sherriknits

Crossing the Columbia River once again.

We’ve been in Beaverton since Monday.

Here is my big highlight.  I made a friend 14 years ago online and we’ve emailed back and forth, kind of lost and found each other once or twice.  We did talk on the phone a few times….but we had never met face-to-face.  I can’t say that anymore!

We left home early so we could get here early enough for us to visit.  She came to get me and we went to Starbucks for a few hours.  It was a beautiful day so we sat outside. 

Notice the Hannah Montana shirt, that’s a big thing in our house, too.

Isn’t it funny how you can make a friend online like that and just know you will click?  We were right, we did.  The time went way too fast!

We’ve been at a conference.  Guess who else got to come….

We thought she was so cute with her hands…even if the picture is blurry.

I’ve been really lax at taking any pictures.

I get so lost around here.  We drive back and forth to the church but I haven’t figured it out.  I do have VZ Navigator on my phone right now, though, and that lady is really good at giving directions so I could actually venture out!

We ate lunch today at Sweet Tomatoes.  It was great!  We filled up mostly on salad…a huge buffet line…and then found out there was pasta, bread, pizza, soups and fruit as well as dessert.  Good, too!  We didn’t eat dinner tonight so that was kind of nice.

After the evening session, we had a great dessert at the reception.  Some of our group went to Applebee’s but we really just wanted to grab a little something from the dessert table and head back home.

I finally finished sweet pea’s little hat again.

I’m having a heck of a time getting the football on it to look decent.  I did finish it and they came down to our room to get it…but she was having NOTHING of that business of trying it on!

At the suggestion of my friend, we snuck over to a little yarn store after our morning session.  We really didn’t want to take much time because we needed some down time after all we’ve been hearing at the conference. 

Look what I got!

A Dream in Color Tulip sweater kit for sweet pea!  I’ve always thought it was cute and they had one made up that was a little cuter than what I thought they were.  I know, I know….I need to start finishing some of these projects I have bought or started.

We’re heading home tomorrow.

Tomorrow I start the 31 for 21, I’ve loosely committed to doing it…I’m not going to beat myself if I don’t get it done, but it should be fun!

Sometimes it just seems like the days fly by.  If you’re here for knitting content there is a tiny bit at the end.

A few days ago, the little imp walked into the room.  Heyyyyyy……..

Hi Mom!

Hey, little guy, have you been eating chocolate by any chance?

Whoops!  Caught ya!

At least he didn’t casually say no.

Last night, I was vegging out on the couch and the door opened up.  Look who came to visit!

Out for a walk with Mom and Dad.

I am so overjoyed these days with this little one.  There is just nothing like watching your children become parents. 

Walking home in the dark.  Gotta love these kids.  They’re such a great little family.

I am so grateful for the people at our church who take time to make a difference in the little imp’s life.  He was invited today to do the offering.

Here he is waiting to go down the aisle.  I did the same job last week and found out it’s harder than it looks!

And knitting?  I started the knitting bag shown in the new Debbie Bliss magazine.

I’ve knit at least one bag so far in the process of getting through the first side.  I read the pattern wrong the first 3 times…lol.  I was attaching color A, B, C, &D with the wrong yarn.  Don’t ask.  I am always talking while knitting or reading a blog or something.  I could not figure out why it didn’t look like the picture.  Welllllll.   Enough said.

It’s been a busy few days.  Saturday we went to a funeral for our cousin.  She was only 33 and died of brain cancer.  She was a wonderful girl and the ceremony and the gathering afterwards were really nice.  At her request, hubby sang Amazing Grace and it was very touching. 

Many of us went for a barbecue afterwards.  We actually got my mom to come over to be in a picture with 4 generations.

I really enjoyed spending time with my cousin’s granddaughter, she’s a kick….kinda like her grandma! 

Here’s Mr. Smile … I don’t get why the little imp thinks he shouldn’t smile for pictures. His cousin is always ready with a smile!

Then on Sunday, we had a baby shower for Sweet Pea at my sister’s house.

She is wearing the Moonbeam cape that a good friend of mine made her and a dress that was mine!  Her mommy also wore it as a baby.

It was a nice time…no games, just fun.

I just love watching them together.

Sweet Pea and 3 women who love her a lot.

My sister’s granddaughter was the co-hostess and she was such a big helper.  I love her haircut!

I don’t ever get tired of holding my little girly.

My niece and her new baby.  He was such a good little boy.

Ahhhhhhh, contentment.

Auntie did get a turn.

Cousins. 

Does anyone else think she’s as beautiful as I do?  Silly question.  No longer is she wearing my dress…wardrobe changes happen often with this girl.

We got such a kick out of seeing the cousins together!

Today the little imp decided he’d hold sweetpea.

We suddenly heard some pretty serious tooting and this was the little imp’s response when asked if it was him…

“It’s her…”, he said.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness month.  It’s interesting to me that I was aware of that years before we had the little imp…maybe it was God preparing me for what was to come.

I’m going to take part in “Get it Down  31 for 21″ and try to make some kind of post every day during the month of October and mention something about life with the little imp and/or down syndrome.  It would be great if someone wants to join me in this…there is a button on the sidebar that links to the rules…which really are not rules.

This was a fun experience for me.  I had a great pal and I look forward to getting to know my pal Daisydo now that she has revealed who she is.

Come enjoy the fun of opening the package with me….

It was all neatly packed in this cute bag.

Everything was wrapped so nice.

Ahhh, the suspense!

I’m really excited with all of it.  Look at that chocolate box…it is beautiful.  I haven’t opened it yet, though…that must be some kind of miracle.  The yarn is all very fun!

I love this heart….it is the same on both sides. 

Thanks, Gwen, for making this so much fun for me…you are a great spoiler and I am a grateful spoilee!

Sometimes life just feels hard. 

Tonight I got a call from #1 daughter asking if I needed to go to Wally-world.  She and the little sweet pea were headed there to give daddy a chance to get some studying done.  When I got out of the car, I was just in awe….

All I could think of is that I serve a mighty God. 

Then I turned around and this is what I saw…

Isn’t that beautiful, too?

We had a great time today at our church picnic.  The food was great and the games were fun.  One of our friends was so kind to run the 3-legged race with the little imp. 

Dad was running along trying to coach but not sure it helped.

Here’s what they resorted to…

entertaining to say the least.

The new daddy didn’t want to miss the Seahawks game.

My new friend.

Grampy and Sweet Pea talking to each other.  She likes to stand on your stomach.

Just hanging out…

This was the safe spot.  People were getting water dumped on them and the only safe place was by the baby and that is why we had a crowd.

No words needed…

This one, too….

I love this picture!  our pastor and the little imp were having fun together.  He really likes spending time with the pastor because he treats him like everyone else.

And briefly in other news…

Here’s Sweet Pea the other day in her Sweet Pea onesie I got her and her little khaki skirt.  Does it get any cuter than this?

A few days ago, I showed the afghan a group of us made.  It’s all sewn together now and we’ve started the border.

Back to life.  I have to admit, it was a little tough to get back to work, but I had a fun day ahead so it made it easier.

Before we came home, we parked the RV on the street and drove to Astoria for one last fling.  They were having their street market and we’d always wanted to see that.  It was closing time so we didn’t really get to see much but it was incredible.

There wasn’t a way to really capture it, but there were 3 blocks of little booths on both sides of the street!  Plus there were food tents and music.  Our little town has tried to get one up and running but evidently has met with a lot of resistance.  There have been a few people who have faithfully been there every week, though, and you have to start somewhere!

When we got back to the RV, we ate and thought maybe the little imp better eat the rest of the ice cream before it melted.  His favorite food!

I did get a little bit of knitting done…this is my Noro sock yarn and I thought I would knit from both ends.  I think I am going to have to stop and re-wind the yarn because it is tangling like crazy on itself.

I really love the colors!

When we got home…we had to go visit that little sweet pea!  Her mommy and I started trying on all the hats I have made her.

Hmmmm, not too happy.

This one actually fits!  Good thing since Daddy is already watching football!

Last night our knitting group got together and started putting together the relay squares we knit during the Olympics.  It is so exciting, 15 ladies knit these and we finished 2 days ahead of schedule! 

Last night we got the squares laid out and the strips sewn.  Now they have to be sewn together…it was so much fun!

Not only is the sun shining, but it is warm, very warm.

The little imp and I decided to go for a walk while dad slept in.  He refused to leave the headphones and iPod home.  That didn’t make for great company for me because he sang the whole way.  lol

Here’s Mr. Cool on the beach. 

Nice get-up, eh? Miles of wire between the headphones and the iPod, little boy singing at the top of his lungs along with all his unique sound effects…such is the life.

Hubby had the idea night before last to invite Bunni and her hubby to come down for the car show.  I’m not wild about going to one although I will.  Neither is she.

They got here around 10 or so and we had breakfast/lunch/whatever anyone felt like eating. (Oreo cookies, anyone?)

The guys (including the little imp) left for the car show and Bunni and I hopped in the Jeep and headed for Cannon Beach.  I know the yarn store owner there and she is only in the shop on weekends so I wanted to say hi.  I bought yarn the other day but Bunni had never been there. 

It’s funny, I’ve driven over the bridge quite a few times but never in the Jeep.  I can’t say I liked it, I felt like a new driver.

It was a relaxing drive in spite of the fact that both Seaside and Cannon Beach were wall-to-wall people…which translates to wall-to-wall cars.  lol  I would never have thought of it if I was in the car.

I cannot believe that even though I grabbed my camera, I didn’t take any pictures.  We did have a fun time at the store. Then we just got in the Jeep and headed back up the coast.  Amazingly, we beat the guys back so we had a nice quiet visit in the RV.  It was too cloudy and windy/cool to sit outside.

I noticed something funny.  When they came back, we decided to not barbecue and go for pizza instead since our meat had frozen…as did everything else in the refrigerator.  (eggs crack when frozen).  Anyway….Bunni and I drove down back streets to get back to the rv park because of the craziness here with all the old cars and enthusiasts.  Traffic on the main drag crawls and there is honking, rumbling, exhaust, and screaming people along the side of the street…many in lawn chairs.  We wanted to avoid it.  But the guys?  Heading back after we ate, we were right in it.  It’s NUTS!  Fun kind of nuts, but it took 5 times as long. I might add that Bunni got a kick out of Jeep drivers tipping their hands or waving at each other.

See all the old cars?  Can you hear and smell the craziness?

There were lots of Harleys and motorcycles lining the streets, too. 

It really was a fun day.  I can still hear the low rumble of the cars and I know people from our park here are still sitting out on the sidewalk in their lawn chairs.  Our guests have left and I am sad I have nothing to show for it picture-wise but I think fun was had by all.

Tomorrow we head back to reality.