What a Life!

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I am still a knitter, even though it doesn’t seem like it lately.

Steve’s new job has him leaving for work at 7:00, which means he gets up at 6:00. He used to get up at 6:40. I got up at 5:00 (as I do now) and I usually had two quiet hours to myself before he came back upstairs after his shower.

When I get up early in the morning, I am very quiet so everyone stays asleep and I can have some quiet time for myself. I shuffle my feet. I turn door knobs and shut doors very quietly. I heat water for my tea in the microwave but I stop the microwave before it buzzes at the end so the beeps of my setting it are the only noise.

My husband, on the other hand, talks out loud to me from across the room and then pulls the door shut without turning the doorknob when he goes downstairs. I’m not saying these things are what wakes the boys up every morning. I can tell you that they’ve been getting up earlier and earlier. This morning, they were up before Steve’s alarm went off.

My sister called me yesterday. Susie has achieved mobility, and Traci wanted to know how I manage to get anything done. I told her about my every present battle: when I have a few quiet moments to myself, like in the morning or when Joey naps, do I frantically try to be productive and get things done, or do I take some much needed quiet time for myself? Not getting things done can stress me out, but so can not getting my quiet time.

Last week I was so tired I hardly wanted to knit. I have to be really out of sorts to not want to knit. But I was just exhausted, and when I did have time to knit here and there, I simply didn’t have the energy.

I didn’t go to knitting at Barnes & Noble on Wednesday night because we were having storms. [That stressed me out in its own right.] Then Saturday, it was Worldwide Knit in Public day and we were all meeting to knit down at the Haymarket. But I didn’t go because I was just too tired.

Even as we speak, Joey is sleeping so Ben is supposed to be playing outside. That’s the rule when Joey naps. But he keeps coming in, wanting something. Strawberries. A banana. This time it’s applesauce. I spent all morning with him at Vacation Bible School. I put in three hours of 100% devoted attention. Can’t he leave me alone? Please? If he wakes up Joey with all this coming in and going out…

I’ve done so little knitting recently that I feel as though I’ve almost forgotten what my knitting projects are. Like they’re some distant memory.

It’s not that I have knitting deadlines I’m trying to meet. It’s that in order to knit, I need a certain amount of peace and quiet, a certain amount of ability to focus on one thing without being distracted. It’s not being able to reach that certain frame of mind that wears me down.

In fact, I have a lace shawl on my needles. Ability to focus and not make errors is critical with lace. No listening to podcasts or watching tv. Being tired is a recipe for disaster. I enjoy knitting lace, and I love having a few moments when I can achieve that level of concentration on a regular basis. But I haven’t picked up that project in over a week. [Where is it, anyway?]

The photo above is of a summer knit for myself. Cotton. A shell with lace on the shoulders. I am down to the end, the fun part. A bit of lace. But it is taking forever because I cannot seem to find the kind of quality time necessary to finish it. I want to enjoy knitting it as much as I want to enjoy wearing it. Before the end of the summer.

For now, what I really want to do is take a nap. But Ben wants some yogurt. And then he’ll want some cheese…

You know, the sign of a good dad is someone who takes time for you even when he doesn’t have time at all.

Back when Steve was working on his masters, if he wasn’t working or sleeping, he was studying. But whenever Steve wasn’t working and Ben wasn’t asleep, Ben was following him around like a shadow. So Steve found ways to keep Ben busy and make him feel special while still managing to get some studying done.

In the photo above, Steve put a CD in his computer with some kids music on it. Ben sat next to him on the couch and listened to it while Steve studied. You wouldn’t believe the hours of studying Steve put in with Ben at his side like that.

One more for the road…

Another sign of a good dad is someone who can goof off and enjoy being silly with you. Here’s Double Double-Decker.

* * * * *

Steve is enjoying Father’s Day today by going up to Omaha to see the College World Series opening baseball game with his dad, brother, and, of course, Ben. [His dad and his brother have never been to a College World Series game before, even though they’ve lived here all their lives. Can you believe?]

Joey and I will be going to a wedding later this afternoon. I’ll get to see all sorts of relatives and have fun visiting, and Steve won’t have to worry about trying to talk to people he doesn’t know. Joey is asleep now, and I am not sure when I’ll wake him. I may leave here when the wedding begins, hoping I will get there by the end and then enjoy going to the reception without having to keep a toddler entertained during the ceremony. Crossing my fingers…

* * * * *

With the passing of Tim Russert, I am again reminded of how lucky I am to be counted among those who still have their dad. My mom lost her dad before she was 30. He was only 59. I was about Joey’s age so I never knew him as my grandpa. So I count my boys among the lucky ones as well.

Happy Father’s Day to all!

Going for a walk…with friends.

This morning, after I got dressed to go for our walk, Joey ran over to the door we go out and started banging on it. He was ready to go. I did not realize he enjoyed walks so much.

And I never let the boys take any of their toys with them on our walks. But this morning Joey wouldn’t put down his truck, and when I saw Ben already in the stroller with Moose, I gave up and let him take his truck.

Yes, the Entourage.

This picture was taken three years ago (June 2005) when Ben was almost two. Steve was working on his masters and Ben was an ever present distraction (ask me how I know!). This was one of Steve’s ideas for spending time with Ben while getting some studying done. Such fun!

In addition to working hard to finish up the magazine (done yesterday!), I’ve been busy uploading old pictures to Flickr and posting them to the back end of my photostream. It’s fairly mindless, which is a welcome break to the intense mental resources required to edit a knitting pattern.

This weekend I’m looking forward to just sitting around and knitting. Of course, we have a wedding to attend Sunday, and I have more activities planned for Saturday morning than I can possibly get done (choices will have to be made). But I will be finding time to knit…and blog, too.

Happy Friday everyone!

I’ve probably posted way too many pictures of Joey walking around the back yard the other day.

When Joey woke up from his nap, I ordered Ben outside and told him Joey and I would follow as soon as I changed and fed him.

Well, Joey may not be talking much yet, but we have no doubt about his hearing. He threw a fit – I could hardly change his diaper – and he refused to eat. So I let him go outside, which is exactly what he wanted.

He played and played. And I took lots of pictures. When I downloaded them from the camera and it told me it was downloading 139 pictures, I was sure I’d hit the “All” button rather than “New.” But no, I hit the right button. I only uploaded 48 of them to Flickr.

My weakness? Those curls.

Gotta love them. Here’s some more:

Okay, and maybe the cuteness factor.

We ate supper outside. Ben was playing with his t-ball set. Joey was intrigued.

When Ben lost interest (and finally started eating his supper), Joey kept trying to put the ball up on the tee.

Almost…

…but not quite.

Steve helped him put it up there, and Joey promptly walked away. We were confused…

…until he returned with the bat.

I’m telling you, that little boy had more fun knocking the ball of the tee with that bat.

Note the enthusiastic audience in the background.

Oh my!

[Oh, and the reason why Joey is walking around in a shirt and a just a diaper with a cover – no pants…I took his jeans off him thinking they were making him too hot. He had wet hair before I gave him the sippy cup, so it’s sweat, not water from playing with the cup. Letting my children run around outside in just a diaper does not meet my normal standards for how things around done around here. Just saying is all…]