Oink.

It was half term last week and we spent most of it looking after Madeleine and Sullivan who both ended up very poorly with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. They were both given the antiviral medication which has done a fantastic job of getting them well again. Poor Emilia spent most of the holiday being sent to friends houses to play...I bet she'd like Madeleine to be poorly again! She was very worried about her and kept asking if she'd have to go to hospital, it took a lot of reassurance to put her mind at rest.

Both girls were in their dance schools production this time round, Emilia had three dances - Ballet, Cowgirls dancing The Deadwood Stage from Calamity Jane, Tap - Penguins from Happy Feet and Modern - Catch a wave by The Beach Boys. Maddie had 2 dances - Ballet - We're off to see the Wizard and Tap - Penguins again. They were wonderful, I'm so proud of our girls having the confidence and stamina to perform on a professional stage in front of a full house. Well Done Girls! xxx

Jez is working hard, very busy with work and the gig club. He's training loads and is just about back to the weight and build he was at university.

Me? I'm okay. Not quite myself at the moment but on the advice of my Dr I have cut back the amount of hours I do at the Children's Centre. It's all voluntary so I can't be signed off and I feel like I am letting a lot of people down but maybe I should start pleasing myself a bit more and doing less to please others? Maybe, but I don't like it!

We went back to Hampshire this weekend. It was my brother Edward's 30th and my father-in-law's 65th. Crazy busy weekend, but fun. It was great to surprise Edd and to see Dad, Maisie, Laurie and Michelle too. Laurie was going to come back with us for a while but changed his mind :( I've made him promise to come down soon. We also got to meet my sister in law's new man, and a lovely man he is too. I think she has found someone who'll look after her.

We went round to see my dear friend Sharon for lunch on saturday. I wish her daughter would stop growing up, it's making me feel old! Such a lovely family, wish we saw more of each other.

The girls were back to school today, Maddie's class are already talking about the Christmas play - I'm so excited!

I'll leave you with a photo of Sullivan and I, taken at Mum and Barry's Wedding 18/04/08.

More photos soon, and hopefully a short video or two! Have a great week - I'm off to bed ready for a busy day tomorrow.

Join me on a stash only 2009?

We had some great snow last week. It was very exciting as North Devon doesn't often get hit by snow. It confused the schools however, they didn't decide whether or not to shut until about 9:30 in the morning! Emilia spent 2 hours playing in the back garden building Mr Snow.

Maddie made a baby snowman.

This is what we walked to school in! It was great fun and the girls thought it was a great adventure.

Jez wanted to play in the snow before he went to work so he rigged up his Halogen decorators lamp in the back garden and we all went out at 6:30am! Sullivan wasn't too sure, those boots are at least 3 sizes too big so he wasn't really able to walk. He is walking so well now, he barely crawls. I suppose I ought to get him measured for some proper shoes but I love the fat baby boots Mum made him for Christmas and he doesn't really walk outside...yet!

I've been doing a lot of knitting, see me on ravelry (faerynuff). I've made a hat from Mum's Handspun for me - Verity by Ysolda, a neck warmer for Maddie, a hat for Jez - Half pipe from Son of Stitch and Bitch, I just need to stitch in the brim. oh, and I've made two tank tops for Sullivan. Still struggling with Emilia's Linnet - I don't enjoy Kidsilk Haze. I'll do a slideshow of my knits for my next post as this one is getting long and rambly!


Is the credit crunch getting you down too? I'm permanently feeling sick about money, it's a horrid feeling. I'm on a self imposed yarn diet now, I'm having a lot of fun using only yarn from my stash.

We've had to pay £285 (about US$415) for the girls dancing this term. It's more than usual as Emilia has been put in for her primary tap exam and they are also in a show at the end of October so costumes have to be paid for. Emilia is doing so well, she passed her primary ballet exam with a merit in November :o) Maddie has started Tap this term, so between them the girls take 5 dancing classes. Phew.

I'm going to put a load of my yarn on ebay tonight - I've got so much and I know that I will never use it all - especially the lace weight! I'm also going to ebay some of Sullivan's clothes that he has outgrown as well as some of mine...I think worrying about money is making me eat. That and my new freecycled bread machine!

Happy Wednesday xxx

HELLO!

Above - Maddie and her friend had a rainbow birthday party, all the children dressed in their favourite colours and had a wonderful time.

It's been so busy here, Sullivan has turned one, Maddie has turned 5. Emilia has been slowly settling into her new school and I've been trying (and failing!) to keep a tidy home.

Christmas is almost here and we are so excited this year as we are travelling up to stay with Mum and Barry in their new home. We haven't had Christmas day with mum for years so this year is extra special :)

Oh Blimey, young Sullivan has just woken up so I had better go and sort him out.

Lotsa Knits!

Here you all are, the promised pictures of my latest makes, I'm on Dh's laptop and he doesn't have any editing software so I haven't been able to crop the pictures. I've posted them as small images but please click on them so you can see them better :)
This is the Amy Butler ditty bag and I absolutely adore it. It took about 2 hours to sew and about 45 minutes to cut out. It's perfect for Emilia's Forever Best Friends and Bratz dolls. Barbie will be getting a bag too!

Here's my youngest ballerina in her new ballet clothes, she's meant to be wearing 'proper' uniform but that would cost £50!!! I think little girls of 3 should be allowed to dress like a ballerina princess if they want to :) Emilia has her show soon, it's costing a fortune! We have to pay £45 for the 2 costumes, we get £20 back but no costumes after the show which I am appalled at. Last week they told me I needed to get her some white tap shoes for the show even though I'd just bought black ones (which is the colour for her tap uniform). AAARRRGGHHH! I found some second hand ones on eBay for £1.99 which do the trick, but aarrggghhh all the same! It's a good job she loves her dancing, her teacher says she is getting on really well this term, remembering all the steps for the show etc. Well done Emilia xxx

Do you like my funky changing bag? I subscribed to my favourite baby/child magazine - Junior - earlier in the month and this bag was a gift for the first 75 subscribers, I didn't believe that I would get one so I was over the moon when it arrived yesterday. I've not had a proper changing bag before, just the free one from the Huggies club! This one is made by Pink Lining and retails between £55 and £75! I'd never buy one in a million years! Exclamation mark!

I made up the pattern for this baby hat, I put the green leaves in using fair isle and it puckers a bit, I'm going to make another one using intarsia and see if it works better.
Another pinwheel blanket, this time in King Cole Aero super chunky. It's about 29" in diameter, perfect cot, pram size. I'm putting this one on Etsy.

This is my oldest WIP, now my newest FO!. I was full of grand ideas to make the Flower Power throw from Debbie Abrahams' Blankets and Throws to Knit but got bored so I stitched the squares I had made together, did a moss stitch border and then backed it with a lovely heavy but soft checky cotton which hides my dodgy intarsia ends. It's got a wonderful weight to it and I can't wait to use it :)

This baby is still back to back no matter how much time I spend on my hands and knees. My poor tummy feels so bruised from all the kicking and pushing. I can't wait to meet this fidgety little herbert! I've been weighing myself once a fortnight just to keep track of things, I've put on 22lbs so far which seems quite good, hopefully I won't put on too much more in the next 6 weeks or so.

Well, take care everyone and I hope to hear from you soon :)