making pretzels

I've never done this before but thought of making a baked treat today and this is what came to mind. I found a simple recipe in my Sugar Free Toddlers cookbook and this is what it produced.

Here they are all baked, well the 2nd pan is baking and looks a little different because I added salt. We're waiting for them to cool to enjoy!

close up on ruffle

For those who are interested, here's the ruffle close up!

Zuri's Pinwheel is finished!

I've been working on this for about a month. This is the baby blanket I've been planning to make for my sweet Zuri for a while. I'm very happy with the finished product. I chose a lime green cotton dk weight for the body of the blanket. I struggled for an edging idea. I wanted to maybe try my hand at lace, but I also wanted to have a contrast boarder and hadn't picked out the yarn yet. The ladies from Universal Yarns suggested one of their tape yarns similar to Tango that they just happened to have enough of to trim my blanket. It was a perfect match on the green and the purple and royal blue are very complementary, though the blue barely shows on the front. I crocheted it on after binding off the cotton, vs. knitting it on like I did in the ruffle soaker. I like the ruffled effect but it's a pretty labor intensive process to either knit or crochet on. It reminds me of the deliberate stitches I took when I first began knitting and crocheting.
I have enough cotton remaining to make her something else that matches. I'm thinking a kimono or little dress and maybe a matching hat. Now that this is done I can progress to some of the other projects that I've been wanting to start though.

Mardie's birthday presents

The Richards gave a cool projector with sounds that the boys love to use in the dark.

Grandpa and Grandma Manuel gave Mardie a cute Quincy doll that sings and talks.

We got Mardie the first parts of his riding gear, His first helmet, a neck brace, gloves and goggles. Here he is on his first ride wearing some of his gear with Charmie and Daddy.

Happy 3rd birthday Mardie!

This year we finally had a party to celebrate Mardie's birthday. We've had plans and something always comes up to sabotage this poor child's birthday party so Rocky and I were determined to give him a party that He would remember. Our original plans were to have a party at our home but the projects we have going on in the yard made it unsafe to have a bunch of toddlers running around. Mardie asked for Chuckie Cheese's. He's also STILL obsessed with Disney Pixar's Cars and Lightening McQueen. He was one happy little boy this day!

yummy marble cake.

eating cake and our family

Mardie smiling as we sing Happy Birthday.

hospital caps

As I was going through bins and totes to dig out things to use for Zuri. (During Rocky's week off we spent some much needed time to "clean house") I found the boy's hospital caps. They still fit!

Dan Nichols Park

Rocky was off work two weeks ago. . . we did some fun things with the boys, especially since it was Mardie's 3rd birthday on the 11th! Here are a few pics from our time at the park.

Dye Project

I decided to use some prefolds in my cloth diapering this go-round for their simplicity and cost ;-}. I dyed these with Dylon permanent dyes along with some Diaperaps cotton blend covers. I also have some dyed in the larger size but those are packed away. I have three more colors to dye a few dipes each in but I'm waiting to see if I have anything else to dye first.

Knitting Projects

Rear of diaper soaker for Zuri. Ruffles are a unique tape yarn from Universal Yarns. Knit into soaker every three rows.

Front of diaper soaker for Zuri . Body is a wool silk blend. I love how soft this yarn is for baby things.

Pinwheel blanket for Zuri. The color is brighter. Flash washed it out so this is without flash. . . maybe I should have turned the light on? it's unfinished. I need to add a few more rows and weave in the ends.

knitting projects

Here are some knitting projects completed, on the needles, and to be started:

Baby legwarmers for Zuri. Cotton lycra blend.

Baby leg warmers for Zuri.

Hemp wash cloth for Zuri.

Super soft merino and wool/silk blend yarn to make diaper soaker pants for Zuri.

Weaving Project

My sis has started weaving and of course being the little sis I had to tag along. I borrowed one of her simplest/least complicated looms and yesterday afternoon strung it up. I want to make some wash cloths. I used teal cotton for the warp threads and am weaving through a foxfibre organic cotton chennille on the weft. The white at the beginning of the weaving is waste and has been removed since I've been able to advance the weaving once already.
I don't like the setup process, it seemed long and tiring. I didn't like weaving on my lap, but on the kitchen counter it was much easier. I made progress this am to the point I'm going to advance and start washcloth #2. Basically I need to put on a LOT of warp and then I can weave to my heart's content!

sewing Projects

Here's the cover for my MOPS notebook. Sorry the picture is sideways. It's a mini quilt and I used photo fabric to make a collage of family pics. I used MBK to embroider MOPS 2007, Creative Activities, Doreen Ray ad then put my lable onto it.

I got tired of those plasticy placemats. They slide around, they are hard to clean, they start to look cruddy. ICK. Here's my solutio. I quilted the boy's placemats. I let them pick out the front side and I chose the Veggie Tale backside. I will be making some more. Here they are after their first washing. The quilting fluffed up a little. The boys actually keep them cleaner and their area neater than with the yucky other ones.
Mardie's placemat.

Charmie's Placemat

View of the reverse fabric.

These placemats are the start of our "paperless" journey. We are starting to use cloth napkins and cloth towels in lieu of paper.

getting it together

i don't know why but it's been work lately to blog. . . I have finished some of my WIPS and started some new ones. A few are still on the needles. I've even finished some not previously mentioned. I joined a few co-ops and am in love with the process. I am trying to transition our family to mostly organic. I'm getting back into cooking, well I was never into cooking, but I'm starting to make more of an effort to make our food vs. buying it out and about. I'm fatter. I'm more tired, more uncomfortable, but in love with the tiny writhing beauty growing inside me. I've been cleaning everything. There is still more to do. My boys are growing, changing, maturing. Sometimes I miss them being small. Cranky, Lily, Camella, Macy, Goldie and another 99K to remain nameless at this point are currently for sale.

recital pics

To see some pics of the boys during their dance recital this fall, click here. Yes, that's Mardie on the home page!