Babysitting

Yesterday hubby and I found ourselves babysitting while our daughter went off to check out a neighbouring university.  She's currently on a prep course and is hoping to train as a paediatric nurse but needs to source a suitable nursing course as our local college doesn't do one.  So while she was off for the day with her college buddies we took care of the kids.

Dave had the 2 boys cos Kaleb had a footie match - his team won 2-0 (way to go Kaleb!) and then they headed down to the allotment to help Papa clear out the last of this years produce.  I had Maddy and since Jilly had also planned to keep me company us three girlies headed into town to run a few errands. 

We got Jilly geared up to knit dish cloths with needles from a charity shop and cotton yarn from the sewing shop in St John's Street.  Did you know it had changed hands?  Well it has and I found some really cute HK fabric downstairs that I hope I can make babydoll stuff with for Maddy at Christmas - more projects that I haven't started yet! 

It's pink, it's bright and the design features 2" squares so it'll be easy to machine quilt along the lines if I make up a bag or dolly blanket (or both).  It was only £3.30 a metre and a metre can go a long, long way especially if I team it up with scraps of white and pink.

Maddy has always been a child that could not sit still for even a minute unless SHE wants to and needs constant watching too - even her teachers ask her mummy 'how do you do it? she wears us out!'.  I came up stairs from the fabric section to find Jilly putting embroidery flosses back on a stand - clearly Maddy had been at them!  Jilly is a 'soft' touch with kids and hasn't spent a lot of time with Maddy. She'll learn - if she ever comes out with us again that is LOL!

After we were suitably worn out (Jilly and I) we headed home for a much needed rest and a cuppa.  I decided Maddy needed to sit still and colour so Jilly and I could recouperate!  Colouring always does the trick.  Maybe it's her creative gene at work who knows?  Sure hope so.

I sat opposite and watched them.  It was a real treat to see two of my favourite girlies getting along and to watch the interaction between them.  Jilly doesn't have grandchildren as yet so I'm always delighted to share mine with her.  I listened as Maddy complimented Jilly on her colouring skills and helped her choose colours - colours Maddy thought she should be using that is LOL!  Jilly was very patient and they got along great.

I would be lying if I said I'd had an easy year for 2010 - it hasn't been and spending time with family has sometimes slipped by the wayside especially when fatigue got the better of me.  We had a chance to have Vicky and the kids for dinner on Friday this week too and I realised just how much we've all missed this and need this.  The kids are growing so fast and have so many different interests and activities that I think now is a good time to reinstate 'family night' each week.  It gives Vicky a break from cooking and all of us a chance to spend more time with each other.  Think maybe we'll book a sleep over sometime soon too so we'll HAVE to get the spare room finished!

Still no crafting, still can't seem to find where I left my mojo at but don't give up on me just yet.  Christmas is fast approaching and I have projects that'll need doing. Besides, Jessy is coming to stay later this month and we share a passion for crafting so she'll help me look for it.