Stephie the Artist

These past few weeks have been CRAZY to say the least!  Evan and I started out by flying to Ohio to visit with my Mom, Dad, and Steph.  We were planning on spending close to two weeks with them.  However, we ended up making an impromptu trip to New York for the funeral of my amazing grandfather Big John.  It was a very nice ceremony.  Big John was in the Navy, so it was a military service.  Jimmy was able to make the trip and wore his Dress Blue Uniform in honor of Big John.  I hated the reason why we had to make the trip but it was so nice to see my family and have everyone meet Evan.  I was able to spend time with aunts, uncles, and cousins that I hadn't seen in a while.  It was a wonderful relief from the mounting stress my family was experiencing at the time!  I have some pictures from our time with the family that I will post soon.  I would post them today, however I left my camera at my Aunt Rosemary's house and she will be mailing it too me soon!

I do however, have some pictures of a field trip Evan and I took to Stephanie's art school.  We were able to see her studio, print shop, office, and some of her pieces of art.  I was thrilled to be able to go!  We met some more of her amazing and talented classmates.  So much fun!  These pictures were taken with my phone, so they aren't the best quality!!

Her Studio

 Steph and her naked drawings..hehehe :)

 In the Print Lab

A print of Steph's that will be in her Senior Art Show.  My Mom has already claimed ownership after the show!

She also received a scholarship for her amazing artwork.  As a result, she was recently asked to participate in a news cast to help raise funds for the Wright State University Arts Program.  Click on the link below to watch :)

Steph the Super Star

 I am so proud of my amazingly talented little sister!  She has more creativity in her little finger than I do in my whole body!  I cannot wait for her graduation in June.  She has worked so hard for this and I know she is going to move on and do creative and inspiring work.  Love you Steph!

Our next stop is Aunt Katie's science class room in Alabama!!

Big John

This post is dedicated to my Grandfather, John "Big John" McEnery.  He passed away early Tuesday morning, February 15, 2011.  He was an amazing man and an even more amazing Grandfather.  Being military brats my sisters and I did not see our grandparents as much as we may have liked.  However, whenever we did it was so special.  As soon as we walked through the doors of 2100 Kirkwood Ave and you heard the words, "Hello Doll," all the months and days of separation seemed to disappear.  We were always treated as if we were the most important people in the world.  Big John was always there to greet us with a huge smile and a big hug.  He always had a witty joke to liven up a conversation or a humorous story to energize dinner table conversation.  He was a retired teacher and guidance counselor by trade and taught me many intellectual and life lessons I could not have learned in any class room.  His beautiful garden was the scene for some of my favorite childhood memories, playing with my sisters and cousins.  I am so thankful for all the time we had together and will always cherish the memories and love you gave me.  I love you Big John and miss you very much.  Say Hi to Grammie for me :) 

 Big John and Grammie on their 50th Wedding Anniversary

I will always Love and Miss you Big John.

What's Round on the Ends and HI in the Middle? OHIO!

Evan and I took a little trip yesterday....to OHIO!  YAY!  We've only been here for a day and half, but so far we've had a lot of fun hanging out with my Mom, Dad, and Steph.  Evan did wonderful on his first plane trip.  He basically slept the whole way!  I was a little - actually a lot - nervous about traveling by myself with him.  But, it was a fairly easy trip.  I know they have gotten a bad reputation recently but, I have to say, the TSA agents at the San Antonio airport are so helpful and nice!  And the Soutwest employees that I came in contact with were just as kind and helpful.  They all made what could have been a very stressful situation, a very easy and enjoyable trip.  I have only on regret and that is that Jimmy couldn't come with us. 

Today we spent the day hanging out with my Mom and Steph.  My sister Stephanie's school, Wright State Univeristy, was having a Bake Sale and Art Sale and Auction to help raise money for the Fine Arts Department's Senior Class.  Evan and I went to check out Steph's work and meet all of her friends (who were all super nice) .  It was a lot of fun!  I purchased two original lithography prints (of course they were Steph's).  One is called "A Rose" and the other is called "Crystal Rose."  Super excited to own my uber-talented sister's original art work!

(This photo doesn't do the art work justice!)

While we were leaving the Student Union at Wright State, Rowdy Raider - the WSU mascot - came walking by us.  And, even though Evan was sound asleep, I HAD to get a picture of him with Rowdy :)

I am kind of glad that Evan was asleep at the time because I am pretty sure he would have been scared by Rowdy and his big teeth!

Lily's Hat

I know, two posts in one day!  Without further adieu, on to some fun crocheting news.  I've got some excellent pictures of a hat I crocheted for a cute little friend of mine...Lily :)  I ran across this hat pattern on the website http://www.ravelry.com/ (one of my FAVORITE websites in the world!) and I fell in love with the way the hat looked.  It is called the "Butterfly Hat" on the pattern, but I'm going to call it my "Lily Hat."  

I mean really, how cute can this little girl get?!?!?

(Thank you Lauren - Lily's Mom - for the amazing pictures!)

I liked the way it turned out so much that I made a few adjustments to the pattern to make an adult size hat.  My sister Steph loves hats and they look so cute on her.  So, this hat will be making it's way to her in the near future :) 

I am currently working on two different scarfs at the moment.  One is a shell-stitch scarf in a super, soft light green yarn.  The other is just a simple treble-crochet stitch scarf made with this awesome colorful, skinny sock yarn.  I am also in the process of making a very pretty v-stitch shawl out of beautiful yarn my Mom bought me for Christmas.  I hope to have all those completed soon and posted on here! 

Fun Weekend!

This weekend was an exciting weekend.  First, it was Super Bowl weekend!  Go Packers!  The game actually turned out to be a really fun game to watch.  I, unfortunately, missed the last part of the game because I was putting Evan to bed.  I came down stairs and the game was over!

All decked out in his football attire

 Watching the game with Daddy

Second, Evan rolled over for the first time!  So, exciting!  The way Jimmy and I acted you would have thought he had just scored a perfect score on the SAT.  I can't wait to see how we will react when he sits up for the first time on his own or he takes his first steps :)

I did it!

Rolling over is such hard work.  I think I'll take a nap.

This was the weekend of Food.  We ate very well the past few days -- maybe a little too well :)  We went to dinner with some really good friends of ours - Lauren, James, and Lily.  It is always fun to decompress on a Friday and go out with friends.  Even if it's just Chili's for dinner and dessert.  Fun times!  And we also celebrated the Chinese New Year on Saturday with some friends.  Had some yummy - very spicy - Chinese food!

Hope Everyone had as exciting of a weekend as we did :)

Arctic Blast

Yep, you read that right...It snowed here in Texas!  It was just a dusting here in San Antonio and almost all of it was gone by 1:00 pm.  But, it was definitely enough to close down the city!  All schools started out on a delay and then eventually cancelled school all together.  The Texas Department of Transportation closed all interstates.  Which is a HUGE deal because there are 5 major highways then a handful of minor ones and you cannot get anywhere in San Antonio without having to take an interstate!  And, Lackland Air Force Base (where Jimmy works) closed completely.  Which was very nice, Jimmy got to stay home and hang out with us! 

I know a lot of my friends and family up north are probably reading this and laughing.  And, I'll admit, after the last six years in Ohio, the "dusting" of snow we received seemed like nothing.  However, it all comes into perspective once you realize the snow that fell yesterday was only the 19th time snow has EVER touched the ground here in San Antonio!!  The news stations here have termed the snow and the four days of constant below freezing temperatures leading up to the snow, the "Arctic Blast of 2011." 

 I have to say, while crossing the street to take the above picture I slipped because what I thought was just a little snow was actually ice.  So, maybe shutting down the interstates wasn't such a bad idea in a town whose residents aren't familiar with driving in icy conditions!

For today's blog I also have another "Evan wearing a Hat Mommy made Him" photo-shoot.  He's so cute, I just cant stop taking pictures of him! 

  "That's right Mom, I've mastered this whole 'sitting upright in my Bumbo' thing.  Check out my awesome 'holding my head up' skills.  Yep, I've got skills!"

 "I'm too cool for this.  Take your pictures so I can get on with my day.  I've got a jam pack day of swingin' in my swing, sucking my fist, and takin' a nap."

 "Bwahahahaha.  I have Mommy and Daddy wrapped around my little fingers!  Bwahahahaha."

This last one is my favorite :)

 I found the following picture on one of my favorite blogging websites (shabbyblogs.com).  When I saw it I  couldn't help but wondered if this is what Evan will be thinking in a few years!

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!!!

To Fringe or Not to Fringe...That is the Question.

I need some help deciding on how to finish up a scarf I just crocheted.  It is actually one of  my favorite scarves I've made so far!  I used two colors of brown yarn - a dark and a light - and actually crocheted both strands at the same time.  I did alternating rows of double crochet and single crochet.  It turned out pretty cool.  I cannot wait to try different color combinations!  So, I cannot decide on whether or not I should add fringe to the ends.  I think it might look nice and give the scarf a "completed" look.  But, I'm on the fence because I'm also worried it might make the scarf look too "busy."  What do you guys think? 

Fringe or No Fringe?

On another note.  I have to give a shout-out to another blog that I LOVE!  It's called the Pointer Sisters.  It is a blog written by a friend of mine, Lauren, and her sister.  They are currently following the Weight Watchers PointsPlus program and they are constantly updating their blog with new and delicious recipes that are Weight Watchers friendly.  I have already made a few of their recipes and every single one of them has been a hit in my house!  A few of my favorites...Easy Cheddar Chicken, Cheeseburger Pasta (which I made for dinner tonight) and my favorite, Pumpkin Chip Muffins. 

Check them out! 

http://www.pointersisters.blogspot.com/

 

Yummy :)

It's 'Beary' Cold Outside

I made Evan a new hat!  It was more of a necessity than anything.  You see, the awesome blue and white hat I featured in my post 'A Sweet Boy and His Hat' is no more.  I some how lost it when I brought Evan to the hospital for his cold.  I was (and still am) very upset that I lost it.  In fact, I've had a few little, what I like to call, 'break-downs' over the incident.  The hat is just the most recent object to fall victim to my forgetfulness.  It seems as though whenever I go anywhere or do anything any more, I either lose or break something.  It's actually quiet frustrating.  When I do get frustrated or annoyed at myself, Jimmy just reminds me that at least I didn't forget Evan at the hospital/restaurant/bookstore.  Yay - Mark me down for 'Mother of the Year!"  So, if any of my San Antonio friends run across a cute little blue and white crocheted hat while you are out and about - IT'S MINE!

I've been seeing animal hats on a lot of the crochet websites and I've always thought they looked really cute.  So, I added little bear ears to this hat.  My sister Stephanie has also been BEGGING me to make Evan a bear hat.  It looks super cute on him.  I wasn't able to get pictures of Evan wearing the hat before he fell asleep for the evening.  But, don't worry, I'll be sure to get some tomorrow :)

The reason why I HAD to make Evan a new hat today (I know, most moms would just go out and buy a new hat for their child, I'm apparently a glutton for punishment) is because the temperature here in San Antonio dropped from low 80s yesterday to low 30s today.  I realize that is nothing compared to what most of you are experiencing right now across the country!  However, we were braving the cold to meet up with some very awesome friends for dinner tonight - Jim and Jillian Neiswender.  We met them while we were up in Dayton and were lucky enough to spend the last few months with them here in Texas.  They are leaving this week for their next assignment (Vegas!) and we wanted to hang out with them one last time.  One sad thing about being military is that you often have to say "Bye" to your close friends.  But, the military also has a funny way of often reuniting you with those same friends, so I know for a fact we will see them again soon :)

We will miss you guys, but can't wait to come visit you in Las Vegas :)