This Moment

{this moment} Inspired by Amanda Soule- A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Yep, my little boy is 4!!

This moment

{this moment} Inspired by Amanda Soule- A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

WIP and Thankful Thursday!

I am thankful for many things...first my wonderful family, here in this house and those throughout the state (and beyond)

I'm thankful for impromptu visits from my mom (and corn, I do love corn)

I'm thankful for the sense of humor of my kids

and their very distinct personalities (this is Natalie's movie star look)

I'm thankful for my youthful mother who taught me how to have fun (and how to be a good mother), not matter how silly you look to everyone else

I'm thankful for the park, even if people are getting their cars broken into I can't let that keep me away... until they break into mine, right?

My work in Progress this week... COLOR.. added to our very bland house

This is the guest room upstairs, that my wonderful MIL is bringing me a bedroom set for this weekend. So there will actually be somewhere for guests to stay.

It looks good, I love the color!

and I love seeing it when I come up the stairs

Oh I'm also thankful to the kindness of strangers.  My mom saw this on someones porch with a 'donate' sign on it, so she left a note and her number asking them to donate it to her daughter. It's just perfect for all my fabric!

My craft/sewing space is coming together, don't mind the mess, it has all the stuff from the guest room in it too... I love having my own creative space!!  Happy week everyone.  I'll be back for this moment tomorrow then I have to hurry and get the last of the stuff done for Aiden's birthday on Wednesday.  I can't believe he's going to be 4!!  Where has the time gone!!

This moment

{this moment} Inspired by Amanda Soule- A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

WIP Wednesday

Welcome back to WIP Wednesday, what was that... you've been here all along?  Oh, that's right I'm the one who's been missing.  Sorry.  Things have been a little weird lately and at the risk of coming across bitter/angry/sad I just stayed away.  But we're good (or getting better) So the show must go on.  I have been working on things for Aiden's birthday.  I still have a few things to go... felt dinosaurs for his cake, shorts that he's insisting on...a doll sling of his own.. The last two will have to wait as I also have a special little boy turning 1 the day before Aiden's birthday who will need something made for him too.

First up: new decorations, we were in need of more re-usable festivity

It looks like this all strung out, and no I was not clever enough to come up with this on my own, I got the idea from here. I have had it saved for a year or so.

I have also started Aiden's birthday crown and I see the problem with making these after the recipient has opinions... he is choosing the colors and I must say, I'm not so happy with how it's turning out. Kind of Christmas like.... but oh well it's his crown after all.

Birthday bag for one present, 2 more to make.

a wallet, I made this pattern up all my self.. and I'm quite happy with how it turned out.  He has been wanting to bring money with him, or his library card and he has no where to put so I made him somewhere.

Library card slot and a coin pocket since we all know little boys are happier with 10 pennies then a dollar bill.

And this is my on-going WIP, I'm busting my stash of scraps and cutting it into 6 inch long strips of varying widths (what ever gets the most use of the scrap) Some day when I have nothing to do (funny thought isn't it?) I'll sew them together and make a bunch of strips 6 inches wide then sew those together to make a crazy quilt top that I will always be able to look at and remember what I used a certain fabric for.  Or that's the long term goal.  We'll see. So that's what I've been up to, how about YOU??

it wouln't be camping with out a catastrophe (or 2)

After far too long we finally went camping.  I knew it was a possibility so I got all ready on Friday, made granola and brownies.  Made bug spray and bug lotion (that worked quite well, thank you)  Packed the car, fed the kids, charged the lantern.  So when Loren walked in the door at 6:30 all we he had to do was shower and load up.

We went to Archie Knowles Campground, just about 30 miles west of our new house.

We got set up just before dark and the kids had a great time playing on the beds.  Natalie thought it was great fun to have everyone (even the dog) all sleeping together.

The next day we just played in the creek down the bank from our site.  We were in #1 so it was a little noisy from 126 but so close to the stream it was worth it.

There were many beautiful photos to be taken

tons of little fish and crawdads in the stream just waiting to be chased.

Natalie and I having breakfast together.  We got up first and made coffee for Daddy.

The rocks were amazing and the creek was shallow so we could walk across and it was warm for the kids to play in.

Loren and I let our inner children out and built a dam... of sorts

Natalie is turning into such a little girl!

We also spent a lot of time skipping rocks (the boys) or throwing rocks (the girls)  Both activities were frustrating for the dog who just wanted to bring things back

Natalie LOVED the water and spend all the time she could walking, splashing, crawling and a bit of falling in the water

This is the last photo that was taken before I found a large crawdad in the creek.. I had stashed my camera on a huge log for safe/dry keeping while I was playing in the water.  Aiden found it.  He took this and a few others before I yelled to him that I had found said crawdad.  He was excited and ran towards us.  With the camera... in his hands... it was wet and slick.  and.. I am sure you can guess what happened. yep... look at all those rock pictures I took.  The camera flew... hit the rocks (but didn't go in the water, so I didn't loose the pictures) and... broke. I can still take pictures apparently but I can not see what i am taking a picture of. Loren was a little ray of sunshine and said, "some day they will teach classes on your style of photography.  Maybe you don't need to see what you are taking a picture of"  yeah... I loved that camera, it had great colors. but I've let it go.  We had a good run, it was only 4 or 5 megapixals and outdated technology.  That's what I keep telling myself.

The next day when we tried to leave the car battery was dead.  REALLY really dead.  So dead that it took like 10 minutes to charge up enough to start.  again, Aiden had been 'driving' and turned on all the dome lights. We are hoping he learned a few lessons last weekend I know we did 1. never put the camera down where your almost 4 year old can get to it and 2. never let your child 'drive' unless you check right away to ensure that all dome lights are turned off.  Good times good times.... it will make a good story some day, right?