Kerrie's Place: December 2004 Archives

December 24, 2004

Merry Christmas!

The holiday knitting is all done. The presents are all wrapped and hidden in the study cupboard to avoid temptation until tomorrow. The ingredients for the Christmas trifle are prepared and awaiting the final assembly and the ritual visit to Bluewater on Christmas Eve has been completed. Its 5pm and I'm in my PJs with no intention of leaving the house again until Santa has been and gone tonight.

Wayne, Brooke and Cameron are wrapping presents downstairs and I'm trying to decide whether to put together the trifle, start dinner or chill out with a non alcoholic (This will be my 4th non alcoholic Christmas / New Year out of the last 6 due to pregnancy or breastfeeding. ) drink on the sofa. Probably one of the first 2!

Our series finale of Spooks arrived in the mail yesterday so Wayne and I are going to wrap our final few presents courtesy of today's shopping trip in front of that when the kids are in bed tonight. I love Christmas Eve, it feel so magical to have all the Santa presents out in front of us, deciding which ones go in the stockings, which go under the tree. I just can't wait!

Happy Christmas to everyone, and a fun filled New Year celebration. I'll be back in the new year, take care until then!

Posted by Kerrie at 05:11 PM

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December 21, 2004

Santa Special

When jenna and I were little mum and dad used to take us on the Santa Special every year. This is an old steam train that runs in Peterborough, you get to meet Santa first and get a present then take an hour journey on the steam train with Santa coming on the train to talk to all the children. This year, we took Brooke and Cameron (and Wayne!) for the first time.

It was a great afternoon, the weather was freezing but as soon as we were on the train it was nice and warm. I have lots of photos of people in party hats doing various silly things but they are being saved for blackmail purposes over the Christmas holidays. The 2 that are worth sharing are of Mr C all snug in his winter bear suit. This actually used to belong to Brooke and she looked equally cute in it!

Then we have Brooke and grandad. Look at those boots. White and fluffy. Do they look like boots that a mum would choose for winter wear? Nope. What about an Aunty Jenna then? Oh yes. Now can you see why Brooke loves her so much?

Posted by Kerrie at 10:03 AM

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December 20, 2004

Lace thing number 1 - completed

I've been crossing lots of things off my lists this weekend but the only one that I can show you is this. The lacy pink poncho number 1.

This took exactly 1 skein of Cascade 220 and I mean EXACTLY ONE SKEIN. I had 4 metres left after seaming! It will fit a 6 - 12 month baby as shown by the ever helpful Cameron. Aaah, doesn't he look sweet? (sorry son!)

Other knitting has to wait until after Saturday before being shown. You know how Alison has those little parcel pictures with "dont click here if you are mum / husband etc" Well that just wouldn't work for me - would it mum? I just know that my family would peek so no temptation, I wont even hint at what I've made for people until after the big event..

Posted by Kerrie at 09:37 AM

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December 19, 2004

Spooks series 3 final episode

OK, this is a desperate plea from the house full of Spooks fans. Wayne and I managed to miss the final episode in series 3 last Monday and can't find it being repeated anywhere in the near future. Don't make us wait until next Autumn for it to be released on DVD - does anyone have it on video that we could borrow? Pretty please? I'll be eternally grateful...

Posted by Kerrie at 10:15 PM

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December 17, 2004

Christmas lace and other festive fun

Ho Ho Ho, is it really only one week to Christmas Eve? Doesn't time fly when you've a million things to do and 2 small children to look after. Wayne and I managed to sneak out with Mr C last night while my sister was over to finish our kids Christmas shopping and have a couple of hours on our own together. I know technically we weren't alone as Mr C was asleep in his pram and there were a million other people at Lakeside but it was as close as we seem to get these days..

Knitting wise I'm swamped. So many projects, not many I can show you and no idea which to work on first. So its a few rows here, a bit of lace there, some fluff over here, back to the lace then stop to change a nappy - sing some songs and then back to the fluff again.

There is one thing I can show you. This is a sneak at one of the 3 lace projects I'm working on. Its pink cascade 220 (I think) and it started off life as a poncho, became a bag after a few pattern repeats and I now think its going to be a poncho again. Isn't that a terrible thing to admit? I sometimes cast on with no idea what I'm going to make just an idea about colour and texture. Sometimes I end up with a giant swatch and inspiration for a real project. Sometimes I realise that I have too many / too few stitches for what I want and rip the whole thing out. Sometimes (as with this pink lace) I just keep knitting* and end up with something good at the end. Even if I'm not always sure what that is going to be.

* Does anyone remember Dory in Finding Nemo when she sings "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming" That has become the basis for my mantra these days "Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting" There is light at the end of the gift knitting tunnel. With only 7 days to go - there really has to be don't you think?

Posted by Kerrie at 04:52 PM

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December 15, 2004

Pixie Pom-poms

Ok, I have authority from the highest possible level to post this picture (see Wayne's comment on the entry below) so here we have 1 finished pixie modelled by the lovely Mr Cameron. To make matters worse I didn't get him dressed this morning before taking the photos so he is wearing a pair of orange nad pink PJs that used to be Brooke's. I'm sure the reason for keeping them was that no-one sees you in your PJs so it doesn't matter what they look like. Whoops! Its a shame that I have to embarrass him so early - I was at least 10 years old before my mum inflicted severe embarrassment on me. And yes, I still remember every minute of it to this day.

Anyway, back to Pixie. Isn't it cute? As my earlier rant about this pattern has also disappeared I'll remind you that this is the 9 - 18 month size. The 0-6 month one was tiny and everyone knows that babies from 6 - 9 months don't wear hats right? Odd... I think the shape of this hat is cute and I have some blue All Seasons Cotton in the stash so I think after the Christmas knitting rush has died down that I'll be making the boy one of his own. Probably without pom-poms though. I do need to press this one as I can see the pale pink edging is turning up so that you can see the darker colour underneath it. I didn't notice this until now so I hope a quick press should sort it out. Otherwise I'll have to think again..

I feel like I owe a few apologies / explanations. Aunty Jenna - love you lots, just not totally sure I want a mini version of you in the house. Where would she keep all her shoes? Our shoe cupboard is so much smaller than yours. Obviously that's what I meant! Oh, and the christmas plant is so NOT DECEASED. As Wayne pointed out, the leaves are still red so it is not dead. OK?

Posted by Kerrie at 07:50 AM

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December 14, 2004

Giant green reindeer

Brooke, Cameron and I took a trip to Van Hages Garden Centre the other day. This place is so so much more than just a garden centre, I love it. It takes us about 30 minutes to get there but I say if you're within an hours drive of Hertford it would be well worth a visit.

The cafe is excellent, the facilities for children are brilliant and as well as all the garden centre stuff they have a book shop, toy shop and lots of modern art type stuff. The big attraction at this time of year is the free Santa's grotto with a very good santa. I hadn't told Brooke we would be seeing Santa just in case we were there at the wrong time and as we arrived so did 2 coachloads of school children, come to see Santa. I dragged Brooke towards the grotto with the pram bouncing along in front of us and Brooke squealing - "lets stop and look at the christmas trees. Look, lets go and see the lovely lights" and probably wondering what was going on. It was worth it as we arrived in line seconds before the 72 school children arrived. 10 minutes later she was explaining to Santa what her and Cameron wanted for Christmas and I was just relieved not to have had to wait in line for over an hour!

The tree reindeer above were a big hit as was the GIANT tree dinosaur, nativity set and all the gorgeous Christmas decorations and lights. If all else fails to distract her next week I'll be taking another trip over there. I may need to replace the Christmas plant that I bought and promptly forgot to water as well, its looking a little droopy!

Not long to go now until Christmas, I have a few knitting projects still to work on and a few completed. I also have a couple of people who I know I want to knit for but I'm still undecided as to what to make for them. I love to leave these things until the last minute you know!

Seeing as the photos of Mr C in his pink hat were amongst those that mysteriously vanished (talking of which is anyone else watching the 4400?) I'll show you more of him in the completed hat with trim and pom-poms tomorrow. Trust me - he looks gorgeous!

Posted by Kerrie at 03:37 PM

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December 13, 2004

39 things

I love reading everyone's 100 things lists but I'm way too lazy / have no time / can't think of enough to write my own. I seem to remember someone smart suggesting that all lists should have 13 items in them recently so I offer you my 13 things about me, Cameron's 13 things about him and Brooke's 13 things about her. That's 39 things in total.

1. I'm 28 years old and can't wait to be 30.
2. I always wanted 3 kids by the time I was 30 so I have a little time to go.
3. I love peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
4. Especially with fried bread. Yummy!
5. I have control freak tendancies.
6. And also antisocial ones.
7. I'm comfortable with my own company. Which means I do like being on my own.
8. Not that having 2 kids ever gives you that time on your own.
9. I've known Wayne for nearly 7 years.
10. The first time I spoke to him was when I tried to chat up someone else and failed.
11. Looking back, it probably wasn't the best chat up line ever. But it seems to have worked for me.
12. I have only just got used to signing my married name on my credit cards.
13. And now use chip and pin so don't have to sign anything at all.

Cameron

1. I love to take off my socks. It takes ages but is worth it to see the look on mum's face.
2. My left foot is much more ticklish than my right.
3. I will happily eat a whole pot of pureed broccolli.
4. But please don't try to feed me banana or baby yoghurts, OK?
5. I love to sleep.
6. I have a big sister named Brooke who comes to see me when I wake up in the mornings. I love the way she peeps over the side of my cot.
7. I only cry when I want something.
8. I have the cheesiest smile ever seen on a baby.
9. I don't mind having Barbie tea-parties or dressing up in girls clothes.
10. Just don't tell my dad that!
11. I don't like to travel in the car without my sister.
12. I have grown out of all my 6-9 month clothes.
13. I WILL NEVER DRINK MILK FROM A BOTTLE. SO STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME MUM AND DAD!!

Brooke

1. I love my baby brother lots and lots.
2. Even if he does shove my Barbies into his mouth instead of playing nicely with them.
3. I'm a daddy's girl.
4. In the biggest possible way!
5. When I grow up I either want to be a hairdresser lady or my Aunty Jenna.
6. Mum and dad are scared that I might actually be like my Aunty Jenna!
7. I'm scared of flies.
8. But don't mind giant millipedes or other insects.
9. I would watch TV all day if I could get away with it.
10. My favourite food is mashed potatoes, tuna and cheese.
11. Although I also love noodles, broccolli and spaghetti.
12. I am a Barbie girl, and love everything pink.
13. I choose my own clothes in the morning and will not wear something unless I really want to. Preferably a fairy princess dress or something pink.

Posted by Kerrie at 01:47 PM

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December 10, 2004

Aahh

Aah, finally it seems like we might be getting back to normal around here. Right in time for me to try and upgrade MT to the latest version some time this weekend. Oh joy. Thanks for bearing with me over the last few days - my life has been a mixture of the following :

50 million* emails to my host trying to sort out the problems that the move to the new server threw at me.
50 million* attempts at getting Mr C to eat solid food. (I use the term solid in the loose-est sense of the word as anyone who has weaned a baby will know!)
50 million* Christmas carols, bits of tinsel, trees and cards as Brooke and I decorate our house.

What else have we been up to? Well, there was the visit to the zoo when Brooke held a giant millipede. I was forced to cut off her hands afterwards (joke!) as I HATE insects of normal sizes let alone these giant ones. I'm sure she was bravest because she knew how scared I was... Then there has been lots of Christmas knitting, the neverending cooking of vegetables and pureeing them and freezing them so that they can be defrosted and warmed up and then spat all over me - that's a fun way to spend December I find.

I'll leave you with this picture of Brooke and Cameron looking frighteningly similar.

* - OK so this is a slight exaggeration but believe me, that's the way it feels!

Normal that is apart from all of my entries from 27th Nov to last Friday being deleted. Argh!!