10x2

Double digits.

Ugh. Writing it makes me cry. We all know how I feel about birthdays so I will just link to this post because it pretty much says it all.

I will say that to get a real smile I told them to think of Shea farting into her pillow and that pretty much got the reaction that I wanted.

 And if you cant tell, we got sawyer a label maker.  She has really gotten the hang of it.

 Ben got a bear target to use with his bow and arrow because he has started taking archery with 4h.  That whole sentence makes me so happy for so many reasons that I will not go into now, but someday I will.  Also 4h feels like a gateway drug to FFA which is going to be completely addicting for Jeff Barstad.  But for now it just makes him so happy.

But not even close to how happy they make me. 

Happy 10th Birthday Ben and Sawyer.

I could just dye (everyday)

Avocado pits make pink dye.

Isn't that insane?!

 Its the most beautiful blush color, too.

I have gotten every single person I know to save their seeds for me and I have dyed almost every piece of white yarn that I own.

The first bit I saved, but the big ball of yarn I used to make this weaving.

 I am not a professional weaver and I dont have anything new to bring to the weaving community, but I love trying to figure out what techniques and yarn and colors I like.

 These are very basic ways to weave, but like I said with knitting- I want to be a yes person.  Just like the knitting, I kept seeing these beautiful things from people all over the internet and then my friend Rachel started doing it, and I knew I had to try.  I don't want be afraid of failing or looking like an amateur. Who cares?! (I mean, I do, but I know I won't learn unless I try).  I know I am not so talented that I can make up my own stuff, but I can use my hands to make things from patterns- or just at least try out different techniques.  I have enough yarn to knit a sweater to wrap the world in, so I may as well try.

 The white one is the first one I did that I hung up.  It is a mess. I  am going to take it down so I can (you guessed it) dye it with the avocados that I have now because everyone's bringing me theirs!!  Hopefully I can make something with more skill and that stays together when I take it off the loom.

I used these little ones to try out some colors and techniques and learned the hard way that you can not cut yarn that is connected in the back...

Sawyer wanted to try a little, but so far I haven't conned any of my kids into using my yarn to knit or weave.  Surely it will come soon.  I just know they will love it.

Tried gradients here.  I am so far from mastering it.  I saw a beautiful one that the colors molded together like a sunset and it made me want to try again.  

And Jeff.  He just is so curious and so great. He totally gets into what I am doing and it is just the best.  (I definitely do not return the favor, sorry jeff.) I started putting the pits in the boiling water and showed him how the colors get darker and by the time I wanted to put the yarn in, he had a tripod set up and the idea to make a time lapse video.  Love him.

IMG_8942 from kristen barstad on Vimeo.

It just SOAKS UP THE COLOR! I mean its amazing! The water goes from pink to basically clear after the yarn soaks it up! It just blows me away.  I love it so much.  Its so easy and I used this tutorial.  GO do it yall.  Its so fun.  

Happy Memorial Day and Cinco De Mayo

 I want to remember that Bryan Masters goes all out for Cinco De Mayo.  And that it is actually not really celebrated in Mexico, but more of a holiday for Mexican-Americans.  So many teachers and kids in our school were in full on celebration mode on the 4th because the 5th was on Saturday. It is always so fun seeing how beautiful they all look.

There was a piñata and a Mariachi band that we have used before so they felt like our best friends.  It was just a fun relaxing day and I cant wait for them every year.  (Sorry Becca).

There were so many more people there.  I wish I had a photo of all of them.  

Then for Memorial Day we went to Jan and Bob's lakehouse and it was so relaxing and fun, too.  Jeff worked Saturday and Monday so he was a huge trooper and drove back and forth.

 There was a lot of fishing and boating and sitting and I am currently obsessed with Harry Potter thanks to Avery and couldn't put the books down.  (I am on book 4 and I can not put it down.  We got Jeff and Sawyer to listen to it and I am still trying to get Ben to do it. He is watching the movies, though.  So he is getting caught up one way or another.)

It is always so fun to see Ben in his element.  He has gotten to be such an amazing fisherman and I cant wait to watch him continue to improve.  He pretty much doesn't come in from the dock the entire weekend.  We have to beg him to stop and eat.  

Thank you Jan and Bob and Bryan and Becca for so many fun memories

And a huge thank you to the men and women and their families that serve our country.  I know that I can relax in my freedom and enjoy these privileges because of you.