Quilting - pieces parts!

Well, have had some opportunities lately to get started back up working on our quilt!
I have to admit it is getting pretty exciting since you can now see it start to come together. We are finally completed with all of the individual blocks! I think they look great!


No one could have prepared me for how time consuming it is to cut out pieces. Since this was a "Quilt Block of the Month" quilt - all of the blocks pieces were already cut out - you just had to sew them together. But, to start piecing your quilt together you have to cut out all that yourself. All I can say is that if I didn't have a rotary cutter and cutting board I wouldn't be here typing this post, I would be in a funny farm somewhere. . . bald!!!
Unbelievable - it took me almost two separate days to cut out the pieces needed to just piece together the front of the quilt. I had to take a picture of them but I want to say another shocking thing . . . this isn't ALL of the pieces I had to cut. I wouldn't be able to fit them in the picture!

So, now I am slowly joining all of these pieces with the blocks and creating rows. Will get some more pictures when I progress.

I can't wait to finish this. I think it is going to look great!

BUSY - BUSY - BUSY!

Just a fair warning to all those that enter this post . . . it is a mess! The last couple of weeks have been super busy and on top of all of it we lost our Internet for a week! Some things have pictures, some don't and since I don't yet know how to upload videos - this is what you get!


First, Grandma came down on the 19Th of May for three separate occasions. (Why the schools pack everything in at the last moment before school is out is beyond me). On Wednesday the 20Th she went with Tyler on a field trip to the Botanical Gardens. I don't have any pics on that but I believe you saw some on a earlier blog of Earth Day. Then, on the morning of the 21st Kurt and Grandma got to go see Hayden perform at school. He had a small speaking part, they sung a few songs and he also got to play an instrument (it's like a Xylophone but I can't remember it's name now). Then that evening we all got to go and see Hailey's final Orchestra Concert!

We took video of the whole thing. They did really well. They played the Phantom of the Opera and a series of songs from the Lord of the Rings but I have to admit my favorite was their final piece - Pirates of the Caribbean! They actually brought in the band and they played together for the first time in public (they practiced only twice before) and it was incredible! Needless to say, they got a standing ovation!
This picture has from left to right, back row: Alayna (friend of Hailey's, Hailey, Casey (friend and also in the orchestra. Front, Hayden and Emmett (Hailey and Hayden's friend, Alayna's brother)!

Alayna and Hailey - BFF's!

Can't have a concert without Tyler finding his friend Erica! She is a sweetheart and lives in our neighborhood. Believe it or not they are in the same grade! (I hope Tyler doesn't take after his mother in height)!

This is one of my BFF.s Holly with Alayna, Ingrid (her daughters) and their cousin Ryder who is in town with his mom from Sneed's Ferry, North Carolina!

We were so glad they could come and watch. Grandma was with us too but it was extremely hot in there and I think she was feeling a little woosie and she made a beeline for the out-of-doors!

Grandma left to head home after the concert. We were sad to see her go but she was back down within a week!

Okay - the next item up for a looksie . . . Hailey's Piano Recital at her piano teacher's house, which happens to be around the block! Her teacher is Andrea Thurman and is doing a great job with Hailey!

Hayden in the background - waiting for Hailey to start her first piece!

Oh, here is Tyler patiently waiting too!

Hailey's first piece is the theme song to "Titanic". It is a beautiful song. But I have to admit her second piece is my favorite, "Conquistador". I make her play it all the time. As a matter of fact she tried out for the school Talent Show and made the cut and is going to play it in front of the 8Th graders!

Sorry, made her pose!

This is Olivia - she is very sweet. She is the little sister of a friend of Hayden's who also was in the Recital.

Okay - on to other things. Grandma is back down and this is the 29Th. This was a pretty neat day too because Tyler's 1st grade class sung a song at an assembly earlier (on video, sorry) and it was so fun to see him perform. This is the first time in a school setting that I have gotten to see him and I wish I had a camera that took better indoor pictures because it was so cute . . . anyway .. . . Then Grandma and I returned later for another special event.

Hayden was the recipient of the

Presidential Academic Excellence Award!

I didn't realize how much you had to do to get this. You have to keep your grades to a 90 or above for 4Th and 5Th grade and also have to get high marks on all your state exams!

We are so happy for Hayden. There is a picture of the award at the end.

Here Hayden in looking at a Caricature he had made of himself for the teacher. She likes her students to do that so she can keep them as reminders. I thought it was a cute idea!

Which one is the real Hayden?

This is Hayden's teacher, Ms. Schmidt! She is fantastic! She has been so encouraging to Hayden, especially with his writing. He has really enjoyed this year!

Here is Grandma with the kids!

Here is Hayden's award! Right now it is in a pretty important place in the home - on the refrigerator door!

Heading home! What a happy kid! So handsome in his shirt and tie!

Well, I hope that has caught you up a little bit on what is going on around here. Believe it or not it isn't everything but I tried to sum it up the best I could!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS (and Me)!

Many years ago on this day my sister Chris got the greatest present known to mankind . . . yup, you guessed it . . . ME!
And we have been fortunate enough to be able to celebrate our birthdays on the same day since then. I believe in the younger years Chris may have not been so thrilled about it but we managed. My mom was kind enough to let us each have our own cake every year. Chris would have her girlie cake with little bo peep or something of the delicate manner and I would have cowboys or some other tomboy type decoration. But, the two cakes kept the peace!

Now that we are older it is something that I know I cherish - I am sure Chris does too because I am a spectacular sister (tee hee)!


I was trying to find younger pictures of us together but it seems if we are ever together and taking pictures we are obviously taking turns taking pictures and it is a rarity to find one with the both of us in it together. So, I am using this picture that I had one of Chris's kids take back in the winter and forced Chris to pose for. Aren't you happy you did now Chris?
ANYWAY:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!

May there be many more!

I don't really think we look that old . . . or is it just my cataracts getting in the way?

I Love Kid's Gifts . . .

Hayden surprised me with an early birthday gift today and I thought it was so cute that I wanted to share it.
He was careful to try to pick out colors that he knew I liked and it contained something he knew I would love . . . The note read:

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here are some chocolates that

you say you don't need but I

think you do.

Hayden

What's great too is that the box is all handmade and all the chocolates are wrapped in a pretty patterned paper with the letters that spell Mom!

Now, the hard thing with this is that I, of course, want to keep it and cherish it forever but Hayden keeps haunting me to just eat them. Oh, decisions, decisions!

My Blond Moment ? . . . .

All you ladies out there have been in this position before - you have company and there are things you "hide" places so your house will look cleaner . . . well, I ended up having our Christian Living Bible Class at my house this morning (because the normal homes had sickness) and in the process of straightening up I placed a plate with a few leftover pieces of cake in the oven to get it off the counter. At the time it seemed like a brilliant idea because no one would be using it during class.

I only remembered it later when I was heating up the oven to make some cookies. I kept smelling cake and told myself that I really needed to clean the oven until it hit me!

AAAAHHHH the plate with the cake!!!!!!

So this is what a cake with plastic wrap looks like after being in a 375 degree oven!

So is this cake or molten lava????

I have to admit I was very nervous about what would become of this. I love this plate - it was given to me by my sister Pat, 4 years ago and it is very pretty and thankfully well made. I was so sure it would crack. The knife seemed to have survived as well but I haven't attempted yet to get the frosting and cake off of it. I wouldn't suggest eating the cake either!
All I can say is that thankfully there was no fire but who know what carcinogens were released from the melted plastic.

Now, I must accept the fact that I also have blond moments!

This should please Hailey

Sunday Storms

Fall is my favorite time of year hands-down, but Spring has become my close second favorite. I used to just think of Spring as a yucky, muddy time of year but of the last so many years it really captures my attention due to the turbulent weather that comes with it!

This is a fantastic looking sky! It is one of my favorite colors. I call it Eeyore-gray and could look at it all day! You know when you see this on the horizon that fun is just around the corner!
Just gives me chills!

This picture doesn't do it justice but the rain was pretty heavy and the wind was blowing fairly hard to where it was hitting our sliding doors which are underneath a covered patio! The water is just gushing out of the rain gutter.

If you look close enough you can see the front line of the storm heading east on the top of the picture and see how hard the rain is falling that the gutters in the street are already full - This is really extra interesting too because at this moment there is a Tornado warning for several of the counties above ours! Tornado's in Idaho?????

Rain has ended but leaves behind it's beautiful reminders!

Since I took these pictures and have done this post another storm has come through with more intense rain than this storm had, lightning and thunder! Afterward the sun poked it's head out of the clouds to give us some respite.

Looking out the window now, the dark clouds are back . . . sinister and looming . . . bring it on!

Randy's Home . . . for a short time !

Friday night we had the opportunity to have a little get-together to spend some time visiting with Randy who is in town on "vacation" from being a Marine stationed in New York!

It was great to see him since it has been quite some time since we had seen him last and enjoyed his many stories of car racing on back roads and tom-foolery in Walmart on Hoverrounds!

Try to ignore the hand in the lower right-hand corner. Bryan was having issues with trying to block my shot of the girls - - - I think I bonked him on the head after that! The girls found this amusing.

Dylan was the first to break into the MANY fantastic desserts we had at our get-together! Nothing like sugar to pull a group of people together!

This is Dad BEFORE the coffee and sugar! I was glad he could make it! Sadly though not very many of the women made it! Both Chris and Debra were sick and Pat had a bad day at work and I felt a little outnumbered. But, I survived!

Bryan thought he was very funny with his camera - - - well, actually he was being funny.

Hi Brodie!

I was just thinking when I looked at the picture of Brodie about how big he is getting . . . then the next picture is of Hailey . . . I'm starting to feel old all of a sudden!

Thankfully it was a very mild evening and the kids took the opportunity to go outside and burn up some of their energy.
Jonny, Tyler and Ryan were enjoying the tramp while, Dylan was on the swing.

Not sure how Kimmy got Maddie up there but they were having fun!

Good catch Hayden!

Sorry Ryan - didn't realize I was so close!

Mmmmmm - that's about all I can say!

Believe it or not, Kimmy made this Coffee Cake all by HERSELF! It was absolutely spectacular! I could have eaten the whole thing myself. Thankfully they took the rest home with them or I would have hips as wide as the Snake River!

Maddie was quite entertaining, as you can imagine. She speaks in a kind of "breathy" way and everything she says sounds so cute so of course she was encouraged to say anything we could think up just so we could hear her say it. And she had absolutely no problem with being the center of attention!

This was Hailey's first attempt at making a "Checkerboard Cake" and it turned out great! It was not only pretty to look at and a conversation piece but, yeah, it was delicious!

Kids attacking the snacks!

Tyler really enjoyed the powdered donuts that Grandpa brought!

Not really sure why Emma is trying to feed Maddie a snap bead toy -

Randy did have some interesting stories. Whether he realizes it or not he is a pretty good story teller. I have to admit there were many times when listening to his stories I wondered how he had evaded doing some jail time . . .

It was great that Kurt could make it too! He had to work but managed to get to visit for a little while before it got late for everyone.

Emma hugging the life out of Hayden! Jonny wanted in on it too.

Maddie was starting to get pretty tired so it was time for her and Erica to go! It was nice to have everyone over. Will have to do it again real soon!

At this point I gave Kurt the camera because I really wanted to get a picture with Randy! It is amazing to me how tall these kids get! It was great to get to see Randy. I hope it is not so long between visits the next time!

Sad that this turned out a little blurry. I think Kurt was more tired than I realized!!!!
I think this is a really cute picture of the three of them!

Sorry you will have to go back to New York so soon Randy but only two more years active in the Marines and you will have more control over your time! Hang in there it will go faster than you think!