Chop!

Yesterday, I took these long locks down to the beauty salon

*On a side note, I think beauty salon is such a funny term.  Makes me think of the '80's and Grease for some reason... 

And, I went drastic.  The nice gal kept asking me if I was sure I didn't want to be able to tie it back.  Nope, I was ready. 

And I'm so pleased with the results.  It is  similar style to what I used to wear for years, but the bangs are new.  Haven't had those since I was probably 7 or 8.

And you know what is the best part of this haircut?

I was actually able to style it myself today so it looks like what the hairdresser did.  I think that speaks volumes of how great this hairdresser was.

See what I'm wearing?  That's my new sweater!  I'll show you tomorrow :)

Away & Home

1. We escaped winter for 6 days.  When we reached Calgary yesterday, Grace asked why we had left Summer.  Good point my sweet.
2. Our typical day included a morning walk to a local coffee shop.  Knitting & a movie during Aidan's naptime.  Swimming or another walk in the afternoon.  Sometimes a game of 'stick ball' (Pool).  An adult movie at night.  Perfect and relaxing.

3. Grace slept one of the nights in a bed all by herself, in a room all by herself.  Big steps for my girl.  She came back to sleep with me the night after.  But one night, is one night.  I was both proud and missed her immensely.
4. Aidan is cutting tooth #9.  Please make the break soon.
5. He is walking more and more.  He has started trying to do up his own buckles in his stroller and highchair.  He likes to cross his feet when he sits which makes me smile.  He likes to feed people his snacks.  Especially his sister.

6. I finished a sweater.  My photographer (aka hubby) is away til Monday.  You'll have to wait on photos, but I can't wait to show you!
7. We came home a day early on Friday.  It is so nice to be away from the rush of normal life, but it is also so sweet to come home.

I hope you had a lovely week also!

Getting Away for 60!

When my Dad turned 60 this past December, his birthday wish was to get the whole family together for a weeks holiday.  He and my Mom got a timeshare that sleeps 10 (and has a pool table & jacuzzi!) and (most) of my family booked the week off of work and other activities.

The time has finally arrived for this grand event, and the kiddos and I caravan with my parents tomorrow to the resort, for an entire week.

I have one suitcase, a playpen, a stroller, 2 bags of food already packed.  I still have laundry running, a highchair, and a cooler to go.

Can someone tell me at what age packing with kids gets easier?  I've been going at it for a solid day (ok, my little guy does help unpack as quickly as I pack.. ).

Have a lovely week everyone!

Family Tradition

Shortly after Grace turned one, and met the weight and age requirement to switch from a rear facing car seat, to a forward facing car seat, we switched her to forward facing.  I felt the desire to make a big excursion of it.  So we loaded her in the car, and drove to Cochrane (a town about 1/2 hr outside the city) and took her to MacKays Icecream store for her first ice cream cone.

 May 9, 2008 - Grace facing forward in the car for the first time!

 The weight restrictions have since changed, and it is now required that the child be one, as well as 22 pounds (it was previously 20 pounds).  At Aidan's one year appointment, he was just below 19.  On a whim yesterday, I took him to the nearest vaccination clinic and weighed him - 22 pds, 13 oz!  Woot!    So, without delay, this morning we switched his car seat, loaded in the kids, and headed to Cochrane for his first icecream cone.

The whie stuff on Aidan's seat - snow!  Flurries this morning and -2C!

 He was such a happy camper facing forward and giggled for about the first twenty minutes of the trip.

 Given tomorrow is St. Patty's Day, Nate and I decided it was fitting his first cone be green - thus he had Mint Chocolate Chip :)

On a side note, this little girl is almost four.  Look at her sitting there eating a cone without hardly making a mess and crossing her legs!  I keep telling myself not to blink - she is becoming SUCH a little lady! 

The three of us outside MacKay's.  We had such a fun time celebrating Aidan today.  Do you have any fun family traditions?

New Form of Exercise

I was surfing around Ravelry tonight, and came across a project of a woman who knit a gigantic blanket.  Now, you may not find that that interesting, but take a gander at this video.



I particularly like the knitting combined with the music - lol.  But, I did some Googling (I love how Google will tell you anything) and found the following:

Calories burned with Sitting - Knitting


Sewing, Lt. Wrapping (Presents)

102 calories per hour

Assuming a body weight of: 150 lbs

This is equivalent to eating any of the lines of the following table.

Quantity Description Cals

0.4 Grande Starbucks Caffe Latte - Made with whole milk 272

0.1 McDonald's Big Mac - With cheese 704

1.3 Glasses of wine (3.5 fl oz) 79

0.4 Snickers Bar 273

0.5 Cans of Coca-Cola 207

3.4 Carrots 30

I think that this woman, knitting with PVC pipe, burned at least quadruple the amount listed above. 
 
Perhaps I should knit a gigantic blanket, if even to justify my love of Starbucks ;)

A good day for the zoo ( & handknits) !

We are finally coming out of the deep freeze, and hit a balmy -5C this morning. On a whim, promptly after breakfast, I loaded the kids into the car and headed to the zoo. I was starting to feel a little stir crazy not going anywhere lately, plus I finished off a new Spring hat for Little A last night and couldn't wait to put it to use.

The pattern is Tubey by Woolly Wormhead.  Seriously cute.  I improvised the pattern a bit, doing the stockinette and purl stitches a little more frequently than the size I knit would call for, and used a skinnier weight yarn.  I love love love it though.  Aidan's noggin is 19" and Grace's is just over 20".  Amazingly this hat fits them both, so I know Aidan will get a few years of use out of it (an added bonus!).

The other great thing about hitting the zoo in the morning, on a cold day, is all the animals were out to play.  We saw Eagles, Buffalo, Tigers, Hippos, Giraffes, Elephants and Gorrilas just to name a few.

And Flapjack the Turtle.

Isn't he sweet?!

THAT crazy lady!

Yesterday I did something, I never would have fathomed I ever would have done, four years ago before having kids.  I stood in line for (hold your breath) 10  hours in order to secure Grace a spot in the Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning spot.  That my friends, is crazy.

Last year, Nate stood in line from 3 pm until registration at 7 pm to get her spot in the 3 year old class.  So, I was assuming that this year, if I lined up at 2, I could get her a spot.  Then I took her to school on Friday and the current 4 year old parents were talking about how they had stood in line at 9 am last year.  WHAT?  I got home, called the office and inquired.  What I was told was that if I didn't get to the line up til 2 pm, I could most likely get her a spot, but not a morning spot.  If I wanted an am spot, I needed to be there at 11.  Seriously?

So, Monday morning I took Grace to school at 8:45, and the crazy lady (who I now know always starts the line) set up her chair.  So myself and 8 others did the same.  Little did I know, the line would stay as the 8 of us until close to 2 pm.  I think the -21C kept everyone else away - rather smart of them.  I kept myself warm with a sleeping bag, and some good friends who brought me a coffee, and some chocolates. 

Can you see my lovely sunburn as a result of the craziness? lol

I'm glad it's done but would I do it again?  For my kids, yes.  But not til 2 pm....  (please remind me of this 2 years from now when I need to register Aidan).

First Steps!

March - the hopeful month of FO's!

As I type this I'm sitting here in a 1/4 knit sweater.  I bought the yarn for it around the same time I bought the yarn for Nate's.... back in the fall of 2009.  After successfully finishing his, I cast mine on.

March is the month for knitting... or in Ravelry, known as Malabrigo March.  Now I do have Malabrigo in my stash, and could easily cast on another project, but I'm refraining and am using March to finish up a few WIP's.

First, is this sweater.  A body and two sleeves to go.  I also have a purse (also 1/4 complete), and a pair of socks (about 60% there).  If I manage to get this sweater done, and the purse, I'll be quite pleased.

Because come April, I have some serious birthday knitting to get done for my almost four year old. 

The sweater photo was taken by Grace.  Her first debut as a photographer!  Not much cuter than a 4 year old behind a big (for her!) Canon Camera :)