Okay, I know I haven't posted anything since Thursday...

so here's a general update on everything. Laura's shawl is progressing slowly; I need to focus and spend a few hours today working on it. My goal is to finish it this week so I can give it to her on Sunday. Which means I'd have to finish by Friday, so that I can block it on Saturday. Which means I have to get busy!

I didn't knit a single stitch yesterday; I was too busy. I did 6 loads of laundry; ironed 6 shirts, 5 pairs of pants, one pair of shorts and 3 perler bead creations; sewed one split seam, 9 buttons, and one small hole; and attempted to felt two sweaters in my washing machine. It's a front-loader, and it doesn't look like it worked. Oh, well. I can just fall back on my original plan; taking them to the laundromat and felting them there in the top-loader.

I am on day 14 of the Love Dare. I should be on Day 15, but I fell a little behind. I'm caught up now, thanks to yesterday. I'm changing. This dare is all about doing what I can to improve my marriage. I can't change my husband; I can only change myself. I can only hope and pray that he decides to change for the better as well.

I think we're planning on going to the pool later today; it's supposed to be really hot out. I'd much rather stay in the air conditioning, but the pool might be fun, too.

Today is my anniversary.

Hubby and I have been married nine years. And they've been mostly good years. ;) So tonight, we're having a nice quiet dinner after the kids are in bed. I'm going to grill steaks. And I'm also making a no-bake cheesecake for dessert; I used to make those a bunch when we were newlyweds. I got him a gift card for Gander Mountain, which is an "outdoors" type of store. They sell stuff for hunting and fishing and camping, so I know he'll find something he likes there. I tried really hard to find something leather to give him, since leather is the ninth year gift. Well, I couldn't find anything leather that would make a good gift, except a nice leather wallet. But he doesn't carry a wallet; he uses a money clip. So scratch that idea. I think the gift card will be just fine. I don't know what he's giving me...unless it's a gift card for a massage or a yarn store...

We're going to go out for dinner on Friday; weekends work better for babysitters. I think we're planning on going to Applebees or Chilis. Either way, that will be nice.

A gift that I'm giving him, but he won't know about it yet...today I started the Love Dare. It's a forty-day challenge, designed to improve your marriage. Day 1 is about patience. The challenge is to "not say anything negative". Kinda tricky when you're dealing with PMS, but it can be done!