4th of July Travels

So, we decided to take a vacation this week. We departed yesterday, July 4th, drove to Rochester, MN and stayed with our friends: Pam and Dan Halvorsen. It was a lovely stay. After some snacks, Elias decided he should make the best of his time out of the carseat and decided to attempt running! He did a really great job. For about a half an hour he would walk from person to person and chair to couch and back again. It was really fun to see! He only stopped because I was a bad catch once and he bonked his mouth. Today, in the car, he was getting frustrated when we were stuck in traffic so I started reading him one of his favorite books - Baby Animals. I got to the page with the "fat and funny" puppies and he said "Bow bow!". Very exciting! He also knows that cats "Mow" and cows "Moo". Having lots of fun on this vacation - hope it continues. Tomorrow we are going to attempt downtown Chicago.

See? I am bad at this!

Seriously, I am terrible at remembering to blog. So let's catch everyone up. Elias is almost 11 months old and has started to walk. He is very timid about it but just last night he took 3 steps from the safety of holding onto a chair to getting to my legs. It was very exciting. The other day, he took 2 steps to get to his friend Charlotte. She did not, of course, enjoy being a support for him so he did fall down. But it's exciting that he is growing up! I am trying to enjoy all the little things but I can't wait until he starts actually walking!!! Woohoo!
His vocabulary is up to about 12 words which is really exciting. The most recent additions are "Baba (bottle)" and "Juice".
Tomorrow we are heading to family camp at Crystal Springs Bible Camp and then on Sunday, we start our really long excursion to Chicago. I really hope it will be fun!

Full vocab:
1. Mama
2. Dada
3. All Done
4. More
5. Please
6. Dog
7. Jack
8. No-No
9. Nana
10. Up
11. Baba
12. Juice

Spring Flowers

The tulips, greens and crocuses in my garden are blooming away! Spring is officially here, thank goodness. I took a few photos.

New Slideshow Element

I have decided to add a new element to my blog. There will now be a running slideshow of my latest favorite photos. I will then leave a little blog note about the new photos on display.

Currently, the slideshow is running images of Elias enjoying the new ducky tub that his friend Charlotte gave to him. He loves to hang out in it whenever possible. He likes in full of water like a tub, but he will also play in it while it's on dry land and he's fully clothed - doesn't really matter to him.

Spring Break Trip

On March 17th, my mom, Elias and I took a short drive to Rochester, MN (about 5 hours). I planned the whole trip out around his nap times so that it wouldn't be a miserable trip for us. However, a half an hour into the drive he woke up. I figured this was going to be a disaster but he turned out to be a really great traveler as long as you keep handing him different toys periodically and try to entertain him. I also have perfected the art of nursing a baby who is still strapped into a carseat, all while still traveling down the highway. We made it to Rochester in record timing and had a stayed with our friends: Pam, Dan and Jordan Halvorsen. It was a really relaxing and lovely time. The first day we were there was 65 degrees! We enjoyed walks and sitting outside on the stoop, watching the world pass by. On Friday, Ben drove to Rochester to meet us. Saturday morning, Elias, Ben and I drove up to the cities and stayed in a hotel in Eden Prairie. We visited the Mall of America and when we returned to the room, we all took a lovely nap. The rest of the day we spent hanging out in the hotel room, playing with some new toys Elias had gotten at them all and just enjoying stress free time with each other. For supper, Ben decided to get take out food from Olive Garden. So I put Eli to bed around 9 and when he was asleep, we crawled into the big bed and dined on lovely Italian food. It was actually really fun and romantic. Sunday we got in the car around 10:00 am and drove to Albertville to do some more shopping. Then a lazy drive home. It was really a great little vacation. Here are some photos from the trip.  

Pam, Elias and I at the park

Nana & Elias

Elias stole my English Muffin and made a mess in the hotel!

Out on a walk with Pam

A tree in the Park

Kisses in the sunshine

Pam tickling Elias

Cool ornament outside Pam's house

Aipperspach Family Photoshoot

This past weekend we visited Ben's family in Wishek, ND. While there, we decided to take some family photos. Here are the results.

Benjamin, Kayla, Lee, Andrew, Elias, Carla, Phillip and Rachel

The four generations of Aipperspach men, Benjamin, Elias, Lee and Grandpa Ben.

The four children, Benjamin (26), Phillip (18), Rachel (22) and Andrew (24).

All the Aipperspach men. Benjamin, Phillip, Lee, Andrew, Elias and Grandpa Ben.

Baby & Piano

This picture takes my breath away. I am new with the Photoshop program and basically stumble across some beautiful effects for the pictures I have. This is a picture of Elias playing with a keyboard. I really wanted to do something fun and precious with this photo and I think I have accomplished just that. It sort of takes my breath away.

I applied a lighting effect because it was really difficult to see his beautiful baby face. Then I added a Diffuse Glow Filter. Ah. I'm in Love.

Two Color, Cable Knit Scarf

Requires: 1 Straight Needles size 8

               1 Cable Needle

               

1. Cast on 11 sts of green. Cast on 11 sts of white.

2. Odd Rows: (beginning with white) Purl 3, Knit 6, Purl 2. Cross green over white, Purl 2, Knit 6 and Purl 3.

3. Even Rows: (beginning with green) Knit 3, Purl 6, Knit 2. Cross white over Green, Knit 2, Purl 6 and Knit 3.

4. Every 5th Row: Purl 3, Place 3 sts on Cable Needle and hold to front. Knit 3, Knit 3 from Cable Needle, Purl 2. Cross green over white, Purl 2, Place 3 sts on Cable Needle and hold to back. Knit 3, Knit 3 from Cable Needle and Purl 3. 

5. Continue until desired length. 

6. Bind off Knitwise. 

7. Weave in loose ends.  

Natalie's Window

                My sister lives across the street from me. The house she lives in has a gorgeous, huge window that is divided into panels. It lets in light from the North side of the house and it creates a great environment for taking photos.

Often when I babysit, I find myself struck with inspiration looking at the babes playing in the daylight. I have taken way too many photos of them sitting by this grand window - I think last time I uploaded the camera it was close to 700 pictures.

Valentine Hat

I wanted to make a cute little cap for Elias for Valentine's Day. It took quite a few tries and is probably a very confusing pattern, but here it is.

Requires: 1 Set Size 8 Needles

               1 Darning Needle
               1 Button

Yarn Used: Lion Brand Jiffy, 100% Acrylic: Silver Heather
                  Lustra by Berroco, 50% Peruvian Wool/50% Tencel Lyocell:
                     Lus Burgundy

Heart
I found it was much easier to create the heart on straight needles utilizing 2 different strands of the Burgundy yarn. I like using this personal variation of the Seed stitch/Moss stitch so that it has a great texture about it and isn’t too perfect. However, it is also the stitch I ended up using for the hat so perhaps creating the heart of Stockinette stitches might be appealing as well.

1. With line 1, CO 3 sts. Repeat with line 2. These will remain separate sections as if using different colors.
2. Row 1: K1, P1, K1 - repeat. Remember to keep the two sections separate until Row 5.
3. Row 2: K1, M1, P1, M1, K1 - repeat. (Makes 5 on each lobe)
4. Row 3: K1, M1, K1, P1, K1, M1, K1 - repeat. (Makes 7 on each lobe)
5. Row 4: K1, P1 - repeat.
6. Row 5: K1, P1 across all sts. To change from first lobe to second, pass thread from second lobe over first line as you would if you were using two different colors and P1 before picking up second lobe. (Makes 15)
7. Row 6: K1, P1 across all sts.
8. Row 7: K2tog, *P1, K1 - repeat from * to last two sts, K2tog. (Makes 13)
9. Row 8: K2tog, *K1, P1 - repeat from * to last two sts, K2tog. (Makes 11)
10. Row 9: K2tog, *P1, K1 - repeat from * to last two sts, K2tog. (Makes 9)
11. Row 10: K2tog, *K1, P1 - repeat from * to last two sts, K2tog. (Makes 7)
12. Row 11: K2tog, *P1, K1 - repeat from * to last two sts, K1tog. (Makes 5)
13. Row 12: K2tog, K1, K2tog. (Makes 3)
14. When 3 sts remain, break thread leaving approximately 5". Thread needle, pass through remaining stitches. Pull tight, knot and weave in loose ends.

Hat
It took a lot of work to figure out this pattern. This was my 7th attempt. The stitches do not go in any perfect order so I have created a grid for the crown. Essentially, after Row 2, when you have made an increase, you start again with the stitch create just previous to the increase. For example, Row 3: K1, P1, M1, P1, K1, M1, K1, P1, M1, P1, K1, M1 etc. The row will ALWAYS begin and end with a Knit stitch.
Click on image to enlarge.

1. Begin by CO 7 sts.
2. Row 1: Use seed stitch - K,P,K.
3. Follow grid above for 16 rows.
4. Rows 16 - 35: make sure to measure as you go, add or subtract from here to fit. Seed stitch, always beginning and ending with a knit stitch.
5. BO Purlwise.
6. Break thread and leave approximately 8" tail. Thread needle, pass through remaining stitches and knot.
7. Use remaining thread to sew up the side seam using the Mattress stitch technique.
8. Knot and weave in remaining ends. (Snip if necessary).

Button
1. Attach button where desired, I placed it off to the side a bit.
2. Push button through center of the heart created above.

Meet the Crew

As I post photos, quotes and thoughts on this blog, I am sure there will be quite a few names that reappear. I spend a lot of time with my son Elias as I am a stay-at-home mom. His growth and development will no doubt be chronicled on this page.

  

Also, my best friend and sister - Natalie - lives right across the street. We spend as much time together as possible and her children, Emma, India and Jude, are so much fun!

 

There will definitely be many hilarious and thought-provoking quotes from India on this page. She is our little drama expert, theologian and all around entertainment.

 Jude is growing so quickly and the photos that I am able to snap of him are some of my favorites.

 Emma leads a busy life as she is involved in her church choir, school honor choir, orchestra and any plays she can find time to participate in whether they be at school, church, the local theatre or just at home with her sister.

My husband Ben works in crop research. He generally tries to dodge the camera but is usually my partner on my journeys.

I will try to remember to introduce other people as I go.

First Official Blog

Hello! This is my first blog. I never thought that I would actually create one, but for some reason I have a desire to log certain items on the web. Hopefully I will be faithful in updating and adding to this site. Also, I hope that whoever is reading this will find the information to be interesting or enjoyable. This is short, but as I am a beginner, I am not quite sure what else there is to say at this point. I guess - keep an eye out and fun items shall be posted soon!