for my 2 year old niece

Notice the crazy crooked trim? That’s to make the ridiculously uneven squares look purposeful. I have NO idea what happened here — I must have had one too many glasses of wine when cutting these squares last year! But it ended up fun in the end, & I’m sure my 6 year old niece will like it. It’s crazy & BRIGHT — just like she is, lol.

Here are my sister’s socks — she loves Harry Potter…and is turning 21 — maybe I should have made her HP beer cozies? lol

Just a couple random links — we have a triple birthday party to attend in about 13 hours! Twist Collective‘s fall issue is live (and beautiful, as always), and here is a hilarious cosplayer outfit my husband came across in his online ramblings…g’night!

We’ve had some fun, so it isn’t terrible, but…wow! How quickly these Michigan summers go – you would think I’d be used to it by now. My favorite summer trip was last weekend — the annual family camping trip with all 5 of my siblings, our mother & her husband, and all of our husbands & kids — we numbered 20 in all, this year. I forgot to take many pictures, again, but I pulled out the camera during our afternoon on the beach in Frankfort. This is some of my favorite beach weather — cloudy with a breeze, but not cold…perhaps Michigan is the perfect state for me, after all!

Ian

Aiden (those are temporary tattoos on his head)

Spencer

Harry Potter sock (see the lighthouses in the background?)

My flip-flops (Ian did this & I thought it looked pretty cool! It’s currently my Ravatar)

It truly warms my heart that my sons are growing up enjoying camping in the same places I did growing up.

This is 1/2 of (one of my) sister’s birthday present (Harry Potter Opal colorway – Ron). I may have made a mistake when I brought up to our family reunion to custom fit the length, though. Her gushing about the comfort caused my Mom to try it on…and I noticed a gleam in my Grandma’s eye…I think I might have to get crackin’ on the sock knitting!

As soon as I finish some other things, of course…like the first of my five Christmas stockings; this was supposed to be finished in July — and can I just say…stranded knitting across a 16 stitch pattern SUCKS! I’ve reknit this half of the argyle portion no less than 5 times. Ugh! Still love the pattern, though — this will just be the “product” knitting portion, rather than the “process” knitting portion.

Sorry about the lousy pic! My camera doesn’t always play nice (I’m sure a certain 3 boys dropping it way too often has nothing to do with that!). But hey, they’re cute, aren’t they?

Okay, so the one on the left doesn’t belong to me, but the pic was too cute to pass up! My friend and I realized we both needed to stop at the grocery store on the way home from the yarn shoppe (where, I am sad to say, I bought nothing…), so we decided to make it a joint trip as well. The boys had such a great time, the giggles & squeals drew smiles from patrons all over the store — and great big ones from their two mamas — I hope they keep getting on together so well!

I’ve a couple more projects, but only one more that I can show right now — it’s a diaper soaker (cover).

Thanks to Facebook, I’m getting the chance to chat with high school classmates, and discovering neat things I have in common with some of them. Among other “crunchy” leanings, this old friend had a homebirth with her little one and is now making the switch to cloth diapers. I was telling her about wool & before I could say “boo” was volunteering to knit her a few covers — it’s been a while since I’ve made one, and I’m loving the ease of it — yummy Briar Rose yarn, 16inch circs and a pattern I’ve pretty much memorized…zoommm.

Did I mention how pretty & yummy the yarn is? The next time I’m shopping for sweater yarn, it will be at Briar Rose — the last time I ordered from there they were super friendly and also answered the phone after hours (I thought it would go to voice mail!). I know there’s beautiful dyed yarn to be found out there, but this Michigan based company’s is some of the best I’ve seen (Malabrigo and 100purewool come to mind, although the latter doesn’t always deliver the colors they advertise).

I’ll leave you all with the random links that WordPress ate the other day…

Knitting links: I’m still in love with Netherfield — I really hope I get the chance to knit it soon. If you peruse Twist Collective you’ll doubtless find many more fabulous (very knittable AND wearable garments) items. I just came across a ravelry member who knit the Sylvi coat cables onto an afghan — gorgeous! Speaking of gorgeous knit coats, the Interweave Knits fall preview is up! And if you live in the New Jersey area, you are very, very lucky! A traveling yarn shop…can you imagine?! Be still my heart!

This may be a duplicate link from months ago, but I forgot to add it to my blogroll so I thought I’d give it another shout out. Norah Gaughan is one of my top 5 favorite designers — which is quickly making Berroco a company whose designs I drool over the way the Mason-Dixon girls do Rowan. I may have to move this next designer into the running, though — I stumbled upon her while researching KnitPicks new City Tweed. I wanted to make sure the yarn was hardy enough to use as one of the diaper covers for my friend, and found this amazing, squishy, cabl-icious cowl…I’ve already plotted how I’m going to manage to buy the yarn to make myself one when I order the yarn for my friend! I’ve learned that when I like one pattern by a designer, to look at the other patterns, so I was delighted (but not surprised) to find a few other great pieces. Yesterday, a funky, fun purse/bag, and two other great patterns for purses.

Non-knitting links: I only have a few tonight. The first is one my LLL leader forwarded on to me — a “breastfeeding” baby doll. The concept is great, of course, but I’m a bit puzzled about the necessity of the halter for the “mommy” to wear with flowers on it (in place of nipples). Why can’t the girl just use her own (gasp) nipples to pretend to feed the baby? It’s a bit like handing a girl a fake foot to put her dress-up shoes on… Really I think it just reinforces that breasts are for sex and shouldn’t be messed with (even to practice/pretend about what they’re REALLY for). Unfortunate.

Last (no really, I will stop! lol), I stumbled upon the official site for Janet Evanovich — it’s just as clever and fun as you would expect! I realized that I haven’t read the newest book so I’ll have to see if I can get it from the library tomorrow. Of course that reminds me that Diana Gabaldon‘s latest book will be here in just 7 short weeks!!

Okay, really, I’m done! Back to knitting!

This is my favorite neighborhood park.

(there’s actually a sand pit there)

Fenced in all around, a nice little wading pool, a sand pit, great shade, a restroom & a water fountain…what more could a mom & 3 little goobers ask for? Oh, did I mention it was within walking/bicycling distance? Yea, we’re spoiled like that.

My little ones have been manning the camera of late, so I’m heavy on pictures of matchbox cars & cute little boy toes, and light on knitting pics…but there are a few!

Pattern: Vine Leaf Tea Cozy
For: My (half) sister’s Mom (she sent me a bunch of crochet cotton!! So I’m warming up some of her tea pots!)
Needles: Boye size 11′s — it was kinda fun knitting with huge & fat metal needles
Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable 100% acrylic worsted weight (held double) — this stuff actually did *squeak* it wasn’t pleasant to knit with, but I got used to it — plus, it’s such a quick pattern that I finished it in less than 1 day. I think I want to check my acrylic stash & maybe use this pattern as a blanket — I’d need bigger needles, though — this cozy is a bit…stiff? lol

Look! I finally knit a ballband dishcloth…and loved it! It took me an entire pattern repeat before I “got it,” but after that, I was off. This was a wee housewarming gift for a friend in my knitting group. The basket looks pathetically empty…what can I say? I ran out of time, lol.

After much putting off, I finally tried out the library in the next town that my friend has been bugging me to visit. Turns out it’s a wonderful place, very young child friendly…and they have a different knitting section! lol I checked out a couple “Knit Lit” books (which have moved me both to tears, and to bouts of snorting laughter), and also “25 Beaded Knits” where I found this blanket:

I don’t know that I’ll ever knit the exact blanket, but I love the color play & the squares combination & don’t want to forget it!

I have several projects going on right now (4 within arms reach), but not many photos — I keep forgetting to take pics…so I’ll update you later on those. I now intend to flood you with cute kid(s) pics. Feel free to skip to the random links at the end for knitterly links.

Ian chillin’ on the…dining room floor?! The boys took this picture;

and I took this one

before Aiden’s haircut

after Aiden’s haircut. The bangs came out pretty bad (badly?), but otherwise it’s okay. He likes it, and it doesn’t look so dirty/unkempt…but I miss the shaggy do! Ah well, he likes it (which is a miracle), so we’re good.

Even Spencer got his bangs cut

though he almost didn’t. Luckily, he *thinks* he can negotiate. I said “please, can mama make just 5 snips?” he responded with, “NO! [insert image of hand being held over head here] TEN cuts!” lol. I think it took 4 — we just wanted his hair out of his eyes, really.

Can I just say that I adore this photo? Or maybe it’s the outfit? White t-shirts are so cute on little boys (I know, you’re laughing, and I know, you’re right — see the big brown stain in the middle of it?)…especially if they’re with jeans. I’m going to have to keep my eyes open for more yard sale ones, so my pocketbook doesn’t suffer!

I snapped this shot a few days ago…cute, aren’t they? I always wanted to have a dress-up chest for my kids…I’m glad to see they enjoy it!

…I think you’ve all been spared — I just lost over 1/2 dozen “random links,” more pictures, and more chatter. Ugh — some days! Talk to you all again, soon.

Needle size: 10 1/2
Yarn: Cascade 220 or any worsted weight wool

CO 6 sts
Join for knitting in the round
R1: *Kfb* =12 sts
R2: *Kfb, k1* = 18 sts
R3: *Kfb, k2* = 24 sts
R4: *Kfb, k3* = 30 sts
R5: *Kfb, k4* = 36 sts
R6: *Kfb, k5* = 42 sts
R7: *Kfb, k6* = 48 sts
R8: P all sts
R9-34: K all sts
R35: BO

Felt until all stitch definition is gone, pull over empty ice cream pint (Tofutti’s pint is plastic so it’s great for this) to shape & allow to dry.

It isn’t a space issue:

We have 2 full size beds with a frame built around them…it’s the…invasion? of my space. And the nursing. Yes, I have a 2 and 1/3 year old child who still nurses. At night. And most nights, it’s incessant from 2 or 3 am until morning. This has actually started in the last few months, and my ability to sleep through it depends on how exhausted I am (read: whether or not I simply pass out, or have enough fight in me to be uncomfortable). With my first two, they had to learn nursing limits/manners because another child was on the way/here by this time in their lives. I’m finally getting over my guilt that I want him to night-wean (at least!) just because I. don’t. like it. It’s wearing — I keep telling myself that he’s the last one, I’ll miss it when it’s over, etc. etc., but really? I’m just starting to not care anymore.

I hope this isn’t too ridiculously depressing, because my life isn’t that terrible — I know I need to enforce some of the limits I’m starting to set with him (although when not allowed to nurse last night he proceeded to be awake from 2:30 until 4:45, when I gave in and nursed him for less than 1 minute & he passed out until dawn (when he’s “allowed” to nurse again). It would probably get better quite quickly, at least that’s what I tell all my Mom friends when they need advice! I’m also going back on the (cow) dairy-free diet, to see if that is causing his night-waking (it’s a suspected “minor” side effect of food allergies). That would make a lot of sense, actually — since the amount of dairy he gets through my milk is quite small…still — I’ve been (with the exception of the occasional cheat) completely dairy free for most of his life, and I was just beginning to enjoy eating cheese on a regular basis again (and pizza…oh, pizza, how I missed you!).

Anyway, there are good things (many, actually!). I’ve had lots of visits with friends & family (the pic above has a few of my nieces in it), lately, and I’ve made it to every knit night this summer, with the exception of last week’s. Here, these pics will make everyone smile — my nieces taught my boys a few things about mugging for the camera!

I’ve also just received a(nother) Knitpicks order that included a pattern book & yarn for my first ever (concretely planned) knit top for myself!

French Girl Knits: Delphine

Wrenna is on my short list, too.

Here’s a sneak peak at the “secret” project my friends and I are working on:

Although I had a bit of a false start on my own first square…see the needles sizes? Doh.

I also got a hair cut! Once every 2 years is my norm — then I try to get it chopped enough to donate — Wigs For Kids this time (please research Locks of Love before you send your hair to them — there are many, many allegations to be found about them selling hair instead of making wigs with it). This time I went shorter than I’ve ever had it before (except at my own birth, as my husband insisted on pointing out *rolls eyes*).

I’m knee deep in knitting a kitchen ensemble for a family friend who is getting married in September.

In addition to the above, I have 3 plain washcloths planned (stockinette center with moss border), as well as a couple scrubbies & maybe some pot holders as well. Of course I’ll knit up a market bag or three, too! I hope she likes it, but I’ll admit that I’m being careful not to put myself out & put too much into it — it’s just too sad to have your knit/homemade items less than loved. So I won’t be making 2-3 hand towels, just the one you see, and I’ll only sew matching napkins if the mood strikes. I’m trying to keep my crafting to things I want to do — not things I “have” to do.

When visiting Knitterella & meeting her new little one at our LYS (sooo sweet & squishy!), I picked up a pattern booklet I’ve been lusting over for, well, years — I cannot believe I’ve been knitting long enough to say that, but I saw this thing at least 2 years ago, and I’ve been knitting for about 4, now!

Someday…!

Then I (slightly guiltily) sneaked over to Hobby Lobby (for my first time ever!) and bought some sock yarn I’ve wanted since it was released:

That place is amazing! It’s like Michaels & JoAnn’s all rolled into one. I also picked up the square basket that the kitchen knits are going to go in for $6 (they had an entire aisle of clearanced out baskets — the awesome square ones, not just the (pretty much useless, imo) shallow oval types, either!), some fabric that was inexpensive to begin with & marked an additional 30% off…AND they had retracting tape measures for $1 each!

In other happy news, the sweater I knit for my Florida friend, Jaimee, fit her baby!

He’s already wearing (or did she say out of?!) 6 month clothes, so I was certain that the arms would be too snug for him. I was so happy to be wrong! This sweater was also a good reminder on gauge differences for me. Notice how the stitches seem to lean to the right? It’s actually bigger at the bottom, because when I joined the sleeves (this was knit bottom up with raglan sleeves), my gauge went down! Knitting on double points and magic loop I knit much tighter — especially when doing raglan decreases — I’m always worried they’ll be sloppy, otherwise. The only reason the sleeves weren’t also smaller is that I knit them on 2 1/2′s instead of the 2′s I knit the rest of the sweater on!

How’s everyone doing? Give up, yet? Because I have MORE! lol I recently ripped out the Chevron Scarf I started knitting last year:

I couldn’t figure out why it was all bunchy, with the vertical lines running down it…then I checked Last Minute Knitted Gifts out of the library again (probably my favorite knitting book that I will never buy because I can always check it out! lol), and noticed that I was doing the kfb/k2tog row every OTHER row instead of every FOURTH row! *smacks forehead* That scarf was over 3 foot long! Oh well…the colors were gorgeous together, but they weren’t “my” colors, so I wouldn’t have worn it as often as it deserved, iykwim. Bye bye, scarfie…

Hello Socks!

Pattern: stitch pattern from the Harris Tweed Sock pattern, although I knit them toe up with a short row heel over 64 sts.
Yarn: Happy Feet
Needles: size 1 (not 1 1/2) magic loop

These poor socks rode around in my knitting bag for months! I just didn’t have the mental brain power to turn the heel of the 2nd sock (how pathetic is that?!); thus, the 7 market bags were born. So far I’ve withstood the urge to cast on anymore (although it was a close thing once last week); I’ve been keeping to my list of things to do so far. Now I just have to undo the bind off on the 2nd sock & do it more loosely — I have to fold the sock down because the top won’t fit over my calf, right now! It did come in handy when I needed a way to secure my pants for the bicycle ride home after knit night at the park, though! Spencer is also waiting, slightly less than patiently, for his second sock. I’m sure I’ll finish it up quickly, as I won’t let myself start a knit-a-long with some Ravelry friends until I finish his sock!

Whew…I think that’s all the updating…I have started on one other project, but I don’t have any pics, so I’ll tell ya’ll about that one another time! I do have a bunch of random links for you, though!

Summer Knitty is up (and has been for weeks — see how behind I am?!) — Elenka is my favorite, I think. I also stumbled upon another knitting patterns site — Petite Purls. It’s devoted to young child knits & I believe this was their premiere issue. Someone on Ravelry posted a great site filled with knitting charts for popular cartoon characters…a mother’s dream! lol On a current events note, someone had this link about a dangerous new form of “prank calling” called “swatting.” The caller uses internet services to make it look like they are calling from someone else’s home, then they call 911 and claim to have just killed someone, which of course, lands Swat at the door of unsuspecting innocents. There’s also a “call to action” regarding an important mom/breastfeeding friendly bill being considered nation wide (as opposed to the hodge-podge of individual state bills). Also on the parenting front, I did a little research into corporal punishment and the Bible, again. It’s good to find my beliefs in line with the Word! lol To be clear, all three sites have to do with explaining that God does not command that we strike our children, among other things.

Okay folks. That’s all I’ve got! It took me so long to write this that it’s actually “the morning after” now! Spencer woke up a little after 2, which is the norm, and I told him he could nurse, but then “all done ’til morning.” He did, then slept until just before 5am. We had about 15 minutes of his obnoxiousness, then I noticed enough light coming in the window for me to call it dawn & give in. I drew his attention to it & told him that, but I don’t know that he cared, lol. Ah well, we’ll make it, right? And on that note, my friend is on the phone — playdate!

You get way too excited about ketchup sales…

And eventually, you lose your last remaining brain cells, and the only thing you can knit are mindless bags in pretty colors…

Yes…number 7 is on the needles already…

My only redeeming knitting project is the new group project I just bought the yarn for:

No more details as it’s a surprise for someone!

Just a couple quick random links — a video of one woman’s disturbing journey through anti-depressants/postpartum depression (or the lack there-of), and the danger of a new law to do with not so voluntary testing for postpartum depression. And then a cute shark attack hat that is an offshoot of the knitty dead fish hat from an issue or two ago…my husband actually found this — I think he wants me to knit a few for the boys…

The last one pictured is finished & I’ve started a fifth one…in my defense, I’ve been spending a lot of time outside, and the work there is using up all my mental energy. These bags are perfect no thinking projects, and if you keep them small (less than 2 skeins of sugar n cream), they they are interesting (love me some stripes! lol) and fast. Just when you are tired of the bottom, you move onto the lace pattern. Then you switch back down to your gorgeous 7inch knitpicks harmony dpns for the top band & the strap. Best of all, if you keep it smallish, it won’t stretch down to your calves (or, if you’re me…ankles!). The green and white one ended up too big, and I imagine I was quite comical to watch at the farmers market last week. I may have already posted the pattern link, but if not, it’s the grrlfriend market bag pattern. This is a ravelry link, it looks like that’s the only place it’s offered, sorry! I have to admit that I didn’t look that closely at the pattern; it’s mostly intuitive. So when it came time to graft the handle it didn’t even occur to me to check the pattern to see if there were instructions. I ended up searching the internet and finding the wonderful Woolly Wormhead, who was kind enough to post tutorials on both reverse stockinette and garterstitch grafting. I think I’d figured out reverse stockinette (which is just the exact opposite of regular stockinette), but garterstitch left me scratching my head. Thanks, Woolly Wormhead!

As to my outside work…I repaired the damage from my huge truck (our almost 100 year old house has a predictably narrow driveway, so I had to park a little on the yard if Tim and I both wanted to be able to open the doors to our vehicles while parked). Of course I have a pretty van now (well, pretty as long as you don’t look at the interior — why can’t they match interior carpet to the color of ground up pretzels?). I could have probably just waited a couple years and the grass would have grown back, but we needed a little path there anyway. As a huge bonus, this was a free project — Tim found the bricks (over 11 dozen!) in one of the crawl spaces under the house! Now we need just a little grass seed to finish it off.

I’ve also succeeded in building cages/covers from chicken wire to go over my 2 “square foot gardening” boxes. I cleaned them of weeds a couple weeks ago, and the cats promptly began using them as their outdoor litter box. Now that the boxes are protected, I can de-poop them, and plant some veggies! I’d planned to do that today, but it wasn’t very nice out — a tiny bit chilly with a cold wind. Plus it was just an *ugh* kind of day. Do you ever have those? Crankiness prevails throughout the house, and every potential good thing is just a little bit off. Ugh. It’s good that it’s done, I think.

Hmmm…that was depressing — I think we need some pretty spring pictures to make it better, right? lol My boys & I picked these a week or two ago — the grape hyacinth were spread all over the yard just the same as the dandelions.

Every year we have more; it’s great. This photo shows the….Forsythia? bush outside my craft/sun room window as well. The pretty yellow blooms are already gone, unfortunately. At least I have a pretty new header to remind me of it!

Possibly the ultimate of all spring events — my youngest sister graduated from high school…isn’t she a pretty, sweet girl?

Of course my family all attended…we were the loudest cheering section there (with the exception of the people with the fog horn…cheaters!).

This is what I consider my immediate family — my 4 sisters & 1 brother, along with their spouses & children (and mine, of course), my mom & her husband, my grandparents, uncle & cousin (all from my mom’s side). This picture is actually missing a few people — half-sisters & their families, and my cousin’s daughter. It makes for interesting holiday gatherings, let me tell you!

Good gracious! I almost forgot my most exciting knitting news! I finally, finally finished up the baby sweater for my friend’s baby. Just in time for summer in Florida, naturally. Ah well — it’s really only the weight of a heavy t-shirt, so perhaps it will get some use. And as she’s done a little knitting here & there, I think she’ll recognize it for the gift of love & affection that it is.

and a close-up of the ram symbol:

Astrological signs are important to my friend too, so I thought she’d appreciate this. Of course it reminded me how much I hate detail work…I’m still trying to convince myself to embrace the uniqueness of the finished product & to stop expecting perfection. Mostly though, I just don’t look too close! lol

I’m hoping that Jamiee gets a chance to take some better pictures — this yarn is truly beautiful & deserves some better showcasing. It’s Blue Heron Mercerized Egyptian Cotton lace weight — I’m pretty sure I used half or less of this skein — crazy!

Well, the laptop is about to die, and it’s about midnight, so let me pass on my random links before I run out of time! Here is an awesome link about Goodwill/Salvation Army and recycled clothes — did you know they even want your ripped up & useless stuff?! Awesome — the less that hits the landfill the better. My other links are huge time wasters…but they’re funny! Tales from Labor & Delivery, Cake Wrecks, Passive-Aggressive Notes, and the one that’s had me laughing my tush off all week, Not Always Right. I’m on page 164…no wonder the laundry isn’t done!

I had no choice, really — I needed something to put my friend’s 30th birthday present in! Mary Beth is one of my best friends; we met in 6th grade and by 7th were inseparable. So for her birthday I loaded the bag up with some of our old treats…crazy stuff like pickles and oil & vinegar chips — we used to watch the same movies over and over and over again. Anyone remember Kuffs? Man in the Moon? I’ll never forget the day we were watching Michelle & Romy’s High School Reunion and her (very conservative) parents came home. I swear we flinched every single time they swore; if you’ve ever seen it, you would know we probably looked like we had some seizure disorder…it was very, very bad. lol

Of course, being my best friend, she was also able to pointedly bring up her Christmas present…the daisy blanket I started sewing about a year ago.

I may have to pull it out and finish it…or be razzed relentlessly (the things people can get away with when they’ve known you since you were 12).

On the knitting front…I’m avoiding 1: some finish work, 2: a heel turn, and 3: (most pathetic of all) picking up a piece of paper to write on so I can keep track of another project before I move on to the next part of it.

Instead I’ve been knitting an awesome market bag that hardly requires you even look at the pattern.

Just in time for Farmers Market season! I’ve already cast on & knit about 1/3 of another one, although it may end up being a gift.

I only have a couple random links tonight. Knitty’s Spring Surprises came out last week — I think Target is pretty darn cool! This other link is an absolutely beautiful homebirth that my La Leche League Leader found on YouTube. Be aware that although artfully done, it does show, well…childbirth — if this isn’t your kind of thing, then please don’t click! lol

Yarn: Happy Feet
Needles: size 1 (the smaller ones, not the 1 1/2′s)
Pattern: loosely based upon the Harris Tweed socks
Feet: one of mine, one of Spencers!

This yarn comes in 50 gr. balls, so after realizing that I look ridiculous in socks that end mid-calf, I unraveled back to my perfect length (which is the exact same length as the foot of my sock when I fold it at the heel), and knit a Spencer sock. He was so geeked about it that when he caught me at the computer (on facebook. again.), he demanded, “Mama! Knit! Me sock!” lol I’ve created a monster (but the best kind!).

I also finally put the buttons on my friend Holly’s baby sweater. Her daughter’s name is Ivy, so the color was quite appropriate, although incidental. These were the greens that did not end up in her baby blanket! She would have had it weeks ago, but the matching hat did not behave nicely, so it was sent to “time out” many, many times. It was supposed to be all creme colored, but it was too small, when I reknit it, I ran out of yarn — then it was supposed to be a sunhat, but I couldn’t get that to work either. Finally we came to an understanding that included me knitting five small flower petals, which only took a minute or two each, and then sewing them on — which took quite a few minutes each (ugh, lol). But the effect was pretty, and Holly was happy, so it’s all good!

The sides really do match up — it’s just my crummy photography that made it look wonky!

We’ve had a day of firsts here, or rather, Ian has! We finally got our act together and (Tim) put the training wheels on the bikes we picked up last fall, so…

Aiden also tried a bike, but after not picking it up within the first 4.2 seconds he decided it was “stupid” and wanted to play video games (no, he doesn’t take after my husband at all… ). Ian also had another first — look at this!

Which reminds me…after a few random links, I need to go discuss with my husband how generous the tooth fairy is going to be. There will be a precedent set tonight…3 kids X 20+ teeth…this is an important decision!

Random Links:

The most unexpectedly amazing singer. A woman I presume to call a friend with the most beautiful flickr pics (many of fantastic knitted/crafted projects!). Interweave Knits summer preview (some very knit-able pieces in there, imho). The Michigan Fiber arts fair…but not til the end of the summer! And an article about a fantastic program for teaching middle schoolers about the “real world.” (That one is a facebook link, not sure how it will work for those who aren’t members, sorry!).

G’night…and keep the house paint color suggestions coming! I liked maroon, but Tim immediately rolled his eyes when I told him…then again, that was probably mostly because he doesn’t want to paint at all! lol