For the Love of Yarn

Back in August, when my girlfriend and I attended Sock Summit, we made a pinky swear to not purchase yarn for a year.  Ahem.  I think I've done pretty well (Nate gave me only a month).  I can proudly say, I have purchased no yarn for me (Nate did give me money though to buy some... so that's really a gift... right?).  The only yarn I've picked up have been for projects for the kids. 

One thing I'm particularly enjoying about this challenge, is searching through my stash for yarn for that project I can't wait to knit, rather than heading to a store.  What that has meant for me, is that I end up knitting the project in a colour I know I wouldn't have otherwise.  But everything I've done so far, I've absolutely loved.  I double love it, because my stash is getting smaller.  That's a good thing (I think I could be called a yarn hoarder).

It's nearly February 1st, but I'm still sneaking this post into January.  Here's what I've cast off the needles this month!

This is Aidan's birthday hat.  The boy loves his puppies.  I love that when he runs in this hat, the ears flop.  It's knit out of my go to yarn for kids hats - Diamond Luxury DK.  Seriously this stuff holds up well to washing, it's comfortable, and it's great to knit with.  The pattern is McHenry Hat :)

This is the Top Down Shoulder Warmer.  I'd had it in my queue since early 2010.  I'm not sure what colour I had envisioned it, perhaps red, but I had two skeins of Madelinetosh DK in my stash - settled!  I LOVE how it turned out.  I can layer it with cream, brown, or blue long sleeves, and tanks probably in the spring.  It's fantastic with jeans.  As one of my first knits using Madelinetosh, this yarn is a dream.  A dream.

My Gingercowl.  Pattern is the Honeycowl, adapted to knit out of Madelinetosh Pashmina (cashmere blend = yum!).  I struggled with this knit.  It's a combination of knit, and slipped stitches, and for me, was really monotonous.  I had it as a personal goal to finish it by the end of this month, or it may have sat unfinished for months.

I also cast on, and off, two socks this month... but two different socks.  Their matches will hopefully be completed in February, so I will leave their reveal until then.

This means I have 3/33 projects so far for 2012.  If I can keep it up I might make my goal (of knitting as many projects as I am old). :)

Out with the Old

We bought our 1988 home in 2003.  We quickly made a few changes to it - new lights, paint, and door knobs.  The house was typical '80's.  Dusty pink walls, yellow light fixtures, and floor to ceiling wall paper - up the stairs, in the kitchen, in the bedrooms.  It felt so much more new with just a few changes.

Then a couple years ago we took a bigger step, replacing the carpet with new carpet, and renovating our master bedroom and ensuite.  All the windows were also replaced and we finally bought window coverings.

Our home has slowly started to feel more and more "ours". 

Our home also came with all the appliances, save for the washer and dryer.  Over time, we have gradually had to replace them, one by one.  First the oven (after a tear filled called to Nate one day after ANOTHER recipe had burnt to a crisp.  He came home with a new oven that weekend), then the fridge, another washer and dryer (supposedly we only get half the years out of ours because we use them so much - who knew!), and this past weekend, our last old appliance was ready to be replaced.  Our dishwasher.

I have been washing a third of the dishes that go into it, by hand once they come out.

We went and settled on what would be our new one this weekend (my biggest wish item was buttons on the top so little fingers can't reach them and change the cycle). 

Nate was a gem and picked it up last night from the warehouse AND installed it.  I love my handy man.

 I wasn't expecting it to arrive until today, so I had to unpack all the dirty dishes from the old one, stack them on the counter, and wait to load them into the new one.  This was the state of our kitchen last night. 

One of the many discoveries you find in an "older" home.  Looks like our lino was a second layer to other awesome, older, other 80's lino.

TODAY:

So glad to have a new functional dishwasher.  It is Aian proof.  He can't reach the buttons, nor can he open it.  He's tried.  The result?   He says "stuck".  :)

Watching a little guy for a friend of mine.  Aidan's napping and the little guy & Grace are watching some cartoons together.

TONIGHT:

Taking Grace to see Beauty & the Beast in the Theater.  She and I are both really excited about this.  It's in 3D.  We'll see if she'll keep the glasses on!

Too Good Not to Share

The following article popped up on Facebook.  It's well worth a read.  There are a number of items on the list that found me saying "ooh great idea!" or "I need to try that!".  My favorite, and first to try, will either be the apple & rubber band, or the cookie dough on the muffin tin.

http://www.thedailybuzz.com.au/2011/11/25-clever-ideas_household-tips_storage-ideas/

Which is your favorite?

The Littlest Biggest Step

Her body used to fit in my lap.  Head to toe from my waist to my knees.

She learned to walk when she was 13 months old.

She was a pudgy baby, and is now the skinniest little girl with the longest of legs.

She has made me a better person, and is growing me into a Mom.

She kisses me goodnight.  Every night.  And tells me she loves me everyday.

She still eats Rice Krispies for breakfast.  Everyday.  Unless she asks for blueberry pancakes.

Her favorite toy is a book.  She will sit for hours (really) and "read". 

She loves her brother.  She tells him so everyday.  Even when she's mad at him. 

She loves to dance, twirl, and play dress up.

I suppose I could go on and on.

Nate and I have done our research.  We are blessed to be in a city with alot of school options.  We looked at public, French Immersion, Spanish Immersion, Private Christian, Waldorf, Montessori, and TLC.  I think we've done our best as parents.  We've looked at our little girl and her strengths, we've looked at our options, and this morning (with a bit of a deep breath), I dropped off the Kindergarten registration forms.  Now we wait.  If we don't hear from the school by Aptil 30th, Grace has been accepted.

It's hard to believe that we are already at this step.  Letting those little wings of hers leave our nest...  just a little bit. 

Cold Days

We are beyond 'Snow Days' in Southern Alberta.  Snow Days make me think of warm hot chocolate after sledding down a hill.  Cold days do entail snow, but mostly they are just COLD.  Beyond cold really.

That's a screen shot of yesterday.  The cold snap hit on Monday and is expected to last until Saturday.  It's frigid, but school and work don't shut down here.  Things keep on going.  You just need to cover every inch of yourself with warm woolies before stepping outside.

This morning, I got Grace ready for pre-school, went and woke Aidan in his crib, got him all bundled up, and then I opened the front door.  The boy who usually runs out the front door in a fit of laughter, stopped.  He backed up.  "Ccccooooollllllddddd" came out of his little lips. 

Now I'm not really complaining.  But I'm looking at cities like Victoria BC where my hubby grew up, that have been hit with the slushy white stuff.  The city has literally shut down.  People are out tobaganning and playing. It looks REALLY fun.  After last week of being sick, and this week with being terrified to go outdoors, we are going a little batty over here.

Tomorrow, we are braving the great outdoors and headed to a friends for a playdate.  It's actually not so bad if you:

- dress warm
- warm up the car
- and as I always say to my kids before we head out "think warm thoughts"

If you are in a cold snap, I hope you are thinking warm thoughts too :)

From the Couch

It's relatively early in the morning, and not my usual time I find myself blogging.  We are in the middle of sick days again around here, and since yesterday are spending the majority of our time on the couch.

Nate came down with a sinus thing on Monday, a minor type of flu hit Aidan on Tuesday, and Grace woke up this morning with a frog in her throat and a stye (I think) on her eyelid.  Oh my poor people.

I'm the only one left standing.  This could mean I could be doing alot of laundry (which I am actually) or cleaning the house (which I'm not).  I'm fighting off all these bugs using a stupid amount of hand sanitizer, and knitting (I realize knitting doesn't keep bugs away, but it is keeping my spirits up).

This is the Top Down Shoulder Warmer by Laura Chau.  A quick little knit that has been on my queue for well over a year.  I'm knitting it with Madelinetosh DK which is a dream.  These photos don't do the colour justice (again, early in the am with poor light).  It's actually a deep midnight blue with hints of brown and bright blue.  Perhaps I'll finish the second sleeve today.

One last thing to show you - have you seen this?  I used to do alot of cross stitch when I was younger.  My Mom has a really neat sampler in her kitchen of a clothes wash line.  I love this one and can't wait to order it.  I think it's the snail that's winning me over ;)

Two!

 We had a wonderful few days of celebrating.  His actual birthday on Friday, my Mom and I took he and Grace to our new Science Centre - Spark.  An amazing kid zone had them playing in a indoor playcentre, splashing at water tables, playing with magnets, and checking out natural music with rain that fell on drums.

 Saturday was our family party.  Aidan spent the first of the two hours showing everyone his cake "See! See!".  He even said NO to opening presents, rushing back in to check out Snoopy.  Aidan's party was themed 'Snoopy and the Red Baron'.  The boy loves puppies and planes :)  Big thanks go out to my girlfriend Krista who made the Snoopy who topped my cake.  He was a hit! 

 When Aidan finally left Snoopy to check out gifts, in his true style, he was happiest having others do the work for him.   He watched the gift opening from the top of our couch :)

 Finally cake time!  Not wanting to get too close to the flame, blowing out the candle became a group effort :)

Look at these girls in their matching handknits!  For those of you who knit, this pattern is amazing.  Grace has been wearing her "party dress' since she was three.  The design is meant to be worn as a dress that transitions to a top.  Charlotte is sporting the smallest option.  She's had hers since she was 2 months old, and she is now 8 months.  I hope it will fit her til she's two! 

With all this partying behind us (for a week anyways, Nate's and my Moms are on the 16th!) it's had me reflecting on how our family celebrates and how we will celebrate going forward.  Birthdays are really important to me, and I like to make a big show of them.  I am totally ok with birthdays spanning into a three day celebration.  What has become harder though is hosting two events.  One for family, and one for friends.  Here is what we/I discovered with Aidan's.

It's winter.  The holidays have just finished, and it's cold & flu season.  Out of the four families we invited to his friends party on Thursday, only one was able to attend.  Having one party would mean that no matter what, we'd have enough people show up to still make it festive.  Aidan of course had no idea, but Grace was upset.  We called in recruitment friends and made it a playdate with cupcakes.  It all worked out in the end.  Then we had the family party, which also included friends of the family.  We had family come who spent the entire time on their Iphones.  No really.  A couple of them we are not even sure they spoke to Aidan.  So we are re-thinking how birthdays will be celebrated going forward.  We are open to suggestions.

 How does your family celebrate?

Snapshots of Today

 The quietness of last week has been replaced with a steady buzz of lists this week.  So far, I'm on track.

 Banana Cupcakes and a project on the go.  The hat was cast on last night.  I was ready to accept that this year, a knitted gift would not be present for one of my kids birthdays.  But a gentle push from a friend, a husband who without question stopped at a yarn store for me last night, and a project was cast on.  It now travels everywhere with me.  Even while I wait for cupcakes to bake.  Banana, because the boy loves his 'nanas!'.

This photo makes me choke back tears.  For no particular reason as it is just a photo taken a few weeks back at a friends house.  But because I can't believe how quickly two years has come, and gone.  This willful BOY (in every essence of that word) has filled our lives with such tremendous joy.  And he keeps me on my toes.  He fills my days with both laughter, with usually a small does of frustration.  That's ok, he's growing, and so am I.

 Wasn't this just yesterday that after such a long wait, he rushed into our lives?  He caused commotion from the very beginning.  This keeps my theory being true that a childs birth says alot about their personality.

Sweet boy.  (Yes, it is just Wednesday.  His birthday is Friday.  Don't worry.  Friday, we will be busy celebrating the amazing boy that he is.  There won't be time for looking back.  We will be looking ahead with joy & excitement!

My two New Years Resolutions.  I'm not one to make resolutions.  I'd rather call them goals.  That way, if they don't happen, I haven't truly failed anything.  Who likes failure?  The first, is making my bed every morning.  I love the way our bedroom looks when everything is properly in place.  Not to mention it's a good habit to show my kids.  This photo, was taken on a freshly made bed.  Day 4 and doing good. 

The second are the journals.  I have kept a journal for my kids since pregnancy.  I had seen an idea on Pinterest of a recipe box full of cards where you write a sentence or two on each, every day of the year.  Then the following year you start again using the same card.  Basically a five year journal.  I loved the idea but also new a box, and recipe cards, were a recipe for disaster with littles around.  So I bought myself a journal, and have written a little bit in it each night.  I like that I have a journal for them, and for me.  A page per day.  It's not too late to jump in on this yourself.  While I was at the bookstore they even sold a journal specifically geared to this idea.  I wanted a journal I could decorate and create myself, but there is the option for an easy way out.

Happy New start to a New Year my friends!