Learning to knit!

Having had lots of knitted jumpers from granma Harry set me the challenge of learning to knit. Well I decided I would. I started off finding a local wool shop and asking their advice of best things to get to get started. I came out with a pair of needles, some wool and a getting started advice sheet.

I then made the boys a scarf each. Nice and easy! I then started on a jumper for my self (more on that when its finished!). Granma came to stay for the start of half term and taught me how to sew together prices and then teach me how to cable knit. So I have made Douglas a pom pom hat. Granma made Harry's!

Here's photos of Douglas hat

                                                A close up of the cable knitting

                                                Douglas modelling my handiwork

messy play!

I decided that the boys needed to do something specific rather than just running round the house! I go out some paint, glue, wool, beads, a j-cloth and a load of paper.
Rather than giving them paintbrushes I gave them bits of wool in varying lengths, cut up a new j-cloth and put the paint on plates. The only 'tools' I gave them were glue spreaders. After the initial 'no paintbrushes' moment they really got into it.

As you can see they had great fun and I wasn't left with much cleaning up to do!

Sewing with mummy part 2

Continuing on from the boys helping me with my sewing, I dug out their plastic Aida, large needle and some wool and taught the boys to cross stitch on their own. I had to show them which holes to put the needle through, but it didn't take long for them to get the hang of it. Here are pics of their finished rows. Douglas's is the pink and Harry's the yellow.

Having Children

From when you first tell people you are pregnant you are given lots of advice, both useful and not! This continues as they grow. I remember being told things like sleep when your baby sleeps - hello, I've got twins, would you mind telling them to sleep at the same time!
However there is so much I have had to discover for myself.
My boys have just started school, and to be honest its great! I can now go to the toilet in peace, and on my own! I never realised how much I would enjoy this, no one shouting muuuuummy upstairs repeatedly. I can now hoover my living room and it stays looking like its been hoovered for more than 2 minutes! Don't get me wrong I love my boys dearly, but I am enjoying the novelty of the above.
Why is it that nobody ever tells you things like that!

Sewing with mummy

The boys were having quiet time watching a Thomas the tank engine film, so I decided I would get some sewing done. Cue boys suddenly not interested in their film and wanting to help mummy! Here's some pictures of them 'helping'.

                                                They thought it was great fun!

Button mosaics

This afternoon we have been doing a craft. I purchased this in the works.

I explained to the boys what they had to do, stick the right colour button on the correct size hole. They were able to do this independently, occasionally checking they had the right size. I was impressed with them using language like medium sized.

Both boys were pleased with the finished results, asking me to take photos of them.

Unfortunately there was an orange button missing. Harry is pointing to it in the top photo.

Overall I was very impressed by this activity. The boys were able to do it by themselves. We were able to talk about what they were doing and they stayed interested the whole time. I think this was because it gave them an instant result. Personally I really liked the fact that the buttons were self adhesive, so no mess. Mind you anything that keeps the boys quiet for 5 minutes is a hit in my opinion!

Edit to say we have now found the missing button!