Monday, June 16, 2014

I decided that since I had a bunch of leftover scrap yarn I should make another scrap blanket. This one is only twin sized to fit on Jackson's bed so it should go a little quicker. I'm not sure I like it so far. Hopefully it gets better as it gets longer.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Hand Sewing (Literally)

I'm on a hand sewing binge.
I added an inch of length to a skirt for Nanna by sewing on some lace.
Since the kids and I have been sick I've been inspired to work on some more handkerchiefs. Note the finished blanket!
I even decided to fancy one up with some lace. I'm thinking I really ought to use a thimble because my poor pointer finger is getting dry and I occasionally accidentally sew it to whatever I'm working on!


Monday, June 2, 2014

Three Year Old Teacher

I am so proud of my little guy! Actually I'm proud of both kids, but at the moment I can't help, but feel a special sense of pride in Jackson.


He's been inventing new variations with his pink tower and brown stair all on his own for a little while now, but the thing that is really great is that the other day when Anna was in his room, which doesn't often happen because I keep feeling like she's not ready and we usually work while she naps, he took charge and started teaching her! 


This is what it's all about! It's also a prime example as to why I don't believe in age segregated classrooms.


I want to stress that I had nothing to do with this! I sat in my chair and simply observed. Jackson was encouraging and patient. I'm not sure how these two are managing to grow into such amazing people with such ease!

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Giving

I am insanely proud of my kids right now! 


I brought out some plain wood disks and asked if the kids wanted to make their own doubloons. They were so excited! 


It took about a minute and a half to insist that they were a present for his cousin/ one of his best friends. Let's call him cousin EH. Anyway EH had a birthday about a month ago and really likes pirates. 


Jacks even insisted on getting a bag to put them in!


So of course Anna had to have one too.

Hopefully we'll take them over and let the kids give him the special gift they made just for him later today.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Sick Kid


Having a sick kid sucks! It makes the whole taking care of another person thing about twenty times harder. You have to not only do all of the usuall things, but you also have to clean up vomit, scary watery poop, provide near constant fluids  and whatever healthy snacks you can manage to get down them, and you have to maintain nearly constant physical contact. 

For some odd reason Anna gets sick all the time. Even if Jack catches whatever it is she has he never has it to nearly the extreme she does. Anna is a puker! She takes after me that way, poor girl. 

Here are some of my tips for getting by:
 

•Cover the floor in towels and/or blankets! This really helps with clean up. When a mess happens you just pull up the dirty blanket and throw down a new one. We end up doing a lot of extra laundry, but it saves me from having to shampoo the whole carpet. Plus it makes everywhere a nice place to nap.


•If you're sensitive to smells feed your kid foods that help mask the smell of vomit such as fruit (which is also nice for hydration since fruit generally has a high water content) or juice.

•Make friends with the tub. When I'm sick I live in the bathtub and it's the same with my kids. It's easy to get to the toilet because you're already right there, it's no big deal if you miss since it's an easy room to clean, the steam can help with congestion, and since it's a small space it's easy to keep warm.

•At nap time and bedtime layer folded towels(to help keep from soaking through to the next towel) under your little ones head so that you can just pull off a layer anytime they throw up. I like to back this up with a fleece blanket underneath the whole thing because fleece is water resistant and cozy.