Still Alive

I've been knitting furiously, trying to hit a deadline (self-imposed) on this:



It's definitely not perfect. But I won't be pointing out the flaws :) to anyone.
I've finished a few other projects:






In other news, I finally finished one of the memory scrapbooks I had planned to make for my kids after Myles died. Yep. 3 1/2 years later... and only 2 more to go. And my goal to re-cover my dining room chairs? Well, I bought the fabric, plastic sheeting, and new padding last month. I think that will be on my List come January. Oh, after I find our staple gun! I've knit a lot of Christmas gifts this year, which means I will not be posting anything until after Christmas, just in case. But since my kids don't look at this blog, I'll post pics of their gifts:



This is for Hyrum. Plain pattern, warm hat, hopefully he'll like it enough to wear it.



These are Morgen's fingerless mittens. She asked for a pair a few months ago, but I was worried- some of her other knitted items were not appreciated. But, they were quick, and they match the hat I made her, that she still wears :), so we'll see how these are received.



Another hat, for my oldest son. I have no idea if he will actually wear this. He insisted on wearing his jacket all last winter (and yes, he has a comfortable coat which fits him), because his coat wouldn't fit in his locker. Or so he claimed. I hope he will like it, anyway.

I knit Jared a bigger version of a bacteria cell. Just because it looked funny, and because he'll get a good laugh when he opens it.

In other news, we have most of our Christmas decorations up, and we'll be buying a tree tomorrow. I'll post pictures once it is decorated :)  I have been making gifts for a few months, but when it comes to decorating, or putting up lights, I've been a bit of a grinch.  I can't really point to any one reason, but some of this is my own personal rebellion.  It truly disgusts me that we have Christmas decorations and displays up in some of the stores at Halloween. I'd like to enjoy my trick-or-treating without any snowmen, thank you very much.  And Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, which means I hate having it smooshed into a back corner because Christmas has taken over the store again.  Okay, I'll get off that soapbox now and get out my therapeutic knitting project...

Gratitude List:
* I have plenty of food (too much, actually)!
* warm wool socks when my feet get cold.
* a house with plenty of room for my family- immediate and extended- and for friends and neighbors as well.
* homemade bread for dinner.
* homemade jelly to put on the homemade bread.
* I'm healthy, Jared's healthy, and so are the kids.
* beautiful music.
* now that we're into December, I like seeing the Christmas lights everywhere.
* a dishwasher (automatic) that works.
* the internet.
* lots of yarn and other hobby supplies.
* Jesus Christ, my Savior.
* God is good, and I am blessed.
* my husband, and my kids, are my greatest blessing.