3000 Miles Away

After just 9 short months, my sister Geneva and her kids are moving back to Ohio. There is still hope that one day they will move back here for good, but for now they will be 3000 miles away.

Esperanza and I went to visit them for a few days to say our goodbyes and spend some time with them. Cyndi, Tony and Roman came to visit also. We all had a wonderful sunny weekend together and spent most of it at parks and strolling around. I didn't get very many wonderful pictures this time, but here is a glimpse of our weekend...

Anycia on her rollerblades with MestizoEsperanza wanting to do a summersault on the sidewalkGrandma and AntonioRoman and Esperanza cooking with Anycia's kitchenDiggin in the huge sand area at a parkAngelica and Esperanza strolling along together Antonio & his girlfriend just before they went to a school dance

Though I am beyond the point of being sad that they are leaving, I'm excited to see them again soon. Esperanza, Armando and I had already planned a trip to go visit family in Ohio before we even knew the kids were moving back...so, it just so happens that the kids are already there and we'll be able to hang with them while we are there later this month too.

Mini Multitasker

Esperanza has been mimicking me lately. I hadn't really put it together that she really was doing what I often do until my sister said something the other day about it. She was on the kitchen floor at my moms house, stirring up some dominos in a wooden bowl with a wooden spoon and adding some spices from an empty spice container...all while talking on the phone. Though my routine is usually at the counter and dominos aren't a typical ingredient in our meals, it certainly was something she must have picked up on from me.

This evening I was fortunate to get a similar moment on video. Here she is sitting on the couch folding laundry and talking on the phone.

Knitty Gritty Knitting Therapy

One night a couple of weeks ago, Anycia and I pulled out a few balls of yarn and several sets of needles. Together we thought we could figure out how to cast on to start some knitting projects. After several attemps, we got as far as the slip notch but could not get any stitches on. The next day, after I put Esperanza down for her nap, we hurried out of the house before Armando could, and made our way down the road to a local knitting shop, It's A Crewel World, for some help.

I went to the same place several months ago to get help casting off on my '3-year scarf' (which I'm proud to announce, if I haven't already, is completely finished and I've been wearing it ever since November). The owner, workers and even the customers who stroll through the knitting shop are the sweetest and nicest women. The lady who was working when Anycia & I went in was helping another customer with her knitting project when we got there. So we strolled around and looked at all the yarn - so many beautiful colors and textures of yarn line the walls from ceiling to floor. After buying an amazing locally hand knitted/felted wool hat (which Mando later told me made me look like Paddington), the woman at the counter spent about 3o minutes teaching Anycia and I how to cast yarn onto our needles. It's so easy, yet it's one of those things that is forgotten when you haven't done it for several years! I had started off by telling the woman that both Anycia and I were beginner knitters, and that we really wanted to re-learn how to cast on. Anycia, quick to correct me, said with pride and confidence 'she's a beginner, I know how to knit'. I just put my hand on her shoulder and smiled at the woman. We left the shop with a couple new balls of pretty yarn, the ability to cast on & the excitement of knowing that knitting something new was in our near future.

Anycia, me (Paddington) & Esperanza

Anycia went back home a day or two after that. I'm not sure if she began her knitting project or not. As for me, I've started several!!! Lots of practice projects, dish wash cloths and in just one week I've almost completed another scarf. I also went back to the knitting shop again to learn how to knit correctly (I like to twist my stiches) and signed up for a class to knit an entire sweater. I can't even explain how good it feels to have a skill and hobby that not only results in something I created, but it is also therapeutic to the mind, body, soul and spirit.

Me knitting my second and almost completed scarf

Just Pictures With Captions

Lookin a little rough Sitting in front of Bob's Red Mill Store after a fabulous grocery shopping trip

Esperanza wearing my glasses and holding a pen
Anycia knittting

Esperanza & Gavin chowing down on popcorn covered in butter & brewers yeast - YUM

I think they pulled all the toys out of the toy box

Anycia, me and Esperanza

Esperanza & Anycia playing with legos Crowning Esperanza princess with the princess crown Anycia made from felt and finger knitting
Anycia doing Esperanza's hair