Feed the Birds, Feed the birds....

The other day, the song lyrics of "Feed the Birds" from Marry Poppins were ringing in my head. (Although I just looked up the lyrics and I was apparently remembering them wrong... oh well). Anyway, there were quite a few ducks and geese down at the pond in our back yard, so Little Ann decided to go grab some bread, and then grab the neighbor boy, and then feed the birds. :)

They were a little disappointed that the geese were steeling all of the food, so they were trying to chuck larger chunks of their bread and bagels to distract the geese while they tried to run to get some food to the ducks. Their plan however didn't work, because the geese would just eat more quickly and then follow the kids to see if they could get some more!

They certainly had a good time though! The entire area surrounding the pond was echoing with their laughter for at least a half an hour! (One of life's most joyful sounds) It was all good that day! :)

Choosy Dogs Choose Jiff!

The other day Little Ann took a big 'ol scoop of Peanut butter to have for a snack, and there really wasn't that much left so we decided to give it to Kati. And she loved it!!





We had to cut the top portion off so she could reach her little snout all the way down to the bottom... but she was in doggy heaven! And I got some cute photos!

Happy Dogs on Thursday! :)

Spring Fling Swap

This Week's Topic:

Browse around some of the other blogs of participants, and find one person who enjoys a similar roast coffee to you - share something interesting about them that you find on THEIR blog, and tell us what you've been working on knitting or crochet-wise this week!

So... I have been aimlessly wandering the pages of other people's blogs, and I have discovered that there are a few people who enjoy a roast similar to what I like... that might have something to do with the fact that I enjoy a range of roasts though. So here is what I have discovered:
Lizet enjoys a nice bold roast, which I also enjoy, especially on a lazy day that really shouldn't be so lazy and I need something bold and exciting to start my day off right.
Tanja also enjoys a nice, rich, bold roast. Go check out her blog, she has the cutest pictures of a box that her daughter knit for her. So adorable!
I also very much enjoyed browsing Christy T.'s Blog... She has a ton of cute little knit animals that she has made, and she also enjoys a bold roast, as well as the 'reduced fat' (haha) 'cinnamon swirl coffee cake' from Starbucks that is oh so delicious!
I had fun checking out everybody's blogs... well not everyone b/c that would have taken me all day, but I did enjoy reading the ones that I randomly selected from the list!
As far as what I am working on.. I just opened the bottom left drawer in my dresser yesterday. It is the drawer that holds little bags of half done, almost finished, or not yet started knitting projects; and I pulled out one of the scarfs that I started a while back. It is a fairly easy pattern so I am hoping to finish it up either this week or next :) We'll see though!

He Peed on me!!!

So I have been in the process of potty training Little Dan for the last couple of weeks. We have been working on it very enthusiastically and giving different rewards as well as using extensive amounts of enthusiasm to encourage the use of the potty. But even though I say 'we', what I really mean is 'I' have been working on it! Which sucks because I'm pretty sure he could really have a good handle on things if it was a consistent thing b/w my time during the day and the 2 hours a night that G&S have him... and then if they would only put in a little effort on the weekends! Its not that hard and it comes with big rewards for all of us!
So once he learns to "go potty" I won't have to change his diapers, and more importantly, he will be allowed to go to his pre-school class in the fall (they don't except kids that aren't potty-trained.. even though they are only there for 3 hours... whatev). So considering the benefits.. I would think that as a parent you would want this to happen, but it almost feels like they want him to stay a baby forever. Maybe b/c G doesn't get to spend enough time with him she feels like if he can do certain things that it means that he is really growing up and she isn't getting to be there for enough of the process. I really don't know, and this is just a shot in the dark... they could just also just be way to busy, but I still think its the prior option.
Either way, last Monday I was encouraging him to go sit on the potty to see if could earn a reward! It's all very exciting ya know.. Anyhow, I was helping him get his pants down so he could try and apparently he had to go so badly the as soon as there was nothing in the way he let'er rip! Unfortunately I was on the receiving end... and even more unfortunate, I had to encourage that he almost did it and that it was a really good try, etc., etc. all while I was covered in urine!!

Disgusting!

But I guess slowly but surely he is learning.. and I should just be thankful that after 8 or 9 years of babysitting and nannying, I've never been peed on before this... and at least he didn't just crap all over the floor! :)

Happy Monday :)

Swap Fun!

Coffee

1. What is your preference? Whole beans or ground? Ground.. it just makes life that much easier!

2. What kind of coffees do you enjoy? A rich, bold roast; a light, fresh one, or something in between? Leaded or non? Any range from a medium, mild to a rich bold roast is good. Definitely leaded.

3. If you were headed out right now to buy some coffee for the house, what would you be picking up? I'd probably just grab some pre ground beans from Starbucks, so I could get a latte at the same time, and then I would get either the Verona, or the Sonoma blend.

4. Do you drink for caffeine, pleasure, or both? I'd say both. I love the aroma, and that a cup can warm you up or cool you down, depending on how you drink it, but the caffeine is a good perk that coffee has :)

5. Do you enjoy flavored coffees? How about add-ins or flavored creamers? I am not a fan of flavored coffees. If I want a flavor, I'm going to add it in with a flavored cream. I want to be able to change my mind about what the flavor is or if I just want it black.

6. A large, lovely mug or a small, dainty cup? Lovely and Large! I love those cups that are short and really wide so when you drink your entire face could sink into the mug! :)

7. Describe your perfect cup - not JUST the coffee, but how you'd enjoy it! I use a french press to Enjoy my coffee, and then I have this little milk-foamer tool, that I use so I let the coffee sit in the press before pressing it down, and then I take it down slowly. During that process I will pour some cream, usually french vanilla, chocolate caramel, or just plain soy milk (depending on the day). I use the foamer to fluff up my cream and then I pour my coffee on top, so that it stirs itself, and the foam settles to the top. Its delicious! mmmm.

8. You're sitting down to enjoy a nice cup in the local coffee shop, knitting bag in hand, iPod all tuned up - or maybe you're there with a few friends for knit night! What treat do you pick up to enjoy with your coffee? A sweet, rich brownie, or something more healthy? How about a salty treat? What goes best with that great cup and company?
Right now I am on a health kick, but I do love treating myself to something sweet if I have had a good healthy week. Sweet treats go so well with rich coffee!

Yarn

1. Do you knit or crochet? knit

2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with? anything that feels good, I just like to knit with something that feels soft and luscious running through my fingers!

3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now? Three different scarfs.. two that are gifts and one for me for a nice lacy bright spring touch to add to a boring outfit!

4. What are your favorite colors in yarns? What about those that you'd never find in your stash? I love subtle colors, like light blues, yellows, and greens; I love to use gray, cream, and brown for neutrals; and then for a nice bright splash i'll use a bright apple green or red! I wouldn't probably use black, but everything else is good.

5. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using? Any you just detest? I love bamboo needles, and other wooden needles as well, they feel really good in your hands. I'm not a fan of plastic, but I could use them if that was my only option.

6. Are there any particular notions you absolute do NOT need? Some of us swap a lot - are you sure that you have enough tape measures to last your lifetime? Enough stitch markers to mark every stitch of a 10 foot wide afghan? I don't have a stash of too many notions... just a handful of markers...

7. You walk into the yarn shop and have exactly and only enough money to purchase 2 skeins of yarn in their 2 for 20 special they have going..The choices are a soft, thick cotton/viscose blend in your favorite colors, slightly variegated..a beautiful sock yarn that's just squishy and sproingy in your hands.. a soft, worsted weight wool like malabrigo.. and a lovely bamboo blend with colors to just die for. Which do you walk out the door with? I'd have to go with the bamboo blend.

Spring

1. We're starting sign-ups on the first day of Spring - is it already truly Spring-like where you are?

2. What's your favorite spring flower? Do you have one? I love them all, but I am specifically a fan of the lily family of flowers.

3. What do you most look forward to about springtime? Color in Nature :) It makes me smile. And I love taking spring walks while the sun is shining and the air is so fresh, and everything is in bloom again... it is beautiful!

4. They've predicted a gorgeous day tomorrow - Sunny and about 65 with a nice breeze - how do you spend your day? Well since I am a nanny and have a ridiculous amount of flexibility with our schedule, I would take Little Dan to the park to run around and play, and then have a nice little picnic! We also have two big ponds near our house, so taking a stroll to one of them could be a nice way to spend the day. And during his nap time, I would sit outside, and read or knit, and enjoy the lovely day.

5. The day after, it's going to be cooler and pouring down rain - does that impact your mood? How do you spend that day? what helps cheer you up? I actually love the rain (I think its the Seattle-ite in me).. but it doesn't effect my mood at all, we just play indoors, or spend the day being a little more productive, either running errands, or getting things done around the house.

Odds n Ends

1. Do you collect anything BESIDES yarn and needles? Not really.. I try to keep down on the clutter, so that if you have to pick up and move across the country (or if you choose to), you don't have to pack up a ton of small knick-knacks, or get rid of them.

2. Are you allergic to anything? Just the normal Allergens.. dust, cats, dairy...

3. Do you have pets? I have a pet Hedgehog, and the family that I live with has a dog, two cats, a bird, and a snake... some say we have a little zoo going.

4. Is this your first swap, or are you an old pro? What are the last 2 swaps you participated in? This is my second official swap. The last one that I participated in was the Dogs on Thursday Holiday Ornament Swap.

5. List 3 of your favorite blogs - craft related or not - and tell us why you love them. G-marie Sews, I love because it is my mom's blog, and I am very close to her, so it makes me feel at home to know all the little crazy details of her life other than just the stuff she tells me on our daily phone call.
I love Lapdog Creations, because Nichole always has something fun going on with the dogs, or with her crafts.
And Shut Up, I'm Counting, because Cass has a terribly fun since of humor, and I love the way she writes, and her funny stories. She also does fun craft projects.

Extreme Home Make-over

:Sheila's Edition:

When I first got little Sheila, she live in a little hedgehog mansion. Which would not break down small enough to it into even my largest suitcase! So I had to buy her a new and not so exciting cage. And ever since I moved here I have been meaning to dress it up a little for her to give her some more room.. but of course that hasn't happened for the last 7 & 1/2 months.... I fail at being a good mother. :(
So her new cage was basically just a cube with a wheel, her litter pan, and food and water dishes all crammed onto the one level of the cage and then her tube and toasty tent snuggled in there too. Very Crampy! So the whole point of the renovation is to spread things out to give her more levels to run around and have more fun, and not to cramp her style :)

Here is what it was before...of course I took this photo after removing everything so her cage could be cleaned.. so you really can't see the crampy-ness of it.

Boring!

And here is all of the wonderful new space she has acquired through our renovations!

So I as you can see, I added two shelves and some ramps to be able to elevate things, now she has a level for dining, and a level for exercising, and then the main level for her bed, tube, and litter. And it is great because she loves being snuggle in beneath the dining level for when she is sleeping!

And here she is when I first put her in... She's checking it all out! (and I know that in this photo it still looks cramped, but she as all of the room beneath the shelf, and then free space too! Plus she knocked the ramp down, and figured out how to climb up to the first shelf without it, so I took that out too, and now she really has a ton of space! It all worked out very well!

Best Buds

On Monday nights I go over to the neighbors' house to watch their little guys. They have 3.. a little girl that is 1 1/2, and two boys who are 3 and 6. Usually I am only there for about 3 hours, and often I have to bring Little Dan and Little Ann with me. But it works out, because little Ann is best buds with the oldest neighbor boy, and little dan is the perfect age to play with both of the younger kids. Usually we just spend the time running around the racetrack, which is the circle that is made by the hallway from the entry, to the kitchen, then through the dining room, and living room, then back to the entry. A perfect place to do laps, and play tag! Not to mention that it wears them out without much effort.

Last week however, they had just purchased a new movie and all of the kids wanted to watch it so we popped popcorn, and vegged out for the show. All of the kids were hooked in, except little Dan.. he was much to excited by all the toys.I just thought that it was so cute how they were all laying together. There was no space between them, and they were in order of age, and all just happy as could be with the movie :) It was a good time for sure, and it is nice that they get along so well.. makes life a bit easier :)