The Bus Stop With a New Sweater

Here is the little bow-legged girl...

Big Sister will finally wear the sweater I knit for her that took three months to complete.  At first she wouldn't wear it but I left her with few options and she decided to try it on this morning.  At least she looks happy in this picture!

And the back.  The pattern is called "Roo" that I found off Ravelry.

My friend Sarah suggested I buy some buttons from M & J Trims online.  I've seen their store in NYC and they do have an amazing selection.  I haven't ever tried looking at their site though - need to do that.

Keeping Tosca out of the busy street.

I started the sweater in Oregon back in August and finished it in Maine in November.  It's 100% wool and very soft, made from yarn bought at Knitt'n Kitt'n in Portland.  Love that store.

Tosca's sweater is from Baby Gap and a hand-me-down from our friend Annette.  It's fleece lined and I'm so happy it fits her this season.

I've also finished a few other projects - a scarf, slipcovers, and am now working on another sweater for Etame.  It's a Fair Isle Cardigan - navy blue with different colors around the collar.

Ballet

Etame is taking "ballet".  It's actually called creative movement but don't tell her or any of the other little ballerinas that.

She really enjoys the interaction with the other girls.  There are truly few things cuter than little girls all wearing tutus.  Seriously.  So.  Cute.  

She's made some good little friends in the class and I've enjoyed talking with their nice moms out in the waiting area (when I'm not chasing down Tosca who tries to get into every purse/snack/magazine in the small room outside the dance room).

Knitted Baby Blanket

This summer, I furiously finished knitting a baby blanket for my good friend Michelle's second little boy.  There are four stripes which represent the four people in their family.

I bought the yarn at Purl Soho while in NYC in the spring.  It's a super soft wool.  The pattern is from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts and I changed it a bit by not adding another white border on the top and bottom.  It already was very big!  It's garter stitch the whole way through which is easy to knit up.  Plus there was no piecing at the end as it just kept continuing on which was nice. 

I hope Baby Blane has many snugly nights under this blanket.

Back to School

As a testament to how busy I feel I've been this fall, I'm just now posting school photos!

Landon is enjoying this year, especially soccer.  He has an amazing competitive spirit that I've come to realize we better use to our advantage to keep motivating him.  He really excels when a competition is involved.  Landon's outfit is from Crew Cuts.  He prefers his nearly free Under Armour however.  Big surprise.

Etame is making new friends at her school and strengthening existing friendships.  She is increasingly asking for certain friends to come over, both boys and girls, and has a great time playing with the other younger siblings on the soccer field.

I ordered a few new pieces for each of them for school.  A bit of a splurge since nearly all of their clothes come from Goodwill or consignment shops/sales.  I ordered Tea Collection for Etame.  Too bad I ordered from the sale section and they are all a bit big.  Next year!

I'm sure Tosca would have enjoyed some back to school photos as well.  She's increasingly loving the camera and any attention she can garner.

Oh, and an update on Etame's hair.  We have a good system now where I "co-wash" (wash only with conditioner) once a week on Sunday night and brush it with the Tangle Teezer brush.  Then on Monday morning I do one style that I can continue with for the rest of the week with minimal maintenance.  Works for us and I continue to put a ton of product (butters, oils, sprays) on it each day.

Who Needs a Banister Anyhow?

We do!  With a one year old sliding down the stairs several times a day, we need something to keep her from going over the edge. Calvin has been working hard on creating a banister for us since I took down the old iron ones when removing the wallpaper.

Here's one of the banisters that he got up a few weeks ago.

I picked up the hooks when in Oregon at this store in Hood River called "At Home on Oak Street".  I love that little store.  I don't always find something but it's one of those places that you go into and wish you could make your own house feel that cozy.  Nice things and she's a great buyer.  Anyhow, there's one hook for each of the children.  I realized I hadn't explained that to them until this morning, hence the reason they still couldn't find their things easily even though they were right there!

Here's another before/during shot...

Here's the after... 

Who's that pretty girl peeking around the corner?!  Little Miss likes the new entry.  Now we can see outside better too since we took down the decorative iron covering the storm door windows.

Calvin's now working on getting the railing built for going up the stairs.  The post is in!  Now we just need the railings... progress...