no more mix ups

A while back I threw out all of our old plastic cups. Instead, I bought glass cups for the girls to use.  This has been working well with one exception- they all look alike.  The trouble is that we mix them up.  Who's is who's?  Is this yesterday's cup or today's cup? (if my sweet little ones would clear their cups off the kitchen table this last issue wouldn't be).  I found that I was washing the cups much too often.  Like 2-3 times a day often.  It was time to get creative.

 

Introducing color-coded cup cozies.  Each girl now has her own cup- clearly distinguished, and for an entire day's use!!  I crochet them up quickly last night.  Would you like to make some of your own?

Start with some random bits of yarn.  I prefer bright colors (mostly because it won't look so dirty when messy hands touch them) and also I used yarn that could easily be washed- no wool this time.  A size H hook is what I used...but you decide depending on your yarn.

Chain 2. 6 single crochet in the second chain from hook

round 1: 2 single crochet in each stitch from the previous round

round 2: Single crochet in the next stitch then increase in the next by making 2 single in the next stitch around

round 3: single crochet around with an increase every 3rd stitch around

round 4: singe crochet around  with an increase every 4th stitch around

keep increasing  like this until the round is as big as the bottom of your glass

round 5: slip stitch around going through back loops only

round 6: single crochet around

round 7: alternate front and back post single crochet around (this creates the ribbing)

continue for as high as you would like coverage on your glass (I did 6-8 rounds like this)

round 8: single crochet around

round 9: slip stitch through the front loops only.

tie off yarn and weave in ends.

 

Laurel picked green.  I think that they are going to work well.  Once you have the general idea you can get creative.  Stripes? Picot edging? Embroidered Initials? The possibilities are endless!  Give it a try!

cabin fever

Crazy weather around here.  We had snow, lots of snow, sleet, thick fog, a few sun breaks, and now it is very windy.  Makes me so thankful to have a nice cozy house to take shelter in.  Because of the slick roads we chose not to leave the house today.  But, we did much more than just take shelter.

   

There was some fort making (out of blankets) and some book reading.

There was also some cocoa sipping after a brief stint out in the snow. Don't you love it how it how the time spent to suit everyone up in their long johns/wool socks/turtlenecks/sweaters/snow bibs/coats/boots/hats/scarves/glove layer #1/glove layer #2 (oh and someone always forgets to go to the bathroom first) is always ten times longer than the actual time spent outside?   The girls always say "cheers to all" when their cups clink.  I say, "here's to summer and wearing sun dresses and flip-flops".

At first, the novelty of "being snowed in" was fun.  The plow made it through around 11:30am (so technically we weren't really stuck).  By the time evening rolled around we all started to go a little nutty.  This was day 3 of staying within the same set of walls.

Some dancing ensued. Glad that this picture turned out blurry :)  Can you hear all the giggling?

   

And then there was this...which I don't really have an explanation for.  Just Hannah wearing a basket on her head (with the little plastic price tag thingy still on it).

Thankfully Husband made it home just in time to rescue me from all the insanity. 

Really hoping to get out tomorrow.

friends are good

The last few days, I have to admit, I have been feeling a bit bogged down, overwhelmed, frustrated.  Do you ever feel like you are spinning your wheels?  Like you are in a dream where someone horrible is chasing you but you are stuck- can't run?  There is so much that has to be done around here that I can't seem to find enough time to do what it is that I really want to do.  Who wants to be doing dishes or folding heaps of laundry when there is yarn and fabric waiting nearby. And then there are the children.  Since the beginning of the holidays I have been preoccupied.  With all the gift-making and entertaining that we have done, I am afraid my attention towards them has been less. Yesterday, Emma asked me (with her big blue eyes) "Mommy, why don't you ever play with us anymore?"  Ughhh, balance is so hard for me to achieve.

What we needed was a play date.  Some time with friends.  That always seems to do the trick, puts things back into perspective.  So, we were lucky enough to have my sweet friend Saci over this morning.  She moved from Hungary 6 years ago, and I was fortunate enough to have her in my childbirth classes 2 years ago.  Even more fortunate was I to see her beautiful daughter be born.  We've been friends since.

And now, she is expecting baby #2.  Unfortunately we don't get to see them very often.  Silly really, seeing as how we live a mere 30 minutes from each other.  But, you know how it goes....kids, and schedules and such.  Also, she lives up one of the canyons here, and some days the snow makes for difficult travel out.

I tend to get a bit nervous when she comes.  I love cooking for other people, but Saci and her family are Vegan- we are not.  Wanting to respect that, I always have to think a little about what I can make her other than lettuce :).  This book is so wonderful.  All the recipes (with the exception of maybe two or three are vegan). There are so many family friendly, yummy, healthy things to eat inside.  It is definitely one that I recommend.

So, I decided upon the Three Sisters Stew.  The recipe says that Native Americans used to grow corn, squash and beans (the primary ingredients) all together.  The beans would climb up the corn stalks, and the squash grew on the ground in between the corn.  It was so tasty.  Perfect for a cold winter day like today.

I also made some pumpkin muffins with banana/tofu frosting.  I know it sounds unappetizing- but even my kids devoured them.  Seriously, get the book.

I love that Saci is so simple. She sees through all the disgusting materialism we have here in the US.  She reminds me that we over complicate most things. I always feel more focused on what is really important after she leaves. Whenever she comes, she always brings me a gift. (reason enough to invite her more often :)

This time she made me a bag for knitting and crochet.  Oh how I have been wanting something like this!  I like to crochet while I wait for the girls to come out of school or piano, and I never have an organized way to transport all my projects.  She included some knitting needles and some cotton yarn along with a pattern for dishcloths that I have been begging her for. (I barely know how to knit- so she assured me that this would be a great start).  I was so thankful, pretty don't you think?

While we chatted the girls had fun playing, er jumping on the bed.

Why don't grown-ups jump on the bed?  Perhaps it is because we can find no one willing to look silly enough to jump with us. I vow to do it more often- it seems I would have lots of willing participants.

Friends are good, and I was thankful for a visit from one of mine today! Feeling better now.