Routine...

So school has started and all is good. The boys are going to a brand new school this year that is just down our street at the bottom it out hill. They ride their bikes so in the morning it is a quick trip but at the end of the day when they are tired the uphill ride is a little harder. As soon as the snow comes I will drive them but for now they don't complain. They seem to be enjoying their teachers and classmates. The only complaint is the assigned seating at lunch. This year they have a before lunch recess instead of an after lunch recess which is great, why didn't anyone think of this before. You see with the after lunch recess all the kids eat three bites of lunch and throw the rest away so they can play. This way they are a little worn out and sit and eat all their lunch. My boys have even asked for an extra sandwich at times. Emma is in her last year in Junior High and she loves it. It is all about the socialization at this age. She isn't the biggest fan if homework but she doesn't it without complaint. She is in a peer-tutor class where she assist Autistic and mentally handicapped children and I think it is her favorite class. She loves interacting with the kids. She is growing up so fast and before I blink I am sure she will be dating and driving and worrying me to death. As for me, I am enjoying the quiet...noise makes me so anxious! I am working Monday afternoons and Thursday and Friday nights. I am hoping to pick up more days or find another part-time something for days. I have done a little sewing but not as much as I have liked. You would think my house would be spotless but it isn't. I am working on some new vinyl lettering signs to advertise for the holidays...one is so awesome I am hoping it will get me some Christmas money with the holiday orders. Other than all these things are lives are pretty normal...for now.

Alexism...

Well, I can't wait for Alex to grow up just to see what he will be like...

Alex: Mom, when are we going to move again?

Mom: Never!

Alex: Well, that's bad news!

Mom: Why?

Alex: Because I always wanted to live in Hollywood!

TOO FUNNY!

Random stuff...

Here is the quilt I made for a friend. It is one of my favorites...I know I always say that but this one really is. I told Justin today that I want to make another one like this and hang it in my upstairs hallway...that you can see from the front door...I have been thinking of something to put there and a quilt seems perfect. We will see. I am out of fabric at the moment but maybe in August I can get some and start another one.

Here is a picture of the blessing dress I made for my niece. It wasn't quite finished in the picture and I didn't take my camera to the blessing to get one of her in it but it turned out so cute. I finished the band with a flower and made a headband with a flower to match. She is a cute little one and has a one of a kind dress to keep forever.

This month Alex went to Scout day camp and Justin got to go with him. He had a great time and got do do some fun things. He is such a handsome boy and he just might sail right past Dylan in the height department this year.


Well the boys played city baseball and made it to the State Tournament. Unfortunately they didn't go very far. Their season this year started out rough. They only had a few returning players and several who had never played. I think we lost the first 4 or 5 games and then made a great comeback that took us to State. We won the first game of the Tournament and then the second game was a big bummer...the pitcher on the other team kept hitting our boys and really shook them. Dylan got hit in the elbow of his pitching arm and still has a pretty good sized bruise. So we lost that game and the one that followed putting us out of the Tournament. We are so proud of the boys anyway. They had so much fun and by the end of the season have made so much improvement that next season should be a great one. Way to go Dylan and Alex!!!

More sewing...it's an illness!

So with the scraps I had from the first quilt I made I made this one...so I has to pick up a little more fabric in the end but it was worth it! I couldn't decide what to do with this one so I washed it a few times and it now has a home on my couch. I love the bright cheerful colors! It makes me feel good just looking at it.

Here is the whole thing. It is so much better in person!

This one I made for a nephew that is getting married in a few weeks. I loved the fabric and just had to have it. I was going to keep this one for my bed but soon realized I didn't have time to find something new to make so...this one goes to Remington and Megan who will be married in August. I hope they love it as much as I do. The lady who machine quilts for me was loving it too and even asked me to explain how I pieced it. She said I did a good job which was a compliment seeing as she quilts 20-30 quilts a week. I have learned a few things from her as well. I even told her if she ever needed another hired hand to give me a call.

I made this one extra big...I wasn't really thinking about how big it would become, I only wanted to have an odd number of stripes so I had to add an extra one to make it the same design on both ends. It isn't quite a king but it would fit one. Next time I will cut the pendants down just a bit. I really love this one so much I really am thinking of making one for my bed. this fabric also comes in a orange, brown, blue combo that is beautiful.
With the left overs from this one I made another one that is being quilted. When I get it back and bind it I will post the pics. I made it for a friend I have been thinking about lately...what better comfort than a quilt, good book and maybe some chocolate!

More sewing and Bargains...

I was at the thrift store last week and I ran across this serger...there was no price on it so I carried it around the store for a while debating on whether or not I should ask about the price. Now, I already have a serger but it has been the biggest pain ever since I got it about 10 years ago. It was a floor model and was a good price but it has never worked all that well and when I think of getting it out to use it sometimes I don't bother and use an inside hem instead. It skips stitches and the tension is always off and the thread breaks a lot. I have seen sewing machines at the thrift store and they are always around $30-$40. Sergers are generally more expensive new so I wasn't sure about it. It is a Juki and that is a great industrial sewing machine brand. While waiting in the line to ask the manager the price a women came up and said that she had lost her purse (bad for her, good for me) and the manager seemed so flustered trying to help her that when I asked the price he said $5. Thats right $5!!! I almost jumped for joy. I was thinking I would offer him$10 knowing that he wouldn't take it but I waited on him while he thought about it. $5 is a great deal, unless it didn't work. So finally today I got around to cleaning it up and threading it. It was perfect! I had to mess around with the tension a bit but other than that it was great, even the blade was sharp! I am keeping this baby and the other one it going on ebay! So excited and I even have a blessing dress to make soon that I am going to use it for.

This is a baby quilt I made a few weeks ago for a girl at work. I really love this fabric and had been wanting to use it and thought this was the perfect project for it. It turned out really cute and I whipped it out in about 3 days with piecing and hand quilting. I have another similar one in the works along with a queen sized one for my nephew and his bride who are getting married in August. I will post pics of it when it is done. I love it so much I am going to make myself one just like it.

Drawing to a close...

As school is nearing an end for the year...only 22 days left...I am glad. I love school and the fact that my kids have some place to go every day to learn and play. I also see them getting tired. I have one that would totally sleep in if he could. I end of having to wake him every morning and it is an effort for him to get out of bed. I also want them to have the break that they deserve after being in school for 9 months and doing so well. Even though we don't have any solid plans for the summer besides chillin' I am glad for the break. We will bowl, swim and just hang out. No where to be at a certain time and just going with the flow. I also know that come August we will all being dying of boredom but that comes with summer. I hope that as my kids are getting older that they don't demand more out of summer. I am so proud of them...

Hobbies and Passion

Well, when we moved I told Justin all I wanted to do was to quilt. I really haven't had much opportunity since being here but recently I have been able to sit down and work on a few things. I made a queen size quilt for my niece who got married last week and then from the scraps I made another one with a different pattern. Now I must say I am obsessed with looking at quilting fabric and patterns. I love them all I only wish they weren't so expensive. I have plans for 3 more that I hope I can start working on soon. I have been sewing for about 24 years and I love it. Sometimes I make things even though I have no one to give them to. I have even run into people from the past and they tell me that I made their baby a quilt or outfit...I can never remember them but it makes me feel good. Here is a picture of the one I just finished...