Yes, I am the mother of a little girl

and today performed a time honored ritual of signing her up for dance classes!

I started dance lessons when I was 7 or 8 (interestingly enough, the same time I learned to knit). The first year I was only interested in jazz (or modern, whichever you prefer) but after that the tap bug hit. Of course, for years I'd threaten to quit tap but stuck with it after finding out you couldn't be in the elite group unless you took both. After a few years I decided that ballet was my passion. Really, unless you have a God given gift, starting ballet at 12 is rediculous. The year I was able to go en pointe (freshman yr of high school) I quit ballet to play field hockey figuring that 4 years of field hockey would look better on a college application than ballet.

I finally stopped dancing when I was 23 or 24. I still have days where I think I should find an adult tap class & relive the fun I had.

So fast forward to the Wee One. She loves to dance, loves music & can be quite the little ham, as most girls her age. For the past year I've debated whether to sign her up for dance classes or soccer. She can run & kick a ball w/ the best of them & really, either would be a great choice.

Last week I saw an ad for a local dance school's open house in a local parenting magazine. I was already considering a program thru the university but really wanted something that offered a traditional dance program. I consulted w/ a friend from my days in the MOMS club whose girls have taken dance from yet another school for her opinion.

Today we visited the dance school, I chatted w/ a mom whose daughter will start her 4th yr at the school, saw some recital videos & met w/ the owner (who started the school in 1979). Pretty impressive & got good vibes so here we are!

We ordered shoes & went to buy a couple leotards & some tights. HOW did we arrive at this day? My baby is old enough for dance lessons?! Wow. I hope she enjoys them as much as I enjoyed my time dancing & that it becomes a lifelong source of joy for her, be it as a student or watching a performance.

If we discover she doesn't enjoy it, part of me will be a little sad as I want her to really enjoy it but if she doesn't there's always soccer.

And music.

And tennis.

And swimming.

And of course, knitting *wink*

Needle porn

After trying to knit a mohair scarf w/ regular addi's I realized it was time to invest in some knit picks needles.

So, may I introduce my new friends, nickel plated size 7 & 11 tips, their friends harmony wood tips size 8 & 24" & 32" cables.

I have some KP size 6 tips & 16" cables & like them so I figured I'd add to the collection.

Happy Wednesday!

Hunter & I on Saturday on our way to a wedding in ATL (vow reaffirmation really, The couple was married in Feb 07 before he left for OIF5 & are having their big reception now). We clean up well, huh?







And the Wee One's Monica, well what's been done of it! I'm using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in columbine for the body & cotton ball for the ruffle. Can I just say, I am LOVING this yarn?! Knits up nicely, is soft, etc. Koigu has a competitor for my affections!!

It's icky outside today (thundering, raining etc) so we're off to Barnes & Noble so the Wee One can play w/ the trains & I can look at some knitting books. I saw the cutest ballet wrap at Carter's yesterday & realized that I didn't like the yarn/fiber from which it was made & that I could make one myself. I found a pattern on Ravelry that should work but I'm going to look at some Debbie bliss books to see what else is out there. And LeslieJ has inspired me to pick up the socks on circs book.

Yeah, I'm doing a good job

Parenthood is one job where you don't get a performance review. Sure, people comment that you're a good mother/father or maybe they comment on your child's good manners but no one sits you down & says "we'd like to see you work on your rainy day activities but overall we're very pleased & you'll see a 4% pay increase."

So, how do you know you're doing a good job, that you're doing the right thing by your child?

I got a sign today--we went shopping for a new floor lamp as well as a wedding gift for friends who are renewing their vows next weekend (they got married last winter before he deployed). Hunter ran our purchases to the car & then to Barnes & Noble while the Wee One & I went to Toys R Us to pick out a doll outfit for her baby doll, Baby Ella.

As we were walking down the aisles in TRU she stopped & picked up a toy someone had left on the floor & put it away where it belonged. Without being asked. I stopped, looked her in the eye & told her that I was proud of her for doing the right thing.

Onto Marshalls for a quick peek & again, a little doll had fallen on the floor & the Wee One picked her up & put her back on the table. Lightning DOES strike twice!

I feel so very validated as a mother---she IS paying attention when I do things, say things, ask her to do things. I AM doing the right things with her!

I stopped patting myself on the back long enough to do some knitting & throw a load of laundry in the wash.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Birthday, America!

Unlike some people, I have always been proud of my country. I may not have liked what was going on, but I have always been proud of this country & am grateful to have been born here!

I always wonder if our country is supposedly SO horrible, then why are people still risking their lives to come here? Hmmmm, food for thought.

Take a moment out of your day today to wish our beautiful country a happy birthday.

Enjoy the holiday & stay safe!

What I've been doing. . .

2 Baby Bib o'love, 2 4-hr bias baby afghans & 1 (50% done) feather & fan scarf.

Now, I need your input. The pinkish 4 hr baby afghan is giving me fits. I'm using LB homespun & of course, am running out of 1 color way before the other 3.

Do I:

a) Frog back to a point where I can start my decreases (before the point the pattern says to do so) & then finish

OR

b) just buy more yarn & finish it as normal.

On a sad note, our AC Moore is closing & we will be getting JoAnn's. I loved AC Moore--box store yarn & all. When I started knitting again in Nov. 04 I bought my needles & yarn (baby teri) there. I had found the cutest baby hat pattern in a baby magazine (or pregnancy, I cant remember) & copied it. My plan was to have MIL or my Mom (from whom I learned how to knit!) make the hat. The more I read it the more I realized that I could make that hat myself. It was a striped hat in pinke & green & absolutely adorable. It came out less than perfect but cute enough that a couple girls in the MOMS club asked me to make hats for their wee ones!

So AC Moore, I shall miss you!

Oh how girls love princesses!

The Wee One with 2 of the princesses at her character lunch at Epcot. We met Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel (little mermaid), Jasmine, & the highlight of lunch was Cinderella.

Afterwards we ran into Mulan & Snow White & the princess count was complete!

The happiest place on earth

Greetings from Disney World!! Not only are we having a wonderful family vacation but my knitting mojo is back! Back, baby!! On the way here I got another baby bib o'love done & CO another feather & fan scarf. Before we left I worked on a couple 4 hr bias baby afghan. One is completed (boy colors) & the girl one was 90% finished only to discover one of my colors was running out. Yeah, so much for yardage being accurate on the label. Grrrr.

Today we went to Disney Hollywood Studios & saw JoJo & Goliath (here's the Wee One w/ them) & Leo & June from the Little Einsteins. We had lunch w/ them at Hollywood & Vine. I've got a great pic of her leading the dance w/ June!

Around 3 we came back to the house, swam & recollected ourselves & then went to Epcot. MIL/FIL took the Wee One on Nemo's ride while Hunter & I went the Magic Kingdom to have dinner & then go on the Haunted Mansion ride as well as Thunder Mountain Railroad. We got to Epcot justas the Illuminations show was starting.

Tomorrow is Magic Kingdom all day. I will take one for the parental team as I ride on the Teacup ride & It's a Small World.

And hopefully get a few rows done on my scarf!

Day 6

Monday the 9th.

Our last day in Paris. *sniff*

We slept in & went out for breakfast around 1030. Let's review French food culture, shall we? They dont eat dinner until 7 or 8 at the earliest. Lunch isn't until 3 or so but you cant get breakfast at 1030 am! Seriously! Our waiter took pity on us & brought us 1/2 a baguette w/ some butter w/ our coffee because we looked so pathetic!

We wandered around by the Louvre & along the Seine (top pic), bought another painting & then had lunch near the Hotel des Invalides (military hospital built by Napoleon). The museum in the HdI is very cool---coats of armor, guns, etc. It also houses Napoleon's tomb.



We went back to the Opera & had a drink at a cafe. For weeks before the trip I had been babbling about getting a new purse. Coach didn't have it when I was in ATL. Kate Spade told me I could order from their website b/c the store didn't have the bag I wanted in stock. So poor Hunter has heard me run my mouth about a new bag. While we're sitting in the cafe he says that I should go back to the Galleries Lafayette to buy a bag. So off I went & came back about an hour later (I also visited the store Printemps only to discover they didn't have the bag I wanted) with a beautiful red Lancel Elsa Sellier & coordinating wallet.

We had dinner at the Bistro Melrose in the Place du Clichy area (not far from our hotel). We also ate there on Friday night & loved it. You guessed it! Foie gras & duck! And a lovely pinot grigio.

The next day we flew home & said au revoir to la belle France.

There are more pics on my flickr page----check out the 'gargoyle face' one!

Day 5

Sunday 8 June

Let me start off by saying, I prefer Sacre Coeur to Notre Dame. Judge all you want. Sunday morning my wonderful husband (who has been waking up at 6am our entire vacation) brought me breakfast in bed from the hotel's buffet. Yum!

We went to Notre Dame which is beautiful. I was mistaken for a local! Me! Oui, mes amies! How funny is that?! Once I told the woman I was a tourist she shot me a look & turned away. Fine!

So we go inside ND & there is a mass going on. But you can STILL take pictures & mill about. What the??? And THAT is why I prefer Sacre Coeur over ND.

The treasures of ND are beautiful--chalices, relics etc. And the interior is so beautiful. Stained glass, paintings etc.
Again, more of Hunter's handiwork.

We're wandering around (during mass!) & Hunter tells me that the camera's acting weird & we have to go back to the room to charge the battery. I may or may not have thought naughty words & immediately apologized to God. But come on! Charge the battery overnight! Sheesh!

We go back to the room & grab lunch at the hotel. Back to ND, more pics & we decide to not climb the 300 something stairs to the top. Fine. my thighs & calves declare a truce.


My wonderful hubby. 7 years ago when we were dating he told me he'd take me to Paris one day.

We walk around some more & go back to Monmartre for dinner. I have to say, it's my favorite part of Paris.

And more perfume from Annick Goutal (Mandragore this time). I have a new best friend--she works for AG at the GL & we carried on a conversation in French! Yay Me!!!