I have two FOs to share...they were both secret so I waited until today to show them.  The first is Kristi's wedding shawl.  Kristi and I teach kindergarten together.  She is one of the nicest people I've ever met and  is also wickedly funny.  Kristi wanted to marry and have a family but was smart enough to wait for just the right person to spend the rest of her life with.  She wanted someone who loved animals and was sure he wanted a family.  Someone who would get along well with her family and would appreciate her school friends (ok...I added that last part...but it's important to us,too).  Last year she met just the right man and they are getting married this Saturday!  I wanted to knit her a prayer shawl for all the happiness she has ahead of her.  She picked the pattern and left the rest ot me. 

 

This is the Swirled Pearl Shawlette and I used Jade Sapphire Silk Cahsmere.

 

This is the first time I've ever knitted with beads and I loved it...I see more beaded knitting in my future.

     I also finished a Bunny Blanket Buddy for my precious Loulu.

 

My friend Judy gave me the Lion Brand VelvetSpun and I love the way it turned out.  The yarn shed so much that I almost thought I couldn't give it to her but I popped it in the washer and dryer and that solved the problem.  I gave it to Loulu today at her dedication.

 

Loulu had so many family members at church today to support her but she just slept like an angel through the whole morning.

Banjo wasn't sure what was going on but did spy lots of people he knew in the congragation. (When Jessica came in wearing the wedding shawl I made for her I really teared up...little did I know when I knitted it that I'd see her wearing it with Rob and two precious babies!)

     There was much posing to remember Loulu's special day.

 

Loulu's dad's family

 

Loulu's mom's family

 

4 generations

 

all the women

 

sisters!

 

proud Auntie Erland

 

Banjo and Loulu with their great grandmothers....I've spent 39 mother's day without my mother...I do wish  she was here... I couldn't help but think that if not for Alzhimer's Disease Bob's mother would have been standing so happily with these 2 remearkable great grandmothers...wish she was here....

     Another family member has joined the blogging world!  My dear daughter, now known as Peanut Butter, in now writing a blog with her friend.  It's all about finding good, cheap happy hours in Richmond.  Here it is if you're interested...I think it's cute!

http://pbangeli.blogspot.com/2011/05/banditos.html?showComment=1304416329650#c4287993429272265868

     My BFF from high school  has a very talented DIL, Nora.  She owns The Smockery and was sweet enough to gift Banjo with 3 precious outfits when he was born.  I was thrilled when I came home from school on Tuesday and found a box waiting for me with goodies for Loulu.  I was so tempted to rip them open but I just couldn't....it wasn't for me.

     The next day I dropped by Rob and Jessica's house to deliver the gifts.  The beautifulness was worth waiting for.  In one box was a sweet strawberry dress.

 

 

I love how her dresses have so much hem...they can be worn for years just by letting down the hem as Loulu grows.

     The second box was just what I was wishing for...lacey diaper covers...

 

 

These are the cutest things I've ever seen....lucky Loulu...thank you Jane and Nora!

     This April has brought much happiness to our ever growing family!  Banjo has a new baby sister, Loulu!  He doesn't seem to notice her too much, yet, but the rest of the family is thrilled.

     The night before she arrived Rob, Jessica, and Banjo came over for dinner.  They posed for their last family of 3 picture.

 

All excited smiles except for Banjo...he's suspects something's up...he's right.  Rob and Jess slipped away after this picture and Banjo spent the night with us.  His mom and dad had to be at the hospital WAY too early for him. 

     The next morning we got to the hospital before Loulu arrived and Banjo got to visit with his parents for a while.

 

He didn't even seem to wonder what his dad was wearing....he really just wanted to figure out the hospital bed...

 

...but soon he was able to meet his adorable sister.

 

And she is ADORABLE! 

 

Here she is with her proud daddy...look at that hair!

 

She has enough hair that Jessica was able to clip a bow in it for her hospital pictures!

     Of course, there has been baby girl knitting.  Her pink blanket is the Oat Couture Pinwheel Afghan. 

 

What a fun pattern to knit.  I made her a hat to match and she wore them home from the hospital.  I used one of my favorite cottons-elann Sonata.

     I've also made Loulu two sweaters so far.  The first is the Garter Stitch Baby Kimono by Joji Locatelli.

 

I love this little sweater, especially the buttons.

 

Several years ago I bought a collection of Georgia Bow Yoke buttons and now I have a baby girl to give them to!  This yarn is Creatively Dyed Yarns Merino Twine that I've  had in my stash for years.  I have lots of it so there will be bigger sweaters from this yarn to come.  I also made a sweet little hat to match.

    The second  sweater is  one size up from the kimono.

 

This is Helena from Knitty.  I saw it on Wendy Knits and couldn't resist! 
The yarn is Sublime baby cashmerino and silk dk.  I have enough for a little hat. 

     Right now I've taken a break from the baby knitting to knit a wedding shawl for a dear friend.  I'll have pictrues after I've gifted it to her.

     Today is Easter but we had our family celebration yesterday.  Remembering that last year we ate out on Easter at a Mexican restaurant we decided to have a Mexican fiesta for Easter!  There was good Mexican food, homemade Sangria, and homemade fried ice cream.  The fried ice cream wasn't as hard to make as I thought it would be...I used Paula Deen's recipe.  This was the biggest mess I've EVER made in my kitchen...I'm just getting ready to empty the dishwasher for the 5th time!

     The best part of the fiesta was the pinata filled with Easter candy!  I made Pinata bags for all the kids.

 

The pinata was hung from the basketball hoop with care.

 

Banjo had no interest in the Pinata this year as Tim's dog, Chase,  was visiting and he just wanted to chase Chase.  Rob and Charlie beat the candy out of the pinata and then wore the beat up pieces as their trophys.

 

 
I really don't know how Erland got so much candy in her pinata bag...everytime I saw her she was doing this...

.

Proud aunt...sweet niece

 

     Yesterday I had a play date with Banjo.  He's getting so big and so much fun to hang out with.   He loves to be outside and was so eager to go when I went to pick him up.  Our first stop was the playground. 

 

He loves to go up and down the steep ramp that goes up to the pirate ship...but he really loves to just run, run, run from place to place.  He's so full of joy as he's running that he squeals with glee.

     After about an hour at the playground we went for frozen yogurt.  The treat didn't really interest him as much as the swivel table and chair.  We didn't stay there long, sitting still wasn't what Banjo had in mind.

     When we came home Banjo put on his boots and explored our waterlogged backyard.

 

 

     After all that excitement Banjo and Bob relaxed with Tootsie Pops and watched the ACC  games on TV.

 

     What a great day.

     Today I've been working on Loulu's baby blanket.

 

Just a few more wedges to knit...it'll be done well in time for her grand arrival.....I can't wait.

 

 

     My birthday was this week and I'm feeling so spoiled!  I love my birthday...it helps to be a kindergarten teacher on your birthday.  The children are so excited that it's their teacher's birthday and then so amazed/horrified to find out their teacher is 58 YEARS OLD!!!!!  Shocking!  Especially when they look on our timeline and see that I was born in a different century than they  which makes it seem as if I'm 100 years old!   Here's a picture of some of my amazing surprises...

 

Erland sent me beautiful roses, Charlie spent the night at home and we celebrated with dinner and he gave meBananagrams (so fun!) and Bob and I decided that my birthday was the right time for a Kindle!  I've wanted a Kindle for so long and I love it.  I'm reading Water For Elephants on it now.  I'm such a creature of habit that I find myself occasionally trying to turn the page.....wonder how long that will go on...has that happened to anyone else? 

     I've had lots of knitting time this weekend to work on Loulu's spiral blanket.

 

 

It's almost halfway done and I can't wait to finish and block it.  I want to see all that pretty cottony garter stitch smoothed out....

....off to read and knit.....busy week starts tomorrow!

    

     While away from my blog I have been knitting...

     I finished Banjo's  Christmas vest.

     

     I also made a birthday scarf for Jessica.

 

 

I love this...as soon as I get some free knitting time I'll make one for myself.  It's Shizuku and I used several different half skeins of Kureyon.

      My new grandaughter, Loulu, will be here April 11 so I'm busy knitting her welcome blanket.

I'm making her a spiral pinwheel...

 

...this is one spiral.  I love the lace edging.

 

     Well, I'm off for a day of baby knitting........love this weather!