Niall's First Communion

 

Pretty Proud

You can see the full photo set here. 

Brothers

Once again, the difference in personality is glaringly obvious

Sewing fun

I will always be glad I learned how to sew when I was in high school, simply because I can do things like this.

Pixie-ism

Eleri has been asking me to put her hair in waterfalls lately.
What are waterfalls?
To the uninitiated, they are piggy tails.

Waterfalls are much more glamorous, don't you think?

 

She's sitting on the new window seat. That will be another post when it's closer to done.

Happy Easter!

I worked and worked to get the knits done in time. Success! But now I am more than a little tired of that shade of green. They look good though! Happy Easter!

 

 Getting all three to look at the same time is still a challenge.

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Funny outtake

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In other springtime news, we finally found Niall's missing bike helmet. It was in the shed, where I'd tossed it when I found it out in the yard a few weeks ago. An enterprising bird must have thought like it looked like a great place to build a home, but luckily it gave up before it actually laid any eggs in there. Or maybe I picked it up and tossed it into the shed in the nick of time! I love the look on his face here. It's like he's saying, "Do you believe the kind of stuff that happens to me?"

Niall's science fair project

Niall did his science fair project on tsunamis. Good choice for that one. Even Niall can't match the awesome, destructive force of a tsunami.

Practicing for the big day

Eleri will be dancing at the Raleigh Irish Festival for St. Patrick's day. The little guys are SO CUTE. I can barely stand it. I nearly burst every week.






and more cuteness

SNOW!

It's still coming down out there, but the kids are in for lunch. This is a pretty ideal snow as far as things go. Big flakes are sticking to the grass and roof, but the road is just wet.
Pics of Rowan and Eleri. Niall was not out there long enough. The child who has no problem walking out there barefoot to make a print in the snow doesn't actually like to STAY out there when properly clothed.

Dancing Queen

This morning, Eleri had her very first ever dancing class. We found a small dance company in Raleigh that does Irish dancing for fun only. No competitions or trophies or a bazillion costumes and fees. Fun and culture = just what we were looking for.
She LOVED it. She loved it so much, she cried when it was time to leave. She wanted to stay all day!
I only had my iPod with me for pictures. This was our trial class so I didn't want to show up with the huge camera and all. It took her about half the class to figure out that she wasn't supposed to run around skipping everywhere, and after that she was super good at following along and doing what her teacher was doing. Her teacher said that she did great - especially for someone who had never set foot in a class before today.
I was in raptures over the cuteness. Here it is hours later and I'm still grinning.
Coming soon: an Etsy store to fund Eleri's dancing class. The company takes paypal!
For now (grainy ipod) pictures of the cute

Big Day: Bridging Over

Today was the Blue and Gold ceremony for the Cub Scouts. Rowan received his Arrow of Light, and then crossed the bridge to become an official Boy Scout.

 

Flaming arrow

 

 

 

Rowan gets his arrow

 

Checking it out

 

Getting the badge that goes with the arrow

 Saluting his den leader goodbye

 

On the bridge

 

 

Getting his new neckerchief

It struck me how Rowan is standing on the step, and is still so much smaller than that Boy Scout.

 

Welcome to Troop 152

 

 Newly minted Boy Scouts

Eleri Style

We have GOT to get this child into a dance class.

Dancing

Oh to be a fly on the wall

Niall had his first confession today. His says his penance was one Hail Mary. He won't say what he told Father, though. It's much too embarrassing.

 

Proud boy

Shiny!

It's always an adventure when school calls you and tells you that your child has a head injury and you need to come right over.

 

Rowan was playing capture the flag in PE, and he and Peter went after the same flag at the same time. Rowan's eye met Peter's forehead in a big way.

I went on over there, not expecting anything too terrible, but it was a little unnerving to find my child with a few paramedics standing around him, suggesting we take him in to be seen.

I opted for our pediatrician instead of the ER docs and ambulance ride. Rowan was a little disappointed but then agreed with me when I told him how my way meant that he'd get to eat lunch at lunchtime.

 

Dr. Artman checked him over and he's fine. There's no weirdness going on with his eye, but the swelling and bruising promises to be SPECTACULAR. I believe it. His eye is already bigger than it was when I took these pictures.

We're to keep using ice for 20 mins at a time, give him ibuprofen, and call back if he starts hurling or showing other signs of bad things. I told Rowan that the next time he wants an afternoon off school, he should just SAY so.

If you'd like to watch Rowan's eye as it blooms, we now have a set on flickr just for the shiner.

WEBELOS

Rowan got his Webelos badge last night - the highest badge you can get as a cub scout. He has also earned his Arrow of Light, which is the ultimate goal, but he won't get that until the blue and gold banquet where he'll officially graduate and be a Boy Scout.
He's quite proud of himself.

 

Part of the ceremony involves face painting

 

officially Webelos

 

 

Yipe!

It's short!

For Mamaw

Does she wear her dancing outfits? Yes. Yes she does. She also loves her "come cuter."

 

 

 

 

Endocrine visit was today. They measure height in centimeters there. :)

They took lots of blood and X-rayed her hand. Results will come in about two weeks. 

Flashy!

Ruben got me a new flash for Christmas, and I have no idea what I'm doing yet. But last night, I stuck it on my camera and snapped a few anyway. All of these were taken at night, and within a couple of minutes of each other. It's wild the lighting that little flash can do!

 

This one is with the flash pointed at the ceiling.

 

This one had the flash pointed at the windows.

 And this one had the flash pointed out into the open kitchen.

I can't tell you how excited I am that I am finally starting to get the pictures that I've been trying to get for YEARS.  Yes, the brunt of photography is knowing how to use your camera, but having good equipment makes such a difference! I need to learn how to use this flash for real, and then watch out!

Christmas pictures are up

Christmas pictures set on Flickr

Christmas is officially over, now. So I made it a point to process and upload the rest of them. Enjoy!

knitting plans 2013

To make this year, for me:

Celtic Icon - in purple from knitpicks yarn (already in stash)

TARDIS shawl - in blue from knitpicks yarn (already in stash)

Wrap Sweater - in "Niall" from TIG (just ordered)

Avalon hat - from my one ball of Spiffy Knits

and I'm sure I'll think of more...