Kid writing

I learned all about kid writing when my daughter started kindergarten two years ago. For those unfamiliar, kid writing encourages children to spell the way they hear the words - all on their own. I love it, especially when I find all kinds of notes around the house. Here is an example:

Some Stinky Knitting Ahead!

Alright, so I get this really fun kids' clothing catalog from mini Boden and I like almost everything in it.

Also, everything in it is very expensive.

A few weeks ago I told the girls to look in the catalog for one thing they'd really like to have for the new school year.

I'm excited because T expressed interest in a red pea coat.

Of course I had to ask if she'd like a scarf to go with it.

We looked at Morehouse site and she picked their skunk scarf.

I think the coat/scarf will make a perfect combination!

Happy knitting,

Beth

Who Needs A Sled?

Yesterday we had a great time playing on the little hill next to our house.  The snow had a thin layer of ice on it so the kids were able to do some "butt sledding" and belly flopping.

When the girls get older they will realize how small the hill is, and be bored with it.  But now it's the perfect sledding hill

Playground Mittens

I've knit two pair of Playground Mittens, one for each of the girls. The Noro Kureyon was a gem to knit with and the mittens are beautiful.  The girls are not too much into wearing them, oh well.  Maybe next year.

I finally convinced T. to put on the playground mittens and swish her hands in warm water to shrink them a bit. I've got to get her to do it again because they still are not small enough.  Or since spring is less than 6 weeks away, maybe I will set these mittens aside for next winter. Who knows how much their hands will grow by then!

Pattern:  Crossroad Knits - Playground Mittens

Yarn:  Noro Kureyon

Needles:  US4 dpn

Christmas Wrap Up

Celebrating Christmas this year was especially fun with our three-year-old and five-year-old.  They were so darn excited.  "A" kept talking about how she was going to walk downstairs and see Santa and then run back to her bed.  "T" couldn't wait to spread the magic reindeer-attracting dust (oatmeal and glitter) she made at school.   

Here are some of my memorable moments:

• On Dec 23, "A" did something that made "T" really mad.  She stomped downstairs, yanked "A's" Christmas list from the mantle and with pen in fist, scratched the items off the list.
• After "T" hung her stocking, she stood back and recited the words to "The Night Before Christmas".
• "A's rendition of Deck The Halls cracks me up.  She sings "deck the halls with bells and jolly, fa la la la la".  Then she announces that she does not know any more of the words.

Big Apple Circus

Today we went to the Big Apple Circus in New York City. Marsha told us about it and I'm so glad we got to go.   The girls' memories are reflected in their play; they created circus acts and NYC skyscrapers.

The Most Wonderful Wallaby

As far as charity knitting is concerned, this sweater for afghans for Afghans (AFA) was the most rewarding project I've knit.  I took on the sweater as a challenge to myself, there was a need for the sweaters and the US deadline was October 14.  I finished the sweater on October 13, e-mailed AFA and they said just ship it out to CA and they will get it in time to go to Afghanistan.  Phew!  I had fun with the whole random stripe thing using the dice (see previous post) and I used up a bunch of yarn in my stash. Most rewarding of all is that it gives me a great feeling to know that the sweater will help keep a child warm this winter. 

T was cooperative enough to try it on for me while she was playing in the leaves.  I really like the way the colors worked out, even though I ran out of options at the yoke and had to finish up the top-most knitting with purple.   It was a pain to knit in all the ends.  I really do need to learn the technique of weaving them in as you knit.

Bethany

We spent the week at Bethany Beach with my parents.  It was very relaxing.  The girls had a great time at the water and it did not take long to get into a daily routine of waking, breakfast, beach, back for lunch, naps, back to the beach, dinner and bed.  We had plenty of time to play cards after the kids were asleep.

"Take Me Out To The Ball Game"

Recently, from one of their magazines, my daughters learned "Take Me Out To The Ball Game".  How can you know that song and never been to a ball game?  So off to the field we went.  We saw the Reading Phillies play the Harriburg Senators.  It was the day of free baseball caps for the first 2500 kids, dollar hotdogs and run the bases after the game - at $9.00 per seat.  

We had no idea how our two-year-old and a four-year-old would do at a game, but it was worth a go.  They did great.  We sat through the first three innings (at one point moving away from an obnoxious heckler)  These seats in yellow section 7 were good, why were they in front of this guy?  There were plenty of empty seats, so we moved above several rows and off to the side a bit.  When the girls were ready for a walk we explored a nice shady outdoor eating area and enjoyed a snowcone.  We went back to our seats until the long awaited seventh-inning stretch and then headed home.  What a way to swing into June!

Note:  ok, so I wrote my post before reading the Wikipedia reference for the song, apparently the guys who wrote the song had never been to a game.  I think that is hilarious.  I guess we did not have to take the girls after all,  but I'm sure we did.

Beyond Thanksgiving

Since our table of twenty for Thanksgiving, my girls have come to the conclusion that three toddler chairs are not enough at their table. Today I walked into the living room and found seating for nine. Cute, huh?

In knitting news, progress continues on the Christmas stocking for my youngest. All other knitting projects have been set aside in hopes of finishing this by Dec 25. I've abandoned the idea of adding a beaded snowflake to the brim of the hat. I had completed it and frogged it - looked nothing like a snowflake. I will probably end up adding the girl's names in duplicate stitch in order to distinguish between the two socks. But, I'd be happy to entertain more creative ideas.

"It's Art"

Today my four-year-old painted this, "It's for you", she said excitedly, running up next to me, painting in hand. I stooped down next to her for a closer look.

Me: Tell me about it.
T: It's Art.