Busy Busy Busy

At my house it seems as if things never slow down, everything just seems to move faster. I'm always so glad when Friday comes. I allow myself some relaxing time, which if you ask my husband is something I rarely do.

I finally finished my block for sister's weekend.


If you look at the picture you also get a hint into the other activities that have been occupying our time. Here is a little closer look at the detail in the center of the block.

I thought it would be fun to have a little writing on the block. I used the color orange to match the outside squares. At this point I'm super happy with the way this block looks. Now just to make 8 more or so, but I've done the hard part cutting the fabric. Now I just get to sew.

But that isn't all I've been working on.

Bonnie moved into a bunk bed two weeks ago and we didn't have any twin size blankets for her to use. So Jay suggested I use some of my fabric to make her a blanket, I looked at him and said, "Challenge accepted." I don't think he even knew what I had in mind. I've been thinking about making the kids coin blankets for a while but just had never gotten around to it. I've finished the top for Bonnie's bed and now just need to quilt it. I'm pretty excited about this.

Also, Grandma Charlotte didn't listen to you. She is still growing.

The Kitchen Table

I don't know if anyone else has this problem but at my house it seems like I'm always clearing off the kitchen table. After and before the meals and any other time I'd like to use the table.

Last night I was caring for the baby. When 6 pm hits it is all I can do to keep her awake till 6:30, she's tired and wants to go to bed.Tonight she was screaming she was so tired and I had been trying so hard to keep her happy and while I changed her into pjs and a clean diaper she let me know how frustrated she was.

In the meantime Jay was cleaning off the table from dessert. The kids saw Jay break apart his cookie and put it into his glass of milk. They thought it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen and wanted to give it a try. Well imagine a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old trying this out. It ended in a big mess, but still they had fun.

So back to the baby screaming and Jay cleaning off the table. He made a comment that Scooter, our dog, was going to town on the milk and cookies. I looked over at him and said wait, the milk and cookies on the table? He said yeah. I told him to get a picture since I couldn't see it with my own eyes.

That was an action shot of him using his expert licking skills.

I think in this photo Scooter is feeling a little bloated. Thankfully he didn't get "The Bloat" like Tank did (another awesome dog that belongs to my sister).

So what's the verdict. He didn't really do a very good clean up job. Looks like I'm back on kitchen table clean up duty. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

By the way the table was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after Scooter cleaned it because we all know where that tongue has been.

School

Back when I was doing anything I could to get Bonnie potty trained I told her when she used the potty she could go to school. Now she's trained and she still hadn't gone to school. Last week I made a phone call and signed her up for preschool. Today was her first day.


I had her pose to show off the new backpack. We went to Target on Saturday to buy a backpack for school, she was so excited.


I was really worried she'd cry and just kind of go crazy. We got to class and she saw two kids she knew from church. I think that made it easier for her. They also have show & tell every Monday and we bring something that corresponds to the letter of the week. This week's letter is S.

I sent Bonnie with this picture.


The best part was she had a great time and can't wait to go back. I'm so happy.

On a funny note while we were getting ready for school Bonnie pulled her hair back and said "Look, I look like Allison." It was such a random thought, but she does love her Aunt Allison.

Friday Family

Three mom, 1 grandma, 2 daughters, 2 granddaughters - you figure it out
Originally uploaded by DanMcLean

From left to right this is my Sister, Suzanne, my mother, JoAnn, and me. the babies are Hattie (Suzanne's newest baby and my little Charlotte).

I love Fridays. During tax season I get so busy that my sister Suzanne and I don't get to see each other very often. Suzanne suggested this tax season that we meet for lunch every Friday. It's been a hit so far.

Plus it gives the kids a chance to play with each other. They are as excited as we are every Friday.

So see you soon sis.

Adult Conversations

Last Saturday Jay and I were heading out to see a movie with my brother and sister-in-law. Well much to my dismay the tickets sold out and I didn't think to use Fandango to buy them beforehand. Again, guys I'm sorry, I'm not usually suck a flake.

So by missing this movie it took Jay and I on an adventure we'll never forget.

As we sat in the car we finally found a movie at 9:40 to go to, it was currently 8:00. Jay and I were on a street with a ton of shopping and so figured we'd kill an hour shopping.

We stopped at the craft store and Jay did amazingly in there. He even didn't complain when I walked the fabric isles over and over. That store closed and we headed over to Ross. Sometimes we get really lucky at these stores and find great clothes. But tonight we were headed to hear some classic conversation.

Upon entering Ross we headed to the back corner of the store, this is where the selection of kids toys are located. We can both hear a family bickering amongst themselves as we get closer. Here is where our story begins.

I walk down the isle and hear the dad on the other side of the isle tell his son (maybe 8 years old) to try on the shoes. Fair enough, right? You don't buy shoes for your kids unless they try them on and the shoes fit. The dad repeatedly told the son to try on the shoes and walk around the store or else they were not going to purchase the shoes. I hear a comment from the father on the shoe size, it sounded like the boy had a pair of shoes two sizes too big for him. Not much else was said and then the boy started crying.

Boy says, "You're accusing me of ..." (I never did catch exactly what the father was accusing his son of, maybe not trying on the shoes?)

Dad, "Try on the shoes and walk around the store or else we're not getting them."

Boy, "Well I know you don't want me to buy the shoes so I'm not going to try them on."

Dad, "I said try the shoes on or else we aren't buy them."

Boy, "Well I know you don't want me to buy them..."

The conversation continued with the boy sounding like a 40 year old woman yelling at her husband.

Jay and I continued browsing the store isles have a good time - once you have kids doing anything with out them is way fun. We then end up in the shoe section joking around about what we have heard on the other side of the store.

Me, "Seriously, what kind of conversations has that boy heard that we was able to be so passive aggressive to the father at his age?"

Jay, "I was just going to ask you that. Man we think the same. Do you like these shoes."

Me, "Well I know you don't want me to buy them, so no."

I look at Jay, we bust out laughing.

Me, "I felt like I wasn't old enough to witness that conversation."

Jay, "Yep I know what you mean."

Me, "That poor man, he must hear this passive aggressive crap from all his family members because of what the wife has said to him numerous times in front of the children. Ugh."

What else can I say. I've been dying of laughter every time I think of this conversation. I know I'm a bad person but really I just find joy in the little things.

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Quilt Squares

For Sister's Weekend this year I've talked everyone into creating a quilt block. Well one for them selves and then one for each sister. The idea took off like fire and we've all been dreaming about different fabrics and what colors we want to use. One sister said she didn't want to be held down by just one color and I said the same thing. Here is my prototype:

Here is my dilemma. I'm not sure where I should exactly place the chicken in the middle. Also I'm thinking of making the blue square a little skinnier and the outside border a little wider. Any thoughts?

Here are a few different ideas I'm toying with for the chicken placement.






As you can see there are so many different choices that I could use. But I'm just not sure and could use some advice.

Chas is Two

Two years ago we headed to the hospital to have Chas. About a week before he was born I had an ultrasound and they determined his head was to big for me to deliver naturally and so my first c-section was scheduled for January 7th. Little did we know at the time what a happy little boy we were bringing into this world.
Here is the little guy a few days after he was born.

Bonnie holding baby Chas for the first time.

Daddy rocking the little guy (sometime in his first two weeks at home).

My little tax deduction.

I think if he could talk he would of said, "I love food!"

He is just so darn happy!

Bonnie would crawl into his bed after nap time. They would play and giggle so much. It was one of my favorite times of day.

One day I left the room and came back and couldn't find the kids. They had rolled under the couch.

Fall of 2008. Look at those thighs.

I skipped the winter and went straight to April 2009. He loves his cowboy hat and says "Yee-Haw" every time he wears it.

He loves chocolate ice cream.

Last Saturday swinging in the backyard.

Happy Birthday Chas!

By the way Chas was sitting in my lap for this whole post, so if things don't make total sense it's because I had a squirmy two year old in my lap. But he giggled the whole time because he liked all the pictures of himself.

I hope you didn't get bored with all the photos, I just kept finding more I HAD to share.

Charlotte & Daddy

In the mornings Jay eats breakfast with the kids while I disappear and shower. If the routine doesn't go this way I'm not usually a very happy Mom. I need a little time to wake up in the morning before I face reality. Especially considering some nights I just don't get much sleep.

By the time I get showered and dresses Charlotte has had enough of her highchair. She proceeds to make such a fuss that Daddy can no longer ignore her and picks her up and they hang out. It has come to be one of my favorite things to see in the morning, but I didn't really let that be known till this morning I saw them together and my heart melted. I'm such a blubbering mom.

Here Charlotte is just looking at thinking who is that over there.

Little Charlotte has turned into such a happy little girl and is such a joy to have around. Last Saturday she turned 6 months old! I can't believe it. Usually I try to capture a photo of each baby when they turn a month older. This has gotten harder & harder every time a new baby is added to the family. Especially since the older kids usually want in on the photo.

Luckily we were playing outside on Saturday and I had the camera. Here is Charlotte sitting on the back porch, just like the other babies have done. She is playing in her exersaucer having a blast.

Look at how big our runt has grown, she is now 27 1/2 inches long (doc appt on Monday). The doc saw her height and mentioned that Charlotte would probably outgrow me by 6th grade. I laughed and said I expect all the children to outgrow me.

Scouts

While we were visiting my parents in Las Vegas we visited to the International Scout Museum. It was really fun to walk around and see all the memorabilia from year ago. There was so much to see that we couldn't take it all in at once. We'll have to visit again in other visits.

One thing I noticed that I thought was cool was the charm bracelets for the mother. In scouts the mother gets a pen for her shirt when her son passes off a rank, such as bear. Well back in the olden days - I have no idea when, they used to be charms on a bracelet. I of course told Jay how neat I thought those were and action was taken.

So after searching eBay a bit we found what we were looking for. Amazingly enough it wasn't even that expensive. So few days later and two auctions later these little packages arrived in the mail.


Left side of bracelet in detail.

Right side of bracelet in detail. Unfortunately the bracelet is not silver but I'm sure we can fix that when the time comes.

Then on another auction Jay picked this up for the bracelet too.


So I've not locked away these little treasures. They will see daylight again when Chas begins to achieve these ranks as a cub and boy scout.