JUNIOR RAVER HOODIE

Immediately after my niece received her hoodie, almost-7-year-old Kaden requested one of his own and I got to deliver it in person.

He drew me this picture of poop, pee, and diarrhea. Later we played in the park, and pretended that dogs were poo monsters and the only way for us to be safe was to climb the sprawling oak trees. He has a slight lisp, and hearing him scream “POO MONTHTUZZ!” was equally adorable and hilarious.

I drafted the pattern myself and it just fits him. I would have preferred for it to be a little roomier, but it fits him now and it will fit a different kid next year, when I will have to make a new jacket for the little guy. Like his sister’s, this hoodie is made from all remnants and stashed fabrics. The shell is lycra, the lining is snuggle fleece, the pockets and hood are minky, and the hood is trimmed in faux fur.

I also gave him (and his sister) some of my painted goggles that look cool but are rather worthless at Burning Man. And he lost his front tooth that night! The other front tooth popped out a few days later.

He slept with this hoodie on their first night together, so that’s a good sign (Bloppy Bloppy was also jammin’ on the top bunk).

My niece is almost 13 and definitely no longer a little girl who likes to cuddle and be 100% sweet (though of course I am very proud of the smart and talented teen she is becoming), so it was really awesome to spend time with my nephew while he still is a little boy who will let me kiss his head and just be silly. What sweethearts!