Spring Break, Painting and Knitting

Between Isi teething, my severe allergies, spring break, and a successful party for the guys Ted works with, I seem to have fallen way behind on my blog. We have some catching up to do. This last week we went to the Zoo and visited their new, temporary, exhibit, 'Stingray Bay'. The girls were able to put their hands in the water and the stingrays would come right up to you to be pet. Isi loved it and screamed like crazy the whole time out of excitement. We also played mini golf and attended a Coyotes vs. Dallas Stars hockey game. The Coyotes were winning but the Stars caught up and won in a sudden death shoot out. Too exciting!

I am posting pictures of one old project and one new project. The first is of the guest room that received a paint job and a new bed. Neat color, huh?

The second is my custom, hand knit, one of a kind, knitting design I am working on. I have decided to start coming up with my own patterns and this will be the very first one of a dress for Isi from a pattern I sewed with fabric for her. So far I have learned that decreases only on the sides somehow make the sides way longer than the rest of the dress. Having already, almost completed this project once, I faced my denial and ripped the whole thing apart to start over (5days of knitting to be precise). This time things seem to be working a lot better and I should have a picture up the next time I update my site.

Keep in touch,
Love Charmaine, girls and one Ted.

How about them Canucks, eh?

The big highlight of the week was taking the whole family to a Canucks vs. Coyotes hockey game. Can you believe we all got in for $40? Turns out we committed a huge sin by wearing Coyotes hats even though we couldn't help cheer for Canucks. A few people thought we were crazy and my family was too rowdy that some people actually went and found new seats. It was such a fun game we couldn't help ourselves!
Yesterday it hit 31 degrees Celsius here and is supposed to keep getting hotter through the week! We went to a Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox spring training game with Athena's classmates and their families. We took part in our first tailgate party ever! It was soooo hot we only held out for half the game before coming home to go for a swim. The pool is still a little cool for me but the girls dove right in.

I am back tracking in time to show you all some pictures I took a few weeks ago while Teds mom and sister were here. One of our trips was south to some ruins which seem to have been built according to the stars. We also couldn't help but stop at this Prison Outlet store were inmates from Arizona's largest prison sell crafts they make. We even caught one prisoner helping out at the store! Can you believe we stopped here with Teds mom?


Hugs and Kisses!
Charmaine

Milestone Birthday!

Holy Crap! I'm 30! How the heck did that happen? Above is a picture of myself with Teds little sis Katherine the weekend before my birthday. Ten years ago I would never believe you if you had told me I would have three girls and live in Arizona. What a ride life has been up to this point. I may be 30 and how I feel now inside, outside and about life, I would never trade just to be 20 again. I had a nice quiet birthday and was just happy to have Ted home, who never should have been in town except for some last minute changes that allowed him to come home. I went shopping for myself, by myself (which I haven't done for years), I picked out a gorgeous Australian opal necklace (my gift from Ted), the girls made me gifts, my Dad sent gorgeous flowers (he almost always forgets my birthday, good thing he was on the ball, or else....), and my mom sent me a beautiful silk robe and beaded purse.

Isi is pictured with my purse she had claimed for the day and wearing the new dress I made her. She has learned to say mine, along with an insanely high pitched scream that she thinks makes her cute and funny and can run the DVD player all of her own.
As for Athena and Hera, their new thing this week is Taekwando! Finally I signed them up at a great place right around the corner from my house. I might have to try it out one of these days.

Till next week,
Hugs and kisses,
Charmaine