Last day of kindergarten

Today was the last day of kindergarten for my Sam.  I walked him to the bus stop this morning. I wanted to be the one to take him on this final day of kindergarten.  This is the first time I've walked him to the bus stop since the first day of school last August.  I was enormously pregnant when he started kindergarten and even the short walk (uphill!) to the bus stop was too much.  Luke was in charge of taking Sammy on Tuesdays and Thursdays and every other Friday. Today, it was a little bittersweet.  I was excited for Summer vacation to begin, but it's just too much for me that he's getting so big.   He's ready for first grade.  When it was just me and Luke, I didn't feel that his first five years went nearly as quickly as Sam's first five years.  Why is that?? 



  

I thought I posted this last year, but I can't find it. This is Sammy's first day of school last August.  We are all waiting for the bus with him. He hasn't changed that much, right?

Sammy and Mrs. Beckfield
Mrs. Beckfield was a lovely teacher for Sam. She's always so kind and encouraging and put me at ease.
We will miss her for sure.  She made me feel confident that Sam was in good hands for part time kindergarten.

Although not in the same class this year, they will always be great friends. How
can they not be? Their moms are best friends and they live next door to each
other!
I took a picture of E and Sammy last year on the last day of
pre-school last Spring and Sam was wearing the same shirt! He hasn't grown that much.
He's still my baby!

E, Sammy and Aubrey at the Kindies picnic!

Glimpses of home

 The garden is planted. The Aspens are blooming.  The wild rose bush is green again.
Blessings everywhere!

Sweet Potatoes for Sweet baby James

When the twins reached 6 months, I was going to give them their first solid food- avocado.  For first foods around here (except Luke- His first food was banana) I mash up a little avocado with some breast milk and offer them their first bite of food.  Well, 6 months stretched into 7 months and today, even though I had the avocado, I opted to steam some sweet potatoes, add some butter and puree it all. Since Liam was still napping and James had woken earlier, I decided that the younger twin would get his first bites first.  You snooze. You lose.

I think he loved it. He didn't do that tongue thrust thing and he looked liked he liked the new food. He managed several small bites. We're on our way to new culinary adventures with the twins.  So, when Liam is up, he'll get his first tastes too.  Pictures of Liam to follow!

Knitting triumph and tragedy- Yarn Along

So, I'm excited because I finished a big knitting project on Sunday. I already posted a pic, but I'm still smiling about it and well, it deserves another pic. She looks so adorable in her new summer dress. (I might be a little biased though.)  I lengthened the skirt considerably and that added to the miles of stockinette, but it was worth it. 

This week, I'm working on another Dogwood Hat.  I was all set to finish this hat on Monday night. I was giddy at the anticipation of binding off and completing another knitting project, but it was not to be. I was nursing one of the twins while knitting. Maybe I shouldn't nurse and knit?  He pulled at the yarn and a few stitches popped off. What I thought would be an easy fix turned out to be a huge headache. After about an hour of trying to figure out what when wrong, I didn't even know where I was in the pattern anymore.  It's the kind of pattern where one stitch off ruins the entire lace pattern. I sighed a big disappointed sigh and took the whole thing out!  I started again, but am less than half way. It's much less fun to re-knit. I guess I shouldn't really call it a tragedy. It's just a big bummer.

Oh and that BSJ?? See last week's Yarn Along. You guessed it.  I'm still on Row 4.  I just haven't picked it up again, but I have managed to spend way too much time on Ravelry and have added a few more projects to the queue.  I just have to make this (thanks Ginny), this and this! Don't forget to head on over to Ginny's for more reading, yarn and knitting inspiration. 

                                         Liam is dictating book choices this week.

Ready for a day in the sun

It's finished! It's finished! (See me doing a happy little jig!)
 Little T modeling her new bright and cheery Summer dress.

The "I feel behind on everything" Yarn Along

This is Ginny's little newborn lace hat. Lately, I've felt way more
overwhelmed than usual.  I know. I know. I'm sure it
has to do with the twins and I don't want to admit my limitations.
Anyway, amidst a pile of unfinished books and knitting projects,
I decided to knit Ginny's little hat. I needed something that evoked
simplicity since my own life feels anything but simple at the
moment.  I didn't block it so it's difficult to see the simple lace pattern.
It actually looks like I have a few random yarn-overs in there, but it's just
part of the lace pattern.




Here's more evidence of being behind. Last night, I finally cast on for the BSJ-KAL over at Elizabeth's.  I'm on row 4. Yup. Row 4. I know it's not some race, but I couldn't even keep up on the first day.  Again, I'm sure it has everything to do with managing 7 month old twins.  It's not easy and often I feel that I
should be able to accomplish everything that I both want to do  and need to do.  I hate admitting that I can't.  I'm reading The Forgotten Garden which I was supposed to have finished for last Friday's book club.  I got to page 200 and so far, this week, I'm not much past that.  My day is full of running around and there's not much time for reading except late at night and lately, I've been choosing to knit instead of reading at night.  Like I've said many many times, knitting is therapeutic and calming to my soul.  I need it's rhythm and I need to feel creative.  Knitting gives me both.  It also gives me time to pray and I desperately need that prayer time too.
So, back the Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ)... I just checked Ravelry and there are over 14,000 projects listed there! To say this is a popular pattern is a complete understatement. Although I think Elizabeth Zimmerman was innovative and the BSJ is unique, I have to admit that the sweater doesn't excite me.  It's boxy unisex shape is unattractive and looks, well dated.  I'm using a not-so-soft sock yarn, but I didn't want to buy new yarn for this project.  I
wanted to use what I already had in my stash and what I had was Berroco Sox.  Hopefully, it will soften up after washing.
I'm using a size 4 needle and I admit that I didn't knit any gauge at all.  I don't really care what size it is.  I just want to get the experience of knitting a BSJ! Okay, I better sign off.  Lunches need to be made and the kitchen is begging to be cleaned and I don't want to get any further behind!

For more knitting and BSJs, head on over to Ginny's today!

Twin Update



Liam- I trimmed those fingernails after I discovered those twin scratches on his face.




James laughing




I've neglected my poor blog for so long that I didn't even post a pic
of the boys at 7 months.  Here's Luke with twins on May 13th.  7 Months!



James and Liam-  I don't know why, but I just love that serious expression on Liam's face.  At their 6 month appointment,  James weighed 13 lbs 5 oz and Liam checked in at 11 lbs 12 oz.  They are just growing on their own little schedules.

Why I feel a little blue

I snapped this picture from my window in my bedroom last weekend.  Yes, it's May, but it's what we've come to expect here.  I can't really put the winter gear away until June.  I often whine that Spring is the most difficult season here.  Friends call it mud season.  Even though our winter was mild, winter won't completely let go during the Spring.  Today is another overcast day around here.  I already have low expectations for my garden and I haven't really planted everything yet. Come on, Sun! Break through those clouds! I will choose to be grateful for the moisture and see it as a blessing. It will reduce the wildfire danger up here and we desperately need the water!