I made a list this morning of all the gifts I want to make.  Then I had a little freak out.  I have a lot to do.  Time, where did you go?  Seriously, how can you fly so fast?

I came to my senses and got to work.  I finished a few appliqued items and then cut out ornaments in front of last night's Project Runway on TiVo.

I'm freaking out about the ornaments, too.  They are pretty freaking cute, that's why.

I've been working on our Christmas cards.

I used my gocco to print the inside of the cards and the envelopes.  And yes, it was silly of me to be so scared.  The gocco is so much fun - easy, too.

Fatty's hat is on the needles.  It appears that I have blue and green on the brain.

Did I ever mention how much I like fairisle?  Well, I do.  I like it a lot.

Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes for Jane.  When I got to my inbox yesterday, there were over 100 emails waiting to be answered so I made the executive decision not to reply to the birthday comments.  I really do appreciate you all coming by and wishing my sweet girl a happy day.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ok....big exhale.  Three birthdays and Thanksgiving in three weeks time is enough to bog anyone down.  It's been busy here - the crazy, good busy.  I am a bit behind on the Christmas shopping and definitely don't have all my decorating finished.  The advent calender is empty, but I am hoping to rectify that situation today.  Time to get all my ducks in a row so I can get to the fun stuff - sewing and knitting!

Jane had her birthday party at our house on Saturday.  This is the second time we have decorated gingerbread houses for her birthday and I really think that this is my favorite kids' party idea.  It's fun for them, requires little work from me (I use the Wilton kits - bought on sale at Target and put together before the party), and provides a good activity and party favor at the same time.  The kit is great for a family activity, too, or you can do as I did last year and leave it for a babysitter to make with your kids when you are out at all those Christmas parties.

After we finished decorating the houses, we had chocolate cupcakes and peppermint ice cream - yum! - and a little impromptu dance party.  Eight is pretty great.

More good stuff coming later this week including my adventures with the print gocco, some finished knitting and hopefully some sewing, too.  Enjoy your Monday.

My little girl turns eight today.  Eight.  I know I said this last year, but time goes so fast.  Already?  Wow.  It went by in a flash.  But then again, the last eight years have been packed full of so much goodness that I can't imagine life without her.  She is large-hearted, kind, compassionate and friendly.  She is sweet to her sister and polite to adults.  Well, most of the time.  She is a picky eater and definitely opinionated about her clothes.  She's extremely creative and, at times, a little too hard on herself.  That's okay.  I am proud of her and the person she is becoming.  Seven was good.  But eight...I think eight is great.

Happy Birthday Jane.

We might get an earful from the kids about how they didn't get to go along and help choose this year's tree.  Or about how they didn't have a chance of getting the free candy cane and coloring book.  I am hoping the excitement of seeing it already at the house will make up for purposefully excluding them.  If not, oh well.  It'll be worth it.  It's not often I get a the ride in the old truck, a pretty tree, a tasty lunch and an hour alone in the middle of a Thursday with my man.

I have a secret stash of candy canes, just in case.

This morning I have been to the post office, Target and Toys R Us.  I think I have everything I need for the soon-to-be 8 year-old's birthday this weekend.  I snagged some goodies for Christmas, too.  Jones Candy Cane Soda, anyone?  Sounds delicious to me.  Gingerbread Man didn't sound as appealing, but if anyone has tried it, I'd love to hear your verdict.

Yeah, more knitting.  This time it is a Christmas gift for Kate.  A sweet hooded poncho like the one Kristin made.  The brown yarn in the bag is to make one for Jane.  So far, they haven't asked what I am making.  I think I am going to have to limit this to nights and carpool time.   Then they surely won't be able to figure it out.  They want me to make them hats, too, and are very specific that they have ear flaps and pom poms.  Allrighty then - that is what I will do.

I need to go outside and rake today.  It's supposed to be in the high 50's and then the temperature is going to drop so I think this is my last chance.  The Christmas tree will be put up tomorrow and decorated on Friday night just in time for the birthday party on Saturday.  I also want to start on my Christmas cards.  I ordered prints of the photos so I just need to get over my huge fear of my print gocco.  Encouraging words welcomed.

I am participating in the Holiday Ornament Exchange again this year.  Again, I am at a loss as to what to make.  I was thinking embroidery on felt like last year, but my design is rather elaborate.  I just don't think I could get 10 done and in the mail by the 10th.  I have two back up ideas, though.  I guess I should just pick one and run with it.

Speaking of runs, I could use some exercise today too.  Other than leaf raking, that is.  Time to get on it.  Later gators.

While I don't plan on becoming a one-woman hat factory like last year, I have managed to get two gifts checked off the list!

I used ggh Bel Air for the yarn and a pattern from O-Wool (can't find it online - sorry!).  They were very fast knits - I'd say a couple of hours each.  The yarn is super soft too....next up in the hat department is one for Fatty.  He thinks the one I made him last year clashes with his sweater.  We wouldn't want that now, would we?

Hello Monday.  It's always hard to see you after a long weekend.

We spent Thanksgiving in Chicago at my parents' house.  It was a lovely holiday and I ate too much.  Add a trip to Ikea, dinner with friends and a quick trip to Jo-Ann's and that about sums up the weekend.  Oh, and making lots of people into elves.  I highly recommend it.

Libby tagged me.  I am sure other people have tagged me too, but I generally ignore memes since I did the alphabet thing.  However, I am slow moving this morning so here you go.  Eight random things about me....

1.    My favorite tea is Chamomile Citrus by Mighty Leaf.  I love this stuff.  Second best is Passion by Tazo.  I like that one hot and iced.

2.    I'm in a huge nesting phase right now.  I just bough new sheets and some pillow shams are in the works.  I should be making Christmas gifts, but it feels right to get the beds in order for some reason.  It must be the cold weather.

3.   We still haven't raked our yard.  I was going to do it yesterday, but it started raining.  It is still raining.  There is just something wrong about having the Christmas decorations out and having to rake the yard.  I'm just saying.

4.    I am way behind on the Christmas gift procuring/making.  I am normally much more prepared.  Procrastination is about to rear its ugly head.

5.    Every spring I get mad at myself for not planting daffodils in the fall.  Looks like I will be cursing my own good name again in April.

6.    I bought myself some rain boots.  I have been looking for the right pair for a long time.  They came just in time (see number 3 above).

7.    I like eating leftover dessert for breakfast.  Friday and Saturday I had apple pie.  Yum.

8.    I like sappy chick flicks and teenage dramas.  I watched seasons 1 and 2 of The O.C. on DVD this summer.  I am about halfway through season 3.  Definitely a guilty pleasure.

I am not going to tag anyone.  Go ahead and join in if you want.

See you all later.