Friday, November 27, 2009

wound up


I have only dyed yarn using plant stuff, but recently I heard of dyeing skeins using Kool-Aid. I thought Eoghan would have fun with this, for his own first yarn. He knows how to finger knit and we will soon be moving on with his handwork towards knitting on needles. Up next: needle making, it should be fun.

Monday, November 23, 2009

2 week check-out

2 week check-out:

our reading...


Eoghan has really enjoyed these, in the Old Mother West Wind series:





Jonas really liked this book:

Bye-Bye, Baby: A Baby Without a Mommy in Search of One, Vol. 1

Friday, November 20, 2009

being noddy

Eoghan learning to use the niddy-noddy, a bit grouchy at first.
The transformation...
the niddy-noddy isn't that naughty.
Tying up his skeins to ready for the dye jars.


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

where we have been


I think stress has finally taken its toll on all of us. We have all been sick for at least three weeks, and E. was hit the hardest (as always). We all started out with colds or seasonal allergies, it really doesn't make a difference at this point, and then for E. it progressed to bronchitis (ultimately ending up in emergency last weekend). Jonas and I are is still ill as well, but better.
For me a constant stream of illnesses (flu, urinary tract infection, sinusitis, and now a very bad cold) has kept me from recuperating, and I know stress has been a major factor in all of this. Remember a while back when I said my mind was elsewhere? Well...I try to keep this a positive space for everyone, but it has all been weighing so heavily on my mind that I really feel the need to just let it out.
Remember our flat tire and bear experience in the pitch black? Well, that wasn't an innocent flat. Someone broke a blade off in our back tire, and not only that but also had to have crawled under our vehicle to put a blade into our spare as well. Two days later we discovered nails in our other back tire...flat again. Yeah, I was really worried. Police were contacted, but nothing. And work, well...it has been a source of stress as well. I stayed home all of last week, just trying to get better, and now we all do, but it just wont clear up completely. Ohhhhh.....
Okay, I hope to be in better spirits soon. If you have listened to all this, thanks.

Monday, November 9, 2009

2 week check-out

2 week check-out:

our reading...



This is the commemorative edition, a pop-up. So much fun! There are spectacles included in the book so once you get to the Emerald City, everything you see will be green. The pop-ups are amazing.


You may not like spiders, but you will love Sophie as we did. Her stockings are so sweet.


E. really liked Bunnicula, so we tried a Halloween picture book with the same characters. It was a fun spooky mystery.


A classic Autumn tale. J. was able to pay attention for the entire book, and loved all the actions he could play along with.


4 thumbs up from all of us. We love Roald Dahl, and this is our favorite chapter book after the BFG. The granmama in this story is the best.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Happy November

E.'s calendar art for this month...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

look at who is still awake

Yesterday we followed their tracks, and it appears that they wandered out of the woods for a bit of a stroll on the road.

Monday, November 2, 2009

día de los muertos

Para nuestra familia...




...los queremos y extrañamos muchisimo.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

today


enjoying

I hope everyone enjoyed a happy Halloween...



I certainly enjoyed this big nosed, buck-toothed jack-o-lantern by E.


The boys enjoyed showing off their costumes at the public library's trick or treat for books.

E's biggest enjoyment aside from really being in his element (being able to walk on all fours down main street and scaring every passerby possible), was snow.
Yes, the snow finally came on Halloween.

J.'s biggest thrill was riding shotgun in the fire engine (as he constantly pulled the cord for blasts from the horn). Our local volunteer fire fighters give the kids rides, inside the biggest engine. He could have continued all night and all next day.