There are benefits to having a stomach bug circulating in your house on your birthday. You get to celebrate for longer! I tried to convince Larkspur of this fact last week, as we had to cancel plans and make new ones. Thankfully, we started celebrating early with a gathering of some of her friends a few days before her birthday. On her actual birthday, Jonny and I ended up taking her out for a late lunch (the three of us managed to escape the bug) and then her older brothers took her to see a movie. The friends she had planned to see that day will come for a belated celebration soon. It’s hard to have plans change, but flexibility will serve her well in life. I’m still working to instill it in myself, with lots of deep breaths at times. Larkspur is my mini-me, and I’m hoping that she can learn this life lesson more easily than I have.
Her big surprise gift on turning thirteen (I have four teenagers now!) was a sewing machine, and she has lots of plans for it. I’m excited to help her learn to sew! I finished her wild rabbit a few days ahead of schedule, so there was a little something handmade for her as well. Larkspur loves her rabbit, though there are mixed opinions on its appearance amongst the rest of us. I’ve never knit something like this before, and it was a challenge. The face is maybe a little funny, specifically those big plastic safety eyes, but it turned out better in many ways than I expected. There are requests for more knitted animals pouring in, and I’m not sure I’m up for the task!
p.s. Unrelated, but wanted to mention that in those first photos Mabel is wearing an infant romper. She has become VERY opinionated about clothing, and I pick my battles. There was a week during which she only wanted to wear that romper that she had pulled from a bin in the basement. I explained that it didn’t fit her and told her that it was too tiny. She argued back that she is tiny too! Long sleeves became very short tight sleeves, and pants became even tighter shorts. The romper is now missing and she is back to wearing her own clothes (for now.)
Laura Smartt says
You little children are so sweet! Love the rabbit he looks like Fifel (I think that’s his name) in Watership Down the movie. Saw that first before I read the book so of course that’s who I picture. Anyway love all your sweetness on this blog.
Debbie Gilbert says
Happy Belated Birthday Lark!
Ginny the rabbit is adorable! High 5 to you for picking your battles!
Liz says
I love your rabbit! It has such a cute face! Happy birthday to your daughter!
karen says
Happy birthday L!!! I cannot believe she is thirteen! where does the time go??? I babysit a soon to be three year old and she keeps me on my toes. Love the rabbit you whipped up and the eyes look realistic to me.
Elaine says
Your pictures a magazine worthy. Just beautiful. So is that bunny.
Bindy in Australia says
Fabulous rabbit – cute and life-like!
Happy Birthday Larkspur. I really like the photos of you with Beatrix. That’s a beautiful investment that you’re making in your little sister. (She owes you some baby-sitting when you’re a grown-up Mamma and she’s a young adult!!!)
Much love to you and your family, Ginny.
From Bindy: Melbourne, Australia.
Paula Rusling says
Lovely photos. I may have missed this but could you tell me what pattern you used for your daughter’s sweater in the last picture. It looks so nice.
Nahuatl Vargas says
I love the rabbit, could I add to the animal knitting requests?, just kidding.
I’m so happy that she wanted a sewing machine, it’s such a great gift for a teenager.
She looks so big and smart, time flies.
Joyce F in Kansas says
Love the rabbit. I hope I do half as well with the lovey I’m making for great grandson for Easter. Only have to make the head, ears and front paws to make (and stitch to the granny square) but I’m wondering if I can make it look like the rabbit it is supposed to be! Great birthday gift idea, the sewing machine. I learned to sew about that age.
Becca says
LOVE the bunny! It’s so realistic! Bunnies do have big eyes, so it looks quite natural. I have several kids, but my youngest is a daughter who was born the month before Mabel! Little two year old girls can be feisty at times, can’t they? I am finding over time that my daughter is actually happier and more secure when I consistently am firm with her, and I earn her respect that way, but it takes patience ?
I think your family is beautiful. Larkspur has grown up so much, and she is so wholesome and pretty ? Happy birthday to her!
Heather Winslow LeFebvre says
I am so taken with that rabbit I have to make one for my daughter. How did you order the DROPS yarn, or did you replace it with something else?
Marilyn says
Larkspur is a beauty. Looks like her and her friends had a good time. What a nice surprise to give Larkspur a sewing machine. She probably can not wait to learn to sew. The rabbit is cute. Ginny you did a first rate job. The rabbit is so realistic looking. Larkspur wishing you a year filled with love,joy and blessings. Happy Birthday. God Bless you.
Marilyn
Joan says
Larkspur looks so happy with her rabbit. Have fun teaching Larkspur to sew. Happy Birthday Larkspur. Have a blessed year filled with happiness.
Joan
Marion says
The rabbit is adorable. You did a good job Ginny. Larkspur , enjoy your sewing machine.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR
Marion
Anne S. says
I think the eyes are perfect because rabbits have those big shiny eyes!
Patricia says
Love the rabbit, though like you I struggle with the plastic animal eyes. Pieces of felt and some beads for glitter? I might actually try that.
And I love Claire Garlands animal patterns. I have made her barn owl and it came out really well.
Your first teen girl. Fun times. Two of my three girls were great teenagers. Enjoy!
Connie says
Beautiful girl, beautiful knitted hat she is wearing.
My daughter is a lot like me as well. I’ve tried to help her over the same issues I’ve had all my life, but one can only do so much?
She is a mom herself now, and we can relate to each other’s issues. Such a blessing.
You and your daughter will be the same in about 20 years or so?
Theresa Boedeker says
Yes, flexibility is a trait I am still learning. 🙂 Love the rabbit. So cute.
Laura says
Happy birthday to Larkspur! I hope her birthday week was wonderful! About nine or ten years ago I knit a rabbit. It was a giant fail in many ways, and to this day jokes about it circulate our family on occasion. I’ve yet to knit another animal. Needless to say, I am hugely impressed with Larkspur’s rabbit! Hope everyone is feeling better soon and enjoy teaching Larkspur how to sew on her own machine. Teens really are a lot of fun, aren’t they? People always say how hard the teen years are and bring a sense of dread to them. We are just beginning them in our house and while they do have their own set of challenges, so do babies, toddlers and little kids. They are a different kind of fun and wonderful in their own ways!
Beth Fagundes says
Another teenager…sigh…
They grow up so fast, don’t they?
Your babies are like a beautiful garden. Thank you for allowing us in to watch them grow.
Blessings to Larkspur on her birthday and to all the family, always.
Emily says
I LOVE the bunny! I want one for myself! Great job, Ginny. 🙂
“I am tiny, too!” That cracks me up. “Though she be but little, [Mabel] is fierce!” LOL.
Charlene Evans says
I love the rabbit! Thank you for sharing your life.
Cristina Reintjes says
That bunny is perfection ?
Clara says
Dear Ginny, the rabbit is just perfect. So real. If I were a good knitter I’d copy it exactly. When you relate birthdays I realize that I have followed your blog for many years. Thank you for making us all part of your family and life.
Clara from South Africa
Penelope says
Happy 13th to Larkspur!
I think the rabbit is wonderful! You are so talented, what a lot of hard work you’ve done, raising lovely babies, knitting amazing rabiits … 🙂
Nicole Spring Frontierdreams says
K got a sewing machine for Christmas! 13 just seems like the right age for it, doesn’t it? And I had that same wooden cat pen when I was around her age!! How funny!!! Happy belated birthday to her!! xo
Sara says
The rabbit is precious! Very lifelike.
I have a vivid memory of being a toddler and putting on a baby dress while my mom was on the phone and I got stuck in it! LOL
Katherine McMahon says
I think the rabbit is adorable. My 6 year old granddaughter is with me today and she loves it as well. Happy Birthday to Larkspur. On a different note, I purchased a scarf from you a few months ago. I forget what it’s dyed with, but it is kind of a mustard color. It matches the outfit I purchased it for, perfectly! Each time I wear it, I think of you and say a prayer for you and your family. Though we’ve never met, I feel like you are a friend. I love reading about your family and your life. You are truly an inspiration to this grandma.
Eileen says
Happy Birthday to Larkspur, what a beautiful 13 year old!
I so get ‘picking your battles’, clothes my girls and now grandkids pick, I could care less if they fit, match or if they didn’t/don’t wear clothes. I knew/know much bigger battles were down the road, plus I always thought this was a great way for my girls to express their independence, something they would need in teen years and beyond.
The picture of Bea is wonderful! Such a beautiful family.