Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I panicked earlier this week...convinced Christmas would be non-existent this year in the Kline household. I really have no Christmas spirit and don't know why. But that's a post for another day. I did manage to pull together Christmas, however! We put up a small tree. Aaron pronounced it a "pretty tree" but not a "Christmas tree." I guess he doesn't get the white tree/purple decoration theme.

I considered skipping the Christmas cards this year. But, frankly, the best part of the holidays are the many pictures I take trying to get the perfect one for the Christmas card. As always, we had a great time and there were many shots to choose from. Then I talked to my friend Tina and stole her idea to get the picture turned into a card. [$15.99 at Costco for 50...and in just over 24 hours!]

And...I did the family missive for the first year. I've avoided it in the past because..well, I'm not sure why. So I reviewed the ones we got so far--and I've enjoyed every one!--and took off. The letter is below.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

It's cold here in Illinois! So darn cold! When it got into the 20s today we were ecstatic!

The boys are done with school for the year as of today--Tuesday. I wish they would get fewer days off during the year so they could get out earlier in June. It seems to get later and later each summer before vacation begins!

Jeremy and Jermaine are now thirteen years old and in the seventh grade. They love school--for the social aspects, of course. Neither one is too concerned about grades at this time. They have grown a lot--both are over six feet tall and not showing signs of stopping.

Last spring they played baseball. Their regular season little league team won first place and were undefeated. It was an exciting season. They had the best coach and learned a lot. Both boys made the tournament team and played throughout July. They played against some tough teams.

Now the twins are playing basketball at school and park district games start in January. I think I get as excited about their games as I did when the Bulls were in the play-offs so many years ago! Amazingly, they aren't the tallest kids in the league--almost every school they've played has someone close to or even taller than them.

Aaron started first grade this fall and turned seven earlier this month. He loves school, but is struggling. He has a learning disability, but with some parental intervention and a great special ed teacher, he is coming along. Being born so pre-maturely has dealt him some tough knocks when it comes to learning. Luckily he wants to learn to read and wants to please his teachers, which makes him motivated!

He's also growing so much! Pretty soon, I will be the shortest in the house. I don't think I will like that at all! He's still thin as a rail and is eating an outrageous amount of food. Jim was commenting that he doesn't know how we will continue to feed him!

He played tee ball in the spring. I have to confess, that tee ball is the most painful sport I have ever watched. I am the mom at the early games of the season pointing out the rules that say the games should only last an hour. No one listens to me though!

He is also playing basketball and just finished up a basketball skills class at the park district. He will start playing games after the first of the year. He likes basketball and seems to have picked up a lot of tips from his brothers…mostly hot dogging the ball on the court!

Jim continues to keep busy with work and still runs every day. He helped coach the regular season baseball team with a great guy and will do so again this coming summer. He also co-managed the tournament baseball team. When they were looking for basketball coaches at the park district he kept a low profile! Most of his "free" time is spent keeping the house and yard in shape.

We had sad news this summer when Jim's dad passed away in August. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer eighteen months earlier. He was still golfing well into the summer and attending the boys' baseball games even in the sweltering heat we had this summer. We miss him terribly. Life just isn't the same without the Dudley-isms he was known for and his straight-forward, to the point comments.

This summer we vacationed in paradise. OK, we went to Omaha, Nebraska, and Pittsburg, Kansas. In Omaha, we spent time with Aunt Darlene & Co. Boy, are they the best hosts ever! They made us feel so at home and kept us plied with plenty of homemade chocolate chip cookies. The boys still talk about those cookies! Aunt Darlene and I stayed up well into the night talking. We laughed so hard! I also got to go shopping with Aunt Darlene, cousins Jeanne and Marcy. Again, we laughed so hard. I don't get to do that a lot here…I just can't convince the boys that going to the mall and trying on hats and shoes would be fun. Boys!

In Pittsburg we celebrated Gramma Hazel’s 90th birthday and my brother Aaron's 50th. Gramma Hazel's party was at cousin Susie's house which is very beautiful. The kids enjoyed the day in the pool and the adults spent the day visiting.

I'm keeping busy even though I now have the whole school day to myself. I don't know what I do all day--because nothing seems to ever get done like I want it. I guess all those trips running errands really eat up my time. Oh, and lunches with my girlfriends. I'm still playing poker once a month and welcome the break from reality. I can't play poker worth a darn, and regularly lose money, but the stomach aches from laughing so hard are well worth it!

This fall I took a drawing class at the county art league and look forward to more in the coming year. I had a great teacher and learned a lot.

We all look forward to a busy 2006. Baseball registration is in January--after basketball is volleyball...then track...baseball...summer...Time will fly by, I am sure!

Hugs from all of us!

Jim & Susie
Jeremy, Jermaine & Aaron

PS If you're keeping track, that is a new dog in the photo. We picked up another pet along the way this year--a Pomewawa--half Pomeranian, half Chihuahua. We named her Roxy and she weighs about three pounds right now. She'll get to about five. She's a terrible purse dog--hates the purse and would rather be out checking things out. Luckily she gets along with the other animals--you should see her with our seventy-pound dog! Roxy terrorizes the cats something terrible, but they tolerate her. I'm just glad there's something else female in this testosterone village!

Birthdays and Basketball and Messes, Oh My!

Aaron's birthday was on the 5th. He turned 7. I cannot believe my baby is a whole 7 years old!! In some ways he seems so grown up now. In others, he is as annoying as a child going through the terrible twos! ha Here are pictures from his special day!

The twins started playing school basketball games last week. So far they have played three times; they've won one game. After the first game, I was a little disappointed. Like many people, I assumed that massive height equals instant talent. That isn't true. The second game was better. The third game was exciting and they played their hearts out. It just took them a little while to get their rhythm going.

Let me take a minute to say that I am surrounded by physical talent and dedication, and I am impressed with it! Jim runs and works out every day. He's only missed a few times in the nine years I have known him. He takes his fitness seriously, and it takes precedence over everything.

The twins are so talented athletically that it literally takes my breath away. Baseball has been the sport of choice so far, and watching them throw and catch is amazing. Watching them interact with each other while fielding is amazing--few balls get passed the Kline boys when they are playing some position in in-field.

I think basketball will also be a good sport for them. They don't play together--they are the rotating centers--but they both play hard and good when they are on the court.

Aaron is taking a park district basketball skills class now. He will play games after the New Year.

Me, I am feel better when I exercise, I firm up quickly, but I find every excuse not to work out. Working out is at the bottom of my to-do list. I think I need to change that mindset for my own sanity. Because I feel much better when I exercise, even if every part of my body aches and hurts. At least my mind and mood feel better!

Yesterday the boys put together a gingerbread house. This has been one of those "gonna do" projects for years. Well, I found a great kit at Costco and off we went.

Building the gingerbread house was the messiest project we've done. I was covered in icing, because I was the mortar gal. The table was covered. More candy got eaten--by all of us!--than made it to the house. But it was fun and we have something to nibble on. Who needs a candy dish when you've got the house?!

I'm loving the gum drops. Aren't those the things that are rubbery and covered in sugar? I've always thought of myself as a strictly chocolate chick, but I am re-thinking that now!

Roxy the wonder pup has grown some! She actually weighed nearly 3 pounds when I took her to the vet a few weeks ago. She looks all leggy to me right now--like she got a little taller. And she's still adorable! Still not liking the idea of being an accessory--doesn't like the purse, doesn't want to dress up--but she's my baby. I could hold her for hours!

Prayer Mittens

They're finished! And Jim's wearing them, even though the tops are pointed. Don't they look like irregularly shaped cacti?!

I'm changing the pattern the second time around. The pair I'm working on are red wool ease with red cha cha yarn cuffs! They are so festive! I have one half-way done...now for the rest of the pair!

Artists' DNA

On an art quilting list whose digests I peruse, there is a discussion about a commercially famous artist. I think I read one of the posts (I picks and choose what I read by their titles in the digests) where someone says that this artist includes a piece of DNA with each piece. I'm not sure if they were being facetious, but it got me thinking.

I say...big whoo?! Who DOESN'T?!

I mean, when I make a quilt--doesn't matter what size or what technique--I'm sure there is some of my DNA involved somewhere. If I'm not stabbing myself while appliqueing or beading, I'm turning my head away while free motion quilting and catching my hands up in the needle mechanism on my machine. I'm sure some of this creates a little blood spillage.

I'm not talking pints, kids. I'm saying maybe a drop or a fraction of a drop gets into the materials.

And sweat...most of the time I'm on some sort of deadline. Whether self-imposed or very real, these deadlines create panic. Which in turn creates a little perspiration and I'm sure some of this gets on the quilts. Just a little. Again, fractions of droplets. I don't need to get out the dress shields or sop up liquid from the quilt surface. Still it's there.

It's not just quilting. What about knitting? Every time I move the yarn along my fingers, I am sure epideal cells (I don't know if this is the corect term, but it sounds like something I heard on CSI) stick themselves to the yarn and get knitted into the item.

My prayer socks for dear hubby, Jim? Filled with skin cells. It's winter. Things are dry. Skin sticks.

Let's not limit the discussion to solely my DNA. What about the DNA of every animal--human, canine and feline--living in this house? Don't DNA cells attach themselves to hair? Because there's hair everywhere. Yes, even in the things I knit. Look closely...that's not angora...that's Belvedere!!

I guess my point is: artist's DNA? Who cares. You get a part of my DNA and the DNA of my family and pets in everything I give away. Guess that makes it as valuable as something the commercial artist sells, right? Except mine is a one of a kind original.

Now get in line and wait for a limited edition. It might even have my DNA...

Handmade Gifts

I avoid handmade gifts during the holidays.

My experience has been that people a) think you're cheap when you make something; b) don't appreciate the time and effort that went into the project; c) are glad to get something homemade so they can claim it as their's and pass it along (yes, this has happened).

I also am terrible with craft time management and always underestimate the actual time it takes to complete a project. An afghan? Oh, a week! Months later it still languishes. [Except for the one that has languished for years and years and would be very useful in this freezing cold weather!]

But I've perfected the mitten. I can do one in less than a day on double pointed needles. Quite an accomplishment for me. I take this as an indication that my knitting skills are getting better and better. My last pair of mittens took weeks.

I started making Jim a pair of mittens. He's always complaining about being cold. He can't find both leather gloves.

I picked up some wool ease in a really cool blue blend and started knitting the mittens with a pattern I found on-line. They were going so fast. Then I saw the dropped stitch in the ribbing. So I ripped them out and started over.

And I started over in a nice way. Not in one of those "god damn freakin' mitten....grrr...growl...snarl..." I remained loving and positive and started them over graciously. After all, I want them to be nearly perfect for the man I love.

I nearly finished the first mitten the first day. I left the top open so I could make sure it fit right. He tried it on and I finished the top. (On future mittens I need to make an adjustment to the top decreases because it does look too pointy! lol)

I started the thumb and it is giving me some fits. I've ripped it out twice. But I think I've got it...

Then the phone rings. My friend is calling to confirm lunch plans. Jim tells her "she's knitting me mittens...it would have been easier to buy them."

And it hits me! He's one of the people who don't appreciate or understand homemade gifts! He doesn't realize that while I am knitting these I am thinking kind and loving thoughts. I guess these are prayer mittens of a sort. But he doesn't get it.

When I ask him about it, he gets mad at me. Yes, he insults me and then acts like he is the victim. Later on he does apologize and I say the requisite, "that's alright" because I have to be the good girl.

But I can't help wondering if it really is alright? How can he not get it? The husband of a super crafter doesn't get it.

He's always telling me I should sell my things. Lots of people tell me that. But why would I believe they would sell if you don't even want them for free?! Or does he think I need to justify the time I spend doing these things and the money spent on supplies by bringing in some cash? Maybe he doesn't really think I do nice work...maybe he's tired of financially supporting Joann's, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Knit Picks, Nancy's Notions...

I still have the second mitten to knit after finishing the thumb on the first. I hope I can maintain the positive thoughts and energy. Or at least I hope every other thought isn't peppered with "freakin'...snarl...sneer..."