Look What I Did Today!

Today I had a day at home, with five blissful hours to myself while everyone was away at school! Here is how I spent my day:

First, I helped Bailey get into her Cowgirl gear. This week is homecoming week, and today was "Western Day." Since Bailey lacks all of the self-consciousness I had in high school, I am taking full advantage of having a little fun and living vicariously through her. I didn't think far enough ahead to procure a horse for her to ride to school, so I drove her instead. Apparently Grandpa's Chaps weren't very comfortable for walking!

When everyone was gone, I vacuumed and did some other miscellaneous housework. But...since the kids had popcorn tonight while they watched Ghostbusters it's a little late for a picture of that.

Next, I finished putting the borders on my Night Owl table topper, which I have kits of in the store. I have been carrying the cut pieces of this quilt back and forth from store to home for about 6 weeks now, so this is a major victory!


Then, I did some quilting on the long arm.


After that, I felt like baking, so I made some rosemary bread to go with dinner. I wish I had a picture of how pretty it looked before I cut it up. Here is all that is left, safely sealed away so that Charlie actually gets to have some before I.....I mean the kids....eat it all.

Since I had baking on the brain, I decided to tackle the baked potato/tortilla steamer pattern that just came last week. It was super fast and easy, so in less than an hour I had it done!

After dinner, it was almost time for Bailey's volleyball game. I had just enough time to prepare some fusible shapes for her costume tomorrow, which Kylee and I cut out at the game. Tomorrow is "Super Hero Day." Can you guess what Bailey's going to be?
They don't allow guns in school. Even super cheesy guns that only shoot ghost-sucking plasma rays. So, I had to think of a different prop.
After the game, and after I finished the costume, watched Ghostbusters with the kids, and tucked them into bed, I whipped up another Easy Striped Tablerunner. This time I used fabric from the Tangled Threads fabric line by Whimsicals.


Wow, I sure wish every day could be like today. Now I can relax with a glass of wine, because I sure earned it!

When Did I Become a Real Mom?

I've been a mother for over 13 years now, but I was never a real mom until just recently. Without me even trying, true motherhood just snuck right up on me.

It started back in August, as I was preparing the kids for school to start. Kylee and I had a conversation about getting ready for school in the morning. Kylee is not a morning person. In fact, she is just the opposite, as in don't even think about looking at her, talking to her, or asking her to do anything she might not want to do until at least 10 a.m. unless you like to be growled at. (And I do mean growled)
In an effort to save the rest of my household from unneccesary agony, I discussed laying out her clothes for the following day. "I'll lay out an outfit for you, and then when you get up you can just put it on," I told her.
She gave me "the look," but didn't really say much.
Two days later, the topic came up again. "Remember, I'm going to start laying clothes out for you the night before, right?" To which Kylee replied:
"Yeah.......But could you make it look like you didn't?"
"Huh?"
"Well, if you pick my clothes out, could you make it look like you didn't pick them out?"
Hmmmmmmm....
Then, fast forward to last week, when Bailey came home and shared that she was running for school Vice President. I, being a super-excited, proud mom, immediately began coming up with great campaign slogans. I was quickly informed that I was "embarrassing and un-cool, and under no circumstances was I allowed to tweet or blog my campaign ideas!"
Then: The final medal on my "Real Mom" chest. Shopping on Monday, I noticed that one of my favorite clothing stores is now selling their own leggings, which are very in style right now.
My exclamation of, "Look, Bailey, they have leggings!" elicited this response:

"Oh. My. God. Mom. You cannot buy leggings."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because, Mom. You can't wear leggings. That's just wrong."

Wow! Suddenly I was having flash backs of my mom's stirrup pants. Specifically, of how un-cool those stirrup pants were. But suddenly, it's me, and what are leggings if not stirrup pants without the stirrups?

Oh. My. God. I've turned into my mother! But I thought I was so much cooler than that....

Stressed Out, Over-Worked Tooth Fairy

Will lost his first 2 teeth recently. One a little more than a month ago, and the second just this past week. Imagine his excitement when his sister informed him he would actually get paid for losing teeth! After a harrowing ordeal with the first one, when it actually became unexpectedly lodged in his gums after he bit down on his fork at dinner, he was truly excited that there was an upside to that pain.

Now, imagine his dissappointment when he awoke to find he was still in possession of said tooth, and none the richer for it. It seems our part of the world is serviced by either a lazy or an overworked tooth fairy.

I did give our tooth fairy the benefit of the doubt here. I was careful to explain to Will that maybe there was a rash of kids losing teeth recently, and the tooth fairy got backed up and couldn't make it all around in one night. Maybe she hadn't budgeted for so many lost teeth, and the bad economy meant that no one would give her a loan? Or maybe, she got caught up in putting together her Best Bias Skirt, or piecing her block of the month quilt, and completely lost track of time?

Whatever the reason, Will did finally get paid. The second night after the first tooth and the third night after the second one. She even left the tooth behind the second time. Maybe she felt bad about being late and thought he deserved to keep it? (I'm sure it's not because she forgot to take it, or anything)

First Grade Mafia

This past Monday was my daughter's 7th birthday, and all week she's been trying to decide who to invite over for her sleepover. Today on the way home, she and her sister were discussing possible invites, when a girl we'll call "Suzy" came up. "Suzy" was no longer in the running, after she had apparantly helped herself to some of Kylee's LPS's.

It turns out that my daughter had taken her "LPS's" (Littlest Pet Shop toys) to school, and "Suzy" had apparantly taken a few. Five, to be exact. "Suzy" claimed they were lost, so she couldn't give them back.

I instructed the girls to make me a list of missing LPS's so I could call "Suzy's" mom and ask if "Suzy" might have borrowed them. While they were making their list, I heard the following tid bit of conversation.

7 year old says to older sister: "See, that's why I wanted to invite her. So I could rip her arm off and you could throw her outside."

And that's how I know my daughter's in the First Grade Mafia!

Happy Early Mother's Day To Me

In his excitement to show me what he made, Will gave me my Mother's Day gift a week early. It consists of a painting/drawing, and a card. The card has sentences that have been completed by Will about me. Here is how it reads:

My mom likes to (blank).
My mom is (blank) old.
My mom's favorite color is (blank).
My mom's favorite food is (blank).
My mom is good at (blank).
My mom likes it when I (blank).

That's how it read before Will filled it in. Here is what my card actually says:

My mom likes to watch TV.
My mom is a teenager old.
My mom's favorite color is yellow.
My mom's favorite food is spaghetti.
My mom is good at sewing.
My mom likes it when I go to town with her.

At first, I thought he was making me out to be a couch potato. Then, I read how old I was and had to laugh. I think he mixed up my favorite color with Bailey, and my favorite food with his. At least he got the sewing part right, but I took him to town today and I most certainly DID NOT like it!

Isn't motherhood grand?

E.T. Helps Teach a Family Lesson

Every once in awhile, a movie pops into my head that I loved as a child. When this happens, I usually decide to make sure my kids have the same viewing pleasure all kids of the 1980's shared. Last Fall, it was Harry and the Hendersons, which turned into 2 weeks of re-watching, and lots of hilarious questions about whether or not Bigfoot is real.

Last week, after we pulled out an old T.V. that happens to have a built in VHS player, the kids rediscovered our VHS collection. They were like pirates discovering lost treasure, and it just so happens that I still have the VHS of E.T. from when I was a kid. My kids watched is 2 weekends ago, and I have never seen them so glued to the screen for an entire movie!

In a seemingly unrelated event, my husband, I and some friends,went out this past Saturday night to listen to a local band. Being the big booz hound that I am (not), I awoke Sunday with a slight (ok.....massive) hangover. (And I wasn't even drunk enough to dance)

Perhaps I was feeling guilty, maybe I was trying to find something good from my misery, but I decided to use it as a teaching lesson on the affects of alcohol.

Half way through my enthralling speech on why my kids should never drink, I was explaining the term "drunk," and how a drunk person might be clumsy, stumble or fall. My two younger kids had a look of confusion, when suddenly a bright light bulb went on over Kylee's head.

(Kylee, Eyes wide, big, "I get it, now" smile) "Hey, like on E.T.! He drank the alcohol, and then he falls over!"
(Will, now sharing the same "I get it, now" smile) "Ohhhh Yeeeeaaahhhhh! I remember!"

Then, they both started walking around the living room, giggling, like drunk E.T. imitators.

I'm pretty sure this is the point where I decided to cut my losses and shelf the alcohol lesson for a few more years. Who knew E.T. could be so educational?

Christmas Brings Out the Worst in My Kids

Ever since we put up our Christmas tree over a week ago, it's been the center of controversy. Silly me, thinking no one would notice that some kids have more presents than others. But no, 1 hour after the presents went out, they all wanted to know why Kylee has more than Bailey. Before I knew it I was giving a lecture to three kids, 11 and under, attempting to explain that one $40 present is equal to 2 $20 presents.

A few days later, Kylee tattled on Bailey, who had been carefully ripping tiny holes in select presents to find out what was inside.

Then today, Bailey and Will spilled the beans and told Kylee what they had gotten her.

To top it all off, after I scolded Bailey and Will for telling, I asked "You didn't tell each other what you got, did you?"

"No Mom," says Will, "Bailey and Kylee just told me that you forgot you had a son and you bought 3 girl presents."

Wow, only my kids......
Assuming we survive the 2 remaining days before all controversy is settled, I'm considering not putting presents or a tree up until Christmas Eve next year.

All I Want For Christmas.....

My middle child is going through an extra strong phase of parent hating lately. Actually, she mostly hates me. I guess that means it's Mom hating. Anyways, as a result I'm sorry to report that Grandma's Secret Spot Remover does not remove "I Hate Mom" from a bed sheet when written 3 times in red Sharpie marker.

Here is her Christmas list (and I quote):

1. Littlest Pet Shop House
2. A New, Nice, Not Mean Mommy
3. A Radio with lots of SiDis

How sweet!

Kid Kwip-Dead Deer

This past Sunday my mom, sister and I took the kids to a pumpkin patch. On the way there, we passed a large doe, sprawled on the side of the highway with it's tongue hanging out, clearly the victim of a hit and run. It prompted this conversation in the back of the car:

"Ooooooo! Gross! Did you see that dead deer?"

"Ooooooo! Gross! Yuck!"

"Wait........maybe it was just passed out?"

Where's a Flu Shot When You Need One?

It's that time of year again. I'm stuck in a time warp, still wishing we were boating on the weekend, when suddenly I'm stuck in bed with the stomach flu. Just when things were starting to settle down slightly, the shop is moved, the longarm is moved, quilt shows are over until next Spring, and suddenly I'm bed ridden.

I spent all of Sunday in bed, unless you count trips to the bathroom to, well......you know the rest. In the mean time, my kids took full advantage and terrorized the house all day. Where was Monte? Why, lying right next to me with the same problem, of course! Which could have been funny, except that it wasn't.

It was all we could do to crawl to the bedroom door every few hours and yell something like "Settle down!" "Go outside and play, NOW!" or "Who left the fridge open?!"

And that big, empty room that used to be filled with a mountain of quilt tops and a certain longarm machine? My kids have mistaken it for a wrestling/tag/basketball/dance arena.

The light bulbs in the dining room/deck/family room area aren't all mysteriously burnt out at once, either. The breaker's just tripped. "Not me" decided to investigate the former longarm power outlet in the floor with a screw driver.

Now, I'm stuck home today with "Not Me," who has the stomach flu. Just when I thought I might get to make sure my longarm still runs. But hey, who doesn't love scrubbing the carpet at 6am? By the way, race car beds are all kinds of fun, except when the driver doesn't make it all the way to the bathroom. Then they're just a great big germ factory that requires lots of disinfecting.

I think I'll find some time to make 5 appointments for flu shots - ASAP.

When the girls are away...........

the boys will play!

The Benefits of Dental Surgery

I know what you're thinking. How could there possibly any benefits to having oral surgery, besides fixing the problem that requires surgery in the first place, right? Well, since I have to have just such a surgery next month, I have been thinking long and hard on it. Here is what I can come up with:

1. A 1 week liquid diet isn't so bad. I can't help but lose a few pounds, and what can be more fun than doing it while ingesting nothing but iced mochas?

2. One surgery equals no less than 3 trips to the surgeon. One for the actual surgery, and 2 follow ups. That equals 3 trips to Lewiston with no kids in the car, because not even I am crazy enough the take my kids to the periodontist. What's so big about 3 trips with no kids? Well, that means 6 blissful hours in the car without 2 movies players going simultaneously, without stopping at McDonalds, without having the child lock the windows, without the risk of a Spiderman Sandal hitting me in the back of the head, without the chaos of continual fighting, and without potty breaks. I might even make it home without any new messes in the car, such as the pb&j smeared into the back seat right now, or the smiley face on the window that only appears when it's foggy. I can even dare to drive all the way without the window lock on! Oh the thrill! What more can a mother ask for?

3. Surgery gives me a pity card to play with potential baby sitters. That should be good for at least a couple weeks or more!

So, that's all I can think of for now. At least there's some silver lining in an otherwise unpleasent experience, sort of.

Weekly Update & What I Learned at the Beach

Here it is, the post you've all been waiting for, the one where I resort to giving a report of all the boring things I've been up to lately, because I can't think of anything exciting to write about. Here goes, pop a "No-Doz" and read on!

I recently finished installing the zipper into my Cabo Halter, only to realize that despite measuring before choosing my (supposed) size from the pattern, it doesn't fit! The experience was so demoralizing that I have yet to finish hemming the shirt. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure if I give it to my sister, me being the loving, caring, generous person that I am, even if I do hate her a little for being skinnier, it will fit her. The worst part is that it's super cute, because I used this Kaffe Fassett fabric. By the time I manage to find motivation to make another, slightly larger, halter, Summer will likely be over.

This coming weekend is the Crazy 8 Poker Shop Hop. It promises to be seriously confusing, since I don't play poker. Hopefully quilters are having more luck getting motivated for this hop than I am!

My Bernina is back in new condition again after a trip to the Bernina doctor. I didn't even get a lecture about proper machine care! Now if I could only find my 1/4" foot, I might actually get something made! (besides one slightly too small shirt)

The kids and I made another trip to the beach yesterday, which was crowded since the temperature hovered around the 100 degree mark. Here is a recap of our beach experience:

Those really annoying kids who keep throwing sand on your things and splashing you? Sometimes they're mine.

Creepy old man at the picnic table, there is no possible way you have a good explanation for using those binoculars at the beach.

Why is the one person smoking on the beach always upwind?

Some people just aren't smart enough to figure out a crowded beach IS NOT a prime fishing locale.

A monokini, while helpful for camouflaging some body flaws, is NOT meant to transform 100 extra pounds. (My eyes, ahhhhhhhh, my eyes!)

Smooching teens is one thing, but if you're 40ish years old surely you can find a better place to make out than the beach full of young children. If you don't own a house, don't you at least have a car?

I mentioned in an earlier post that the beach is free, but maybe now I know why?

Deary Day Highlights

This past Saturday was Deary's Community Day, and being the unimaginative business owner that I am, I didn't prepare a parade float. Our friends that just took over the local saw shop did, however, and it featured a group of kids, including my own. That bug eyed creature in the middle? That would be my son. It seems that for the promise of his very own Stihl chain saw, complete with sound effects, he will do (or wear) anything!
Later that afternoon, the town held a "burn off" contest, right up the highway through town, of course right in front of the bar. It was a classic hillbilly, small town scene, with everything from show cars to mini-vans squealing their tires up the street. I must admit, I totally don't get it. As an observer, once you've seen one you've seen them all, and who wants to breath exhaust fumes and burning rubber that long anyways? As a driver, who wants to use up half the life or more of your tires in a few minutes. Have you seen the price of tires lately? I almost never like "silly" things, and this looks like the very definition of "silly" to me. I know, I'm a spoil sport and a party pooper, but nothing about this looks fun to me.

Will asked me,"Mom, what are they doing?"

"They're spinning their tires," I replied.

"Can we go home, now?" was his response to that, and I have to say, I think a tear of pride rolled down my cheek as we headed home.

Can I Get a Volunteer?

Wanted: One babysitter for the upcoming weekend.

My grandma's usually up for a weekend of torture, but she happens to be busy. And I'm pretty sure if I ask my mom I'll get the death stare. You know? The same one she uses when her iced mocha isn't just right.

Anybody? Come on, I really need to learn to wakeboard with no whining children in tow. Getting up on it? Sure, no problem. Staying up? Well.....that's another story.

So, can I get a volunteer?.......Anyone?..............Cowards!

Sign of the (Flying) Times

Lately, I've been noticing some signs that time is moving faster than it seems. For instance, just the other day I found myself searching a box of Tylenol for dosing instructions for children 2 and under. The only problem, I don't have any children 2 and under!

Then, I was laying with Will at bedtime, when he asked if I would sleep with him all night. I quickly replied, "No, I'm just staying a few minutes, because I want to sleep in my own bed." Then it occurred to me what a momentus occassion this was! It wasn't too long ago I would have said, "Yes, honey, I'll sleep with you," while simultaneously hanging one foot off the bed and planning the quickest, quietest escape path. Since when do my kids answer a calm "OK" when I admit I have no intention of sleeping with them all night????

Then, yesterday, I overheard Kylee and Will giggling about some "gummy bear song." They were laughing and carrying on, so I had to ask what it was all about.

"The gummy bear song, on the computer Mom," says Kylee.
"The What?" I ask.
"You know, on youtube, you just put in "gummy bear" where you type things and the gummy bear song comes up," says Kylee.

Hold on now, since when does my 6 year old know more about youtube than I do??? I didn't even know she could spell gummy bear. This sent me running to the computer to see just what my kids have been up to. Thankfully, the "gummy bear song" turned out to be G-rated, OK, maybe PG if you count the booty shaking. Here it is, and for some reason it is kind of amusing:

Gummy Bear Dance

My How the Time Flies

This evening Kylee and I spent some time digging through the "too small clothes." The "too small clothes" are a group of Rubbermaid totes filled with clothes Bailey has outgrown. I have always saved them to pass down to Kylee. It has been a very long time since we've gone through them, and I'm happy to say I don't need to buy Kylee anything for school this Fall!
Digging through those clothes is like digging through memories. So many of those clothes make me recall specific days, or just how Bailey looked before she got nearly as tall as me, with bigger feet. The jean skirt I can still remember her wearing the first week of second grade, the dress she wore in class pictures, so many memories! It has me feeling a bit nostalgic. But.......some memories are better left in the past.
Why, oh why, didn't I get rid of that coat? I guess because it's in brand new shape and I hate to waste things. The coat is extra big, super duper puffy, and bright yellow. Not a nice yellow, but raincoat yellow. It's the one time I ever asked Monte to buy clothes for the kids by himself. The cold weather was upon us, Bailey needed a Winter coat, and I was home sick with the stomach flu. The result is this monstrosity of a coat that only a father could love.
Who buys such a coat for a girl, anyways? My husband, I guess. I didn't say anything, didn't return it to the store, because then, how could I ever ask him to pick up anything for me again? And now, since I'm too frugal to toss it, I get to re-live it all over again this year. Probably, since it looks like a boy coat anyways, I'll end up saving it for Will to wear, and I'll get to savour it for another year soon. Then, just to be sure I spread the joy as far as possible, I'll pass it on to my nephew for my sister to cherish. At least, for one year, we'll be able to spot our kids in the crowd!

There's a New Diva in Town

Look out, world. Here comes Kylee. She's my middle child, so she has the biggest personality. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see her doing her best model strut as we exited the mall after her hair cut! Where's the video camera when you need it?

Monday Mania and Happenings

It's Monday! My favorite day of the week, usually, because I get to sleep in and stay home. Today, especially, that was a blessing because we spent a long, long day at the lake yesterday. I was talked into riding the tube with my sister, plus water skiing, which means today I am feeling every muscle (or lack there of) in my body. Still, I've managed to finish a quilt and mow the yard. Now on to grocery shopping, which really hurts the pocket book these days!

This week, that Snow Wonderland fabric had better show up! The Basket BOM's are all ready for pick-up, and I'll also be sending out Moda University barbeque invitations, hopefully finishing them tonight.

I'll be posting renovation updates later today. It is going slow but steady. Luckily, I'm a pretty laid back person, so I've decided to just get the job done and let the money fall where it may. It usually all works itself out anyways, no use worrying about it now!

Kylee has managed to get gum in her hair. So much so, in fact, that 3 tablespoons of peanut butter and shampoo won't remove it! I think it's time for her first major hair cut. Yes, I said first. She may be 6, but after Bailey "trimmed" her own hair with pinking shears when she was 4 or 5, Kylee was my last hope for the long, flowing, luxurious, non-frizzy tresses that I'll never have. Time to let go of a dream!

Any ideas for a parade float? Deary Days is the first weekend in August, and I've got nothing. I can't be the only business in town without a float, so throw me your ideas, please! Otherwise, I'll have to resort to a really lame float, with a few quilts and my kids throwing candy.

Bathing Beauties

I took some time from quilting this past Monday to take the kids to the beach. It's free, and they had a lot more fun than the pool anyways. Here are some pics of my bathing beauties!