YarnFest 2008

I got up at 5am to get in line for Wool & Company's 40% end-of-the-year If You Think We're Counting All This, You're Crazy sale. It was well worth it. I stood in line with about 50-75 other excited knitters (thankfully the weather really cooperated!) from 6:30am till just after 7 and got into the store pretty much as soon as it opened to get my pick of all their goodies. It was H-E-A-V-E-N! And a lot of fun. It was funny seeing a dozen people in line at the cash register holding garbage bags full of yarn. Only at this kind of event would you NOT feel stupid being seen doing such a thing. I can't wait to find projects for all this lovely new yarn!

The Stash

Unbelievably soft and fuzzy angora/wool yarn

Just LOOK at that fuzz! It's like snuggling a bunny.

Mmmmmm.

One more skein of Donegal Tweed for my sweater-to-be.

Some yummy kettle-dyed Patagonian Araucania wool.

Cascade 220 Heathers wool in periwinkle.

Cascade 220 in shades of aqua!

Louisa Harding's Grace yarn: silk and wool. Soooo soft and, well, silky!

More... in petal pink. To join its 2 sibling skeins I already had at home.

Jealous?

Christmas Day

We had a terrific lunch made my Mom/Patty and we all got such wonderful, thoughtful, and generous gifts from the entire Levi clan, but it was so much fun to watch the kiddies and everyone open their gifts! We were even able to snap a few shots of the 3 older cousins together, dressed up in their Christmas finery (courtesy Aunt Donna). Enjoy.

My Beautiful, Happy Girl

If Sophie weren't sitting between us, we'd look like the Irish flag. And of course, Sophie was too amused with the lights and beeping on Daddy's watch to look up for the photo.


The Big Three.

Will & Audrey going to work unwrapping their Little People Learning Zoo.

Will and his personalized grill platter. :)

Sophie got a car that turns into a dinosaur.
Have you ever heard of a toy more suited to this child?

Some furniture for the dollhouse that Santa brought Sophie that morning!

(How did Aunt Beth & Uncle Will know?)

Grandma helping to open a puzzle of the US States, with a tray to hold all the pieces (hallelujah!)

Audrey happily attempting to open a new baby doll she got. Awwww.

Apparently I was unable to get many photos of anyone else because they were too far away on the other side of the room. (I have a lousy flash.) Hope you enjoyed the photos!

Christmas Eve

We opened presents on Christmas Eve evening (that sounds weird) so we would have time for Sophie to play with her gifts before we had to get going to Mom & Dad Levi's on Christmas morning. Sophie had a blast with her new train set, books, and other goodies. Earlier in the day, Sophie and Daddy played in the snow and made a snowman in the backyard. Here's some pics.

Time for presents!

Now that it's TIME for Christmas music...

It seems there's more stations playing Christmas music this year than in past years. Or maybe it's just my imagination. I don't know. But either way, I've been hearing a lot of it lately and in all the time I've spent listening, I've been taking mental notes on the songs I like best. There are so many that are overplayed and often just downright awful. (Mannheim Steamroller, anyone?) So here's my own personal Top 10 List of favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy!

10. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft
Such a fun song, I just love how he comes up with so many delicious descriptions!

9. Sleigh Ride by Harry Connick, Jr.
Like Frank Sinatra, I love anything HCJ sings but this big band/swing version is probably my favorite rendition of this song.

8. Baby It's Cold Outside by Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
This, too, is my favorite version of this song. The Dean Martin one creeps me out, but this one is lovely. You can find it in the movie Elf.

7. Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby
I could dance to this song all day long. Found, also, in the movie Christmas Vacation.

6. Up on the Housetop
I'm not sure who sings this, especially since there are so many versions (Gene Autry?) but I remember learning this song in school when I was little. Good times.

5. Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon
The melody is so pretty, and of course so is his voice. Lovely song.

4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Sarah McLachlan and Barenaked Ladies
Oh how I love the Barenaked Ladies. This is a fun new re-do of this song! And Sarah McLachlan's amazing voice blends well in the mix; I think she was born to sing Christmas carols.

3. O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis) by Nat King Cole
Speaking of amazing voices, Nat King Cole... just beautiful.

2. Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey by Lou Monte
This one is relatively new on my radar having heard it for the first time only a few years ago, but it's definitely high on my list! Possibly the funnest Christmas song EVER.


and drumroll please...


1. All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
I love, love, love this song. Between the arrangement and her voice, it's magical!

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Hear the songs here:


All I Want For Christmas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA8UHeoYHQM

Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrdxtWgHbE

O Come All Ye Faithful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ4CT0Rh7z4

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBHrmDRffyU

Happy Christmas (War is Over): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xV7GmbUARI

Up on the Rooftop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5auBkT84N4

Mele Kalikimaka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM5iiuQOMyg

Baby It's Cold Outside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJWSDeP4k-M

Sleigh Ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCUwpKspFG0

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPBS7dVrE1U

Oh No You Di'int

November 1, day after Halloween.

Trip to Walmart to scour the clearance candy.

Store music: Christmas carols.

*sigh*

Halloween

This was Sophie's first time Trick or Treating and she enjoyed every minute of it. It was beautiful weather last night so we walked around several blocks here in HomeTown, knocking on doors and collecting treats. After about an hour or so, we headed back home for a bit to rifle through the stash and relax, then headed down to Town Center Park for the festivities. HomeTown had hired a DJ and a horse-drawn wagon ride for the kiddies. So we were able to catch a wagon ride and did a little dancing.

Throughout the evening, Sophie would randomly look over at me and with a huge smile on her face would say, "Halloween!" I'm pretty sure she's going to be looking forward to Halloween next year!

Sophie Turns 4

We started the celebration on October 2, Sophie's actual birthday, by going to see Daddy at work and bringing all his lovely co-workers cupcakes! They were, of course, Big Red Cupcakes (red velvet cake) in honor of Clifford. I found a "King Size" cupcake pan by Wilton at the party store and just couldn't resist.

Then that weekend we had my friend Julie and her kids come over for a little party. We had more Big Red Cupcakes and ice cream, Scooby Snacks, and Paw Print cheetos. Sophie opened presents and the kids all played Pin The Dogtag on Clifford. Then they each made their own Clifford by coloring on white paper plates and pasting on red tissue paper, red yarn, red cardstock, and googly eyes. I was amazed at how great they all turned out and how creative and unique they were!

* * * *

Then the next weekend, we had the whole Levi clan over for the birthday bash. Below is the Clifford cake I made for Sophie to go along with the theme of the party. The only thing Clifford-y I could find in the way of party supplies oneBay was balloons, which Sophie ADORES. I bought up what I could find and did up everything else in the color red. I found a couple of doggy-related snacks (see above about previous party); she seemed quite pleased.

Ooh, fuzzy new gloves!

Ooh, a new WordWorld DVD!

Ooh, dino pj's!

Ooh, a Clifford card!

Ooh, a Clifford coloring book!

Ooh, Clifford balloons!

Cousin Audrey, Aunt Beth, Cousin Will, and Grammy Levi

Ooh, WordWorld!

A big thanks to everyone for such thoughtful gifts; Sophie had a wonderful time!