Rayman Game Toy

It all started with an innocent visit to grandmother’s house, where my children got a peek at her new tablet and some of the things that she had downloaded.  It ended with a download of our own, and two little boys anxious to play their first “real” video game.

I guess in a way I should be grateful that they picked something relatively simple.  I try not to encourage the video game playing (though with my own addiction to Candy Crush, I’m probably not the best example!).  Rayman, however, is light and fun, and oh how my children love it.

And inevitably, there came a day when my son asked me for a Rayman toy.  I was certain there was, isn’t everything marketed to death these days?   But lo and behold, no Rayman toy.  So I went to my next line of defense and looked around Ravelry.  That’s right – there is no actual Rayman toy that I could find, but there was indeed a crochet pattern for it.  I downloaded it that evening, and had a little boy bouncing around me for the next three days while I finished it.

There’s no way I could translate into words the happiness on my little boy’s face once he got this guy.  But I can recall just a few of the many anticipatory statements he made while throughout the process:

“This is going to be my favorite toy!”
“I’m so happy that I have water in my eyes!”
“I’m going to cuddle with it every night!”

“Mama, I’m SO happy!”

My gosh, who wouldn’t drop everything else to work on this?

I modified the pattern somewhat to make it more functional for a young child (crocheting the arms, legs and neck instead of using piping).  And that was a good move, considering the way he’s already been dragged around the house.  All my Ravelry notes are here, if you’re interested.

In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the moment of Mommy Gratitude from my children while it lasts!