B is for Balboa Beach

We study a letter a week for school. We started this when 8 was in kindergarten and it's been such a fun thing for our family that we keep on going. We do take breaks for holidays or other things, and I only go through the alphabet once for the school year. Two years ago we read through My ABC Bible Verses. Last year we did alphabet Muffin Tin lunches. And this year I'm teaching the kids about a hymn a week to go with our letter. I've got some great books/CD's that talk about the story behind the hymn. The books don't go in alphabet order so I've chosen our arrangement of songs. This week we'll be learning about "Blessed Assurance." And some other fun B's in our week... BBQ Burgers and Baked Beans, Blueberry Bars, Breaded Chicken with Brussel Sprouts and Baked Potatoes, Bean Burritos, and...Balboa Beach! Sunday night we enjoyed a Bonfire with some CSUF Exchange Students. That was a great way to close out the weekend.

8 & 7

7 & 5 (Is it any wonder I've been asked if they're twins?)

My toes in MY beach! This is the beach I lived at the summer of 1995.

And the fog didn't roll in so we were able to enjoy a sunset! Amazing!

Knitterly Stash Enhancement

I visited Knitterly when I was in Petaluma. It seems like so long ago. Traveling home and unpacking and starting school have been some L.O.N.G. days. I had saved some Christmas money to spend on yarn. I just couldn't spend it on bills. My mom fell in love with Ella Rae Book 20 (I did too) and so she bought it for me. The 2 sweaters I want to knit are on the cover.

I found some great buys on the sale rack. I'm hoping I can make them work. The Cashcotton is for Lulu.

The Princess yarn is for the Saffron Pattern.

I decided to CO for the Saffron since it's short sleeves and right now 5 has a new dress that would look cute with this cardi. I figure I have to do better than on my Knitterly Hoodie. This can't take me a year. I had lots of problems with the swatch. This is my 2nd one. I couldn't decide if the lace pattern was supposed to line up or be staggered...and I kept having problems with the stitch count. With these problems I figured it was no wonder I couldn't get gauge. I asked for help on FB and then I decided to look at the Ella Rae site. Of course, there were corrections on this pattern. Someone from Ella Rae emailed me back so quick and I'm frogging my swatch and trying again. I do love how it matched my little table cloth so well. Nice summery colors.

And since these photos aren't up on the Ella Rae site or on Ravlery I'm showing you a few of my other favorites. How can you not LOVE this book?!? I mean these are so stinking cute. I LOVE the contrast ruffle on the sleeve here.

I LOVE the ruffle at the neck here and I just might need to find a toddler I can knit for.

I LOVE the simplicity of this one and I know it would be so squishy soft in garter stitch.

So...what are your new knitting LOVES?

Last Call

I had to get my little model to put on some hats for me. These hats are going with M to a mountain region where it will be very cold this winter. However, it was 113 yesterday in the city he'll visit next month. What a shock of temperature! I know these will be appreciated so much. He leaves at the beginning of September so it's not too late to send in a hat. I've also got some washcloths (still have to buy the soaps) and then I'll take photos of those. THANK YOU to those who have knit for others.

Here's a peak at part of the prize. I picked up this hand stamped project bag in Petaluma.

Versatile Blogger

This award comes from Dawn of WolfeFarms. Dawn, I'm trying to steal your button for my sidebar and the code isn't working for me. Maybe I need an extra cup of coffee.

Here are the responsibilities that come along with the award:

Thank the person who gave you the award. Thanks Dawn!
List 7 things about yourself.
Pass on the award to bloggers you've recently discovered.

I award this to: Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice. She's a local girl. She makes jewelry and she's got a giveaway going on right now. I love her list of kidtrips!

The BonBon Rose Girls. Chan pointed me to them. My wardrobe is in need of an update and I love the hints, tips and tricks they're sharing. And one is named Kristin (although she spells it wrong.) What's this, when I went to get their link I see they've got a jewelry give away going on too.

Carissa Graham. We're related...even if it is a bit far fetched. I knit with her Grandmother Marilyn at a Mini West Coast Swedberg Reunion (see the knitting in my new hoodie pic.) We've both got some Swedberg blood from Minnesota. Her grandma sent me a link to her blog. She has 2 babies. I remember those days. My boys are 8 & 7 and my little girl is 5 right now, but I sure did get those looks when they were 3, almost 2, and I was very pregnant.

Now about those 7 things.

1. I'm not worth talking to in the morning before my 2nd cup of coffee.
2. I have a collection of Madame Alexander dolls.
3. I love buttons.
4. I love fog.
5. My eyelashes are so light I look funny without mascara.
6. I can't live without lipgloss. My favorite color right now is called Fancy Nancy. 5 likes to wear it too.
7. I live 7 miles from the house I grew up in, but I left a piece of my heart in Northern Ca where my Grandparents lived and where I was born. I keep thinking about moving but I don't really know what it would be like to re-locate.

First Day of School

8 is starting 3rd grade. He'll be 9 in November. He's grown up so much this year. Yesterday he rolled his eyes when M walked into the Disney store at the mall. It won't be long and I'll have a tween on my hands.

7 is starting 2nd grade. He'll be 7 1/2 at the beginning of September. He's totally a middle child. And right now he's torn between growing up with his brother and staying little with his sister. Maybe this is the best part of being the middle, he gets the best of both worlds.

My princess is 5 and starting Kindergarten today. She's already lost 4 teeth. She's out to breakfast right now with her M. That's our Kindergarten tradition.