I think the progression goes like this:
1st row: P17, p2tog,P1, turn.
2nd row: K5, ssk, K1, turn.
3rd row: P6, p2tog, p1, turn.
4th row: K7, ssk,k1, turn.
5

url 8, p2tog, p1, turn
6: k9, ssk, k1, turn
7

url 10, p2tog, p1, turn
8:k11, ssk, k1, turn
9

url 12, p2tog, p1, turn
etc.
As the pattern says, you're working 1 st more before dec (the p2tog or ssk) in each row until there are 18 sts. Cute socks! Good luck with them.
OK I can't figure out where the happy faces came from but read knit on the even rows and purl for the happy faces in the odd rows! Truly weird.