Purls of Hope

Here's to good things in 2006! Happy New Year!

Must.make.goals...yeah, well tomorrow.

Must.finish.projects. yeah, I'll start that tomorrow too!

Must.be.happy...I'll start that one tonight ;)

It seems as if I have dropped off the face of the earth. It also seems that I must take vitamins.

Almost everyone in my house is sick. We usually get sick for Thanksgiving, but this year it was Christmas. And now we have 7 people to see through the ICK.

I have thank you's that need to go out and they will. So those of you that deserve thanks, they are coming and I am ever so appreciative.

I have been trying to tie up loose ends with my Secret Pal Group. I think people should put into check what exactly thier expectations are. I wish I could hold everyone's hand and help them along, but I can't. I was glad to see that the majority of my group was good and did what they were supposed to with little or no whining. On a side note, if you are planning to run an exchange, I have started a universal banned list. And yes, even though people think I am mean, there is a way to get yourself off of the list, but if you get back on you are there for good.

Okay, enough of that... I will try to post holiday pictures today...later.

K, off like a prom dress.

So we started a new tradition for Christmas. As many of you know, HWWTS&J is German. We went to Epcot Center this past year and picked up a German Ornament for a special Christmas Eve Tradition.

Here is the splurb directly from Disney :) Dorothee~ you will let me know if this is true, right?

So another Holiday...another reason to fixate. Have I made everyone happy? Did each of the children get enough? Did I make anyone feel left out? I am out of steam...Caught in a crossroad. I guess what I am getting at is... Is this how a Holiday is supposed to feel? December is notoriously a bad month for me. Yes, I have issues. But, as I look around, it seems to be a bad time of year for a lot of people. So maybe, just maybe, I am not alone in this.

I have decided to take some pressure off of myself and mail out the rest of the presents I should have sent out long ago, after Christmas. As Mom says...extending the Holiday with extra surprises. And I am trying to tell myself to not feel guilty, late is better than never.

But as the packages keep rolling in, the guilt comes back :)

~~
Onto the New Year...

Last year I decided no more resolutions...why? Because, how many resolutions do you really stick to? I probably stick to 1/4 of what you stick to. And then we go back to the guilt...oh the guilt.

I would really like to work on the guilt thing.
I would like to lose some weight.
I would like to take care of me.
I would like to commit to a monthly pedicure. (I never said I couldn't be shallow at times)...Remember 5 kids and on my feet all the time... I even knit standing most times.
I would like to control my temper and the "you are all plotting against me" thing.
I would like to trust my husband more.

I am sure I will add to this sort of list...it really is just a reminder to me.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve.

SP6~
OMGoodness! Here is what my Secret Pal sent to me! Woohoo! Yep, those are 5 balls of a cashmere blend yarn, 3 skeins of Cotton Ease, Candy and the Lucinda Guy Book. You so rock. Thanks for adding the fun back into SP! Go say hi to Katie (the link is in Secret Pal)
Ornamental~
Adele sent me all of this! I am waiting for a link to her new blog and I will happily link!
Kids~
Yesterday my sister, Kendra, came over and we took pictures for her and my stepmom for Christmas. This is a sepia version of the picture. Aren't they all so cute????

Okay~ I have more ornaments to make!!!!

(See, there are some happy days!!!!) = D

That I am not going to stress over making everyone elses Christmas nice. It is my job to make my family happy (immediate that is). Did I tell you that we got all of our Christmas shopping done online...yep, I was happy! Until HWWTS&J got an email from walmart.com stating that their suppliers were out of a few items (almost the whole order) and they weren't sure when they were going to get them...mind you...when placing the order the items were "in stock" I, then, shot off an email to them, and wonder upon wonder, our stuff came shortly after.
Well, today I ask HWWTS&J if he had received an email from amazon.com ... his reply was "I don't know, go check my email account" I check and he received an email on 12/8 stating that the bulk of the order has an estimated delivery date of 12/28. Geesh. Well, I have emailed them as well. I am not even able to access the order through their site. Cross your fingers, as most of the presents are there. (We went light this year, the kids got a couple of toys each) So...still no pictures. I have a small little dinner tomorrow and I must overnight my Ornamental gifties tomorrow. Still working on the SET socks and Hollis' socks. I would really, really, like to make something for myself, but the guilt of the set socks won't let me sleep at night as it is.... Socks wanting to eat me, but can't because they aren't even closed at one end...the horror.

I am just happy to let it be...

One more thing.... To my spoiler for SP6, I do not believe that you will let me down :) I am fully aware of the problems that can arise during this time of year. I will continue to wait patiently.

No Blogging, No Knitting, No anything...just me and my Harry Potter on Audio and my IPOD. I forgot to mention that Saturday, December 10 was mine and HWWTS&J anniversary(wedding). Can you guess what he bought me??? If you guessed an IPOD, right you are!!!! And now I am addicted to listening to the Harry Potter Books (got all 6 with my IPOD) Now, the hard part is deciding what music I would like to listen to on it!!! We (HWWTS&J and I) have a very eclectic collection of music. Although, I have been trying to upload 20 CD's per day and I am running around frantically trying to find all of my Christmas CD's first. =P I am still trying to find my camera cord and I have to do the rest of my Christmas shopping! Arrggghhh... Need. More. Time. To. Play.

I am not a mean person and I am sorry if my to the point attitude has offended you. I do not know how to "fluff" things, nor do I want to. I believe that it is dishonest. Due to my ability to be to the point, people mistook it for being brash, rude, mean, etc. without venturing to actually read the post. This was extremely frustrating. At which point, being barraged by nasty comments by anonymous commenters doesn't make things any better. I cannot be accountable for your issues with other hostesses, I am sorry. As, I wouldn't expect you to hold them accountable for my actions. I would like you to know that I gave any of the persons that I banned every last possible moment to rectify. Maybe I was being too nice.

I want to thank those that have been kind and supportive. And I apologize to the persons I offended without need.

I would also like to point out that if you do, indeed, participate in one of these again, comments are better taken with a name attached to them, rather than anonymous, and if you have a comment that perhaps you don't want your pal to see, you should send an email to the hostesses.

Wishing everyone a joyful Holiday Season.

Christmas Elf Name My Christmas Elf Name is Get your Christmas Elf Name at JokesUnlimited.com

Hah!

Okay, so the person who writes in this blog has had a dumb moment. Okay maybe not dumb...anyways... I promised pictures of my mail and unfortunately, we have been cleaning alot lately and I misplaced the cord that hooks the camera to the computer...as soon as I have them I will link them!

Tuesday night: I was really considering not going to the "Scissor Squad" meeting, I am so glad I went... My friend Annie(STILL blogless) had seen my complaints and made me adorable stitch markers! Thanks, Annie. And the rest of the girls were so great and picked up my spirits! Thanks! Tonight- we have a little exchange of sorts for the holidays! Oh and I forgot... Jennie brought me some eggs from her hens...yuuuummmmmmmy! Thanks, Jennie!

Okay, so off to the cleaning...must vacuum...yuck!

BTW, all is set with the participant that I accidentally offended! Thanks!

There have been presents and packages, just when I needed them! So here's the scoop (I'll post pictures in links this evening)

The first package of 3 that I opened was:
An RAOK from Jackie of www.knitdaisyknit.blogspot.com It included personalized Zephyr stitch markers, and bath flakies, and such clean smelling soap, a lantern moon bag and Kookaburra Woolwash. It also included a lovely card wishing me a Happy Holiday. Thank you so much Jackie, it could not have come at a better time! I have the card on my computer desk and it has helped me have restored faith. Thank you again!

2nd package: My Ornamental Pal, Adele, sent me my ornaments. I can't wait to put the pictures up! You are talented and lovely. Adele sent me not just one handmade ornaments, but 4 and some additional ornaments she bought locally. Thank you, Adele. Another much needed pick me up!

3rd package: My new little sis, Kate the Great, sent us some presents from Okinawa! Thanks, Kate...I dunno what's in them, okay well I know what was on the declaration, but I am trying to be really good! :) (the kids are not trying so hard....lol) I had all intentions of calling you on Monday, but have been going back and forth with some stuff!!! We are putting together a little somethin somethin for you too! (including refrigerator art!) I'll let you know when it is in the mail!

Also, I can't forget to give thanks for all of the supportive comments. They have really made the process much easier!

Secret Pal~
I felt attacked. I am not a nasty person, as I see someone has mentioned on their blog (with a link)~no, I will not be linking back to that person, because 1. it is her blog and her opinion, 2. I have come to realize that people in the blogosphere don't know me, so I really shouldn't care.
Being a good parent~
I am a great parent~ yeah, I have to work at hugging and playing with my kids, but that's because noone did those things with me~ and the key words being work at. They get hugged and kissed and loved, not only by me but by my husband. I work hard at being a good parent. I know people who grew up in "perfect families" and are a ton worse off than me. I know parents that were doted on all through their lives to only grow up to be selfish. You can ask anyone that really has met or seen me and my children...and they can tell you. I work hard, very hard, and I love them all. Not one of my children would ever leave someone a nasty comment, because they would think of the persons feelings first.
Bad Days~
Look, people have bad days. December is a hard month for me. When I did that 10 things, I forgot that I normally don't put very personal things on this blog. I am sorry if I horrified you that I don't like putting up the Christmas Tree~ It is up, by the way ~but, I used to get beat every year putting it up, because I wouldn't put the ornaments in the proper places. So heres what happens in my house: HWWTS&J brings the Christmas Tree in, puts it up, I do the lights, The Kids put the ornaments where ever they want to, I come back and fill in the top. And they like it that way, and HWWTS&J likes it that way, and most of all, I like it that way. My kids will like the month of December and all that it brings.
So in closing~
My children are happy, they are given a beautiful life and taught how to respect others and themselves. I love them and they love me.

Hopefully this will be my last SP6 post...

I am sure I have put off a lot of people...but for just one minute...step into my realm.
From the very start...there has been nothing but aggravation. Why? Because people refuse to read before leaving nasty anonymous comments.
I tried to be as clear as possible and more nasty comments.
I am sorry if you are/were doing what you were supposed to and didn't like your gifts or how it worked out, etc. But honestly, there are people who didn't get anything. I understand that you all joined for different reasons. Some of you wanted to receive some of you wanted to give. And it seems, some of you, just wanted to dole out abuse.
It seems like some of the hostesses were luckier than others.
If you are considering being a hostess, please reconsider...there are alot of selfish and nasty people who have nothing better to do than hurt other persons feelings.
I know, Rox, you warned me. And you know what, I think I would have been okay, if I didn't have lots of stuff going on in the homefront.
Unfortunately, I have come very close to "nervous breakdown" status. To the point where I have asked HWWTS&J to take me to the hospital...so there you go, unstable Christine at her best. (And no, it's not from the SP thing)
I do want to say, however, that the nice people are extremely nice and should be applauded and yes, I have made friends and am very grateful.

TEN random things you might not know about me.
10. I like to stick my foot in my mouth on a regular basis...see #9
9. I speak before I think.
8. Sometimes I can't talk, because my brain is going faster than my mouth.
7. I do not recall most of my childhood.
6. I have to push myself to hug and kiss my children.
5. It is strenuous to even play a board game with my children.
4. I hate decorating Christmas Trees.
3. I can't cook.
2. I love to bake.
1. I am at least 20 pounds overweight.
NINE places I’ve visited
9. Canada
8. Mexico
7. Maine
6. California
5. Arizona
4. Vermont
5. Florida
4. Georgia
3. New York City
2. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison estates
1. The Moon (in the wierd dreams I have)
EIGHT ways to win my heart
8. FOOD
7. Yarn
6. Kindness
5. Understanding
4. Being kind to Children
3. Being spiritual (in any way you can)
2. Patience
1. Did I mention food
SEVEN things I want to do before I die
7. Repierce my nose
6. Fly an airplane
5. Scuba Dive in Australia
4. Hang out in Hawaii for at least a month
3. Travel all over Europe
2. Get my Irish Citizenship (just cuz it's possible)
1. Make money doing something I love.
SIX things I’m afraid of
6. Spiders
5. Being alone
4. My children hating me
3. Deadlines
2. Nursing Homes (not the people in them, but the possiblity of being put in one)
1. Inheriting Mental Illness
FIVE things I don't like
5. Chicken Liver.
4. Hateful/predjudiced people
3. Leeches (of the human breed)
2. Lying/liars
1. Pumpkin Pie (it always goes back to food with me, huh?)
FOUR ways to turn me off
4. Being disrespectful to a family member or friend in front of me.
3. Not speaking English properly.
2. Inability to follow simple directions
1. Backstab
THREE Things I do everyday
3. Tell my children I love them
2. Feed said children
1. Listen to music
TWO things that make me happy
2. Each of my children's smiles
1. Food
ONE thing on my mind right now
1. How I hope MOM isn't mad at me... I didn't mean it.