The Big 6

Aaron turned 6 today. I will write more later, but I have to jot this classic down. As Aaron was opening up his last gift (from Grandma and Grandpa), he saw what was in there (a $25 gift card) and carefully sounded out the words on the card: "Toys R Us - 25% off coupon." "Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!" It was so cute.

Why 2 Yr Olds Shouldn't Play with Scissors

Were you expecting a picture of Ginny with her hair cut? Nope, although she has done that, too. But, yarn (unlike hair) does not grow back...

Here is the "before" shot of a beautiful scarf I knit for my mother-in-law for Christmas:



And, an "after" shot of some of the million ends just waiting to unravel:



Although my first reaction was utter dismay, my second reaction was "Wow, Ginny has really great manual dexterity!"

The Line

Chardy had her Christmas play tonight and we were all eagerly awaiting her one line...the opening line to the Christmas story. So, without further ado, the famous line:


P.S.Chardy was playing the role of a "senior citizen", thus the gray hair, glasses, and shawl.

Wishing for Snow

Did you know if you wear your clothes inside out and backwards and sleep upside down in your bed, it will snow that night??


Apparently, it's true.

Love this Scarf

I'm not normally a scarf person, but I had the most fun making this Christmas present. Here's hoping the recipient has as much fun wearing it...

Zig Zag Rib - Free Pattern

This started out as a simple diagonal rib scarf for a Christmas present, but when I noticed the colors were coincidentally changing just as the diagonal repeat was ending, I thought I'd see what would happen if I switched directions. Sure enough, the colors for the most part changed with every diagonal change, so the result is a very cool zig zag rib. Enjoy!



ZIG ZAG RIB

Materials Needed:

Size 9 needles
1 skein Debbie Mumm Traditions (148.73 yds/136m) Pine Needles (Noro Kureyon would also be nice for this)
Tapestry needle
Measuring tape

Gauge (not particularly important, but here are the measurements for the first 16 rows and 24 sts):
24sts = 4.5''
16 rows= 3"

Using long-tail method (or other loose cast-on) CO 24 sts.
(Note: If you prefer a wider scarf, simply CO additional stitches in multiples of 4.)

Zig Zag pattern:

Zigging Right (with RS facing)
Row 1: (K2, P2) across
Row 2: (K2, P2) across
Row 3: K1, (P2, K2) across, ending with P2, K1
Row 4: P1, (K2, P2) across, ending with K2, P1
Row 5: (P2, K2) across
Row 6: (P2, K2) across
Row 7: P1, (K2, P2) across, ending with K2, P1
Row 8: K1, (P2, K2) across, ending with P2, K1
Repeat these 8 rows once.

Zagging Left (with RS facing)
Row 9: (K2, P2) across
Row 10: (K2, P2) across
Row 11: P1, (K2, P2) across, ending with K2, P1
Row 12: K1, (P2, K2) across, ending with P2, K1
Row 13: (P2, K2) across
Row 14: (P2, K2) across
Row 15: K1, (P2, K2) across, ending with P2, K1
Row 16: P1, (K2, P2) across, ending with K2, P1
Repeat these 8 rows once.

Repeat Zigging and Zagging until desired length is reached.

Ginny Turns Two!

After weeks of insisting that she was 2, 3, or 4, Ginny really turned 2 today! I woke up at 4:15am and thought for a few minutes about 2 years ago when Ginny arrived at 4:25am (then, I went back to sleep!).

Ginny's day started off with everyone singing Happy Birthday to her as we changed her diaper. At that early hour, she actually wasn't too thrilled about the whole birthday thing, but once we explained that birthdays meant cake, cookies, and toys, she perked right up!

She had her first party of the day at Amanda's, where she helped decorate cupcakes with sprinkles (and a few germs...poor thing has a cold). She got a lovely set of puppets that she has had fun playing with.







Then, it was off to her second party at home with the family. We had cake of course,



and lots of presents.


The birthday girl eating her cake with a spatula (who needs a fork anyway?!):



Aaron gave Ginny his set of legos and Chardy gave Ginny the first hat she knit on her new knitting loom.



Most importantly, we celebrated and gave thanks for having such a vibrant, sweet, and funny girl as part of our family.







The big Two Year Old:

Gingerbread Fun

In the midst of decorating our Gingerbread House, Alli takes a break to down some frosting straight from the tube... This on the same day that they had just received a lecture on the perils of sugar...I guess it really sunk in!

Some other pics from the fun:

Hugs and (Candy) Kisses

Alli and Chardy have been making each other's lunches this week, and tonight I overheard Alli say to Chardy that she left a note in her lunch stating, "This lunch is going to cost you 2 pieces of candy." Then, she and Chardy started giggling, because Chardy's note to Alli the day before had been that her packed lunch was going to cost Alli "5 hugs". And, apparently Chardy was chasing Alli all around the playground trying to collect her hugs yesterday.

Is that the cutest sister thing, or what?

A Few More Hats

After realizing that I could make about 10 hats in the time it takes to make one stinkin' pair of socks (no pun intended), I have been on a hat-making craze for the past few weeks. Here are some of them (in addition to the ones I posted earlier):

Aaron's First...

Crocheted Hat. That he made! (or at least the brim)



He said he wanted to learn "knitting, but not with the pokey needles." After a few attempts of showing him how to use the crochet hook, we decided finger crocheting was the best place to start. So, he crocheted the entire brim and custom fit it to his head size. I took over from there, and he oversaw the design.

All in all a good team effort!

Wheeee! Two

Another hat I whipped up - again, ostensibly for Ginny, but this one fits Chardy better. At least they are getting smaller! Maybe the next one will fit Aaron, but I promise, eventually Ginny will get one.

Wheeee!

A cute swirly hat made especially for Ginny.


But, wait, you say, that's not Ginny, that's Alli.


I know, it didn't fit Ginny. But, as with socks, if you make a hat, chances are it will fit someone between 2 and 38 yrs old... Besides, this gives me an excuse to make another hat!

Green Baby Cables -- Take 2

Do these look familiar?































They should. They are carbon copies of my previous, beautiful, green baby cables socks. I loved them, and I wore them a lot. Therefore, I washed them a lot. But, as everyone knows, you don't wash wool...or if you do, you certainly don't do it in hot water, and you really don't throw them in the "heavy duty" dryer cycle.

If you do, eventually they look like this:

And, then you have to make new ones.

Blue Diamonds

Nope, not gems...socks. I really grew to dislike this pattern (can you even see the diamond pattern?? Didn't think so).

Have you ever started something that you're not thrilled with, but you feel like you have to finish it anyway?

Tim doesn't have that problem. He once started a 700-page book on Cleopatra. He thought it was ok and read it on and off for a few months. Finally, around p. 678, he said, "I know how this ends" and STOPPED reading it. My reaction was how could someone possibly do that???

Now I am just envious of that ability. Anyway, despite really not liking this pattern, I finally finished the socks after putting them away for a few months. And, here they are:

I'm 2, 3, 4...

It's been way too long... The summer blew by and there's lots to update everyone on, but in the meantime, here's a totally cute video of Ginny insisting she is NOT 1 year old.

Carefree Summertime Fun

A Summer Bucket List

Before school let out, the kids spent a few weeks putting together their "Summer Bucket List":

• Travel to see Izzy and Jackie
• Visit with Grandma and Grandpa Probst
• OMSI
• Children's Museum
• Prince Caspian
• Go to the Ocean
• Clackamas Aquatic Center and Wave Pool
• Father's Day Camping Trip
• Geocaching
• Alli's belated Geocaching B-day party
• Firstenburg Swimming Pool
• Rock Climbing
• Library
• Barnes and Noble
• Picnic at Lewisville State Park
• Skiing for Dad's B-day
• Great Wolf Lodge
• Picnic and Hike on Campus
• Paint Girls' Bedroom
• Webkinz Party
• Ice Skating
• Hiking in the Gorge
• Bake Cookies
• See Wall-E
• See Kung Fu Panda
• Go Junking (Garage Sales)
• Tour Olympia
• Wild Waves Amusement Park
• Midnight Bowling

It seemed like quite a list at first, but we've already made our way through all the italicized ones...and there's still 2 months of summer left...!

Fuzzy Felted Footies

My first felting project... If it works out, feel free to use the pattern below. (It is basically your typical simple sock pattern, but made much bigger.) But, if I were you, I'd wait to see the finished product on this blog... (7/9/08 UPDATE: see pics below - they turned out pretty cute!)

FUZZY FELTED FOOTIES

Women's Size Medium

Materials Needed:

• Set of 4 double-pointed needles: Size 10.5
• 3 skeins Needful Yarns Joy (255yards/233.2m) or other bulky weight 100% wool yarn suitable for felting [I used a MC throughout and CC for the heel and toe. So, 1 skein CC and 2 skeins MC]
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape

Gauge:
17 sts and 22 rows= 4"

Using long-tail method (or other loose cast-on) CO 48 sts.

Divide as follows:
Needle 1: 12 sts
Needle 2 (will become instep needle): 24 sts
Needle 3: 12 sts

Join and work 15 rounds in stockinette stitch. This will cause a nice roll at the top around your ankle. If you prefer a different top to your footies, feel free to improvise.

Begin heel:

Move sts from Needle 1 and 3 to one needle.

Join CC (if desired)

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, purl to end. Turn.

Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, knit to end. Turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until there are 12 selvedge stitches (a total of 24 rows)

Heel Turn:

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, p 13, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1 turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all sts are worked, ending with a total of 14 sts on heel flap.

Divide the 14 sts onto two needles again (numbered 1 and 3) to begin working gusset. Needle 1 begins round (at the middle of the heel) and holds the second half of the heel sts. Needle 2 holds instep sts and Needle 3 hold first half of heel sts.

Gusset (using MC):

Needle 1: Pick up 12 sts from side of heel flap (and one extra st in corner, if desired)

Needle 2: Work instep sts

Needle 3: Pick up 12 sts from side of heel flap (and one extra st in corner, if desired)

Gusset Decreases:

Rnd 1: On needle 1, k to last three sts; k2tog, k1. Knit instep sts on needle 2. On needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end.

Rnd 2: Knit around.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until the original 48 sts remain.

Continue to work in the round until total length from back of heel reaches approximately 11". (Yes, it is very large...)

Toe:

Rnd 1: On needle 1, k to last three sts; k2tog, k1. On needle 2, k1, ssk, knit to last three sts; k2tog, k1. On needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end.
Rnd 2: Knit around.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain, then decrease every round until 12 sts remain total (6 on instep and 6 on heel).

Close with kitchener st and weave in all loose ends.

Make second footie.

Felt carefully in washing machine until the proper size.

Take out while damp, and shape to foot.

Let dry and wear!

UPDATE:

They turned out really cute (and more importantly, they actually fit!). Below are the before and after pics.

Rad Baby

Check out Ginny dancing to the Hives... Gotta love it.

Cherry Bobble Socks - Free Pattern

After many weeks, the socks and the pattern are complete!


I'm pretty happy with them, although, as usual by the end, I was dying to move on to my next pair of socks...a cool diamond pattern! But, in the meantime, here is the pattern for Cherry Bobble Socks. Enjoy, and please let me know if there are any pattern corrections to be made, since these have only been "tested" by myself...

Cherry Bobble Socks

Size: Medium Ladies (7-8)

Materials:
2 circular US 2 needles (I used Addi 16" and 24" so I could easily tell them apart)
Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino Yarn 420 yds/4oz hank (Cherry color)
Tapestry Needle
Scissors

Gauge:
In SS: 15 sts and 22 rows = 2"
In Bobble Rib pattern: 28 sts across should equal approx. 2.25" (because the ribbing pulls in the sock).

To Make Bobble (MB): (p1, k1) twice into next st. Pass the first 3 sts, one at a time, over the 4th st.

Pattern:
CO 56. Divide onto two circular needles (28 on each). The first needle will become your heel needle; the second holds the instep stitches.

Cuff:
Round 1: *(p5, k3)* repeat** til end of round.
[Note: Here's what you'll end up with on each needle. Needle 1: (p5,k3) 3 times ending with p4. Needle 2: p1, k3, (p5,k3) 3 times. 28 sts on each needle.]
Repeat Round 1 until cuff measures 1" (or until desired cuff length)

Leg:
Round 2 (Begin Bobble Pattern): *(p2, MB, p2, k3)*. Repeat ** until end.
Round 3-5: *(p2, k1, p2, k3)*. Repeat ** until end.
Repeat Rounds 2-5 until leg is 7" or desired length. My leg had 16 bobble rounds before starting the heel.

Heel Flap (on Needle 1 only):
Row 1: Sl 1, k across. Turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, p across. Turn.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until Row 26 (i.e., ending with Sl 1, p across)

Turn Heel:
Row 1: Sl 1, k 15, k2tog, k1, leave rem sts unworked. Turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p 1, leave rem sts unworked. Turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, k until 1st st before the gap. k2tog, k1. Turn.
Row 4: Sl1, p until 1st st before the gap. p2tog, p1. Turn.
Repeat Rows 3-4 until all sts are worked. 14 sts re on needle.

Gusset:
With Needle 1: Knit across heel sts, and with same needle, pick up 13 sts along side of heel flap and 1 st in corner.
With Needle 2: Continuing bobble pattern, knit across instep stitches on Needle 2. If you ended the leg with a Round 5, then this first gusset instep round should be a MB round. Continue bobble pattern on instep sts until toe.
With Needle 1: Pick up 1 st in corner of heel flap and 13 sts along side. Begin gusset decreases.

Round 1: K across to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1. Work instep sts in bobble pattern.
Round 2: On Needle 2, k 1 ssk, knit across. Work instep sts.
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until 56 sts remain on needles. (28 instep and 28 sole)

Foot:
Continue in bobble pattern for instep and Stockinette Stitch for sole until foot reaches desired length. (Toe rounds will add 1.25".) The last round will end after a MB round on the instep.

Toe (all in Stockinette Stitch):
Round 1 (rounds begin on Needle 1): K across to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1. On Needle 2: k1, SSK, K across to last 3 sts on Needle 2, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: k1, SSK, k around.
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until 16 sts remain on each needle.
Round 3: k1, SSK, K across to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1. On Needle 2: k1, SSK, K across to last 3 sts on Needle 2, k2tog, k1.
Repeat Round 3 until 8 sts remain on each needle.

Graft toe using kitchener stitch and weave in loose ends.

Immediately put on socks and ENJOY!!

Great Wolf

Three words: What A Blast!!!!!

For those of you who aren't familiar with Great Wolf Lodge waterparks, they are a hotel/resort designed around water: waterslides, wave pool, water works, fountains, etc. On Mother's Day, Tim surprised me with room reservations at the lodge over Memorial Day weekend. I didn't think we would get to go this year, because the lodge booked up through the summer as soon as they officially opened in April (?). But, somehow we got lucky.

It was two days filled with hours in the water, and then after hours, the kids would play MagiQuest, an indoor scavenger hunt conducted with "magic wands" that would record whenever the kids found the appointed hidden objects.

Many fun-filled hours were spent on quests and adventures, and by the end of our stay, Aaron had done so well that his wand (affectionately named "Bob") made it to the list of "top players". The kids even earned their "Master Magi" credentials...

Ginny, on the other hand, didn't care much for Magi Quest (unless you count bonking people on the head with the wands), but she *loved* the water. All weekend long, all we heard was "wa-wa" "wa-wa". And, whenever we tried to take her lifejacket off, she would protest (ok, scream) very loudly. So, apparently, she had a good time too.

Even the hotel rooms were cool (how often can you say that about a hotel?). We got a "Kids Kabin" room which had a separate "log cabin" area for the kids to sleep in.

All in all, a wonderful family outing, and thanks again to Timo for planning such a fantastic family outing. After all, what more could anyone want for Mother's Day than to spend time with this awesome bunch?!

A Milestone for Chardy

Chardy celebrated her First Communion last Sunday with her friends, family, and her godmother, Aunt Mary. It was a beautiful ceremony, and despite looking rather scruffy much of the time, Chardy cleaned up pretty well for the event, wouldn't you say?

Chardy with her Aunt Mary: (who by the way, we LOVED seeing and really did visit for Chardy's First Eucharist, not just to escape all those earthquakes in Reno!)

Afterwards, we celebrated the big day at Salty's (gotta love their buffet...). As you can see, Ginny was a big fan of the chocolate fountain...cheers!



At some point, Aaron got hold of the camera, and took an eclectic assortment of pictures.

Me:



A picture of a chair...holding a fish?



And, a self-portrait (check out the chocolate on the tip of his nose):


All in all, a good day had by all.