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

What It's Not

It's not strep, after 2 tests.

It's not mono, after 2 blood tests.

It's not fun!

He has some energy today.

He will take it easy this morning, then try to work a few hours after he picks up Norah from preschool.

See below for more info.

Tough and Solo

Is it really only Monday? One long day, and not yet done. After a long, tough week last week, this week promises no different. It's been rough and I feel solo. I have never seen Eric so very ill before. He lost all of last week not being able to work or to help at home. The same seems true for this week. Not sure what he has, yet. He's been to the doctor 3 times. Blood work was taken today at his follow-up appointment. His doctor wants to be sure. It's not strep, he's had 2 cultures. That's about all we know.

He spends his time sleeping, coughing/hacking/puking, and barely awake for brief miserable moments. He has not even yet looked at Simon's purple pinky.

Oh, you don't know about that either?

Saturday, Simon slammed the car door on his pinky. Yep. Instantly purple. Poor kids had to leave McDonald's without any food. I had a throbbing headache at 10:15, wanted coffee and some food as I hadn't had any yet for the day. We were between two errands. We left without food, a throbbing head, and an even more throbbing finger. Two hours later, x-rays showed no broken tiny finger bones. He did have a hole poked through his nail to release the blood to relieve the pressure. Clean and cover with a band aid is all the care needed. I let the boy choose whatever band aids he wanted at the store. He chose transformers. For a boy who never, ever wanted a bandaid has embraced the wearing of the band aid to cover the purple pinky.

Where, oh where have I been?

Wonder where I have been? Well, so do I!

Days fly by, filled with lots to do that just get repeated the very next day starting when my toes touch the floor. Seems redundant to share the daily events. But, there are some new things.

1. My camera memory is filled. This means I need to download pics to the computer.

2. The home computer works very, very slow. I avoid task #1.

3. I knit a "yarn ball", thanks to Just Jessica. Mine was all different colors left over from various projects. In the works is a second yarn ball in red-black-white, for the Bulls. All in the house love it and can be found tossing it around at various times. It is perfect for the over the door basketball hoop.

4. Thanks to Grandma G, I will be making a Tiny Mouse House for Norah's Easter basket. And perhaps one for Simon. I do like my sewing projects to be small and quick! Hopefully "easy" is included in this project.

5. I have decided to crochet me a green newsboy slouchy hat, have the pattern and the yarn ready to go. This yarn is supposed to be an easy shrug. But, a green hat will be more visible at the St. Patty's day parade.

6. I, in the next few weeks, will be testing a pattern. YES, me, testing a crochet designer's and writer's hat pattern. I really, really, liked the hat below, but didn't want to spend $30 on something I could make. I asked if a pattern was available for purchase, a conversation followed, and that's how I became a tester! So excited. She has to yet write it out.

7. AND, in talking with someone at my church's women's retreat, I am now reading "Half the Sky:Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide". It is a tough book to read. Her church/book club group is now knitting shawls/afghans for this hospital. This woman and I are partnering in making one. She will buy the yarn, and I will make it. I have my ideas as to get her more involved. (She did say that she used to knit and still has some supplies:) If you are interested in joining "Half the Sky Knitting", I am able to provide details.

8. It seems to continue that we cannot enjoy more than 4 days to a week after an antibiotic without getting sick again. This time, Eric has had a fever since Monday with aches, chills, discomfort and now a sore throat. He is on an antibiotic. Kids are fine. I am trying to stay away and quarantine the kids from Daddy. I came home with a level 10 migraine yesterday. Why does the head have to hurt so bad that it convinces the stomach to join in the pain party? It is tough when both parents are under the weather. I was unavailable for a couple of hours, Eric was probably at 50%. Somehow the kids were fed, read to, homework done, and a bit of play before bed. Teeth were brushed and prayers were said. Amazing!

9. It is IEP season, and that being said, more work is to be done than during a typical week. Paperwork is the addition!

Cheater Post

I am borrowing this idea from Two Adults, One Brown Baby. Too much fun!

You like it?--you leave a link to yours and I will read it. You hate it?-read mine if you wish and shuffle along.

A to Z

A. Age: 37, closer to 40 than to 30. Yikes, how did that happen?

B. Bed size: Queen. Anything bigger would not fit in our room.

C. Chore that you hate: Taking the garbage to the street and returning the cans back behind the house.

D. Dogs: Love that my kids love the neighbor's dog down the street and they get to "walk her home". They give her water, a treat, and then play games on my neighbor's iPad. Walking Muffin home seems to take a half an hour, even though she lives just four houses away. I enjoy dogs if someone else owns them.

E. Essential start to your day: Cuddling with hubby sans CPAP and snoring.

F. Favorite color: Pink, I think for me. Green in March and December. Red in December and February. Bright colors in May through September. Orange in October and November. I like colors. Not too sure about a true fave.

G. Gold or silver: Gold for wedding ring and "real" jewelry from my honey. Silver for all other accessories.

H. Height: 5'8". Although one doctor visit measured me at 5'5", from a pull down ruler from the ceiling. I asked for a re-measure, still 5'5", until a year later. This happened just a couple of years ago.

I. Instruments that you play: Piano when I was growing up, pretty sure I lost all ability. French Horn through post-college, I'd be terrified to pick one up and play again. Handbells since 1999.

J. Job title: Speech and Language Pathologist and Home Manager and Little People Referee.

K. Kids: Two, Simon 6 1/2 (first grade), Norah (3 1/2, preschool).

L. Live: the Midwest, away from all of my immediate family and near all of Eric's immediate family.

M. Mother's name: Sharon Adeline

N. Nicknames: Rebecca at work, Becky everywhere else.

O. Overnight hospital stays: 2005 when Simon was born, and 2008 when Norah was born.

P. Pet peeves: People picking noses and nails.

Q. Quote from a movie: not quite my forte

R: Right or left handed: Right

S: Siblings: I'm the middle child, between 2 sisters. There is a wine called The Middle Sister.

T. Talents: (added as there was no T), I tell my kids that my special talent is peeling tangerines or oranges in only one continuous piece. True talents are crocheting, knitting, and sewing.

U. Underwear: New within the last year, I think.

V. Vegetable(s) you hate: Peas, none will cross my lips - ever. But I will heat them up for my kids.

W. What makes you run late: Getting everything done that everyone needs for the day ahead or the outing at present.

X. X-rays you've had: Ultrasounds and dental. One head scan when migraines were constant.

Y. Yummy food that you make: bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, chocolate chip pumpkin cookies, french toast casserole, shrimp lasagna rolls, enchiladas, buttermilk pancakes, homemade pizzas

Z. Zoo animal: Puffins. A puffin is like a bird and fish in a penguin-like body. The zoo by my parents house has puffins and they are delightful.