Ten kids and a Dog: 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Comments and Graphics - New Year Layouts - Photobucket

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Easy peasy-fingerless gloves

A few weeks ago I asked the wonderful ladies at the 4Real forum for suggestions on knitting patterns for making fingerless gloves. (I call them wrist warmers and my daughters call them hobo gloves)

They didn't let me down---they never do!

Patty linked to this pattern. They are sooo pretty and very easy, using a side seam (I have never learned to knit in the round)

I followed the pattern exactly for this version--using size 7 needles and Caron super soft arcylic yarn.

They seemed a little too loose for me. I love the look of the wrist of these, but I wanted them real snug to keep my hands warm and to help my sore wrists, knuckles and finger joints from RA.

After making the first pair I set out on my own to see what I could do.

As you can see, you can even knit in these gloves, a BIG plus in my book.

I wanted a more snug and longer wrist band--so I experimented.

The left glove is just ribbing at the wrist, stockinette stitch for the body and a little more ribbing (K2,P2) for the finger area.
On the right, I left off the fingertip ribbing and just knit 2 rows and then did a regular bind off.
I still wanted a longer wrist band but they were much more snug than the first pair. I also preferred the fingertip area of the pair on the right---it gives more finger mobility.

My third pair is perfect!!
I used the original pattern from Patty, but used a size 5 needle. I made the wristband about 3 1/2 inches long. I followed the rest of the pattern exactly. It is also a super soft Caron arcylic yarn.
They turned out so pretty and most importantly comfy. Perfect for these aching hands!!

Thanks ladies!!

If You Give a Moose a Muffin--fun......

This Christmas, Auntie Kim, (Kimmy's Godmother) got her one of her favorite books If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff, and a stuffed moose to go with it. Auntie Kim got it through the Kohl's Cares for Kids program, but I see that the Laura Numeroff books are gone and they have moved on to Dr. Seuss books. Check them out--it is a great thing.

Since the temperature didn't get about 20 degrees today, I thought it was a perfect afternoon to have some "moose" fun!
So, of course, the first thing we had to do was to make muffins.

"Hey Kim, we are NOT cooking moosemuffins!"

Even sick kids rolled off the couch to help spinkle the crunchy topping on our muffins.

While our muffins we cooking I got out these sequencing cards to go along with the book.

I found a whole free unit at Homeschool Share to use with If You Give a Moose a Muffin.
There are so many activities for this book at Homeschool Share you could spend a whole week having "moose" fun!

The kids did a great job putting the cards in the correct order. Once they were in order, they told the story to me following the cards.

Kimmy coloring the neat little envelope provided by Homeschool Share for the cards.

MMMMMMmmmmm!!!

"Dig in Mr. Moose"

Kimmy didn't want to lose any crumbs on the muffin liner.

Yum!!

In the story, Moose makes sock puppets. I wasn't quite that energetic this afternoon, so I found these cute moose paperbag puppet at First-School.

All we needed to do was to print, cut out, and glue.

"Moose, meet Moose!"

And of course, if we make puppets, we need to enjoy a puppet show from behind the couch.

A little moose kissing---oh my!

I hope you all enjoyed sharing in our fun afternoon---

I know we enjoyed our afternoon!

Kimmy--circa December 2009

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

I won this new version of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King illustrated by Gail deMarcken in an online giveaway.
We just read it, and, I am embarrased to admit, that I have never read, listened too, or watched anything about "the Nutcracker".

We just loved this new picture book.

The illustrations are just gorgeous and Gracie has been looking at them for the hour since we finished reading.
I planned on reading this in 2 or 3 sittings because it is long for a picture book, but the kids wouldn't let me stop--even my 3 1/2 year old sat and listened to the whole book for over an hour--(although my 4 year old played nearby, coming over to look at the pictures during the exciting parts)
I am sooooo glad I didn't put this away with the Christmas books until next year!!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Anything that keeps this 9 year old ...

busy and in one place for 8 hours "Makes My Monday."

For Christmas, Mark received a Pter0saur Prehistoric Excavation Kit. I believe the exact kit Mark received is no longer made, but the kit I linked to is very similar.

The dinosaur bones are encased in very hard brick, and Mark needed to use all his archeologist skills to unearth the bones and reconstruct the dinosaur.

I really wondered how long he would stick to it. Daddy helped him get started, and the minute a tiny piece of plastic bone was exposed---he was hooked!