Crazy Week

My week has been bad. Here are some pictures of Bubba to make up for it.

Littles must get bigger

Bubba,
You are getting so big too quickly. For the first time in my life I want to push the pause button and savor this time for just a bit longer. Your smiles, hugs and kisses are like rays of beautiful sunlight in my life. Your tears break my heart (almost) every time. I know that you must grow and become a big kid someday. I just hope that you don't do it in a blink of an eye.
Tomorrow I will delight in each moment we get to spend together. I will not miss an opportunity to allow your growth and understanding.
I love you so much,
Mama

Why do I forget my camera on important days?

Our household has been sick most of the week. This means that on top of feeling nasty from the bug we have all had I have not had the energy to do much of anything.
Today was a different story. I had to kick it in high gear to make a little princess a skirt for her 5th birthday. From 8:30 to noon I worked on a 4 tier skirt from blueprints.
Bubba and I went to the special event as soon as the skirt was completed. V, my sister S and I enjoyed an at home spa day while the boys played and did boy things. When they caught sight of the three of us with green masked faced they laughed like crazy. After the spa we decorated cupcakes like last year. Bubba got way into decorating his. He helped me hold the icing bags and he placed all the sprinkles just where he wanted them. My heart smiled when I saw him being so independent.

Checking in with the 2009 goals.

My 2009 Goals
1. Lose 30 more lbs - fail
2. Hand make as many birthday presents as possible - mostly fail
3. Photograph more (daily) - fail
4. Walk with Bubba 3x per week - fail
5. Sew one thing (at least) for myself each month - fail
6. Make cookies with Bubba 1x per month - fail
7. Get a part time job that I like - I have a part time job. I liked it when I started but now I really miss the at home life.
8. Make a realistic budget - fail
9. Blog more consistantly about what we are doing - fail.
10. Organize my desk and business stuff and maintain it - organize accomplished, maintaining - fail.
11. Stay on top of business filing once a week - fail
12. Toilet train Bubba - fail
13. Decorate our bedroom - fail
14. Try 1 new recipe weekly - fail
15. Trip to library bi-weekly - fail
16. Field trip to museums, zoo or park monthly - for me fail, Papa (grandpa has taken Bubba almost weekly)

Overall I am seeing a lot of fails. Well I think goals are a process that evolves. Since I am now employed I feel that I get to revise the goals based on new circumstances. (I should have done this a couple of months ago.)

My 2009 Goals
1. Lose 20 lbs by end of year (196)
next action: meal plan for the week limiting protein to chicken and fish
2. Photograph weekly (instead of daily)
next action: take the camera with us to the park this afternoon
3. Walk with Bubba once a week (instead of 3x)
next action: go for a walk tonight
4. Sew one thing each month (not just for myself.)
next action: continue working on Crystal's cathedral window quilt.
5. Make a realistic budget
next action: write down all expenses for the month with due dates
6. Blog once a week (Sundays are good.)
next action: look at images taken this week and compose a post on Sunday
7. Get filing taken care of. There after file paperwork as it comes in.
next action: one collection bucket at a time get the papers in the files.
8. Toileting with Bubba
next action: this coming weekend we are going to be home bound and this is the priority
9. Finish king size quilt for our bedroom
next action: layout squares and sew them together.
10. Spend more quality time with my Hubs & Bubs.
next action: today we will play a game after dinner

Our weekend in images

Hello deer. Thanks for posing.

My darling men. The boy is so much like his daddy already.

Waterfall at the lake.

C'mon daddy lets go look.
With his favorite gal.

I can't tell who's leading who.


After I edit this I think I may print and frame it.

I had a thing for water this weekend. This was too beautiful to pass though.

Pretty Windows... A quilt

A while back I decided to take on a lap quilt as a project for my cousin Crystal's housewarming gift. When I started I had an idea about what I wanted it to look like but wasn't in love with the pattern. I looked high and low on the internet and finally found the Cathedral Window Quilt tutorial from Hyena In Petticoats. I knew when I looked through the flickr group that this was the pattern I was looking for. It has tradition but can also look very modern.
This window pane is my favorite pink one.

This is my favorite B&W one.

I started with this size just in case this project was a dud for me. It isn't I love the way this quilt looks. I am even thinking of making a few small ones like this as wall hangings to give for christmas. We'll see what The List looks like when I get this quilt done.

Photos... short on time version

Dada's mini-me.

You know mom I really should get to do what I want....


First weekend on 4 wheelers. Day 1 learned to drive himself with Cousin Dean.




Crystal is a favorite person. Even with that funny hat on her head.

Day 2. Five hour ride is exhausting. He fell asleep while I was trying to catch up to the group. He loved the ride.
still sleeping for about another 20 minutes. His first word upon waking was "WATCH!"

Caught some sun in the mountains.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

Dear Blog,

I am sorry I have neglected you of late. I promise I have been thinking of you. I have even been composing posts in my head while driving in traffic. Too bad they are locked in the vault that is my memory and I seem to have misplaced the key. I have notes too but they are not helping in finding the key. OOPS.
I have been doing a lot lately. There has been much work going on. That has been a fun challenge. I have been driving all over town and back again. (Ah, the joys of free babysitting.) I have also been going crazy over the house being a total mess. Yeah, I know it has always been a mess but now I think I need to call in FEMA to get some help. Ok, so maybe FEMA is extreme but a maid could do it right?
So today while Bubba is over at Granny's house I will be tackling the most pressing of my tasks instead of composing a fabulous post with pictures and all. Sorry but the laundry is threatening to take over my bedroom and the sewing that I have not accomplished is starting to yell at me. You know the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
So I am off to Pay the bills, make the beds, setup the new sewing table, make a diaper bag, LAUNDRY, file paperwork in the cabinet, and about 10 other sewing projects. Wish me luck.
Much love.
L

A long time gone

Wow. I know is been a while since my last post but I didn't realize that it has been nearly a month. Do you want to know what has been keeping me away from my blog? I know you do. Right?

I GOT A JOB!

I am now back in the sign business. I love the job. My boss is really wonderful and so are all of my co-workers. I miss my baby like crazy but he is getting to spend some great time with Granny, Grandpa & other family too. Here is the website. Go check it out.

There has been some sewing go on here too. I made a summer blouse last Sunday. It was the Made By Rae Spring Ruffle Top. I don't have a picture yet but if the weather holds I plan to wear it tomorrow to my sister's BBQ.

I hope to post pictures to share everything else too.

A list anyone?

So I feel like I need to organize my projects outside of my head. I have so many and everyday I feel myself adding to the list. Care to peek at my list?

For the Etsy store
Green Paisley Amy bag
Purple & Green un-named bag
Mini Bag
Yellow & Green wallet

For Family
Crystal's Black, White & Hot Pink Quilt in the Mod Sampler Quilt Along by Oh Fransson!
Cabin & Pine tote bag for Aunt Phyllis
Fish Softies for Bubba & TaTa

For Me
B&W Jumper
Made by Rae's Spring Ruffle Top for Spring Top Week
Curiositys Linen Skirt for Build Your Wardrobe
B&W Quilt Top


Wow. Seeing it all written down is a little overwhelming. Best way to fight that feeling is to set out next steps for each thing so here goes.
1. Made by Rae's Spring Ruffle Top for Spring Top Week ~ Press & cut mateials ~ Due Tuesday, April 28 for group
2. Green Paisley Amy bag ~ take apart muslin and cut out of template material ~ Due Wednesday, April 29
3. B&W Quilt Top ~ iron completed squares ~ Due 4/30
4. Purple & Green un-named bag ~ finalize design on paper ~ Due 5/1
5. Mini Bag ~ finalize design on paper ~ Due 5/2
6. Yellow & Green wallet ~ sew, turn & press ~ Due 5/2
7. Cabin & Pine tote bag for Aunt Phyllis ~ cut material ~ Due 5/4
8. Crystal's Black, White & Hot Pink Quilt in the Mod Sampler Quilt Along by Oh Fransson! ~ starch & cut material ~ Step due 5/6, Finished Quilt Due 5/21
9. B&W Jumper ~ re-cut bodice & lining ~ Due 5/8
10. Curiositys Linen Skirt for Build Your Wardrobe ~ cut material ~ Due 5/12
11. Fish Softies for Bubba & TaTa ~ affix interfacing to silky fabrics ~ Due 5/14

2nd Birthday Extravaganza

Yesterday was amazing. We had a great 2nd Birthday for Bubba. He really enjoyed himself at the aquarium. The cousins, lots of adult family and a few friends came with us.


Many things to see at the Downtown Aquarium in Denver.

The beautiful salmon.

A coral tank with seahorses. I would love to have a coral tank like this at home. These seahorses were very small.

Then this guy was enormous!

There were beautiful colors everywhere. I love the brightness of the sea stars.

The bubbles allowed the kiddos to really get into the experience.

The cousins too.

Of course we had to FIND NEMO. He was there and so was Dory and many of the other friends.

Quite possibly my favorite photo from the day was taken by Hubs. Every time I see a lionfish I think of Deuce Bigelow. I know, I'm strange.

Finally is my cake that I fretted over all week. (No joke!) I love the way it turned out even though I had something else in my head. (That looked like the shelf coral not poo in real life.)

Not bad for a beginner.