Working on It

Well, I see the last time I posted, it was when we finished the side steps.  We (mainly me) are in the process of another project and that has kept me from writing.  Our downstairs shower went down so we had a contractor friend of ours come to fix it.  However, I decided since we were fixing the shower, we should probably update and check behind the walls for anything growing back there.  I was pleased to report the shower area was pretty much mold-free.  However, since we were doing the shower, I thought it would be a great idea to update more of the bathroom.  So out came the vanity which is where the mold was.  It wasn't terrible, but not something I wanted to see.  (Definitely glad to see it go.)  That then led to maybe we will do the floor, too.  As we were replacing the sheetrock with the greenboard (mold-proof kind) we discovered some other areas where the wall had cracked and mold had started to grow.  After a hysterical breakdown on my part, (because while all this was going on the bathroom had flooded due to our water softener sharing the same drain as the bathroom sink), there was more new sheetrock going up.  I have been put on hold for painting and laying down the new flooring because I have now added mudding and taping to a list of things I have done, but probably not done well.  We finally got the water softener problem solved so I don't feel quite so stressed to get it done, other than it is taking up all my free time!  I can't wait for it to be finished because I know it will feel good to get it done.  However, I am so hiring the contractor to do EVERYTHING (except the painting) when it is time to do the other bathrooms. Ugh . . .

In other news, AD has been keeping busy with gymnastics.  I wish I had some great pictures to show, but they don't allow flash at practices and I am not quite confident my flash is actually off (sad, huh?).  She was a little disappointed because she really wanted to try out for the next level which leads to competition, but we asked her to wait a little longer.  She hasn't been doing it that long and she does pretty well, but focusing for 3 hrs two nights a week sounded a little tough.  She is doing a fundraiser right now, so she may be calling a few of you to ask about sponsoring her.  School is going well and it is so much fun to hear her read aloud (she is as I'm typing this) from chapter books.  I can remember the last few years her pretending to read chapter books because she wanted to be like AJ and mom. 

AT has had an interesting month.  Last week he hit the back of his head so hard it bruised, got in trouble at preschool, and then ran into the tailgate of T's truck with his mouth.  To say it was a tough week might be an understatement.  His preschool class went to the Pumpkin Patch.  It rained almost all the way there, stopped before we got there, stayed dry through the whole patch, and then started raining as soon as we left.  I'd say we were very lucky. 

AT & me at the Pumpkin Patch
Preschool 2010

AJ has been keeping busy with school and youth group.  This year she is old enough to join the junior youth group.  She really seems to be enjoying it.  Several of her friends are in there and there are some older kids, too.  I think this will a huge benefit when she goes to junior high next year. 

T and I, aside from the bathroom project, have had the normal stuff going on.  The weeks just seem to fly by and I can't believe it is almost November already.  I literally feel like October just started so how it can already be over just doesn't seem possible.  If the years are going to go by this fast, then I am worried.  The kids will be grown up in no time when it seems like they were just babies.  Okay, I'm getting all ewwwwww. 

Well that's about all I can think of for now.  I better go get something else done, because you know there's always something on the list to do.   ;-)

Enjoy your day!

Another All in a Day

Instead of quilting, this time it was the yard.  Here are the before and after from each angle.

                                                                Facing the backyard:

Facing the front yard:

Facing the side of the house:

 We had been meaning (or maybe I mean I had been meaning) to do this all the way around the house this year.  However, my back had other plans.  I didn't get it done, but the bottom of these steps had been worn away by feet walking through the gate and dogs digging in the dirt to get cooler.  T and I decided it was time to take action.  We already had the bricks, pavers, and underlying black weed control stuff.  T bought some rocks yesterday and for less than $20, we are done.  It took us a good 3 or 4 hours to dig it up, level it, and align the pavers, but it was well worth it.  The rest of this around the house won't be so bad because no one will be walking on it so we don't have to worry about leveling it.  I'm so excited to finish the rest next year!

Busy, Busy

Our town celebrated 100 years this past weekend at our annual Fall Festival.  We went to the Livestock show Thurs night and visited with friends.  Fri night was the football game and we enjoyed some time at that, too.  Sat morning was the parade and AT was able to ride in the kiddie parade this year with his daycare.  He was so excited.

After the kiddie parade, was the regular parade which was really long. It is neat to see how many floats and entrants there are every year.  The organizers did a great job and the weather was very cooperative.  We also went down to the art show, where this year I actually entered something!  I entered the three purses I displayed in earlier posts.  They didn't win anything, but I didn't really expect them to.  It was just a great feeling to say I had entered something, finally.

After the busy weekend, we headed into a busy week.  Gymnastics, Beta (yeah, so good to see everyone again after a summer off), and then work.  AT started Preschool today.  Just like the girls, he was able to get his pic taken in front of the frig.

We have the most amazing Preschool teachers and we feel so blessed to have them in our town.  (Especially me because there is not enough money in the world that could get me to teach that age for 5 hrs every day two days a week!  Give me junior high kids any day!)  He was so excited to go and see all his friends. I had to work today so Gpa took him down there:

And I met them down there for a few quick minutes to see his cubby:

And watch as he went and played with his friends and paid no attention to me even being there.  While I was fine and never choked up at Preschool, I have to say before I went down there I did.  I was telling my school kids I had to sneak away for a few minutes and someone else would be covering because my baby was going to his first day of Preschool and I started tearing up!  They all went "Awwww."  I just told them I was getting emotional because if AT is ready for school that means I have to go to work full-time now. ;-)  He came home with some drawings and all excited about what he got to do today.  Next week starts twice a week and I think he's ready. 

Enjoy your day!

On a Roll

Okay, so today I didn't get called to work, but AT was headed to daycare and the girls were off to school.  So I spent the morning finishing my assignment, doing laundry, and getting prepped for supper.  I spent my afternoon making this:

No lie, this took me less than three hours (and that's with seam ripping at least once).  From cutting to finishing that's all the time I have invested in this project.  For those of you who know me, I am not a fancy person.  Simple is the best for me (especially when it comes to sewing).  This pattern was even easier than the previous ones I had made.  I like the fact it has pockets, too.  (By the way the straps are light green, but the picture makes them look a little yellow-ish.)  I just liked the idea of being able to start something and finish it.  I have had this fabric for probably over 8 years (don't ask to see my stash because it's so much bigger than a stash).  I really thought it would be adorable on a quilt, but if making bags uses up my stash faster, than so be it.  Don't ask me what I am going to do with these bags I keep making, but I'm sure there will be some birthdays, fundraiser auctions, etc. that they could go to and find a nice home.  Just remember I am no expert!  There are mistakes because nothing I make is perfect.  (There, now that I've gotten my disclaimer out of the way, I feel better.)  What a totally great day!

Enjoy YOUR day!

Enjoying a Day on the River

Sunday afternoon we decided to take the boat out for a trip up the river.  We hadn't been to the river in over a year because last year they took the dock out to repair it.  (Last year we only got the boat out twice, too.  So this year we have broken last year's record; it's been out three times.  Woo hoo!)  Anyway, the weather was not the greatest and while the girls did ride on the tube, they weren't in the mood for jumping in the water. 

AJ & AD

AT manning the flag in case the girls fall off

T, our fearless driver

So we decided to go upriver to a little park for supper.  When T and I were going back and forth to college from his folks' house, we would always drive over this bridge (the one in the front; the one in the back is a railroad bridge).  We hated this bridge because it is really narrow and you dreaded meeting anyone on it.

The park has really nice picnic tables under shelter (which is where we moved to right after I took this picture.)  Good thing we did, too, because those gray skies you see in the bridge picture turned into a 10 min downpour.  Another good thing was that we had the top on the boat!  On our way to and from the park, we saw around 15 deer (some whitetail my husband was quick to point out) and this:

Pretty cool, huh?  There were a few people standing on this side of the boat and waved to us.  On the way back, we were dodging floating logs, the sun, and the wind (it felt like a game of Frogger!).  AD enjoyed herself:

I got a kick out of her hair standing straight up and her looking like she was asleep.  Kind of reminds you of when your dog hangs their head out the window.  The fresh air must have got to AT because he didn't stay awake very long.  This picture looks like one of those I-spy games:

Can you find the sleeping 4 yr old in amongst all the boating gear?

It was a very relaxing weekend and I can't believe it went by so fast.

Enjoy your day!

All In a Day

Back in February, Mom and I made this purse at our Retreat.  It is reversible.  It was a panel of fabric from a kit I had found. 

So I kept the template from that first purse and yesterday was inspired to make this:

The piecing added a little more difficulty to the project than the original pattern, but I erred on the side of too much rather than too little.  I like the all black side so it can be plain when reversed or it won't get dirty if it's used as the inside.  I am nowhere close to making more elaborate ones than this, but it was nice to start a project and be able to finish it in one day.  I started it around 3 yesterday and had it done before 9 (and we had dinner stops in there!).   

Enjoy your day!

Kitten Update

No, I'm not the cat lady, but I hadn't posted any pictures of our four-legged additions so now that they aren't the cute little kittens they once were, here they are:

                                                     Socks                                      Nike

So if you see them wandering the neighborhood (or visiting the movie theater like Jake did) you know where to send them home to ;-)

Enjoy your day!