Fall break.

It's fall break and I've been stuck with the kids enjoying spending quality time with the kiddos.  We finally recovered from our illnesses after about a week in the house!  In addition to fall break, I've also had to begin a low-iodine diet in preparation for my radioactive iodine scan.  This is to check to make sure that my thyroid cancer is still in remission.  The diet is very restrictive; I'm not allowed to eat any dairy, any processed foods including bread, and can eat limited amounts of meat.  So, I've made a couple loaves of bread using non-iodized salt and have been cooking up a storm so that I'll have things to eat and snack on.  I am lucky in that the thyroid cancer website put together a low-iodine cookbook so that those on the diet don't have to think too much about what to make.  There are lots of different options so I don't feel too deprived.  I did make the cranberry-pumpkin muffins (recipe on page 99 of the current book) from the Thyca Cookbook and have been enjoying them.  Often.  I'll probably start to look like a baby with jaundice soon, due to the amount of pumpkin I've consumed.
I've been busy doing lots of sewing but have a lot of unfinished projects.  One project that I did work on, with the help of the sweetest little five-year-old, was organizing all of my thread.  I think that it was a great project to work on today, my mom's birthday.  I got the idea to put the thread in jars from my friend, Amanda, who never reads my blog.  I thought I ought to give a shout out to her since she's one of the people who really inspired me to start sewing.  She's very talented!  On the off chance that she actually does read this, I don't want her to think that I ripped off her idea without giving her credit!  Here's a picture of the finished product (note my awesome birthday present from Peter on the right-hand side of the picture)!

 Below are a few of my unfinished projects.  I told Alexander that I wasn't going to start any new projects until I make a good dent in these.  Hope I can stick to that because there are a bunch of things in this pile!

 This is one of the things that is in that pile of 'things to do'.  Luckily, all it needs are buttonholes and buttons and then it will be ready to wear.  It's made out of flannel and it's oh-so-comfy!  Wish I had one in my size to slip on during the chilly winter!

 I couldn't get this picture to turn around so you're going to have to turn your head.  It's heading to my friend, Amanda's house tomorrow to get a monogram (wow, Amanda is in this post twice!).  This will be Charlotte's birthday party outfit since the theme of the party is ice cream.  Thanks so much to Melody for the ice cream idea.  She suggested it several months ago and I started planning from that point forward.