Week 30 of Craft project a week: Learning to crochet

This week's craft project is not 'technically' my own craft but I am claiming it as my own seeing it is contributing to something for me.  A while ago I came across a pattern for a crocheted skirt that I fell in love with.  I have always professed that I don't 'do' knitting and crochet (actually, I can do basic knitting I just find it very frustrating and time consuming!)  but I really wanted this skirt.  Usually I can commission my knitting to my mother-in-law but no one in my family actually crochets so I was a bit stuck this time!

Luckily for me, my wonderful and very-crafty-in-his-own-right husband volunteered to learn crochet just so he could make it for me.  Awwwww....He spent a few hours at night on the couch (usually with Gideon asleep on his chest) watching youtube videos until he learnt to do a granny square (right in the picture above).  He has just started to teach himself to do a hexagon which I think he's done quite a good job of.  Good thing too, because the skirt is made up of more than 60 of them.  I predict it might take a while for the skirt to be completed! 

Now I'm busy planning all the other crochet things I want my hubby to make for me.  Somewhere down the track I might get him to teach me how to do it too but for the moment I'm happy to have someone make things for me.  I'm so impressed that he managed to pick it up so quickly (I'm sure it would have taken me a LOT longer!!)  

Criticism of a Dad

Baby-wearing Dad - how can there possibly be anything wrong with this image?!

I've been meaning to blog about this since it happened just over a week ago. Last Sunday my husband, Chris, took our 8 month old to the Farmer's Market with him. He usually goes to the Farmer's Market every week to get our weekly fruit and veg. Normally he would take the two bigger kids and leave Gideon with me but this week he took just Gideon (to give me a chance to get some sewing done - he's great like that ;)) He wore Gideon in the Ergo on his back which is a common occurrence around here.

When he arrived home he was really upset. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that people had made negative comments about him wearing Gideon in the sling. Apparently he was told by a number of people that Gideon was 'too low in the sling' and that he was 'all twisted'. He tried to explain to people that Gideon was fine but he continued to get comments. Normally Chris is pretty good about letting negative comments slide but the comments made him doubt himself and he actually went and checked Gideon's position in the mirror in the toilets. All fine. Of course. Chris knows how to wear a baby safely.

It really irritates me that people focus on the negatives. Perhaps people could have been more thoughtful when they made a comment to Chris - how about saying how great it is to see a Dad wearing their baby before they dive in with their critique of how he is actually wearing the baby? At least then it would have been a bit easier to take, and Chris could have explained to them that he is an experienced baby-wearer who knows how to position a baby in the sling correctly.

Chris made the comment that if he'd had the two bigger kids with him then people wouldn't have made these comments. He felt the comments were made because he looked like a new Dad out with his baby for the first time and, of course, that means that he needs 'help'. And indeed he proved that, as he went back to the Market the following week with the big kids and Gideon in the sling on his back again and he didn't get a single negative comment.

You may remember this article recently where a Dad was called into question by the police when baby-wearing his daughter. It's sad that it's becoming a trend to criticise our Dads for playing an active role in parenting our children. In all my years of baby-wearing I have never had a comment about my baby's positioning in the sling. So why do we think it is ok to do it to Dads? The traditional role of the Father is rapidly evolving as society moves forward and we need to embrace that. C'mon people, let's give Dads a break! I challenge you to say something positive to the next Dad you see baby-wearing their child in public!

The story of us

13 years ago today I started 'going out' with an amazing man. The years have passed by so quickly and it's hard to believe that Chris and I have been together for so long. I feel blessed everyday to have married such an amazing man and such a wonderful father. I can't imagine life without him.

I thought I'd share the story of how we met. We've actually known each other for longer than 13 years as we first met when I was in year 8 and Chris was in year 7. High School 'sweethearts' I guess you could say! We were both learning instruments at the time (Chris the clarinet and saxophone and me the flute and clarinet). Our music teacher decided to start a band and my friend and I joined up.

And so the story begins. I developed a bit of a crush on Chris but it wasn't until I was in year 10 that I decided to ask him out (for the first time as Chris likes to remind me!) I don't think Chris was really that fussed about 'going out' with me. He's told me many times before that he only said yes because I'd asked him. Little did he know what he was getting into ;) Our 'dates' consisted of me inviting him to my church youth group activities and of Saturday night family dinners at his place or mine (yep, we were real party goers!!)

Anyway, after a few months of 'going out' I decided I'd had enough and 'dumped' him (ahhh, the dramas of the teenager!) We stayed friends over the remaining years at high school and still saw each other frequently at band activities.

We lost touch briefly when I finished school in 1997 and went to university and Chris was doing year 12. But later that year I got in touch with him again when I wanted to borrow his clarinet to show the prep kids on teaching rounds. I still found that I had feelings for him and while returning the clarinet we ended up holding hands. I remember Chris getting dizzy and having to sit down. Nothing more happened then though and I went home without us even talking about what had happened (as you do!)

A few weeks later, I went along to Chris' Queen's Scout Presentation as he'd invited me to come. I don't remember much about the actual night, I just remember driving him home and sitting outside his gates talking for ages. I also remember that we kissed for the first time that night. It was such an amazing moment. Even though our wedding anniversary is the 22nd of November I have more of an emotional tie to the 27th of November and always remember that date as being the day we got together.

At first, I wasn't sure where our relationship was going. I hadn't rekindled our friendship with any motives in mind. But it wasn't long before I knew that Chris and I would be together for a long time. It was such a blissful start to our relationship. Chris was working late shifts on the weekend at the petrol station and I was working over the road at Franklins (as it was known then!) so I used to go over and spend my breaks with him and often after my shift had finished as well so I could drive him home when he finished (until he got his license at least!)

I never realised at the time just how much happiness one person could bring to my life. Chris is the complete opposite to me in many ways which makes us the perfect couple. He makes me laugh when I am sad. Comforts me when I am upset. Calms me down when I am having one of my many stress attacks. Gives me confidence in myself. Fixes things when I get frustrated with something. Puts up with my horrible temper. He tells me everyday that he loves me and that I am beautiful and even though I roll my eyes every time he says that it does actually means a lot to me.

Since having kids I have seen him in a different light too. He is the most amazing, caring father to our three children. Always happy to play with them, to hold them, to do things with them, to give them so much love. He is happy to do most of the night time parenting and to stay up with an awake child because he knows that I don't cope very well with sleep deprivation! Being an amazing Father who is present in his children's life is what makes a true man.

I know I often take take him for granted, but I am so appreciative and thankful for the amazing man I have in my life. You make my life worth living, Chris! I love you!

Science experiments with Daddy

Last week we visited Daddy at work and conducted some special science experiments with him. Daddy works in a chemistry lab at a university. It's always an exciting experience to visit him at work as we usually only go a couple of times a year (usually when it's school holidays and we don't have as much to do!) It's a bit of a novelty for the kids to go into the city. They are constructing a new building next to Daddy's at the moment too and the kids love watching all the machinery working.

We got some lunch from the bakery and took it to a local park to eat. When we got back to the lab after lunch it was time to do some experiments! We made slime (a different slime to the one we made a few weeks ago) and watched a sugar volcano.

SLIME

Lots of fun was had making this slime (and putting it all over everything at home when we came home!) First we added all our ingredients and then the kids helped to mix it all up. It was interesting seeing the reactions taking place. It went from a liquid to a solid as we mixed it. The best part though was getting to feel it - as you can see by Jacob's face!

Slime (the scientific way!)

Ingredients

50 mL 6% PVA
10mL 4% borax
food colouring

Method

Mix the PVA and 3-4 drops of food colouring in a glass container (the slime will stick to plastic!) then add the borax and start stirring. When the slime starts to stick together, tip it out into your hands and gently knead it until it gives the right consistency. If it's too wet and slippery, add a little bit more borax. If it's crumbly, add a little bit more PVA.

And for the non-scientific method (aka the one you can make at home!)

Mix 1 teaspoon borax in 1 cup of water. Stir until the borax is dissolved. In a separate container, mix 1/2 cup white glue (PVA) with 1/2 cup water. Add 3-4 drops of food coloring, if desired. Mix the two solutions together and stir. The slime will start to form immediately. Once the slime is well formed, start to knead it with your hands (out of the bowl!) Some water may be left over in the bowl.

SUGAR VOLCANO

Here's what happens when you add sulphuric acid to sugar. Nothing much at first but then the sugar starts to dehydrate which produces steam and heat (a lot of heat!) Eventually it turns into carbon (which is what the kids are touching in the last picture). Even I was interested in seeing all this happen.

Sugar volcano

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
50mls sulphuric acid

Method

Put the sugar in a bowl and pour the sulphuric acid over the top. We don't recommend you try this at home though, this experiment was done under a fume hood at Daddy's work.

And finally, I just thought I would add this picture of Chris and Jacob. Jacob really loves his Daddy and had such a great time doing special things at his work with him.



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Chris' 30th Birthday

Yesterday we celebrated Chris' 30th Birthday. Yes, he really is getting old now!!

We enjoyed a very yummy family lunch at Earthly Pleasures, one of our local restaurants. And then cake at home, which Jacob had helped to decorate.

I planned a special present for Chris this year. It wasn't really a tangible thing though so I had to make up some clues to give him! This is what I wrapped up for him:

Clue #1













A map of Bendigo

Clue #2













An army man with a parachute

Clue #3













A bit of a giveaway - a gift voucher!

Yep, I've booked Chris into a sky diving course for a weekend in October. We'll be spending the weekend in Bendigo as a family and the kids and I will explore the town while Chris is off doing his sky diving course. It's very exciting!

The other big present that Chris received was a remote control helicopter from his family. I'm not sure who's more excited about it though - the kids or him?! Chris took it out for a bit of an experimental fly yesterday. I won't post the photos of it stuck in the tree though! ;)



Here's some pictures of the celebrations!



Happy Birthday Chris! I hope you had a lovely day!

Happy Father's Day!

We're having a quiet Father's Day at home this year. Although I did send Chris off to the Farmer's Market with the kids this morning and have set him to work hanging picture frames this afternoon! So, it hasn't been that relaxing for him ;)

For us, Father's Day and Mother's day are special days, set aside for celebrating the important role we have in our children's life. I think it's so easy to forget this in everyday life. We get so busy that we don't appreciate it. Having a day that is dedicated to remembering this is important. I can't say I go in much with the consumerism that go into these days though. That's why we choose to make things with the kids to give each other on these days. It's something that the kids can be involved in and they understand that they are making something special for us which makes them very proud.

Last year we made a t-shirt for Chris for Father's day which was lots of fun. This year was a challenge trying to think of something original that both the kids and Chris would like and could enjoy together. Here is what I came up with:




It's a photo puzzle!

It was a relatively easy thing to make (apart from the stress that trying to print photos at the last minute and getting them the right size caused - but we won't talk about that!) All I did was take 16 wooden cubes (ours measured 3x3cms but bigger ones would work just fine), painted them, then attached a photo to two sides of the block with double sided tape. The next bit, cutting the photo for each block, was a bit fiddly but ok. I think it turned out quite well. What do you think?

Daddy and Jacob had lots of fun fitting it all together!

Happy Father's Day to all the other Dad's out there!

Father's Day

We had a pretty uneventful Father’s Day this year. Chris wanted to stay at home (we’ve been so busy lately!), so stay at home we did! I thought I’d try something different this year for Chris’ present. I’ve been experimenting with applique lately so thought I’d get the kids to do some footprints and handprints and applique them onto a t-shirt. I was a bit worried about how it would all turn out, especially as I was doing it at the last minute (Chris was banished to the room upstairs while I worked on it last night ;) ) but I think it turned out well in the end!

Here’s some pics of the t-shirt (including close ups!)

And some of Daddy with his little boy ;)