Jazz in June - 2016 Edition

We only made it to Jazz in June twice this year. But our streak is strong - we've gone at least once every summer for twenty years now. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the festival. To celebrate, the opening artist this year was Arturo Sandoval. Quite possibly the best act I've seen in this venue.

The girls, as usual, had fun with sidewalk chalk and making new friends.

Surprise Visit

I can't believe I have NO photographic evidence of this, but my mom came and saw me this month! I had a week's notice, and truth be told, the guest room was quickly "cleaned" by moving boxes of things into the now-organized storage room. But what fun to see my mom, albeit in bits and pieces, while she was in the Midwest moving her sister from Missouri to Nebraska. We did have a lovely last day together when she accompanied the girls and me to the doctor (nasty staph infection in Annie's ear) and later on the drive back to the airport in Kansas City.

Hope she comes again soon - and brings my dad with her!

Getting Organized

For Mother's Day, I asked for two things. A weekend each year by myself at home to get things accomplished, and a weekend each year away somewhere by myself to recharge.

Earlier this month, Dan took the girls to his parents' house for the weekend while I tackled the basement. I may have also been stocked with plenty of pizza and ice cream to get me through.

This is a job I have put off for fourteen years. I discovered papers from elementary school. Relived college days by looking at pictures. I purged, purged, purged. And when all was said and done, I still had a little bit of time to sit and knit with friends.

Before:

During:

 After:

My Little Sous Chef

 

This girl is really enjoying time in the kitchen with me. I can't believe that I've never made Rice Krispie Treats with her. She definitely approves.

 We also had fun making "gooey peanut butter brownies" for Daddy on Father's Day.

 Truly divine - with a dozen peanut butter cups baked in the middle.

Just in case this makes you hungry:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/93660867229957847/

FCC Picnic

We have been attending FCC (Families with Children from China) functions for years now. They often have guest speakers and performers. However, the girls are usually more interested in playing with friends. This year, they were both fascinated by the Kung Fu demonstration. Dayna is even excited to attend a Chinese Cultural day camp this summer and learn some more things from the local Chinese cultural association.

May Projects

I didn't accomplish much (meaning I didn't finish anything, other than a few dishcloths) this month. My yarn hasn't been behaving.

This beautiful yarn from New Zealand was just asking to become a pair of Seahawk socks. The pattern was meh - I like how it looks, but didn't love the process. (Pattern: Geek Socks on Ravelry). 

 I was so excited to be done and put in the afterthought heel when this happened:

Yup - they didn't even go over my heel. I feel like such a heel. And so these socks are in time out until I feel like unraveling to the heel and reknitting the leg with a larger needle.

Meanwhile, I started something new - I've been drooling over my new Socktopus book for a few months. I love the highly textured patterns, and was ready for a break from self-striping yarns. Enter my new Knit Picks yarn: "Willamette."

I'm one sock down, and halfway done with the other. This was more "old school" for me - working on DPNs (double pointed needles), one sock at a time, cuff down. (I've become a two at a time knitting on a large circular [magic loop], toe-up kind of sock knitter.)

I really like the colors and can't wait to finish (although I think I need to order more yarn - it's using a bit more than usual with the texture.)

Another Goodbye

We've watched these two for five years now. Dayna has found a friend who regularly speaks the truth of God to her and sharpens her iron. It was with great sadness that we said goodbye to MaKaylee's family last weekend. They haven't gone far - but far enough to no longer go to school together or ride bikes to each others' house. Fortunately, technology and email are great things, and with some intentionality, they will be able to stay in touch face to face as well.

MaKaylee came with a great family, and we miss her sisters and parents as well - knowing that God has great things in store for their new chapter.