Torrey Pines

We recently took a MUCH needed vacation to San Diego. We have been traveling a lot in the last two years but none has been for pleasure. Each trip we take is either for work or a friends wedding...so needless to say it was time to take a break from life. I could use a break from life daily, but this trip will have to do for a while. (at least until I sneak away to England in June...)

Anyhow...

Travels were not nice to us on the way there, but it was all worth it in the end. Took off out of Peoria and since our flights were free we really did not have any say in what route we took. SO our schedule was: Peoria to Dallas to LA to San Diego. And when you have one delay it really puts a damper on the whole trip. But after sitting in Peoria for 2 hours, running to catch our plane in Dallas, missing our flight in LA, and driving to San Diego, we safely made it to Billy's house at 1 AM (which on our clock was 3 AM back home due to time changes). For anyone who knows me....this is not good for my sleep schedule as I like to be in bed by 10. But sacrifices....its all about the sacrifices. 6 AM rolls around and we are UP and off to church. Yes Shadow Mountain Community Church is worth the lack of sleep.

After Church it was time to enjoy the beautiful weather with our other Hubby and Wife (AKA Billy and Mallory) Billy is a friend of ours who lived with us for a few months when we were living in SD. One big happy Family....the Newlyweds and Billy (with Leo the Cat of course). Sweet Mallory joined our lives shortly before we moved back to IL. The two got married last year and life would not be the same without them. Although I think they will agree that it is kind of nice having our own house :o)

We had many adventures but my favorite was hiking at Torrey Pines. Out of shape....I think so. Mallory and I were about dead when we reached the top but it was worth it. The best part is, once you make it to the top, you get to hike down the other side and end up on the beach:

Micah falling off the cliff

one of the many reasons I wish we still lived in San Diego

The best wifey ever...Love you Mal...and Hubby #2 who enjoys being present for all pics.

Take me back

on the 'little' rock at the beach

Mid hike

halfway down the other side of the 'hill'

One big happy family!!!

Love you guys! So glad our family could be together once again :o) Mal, you were definitely a much needed addition as i was outnumbered before!!!

Katie's Baby Shower

Two baby showers in one week was a lot of work, but it was 100% worth it. I had a day break after Sarah's shower, and then we jumped right in to Katie's shower on Sunday. This being Katie's first child, the party was quite large but wonderful. Her Mom, Sister, and Sister-in-Law went to a ton of work and I was so glad they allowed me to help! We had around 45 guests at this shower and boy could you tell. There was a TON of food, TONS of gifts, and even more fun. Jarrod (daddy-to-be) joined us for some gift opening...he was entertaining as always.

The Food!

Cute Construction Decor

My Dump Truck Cake

The Decor

Some of the gifts.....It took them a good hour to open them all!

Gift Opening Time....Jarrod had more fun with all the cute clothes and toys than Baby Gatlin will I am sure.

Goof Ball

The Bestie! First picture of Katie, Me and my sweet little Nephew. I am sure there will be millions more to come!

This little one is going to be SO spoiled by his whole family and of course by Aunt Whitney. Katie has been my closest friend since High School, my Maid of Honor, and I her Matron of Honor. We have been through the hardest time of our lives together as well as the most incredibly joyful times, and I could not have asked for a more loyal and loving friend to be by my side. Now this Bundle of Joy is a HUGE celebration and I cannot WAIT to be sitting in that waiting room until his arrival is announced. I even got to be at Katie's Sono appointment when she found out that this baby was indeed a boy not a girl. I will NEVER forget the look on Katie's face, and the sweet little baby boy on the sono screen. Thanks for letting me be so involved with your little one Katie! I am blessed to have you in my life!

Side Note: I swear I did my laundry :o) I didn't think about needing my orange shirt for Katie's shower so i wore it to Sarah's first. haha Woops

Let the Baby fun begin

A while back i posted a blog about all my friends who are expecting little ones in the near future. Well we are in full swing baby season. Let me just apologize to those of you who don't really want to read about babies for the next 6 months, but here we go.

FINALLY HERE!!!

Baby Dunne was born on September, 11th. They named her Olivia Erin. Congrats Chris and Kris!

Baby Martin arrived last week and they named her Emma Marie.

Baby Brazis is coming today (boy: Name is a secret)

ARRIVING SOON:

Baby Stein is still waiting holding out on us...but we are ready for news any day. Mom is still working!!! (not finding out the sex)

Baby Heinold in November (girl: Mackenzie)

Baby Fleck in November (girl: Reese Josephine)

Baby Emlen in December (BOY: once mistaken for a girl, but it is

definitely a boy and his name will be Gatlin Douglas)

BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR

Baby Knecht in February (not finding out)

and we are now adding:

Baby Miller in March (boy): Praise the lord for this healthy little baby. They have been waiting for quite a while to have some GOOD news! Praying for you all during this pregnancy.

Which brings me to the actual POST. I have been busy with work, life, and planning baby showers. Luckily I am not responsible for ALL the people above (although I would love it of course) but for the ones that i get to help out with, plan I am grateful. Last weekend was a whirlwind....Friday was a Surprise Baby Sprinkle for Sarah and Sunday was a HUGE shower for

Katie (next post).

The yum yums!

Church Friends: Kate, Sarah, Martha, Me, Deanna

The Party Planners and the little Momma (Martha, Sarah, Me)

The Pregos: Kate (March), Sarah (Oct), Martha (Feb)

Sarah's high school friend Morgan, Her sister Jess, Mother Julie, and Grandma!

Gift time is always fun: Sarah, Deanna, Kate, and Martha

Still a bit in shock I think.

Sarah was surprised to say the least. This has been in the works since July and she had absolutely no idea. Since it is her second child (but first girl) we wanted to do something special that would get her some necessities and sweet little girl things. It was small and PERFECT. Martha helped me plan and pull off the event....and she even opened up her house. Husband Chad did a wonderful job getting information, getting Sarah to the party, and keeping it a total surprise. I cannot thank you both enough.

The evening went like this: Chad drug Sarah and Noah to the park....at 6:50 (it is dark by now) Noah didn't care I am sure but Sarah was ready to put on Pajamas before they left. When Sarah showed up the look on her face was priceless, i wish i had my camera. She had plenty of 'did you really pull this off moments' throughout the evening. The poor girl was ready for bed before the party but Chad made sure she didn't show up in PJ's.....although we would not have cared she may have been a little upset. They get the park, run around a bit...freeze (according to Sarah) and then all of a sudden Chad says "hey Landon wants us to stop by their house to look at it" Sarah of course is thinking he is nuts, not only is it snack time for Noah, but it is late, last minute, and she is tired. But once again she follows her hubby's lead and heads over. What a good sport!

Upon arrival she recognized some cars but was still a little blown away by the situation. Once inside the look on her face was priceless. She could not figure out how everyone kept it a secret, especially her sister and mom. Through the evening she recalled events that should have given the whole thing away but her pregnancy brain allowed them to pass without question. Her mother-in-law even called and said she could not make it. Red Flags for anyone else, but Sarah was afraid that she had forgotten her previous invitation to the family to stay for the weekend. She felt bad that she forgot she invited them, so she didn't say a word. Bless her heart....she really had never said a word to them about visiting, they just missed the "surprise" memo in the invitation. Sarah was also a wonderful sport and didn't think anything of the odd text messages her husband was receiving from Me.

So a surprise it was, with the comments from family and friends completely passing by Sarah. And I am hoping she enjoyed it as much as we did! We cannot wait for this sweet little blessing to enter the world. Reese, you are so loved already.

Bubble baby Blanket

Materials

• 10mm (N) crochet hook
• 3 balls Red Heart Light and Lofty yarn
• Tapestry needle

Measurements

28" x 40"

Stitches

• ch(chain) - With the slip knot on your hook, yarn over, draw yarn through loop on hook. Repeat for required number of stitches.
• sc (single crochet) - Insert hook under both top loops of stitch, yarn over, draw yarn through stitch, yarn over, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook.
• dc (double crochet) - Yarn over and insert your hook under both top loops into the stitch or spaced indicated. Yarn over and pull up a loop. (3 loops on hook) Yarn over and draw through 2 of the loops. (2 loops on hook) Yarn over and draw through the last 2 of the loops.

Foundation Row: Chain 49, work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc in each ch to end of row, ch 1 and turn

Row 1: *Sk next sc, 1 sc, 1 dc in next sc*, rep from * to * to end of row, ch 1 and turn.

Repeat row 1 until blanket measures 48.5".

Next Row: Work 1sc in each st to end of row.

Fasten off and weave in ends with tapestry needle.

Shell Stitch Beanie

16-18” circumfrence, 6 inches from crown to rim.

Rnd 1: ch 4, join to form ring

Rnd 2: 6 sc in ring, DO NOT JOIN (you may want to place a marker here to keep track of Rnd)

Rnd3: 2 sc in each sc of previous round (12 sc)

Rnd 4: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch) 6 times, (18 sc)

Rnd 5: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches) 6 times (24 sc)

Rnd 6: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 3 stitches) 6 times (30 sc)

Rnd 7: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 4 stitches) 6 tmes (36 sc).

Rnd 8: (2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 5 stitches) 6 times , slip to join (42 sc)

Rnd 9: ch3 (this counts as first dc), dc in same stitch 4 times, skip 2 sc, *(5 dc in next sc (scallop made), skip 3 sc)* repeat from to beginning chain. Slip Stitch to Join. (before you join you will notice that there is an extra stitch ignore and join :))

Rnd 10: Slip Stich to 3rd dc of scallop, ch 3, dc in same stitch 4 times, skip 4 dcc, (5 dc in next sc (scallop made), skip 4 dcc) repeat from to beginning chain. Slip Stitch to Join.

Repeat round 10, 6 times more.

Finish. Whip stitch coordinating colour around rim of hat. or skip the last round and single stitch for 6 rows

Add your favorite flower, bow or button

**round 9 – it isn’t a mistake... you will skip 2 stitches , scallop and then skip 3 stitches and continue with skipping 3 not 2 stitiches.

Coffee Cozy

Ingredients:

-Some scrap amounts (less then 50 yds) of Summit Hill by Kraemer Yarn Shop, 100% Merino Superwash wool, Worsted weight, Machine Washable (most important factor! you'll hate if you have to wash any of these by hand)

-H (5.00mm) hook

-2 (3/4") buttons

-needle to weave in ends.

Finished Size

About 2" (5cm) x 6" (15cm)

Gauge

20 LTR by 10rows (in pattern sequence) = 4" (10cm)

Notes

1. The pattern uses Linked Treble Crochet Stitches (LTR). Not sure what LTR is? check out the linked stitch tutorial on the stitch.

The Pattern

CH 33-55 depending on gauge

Row 1 (public side): LTR in 2nd, 3rd, and 5th ch from hook, LTR in each remaining ch across, CH 1, turn

Row 2 (beer side): SC in first 2 LTR, Ch 3, sk 3 LTR, (button hole made) SC in ea remaining LTR, CH 4, turn

Row 3: LTR in each SC across to button hole, 3 LTR in button hole, LTR in last 2 SC, CH 1, turn

Repeat row 2-3 once more, Fasten off, weave in ends.

With public side facing, join yarn and SL around entire bracelet. I do this just to give it a crisp finished look.

Add buttons as shown here to the opposite side from the button holes aligned with the SC rows.

Mesh Skull Cap

Level: Beginner

Materials *Caron Simply Soft (1) 6 oz Skein Main Color (MC) Color A (CA) Color B (CB) *H hook for baby size *I hook for toddler size *J hook for young girl size *K hook for teen size *N hook for adult size *Craft Pin with Spin Back

US Stitch Abbreviations Ch = chain Sc = single crochet Hdc = half double crochet Dc = double crochet

Beg. = beginning Rnd = round RS = right side WS = wrong side

Gauge: In pattern: 7 dc, ch 1 stitches = 3” ~ 4 dc rows = 2” Be sure to check gauge to save time!!

Skull Cap

With MC, Ch 4, join to first ch to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 4 (counts as first dc plus ch 1 now and throughout), (dc, ch 1) 8 times inside ring. Join to3rd chofbeg.ch4.~9dc’sandchspaces Rnd 2: Ch 4, dc in same stitch as joining, ch 1, [(dc, ch 1) twice in next dc] around. Join to 3rd ch of beg. ch 4. ~ 18 dc’s and ch spaces

Rnd 3: Ch 4, [(dc, ch 1) twice in next dc, (dc, ch 1) in next dc] around. Join to 3rd ch of beg. ch 4. ~ 27 dc’s and ch spaces Rnd 4: Ch 4, (dc, ch 1) in next dc, (dc, ch 1) twice in next dc, [(dc, ch 1) in next dc, (dc, ch 1) in next dc, (dc, ch 1) twice in next dc] around. Join to 3rd ch of beg. ch 4. ~ 36 dc’s and ch spaces. Rnd 5-11: Ch 4, [(dc, ch 1) in next dc] around. Join to 3rd ch of beg. ch 4. ~ 36 dc’s and ch spaces. Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in same stitch as joining, skip next dc, 6 dc’s in next dc, skip next dc, (sc in next dc, skip next dc, 6 dc’s in next dc, skip next dc) around. Join to first sc. Fasten Off. Weave in Ends.

Now for those cute flowers that accent the caps!!

Flower

With CB, ch 4, join to form ring. Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, make 10 sc’s inside ring. Fasten Off CB. With WS facing, Join CA with a sc in any sc on rnd 1. Rnd 2 (WS): *Ch 7, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in next 4 chains, sc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join to first sc. Fasten Off. Weave in ends.

Glue pin to wrong side of flower. Back side of ‘petals’ will be the right side of the flower!