Nevey and knitting

This sweetheart seems to be called Nevey more than Neve lately. Interestingly, I notice we mostly only use Nevey when speaking to her. When we speak of her, its still Neve. She's smiling and cooing a lot more regularly now, which makes everyone in our house fall more in love with her. I love seeing some personality coming out. She's getting more demanding about being held. The swing is just not cutting it anymore.

These are some of her 2 month pictures. I'm not doing very good at taking lots of pictures these days, but I'm going to try my best to take these monthly pictures.

We brought Kellen's friend home with us after pre-K one afternoon. He was very taken with the baby and wanted to check out her bellybutton - and he giggled and giggled about it. Kellen kept saying lets go play now, but he wanted to stay with the baby he said. So sweet!

Finished Neve's second sweater on the weekend. I was sewing on her buttons in a meeting, I just couldn't wait to have it all finished. I am pretty patient about a new project, but the closer I get to finishing it, the more obsessed I get. I get so excited to see the finished product.

I've been compiling a list of life lessons that are knitting related, so you'll probably hear some of those soon. Ian says I'm more obsessed about knitting than he is with any of his hobbies. Scary if that may be true.

Sweet Dreams

Because everyone will celebrate with me...Neve slept from 8pm - 7am straight. Hoping it is a new trend! I was in the city trying to do a long list of errands and shopping. I was wondering what her problem was and why she wanted to nurse so often. I guess she was getting ready for her big night!

Quick thoughts in point form.

• Kellen has taken off with skiing. Up the tow rope and down the bunny hill by himself. Was super excited to go up the chair lift with Dad!
• Yesterday was our anniversary. Some friends watched the kids while we went for a xcountry ski together. It was a beautiful day and a great ski!
• I am excited to begin another knitting project, so I'm trying to be quick here.
• Neve is having much longer awake times during the day and evening. She's content and even smiley sometimes. We all love her!
• Lanelle is pooping on the potty! (Yes, I just wrote that. It's too exciting not to share! And, yes, I think it is LONG overdue.)
• I asked Kellen if he knew where dad was. He said "He's on the computer. Looking at guns at Cabelas." "How do you know Kellen?," I asked. "Oh, I just know." Well, he wasn't. But, that answer says a lot about where Ian spends his time. That answer made me giggle for the rest of the day.
• Last week was super busy - Stamp club, playgroup, make and take playdough at school, story and rhyme time, parent day at pre-K, gym night, caregroup, friends for lunch...we were on the go all week. Super fun. Yet tiring.
• I want more hours in a day. Or to need less sleep. Because its all so fun.

LEGO Lava Dragon

We've had a lot of this going on in our house...

(kids wanted me to take a picture of how they trapped my guy with lava blocks, they thought they were so funny!)

We bought this game for Kellen for his birthday. I thought it was maybe silly, since they game says for 7+. But both kids LOVE playing with a few reminders about where they can move next. The overall concepts they get - especially that the goal is to get to the top of the dragon first so they can fly off on him!

Neve's 4 Season

Still enjoying our quiet weekend. I finished Neve's first sweater, which is from a pattern called 4 season. It's kind of big right now, I made the 3-6 month size. I wished I would have been more patient to get some grey wool that I was imagining, but I like it. It's got more interesting color in it when seen up close than just the dark green you see in the pictures. And, its such an easy, quick knit that I might just make another one. When I was trying to get her attention, she started smiling for me! I've been able to get her to smile a few times and it makes me fall in love with her even more. It was hard to get a good picture, with all the effort it took on my part to get her to smile! If she saw the camera, she wouldn't smile. But, I was so happy to finally capture some of her first smiles.

And then, she'd had enough of the crazy lady in her face!

Me & Neve

Neve and I seem to get lots of one on one time, seeing as I'm her only food supply. The other 2 however, love to be off with Dad. Lanelle is especially enjoying this new way of dividing up. She used to hate to miss out going with Daddy and Kellen when they would go off to do errands in the city. This weekend the big kids and Dad are off to the farm for curling and cousin time. I was prepared for some busy crafting and organizing time. I started by tackling the junk drawers (that was a serious job after 2.5 years of unlimited collection). As that wrapped up, Neve got into some serious evening fussing time. Now, 2.5 hours later and most of the evening gone, I wonder what I was thinking. Umm, just because there is no one else speaking English in the house for the weekend, does not mean it will be quiet! Maybe I'll revamp my plans though and put cuddling Neve a little higher on my list, 'cause she is pretty special. my view of beautiful Neve sleeping on me, cuddled in the sling

Loving the Little Moments

Kids always take great delight in little things. Something I think adults could learn from. Nothing more special on a cold afternoon than to love each other during a frothy milk making and snack adventure.

And laughing together

and feeding someone when they don't want to quit making frothy milk.

I can't make everyday as perfect as I would like it to be. But I can find the perfect little moments that I want to always remember!

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kellen helped make chocolate chip cookies for his pre-K fun night snack potluck. He was such a good helper. So, I got him to help make them for his friends at his birthday party. And, after a thoughtful boy shared them with his mother, I was asked to share the recipe, so here it is:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup margarine, softened
2 eggs
1.5 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups flour
1.5 cups chocolate chips

Beat together sugars, marg, eggs, and vanilla. Add soda, salt, and flour. Mix. Add choc chips. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Okay, I know these are not healthy at all. But they are delicious and simple. Sometimes though I wish I had never found the recipe. Tastebuds may love them, but probably not any other part of the body! (Oh, the original came in the recipe book with my Kitchen Aid, so if you have one, you may have already discovered these.)

Cousin Fun

Having some cousins for a weekend made for tons of excitement around here. We are so glad Jeff, Jenn, Kayla, Nolan, and Ayden came to hang out with us. It wasn't long enough of course.

Everyone played together so nicely. Lanelle thought Kayla was just the best! She had fun playing dress up and tea party with her. Yea, for big cousins. Even the boys got into the costumes and put on a "play" for us. There wasn't much of a story line, but it was entertaining anyhow. Way to be a good sport, Uncle Jeffery the Caterpillar!

This was the transformer play as they "rolled out!"

Transformer attack!

It was so sad when they left, lucky we had a supper invite with the Koops' to help stop the tears!