Quilting 101 !

A few years back I read a book my sister Debra had lent me (that my Grandmother had sent her). It was called "The Quilter's Apprentice". I LOVED it! I enjoyed it so much that I read all five of the rest of the books in the series (Elm Creek Quilters Series). After that I had the strongest desire to learn to quilt. I figured I had done cross-stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, sewing, crocheting, some knitting, painting, latch-hook . . . . why not quilt too!
ANYWAY - Grammy was kind enough last March to send me a project she had - it is called "The Quilt Block of the Month". Each month you get a different style of quilt block design with pre-cut material and instructions. She had completed a few of the twelve and started on a few others but the rest were still untouched. This is a project me and Hailey have talked about but hadn't gotten to. Today was our lucky day!


I reassured her that the only REAL way to quilt is by hand! That's the way it's been done for centuries (plus my sewing machine is acting up)! I thought it would be fun to chat like they do in movies but you could have heard a pin drop (no pun intended) - way too much concentration going on!

I think one of the most important tools with quilting is the ol' seam ripper! It became handy to both Hailey and I much to our grumbling. All I can say is it is easier than it looks and no matter how many times you arrange the pieces you are bound to match up the wrong sides!!!!

I am happy to say that after a few hours we almost completed a 12 x 12 quilt block apiece (mind you, these are ones that Grammy had already done a little work on)! Hailey's is on the left and she just needs to sew the four sections together and mine is on the right and I just have to hook the two sides together. I really enjoyed it! Can't wait until we get the whole thing done. Three generations will have worked on this quilt. Almost brings a tear to my eye!

Before I end this post I want to put out a special "I LOVE YOU" to my Grandmother, Grammy! I believe without her influence I may not have ventured into the craft world. Even though I only saw her about every 3-5 years when I was a child she took the time to teach me how to crochet and I believe cross-stitch when she visited. And I have enjoyed crafting since then and love it so much that I am teaching it to my kids (boys and girls alike). XOXOXOXO Thanks Grammy!

The "Eyes" Have It!

For some reason I just love these pictures! This is what happens when kids are left alone with a camera. Do you think the dog is having a good time?

Hayden felt I needed to put something with the dog on here so people would know we have a dog. Her name is Willow and she is what people might call "a handful". I like to think of her as a nightmare with legs!

Lazy, Snowy Saturday Afternoon . . .

"Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

Since it is snowing pretty good outside and it is also windy and gray all of us seem to be touched with a lazy feeling. No one is pushing themselves to really do anything. Even I have cut it back to only 4 loads of laundry, one sink of dishes, only cleaning the family room once, hanging up the snowpants . . . I don't think I really understand the meaning of lazy, but, I think I will check out my family and see how it's done!

Ahh - the Wii! Hours of lazy-time fun!

Watching someone play the Wii - Also lazy-time fun! (I am supposed to let you know that Hayden DID go outside for a little while and play football with a friend . . . he didn't want to be labeled as lazy)! I just must have caught him at a down moment.

Ty really has it down, he didn't bother waking up until almost 11 a.m.!!!!! Hey, where is that lazy mom who is supposed to help him with his hair?

Well, could playing piano really be considered lazy???? Well, if you did it in your pajama pants I would think so!!!!!

Well, things did get a little constructive here. Hailey has been practicing a piece called "conquistador" It is really quite pretty. She is supposed to be in some kind of festival in February and she will be judged on how she plays. Kurt overheard and decided to come in and tinker along with her on his guitar. After that they were mixing it in a traditional sound and then a rock sound. Being dreamers we also started talking about maybe them doing a classical/rock duet at a school concert in the future. But of course, Kurt being in the sound business, he started throwing in all these production/stage ideas (then things got a little out of hand . . . we were at theatre performance level when I left the room)!

Hayden plans on taking up the Cello this summer. Hailey keeps talking about a family band. I am sure with Tyler's energy he would be perfect on the drums. That leaves me being the nerd with the triangle! Or maybe the tambourine. . . Someone will just have to teach me rhythm. Yeah, it's that bad. Oh wait - I could turn the sheet music, pack around the instruments and get them their drinks and snacks! Is there such a thing as a "roadie-mom"?

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Hot Chocolate Anyone?

Some people have their coffee, some people crave their tea but for me . . . Hot Chocolate! I actually find reasons to drink the stuff.

In the summer when most people are driving around and drinking soda pop, ice water or coffee, be it a frappe', froppe', frippe' (whatever those things are) there I am with my steamin' cup o' hot chocolate! Last night was no different.

Heading home from an evening Bible class with my sister and part of her family we couldn't help thinking with all those big, beautiful, white puffy flakes drifting all over, that hot chocolate sure would taste great right now! Especially with a nice fire going in the fireplace and some wonderful conversation. Oh, and I did add popcorn to the mix. How complete is that! The only thing missing was Kurt and the kids! (they are out of town visiting family - if you know me you know why I was here instead of there . . . someday!)




I took the rare opportunity to force Chris to take a picture with me. Doesn't hot chocolate just make people happy!



Well, here are two of Chris's girls patiently awaiting their hot chocolate . . . Emma seems quite happy (see, it's that hot chocolate thing) and Kelsey is too engulfed in a book to notice her crazy Aunt stalking around with a camera. They are going to have to get used to this because this is who I am now!

Whoever knew that hot chocolate could be such an interesting topic! Just look at us examining our beverages. You see, wine people aren't the only ones who care about "bouquet, clarity and nuances"! And who needs a fancy cork? Try taking a good long whiff of that plastic lid . . . Mmmm, mmmm, What bouquet!

I am afraid to ask what Johnny is looking at.

Here is Kimmy showing the absolute joy one has when partaking of smooth, creamy and incredibly delicious, yes, . . . Hot Chocolate!

After the hot chocolate "high" I think Johnny was missing his cousin, Hayden. Of course the need to play a video game was mentioned but, sorry, they had to go. Still had a long drive left with the snow still coming down.

I tried to take a picture of the snow coming down outside because it really was beautiful but I am not a pro with the camera (yet)and it was too dark. The pictures didn't really turn out.

It was a perfect end to a beautiful evening! Hot Chocolate anyone?

Absolutely Gorgeous!

All I can say about yesterday is that it was gorgeous! We had been having yucky weather for about two days, windy, snowy, some rain, gray skies - the works! But the sun just burst out in the sky and it was just beautiful out. No wind, fairly warm and irresistible!

I decided that the driveway needed to be shoveled before the next storm and the boys decided that the snow really needed to be played in! (sorry, no Hailey, she had spent the night at a friends house).

I had to force the boys to sit together for this shot!



Hayden decided that he wanted to make a fort out of snow by using our recycling bin for the bricks. This was a great idea but a heavy task! Once one of those things was packed with snow it was quite heavy. It would take the two of us to turn it over!

You can see the fort slowly taking shape. If you look closely you'll notice "ice shards" that were placed on top for that "extra protection" that every fortress must have. Maybe for when the dragons swoop down they will get hurt on the ice and fly away without destroying it!

If you have ever hung out with Tyler when you are in the snow you will notice one thing . . . to him, snow is food! He spends about 90% of his time eating it, not playing! Then the shocker is that when you finally go inside he doesn't always ask for hot chocolate like most kids, he kindly pleads for a popsicle! This here is the "large mouth" technique. I believe it is to make sure we can see how tasty it is!

As you look at this picture you may think that poor Tyler has fallen down in the snow. Nope. Snow eating technique #2, "The Lay and Lick"! This one seemed to be the most favorite of the two yesterday. He would just lay on the ground for long periods of time and just graze away. It was quite entertaining.

Here he is taking a break and calling out to friends across the street. No doubt probably trying to get some feeling back into his face!

Hayden was very determined with this construction project of his! He even created special little caves in the back of his fortress to store snowballs! He also wanted to put a tunnel in it but since it was only two bricks high I didn't think it would hold together. But it will be great protection in the time of battle!

He's at it again! Technique #2! As you look closely you can actually see his "grazing" areas! This was too funny. I should have took more pics of it but, of course I didn't! I am new at this and am sure it will get better!

Don't you just love snow?! Bring it on!

This is going to be addicting!

This is a picture of Hailey before her Orchestra concert about a week ago. Hailey is really excellent at playing instruments! She can currently play the Violin, Piano and has tinkered on Kurt's guitar. This kid is growing like a weed and I think may be taller than me by now! Amazed to think she will be starting High School next year!!! I told her to stop growing but she won't listen to me!

I have got to try to get a picture of Hayden smiling. I realized I have a lot of serious pictures of him, mostly because he is a serious kid but . . . I think this was taken last year around the time of the History Bee he was in. His group took 3rd place out of 18 schools and it was quite fascinating! It was all on Idaho History and they only missed first by two questions! Hayden was brilliant at this. He loves history and has a great memory.

Poor Tyler - this was too cute to leave out! He will think it is funny now but will probably really not be too happy with me when he gets older!

Now that I have figured out this picture thing I can tell it will be hard to stop! This gives me the greatest opportunity as a parent to humiliate my kids by putting their pictures out there for the whole world to see! But what a memory builder . . . right?

Picture this. . . !

I think I have actually figured out how to put a picture in my blog! This is exciting news!

Hailey had a friend over yesterday and they had a great time. They played Clue and Trouble with Hayden and Tyler and they had a lot of fun.

Day One - Just the Beginning!

Well, here it goes! The launch of something I know absolutely nothing about! I thought it would be a great idea having a blog for our family to keep track of each other but as I try to go through and set it up I can feel a slight headache beginning it's march from the base of my neck to the front of my eyes! I am beginning to realize this is an undertaking of epic proportions!
Will I gain more gray hair? Will those crease lines on my forehead become more prominent?
I do believe that will be inevitable but I think this will be worth all the work!
I hope we all can enjoy this journey together, love more, laugh more and enrich our lives!
Welcome to our crazy, hectic and hilarious lives!