Flutter-by Socks

finally done!

happy birthday!

my sweet little girl turns one today. at 8:40 pm if you want to be precise.

where did the time go? it doesn't feel like its been long enough for a year to go by. I'm including my favorite picture from each month.

and for milestones, Gretchen can now:

• walk, mostly still with a little help
• climb stairs
• go down stairs
• drink out of a sippy on her own
• says "hi" "uh oh" "ma ma" "mah" (for blowing kisses)
• blows kisses
• waves
• claps her hands
• wants nothing to do with baby food which is a tad of a problem since she doesn't to eat a lot of "adult" food

Operation SEND Christmas

my husband's National Guard unit is trying to gather a bunch of items to make Christmas packages to send to every soldier from Central Kentucky who is deployed for the holidays. if you'd like to help out, I'll be at Rebelle next Sunday afternoon, depending on where you live I can pick stuff up, or items can be dropped off at the Armory near the Airport. The FRG (Family Readiness Group) is getting together on the 17th to put the packages together to mail.

here is a list of suggested items:

First and foremost- they LOVE getting pictures, letters, etc... from anyone.
Second- Pocket-size, travel-size, and sample-size are ideal.
Third- no chocolate, it will melt
Fourth- we cannot send pork, porn, or alcohol

DRINK ITEMS

* Gatorade drink mix
* Individual drink mix to add to bottled water (Crystal Light, Koolaid, Equate from Walmart, etc)
* Coffee
* Tea
* Hot cocoa mix

FOOD ITEMS (MUST be sealed!)

* Gum (blister packs preferred)
* Candy
* Mints
* Lifesavers
* Individually wrapped snacks (small sizes)
* Peanuts
* Sunflower seeds
* Dried fruits
* Trail mix
* Canned fruit (single serving fruit packs IN CANS such as cut peaches, applesauce, etc.)
* Fruit roll-ups
* Power bars, protein bars, nutritional bars, breakfast bars, granola bars
* Poptarts
* Crackers/ flavored snack crackers
* Peanut butter
* Beef Jerky (Certified and labeled USDA Grade A)
* Canned Tuna, sardines (Choose flip-top lids whenever possible)
* Beef Slim Jims

PERSONAL CARE ITEMS

* Eyeglass cleaning wipes
* Eye drops
* Blistex
* Chapstick
* Vaseline
* Nasal drops/saline spray
* Foot powder
* Odor-eaters for boots
* Socks (that can be worn with combat boots)
* Boot laces (72" for combat boots)
* Baby Wipes

OTHER

* Pocket-sized Bibles
* Magazines and paperback books (Choose from subject matter that most would be interested in. Donate from what you have already read.)
* Movies (DVD or VHS) (Also, some you have already watched) (Of course, new is also terrific!)
* Duct tape (military green, tan, black, navy)
* Electrical tape
* Super Glue
* Ziploc bags (quart size bags are in greatest demand, sandwich size greatly needed, also 1 gallon size or 2 gallon size can be used)
* Mailing Tape (We need this to get the boxes overseas!)

Christmas knitting

reading Allison's blog today reminded me I need to make my Christmas knitting list, so here goes nothing.

• Mom- some sort of lacy scarf using Malabrigo natural
• Dad- felted slippers in a brown, not sure which yarn yet
• niece- Sarah's "I love my denise kit" market bag
  
• a few pairs of fingerless mitts for Michael's bus driver, bus monitor, and teachers. (any other suggestions?)

VOTE!

okay everyone, get out and vote today!

I'm beyond ready for the political season to be over. I dislike the negative tv ads I see every other commercial (mostly in the Senate race). As a conservative voter I dislike it being assumed that I'm a bigot, racist, or other such things because I am not voting for Barack Obama.

Everything seems a bit easier when an election is not looming in the distance.

As for me, I'll be voting for Bob Barr the Libertarian candidate in hopes that the Libertarians gain ballot access. This way people will be able hopefully have three options instead of having to choose the lesser of two evils.