and the boy is four!

This is the quilt I made him for his birthday. It has some of our favorite fabrics in it that I've previously used to make things for him. Mostly though, it's Michael Miller Dick and Jane collection which I bought last summer and never used. I'm so happy that I was able to use almost all of what I had, and only had to return about a yard to my stash. It was a productive project on that account. I am really building up quite a stash of fabric and it is getting out of hand. This was a bit of a PITA to complete, especially the binding, but I am just so happy with the way that it came out. Took about two weeks, start to finish. I have a host of other projects that I want to work on next; such as a quilt for the new baby, one of my sister's baby, a new diaper bag (and maybe one for her too), etc. But right now I am a bit burnt out at the machine and am taking a break.

Spring is arriving here. We planted some pansies this week and they seem to be taking off. My MIL will be coming for a few days and I am so looking forward to it. She is an awesome cook and happily will cook for all of us the entire time she is here. Delightful! Also the town wide garage sale is this weekend and i am optomistic that I will scout out some cheap baby gear to add to our collection. I am looking for a swing, a bouncy seat, and if I come across a jumper I will snatch that too. I gave away those three things to a friend about a year ago...she passed them on to someone else who also passed it along; and alas...now they can't seem to be located. Lesson learned!

Cleaning is necessary...need to work on that next!

what we have been up to recently:

I think that I am learning it is really, really hard to maintain a blog. Especially along with running a household, raising children, and all the other things that go along with life. My hat goes off to all the amazing bloggers out there who do all those things, and still update regularly. Great job!

here's what we've been doing for the past few weeks:

making bird feeders from toilet paper tubes, peanut butter, and bird seed.

reading a lot of books.

staying in pajamas all day long (heavenly).

and a little bit of crafting too!

santa stopped by

and these are some of the things he dropped off!

Getting ready

Even though the flowers still look pretty (although not as nice as this picture conveys - we've had frost every morning this week and they're starting to look quite floppy)...I'm slowly getting into a holiday frame of mind. I've got a zillion things to make/get/cook/bake for the season and I'm just getting going now.
Here's a preliminary list:
6 aprons
Many dozens of cookies
6 scarves
4 coin purses

Of course, as the magazines start to arrive my brain will overload with additional projects and crafts I hope to create, and then the list will grow. But this is enough to get me started, don't you agree?

Finding Fall

I am tired...and of few words tonight. So, some pictures

things I love: water

I took my boys to a lake not far from our home last week. It was quiet and tranquil with only a few other moms and their kids there that day.

My little ones were really kind to one another (mostly) and I enjoyed watching them play together, and muse about how their fraternal bonds will change over the years. It made me miss my sister, whom I haven't seen for a couple weeks.

Especially with all the craziness and stress of our chosen hectic life, it was especially important to have a day with my kids spent enjoying the beautiful Earth we've been given...and the beautiful family we've been blessed with as well.

On the upswing

Things are improving over here...the weather has really been amazing, and we've been outdoors most of the time. Our schedule is fairly hectic the next few weeks, because I have quite a lot of clinic hours to do for school. This will take place pretty much every weekend until mid-September. It is hard work, but very gratifying. But the time spent with the boys has been wonderful, and today was no exception! Lots of laughter and happiness. R. told me the other night at bedtime "I miss you when you at school mama.". Oh baby, I miss you too.