New Year, New Knits

Ah, the new year is upon us and it is time to reflect on ones life and what new journey take. While being a mother of two little ones, life's journey is really boils down to where the kids want to go and maybe mom can squeeze in some fun here and there! Our Doodlesprout life is getting a little refresh. After weeks of looking at the same ol' thing, we have some new knits for the store!!! We are trying to work with fibers like bamboo, organic cotton, and corn. We are also looking forward to beautiful spring colors!

During the holiday break our LYS had a sale, and really who can resist a sale on yarn???!!! So of course we went like hungry hunters in pursuit of some yummy treats. We hit it big with beautiful yarns for our little store. I went home and immediately put the yarn on the sticks and got busy knitting up such wonderful fibers like bamboo, corn, and a fun superwash wool for babies! So here are some of my pics of the wip.....

I just love how the bamboo yarn looks and feels.Such earthy colors

This is the superwash wool for babies. I just LOVE the colors and how it has a sock yarn look to it. It is very fun to knit. You just never know what you are going to get!

We hope to have these in the shop this week and I am all ready formulating ideas for the corn yarn. Up that's right, yarn made from corn! Can't wait to see what that is going to be like!!!

Have a safe and very very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

The snow finally came and the boys went out for a little romp in the white stuff. J.D. was very handy with the shovel!

Of course all the Kirk boys had to get out and have a little fun as well! There were snowballs and snow angles made in the backyard. The morning just flew by and it was fun!

We then went inside for some hot coco and marshmallows. Yummy! I just love the snow around the holiday time. This weekend we are expected to get more of the white stuff. Should make for a cozy time wrapping presents and watching a Christmas movie or two. Right now we are finishing up the holiday shopping list and getting things ready for the big day :)

The holidays are so much fun with the kids. Hope that everyone is having a wonderful weekend and surviving the holiday crunch time!!

Tis' the season!!

This week we are kicking off the holidays! My in-laws are on their way in from the U.P. in Michigan. I really do love having family around for the holidays and my boys (both big and small) are excited to see them. One thing that always brings this family together is food! My mother in law is a wonderful cook and we eat so much great food when she is here. She is the kind of cook who never uses a recipe nor does she use measuring cups. I find that so amazing. They are arriving today and one thing that they will do as soon as they get here is make a huge trip to the grocery store and then to Costco.

I ALWAYS enjoy some Wassail Punch during the holidays! The best is when it has been in the crock pot smelling up the house with its spicy goodness. It is my little contribution to the rest of the holiday cuisine that we are going to be enjoying this week. I found this great recipe on allrecipes.com. Please check it out and give it a try. It is very easy and all you have to do is put it in the slow cooker and let it go!!! http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Wassail-Punch/Detail.aspx

Much love and joy unto you! Hope to have blogs up as the Kirk famiy fun continues.....

CHERRS!!

Let then Tween Age Begin!

A few days ago we celebrated my daughter's tenth birthday! This was the first year we had a friend party. With December being the craziest month I barely have the time and energy to plan a party for her friends.

This year I started early. Back In September I started thinking about it, we had a theme - Webkinz. So the ideas started coming. Calla learned how to finger knit so we taught her friends how to make their Webkinz a scarf. We decoupaged a picture frame with paper and stickers. The girls played Pin the Tail on the Clydesdale. We had a Wheel of Wow to spin and the girls won prizes - Webkinz trading cards, a pencil, a bookmark, etc. This was the highlight of the party.

When dropping off the girls one of the moms said "Are you sure, really, 3 and 1/2 hours? That's a long party." Being a newbie to this party throwing thing I had no idea how long to plan. I was prepared for extra time. I had Twister to play and Apples to Apples Junior, and a movie to watch - all just in case. Time was an issue for us but because we didn't have enough! The girls were great but if two seconds went by they were all over the house and literally climbing walls! Luckily I have been a youth leader at church for years and could conceive of this happening.

I learned that I never want 9 ten year old girls in this little house again (sorry to my youngest daughter - we'll go skating or have pool party). They are great girls and I would love to have them over again in groups of three. :) Much more manageable. But in the end to have a happy daughter who felt so special and honored by her friends it was all worth it!

Spirit of the holidays!

I just wanted to share a great little story about a friend who is away doing mission work in Africa. She has been emailing her experiences and sending pictures. It is incredible to hear how life changing this has been and what an impact is this having on not only her, but others around her. She is helping to build a library for children and helping the children in a small village. This time of year it is so wonderful to have these people in our lives to help us stop and take a break and remember what really is important to us.

She took a big leap of faith to leave for Africa. That is amazing and a very hard thing to do. So, for those of us who are willing to do that, thank -you. For those of us willing to be inspired from that, maybe we can do our small part to help others and make the world a better place.

Okay, I will get off my soap box now! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

It's Bloggin' Time!

We have been a little busy with the holiday season and working on family, etsy, and of course I STILL have to Christmas shop! I am such a slacker this year!! It is time to get with it! I know there are so many people who are done already. It has been so cold that I just don't feel like going in and out of the car.

Last night we went to an open house with our Doodlesprouts stuff and well........it did not go so well. We are 0/2 when it comes to trying to do a local event. We are not giving up and are going to try this spring/summmer to see how things go. It is just a little disheartening when you display your hard work and your heart and then you get nothing. People did have some nice things to say, but just not what they were looking for.

In Etsy world, this is what we have just listed for our shop......

So I really like how this one turned out! The colors are so bright and it is so very soft. J.D. kept on touching the red minky and saying how soft it was. Then he would find the corduroy and say "That is not as soft, THIS is soft!" Now he wants a blanket too. I will have to see what I can find in a cars and trucks print.

Also in the works are the boys p.j. pants for the holidays. Nothing like a new pair of p.j.s to live in when it is the Christmas season! J.D. is getting cars (of course) and Rory is getting aliens! How fun. Okay, off to try and get some shopping done for Christmas......

Cheers!

Baby Shower Gifts

This was a fun request from a friend - hand knit fleece hats for twin baby boys with matching burp cloths. Katie and I love doing custom orders for family and friends & anyone else.

When I had Joely, this was such a fun gift to receive. Katie made me several burp cloths with colorful ribbons and different textures, and Joely loves them - still (she is 15 months old!) She sucks on the ribbon taggie and cuddles with them too.

Happy December!

We are in full holiday mode here in our world! Poor Anna is still under the weather, but she is picking up her knitting sticks when she can. We did get a new baby set up, so without further delay......Here is snips and snails! We think it is a super cute snail set =) One down and one more is in the works.

Also the Etsy Bloggers are having a huge sale right now! Click the icon to go shop some wonderful artisans. We are offering 10% off select items in our shop. www.doodlesprouts.etsy.com Please come check the Bloggers out! They are a great group of people!

In life outside Etsy....(is there life outside????) The weather is turning COLD and snowy! The crock-pot is out and I am in the baking/cooking mood! We shall see what tomarrow brings for a day with the family. I may live with all boys, but my men (hubby and J.D. (Rory is too little)) do know their way around the kitchen! It is great that they love to get in there with me! How else do you spend the day with a Winter Weather Warning???!!!

Cheers!