That Time of Year Again

...when both my children require entire new wardrobes. Usually we aren't quite this quick about it, seeing as it's still pretty hot in Colorado and will be for a while, but Liam has NO workable pants right now (I can handle the high waters, but not the bursting buttons) and one chilly day could be embarrassing, seeing as he attends preschool four mornings a week. Plus, we are off to London, Ontario tomorrow to visit some of my mother's family for a week (staying with my aunt Sue) and she mentioned you never know what the temperature might be there this time of  year. So we took advantage of Labor Day sales at the outlet stores and got a few things for each kid. And Good God it adds up. But then Liam got two pairs of his super-expensive-but-unfortunately-necessary extra-wide shoes (which is why he'll only ever have two pairs at once - sneakers and shoes - plus winter boots) and Olivia got some very cute and very red Keds.

Fortunately Liam was agreeable to trying on some clothes as we discovered he's wearing size five in most places and size six in some, which puts him firmly in the big kid section of most stores. He's left the toddler sizes behind, FOREVER (as he's been saying a lot lately, in all caps, such as, "Mommy! Come play with me FOREVER!").

In the meantime, Fifi and I have been on a break. She has been frogged, and will accompany me on the trip, although certainly not in my carry-on because have I mentioned that Mark is not coming? The poor, poor man is short on vacation days and honestly hasn't had a real vacation this year. So I'm traveling with Liam and Olivia in two seats. Pray for me.

I do have a secret weapon this time, however: my iPod contains episodes of the Little Einsteins, Caillou, The Backyardigans, and some freebie Sesame Street shorts. Don't judge (please): this is a four-hour flight on a full airplane with no guarantees of an extra seat, entertainment, or any sort of food. Of course Olivia doesn't have much interest in television yet, but my fingers are crossed that she'll spontaneously develop one while trapped on my lap tomorrow. Of course we're also stocked with crayons, paper, stickers, books, lunch, and smallish toys, but part of the fun of flying with toddlers is that you never know what will happen. (I also have episodes of Lime & Violet, Cast On, and Stash and Burn, by the way, although I can't imagine when I'll be able to listen to them.)

As I was saying, Fifi and I are on a break and, in anticipation of Fall, I've been entertaining other projects.

This is Sorbet, a Minnowknits pattern I bought on impulse a couple of weeks ago at A Knitted Peace, along with the Araucania Pomaire yarn I used because the colors were so beautiful and the yarn itself so soft and silky. And I loved knitting it too; the pattern is quick and fun to do, with top-down sleeves and those funky ties. Everything seemed so right.

Unfortunately, I am NOT happy with the end results. You are probably shuddering at the wonky purples, but really that part looks better in real life; it's the atomic green I can't stand. I swear it glows. I kept hoping it would all come together, but it didn't. Ah well. We can't all be the Kaffe Fassetts of the world. But I will make this pattern again. In solids.

Then I whipped this off, although the [unpublished, as far as I can tell] errata slowed me down a bit (it calls for casting on about half the stitches it should).

Olivia loves it.

It's the Flower Toggle Hat from Handknits for Kids. Very cute. I'll do it again, for sure. Probably before winter hits and I discover she's outgrown this one. Liam's dog sweater is resting under the end table in the living room because those tiny needles are killing me.

Olivia, by the way, is really getting in to imaginative play and it's so fun to watch, especially when she and Liam play together. She happily cooks away in her play kitchen, making cookies, which she brings to us on the little cookie sheets ("Hot! Hot"); one for her and one for Liam and I to share. But god help us if we try to take a pretend, not-really-there cookie from her pile because we'll set off a repeating track of, "Mine cookies, mine! Mine!"

See you in a week!

Comments

[Cathi]

You've been so productive- good for you! And I will pray for you on the flight- you are so brave and good to go it alone (and with 2 seats!). Does the whole lollipop during takeoff and then sleep thing work at all for them?

[Holly Jo]

Oh. my. gawd. Two seats? Four hours? I am so sorry. Here's to a quick take off, landing, and no mechanical issues on the tarmack.

All the knits are so cute, but the hat takes the cake. Maybe it is just the photo with the tongue which is classic. :)

[Betty]

I was probably the worst parent ever when I didn't have shorts for my toddler when the weather turned very warm here. After a week of not being able to get to the mall, I made an emergency run to Target during lunch and bought a few pairs of shorts.

I'll be better prepared next year as I bought some summer clothing in next year's size as shops are clearing out their summer merchandise right now.

Good luck with the trip. I was just wondering how my 2 year old will travel when we go from Nashville to Hawaii in December...

[stefaneener]

By now you're there and the flight is a memory. I hope it went well. We just got back from a drive to and from Los Angeles in two days with five under eight. . . long trip.

Sweater looks fine to me. I can't believe yours will wear hats. Nice.