january twenty-two

Last night when I went into where I am sleeping, I found Mack like this. Asleep, but mainly on the floor, instead of on the blow up mattress we are sharing. I safely put him back up on the bed, but it was too cute, I had to take a picture.

We hung around my grandmother’s condo while we waited for some more laundry to be done. Load number 3 since having arrived in Florida. Mack woke up soaked this morning (rare for him), so I had to do another load.

I tried to get a really nice photo of the 2 of them wearing their new shirts (special for their Dad), but getting the 2 of them to sit & smile at the same time is quite near impossible these days!

We headed to the Flea Market today – Festival Flea Market. We went there last year, and we really liked it there so we decided to go back this year. I had a few items on my list (still a size 3 bathing suit for Sean, but still no luck finding one for a decent price), but didn’t buy anything on my list. I did buy a gift for Jamie, though, so that took care of one item off my gift list.

When we got to the Flea Market, first we went to get out “coupons”. With them, for every 5$ you spend, you get 1$ off. First stop after getting the coupons was lunch, as it was getting late and I had to feed the kids. I got a hot dog with fries & nuggets for the boys to share, and a hamburger for myself. My mom got some pizza and a coffee for my grandmother, who wasn’t so hungry. Half-way into eating, Mack decided he did not want to eat, so he pushed my tray, into the tray with the nuggets, which was in front of my grandmother, where her hot coffee was and her full cup of super hot all over herself! It all happened so fast that I did not realize what was going on until my grandmother was frantically jumping around. Sean started to cry as a little bit of the coffee got into his eye.

I grabbed Mackenzie, and Amy ran first to get some ice and napkins to put on Sean’s eye, and then into the bathroom to check on my grandmother. It spilled all over her left arm, on her stomach and lap. She was soaking wet. Amy got some cream from security for her to put on her arm (which is the only place that she got burned on) and she said it helped her feel better. It was for burns. My mom took her home to change, while Amy & I walked around the flea market.

The only thing I bought for myself today at the flea market was some Cover Girl concealer, that are usually around 8$ at home, they were 3$ each, then 1$ off with the coupons. So exciting. (Can you tell my sarcasm?) I hope there is nothing wrong with them, that they were that cheap. It’s the only real makeup I wear.

I feel so bad about what happened to my grandmother, but she told me it was not my fault, and that accidents do happen. I just feel really bad, that’s all. It was my child that hurt her, and I just feel awful. You know? Her arm seems better this evening, so hopefully by tomorrow it’ll be a lot better.

This evening we went to Town Center (in Boca, FL). My mom had something to take care of at Macy’s and also at Sears. Still no luck with a size 3 bathing suit for Sean. Old Navy had some, but at the same (expensive) price I could get at home. So I passed on those. We had dinner in the food court tonight for something simple and I had a really good Philadelphia Cheese steak from Charlie’s for dinner. It was really good. We went into Waldenbooks, which is closing up, and they had all books 60-80% off. I found 4 titles, and I can’t wait to read them.

Well, that was all the excitement for today. Hoping there are no accidents tomorrow. Glad everyone is okay.

january twenty-one

Today I started off the day doing laundry.
Can you believe that a washing machine load costs only .50¢ to run?

Can you also believe that the dryer only costs .25¢ to run?

While waiting for the laundry, we hung out at my grandmother’s condo.
My sister unfortunately woke up really early this morning sick, so we knew that we’d be blowing off the beach today, unfortunately. I hope she feels better soon.

Sean got to speak to Jamie on the phone this morning and updated him on what we’ve been up to lately.

After getting off the phone was story time.

And then when the buzzer rang on the timer, Sean accompanied me for a walk to the laundry room.

We stopped and smelled the flowers.
(Well, not this one, as there was a bee in it).

After all the laundry was folded, and after lunch was finished, my mother & I took the boys out to run a few errands. We left my sister back at the condo with my grandmother this way Amy could rest and get better and my grandmother could finish up some stuff around the house that she wanted to get done.

We even made a trip to Costco. It’s great that my Canadian membership works here in the USA.
We needed to pick up a couple of things that my grandmother keeps in the house, that we’ve been using, so that she doesn’t run out. She doesn't have a car here, so she usually relies on her sister & her brother-in-law for lifts. This week she has our rental car, so we’ve been taking her to do things on her list.

I finished Mara!

SPECS
Pattern: Mara Shawl by Madeleinetosh (My Ravelry Link)
For: Me!
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Happy Forest
Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm
Size: 53" x 24"
Timeline: December 22, 2009 – January 20, 2010
Modifications: Followed pattern as written, but got different dimensions than described. I had more yarn than the pattern called for, but couldn’t get 4” out of the last part of the pattern, I was only able to get ?” and then had just enough yarn to bind off. The final measurements of the shawl are ?“x ?“.
Opinion: Love it!

Yep, I’m in love.

This evening we hung around my grandmother’s condo, my great-aunt & great-uncle came by for a bit, bringing the boys some gifts (a new puzzle & a book) and we had dinner here, and we watched some TV this evening. Amy & I sat down and watched tonight’s Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Tonight was 2 really good episodes.

Not sure yet what is on tap for tomorrow, I guess we’ll see how the weather is when we get up in the morning.

january twenty :: 83 weeks old

We’re here in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Wearing some cute shoes I picked up at Wal-Mart last night. They’re the exact same ones (creature of habit), as my black ones that I got last year here at the same Wal-Mart. They’re by Faded Glory (which Wal-Mart in Canada, or rather Wal-Mart in Quebec does not carry), that I’ve seen. I was hoping that I would be able to get myself another pair of solid black ones, but I had no luck. These are cute as well. I wore these today because they match my tank top.

It was such a nice day that we decided we’d go to the pool today.

Sean wanted sunglasses, and I’d left his back in Montreal, so we headed out to the strip mall near where my grandmother lives to get him a pair. I was hoping to find him a pair at Dollar Tree or something.

Monkey see Monkey Do (with the hat).

While out, we went into a few shops. I picked up a few things at the Dollar Tree (though, they had no kids’ sunglasses at this time, I was able to find him an adult’s pair that sort of fits him, so they’ll do for now). We went into Payless and I had both kids feet measured. Sean, whom I thought was a size 7 is now almost in a size 9. (Somewhere between 8.5 and 9 Toddler). So I got him 2 new pairs of shoes, (got to love BOGO!), one pair for school and one pair for home. (It’s winter, and I hate transporting shoes back and forth since he wears boots there and back). Mack, whom I thought was in a size 4, is actually size 6. Now, American sizes are the exact same as Canadian shoe sizes, so I’m not sure what this foot growth business is all about. The sandals that both Sean & Mack are currently wearing here, (which are matching shoes), clearly fit each kid. Mack’s in size 4 sandals and Sean’s in size 7. But, the foot sizer at Payless clearly shows that Sean’s in a size 9 and Mack’s a size 6. Hmph! Well, I got Mack 2 new pairs of shoes as well, in size 6, since all of Sean’s old size 6 shoes are all worn out. (Sean started to walk in size 5 shoes, so all shoes after size 5, I didn’t keep unless they were barely worn).

While out I picked out the neatest thing. A Crust & Sandwich cutter.

You see, Sean doesn’t eat crust. This is the neatest thing ever.

Sean loved his perfect triangles. I picked up this cutter for a few of my mommy friends back home. Because honestly, it’s the neatest thing ever, and not too many kids like crust on sandwiches.

This afternoon we went to the pool as it was gorgeous out.

I picked up these floaties yesterday and they were worth the investment. (They were so inexpensive, I’m thinking about picking up another 2 to bring back to Montreal (non-flated) for the pool at home. Sean’s is aimed at ages 3-6 years old, though, he’s not standing properly in it in this picture, and the one that Mack is in, has a seat and is aimed at ages 1-2. They were perfect. Of course, we didn’t have a pump. So I spent a good half hour inflating these 2 floaties and one very large beach ball (see below). Thank heavens that losing weight pretty much made my (mild) asthma go away, as I wouldn’t have been able to blow it up otherwise. And the pump that we have for the blow up mattress that I am sleeping on, doesn’t fit tiny valves.

We played pass the ball.

Even Mack was fantastic at throwing the ball!

Mack is 83 weeks old today.

We had a good time at the pool today.


We went to the clubhouse after the kids were dry, to get a better internet signal.
The one at my grandmother’s place is quite weak, but we are able to connect.

We went for dinner tonight at Ruby Tuesday’s (again). My great-uncle has a limited menu that he eats, and this is one place that he can eat at. Sean above is examining the receipt after the waitress brought it. We told him that he was paying for dinner, and told him that if he didn’t have enough money, that he could was the dishes. He laughed.

I forgot to mention yesterday, that Mack said his first sentence! “I want cookie”. It was too cute. He said it in the car on the way to my grandmother’s condo from the airport. Shocked all of us. He usually doesn’t say much.

The sleeping arrangements are that Sean is sharing a bed with my sister in my grandmother’s bedroom. I’m on the floor sleeping on a blow up mattress, sharing it with Mr. Mack. Last night, he cuddled almost the entire night. It was nice, because he’s not my cuddler, Sean is. So this was really nice for me. We’ll see how tonight goes, and how he sleeps. I brought my old discman, with their Baby Einstein Classical Lullaby Cd to put on while they are going to sleep. Sean’s used to it every night before bed, and some nights he plays is on repeat the entire night.

Tonight I finished knitting my Mara Shawl. I love it. I can’t wait to weave in the last bits and photograph it tomorrow. The casting off was tedious. Very long. It was over 650+ stitches at this point. Just insane. I’ll give you all the details of the shawl tomorrow with the finished object post. I love it.

I leave you tonight from Deerfield Beach, Florida, with this image of the sun setting tonight.

january nineteen

We left bright and early this morning for the airport. We had to be there 3 hours in advance. So, for our 7:40 am flight, we had to be there around 4:30 am. I got up at 3:30 am, got myself ready, and then woke up the boys near 4 am. My parents were at my house after picking up my sister near 4:20 am and then we got to the airport. We couldn’t bypass the check-in counter line, but we were able to bypass the customs line-up and the 2nd security line up. The first security line up had no line up at all. We all had to take off all our shoes and put everything into bins to go through the x-ray machine. The stroller that I borrowed, was too big to go through the x-ray machine, so said the security agent, so instead they patted it down. You know what? It’s a good thing that they did a pat down instead, because I kind of forgot at that moment how to close it, and Sean was having a meltdown and didn’t want to take off his shoes. All he wanted was milk, now. We had to beg a guy at customs to let us go through the handicap special line as one guy told us that they weren’t allowing strollers today through that line, but somehow another couple got through with a double stroller, and we asked again and the guys was like “Well, I guess since they went you can too”. I thanked him profusely and was happy that I was that much closer to getting Sean some milk. I had given both kids their “morning” milk in the car on the way to the airport. Mack polished his off, and Sean only drank part of his. I didn’t want any liquids on us when going through security, even though liquids for children were allowed, I didn’t want any problems. Well, Sean decided that he wanted some milk after we went through the first security and before customs. The second security was just before the gates after customs. That’s where you get patted down. I went with Sean, Amy went to a station herself and my mom went with Mack to another station. Sean was good during his pat down though he freaked out when the lady came over to pat me down. At that point we asked the security lady that was doing a second search of my bags, if my mom could have Sean since she was already done with Mack and they went through to the gate area. I had the most bags with me as I had my purse, my laptop bag, my camera case, a diaper bag and Sean’s messenger bag. That’s why I took the longest. The lady (approximately my age) chuckled at the amount of diapers I had in the diaper bag (I had about 12 per kid) and was intrigued by my Mara Shawl. While on the plane, though, I wondered about this no carry-on rule because some of the ladies on the flight, all had these huge purses that quite obviously didn’t fit into the 12”x10”x5.5” restriction per bag.

Sean watched TV on the flight.

And opened a full box of hockey cards (36 packs) that Jamie bought for him for the plane. Sean collects goalies only, and was so happy to find a bunch. The rest, all the players, he gives to Mack.

I got quite a bit of knitting time done on the the plane as Mack sat with my mom for a while. There was actually an empty seat next to my mom for the entire flight. (I sat in a row with Sean & my sister).

I finally tested out my Zephyr Tips. I love them.

Mack was intrigued by the free magazine that came in the seat in front of him.
He was really good most of the flight as well.

As soon as we got to the airport though, he fell asleep in the stroller.
I don’t blame him though, it was a long morning & neither kid napped on the plane.

I love this stroller. It’s the Phil & Ted Classic. I love it. Not sure how I never heard of it before now.

Sean passed out in the rental car on the way to my grandmother’s condo.

Sean telling my Great Auntie Rhoda a story.

Mack made some phone calls on a calculator.

After dinner, which was at my favorite American restaurant, Ruby Tuesday’s, we headed to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of things that I needed for the kids. I ended up finding a few gifts and a few things for myself as well, but the main importance was size 3 shorts for Sean. I didn’t realize until after I started packing (yesterday, of course), that Sean has a limited summer wardrobe in size 3, and only one nice pair of (dressy) size 3 Children’s Place shorts (from my friend Lauren in Philly). So my mission tonight was shorts for him, and now he’s good for this trip & for this summer. They had no size 3 bathing suits, which I am still on a mission to find for him, but I know that I will end up finding for him, I’m not worried. It’s Florida. There’s warm weather & oceans here. I’ll find a bathing suit for him.

Mack was zonked though, as it was way past his bedtime. He took a snooze in the cart.

This evening when we got back to my grandmother’s condo, I worked some more on my Mara Shawl. I swear, it’s the never ending shawl. I’m at 3 inches or just over 3 inches into the last section and there is no way that I have enough yarn left to knit to 4 inches and bind off. This makes NO sense and I’ll tell you why. The pattern calls for 675 yards of Madeleinetosh Worsted knit to 46” wide then you start the next part for 1” and then 4” of the next part then bind off. I’m using Dream in Color Classy, which is a worsted weight. Dream in Color Classy has 250 yards per ball. That’s 750 yards. I knit until 46” wide, then about 1” (maybe it’s just under 1” by a fraction) and then now I’m at about (just over maybe) 3” of the last part where it’s supposed to be 4” and like I said, there is no way I’ll have enough yarn. I believe at this point I’ll have enough yarn to finish the row I’m on, and then enough just to bind off. I’m *hoping* to have the shawl done tomorrow. I don’t want to take the chance and knit one more row, I just don’t. I’d rather have a bit extra leftover than to run short. But why am I running short when I had more yarn than I was supposed to for what the pattern called for?