RoyalMom

I *heart* these little bags.

The lens I have been wanting for several years is finally in my collection and I love it!

Its a wide angle Sigma 10-20mm, super light and sharp.

Gotta watch out for that close range distortion.

But now I can get the ENTIRE room in one shot, with all the laundry, mess and general life happenings in our house. I love it!

It's crazy how close I am standing to the table.

My baby Simon is four years old today! His first question when he woke up was, "where's my cake??"

He wanted balloons on his birthday this year, so balloons he got!

He also wanted the penguin pillow pet. We got him that too. It's just too bad he meant it as a replacement for the dolphin pillow pet he wanted (and received) for Christmas. I thought he would love them both but apparently his heart has only enough love for one pillow pet at a time. hehe!

Xander's gift to Simon is pretty cool! These "make a books" all ready for Simon's personal touch.

All four of my children now have a sweater from the same pattern. They are super cozy and the knitting was easy. win-win!

So, I asked Isaac to step outside and model the sweater for a picture and I swear it doesn't matter what the weather, it will always be too bright for the kids to want to pose for a picture. :(

I do remember the same hardship as a kid when my dad was taking a picture of me outside.

It went like this....

"Isaac, stand over by the rail..."

"Ooops, I had it in auto mode. Let me change the aperture and take it again." (why do I always do that?)

Isaac is not happy and explains it is too bright on his eyes and asks if we can do it later...

"Okay, just one quick smile and we're done."

Cheese...

I found these three eggs plus three more looking awfully frightened when I opened the carton today. I felt kind of bad but they were delicious in my breakfast burrito.

I love that the kids enjoy free access to art supplies when I find gems like this:)

We love all the fun things to do in Astoria. I took the kids for a day trip a couple years ago. This time Jason came too and we stayed at the KOA with friends.

We didn't feel up to tenting in the rain and the RV is going up for sale (anyone want to buy it??), so we opted for the deluxe cabin...

A nice dry porch swing for knitting.

All the kids wore their mama-made sweaters and kept very warm.

KOAs always have nice amenities for kids: Pool, mini golf, free pancake breakfast...

We climbed the Astoria Column, all 164 steps to the top.

Up and up and up and up...

The Battery Russell is always a hit. A kids fort gets an upgrade from blankets and chairs to this masterpiece...

Toured the museum and lighthouse ship...

This sweater for Lotus has been my "in between project." The knitting I pick up between other projects...because I didn't really enjoy knitting it. The garter stitch made it feel like it was taking forever to knit.

But then I remembered I wanted to try embroidered buttons and it gave me the boost I needed to finish up today.

It's the Garter Stitch Cardigan in Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas.

I was pleased with the embroidered button making process and how whimsical they look on the sweater but I wish the actual button didn't feel...how do I describe them?...Cheap? Flimsy? Like they need a little cushion on top instead of the hard, flat, sharp(?) surface they are.

Maybe better product or process is in order.

And after some inspiration...

I had to put a bird on it...

A six month sized sweater and Lotus is only three months, so it's got a lot of growing room. The thickness of the garter stitch makes it a cozy, warm jacket. I'll whip up a hat to match. :)

...by Xander!!!!

It's so true what they say about children learning more by example than what is said. Of course they have their own personalities and interests and I never know what certain thing they might take an interest in.

Xander decided he wanted to try embroidery today and he made something.

Now Simon wants his own Xander-design shirt. ha! I'm still hoping I get at least one or two knitters out of the bunch. Both Isaac and Xander learned how to knit but didn't get to the enjoyment of knitting stage. One day...I hope;)

Simon said he wanted his own embroidered shirt and he wanted it to be an egg:)

We drove north for an impromptu visit with our friend Kelly and mutual friend, Kristin. Three moms and thirteen kids under the age of eleven.

Kristin and her three left and we stayed another night for a get-together with the Seattle moms from our online moms group...five moms and eighteen kids. Kelly's house is so roomy it didn't feel cramped at all! (yes, I was experiencing major house envy).

It is good to be home. Lotus was happy as a clam as long as she was being held. I suppose that's not unusual for her but not having Jason made for one exhausted mom. Jason spoils me rotten at home and I let him know as soon as I got home how much I appreciate it. ha!

The hermit I am, enjoyed the visit but will now need a full week or more of NO activity to recover from all the stimuli....oh crap, it's Bunco week. Okay, Bunco and that's it. Oh, jeez...Xander has sculpture class. Okay those two things and THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!

Nighty night time...