...the last of Christmas...

We have been having a blast at Sunriver.  It has been so great being here, relaxing with family and friends.  And we've doing a lot...

a lot of present opening...

a lot of posing for pictures...

and a lot of walking......





...a lot!

We took a family sleigh ride on Christmas day that was really fun.  The only thing that could have made it better was snow.  But we laughed and had a wonderful time even without snow.

The kids have all gone home and we have had the past couple of days to see friends, do a bit more walking and even get some skiing in.  It's been busy, but the best kind of busy!!

...here comes Santa Claus...

Wow, I can not believe that it is already the 26th!  Were did the month go?  We have had the best time this holiday season.  We are spending two weeks at our home in Sunriver.  It's been almost perfect.  The only thing that would make it better is snow.  No snow here, which is unusual for this area at this time of year.  But even without the snow, just being here with our family and celebrating the season has been fantastic.  We've eaten some really great food, played some really fun games and enjoyed each other so much none of us want it to end.

One of the first things the girls did together was have brunch with Santa on Christmas Eve day.  The lodge is decorated so beautifully for the holidays.  Gorgeous Christmas trees and beautiful lights are everywhere.
   

Everything was great until it was time for Paytan to sit on the big guy in the red suits' lap....


Paytan was fine with Santa at a distance.  But anything closer than 15 feet and it was no dice.  It didn't matter that she never really "sat" on Santa's lap.  He still found our house and left her a big bunch of presents!  More on that tomorrow!

Hope your holidays are merry and bright!

...new sweater...

When I was on the east coast in October Marcy passed on some little girl things that she thought Paytan would like.  One of the items was a darling sweater that she had knit.  I took it home and thought it might be a while before Paytan could wear it. She's teeny! 15 months old and just now wearing 6 month clothes.  We like to say she's little, but mighty!

While Erin and Paytan were here visiting I thought we should try the sweater on to see how big it was on her.  Low and behold, it fit!



And of course, she had to have her 'bitty baby' in a picture too.



Well, she loves the sweater and I know she'll be wearing in a lot. Thanks Marcy!!

...coming along nicely...

After our weekend with Paytan I shuttled her back to her mama and papa this afternoon. The weekend flew by, probably because it's been quite a long time since we've had a toddler in the house. It was a lot of busy time but so much fun, and I can't even count how many memories were made while she was here. We miss her already.



Now back to knitting. My Lotus Blossom Hat is coming right along and I love how it's turning out. It's a pretty easy pattern to memorize and its great to have as my go to project. I think it will be the perfect hat for those cold mornings that are headed our way.
Also, coming off of the design table this week are two patterns ready for publication. I very excited about them and my test knitters have been working overtime. Thanks so much ladies!

I hope your weekend was filled with as much fun and as many memories as mine. And I hope your week to come is great!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

...full circle...

Paytan is here visiting us this weekend while her mama and papa are spending a little time together out of town for Erin's birthday.  Paypay, as we call her,  has been here only 24 hours and already the house has that "a toddler lives here" look to it.  There are toys everywhere (including the new ones we bought today), goldfish crackers in the cupboard and a pile of little clothes in the laundry room, and we wouldn't have it any other way.  

While she is here there will be baths in the kitchen sink...

Special time with Aunt Kate, including a trip tomorrow to Build-A-Bear.  More on that later!

And lots of play time.  And yes, that is Paypay with a sock monkey.  

More precisely, my sock monkey that my grandmother made for me when I was a child.  That sock monkey is a little tattered and worn, but Paytan doesn't seem to notice.  She loves him just as much as I did.

...little things...

Back in 2010 I found out that I was going to be a grandma for the first time.

I was able to attend the ultrasound where they confirmed that this little person was going to be a girl.  Girl or boy, we didn't care.  Just as long as she was healthy.  So even though Paytan was born one month early and a little on the small side, she was perfect in every way.  She continues to grow and thrive and we are amazed by just how wonderful she really is.  (Why we are surprised by this I'm not sure.)

She is the light of our lives and now we know that she will be sharing that spot with someone when Erin, Kris and Paytan welcome a new little person in July.  We could not be more thrilled and again boy or girl, we don't care.

I know that Paytan will be a wonderful big sister.  She's already practicing.....

Paytan and her bitty baby...

...so her mother's daughter...

Thought you would like to know that my daughter, Erin, mother of Paytan has started a blog. It's called 'Little Miss Adventures' and you can go here to see it. I'm so glad Erin decided to do this, especially the video part. I don't get to see her and Kris and Paytan nearly enough, so this blog is extra special to me. Thanks for humoring indulging me.....

...but then you already knew that...

Knitters are pretty awesome. I know, I know. If you know any knitters you know that this first statement is pretty obvious. Knitters are kind, clever, giving, smart, hard working, diligent, and knitters rise to the occasion, whatever it might be. Case in point.....

Remember these?

Made by an awesome knitter.

And these?

another awesome knitter...

Yup, another clever knitter.

These were all gifts for Paytan. As were these....

(side note: the crown was knit by Virginia, a sock camp friend for Paytan's first birthday celebration! and the last little hat was dyed and knit by my wonderful friend Marcy. She had called me while I was on my way down to Newport for Paytan's early arrival and said she just had to cast on something tiny and pink right then. It arrived at Erin and Kris's house the day they came home from the hospital!)

So you can see that knitters are all of the things I said before; clever, kind, giving, smart, etc. But there is something else that knitters are...they are sneaky. Yes, I said sneaky. They put their heads together and come up with some of the most wonderful surprises. And here is one of the best surprises ever. A group of talented and giving knitters got together, with the herding leadership of Jen and Lisa (two of my favorite people on the planet) and knitted up this beautiful heirloom for Paytan. It's made up of different blocks of STR! It's the most beautiful thing!

Not only did they knit one for Paytan, but they did the same thing for Dylan who is the grandson of Debra (head dyer extraordinaire for depraved dyer! Check this out for more!) I don't even have the words to tell you what this blanket means to me. I can only say Susan, Judy, RoAnn, Celia, Anne, Tracy, Carrie, Leslie, Marcy, Sam, Tece, Mya, Terry, Marison, Stormy, Cathy, Karen, Laura, KT, Naomi, Linda, Virginia, Laura, Paula, Leslie, Alice, Susan, Ayelet, Liz, Mary, Jen and Lisa you have my undying gratitude. I can't wait to share this beautiful blanket with Paytan and tell her just how special each and every one of you is.