Our family is scattered all over the place. We have family in Tokyo, Chicago, L.A., Florida, Dallas, New York, not to mention Iraq and Afghanistan. I wanted a way for the girls to remember every one, so we made a family themed memory game.

It’s easy to build, plus the game helps build logical and spatial skills.

Materials:

• 12 pairs of small photos
• 3 sheets of matching scrapbook paper
• clear contact paper
• glue stick
• Corner rounder paper punch

Directions:

1. Gather your photos. The easiest way I found was to upload the photos to a photo service like Flickr.com, then order wallet prints. This gives you 4 x prints of each photo.
2. Cut out two of each photo.

   

3. Glue the pairs of photos to the back of the scrapbook paper.

   

4. Cut the photos out of the paper along the edge.
5. Use a paper punch to round all the corners.

   

6. Cut two pieces of contact paper large enough to hold about 4 - 6 cards. Remove the back cover and lay the contact paper on your surface sticky side up. Place the cards photo side down on the paper leaving at least a half inch in between the cards.
7. Remove the backing off the second piece of contact paper and place it sticky side down over the cards on the first sheet. Make sure all the edges of the cards are covered.
8. Use a spoon to burnish the cards, especially the edges.
9. Use a pair of scissors to trim the contact paper about 1/8th an inch from the edge of each card.

Not enough people take math seriously. This is a pet peeve of mine…I do teach math and computer science, occupational hazard.

The truth is math equals opportunity. The more math kids master, the more opportunity thay will have later in life, no matter what thet decide to do.

Here’s a simple project to help kids build basic math skills. The bracelet sticks to one-digit numbers, and the key-chain uses two digit numbers.

Materials:

• Prepainted Wooden Beads square
• White wooden beads
• Beading elastic
• Paint pen type

Directions:

1. As you work hold the beads so that the holes are on the right and left sides.
2. Using the paint pen put a + on four sides of a square bead.
3. Do this again with the = sign.
4. Label the numbers on the beads as listed below
5. To make the:
   1. Bracelet: String the beads on the elastic with a square bead, then a round bead. Make sure the number beads go on in the right order. Add enough blank beads to fit yout child’s wrist.

There you are. Sale of the century. The perfect fabric is 40% off plus you have a coupon. But how many yards do you need?

Enter, the pocket sewing guide. This PDF has two pages to record your family’s measurements and four pages to record yardage information from your favorite patterns. I keep it handy when I’m heading to the fabric store, and I know exactly what I need.

Plus, you can tape in small snippets of fabric you need to match.

Pocket Sewing Guide

Print it out and follow the handy folding guide over here at www.pocketmod.com.

Enjoy!

The Baby Bun-Downsizing Dinner

My kids have dubbed these mini-burgers “Baby Buns”. Serve with American cheese and ketchup for the under five set, or go more upscale by adding blue cheese and bacon.

Makes about 30 2-inch burgers.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups Italian Breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons Pick-a-peppa Sauce, or any good steak sauce
• 1 pound lean ground turkey

Serve with:

• Dinner rolls. We used 1 1/2 inch potato rolls cut in half
• Roma tomatoes cut into slices
• Small pieces of lettuce
• Sliced American cheese, cut into quarters
• Ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickles-the works!

Directions:

1. Mix the first four ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Add the ground turkey and mix by hand. Don’t overwork the meat or your burgers will be tough.
3. Form the meat mix in to 2 inch patties.

   

4. Wash those hands!
5. Grill each burger over medium heat. Six minutes on the first side, then flip and and cook for two additional minutes.
6. Serve and enjoy!

OK…so sorry this is late!! We’ve had a crazy week, so many apologies.

1. Repeat after me “no hurricanes, no hurricanes, no hurricanes” . Okay we just had to get that one out of the way first. We needed to created a bit of “good weather karma”!

Done!
2. What is your favorite hurricane supplies snack?

Anything chocolate, as long as there is no mint.

3. Do sock patterns normally fit you “as written” or do you usually modify them for size in any way?

Nope…they usually fit.

4. What are your foot measurements, not just shoe size? (Measure the length of your foot from heel to toe, then the ball of your foot. )

length: 8 3/4 ”

ball: 8″

5. What one city abroad would you visit and why if money was no object? (and terrorism was non-existent)

This one’s easy! My sister and I are going to Tokyo this summer to visit my brother.
6. Do you wear socks all year round or just during the winter? Do you prefer them tall or short or regular height?

I am almost always cold, so I wear them year round…usually medium height.

7. The last time the power was out during hurricane season (or bad weather of any kind) did you knit by lantern or were you lucky enough to knit to the hum of a generator? Or did you knit at all?

By candle…

8. Make a wish for your favorite sock yarn that you’ve already used once. What would it be?

Hmmmm…I think Lorna’s Lace

9. What is it about sock knitting that keeps you wanting to knit more and more socks?

Easy to take to the playground, quick to finish, and always a bit of a challenge

10. Make a wish for a sock yarn that you are dying to try but haven’t bought for yourself yet. (be specific, even color-way if you’d like)

Cherry Tree Hill…

11. What size needles do you knit socks for YOURSELF with the most? Are they circular or bamboo needles? What brand?

Multiples of 2…2, 4 and 8. Usually bamboo.

12. If you could only take 3 yarn related books and one previously knitted project that you love with you when you evacuated what would they be?

Anything by the Yarn Harlot, Sensational Knitted Socks, and a good knitting stitch book. I think the one project that I would save is my cardigan I finished last year:

13. What knitting notion do you wish you had that you just keep putting off getting for yourself?

Notions?! I just want more yarn…

14. What is your favorite tv show?

Don’t really watch much TV, but when I do I make it cheesy…like CHiPs reruns.

15. Do you want a lacey sock or a “solid fabric” sock from your hurricane partner?

Either is fine

16. It’s midnight and the power has been off for two days, its hot, and you have a craving for something sweet! What would it be? (This is a FOOD related question! LOL)

Chocolate Ice Cream

17. Tell us a story about any of your hurricane weather related experiences.

We’ve had several, but Isabel was the worst. The girls were 3 yrs and 6 months. We had no power for 11 days. Husband is a journalist, so he was gone the whole time. The tap water got contaminated, so I had to boil water to rinse the baby. Thank goodness she was nursing.

We eventually evacuated to my parent’s house, where the little one rolled onto the floor and got a skull fracture of an inch and a half. Very short roll, but really hit wrong. She’s fine now, but it was scary.

It all culminated in her christening…the power was still out and the church was lit with candles. Very special day.

18. What was the one thing you wish you had remembered to get last year for hurricane supplies that you swore you wouldn’t forget this year?

Bleach! 3 feet of water in the basement…what a mess!

19. What color sock would you like to receive from your sock partner? (if you don’t have a pref just say so otherwise give us a hint!)

Anything green!

20. Well surprise, this one isn’t a question at all.. it’s a THANK YOU for filling out this questionnaire and posting it.