More than a Blog

April showers bring May Flowers

But what will the heat of July bring?

We will see! 

Update on my lucky ball player

Good news - the knowledge of free popsicles at the end of every t-ball game did not hinder Braden's focus on the ball what so ever as the next series of photos will illustrate.  I do apologize for the quality of the photos - I've got to remember my zoom lens next time so these are cropped very tight and are not all in focus.  

What you probably can't tell from the pictures is that my sweet son was assigned to play short stop and that the ball he was chasing down on his unfortunate collide with the runner was hit to right field. Yes she did fall down but managed to make it to 2nd base before the ball was retrieved.  Braden headed back to his position, looking around for a little sympathy but getting none let go of his elbow and continued his aggressive ball play.  

I do have to mention that a couple of plays later a grounder was hit right to him and he made a great stop and threw it back to the pitcher.  

This week's flavor of choice was orange which he kindly gave his little brother a few tastes.

The Luckiest boy in the world

We've entered in to a new phase of parenting - the early stages of taxi cab parenting where you find yourself running children to all kinds of activities.  We started this phase with t-ball.

 

Braden's team played their first game last week and I have to say I'm thankful to our coaches - they realize this is a team for 5 and 6 year olds and not a bunch of professional athletes.  The coach we played against had signed up for the wrong team.  Such wisdom spewed from his mouth to these young athletes all night including - "You're going to have to hold it...go to the bathroom before the game starts next time".  And my personal favorite "Get over here and stop screwing around."

Well this brought out the competitive nature in my dear husband and the other Giant's coaching staff and we pulled off the victory!!!

An adoring Giant's fan...who goes everywhere with his glasses these days.

First time a bat.  And while he runs like his mama (I hope he out grows that)  He has a pretty good swing on him.

But the best part of the game came at the end -no, not when he found out we had defeated the other team, nor when he got to line up, shake hands, and tell the other team good game. 

 It was the free Popsicle.  He'd play every-night for a free popsicle. 

     "I'm the luckiest mom"  "Every-time I play I get a free popsicle."

Will we make it through tonight's game with determination to hit the best, catch the ball, play hard, or just get the game over so the good stuff begins?  

 

 

 

Why is photographing your own kids so hard?

 

Yes, it looks nice, but we had a nightmare of a time trying to take these pictures.  It was more fun to pick up rocks, and crawl through the grass.  We had also just finished the church easter egg hunt, and so they wanted - candy, but it was all melted chocolate from sitting out in the sun during the church service.  Anyway... this was the look I was going for, the look grandparents swoon over.  The smiling faces, happy and looking at the camera.  

PS.. When Gabe saw this picture he said in his sweet little voice 

    "Braden hold my hand."

THIS is the picture I'm in love with.....

Anyone who has watched my boys together know they can not keep there hands off each other.  They are all ways all over each other.  I love this shot.  The sweetness, their heads together - those freckles!!!

 

 

Yes I did let them have some candy.

     How could you not to a face like this...

 

 

Future's so bright but don't hide those eyes with shades.

I love doing Senior pictures.  I've slowed way down with photography since taking a job teaching high school students.  They are a mess.  As students - it is spring and they are ready to move on.  As far as most of them are concerned - I've done my time, now I'm just going to set back and enjoy until graduation.  But they also know they have the world ahead of them with so much excitement, fear, dreams, goals, expectations to pursue. That's what makes high school seniors so fun to photograph.  You can see it all in their eyes.  And this beautiful girl was no exception.

See what I mean.... Just look at those eyes. 

  

 

 

Quilt project update 4; still working on the first one but I have finished a quilt.

So... what has it been 3 months since my last quilt update.  I've been having more fun quilting than I have been blogging about it.       

Update on the circle quilt, on my last post, it looked like this....

 

It is all pieced together.....YEAH!!!

 

I even managed to match up the center of MOST of my circles (key word - most, not all!!!) 

 

Since these pictures were taken, I put on a border and pinned the backing on.   Haven't done much quilting.

Since I have never machine quilted before, I decided to make a smaller quilt to practice on.  Matt's cousin Casey is expecting, so she is now the proud owner of my first machine quilted quilt - and I have to say I'm quite proud.  It is by no means perfect, but it surprisingly looks like a quilt.

Like my quilt holder - isn't he precious.  That brings me to an unrelated story.  Over spring break we made a little sewing gift for our new friends.  After I finished 

    I asked Braden "Isn't it precious?"   

        "What does precious mean mamma."

    "Beautiful and girlie."  I responded

    For those of you who know him picture the Braden analytical face.

    "But didn't you use to call me precious when I was little?"

    "You're right. I guess it's doesn't mean girlie."

Now on to more quilting pictures.

 

By the way.  I still have the quilt, even though the baby shower is over.  As I was quilting away, my machine died on me.  Thanks to a wonderful sister-in-law, who gave my mother-in-law and extra machine, I'm back in quilting business (not literally).

 

  

I've even hand stitched the binding to the back as according to my new favorite quilters guide book.

You can find it on amazon.

And I mitered the corners - again, not perfectly, but they are mitered.

And now, a sneak peak at my next project that is a Christmas present, so there will be no more sneak peaks this year.... (Sorry)

But look the points of my pinwheel match!!!  YEAH!

  

  

 

What a way to spend a cold winter Monday

 

Crazy day for a wedding?   Not if it was your Grandma's birthday, and what a beautiful wedding it was.  I have to first say how special the bride is to my family.  She was Gabe's first physical therapist.  She was with us as he went from not being able to hold his head up or sit up on his own to crawling and pulling up.  She was with us as we lost the twins, and held our hand and let us cry the whole time.  She shared such a hard part of our lives, it was an honor and joy to share such a sweet, special part of hers.

So without further ado, here are a few pictures from her special Monday.

 

Did I mention that in addition to her knowledge, one thing that makes Thoa such an excellent PT to young children is that she is vertically challenged - however, you cannot have that on your wedding day.

  

Her mom get her her grandmother's Jade earrings before the ceremony - they were gorgeous.

  

The groom.....

 

And the party.... did I mention there was a 10 course Vietnamese dinner???  

 

The look was in response to dishes like this....

 

and this....

 

How could you not love this little flower girl...

And finally - an unexpected dance under bubbles...

Congratulations Scott and Thoa.  Thanks for letting us be apart of your special day.  

 

  

 
 

 

 

We can't eat this.....

We've been snowed out of school for the majority of the week and I've been spending a lot of time catching up on some much needed craft time.  

 

Here is a view of my kitchen counter....

 

If you look closely, you will see a recipe box sitting on my cutting mat.  Does that count for cooking?

But this is what is on my stove

I love the smell of orange peels and cinnamon simmering on the stove top, the smell is wonderful, but I'm not so sure it is the most tasty thing to offer my family.  Guess it will be another grill cheese sandwich for the children.  Matt you are on your own.  

 

 

 

Quilt project update 3; aka boys can quilt too!

 God blessed me with two sweet (most of the time) boys.  I'm really not much of a tom boy - not a big camper, or fisherwoman, or farmgirl (although I'm learning).  But if your talking about sewing, needle work, scrapbooking - you name it, if it's crafty I'm in. So that's what my boyly boys (can you say that instead of manly man?) get to help mama do.  One day their wives will thank me.  

I 

I'm loving that we are wearing our transformers outfit while designing our quilt top.

 

And yes you can piece a quilt while doing a fine dog impression in your best camouflage thermals.   

Thanks for the help boys - I might need to finish this up when they go to bed - looks like a late night for me.

 

 

Quilt project update 2; aka not as easy as it looks

I've finished the quilt.......

 

Just kidding.  This is a quilt that was made for me when I was in Jr. High or grade school.  Braden has been using it on his bed.  For his birthday, we decorated his room in a cowboy theme (project before and after pictures coming soon - as soon as the after is done!!!)  I've been wanting to back this quilt for years and I finally got it done.  

 

I tied the back on and prepared the edges for sewing - then it was a piece of cake from there (at least I told Matt it was going to be.)

Feeling so proud of the progress I was making - I decided to get out the camera and document it.

Then this happened.....

 

Yes that is a broken needle.  I fixed that problem only to discover the stitches on the back of the quilt looked like this...

Needless to say after 3 broken needles and using the seam ripper on the same section of quilt 2 times, I finally had the project complete. I'd love to tell you I had two helpers during this process and that is why I had so much trouble, but they were at Bee Bees.  I just had that much trouble.  We'll see how the whole quilt process goes.