Too Much

I have commented before that Arabella is rough on her toys. I would like to show Exhibit A. This is all that remains of Sleeping Beauty:



We have NO idea where the rest of Ms. Beauty may be, but we are saving her wig and legs just in case.

In the past 48 hours Arabella has:

1. Broken her red "lunch box," which she used for carrying her crayons when we go out, by standing on it.
2. Bitten the nose and cockpit off the red rubbery plastic airplane from Grandma and Pop-pop.
3. Stabbed her pink stuffie cat with the paint brush until I was sure it was going to spring yet another leak -- I have already sewn it back together twice.
4. During Quiet Time (when she is expressly instructed to remain in her room), Arabella went downstairs, fetched the egg she had gotten at her friend Esme's house (where they have chickens) and played with it until it broke, smearing egg all over the floor and her play mat. Amazingly, she didn't get it on the bed.

Today has had nothing so dramatic, but has had plenty of smaller incidents that have been driving me to consider that maybe we should have snuck Arabella into a suitcase when the in-laws left. I have told her that at this time she will not be receiving toys at either her upcoming birthday or at Xmas. Books and clothing only. I've talked to Santa, and he understands, right Santa? Or do I have to talk to Tony Soprano?

It has been suggested that the reason Arabella is so rough on her toys is that she has so many. She certainly has more than I recall having at her age, but far fewer than many of her peers. So we will be culling the toy box, tossing anything broken, storing anything she doesn't play with regularly, putting the rest in their proper places.

FO's

Last night I finished knitting the beret for Mom, this is knit in Lona's Laces superwash merino, Aslan, using the beret pattern from Welcome to the Knit Cafe.


I also got a picture of the hat I made to go with the baby kimono I made for Sabine. Hard to see details, since it is black.


Cara's easy newborn hat:
Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, 1 skein
size 8 needles

CO 52, K one row
second row, K1 *YO, K2tog. rep from * until one stitch remains, K1
work even in stockinette 30 rows, bind off.
With right sides together, sew up side seam, then either sew even across top for 'ears' or crochet in X for a watch cap. sew on roses or ribbon.

Our other new baby:
It is a 2003 Honda Odyssey, with 60K miles, fold-down rear seat, dvd, automated side doors ... and lots of space to keep the girls safely separate and still go shopping without putting groceries in the girls' laps. We are selling the pickup truck, if anyone is interested ...