we heart art

This book has been a favorite of Eoghan's for a long time now, and guess who discovered it on the shelf this past week? Ummhmm his little brother. They both like it for the same reasons, they can identify with the little boy in the book, as he goes about his daily routines. They can pick out the mama, the papa, the grandparents that take care of them with love, and their friends.

Yet, Eoghan has taken his love for this book a step further. Lately he has been noticing the mediums that the artists use to illustrate their books, and collage and watercolor seem to be his favorites. This book is illustrated with both. And so, "In My Heart" has been inspiring some collage work for us. I hope you enjoy it as well.

giant tentacles reaching for the shore

handmade hearts

Eoghan's soapy water felting hands.

Whenever Valentine's day comes around, I always recall preparing valentines for my elementary school classmates. Sometimes they were the bought kind and sometimes they were the homemade variety (I enjoyed the latter far more, but always wondered if my classmates would like them). Can anyone else still feel the anxiety of the night before? What if, when I check my paper envelope on the side of my desk, there are no valentines? Or was I the only kid that felt this way?

Thank goodness Valentine's Day is no longer anything but sweet homemade goodness. I hope it is this way, for all of you as well.

Mending a bit of a knitted broken heart.

Part of a heart mobile for my boys.

(The heart pattern is from a wonderful book called, "Closely Knit" by Hannah Fettig.)

the most important meal of the day

This morning Eoghan suggested we have breakfast for all three of our meals. In the afternoon when I called him in from playing so that he could eat, our conversation went like this:

Me - Eoghan, come on in now for lunch.

Eoghan - Don't you mean breakfast?

Me - Oh yes, that's right come have your breakfast now.

Eoghan - Do you really think it's a good idea?

Me - Yes, absolutely!

Eoghan - Oh mama, this is fun!

Eoghan and Jonas really enjoyed their three breakfasts, I on the other hand don't want to even think of eating breakast food for at least a week. I know now why they call it the most important meal of the day. Even the smallest portions are filling. I must admit that it was a fun thing to try. And tomorrow...Lunch.

out and about

Once a month Eoghan gets to attend our local Science Center for what is called Discovery Room. Today he was out on the ocean docks taking water samples, observing marine animals, birds, and just having fun being outside. He always has fun outside, but even more so after being inside for over a week with a cold. He and Jonas are much better.

A rosy cheeked boy, in from the cold.

cold inside and out

It was a beautiful sunny day today, but it was bittersweet as we watched the light shining from inside. My two youngest boys are suffering from colds, my oldest is trying to fight one away, and I am hoping I don't get it. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

nappies

Lately, we have been using disposable diapers for Jonas. I really don't like them. Even if we buy 7th Generation, or something similar I feel guilty for using them. I know I shouldn't, but I do. Not only are they clogging up our landfill, but we are wasting money buying them when we have a very nice set of Mother Ease cloth diapers. The problem is the following: I don't like how the covers (which are a rubbery material make the diapers smell), just as I dislike the way they sort of pinch up his skin. I know that he will soon be out of his nappies and I should stop fussing, but all this bothers me nonetheless.

I knit, and therefore could make him covers from wool. However, I have questions that I was hoping I could get help with. Please?

1. What type of wool should I use? Machine washable or non? I know this sounds silly, but is the non washable type of wool more likely to hold up? And either way, how should I wash them and with what?

2. Will they leak through to baby's clothing?

3. Do any of you use something different for nighttime?

4. Will they smell (here I am referring to pee smells)?

5. Can you point me to some good patterns to try out?

Many, many thanks in advance.