Christmas Bonanza

Hello everyone, here are the pictures of the Christmas gifts as promised. I will start with the most time consuming....the scarfs.



These are all the scarves I made. In total I made 10 of them. There is a boy and girl version. Both are with suiting and blue velour to make it wonderfully soft. My inspiration came from and Amy Butler pattern I noticed online (really can she do any wrong?). I didn't see the actual pattern, but only glimpses, like this one.




This is from a blog http://needled.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/patchwork-scarf/ She has good inspiration. To make the scar I made 16 x 16 inch squares of stripes and then broke them down to smaller squares and rectangles. This made some continuity and helped with blocking the scarf. After that I laid all the pieces together and that was it. Unlike most projects, I was able to keep one for myself.



This is me when I was sick getting cozy with my scarf, my son and a good book. Really, what could be better?

My next projects were tablecloths for Mary. I knew I wanted to try sewing free hand (which means without a presser foot). The top one is the actual, and the bottom one is my inspiration from etsy.com.


Initially I tried to do everything free hand, but seemed to messy. My singer sewing machine is a good machine, but it doesn't handle embroidery thread very well and the tension gets off. Also, my hand is not steady enough. So I drew out the pattern and did a sewing machine satin stitch for the outside of the leaves and the the free style part for the veins. It worked out really well and I was happy with the final project. It is always fun trying something new.

The last project I will include is for my sister. I found place mats on etsy.com (the one on the bottom) that I really liked and I wanted to make them for myself sometime. Instead of making them for me, I decided my sister might like them. They are great for little kits to know where things go. If every she is having professional people come over (not sure who qualifies for this), she can flip them over and then they are just normal place mats.

I was not the only one who made Christmas gifts in our family. Aaron sewed some great shirts for Anna, Malcolm and Luna. He posted them on facebook if you want to see. Having him sew just makes me happy.

I also made some more place mats for Ben and Leah but can't seem to find the pictures. I will post it later. This has been a photo filled post and while it looks nice, it was a pain to upload everything. Maybe I'll get used to it.

Until next time.

Catch Up Time

I guess it's been a month since I last wrote. I think about writing often and now all the ideas are piling up and it almost seems too much. For now I will write what is on my mind and fill in the rest later.

I realize I like reading blogs. It's good insight into the person and a real glimpse of what is going on in their life (of course biased by their eyes). Still, since I read blogs, I should make sure to give more effort in case anyone else reads mine.

After my last blog I was at a furious pace to finish all the Christmas gifts I planned for. Originally I wanted it all home made, but that wasn't possible. I guess it would have been fine, but sometimes I think that the gifts I make aren't enough. I suppose I should just value my gifts more and then we wouldn't spend so much money

I shall include photos later, but I think I made some great pieces and for the most part it was fun. Since Christmas, I haven't touched my sewing machine (even though I need to). I am having post-Christmas... um something! I just don't want to do all the setting up, sewing, cutting, ironing, putting away. Such an endless task. That, and we also have Beatles Rock Band!!!

Renae and Phil gave us Christmas gifts that allow us to play Beatles Rock Band and our whole family is addicted (Henry very much included). The songs are so great and playing along is just so fun. I even have a callous from playing the drums (I've got blisters on my fingers). Henry usually has a guitar and believes he is playing with us. Usually he rocks out and dances, but sometimes he just sits with the guitar and watches. Either way he is happy. I think he will be a Beatles fan and I need to get him a shirt. He is going to be one cool guy in kindergarten, that is unless he punches everyone like he does now (we're working on it).

One thing we have changed with Henry is his sleeping habits. He has pretty much eliminated his nap time and I am sad to see it go. We are implementing a quiet time in his room, but this sometimes does not work well. He usually acts well, but towards the night gets quite crabby and clingy. His constant grabbing on me and hanging on me really does wear me down. Hopefully things will be more routine now.

Henry also now has a clock and is not allowed into our room until 5AM. This was a big change that probably needed to occur years ago. We just didn't have the strength for the fight, until now. Honestly the beginning wasn't too bad. He understood the new rules quickly but kept coming into our room to check. We would have to walk him back and usually he stayed. Right now he comes into our room about 1-2 times a night and that is it. Could be worse. I definitely think I am sleeping better because it is usually a surprise that it is 5AM when he comes in.

Until later.

Staying Motivated

After we ran our 5K our goal was done. I hoped I wouldn't slack up, and so far so good. It always nice to have a goal. I want to stay in shape, but that isn't very definable. Still this week I managed to get myself to the gym quite often (and once where I really didn't want to go).

Today I ran 4 miles and feel quite great. My knees aren't sore and my body doesn't feel tired. It is nice to go this distance, but it can get pretty boring on a treadmill. I was watching a dumb movie with Jennifer Garner where her fiance dies and she falls in love with his best friend. Definitely a girly movie and not my type, but it was the best on (sorry to anyone out there that likes this movie). Toward the end of my run I just stared at the numbers. That's why outside is so much better. It is starting to get more cold here, but still no snow (which means I could still rake the leaves). I theoretically could run outside, but I can't get myself to do it.

With running, I am still a slow runner but I can go for longer periods of time. I am trying to decide if I should try to get faster or just keep going for distance and the speed will improve as I do. Not sure what one is the right one. hmmm.

This week and last week I've been battling a cold. I think it might finally be over. What a relief. When I go into patients room and cough and have a runny nose, it doesn't seem right. Also, it's tiring. Speaking of work, it's been quite a busy week. This was my first official week to start rounding at the hospital for the newborns. It was kinda fun but I had to wake up early. I got to do some circumcisions, and that is always great for me (I'm not being sarcastic). Even in the clinic it has been crazy. I think everyone now has the colds, ear infections, asthma flares, etc. I guess that is good business for me, right?

This week I also officially started making Christmas gifts. I am very excited about how they are turning out. Wish I could post a picture, but that would ruin it for some. I will just say that my sewing machine is NOT getting rusty. Last year I had to buy a new sewing machine and I really love the one I bought. I am starting to notice some small problems, but hopefully it will not affect things too much. The best part of my machine is the one touch threader. It makes life so much easier. I have a philosophy about sewing. It is not really about the actual sewing, but all the other things and how you trouble shoot. Every project inevitably has a problem, and it is how you fix that problem that makes you a seamstress. Case in point. I made Henry some corduroy pants that were to big in the waist. Had to do several alterations on the waist but it worked out.

Well my battery is low so I better end it.

Laura

Our First 5K

I am going to have to apologise. I want to include a picture, but we did not take any and the formal pictures are not yet taken, so for the time being, this blog will be pictureless.

Well, I reached my goal. Yippee!! (I added an extra exclamation point just for fun).

About 3 months ago when residency ended, I knew I wanted to get into shape. I found the perfect goal a couple months ago. Now, I want to remind you that before this, I really wasn't doing any exercising. Slowly I've gotten in shape and it has been not too hard on my system. It has been really amazing to watch my body get in shape.

I didn't want this post to be about what I have been doing for the last 3 months (how boring is that?), but I did want to tell people where I've come from. But back to the race. When I signed up for the race, I didn't think too much that it would be in November in Minneapolis. Maybe if I did, I would have canceled, but I didn't. When I say "I", I actually me Aaron and myself. I signed him up too and he has been training like me. So we signed up and bought all of our cold weather gear.

On the day of the race, it was really cold (an understatment). We had our gear and were ready to go. I knew the race was popular, but I did not expect the amount of people that was there. The Star Tribune said a few thousand. When the race started it took almost 4 minutes to get to the start line. Once we got there, we started running. Quickly I felt nice and warm and the weather wasn't an issue. The crowd, however, was. There was no way you could run a fast race. The whole time Aaron and I were weaving back and forth passing people (and getting passed), We had a nice and easy pace, which in retrospect was kinda nice. It was an easy 5K that I thoroughly enjoyed. We took about 38 minutes total, but we ran the whole thing. Quite a lovely day.

Henry got his own race. Inside the Target Center there was a fitness center and they had kids activities. We signed Henry up and there was a race for him to run. It was 1 time around a track, which I was told was less than 1/4 of a mile. Before the race, Henry has expressed interest in running races, but the last race he could have ran, he froze. I really wanted to see him run (or at least try), but we were too late. My parents saw it and this is their report.

All of the 3 and 4 year olds lined up on a line. Henry lined up about 5 feet behind the line and got on all 4s in his starting position. When they said "go" he took off. He was in the outer lane and stayed completely in his lane the whole time. He ran a leisurely race and finished. He told me he won, and he did, but so did all the 20 or so kids that finished before him. He did a great job.

For Aaron and I, this is only a start. I'm not sure what our next goal is, but we'll find it. There is a 4 mile race in Brookside in the spring and multiple 5Ks all around. Right now I am focusing on adding some resistance training. Right now I do feel "in shape" and now I want to feel strong too.

Hopefully we can keep up this exercise pace. So far it's been pretty easy.

Laura

Back on Track

Now that my life has both simplified and got more complicated, I have found more time on my hands. This so called free time has helped me become more "myself" whatever that means. Almost three months ago residency ended and now this is starting to feel like real life. At first I had to study for boards (taken 4 weeks ago), then plan Henry's party (3 weeks ago). So really, these last 3 weeks have been great.

I believed that once residency ended, life would just open up and be free. I am finding that is not exactly true. There are always different stresses around the corner. My naivety has ended and I'm starting to realize that I just have to deal with things. This is one way to do it right here. This blog used to be completely about Henry, but I'm changing things a little. It would be nice to get my thoughts out, reach my family far away and also keep myself motivated. I will still talk about Henry, but I am also going to add my crafts and fitness into things.

Before I forget, Henry said the cutest thing. For some reason we were talking about me being nice. He said "Mommy, I like it when you're mad." Then he went into detail such as a dragon head and a dragon tail. If that's what he wants, I'll give it to him.

Also before I forget, about 3 weeks ago Aaron and I went to a movie. I'm trying to think of the name, but it escapes me now. Obviously not too memorable. Anyway, the movie was in Overland Park which was also the location of the new Roasterie coffee shop. If anyone does not know, the Roasterie has the best coffee hands down. Go ahead, try it, they ship. This week they were having a promotion and all you had to do was go into the new coffee shop and take a picture with a certain part on the wall. Both Aaron and I sent in the pictures, and guess what? I WON.

I know everyone feels like they never win anything, and maybe I've won enough now. There was that Glamour magazine/Star Tribune thing, and now this. So, I won free coffee for a year and also a free dinner. Now this dinner isn't just a McDonalds or something. This was at Julian restaurant in Brookside. The chef there (chef Tio) was a great chef at the American restaurant in KC and also was in the competition to be the next iron chef. Sadly, she did not win (but made it very very far). The dinner was a special Sunday night where she basically serves what she wants. You don't order a thing, it just comes.

Tonight Aaron and I went there and probably had the best meal of our lives. Let me give you the rundown.

5 course meal plus some really good Malbec.

First course: Lobster with some pate and lemon and celery. If anyone knows me, they would know that I am not particularly adventurous with my food. I vowed tonight to try everything (and I did). When this came out I was a little disappointed, but dug right in. Man, I'm glad I did. I'm not sure if I have ever had lobster before, but this was AMAZING. There was no fishy texture or taste and it was perfect. Easily the highlight of my meal and a definite surprise that made me even more excited for what was to come.

Second Course: Oysters in her cocktail that she made on the iron chef show. Now when I was in new orleans for my board review, I did taste a char-broiled oyster. It tasted like coal and was crunchy/rubbery. That I swallowed quickly and then was immensely proud of myself. Tonight with chef Tio's meal, I first tried the liquid around the oyster. Not exactly sure what was in it, but saw radishes. The liquid was very salty/briney and scary tasting. By this time Aaron had eaten his oyster and told me that it was very chewy. I knew I had to try it, but was not looking forward to it. I cut 1/4 of the oyster and put it in my mouth and chewed. Um, not very good. I don't think I'll every be able to like oysters even when they are cooked..... uh wait a minute. I think this was RAW! Man, okay, this was not a winner and it took a lot of wine to wash down that flavor and then I burped 5 minutes later and again had to wash it down with more wine.

Third Course: Asian Duck with parsnips. This was very good. After the oyster, I was very anxious to clean my palate so I dug in quickly. My first instinct was that it was very salty, but yet when I kept eating, all the complex flavors came out. There was a spiciness to it and the parsnip seemed perfect with it. The duck appeared quite red, but that didn't bother me in the least. Very flavorful and made me wanting more.

Fourth Course: Beef with shitake mushrooms, little onions and pate of some sort. I saw chef tio on iron chef for one episode and she mentioned that she loved fish, so I was a little concerned that the main course would be fish. It wasn't. Instead it was a beautiful pairing. I believe I ate all of the mushrooms (and that is saying something for me). The beef again was pretty rare, but great. Very happy with the main course.

Fifth Course: Yes the dessert. I don't think we got a full explanation of this, but it seemed like a rum/raisin bread with a little soft cheese on top. I was nice and spicy (cinnamon vs nutmeg) and perfect.

I am not sure I have ever eaten a 5 course meal, but it was all great (minus the oysters). Next time, I might even pay.

Alright, this seems like a long enough post for now, but I'll be back soon.

Laura

"I'm not afraid of bugs, I'm not afraid of my room, I'm not afraid of everything!"

Henryisms V

Henry & I (Aaron) recently came home to a pretty bad leak in our dining room ceiling. I was freaking out, and I think I said something like, "What are we supposed to do?" Henry said, "I have an idea. We should do a rain dance!" No idea where he got that.

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"I got for something" = I forgot something

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To Laura: "Shape up!"

Laura: "How should I shape up?"

Henry: "Umm...circles...triangles...squares..."