunch at 11:11. We were there, waiting for our table when we experienced the minute of the century. Another group waiting was also aware of 11:11 on 11-11-11 and took pictures the same minute we did.

Notice Simon's vertical shirt.

Notice my vertical stripes and Norah's vertical cables.

Eleven mugs! I purchased one to use at home. We all love it. Quite the special treat to be served a hot chocolate or coffee in the Eleven mug. I do share my great mug. It has a thicker wall and heavy bottom, totally a diner mug. So delightful to sip and savor any hot beverage from any day, vertical or not!

Pleasant outside seating area for warmer days.

Off we went to the Willis Tower (or forever known by me as the Sears Tower). We wanted to be in the most vertical building on the most vertical day. We were in the elevator at 1:11.

There is a clear built out box, where you can walk out and feel like you are standing in mid-air. It was a bit freaky. The kids loved it!

Dinner at home in the evening. A very fun and special day, playing in our city and recognizing that all the numbers in the day's date were vertical.

A Rare Recipient!

My new "Swirls Hat", made by me!!! A newsboy cap with a bit of slouch. You can't really see them, but the band is attached to the hat by two silver buttons with a Celtic knot design.
The top, which shows the swirls design.

I designed the scarf pattern, modeled after the hat pattern. While not that difficult, I still created the pattern.

And this is how it looks on me!!!

What the World?

What in the world?
What can this be?
Who is it for?
Just wait and see!

Update and For Me

Eric is feeling quite a bit better. I would say he is only experiencing a small amount of pain/discomfort from the canker sores that are taking the longest to heal. He has lost a bit of weight. His energy is ever increasing and hopefully will approach normal levels soon. His appetite is regular and he is eating more of a variety of textures and tastes. He is working regular hours and trying to catch up on his vast amounts of work.

In the meantime, I finished a green hat and scarf set, FOR ME!!! Yep, a project that is created for me, made by me, and is actually completed. (Ahem, I designed the scarf pattern to match the hat.) I needed green accessories for the upcoming parades and St. Paddy's Day Birthday celebration. I am now indeed more festive. It is not kelly green, because this green is more suitable to me for winter-round wear with my brown and black down coats. I have taken pictures and will post soon.

However, in the next two weeks, reports and IEP's await with a nasty vengeance. Must be done.

The end of March brings Spring Break, and we all feel the need for a break. We had initially planned a long weekend away in Grand Rapids for a get-away and to see K and her family. Little I received her entrance visa to her feeding clinic that same week, so we have postponed the MI destination for summer time.

We are looking for a place to vacay. Any suggestions for a fun family get away? Here are our requirements:

No airline flights

Ideally 4-9 hours in a car

Need a pool

Hotel with free, hot breakfast is highly preferrable

A few kid-friendly things to do (museums, arboretums, zoos, play places, etc.)

Yummy restaurants