MY KNITTING

Posted by Jerold Austin

My grandmother lives in Malta, which is a small island off the coast of Italy. She doesn't really come to visit often, in fact the last time I've seen her was when I was about ten years old. I can't really remember the visit well, but I do remember that she taught me how to knit. I remember sitting by the fireplace and watching her intently, trying to remember all of the different stitches and moves that she was making with her hands. Because she has been knitting for about fifty years and on a daily basis, she is extremely good at what she does and extremely fast. I remember just being intrigued by her quick moving hands and her lightning stitches. It only took her about an hour to finish a beautiful piece of work: a pair of socks.

Once I began knitting, I took my time. It wasn't as fast for me to catch on, but I eventually did. I still don't knit very well, but it's definitely better than most people. In fact, I absolutely love sitting and knitting while watching my cable tv. When I knit, it literally feels like hours are passing by. And the fact is is that they actually are. I get so enveloped in my knitting that I actually forget what and who is around me. It's really very interesting.

4 YEARS IN A FOREIGN LAND

Happy 4th year anniversary to me!! What anniversary would I be talking about? Four years ago at exactly Dec 25,2006 I arrived in LAX. I finally reached my destination PHL the next day Dec 26, 2006. I can't believe that I have been living in this country for 4 years now. Never in my wildest dream did I think that I would end up living here in a foreign land and having my own family. But ever since I was young, I have always wanted to marry an American. Not for the reason that I want to live here in America but It was just the way I thought. If I had a choice I would like to stay in my home country Philippines. I have come to love America and I will call this my second home and the birth place of my future children and grandchildren. A happy happy 4th year anniversary to me again.

WE LOVE NICK JR.

Written by Don Gregory

At my house, we love watching Nick Jr. on Dish Network, which is satellite TV from www.TVbyDirect.com. Nick Jr. has so many shows that my 23 month old daughter loves to watch. Her favorite of course, is Dora the Explorer. She has learned so much just by watching Dora. She has known most of her colors and shapes since she was 20 months old, which is incredible. I credit Dora with her learning them so early. Most kids do not know many colors or shapes by the time they are two. My daughter asks to watch Dora several times a day and I am always happy to let her.

We also enjoy watching Diego on Nick Jr. Diego is just like Dora, except he is a boy and has a rescue pack instead of a backpack. He is fun and always on some kind of adventure.

Fresh Beat Band is also a fun show on Nick Jr. If your kids like music, they will love Fresh Beat Band. They make my daughter dance in ways that I have never seen her move. She gets excited when she hears them on TV.

Our final favorite is Kai Lan. She is somewhat like Dora, except Chinese. Her show teaches children about feelings. My daughter has learned about being happy, sad and angry from watching Kai Lan. She also knows the names of all of the characters.

It is amazing, how much kids learn just by watching Nick Jr. It is my daughter's favorite, but also the favorite of my husband and I because it has helped her to grow into such a smart toddler. You can definitely say it is like pre-school on TV.

MEET MR. AND MRS.

One of the many picture of my little girls opening their presents on Christmas morning. Kaitlyn had already opened one gift when she woke up. We had to leave a few minutes after Kaitlyn opened one gift to pick her big sister in Baltimore. She was so excited that we were finally picking up Kayla, she missed her terribly this past days that she was at her moms. We got home before two in the afternoon. As soon as we got in the girls headed for the tree clamouring to open the gifts. They had so much fun ripping the wrapping paper off. We got both girls a Mr. and Mrs. Potato head in honor of toy story 3. The toy comes with so many accessories, it will be a pain in the neck to keep it together but it is worth it. Kayla's big big gift was the DSi XL and as soon as she opened it she was in DS land. Kaitlyn on the other hand got busy playing with the Mrs. Potato head. Thank you to my husband for all of the toys the kids got and also for my gifts. This was indeed a good Christmas.

THOUGHT OF GIVING

How did your Christmas celebration go? Did everyone in your family get the perfect gift? I got mine, a new stand mixer. Husband got what he needed, a new blue tooth for his cellphone while MIL got a new printer for her computer. My kids got a lot of presents from us as well as from their aunt and uncle. This year we were a little tight on money and we could not afford to get all our nephews and nieces presents. I however got a little something fro my SIL who has been great to my kids. Kaitlyn loves her Aunt Debbie and helped me picked out a turquoise necklace and earrings for her. As for my BIL I didn't even get him anything. I feel so bad about it, I could have gotten him a pack of 5 romeo y julieta cigars as a Christmas present. Him being a smoker, I know he would appreciate a good cigar. Maybe I could still get that for him and just give it as a belated Christmas present from all of us. That's not a bad idea, and maybe with all the after Christmas day sale I can also get good bargains for all our nephews and nieces. As the saying goes " better late than never!".

STORING MEMORIES

Christmas season has always been good for my kids. This year we got the kids lesser stuff but we got them what they really wanted. I got a lot of stuff from my husband as well and so did he. I do miss my family back home. Its bittersweet when I see pictures of Christmas Noche Buena from my family and friends in the Philippines. Christmas day uploading pictures in Facebook was so slow due to people uploading pictures at the same time. Its a good thing that digital camera is popular and used by most people. My husband got me a new camera but he said he thought about getting me more usb drives so I can put all the pictures on it. I still have one that I just started using but i will be needing another one with me having a new camera again. Since my new iPhone 4 takes good pictures and lets me upload pictures directly to my social network sites, I have not really used the digital camera, but with my new camera I will be back to capturing precious moments of my family at work or play.

PARTIES AND MORE

On Holiday season, do you make it a point to buy cards to send out to friends and family? Ever since I have always been bad when it comes to sending out letter,cards, invitations,ect. But this year, I was finally able to mail a couple of cards to my friends before Christmas. I felt so good until I found out that my friends didn't get any of the cards I sent out yet,lol. Oh well, its the thought that counts and that I remembered them on this special occasion. This year I only got a few cards from the mail. As usually I got the Christmas Card and Christmas Party Invitations from my family in NJ and from my friend in Virginia. I swear Christmas time is the busiest time of the year for Filipinos. Lots of parties and gatherings to attend and the food are to die for. To bad we can't make it to my Aunt and Uncle's yearly New Years Eve party this year. Ralph has to work early on New Years Day, if it was only near I would not hesitate to go. Hopefully next year we can make it.

THE GREAT UNKNOWN

Ahhh, the smell of winter is something else. I knew a few people who welcome the winter season and embrace it with gusto. I, on the other hand will whine and grumble about the cold weather. One of my friends welcome winter for it gives her husband a hunting business a good boost. Was it winter or the fall season, lol. I never thought she would brave the cold weather going on hunting trips with her husband and even has a photo or a dead dear. She was all dressed up like a hunter and also had a hunting gun. She probably got her husband something to help with his hunting business, it has to be an object to spot animals like a holographic sights. I don't know if I will last in the wilderness and camp out in the ground. My fear of the unknown is my greatest enemy,lol. I am not a country girl, I prefer the sound of cars and the sight of neighbors. What about you? Have ever been on a hunting trip and camping?

FROM US TO YOU

From our house to yours, A Merry Merry Christmas to all.

I hope this Holiday season will be as good to you as it is to our family. In a few days the year will end and make way for the New Year. I can't complain for this year has been good to us even though we had minor hiccups along the way. I got to go and visit my family in the Philippines last July. That was the highlight of my year, the second was the day my husband came out of his car accident with very minor injuries. My girls are healthy and striving, my marriage is still going strong. Its a bittersweet feeling to bid year 2010 adieu , but we have to more forward for change is the only constant in the world.

Going to the Hardware Store

Authored by Greg Fletcher

I made a special trip to the hardware store yesterday to do some Christmas shopping. Before I left, I made sure to set myHome security alarm. It took me about an hour to get over to the store I wanted and I had one thing on my list to get. My mother has been wanting a clay chiminea for awhile now. A chiminea is basically a little stove or bonfire that sits outside. She wants one so that she can relax on her patio and roast some marshmallows in the fire. It sounded like a great idea, and when I found out that the hardware store had them in stock I ran over there as fast as I could.

I made my way into the store and it was jam packed full of people who were doing their holiday shopping. I'm actually surprised they had the chiminea I wanted in stock. In fact, they only had one left. It came to about one hundred dollars and I made my way back to the store. The lines were ridiculous, but I thankfully got on a short one and was paid and out of there within only a few short minutes. I made my way to the car and loaded the chiminea into it. I came home and had to find a good hiding place for it. I'm sure my mom is going to love it come Christmas.

RUNNING OVER

The one thing my husband loves about Winter is he doesn't have to mow the backyard anymore. Before we got the riding mower, it took him almost 2 hours to do the backyard with the push mower. He would be soaked in sweat and burning under the heat of the sun. When we got the riding mower he was happy as can be. He mowed the backyard in a fraction of a time but there was a few drawback though. Ralph already ran over our water hose and a couple of extension wires. Its so funny when he rants when he gets upset. I have jokingly told him that maybe we need to get a metal hose for our backyard instead of the regular one. He would just look up at me and give me such a sarcastic smile,lol. Accidents happen but he still gets upset coz it is something that he could have avoided. Oh well, at least he didn't run over our two jewels, his little girls.

RIGHT DIRECTION

Its been cold and windy the past few days. I hate going out in the cold, winter just dries me up. Before long I will look like a dried up prune or raisin. My MIL is already 68 years old but she uses toners, clarifying lotions and moisturizers on her face. I am 32 years old and I can already see that on my face. If I want to look young and just have healthy looking skin I have to think about really spending on products that can help. Ever since I married my husband I am big into reading review on products. So with that, I am going to read about therapores reviews and see if its the right one for me. The product itself looks promising but I still have yet to read the complete review. I will have to be quick about making a choice of what products to use for my face specially when I am trying to get pregnant. Since I already have an appointment to see my Gynecologist by the end of the month I will be able to ask my doctor what is safe for me to use and what isn't. Hopefully my doctor can steer me in the right direction.

PRESENTS AND WRAPPING

Finished with your Holiday shopping? Some have already been done shopping and wrapping presents already and some who have yet to buy it. Ralph and I are already finished buying the kids presents. It was fun and confusing shopping for them. So many toys to choose from. We didn't get the kids as much toys like we did last year. We got Kayla got her DSi XL that came with a Mario game with it. We got Kaitlyn the School is Cool computer game, by fisher price. Its something that she can really do and it will help her with her alphabets, letters, colors and shaped. We also got her a few dolls that shed real tears and we got Kayla more games for her DS and the Wii. This year I got my husband a massage pad that you can put on the bed. When he comes home from work he gets so tired and so wound up that he needs a good massage. I am still battling with myself if I should return it and get the more expensive one. MIL said I should just wait until he tries it and if he doesn't like it we can always return it. As for MIL, we got her a new printer. If money wasn't so tight we would have gotten her an e-book reader. Maybe we will get that for her on her 69th birthday. Now that we are done with the shopping, I am not looking forward to the wrapping.

STILL HERE

My laptop is about a few weeks short of its 2nd birthday. Ralph bought for me last December of 2008 as a Christmas gift. He knew how much I wanted a laptop of my own since I was constantly updating my blogs and taking to my family online. I didn't expect it, he just all of a sudden asked me while at my BIL's house what color I liked. I was ecstatic of course, I didn't think I was going to get one. It did help me a lot when it came to my online source of income. Some of the mom bloggers I have meet online have really taken me under their wings and taught me the ropes. I have come across mom that have certified hosting team like the pci compliance hosting. I don't claim to know a lot about computer and how the world wide web works but I know enough. One of these days I am going to find me a "dummies guide to the web". I have not been as active as I was before, things has just been hectic for a bit and you could say I got burned out. But not to worry, I am still alive and kicking.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

I am finally done with decorating the house. I am a little frustrated though with some of the hanging stuff on the wall. They seem to stick and stay in place but the next day they are on the floor. I am so tired of fixing it so I think I'll forgo that this year. I have already put the wreath on the door and added a few decorations to it to make it pop. Now that I have it in place on the door I seem to be having difficulty closing and sometimes opening the lock. It happened twice that I could not open the lock right away, I had to struggle for the bit. When I mentioned this to Ralph he doesn't seem to think it is the wreath but the door handle and the lock itself. He said we will be needing new handlesets for the front door and other door that leads to the deck. Maybe its the cold weather that's making it stick. I will try and spray the lock with a little oil to grease it up. I have a lot of cleaning up and organizing to do after all the boxes and containers are returned in the basement. Oh well, a mother's work is never done.