SparkleShan

Here is a picture of my first attempt at a cable knit hat. I finished it today while I sat around for hours on end waiting in lines to do pre mobilization stuff. It was supposed to be an adult size, but once again I underestimated the size and it should fit my 4 year old!

Today is my last day of freedom before I am on lock down for deployment. After today there will be no wearing cute summer clothes, no driving my own car and no more snuggling with the family. I am sad to say that I will not be aloud to attend Emma's very first dance recital. It breaks my heart, because ballet is one of the things she enjoys most in life, and she has asked me about 50 times if I am going to get to see her do her dance on stage. Until two days ago I thought I would be able to. But even though I am going to be 5 minutes down the road from where she is dancing, I am not aloud to leave. OK enough before I start to cry again.

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Emma loved the idea of the traveling Gnome. The first place we brought him was to the movies, when we went to see Iron Man a week ago. Emma took him out of the bag and sat him on the arm rest so that he could watch the movie. It was pretty cute. Although since I left that day and came back a week later, her Gnome is no where to be found. So much for our idea and taking him places with us and taking pictures and sending them to each other. I still have my gnome which will be traveling to the Middle East with me, so I am going to take pictures and send them back to her.

I finally finished my first knitted baby dress. I made it in a size 18 months for my friend Kelly's Daughter. The pattern came from the Bernat So Soy Pattern book and I used Bernat Soy yarn to make it. I think it is going to be a little big on her right now. She is 13 months old, but she is really tiny and still in a 12 months! Emma was the complete opposite at that age and she was always in a size bigger than her age. Here is a picture.

I am excited, a few weeks ago I ordered some stickers and bracelets from the International Campaign for Tibet Website and they were here waiting for me when I came home last night. I wanted to share them. The first is the Rangzen (freedom) bracelet. The tag reads " Originally created by Tibetan political prisoners from threads of their prison uniforms, the " rangzen " (freedom) bracelets quickly became a popular symbol of resistance to Chinese occupation in Tibet . The weave design is similar to the famous " dzi " turquoise beads, which are believed to protect the wearer. ICT is helping to support recently arrived Tibetans, including political prisoners, who weave these bracelets in Northern India." The second thing I got is a sticker which is going on my car today. I had seen these in the window of the Dharma Jewel Shop and have been wanting one ever since.

Emma has been asking for a cowgirl hat for a while, but I haven't been able to find one in her size. I recently took a trip to the Children's place and found the perfect combination of cowgirl and Princess in one hat. Yesterday when I came home she just happened to be wearing a jean jacket and jean skirt, so it was perfect and she loves the hat.