Project 365 - February 25, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

My brainy little girl, reading Harry Potter 4. She is like me, she takes off the dust jackets when she reads because otherwise they just get in the way. She made a snug little reading corner, copied after their reading at school (on certain days they get to bring in blankets and pillows and make little reading nooks anywhere in the room, isn’t that awesome?) and she was reading away before bed. I’m so glad she shares a love of reading with me. Though my other two did when they were younger, and high school (friends and social life, I think) kind of wore it out of them. Hopefully the same does not happen with Amaria!

Project 365 - February 24, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

My life – that’s what this is! I have ADHD quite bad, and even though I am medicated, there are certain things I need in life to get by. And a few years back, I discovered audible books and my life has never been the same since! I am able to do lengthy housework chores, as long as I am listening to my book. I am able to do boring data-entry at work (when necessary) as long as I am able to listen to my book. I am able to stand a long drive without going insane as long as I am able to listen to a book. Although I was recently pulled over and informed (without being ticketed, thank you White Bear Lake police guy) that it is illegal to drive with headphones on (yes, I know, Dad has been telling me for years, but since when did I listen to him?) so I’ll have to figure something out there. Anyway, obviously I am currently “reading” The Ambassadors by Henry James, and I really like the 19th century British fiction (I realize he’s technically American, but the narrator is VERY British and the action happens mostly in Europe, so it fits anyway) so I’m taking a short break from my Dickens (the BEST) and reading something new. Without this little contraption, I just don’t know what I’d do. It is, by the way, a Creative MOZAIC MP3 player. MUCH cheaper than an ipod and just as good.

Project 365 - February 23, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Taia was sleeping so peacefully in her crib, so I thought I would take a picture of it. But of course as soon as I got anywhere near her with the camera, she woke up (not slowly, rubbing her eyes sweetly like she usually does, but popped straight up to sitting, and then grabbed the edge of the crib) and started crying and reaching for me. Well, I felt like a real jerk, poor little baby’s trying to sleep and here I wake her up just to get a picture. But, I already had the camera, so – snap! And here’s my poor, miserable, tired little grand baby!

Project 365 - February 22, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Lisha’s old friend from middle school, Tiffany, has a baby boy, Jaren, who is just four months older than Taia (but WAY huger) and they came to visit today. Then they went out to eat at Applebee’s and saw Uncle Ralph. Tiffany was kind of rude, but Matt was also with them, and Uncle Ralph loved Matt – a good sign!

Project 365 - February 19, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria’s new favorite thing is playing cell phone games. She likes Snood Blaster & Text Twist Turbo, and her new favorite is Fashion Mogul.

Project 365 - February 20, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Got this pic of dad outside of Aunt Janet’s funeral – isn’t the snow awesome!?!? I just snapped the pic, and the snow showed up like that. The big ones must be flakes that were closer to the camera or something – very cool. And very nice of the great-grandparents to let us use the portable crib.

Project 365 - February 21, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Taia is learning to “clap” and say, “yay”, so here she is doing it, and mom proud of her for it!

Project 365 - February 16, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

I think it would be awful to have a baby without a dog. You’d have to do so much more cleaning! As soon as Humphrey is let into the living room/ dining room area, he runs all over the floor eating up spare cheerios and crumbs, and then he gets to work on the high chair. He won’t jump up on it while I am in the room, so I couldn’t get a picture of that, but once he jumped up onto it, but it was in the middle of the room, so it started moving, so here’s Humphrey standing up leaning into the high chair, and walking forward on his hind legs to follow it as it rolled across the room! So hilarious, I almost peed laughing so hard!!

Project 365 - February 17, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

This is what guys are for, right? To lift up babies who are getting too heavy for moms and grandmoms to lift up. I hope he’s quick enough to dodge the big blob of drool that will be coming down soon!

Project 365 - February 18, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

This is what guys are for, right? To lift up babies who are getting too heavy for moms and grandmoms to lift up. I hope he’s quick enough to dodge the big blob of drool that will be coming down soon!

Project 365 - February 14, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

You might expect some kind of lovey-dovey picture for Valentine’s Day, but if so, you just don’t know me. On the other hand, it’s pretty sweet and special the way Matt has come into our family and loved Lisha and Taia. So here is Matt with Taia and Amaria, playing with the happy-face balloons which Amaria and I got today at Chris Allickson’s funeral/ celebration of life.

Project 365 - February 15, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria and Taia have fun playing with "Big Bear".

Project 365 - February 13, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

There's my 3 girls – my daughters and my granddaughter. They would NOT all 3 smile at once, so after numerous tries, this was the one with the most happiness and least yelling at me to finish taking the pix! They are so gorgeous!

Project 365 - February 12, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

I love Taia's messy hair!

Project 365 - February 11, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Sadly, my Aunt Janet’s life is coming to an end. But happily, we were able to go visit her today, to make sure we said our good-byes and make sure she knows how much we love her. My mom, dad, brother, Uncle John, and I were all over visiting. Charlene and Jocelyn were working their butts off taking good care of her, and I’m so glad I got to see her. These are the guys – don’t Dad and Uncle John look alike?

Project 365 - February 10, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

We've got new chairs! The chairs I have had around my table for the longest time have been slowly falling apart. My mom put new fabric on them (lovely) and my dad wood-glued them, but they just kept falling apart. So when an elderly couple at the church I work at moved into a nursing home and they were getting rid of stuff, they said I could have the chairs. They’re very sturdy, but really small. I think more of them will fit around my table, so that will be nice. Thanks, Bathens! (I have 8 of them.)

Project 365 - February 9, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Lisha found this giant stuffed bear on sale, so of course she had to buy it for Taia. And of course she couldn’t wait until Valentine’s Day to give it to her (besides, where could she possibly hide it?)! Taia attacked the bear, burying her face in his soft “fur”, and said, “Ba Ba” when I told her this was “Big Bear”!

Project 365 - February 8, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

What is it about kids and forts? I have never met a kid who did not have an irresistible urge to drape blankets on top of whatever kind of frame they can conceive, and then just sit inside of it. Or big boxes, with windows and doors drawn on and/or cut out, and decorations drawn on. Maybe it’s their complete lack of privacy in their lives, that they feel like they are in THEIR OWN SPACE or something. I don’t know, but here is Amaria, sharing her fort with Taia. Best part of all? She actually cleans up when she is done (tomorrow, or the next day, or something).

Project 365 - February 7, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Today I went to an event at the church I work at – without my kid!! I hardly ever go anywhere with Amaria, and she was kind of peeved, but not really. Her dad was going to come and watch her, but he ended up not being able to, so Lisha did instead. Figured she may owe me an hour or two of babysitting, haha. This is Donnie & Jerry Engen, friends of mine and great people, and we had a big Bunco game. I had never played it before, but it was really fun.

Project 365 - February 6, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

I finally finished this little sweater for Taia. Now I am started making the same one for Amaria (a bit bigger is all) and then I am going to have their pictures taken at Wal-Mart or somewhere, wearing their matching sweaters. It’ll be so cute!!

Project 365 - February 5, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

I made this sweater with Bernat Satin before Taia was one month old, and it was way too big for her. But then she got big enough to fit it, but alas, I had made the head opening too small! So she didn’t get to wear it for quite some time, but now just today I fixed the collar, just undoing the part where I sewed up the collar and sewing an edge onto it, so it is split. Now she will be able to wear it!

Project 365 - February 4, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Yippee! We have plumbing again. This is the workers from Capra’s Utilities fixing our plumbing issues at work which began one week ago today, and now we are able to actually run water and go to the bathroom without running next door to the thrift store we run in a separate building. Both Wendell and I noticed that with the water off, we were suddenly more thirsty than we have ever been – thank God it’s finally over.

Project 365 - February 3, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

My FAVORITE copier/scanner/printer EVER!!! I am now printing the 400 copies of the church bulletin (called the Steppingstone) and the machine is doing ALL of the work for me – putting the pages in the right order, folding it in half, and putting all the pages together. All I have to do is grab them from the end, and give them to the crew that mails them out. (Well, and create the whole thing to start with). This is a Konica/Minolta BizHub. Before we used this, I made the bulletin on a “high-speed” printer, which printed in ink, only one side at a time, no folding, no collating. It took WAAAYYYYY longer. So now I get done much earlier, right? Nope! I just put more stuff in at the last second. Ah, well…this is my techno-baby.

Project 365 - February 2, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

This is my desk at the end of a hard day’s work! See the newsletter on the screen? The “Fall for Jesus” handprint turkey Amaria made me (okay, maybe I need to update my daughter art). The freaky “Jesus” picture hanging up that the pastor simply refuses to remove, no matter how weird it is. The green pen (indicating it is mine, as all my pens are green). The Kleenex, because I’m me and always need Kleenex. The mess of papers, because filing happens once a week (ideally), and in the meantime that’s where all the stuff I’m working on goes. The yellow sticky note which I generally abhor, but it’s there for a reason and will soon come down. Messy, full of stuff, and the ubiquitous 44-ounce SA cup – full of Diet Pepsi earlier in the day, now sadly drained. The caffeine is in me, but is it doing any good?

Project 365 - February 1, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Today Lisha and I took Amaria and Taia to Maplewood Mall to get some new boots for Amaria, because her super-cheap boots (that don’t even have closures of any kind) basically fell apart, and since Ashley Graves (Taia’s other godmother) works at JC Penney, she was able to get some boots which were on a good clearance sale for only $10. We also (well, Lisha also) bought Taia a TON of spring clothes, and she even bought Amaria 3 shirts and a pair of REALLY cute Capri pants! We had fun at the mall, except I had a horrible headache. Other than that, it was fantastic.

Project 365 - January 30, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

It’s payday, so I thought I would take a picture of our new treasurer, Patsy Olson. Our “old” treasurer, Rolf Iverson, has quit due to health issues, and I love him to bits. He is SUPER intelligent and fun to talk to. But as a treasurer, he is also super slow. Patsy is like me – quick, driven, determined to get things right, and ON TIME. So, I will be happy to have Rolf as a friend, and Patsy as a treasurer. And here she is!

Project 365 - January 31, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria had a fun day today! Her friend, Arianna, who is usually gone on the weekends is home this weekend, so Amaria went to her house to play. Then I decided to take them to see a movie, so we went to see “Hotel for Dogs” and then we went to Barnes & Noble, where Amaria got this 3rd “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book, and here she is reading it.

Project 365 - January 27, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Here Lisha is doing her homework, before her class tonight. I’m so proud of her for working so hard at school to make a better future for her and Taia!

Project 365 - January 28, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Today was Bob Bathen’s funeral, and Wendell came in for that. He is normally at church (work) every day as one of the two custodians, but a couple of weeks ago, he broke his foot at Target, and now he only comes in once a week or so, and not to work. Work just isn’t the same without him – he is VERY clean and picks up LOTS of stuff that other people miss. And empties the trash about 3 or 4 times per day. Sometimes he can get grumpy about people when we make messes. But overall, he is lovable and adorable and wonderful, and I miss him like crazy!

Project 365 - January 29, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

This is Marla Amborn (in the purple) who is a “Contextual Ed” student (in seminary to be a pastor) who preaches sometimes at St Stephen, talking with Deb Nelson, the Children’s Ministry Director, but only for another 2 days, because Saturday is officially her last day. I’m really going to miss Deb!

Project 365 - January 25, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Stuff from Lisha’s bed. Her laptop, which she loves. The pink plaid blanket which Gramma made for her for this past Christmas. The medicine for Taia who is ALWAYS sick with a cold and stuffy nose. And the Snickers that Lisha and I both wanted and she got us. As I’m about to start my Herbalife diet, my last Snickers for awhile!

Project 365 - January 26, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Taia has two teeth now! Aren’t they cute? And seriously, she’s not drunk on this picture. Just being cute and playing in her seat.

Project 365 - January 23, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Taia has this little toy, it folds down to a car, and into a walker. So Amaria calls it the “Santa Peltier” – I’m not sure why, though. But she loves pushing Taia around in it!

Project 365 - January 24, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

This is the desk in my bedroom. I got it from Aunt Phyllis last year, and usually it’s buried under all the stuff I don’t know what to do with, but I recently cleaned it off. On the left, you see hanging the circular knitting needle hanger that my mom made me – very VERY nice! The bottom left has the covers for a knitted pillow I made, but unmade so I could wash the covers. There is a scrapbook page hanging up that was made for Amaria by her 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Garman. Right in the middle is the recorder and book with recorder music that she got from her dad this past Christmas. My green pen that I love, but they no longer make, so when the ones I have now are gone, never again shall I have it. Bummer. My keys – always losing them, never in the same place. My lotion (almost empty so the pump cover is off). My cell phone (or maybe Amaria’s). Above the desk, the shelves which have miscellaneous stuff on them. Yarn, super glue, small trash bags, staples, one of Taia’s shoes, etc.

Project 365 - January 22, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria’s all ready for her concert! Doesn’t she look pretty? There would be more pix of her at the show, but my camera battery died after I took this, and one hard-to-see picture of the whole group, which I hope to be able to bring out a few details using Photoshop. But this one is okay, anyway.

Project 365 - January 20, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

In addition to 9/11, this is the most significant day in history in my life, and in Amaria’s. And much more exciting! And Taia wasn’t born in 2001, so this is THE most exciting historical event in her life, I’d imagine. Then again, you never know what kind of stuff will happen. But inaugurating the first black president is pretty darn exciting!! I love America today!!!

Project 365 - January 21, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Lisha’s all worn out from doing homework. I came upstairs to take a picture of her doing her homework, which is what she had been doing the last couple of times I went up to her room, but this time, she had worn herself out and was laying down watching TV, or trying to catch a little nap.

Project 365 - January 19, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

As he tends to go potty when in large spaces, Humphrey has slept in my bedroom since we moved into this house (usually). But he also is addicted to eating lotion and Carmex, so I got so sick of him always eating these things, I decided to make my closet his “crate”. As you can see, it’s plenty big enough, and it doesn’t have a door, I just put a gate up, so it’s not like “locking him in a closet” – he can see out, and could actually jump over the gate if it were ever necessary, but he doesn’t, because he’s a good boy and he likes sleeping in there anyway.

Project 365 - January 17, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Today, Teresa Williams nee Aronson came over to knit with me – I found her on Facebook after not having seen her for about 14-15 years or so! And it turns out we are both totally into knitting. We also went to Applebee’s (with Lisha & Amaria) and saw Uncle Ralph (he manages it).

Project 365 - January 18, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

I finally got to meet Lisha’s boyfriend, Matt. He was very nice and polite (and handsome) but we were very awkward around each other because Lisha had told me just before he got here not to say anything that would embarrass her, nothing that would make it sound like she ever talked about him. So each time I thought of something to say, I’d think, “Nah, that makes it obvious I know all about him.” So he thought I hated him, and she felt totally awkward, and it was pretty hilarious! Now we’ll have something funny and interesting to talk about next time we meet.

Project 365 - January 15, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Today when I woke up, the temperature was 21 BELOW zero! That’s not the wind chill, either – that brought it down to 41 BELOW!!! So I can’t take a picture of “cold” but I could take a picture of the snow. And Humphrey looking at the yard like, “No, please don’t make me go that far away!” And that shiny orange thing? That’s Amaria’s giant foot print she got at Hugo Good Neighbor Days – put on the garage so people would think a giant man walked up our garage!

Project 365 - January 16, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Lisha, Amaria, and I had Leeann Chin for dinner – and this is what they left me with! They ate and ran, and although it looks as though Lisha removed her plate, be sure neither girl did anything else. I gotta catch them sooner!

Project 365 - January 14, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Humphrey’s favorite part of the day is generally dinner time, but he doesn’t like sharing his food and water corner. See the dirty look he’s giving me? He wants me to get the heck away from his meal.

Project 365 - January 13, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria was specially chosen with a group of “advanced” creative students to go to the University of Minnesota for a “Creativity Fair”. She got to take 3 classes. The ones she took were Hip-Hop Dance, Performance Poetry, and Story Telling. I brought her to school at 7:40 am so she could go with her group. It was a fun day!

Project 365 - January 12, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria was sick today, so she had to come to work with me. Look at her poor little nose! We left at 1, but she was a real trooper until then.

Project 365 - January 11, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

I was miserably sick by Sunday, a cold or something. But I have this nice mug, a Christmas present from Pastor Susan Schoon (from St Stephen where I work), to drink my TheraFlu out of.

Project 365 - January 10, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria and I had “game day” today. We played Turnabout, she taught me how to play Mancala, and I did a bunch of laundry. That’s not really a game, but I tried to convince Amaria putting it away was (she wasn’t buying THAT, but she did put her laundry away).

Project 365 - January 9, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria made this cool little gingerbread guy at school before Christmas – and gave it to me today!

Project 365 - January 8, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

I was putting together a panorama print of my living room, which didn’t turn out very well, but this is the one I liked best – that is the stocking the daycare gave Taia, with a stuffed monkey (Curious George, I think) in it, and the monkey is what Taia snuggles up with every night when she sleeps. I mean, she really LOVES her little monkey!

Project 365 - January 7, 2009

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Originally uploaded by knittinjen

Amaria was locked out of the house because she can’t get the door open using her key, and Lisha, so proud of finally remembering to lock the door when she leaves, now has a problem remembering NOT to lock it on Wednesdays, the day I work late. So Amaria, in the middle of a fight with the regular neighborhood friends, went over to Leeann’s house, and Leeann’s vicious little peek-a-poo (or something ridiculous half-dog name like that) attacked and bit Amaria. I didn’t get a pic of the actual bite the first day, but it was pretty bad! It took all these bandages to cover it up. You could see all the little teeth marks and everything – the ones that bit in, and all the other ones.