Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Dilemma

I have a confession: my house is a mess and I really don't want to clean it. I could do it, but I'd rather go to a knitting group, take my kids to the park, read a good book or have a nap than scrub toilets or mop floors. Am I wrong?

The dilemma: I am thinking of hiring a cleaning service, but it seems so extravagant. We are not rich, far from it, in fact, we have 2 kids in day care in Ann Arbor, a mortgage and I only work part time, but I feel it would be worth a bit of sacrifice to have more time for other things. SO why this guilt? Am I taking something away from my kids? Actually, no I will be giving them more of my time, which is more precious than anything money can buy. I guess I was raised with the mentality of "why pay for something you can do your self?"

Thoughts, anyone? Anyone in the Ann Arbor area have a good cleaning service recommendation?

Update: In the end, we decided we're going to clean the house ourselves, boo hoo. I think we just prefer to spend the money on other things and live in a dirtier house, so be sure not to come over unannounced!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Knitting? Who has time for knitting?

Well, actually I have lately. I have begun my first garment, a sweater dress for Chloe. Previously, I have only made a few scarves and hats, but I am not one to waste time practicing, I go straight for the hard stuff. So what if I create a garment that is lopsided or have to frog the whole thing?

The yarn came first, Berroco lullaby in the Down Dilly colorway (which is just Berroco suede in kid's colors), then came the pattern, Meg. When we were in Maryland for my grandma's birthday, my mom and I braved the freezing rain to check out a yarn shop in Cumberland, Millicent's yarns and more and they had an adorable jester's hat knitted out of the Lullaby and I had to have it. So, my wonderful mom bought me 5 skeins as an early birthday gift (thanks mom!)

I have only made it to the armhole shaping on the back, but I will try and get some pictures soon. The lullaby is making the most lovely looking and feeling fabric.

I, of course, have many more ambitious ideas in mind and have already bought the yarn for them, such as this Coppelia pattern for Lily, but I think I'd better stick to one at a time, for now.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Is it Christmas or Easter?

Those of you here in the midwest know what I mean. Snow on Easter in April? Lily had to wear a winter coat, hat and gloves to do an egg hunt with her neighbor, what is up with that?

We had a great time, though. My mom and Mark arrived on Saturday and we colored eggs and grilled burgers in the snow.


Lily was SO excited for the Easter Bunny to come that she got up at 6:45am on Sunday to find her basket and eggs. If any of you are familiar with my children, or any of my family, you know we like our sleep, so this was quite unusual. The Easter Bunny didn't let her down, of course, and brought all kinds of goodies - stuffed animals, stickers, Charlotte's Web DVD, and, of course, candy. Chloe could have cared less about her basket, but she did try to eat some jelly beans with her 4 teeth (choking hazard!). I had to put goldfish crackers in a few eggs for her.



We ate a big dinner at noon, which set us all up for a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. Ahhhh! I love the holidays, but they are tiring and there is nothing better than a nap on a Sunday afternoon (see what I mean about the sleep thing?)




Hope everyone else had a Happy Easter.