I finished Caden's quilt.  He loves it which makes me love it even more.

If you look at the stitching on the bear and then this corner you can see how much I improved over the course of the quilt.  I wish I had quilted each section with color that matched the section, even if it had been very time consuming.

I think it looks great hanging in his room.

Do You Want To Build a Snowman?

I think we got the 7-12" of snow the meteorologists were predicting and we aren't done yet.  We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning.  Thankfully, it's nice and toasty warm in our house.  Sleet and/or ice are heading our way soon, followed by more snow, so hopefully the electricity continues to stay on.

Gracie was not thrilled that she had to hop through the snow like a jackrabbit to potty this morning.  Her knee didn't like it.

The snow did something weird on the partially frozen lake.  Those are some crazy ducks and geese!

Jaelyn's New Shadow Box

Jaelyn chipped in and helped buy a printer's drawer off Ebay to turn into a shadow Box.  She was so excited the day it came in the mail.  It was filthy, dirty.  Step one was cleaning.

We decided to paint it white and back each hole with a different color paint chip.  The kids got a little out of control the day I turned them loose at Lowes.

Jaelyn learned how to spray paint and distress wood.

It's going to take her years to find the perfect memory for each little hole.  This dragon came from our last Thanksgiving at Medieval Times.

We found these sweet knobs to go on the bottom for ribbons and awards.  As soon as the snow clears and I can get to Lowe's for shorter screws, we'll get them attached. :)

Allie's Getting Crafty

Allie tends to be like a bull in a china shop for many activities. Teaching her to ride a bike made me swear I would not teach her to drive. While Jaelyn showed interest in sewing, Allie never has. She never had until recently, that is. With a lot of trepidation over breaking my recently repaired sewing machine, I helped her make a bag today. I was happily surprised at how focused she was. She listened and watched while I demonstrated. It was impressive, especially since it was late afternoon when her medicine had worn off. She made a very basic grocery sack style bag. I'd say she did 95% of the sewing.

As if sewing wasn't enough, I also let Allie wield a can of spray paint today. That's seriously scary. My mother in law gave me a mirror that used to hang over Dan's Grandpa's dresser. It's beautiful, solid wood, and heavy. Can you believe we spray painted it? I'm nuts, but Allie wanted a mirror for her room and Joan said I could take it and paint it. It turned out really well and I imagine she'll spend hours primping in front of it in the years to come.

Finished

I have close up pictures that I'll pull off my good camera later, but for now I wanted to share Caden's quilt all hung up. There are some things that I should have done differently with the quilting thread color, but overall, I'm really happy with it. I love how the blocks bleed into each other rather than being rows of blocks lined up (as my inspiration quilt was). I also tried a new rectangular stitch that I really like for a boy instead of a curvy, girly stipple. Caden's favorite parts are the pockets I added at the end. They make it special and personal since he loves to carry around his treasures in his pockets.

The Big Ninety

I just realized today is a big day and then I jumped up and down and squealed while Dan and Jaelyn looked at me like I was crazy (well, let's be honest, I probably am a tad bit crazy).  When we started school in September, I never thought I'd make it a month.  There was a day I literally got in the car and drove away sobbing to get space between me and Jae.  She's driven me absolutely batty, but it's also been a joy to watch her grow and learn and want to learn more.  Yesterday afternoon, when she could have been doing anything she wanted, she brought me the chapter book we've been reading and asked if I'd read with her.  This is a girl who HATES to read.  Anyway, back to the title.  Kids go to school 180 days a year.  Today is Jaelyn's 90th day of school - hump day for the school year - and I have no doubt we'll make it to the end.  I think we might deserve a ride on a camel or at least a visit to the cupcakery to celebrate!

T-shirt Yarn Love

Jaelyn needed a new bag to carry her piano books and I had a bag of T-shirt yarn I'd made from the girls' outgrown summer shirts. Three hours later and I might just keep it for myself because it's so cute.

Allie's "Why You Should Go to College" Writing Assignment

So apparently, Allie isn't getting much help in the writing department in school.  Her story made me laugh, but where was her teacher in helping at the editing stage?  Another reason to home school everyone next year.

College!  Why go to college?  Is college the best idea for me?  Here are some amazing facts that tell you why you should go to college.  If you don't go, you will be non-smart which is not good. 

First thing is that you get a lot of money.  It is not all about the money, money, money.  But money is important.  Without money, you can't afford an amazing life, and give to the poor. 

Secondly is that you have more opportunities in life.  You can get a life helping job, money, and you are helping the world.  You also can make friends. 

Third thing is having a stupendous, healthy life. You will be surprised with life, healthy by learning what is good and bad for you.  Your life will be friendly, warm inside if you go to college. 

College is a fantastic place.  It makes you smarter too.  I hope you understand me about going to college is the best thing and not the worst thing.  Send you child to college!

She got a C+.  Hmmmmm.  Wouldn't want to be non-smart and not be able to give to the poor.  Definitely go to college, kids!

Caden's Quilt

Caden has been asking me to make him a quilt since I made Allie's last March. I started it a few weeks ago and it came together really fast. Caden helped me pick the words. I love how the different colored blocks turned out. I still have a few surprises to add once it's been quilted, which I'm excited to do because I'm trying out a new stitch instead of stippling. My favorite part is the bear in the corner for my Cade-bear!

Good Homeschooling Moment

Jaelyn was done with school and her quieting reading today. She had an hour to do whatever she wanted. I'm proud to say she chose to research Sloths and then started making a display poster with the information she learned. I love seeing her seeking out learning on her own. It's not what she'd be doing in school, but this is better because she learning because she wants to learn, not because she's being forced to learn.

Brrrrr

I'm pretty sure winter is never going to end. It is so cold outside. Our lake is frozen and is now covered in an inch of snow. It's really pretty especially now that the rest of the snow on the ground has melted leaving the lake looking like a snowy meadow all by itself. I'm sharing one more picture for us to remember that it'll be hot again one day.

Up For Sale

I'm going into the quilt selling business, but only for friends that I like really well.  There's too much time involved to make it worth selling personalized quilts on Etsy.  Here's the first one I've sold.  Leisa had me poll her friends and family to get her words, plus I added a few of my own.  Leisa wanted a cream background to match her room, but I didn't want to do solid cream.  I chose 5-6 different cream fabrics to give the background some depth.  This method takes a lot of extra time over filling in with long strips.  I probably won't be doing it again unless I charge a little extra.

Leisa has collected pigs since high school; so when I ended up with space at the bottom, I knew I had to embroider a row of pigs.  Their tails are my favorite.

Leisa told me she loves flip flops.  I couldn't find any flip flop material that I loved or matched so I made my own flip flops.  It took three tries to get them right, but I love how they finally turned out.

I spent 30 minutes wandering the racks at Joann's looking for the perfect backing fabric.  Leisa always looks great and loves cute shoes and purses so this boutique fabric was perfect.

And my finished quilt with my helper who likes to push my presser foot every now and then to keep me on my toes.

Caden is 9

Caden turned 9 on January 7th.  Hard to believe.  We celebrated early with lunch out with Baba and Grandpa at Longhorns.  It was yummy.  On his actual birthday, we made a lemon pound cake and I cooked him his favorite chicken nuggets.  Next month, we are spending a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge to finish celebrating his birthday.

It's kind of dark, but I love his expression in this picture.  And of course, he is wearing the mandatory birthday hat.  

This last candle would not blow out (and it wasn't a trick candle like Gramps did to Allie on her) so funny.

Christmas Pictures

First of all, have I mentioned I hate change lately?  Well, I do.  I'm very set in my ways when it comes to storing and editing my pictures.  Mr. Mac is different and not cooperating.  I'm going to have to add a photo editing program to my birthday list because I no likey iPhoto.

Anyway, here are our christmas pictures.  No editing or cropping has been done because of the aforementioned dislike. :)

I loved playing Santa and leaving presents under OUR tree this year on CHRISTMAS EVE.  It's never happened.  Caden and Jaelyn loved their presents from Santa, but Allie a little miffed that Santa didn't bring her the huge American Girl Doll Jeep to go with the huger American Girl Doll RV.  No worries, we have alleviated the problem! 

Look at how big their hand prints have gotten.  Jaelyn organized the kids and made this for us.

Caden got a new nerf crossbow for Christmas.  Nerf messed up and didn't send us enough darts; so they double dour order on the second try (free of charge) and we ended up with about 4 times the extra darts than we planned.  Can you say happy little boy?

By far, Allie's favorite present was the tiny bottle of ketchup Jaelyn put in her stocking. It's been a month and she still hasn't opened it.  It's driving Jaelyn crazy, but Allie loves it too much to use it.  Silly girls!

I bought us Headbands for Christmas.  My parents refused to play, but they enjoyed sitting and laughing at us!

My parents were supposed to come on the 27th, but they left a day early and surprised the kids on the 26th.  Unfortunately, 2 days in the truck killed my mom's back.  She spent her time with us sitting in straight chairs and in bed.

Here's the start of my Nativity with the Grants.  LOL.  Dad is working on the Wisemen, or WiseGuys as he calls them, now.  I can't wait to see it finished!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Dad brought his carving stuff for more lessons.  He helped Jaelyn make me a spoon.  He took it home to paint and stain it.  I might get it when my Nativity gets shipped.

And I feel that I should praise Blogger and Safari and our new Mac since I started by being unhappy with it because for over a year, I haven't been able to enlarge pictures on my blog and I can magically see the tool bar now to make the pictures bigger.

Randomness

It seems like every post I write is a hodge lodge of things because I don't write on a daily basis.  I was amazed to look at my post count over the last two years.  It's plummeted.  Oh well, that just means that our lives are full.

So lets see, since the beginning of January, Caden turned 9.  I have no idea how that happened.  My little snuggle bug is growing up, but he's the same sweet, loving, tender-hearted little boy.  I hope he always stays like that.  Caden continues to take gymnastics and tae kwon do.  He's really loving gymnastics.  His cartwheels look like cartwheels these days and he lands them and finishes with his hands raised instead of in his karate stance.  His favorite part of the class is doing front flips into the foam pit.  It looks like so much fun.  I so want to get the kids a trampoline.  Maybe our next yard will be flat and I can override Dan's continued veto of a trampoline.  There's a kid that's been bullying him at school and taking his craisins at lunch.  He's talked to his teacher about it and has told me not to do anything.  He wants to handle it himself.  So far, it's stopped now that Caden stood up to him.  We'll see if it continues or if Momma-Bear has to take over.

Gracie had another vet appointment last week.  I had some concerns, but the vet explained everything and says her knee feels really good.  She was cleared to be free in our house and jump on the furniture again.  I need to take a picture of her sacked out on the couch snoring.  She's so much happier.  We are starting with slow 10 minute walks and will increase them over the next 3 weeks.  We have another appointment at the end and then hopefully, she'll be cleared for all activities including running up and down the stairs whenever she wants.  I am so tired of walking her, but the deck has tall stairs.  She can't be free in the yard yet because of them.

Homeschooling is going well.  Jaelyn is adamant that she will continue next year.  If I agree, I will also bring Allie and Caden home.  I see so much freedom and independent learning.  We are working on expository writing right now.  Jaelyn has chosen to research 3 different horse breeds.  For the last week, she's spent her afternoon free time reading and taking notes when she isn't required to.  She says next she wants to research hummingbirds.  Actually, she's already started a little.  She was spouting off facts at dinner the other night.  It's exciting to see her excited about learning.  Sure, it might not be what she would learn in science in school, but she's learning and motivated.  The biggest issue I see with homeschooling all three is losing even more of "my time."  Let's be honest, I have no friends here.  I don't have time to get involved in anything and make them.  I have also had short-timers attitude since before I unpacked the first box.  What's the point in making friends when we are temporary?  But I want to be settled at our next house.  I long for a permanent home...constants: neighbors, friends, church.  I haven't joined a homeschooling co-op here, but with all three, I see it as a necessity.

There is something I'm excited about.  I sold my first quilt and am sewing on the binding now.  I have my next one lined up to make.  I won't ever make a ton of money, but it will be nice to have a little play money.  And sewing allows me to work at home.  I would eventually like to find something quick and easy to make (bags maybe) to sell on ETSY.

We have our new computer set up.  One day soon I'll download all of my Christmas pictures. :)

Merry Belated Christmas

We have had a truly wonderful Christmas.  It's the first year since having children that we've stayed at home instead of driving the day or two to Florida.  I enjoyed every part of it from buying presents without having to think about whether or not they'd fit in the packed car to wrapping them with pretty bows (pretty bows don't travel real well packed in an over flowing car) to decorating the house to cooking.  It was great to wake up on Christmas morning and find presents left by Santa under our tree.  Honestly, I may never want to go to Florida at Christmas again (but I will, don't worry Joan).  My parents came on the 26th and spent a week and a half with us.  My mom pulled a muscle in her back so we didn't do anything, but hanging out around the house and just "being" was perfect for us.  Life is busy.  Stopping to breathe is good.

I'll work on getting pictures another day.  We've gone mac and while the process of switching computers has been relatively easy, we don't have everything set up yet.

Gracie got her stitches out last week.  She's doing really well this time around.  The healing is slower.  It took her a week to put her foot down and she's still favoring it.  It's hard though because she can't run, jump, play, climb stairs, etc.  She basically has had to sit in her play yard or with me on a leash.  The vet gave her two more weeks of the same and wished me luck.  Getting the cone off her head has helped tremendously, but the barking at 6 am (and earlier) is continuing.  Crying it out worked with the kids...I'm close to barking it out...although Dan's been getting up with her because I've been sleeping so good that I don't always hear her.

There's more to write, but Gracie is crying and I think I smell mini corn dogs burning in the oven! :)