Glam rock leotards!

So I finally bit the bullet yesterday and decided to tackle the competition leotards for B & J. They have to have a high neck, zip back and short sleeves. There are obviously no patterns available for this! So I found a pattern for boys plain leotards (so the sizing is right) and a mens swimwear pattern thathad a high necked rash vest type of top with raglan sleeves and contrast stripe down the side. So then I had to blend the two. And it looks like I got it almost right first time! The boys chose the fabrics - their routine is to "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson, and is a guitar track. There are air guitar style moves in the routine, and they have definitely gone for glam rock looking materials - wet look and red/glittery! By the way, the neck does fit perfectly - the top picture was taken before it was fully zipped up. There are a couple of changes to make for the next one, but I'm pretty pleased. I ROCK at leotards!!!

Teaching the wrong lesson

One of the more annoying constants in my life at the moment is that M finds extreme reactions irresistably funny. So much so that he lurks around corners, then leaps out and roars in people's faces and giggles himself silly at their surprised reaction. This morning he kept on surprising B&J and as always they kept on reacting in exactly the way that M wants. I got so fed up with this that I stomped up the stairs to tell B&J that they have got to stop reacting to M otherwise he will NEVER stop, and it's really annoying. Unfortunately, although I had made plenty of noise going up the stairs they hadn't heard me. So as I turned the corner to M's room and said "Right, if you two don't......" they both leapt about a foot in the air, B nearly fell over, and J threw the toy he was carrying half way across the room to land on M's bed. M nearly wet himself laughing "Good one, Mum".

Yet another example of how not to do it!

Big school visits!

Today has been my first trip to look at schools for M to go to in 2 years, when he leaves primary school. I have to do this a year earlier than other parents as he has a statement (of special educational needs) so he gets priority when we choose a school, and the school need time to put resources in place. So I started with my nearest school. It doesn't have a great reputation, the buildings are tatty, but the people I spoke to knew what they were talking about. It's also the smallest senior school around (only 280 pupils, lots of SEN kids), and it's given me LOTS to think about. I'm not sure I'm qualified to make this decision!

On the plus side, as the old sofas have finally given in to the onslaught of hyper boys jumping on them for the last nearly 10 years, so I ordered a new sofa today. Yay! Of course, I ordered it on the internet, which could be risky, but it will fit the rather awkward space we have. Lets hope it's good.

Tomorrow I plan to get down to the poor allotment and continue the battle to reclaim it after the summer of terminal neglect! And obviously, more knitting. My secret project is getting there, and it will be done in time, but I keep wanting to cast on new and exciting projects!

Autumn is coming

So somehow, months have gone past since I last blogged. The kids are back at school, the mornings and evening are getting colder, and I think I should try to blog more often. But shorter!

My sister had a baby 3 days ago - another niece. I will get over to see them next weekend I hope. And will take the thinkgs I have made. The purple knitted teddy for Ella, and the cream cabled cardigan for Georgie. Plus the stuff I bought. And I think I might make one of these cute little owl hairpins for Ella too, another sweet design by Ysolda. Her second collection of patterns is out - a new pattern each week at the moment, and so far, I have to make them all.....