I Survived Teaching Knitting to Girl Scouts

"Knitting bags" ready for Girl Scout Lessons

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In through the door.

Up over the back.

Peek thru the window

Out jumps Jack.

Mothers should not be allowed to get sick. There should be a magic pill they give you after you deliver your first child that fends off any illness for life (or at least until all the kids are out of the house). I've been battling a bad cold for the past few days so between feeling like my head might explode and my throat must be on fire, I've also heard the fabulous sounds of knitting needles clinking and stitches being counted.

I "taught" my Girl Scout troop to knit on Monday. Really, I taught them a catchy poem (see above), gave them a bag with needles, yarn and instructions, and then, after watching a video on a big screen about Continental Knitting, set them free.

Each Bag Contained a Pair of Bamboo Needles and Yarn- I cast on 24 stitches and did two rows to get them started.

Which meant my mother and I helped, ripped off, cast on again and started over, and tried to teach them to knit a dishcloth. Thank goodness my mother was able to come as 16 girls quickly outnumber you. She is a former Girl Scout leader (mine) so she understands.

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By the end of the day, about 1/2 the girls seemed to be "getting" it and the other 1/2 were struggling. Only one cried in frustration. Next week, we'll try again at my house instead of at the library at school so it will be just a few of the girls who really want to learn. In two more weeks, my mother is bringing in reinforcements for me. A few of her girlfriends who knit are coming to help me for our final class. Thank you Mom!

Above all though, my own daughter "caught the knitting bug" she's been working on her project a little every night and once again in the morning before school. She's getting it. She counts her stitches each row. Sometimes there is an additional one thrown in and we get rid of it the next time and her stitches are a little tight, but in reality, she's light years ahead of me when I learned two years ago and decades younger so I'm thinking that she'll surpass my skills sooner rather than later!

M's project thus far. Looking good.

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I told M yesterday that if she's the only one who picks up knitting as a hobby from all of this work it will be worth it. I'm not sure I would have had the patience to just teach her alone. Somehow the pressure of the group made me more comfortable.

Her mother, grandmother and bestemor will be so proud of her finished project that we might have to frame it. This morning, as we were heading out the door to school, I tried to rush her up and her response to me was priceless: " just a minute mom, I've just got two more stitches to do."

Guess this cold I have really isn't so bad. At least my ears are clear and I can hear those wonderful words flow out of her mouth.

Delayed Birthday Parties

My middle child had her 9th birthday in May. Right in the middle of busy season of scouts, softball, dance, school and life. Having a May birthday means fitting the celebrating in around all the events. Planning a party for friends is hard in May. They are all busy too.


We planned to have her party over the summer, but between vacation schedules and team sports there never seemed to be a time that would work. What M really wanted was a sleepover with friends at the lake.


July rolled around and with the swine flu outbreak here, visiting relatives and our own vacation the month flew by and still no party. It seemed like our best bet would be to wait until the next school year started and let her choose friends from her new class. Delay the party until the fall when life is a little calmer and M is not as busy.


What a great idea! Delaying her birthday party to this past weekend allowed her to make even better friends with the girls in her class, to have fun at the lake at time when it's no longer possible to swim at the neighborhood pool, and the weather was still nice enough to enjoy the water and the sand without the heat of July.

M had a fabulous sleepover. M had four friends come over on a recent Friday night and we headed out to the lake for a long sleepover. The girls went swimming right away on Friday night. We planned s'mores, but the weather looked questionable for storms and Nana had made her famous Chocolate Chip Cookies so we decided on Cookie Cake and presents inside.

The girls did makeovers all night tucked away in the "big room" at the lake while watching movies. Far enough away for the parents to not hear everything, but still in the same area to be watched. Green Nail polish, Ruby Red Lips and Lots of Blue Eyeshadow. Let's just say it's great to pretend, but I like clean faced little girls lots more.
Saturday morning the girls were up early and, after a pancake breakfast in the sun room, they were ready to hit the water again. Yes, it was only 62 degrees at the time, but they did not care. We did not join them.

There was swimming, jumping, chasing, and finally a boat ride with a stop at "sand mountain" for sledding and splashing.

The girls were so polite, fun and enthusiastic about the "party at the lake". Even when they were still awake at 2 a.m. I knew we had made a wise decision to delay M's birthday. She had a blast and the party was worth the wait!!

Saturday night, however, the parents might have been a little tired. Guess sleepovers are for the young (or young at heart)!

Nine Years Flown Quickly By... Happy Birthday M

This is M a few days after birth. She had to "n...e sunbath" for some jaundice issues.

M at 19 months: Christmas 2001

M on her 2nd Birthday. She got her glasses the day before. What a new world they opened to her.

Today is M's 9h Birthday. She officially turned 9 years old at 1:29 p.m. CST.

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I remember that afternoon like it was yesterday. We had left the house early in the morning to go to the hospital for the induction. There had been thunderstorms the night before and, when we exited the elevator, there was our doctor. She was finishing a very busy night.

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Since we liked surprises, we were still up in the air as to whether we'd be bringing home a boy or a girl. Both "going home" outfits were waiting at home for my husband to bring up later. There was a "I'm the Big Brother" t-shirt on the kitchen table waiting for C to wear.

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We were ready. At least we thought. My father who always seems to make it to the hospital just in time to see the brand new baby (usually waiting in the hallway the last hour or so) had just brought P up a sandwich when the time came. I'm not sure P got to eat it all.

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When the doctor announced it was a girl, I think I was a little shocked. A girl how do we do a girl? She was stunning with the biggest blue eyes ever.

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M has been a delight. She's feisty, independent, strong willed, determined, compassionate, and passionate and all girl. While she never asked to be the middle child, she has taken to her role of big sister so well and she makes her self known enough that we never worry about her being lost in the shuffle.

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On this her 9th birthday, I can't help but look back at the blond hair curly girl who got glasses at the age of 2 and never once complained about them to the girl, who today,will go from dance class to a softball game all within an hour. Finally, she'll have her best friend spend the night and they will spend hours giggling and telling secrets while they watch movies in her room. She'll even let A in for a little while. Dad will fix over easy eggs in the morning with sausage and we'll wait for June for her official party at the lake. Like she said, it's too cold to swim yet so let's wait.

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She is a girl with a mission and I can't wait to see what God has planned for her life. I'm sure the ride will be full of fun, challenges, and lots of joy. I'm so glad that I'm along for the journey.

M in her Cat in the Hat Dance outfit last year

M donated 11.5 inches of her hair last April to Locks of Love. A year later it's almost all grown back. This girl has hair.

Fashion Show time last night. We went shopping at Justice for part of her birthday gift. This girl can shop too.

M today eating her breakfast in bed. Cinnamon Toast Crunch-her request.