Bear's New Clothes

Before commencing on our epic journey to the UK, I managed to get these finished for Boo's stocking...

 

I had some strange notion that Boo might dress her Waldorf doll in these clothes, but I'm afraid she's never enjoyed the favour that Black Bear enjoys, so of course these clothes were destined to be worn by him.  I love knitting little things... so quick and rewarding. Babies, bears, dolls, such fun to knit for. Bear wears hat, scarf and trousers made following a pattern in 'Creative Play for your Toddler' (see my booklist), and a Waldorf doll jacket made from the free pattern available on Waldorf Mama .  I was inspired seeing the tiny knittings seen on Little Jenny Wren for waldorf dolls, and the encouragement to just start knitting for your chosen doll (... or bear in this case) rather than following a pattern, has led me to start something else... we'll see how I get on.  Perhaps bear will have himself a whole wardrobe shortly. 
 

Home Sweet Home

Hello!  I'm back from the UK, a bit washed out but so glad to be home. Our outbound trip involved being stranded overnight in Schipol after snowy weather hit Amsterdam and Manchester, resulting in our flight being cancelled. There was chaos in the airport with hundreds of confused passengers queuing up to ask 3 KLM staff if/when they could get outta there... and then the computer system crashed.  We were seriously jetlagged after our inbound flight from Vancouver, had a grouchy toddler and no buggy after we'd had the wisdom to check it in at Vancouver.  It was not a fun experience. We learnt a whole lot of lessons here: always have gate access to your buggy, always pack a full overnight kit (I brushed Beth's hair with a toothbrush!), and never ever pack your laptop in your main luggage.  We lost 3 out of 4 luggage pieces on the outbound journey, and I expect we'll never see the buggy again.  So our trip was not quite off to an auspicious start, and Boo and I never quite managed to assimilate to UK time, but we are thankful for the times we managed to spend with family and friends, and Boo's enthusiasm for visiting different houses!  I think I will remain eternally grateful too to the KLM staff member at Vancouver airport who facilitated our fast-tracking the day-long ticket office queue at Amsterdam airport to get us on a flight out to Manchester about 24 hours after we arrived at Schipol airport.  We are resolved that we should not subject Boo (or indeed ourselves) to such a stressful travel experience again, so we'll be spending future Christmases in Vancouver.  There really is no place like home.  

Of blankies and grottos

Following our recent near-loss of beloved 'blankie' (posted about here), we have been counting our blessings to still have this precious item.  I enjoyed Jane Brockett's recent exultation of granny crochet blankets here and wanted to share our love of these creations made with such love (and thrift!).  'Big blankie' has recently been put to use as part of the roof for the 'blankie grotto' which Boo likes to be constructed for play in her room.  

 

Little blankie was once her near-constant companion, trailed around after her, grasped onto at 'parting from mama' times or times of distress, rubbed into the face at naptime.  Now it's usually still around, but takes on different roles in Boo's play, it's a headdress, a bed for her toys, a picnic blanket, a dress, a tent.  Our blankies were made by my granny for my sister when she was a baby (she's now 28), and I couldn't be happier than Boo has such affection for them.

 

 
 
 

Our gingerbread house

This year, I thought I'd have a stab at making a gingerbread house ... they are a distinctly North American Christmas tradition and I thought Boo would enjoy the creation (she says its a 'bear house').

We used instructions and patterns available here and did it over a few days, dough one day, cutting/cooking the pieces the next, and then construction/decoration.  Now it does say clearly in the instructions that you need to allow 1 hour between sides and attaching the roof, and then at least an hour (preferably 8) before you begin decorating.  Waiting?  Us?  With a 2 year old?  It ain't gonna happen.  So we ploughed through, with the result that the sides are now sinking and I have them propped up with 2 juiceboxes in the hope of avoiding a complete roof slide.  Yup, we should have followed the instructions, but you try telling Boo that you can't finish it now.  Boo helped with sticking on the sweets, which she had helped choose (her choice being the gummi bears of course).

 

 

Next year I will:

• buy a greater variety of sweets, we had a bit of an overload of smarties


• buy a proper icing bag/nozzle, I used a plastic bag and it kept squidging all over my hands


• Follow the instructions and say we have to wait (maybe a 3 year old will be able to run with this)

 

 
 

And for my next trick...

So, Friday morning we have a 'scene' at home in the morning... the usual resistance to dressing and going out (Boo, not myself I hasten to point out) escalates into a full-blown tantrum and by the time we get out of the door, we are running late for the bus to our yoga class.  Mama runs with Boo in buggy all the way to the bus stop (thank god its downhill), we catch the bus, make the 10 min walk the other end and arrive at the yoga place with a few minutes to spare.  What a good recovery I'm thinking.  Then, my stomach churns as I search in vain for 'blankie'.  Blankie has been Boo's faithful companion since birth, it goes everywhere with her.  It is a crocheted baby blankie handcrafted by my nan, who passed away over 20 years ago, for my sister when she was a baby.  Oh God, we cannot lose blankie.  We swiftly repackage ourselves and pelt back down the road, frantically searching for blankie.  Oh my god, I'm going to have to learn how to crochet, I think as we make our way down busy Lonsdale Avenue.  How long will it take me to make a whole blanket?  Did we leave it on the bus?  How will I ever get it back from the bus company?  Just as my head is whirling with these thoughts, we see, folded neatly and draped over a railing outside a restaurant... its blankie!  I think Boo has been spared the emotional journey I've just been on and is finding the whole thing rather exciting.  I would just like to thank whichever kind soul on Lonsdale Ave on Friday morning picked up our precious blankie and left it carefully for us to retrieve.  Sadly we missed our yoga class but 'Boo has her blankie back.

That petit drama was nothing, however, compared to what befell on Saturday morning.  Dadda Boo had an all day conference to attend downtown, so we drove him to the Seabus and returned to Lynn Valley, with instructions to fill up the car with gas on the way home.  I'm still getting used to the paying at the pump procedure and our car which requires you to pull a lever near the driver's seat to open the cap.  So I have used my card, I have pump in my hand, I have my wallet in the other and I've forgotten to pull the lever.  I quickly dump my purse on the seat, pull the lever, shut the driver's door and fill up.  Great, I seem to be getting this now.  I go to open the door. Oh... my.... Good .... God.  The door will not open.  Neither will any of the other doors.  Boo is happily playing inside with her horse, oblivious to the fact that her mama has just locked her into the car.  With the keys.  I can see them now, on the front seat under my purse.  We have the 'beeper' kind of key.  My purse must have landed on the keys and locked the doors.  Cue one panic stricken mama running into kiosk pleading for help from cashier.  He comes out and kindly has a try with a coat hanger.  No go. Thanks be , I usually carry my cellphone in my pocket as I can't hear it if it rings in my bag, so I put in a call to Dadda Boo, my voice wobbling.  By this time Boo is becoming distressed and mama probably doesn't help by gesticulating at the window (telling her it will all be alright but probably distressing her more!)  I cannot believe my luck, Dadda Boo has not yet boarded the seabus, so he jumps in a taxi and in 10 mins or so is rescuing us.  I have sincerely learnt my lesson to always keep my keys about my person.  What would I have done if Dadda Boo couldn't reach us?  Broken a window?  Called the fire brigade?  

The good thing that came out of this debacle, was that Dadda Boo got to accompany us on a wee trip up the mountain.  I was planning to take Boo ice skating for the first time, we had been talking about it for a while and I thought she was keen.  However, sweet Boo can be rather reticent about physical adventure, and refused to countenance the suggestion when we were at the skate rental hut ( and yes, they do have them in her size), so we were confined to watching and 'maybe next time'.  She'll still little I guess, and I don't want to push her, only encourage her to try things in a safe and comfortable manner.

But she did enjoy seeing these guys...

 
 
 
 

Advent Calendar

I decided to make an advent calendar this year, wanting to make the run up to Christmas exciting and interesting for the little one, especially as its prone to endless rain at this time of year (though as I write this the sun is streaming in through the windows as if to prove me wrong).  I saw some good ideas on Kids Craft Weekly and adapted the idea from the origami cup... opting to make little boxes or 'japanese waterbombs' as they were named in the book.

 

We made 24 boxes, wrote the number on them in silver pen, and taped them to a ribbon before taping them to the wall.  They promptly fell down and are now residing on a table, but I did get a pic before they tumbled.

I came up with 24 fun things we could do during the period of advent e.g. make some christmas treats, go out at night to see christmas lights etc. and wrote them all down onto little ribbons of paper.  Then I rolled up each piece of paper and put it into the box with just a small piece visible, so when you pull it unwinds.

So far its been quite popular, and gives us a focus for each day.

Didn't manage to meet the posting date for cards to the UK though, which was today.  So our cards will be late because I won't let up and accept not making them.  Stubborn, moi?