Peek - a - Boo

Happy Belated Birthday to our newest teenager!  We're sorry, we didn't get you on the date, but thought this would be a fun little clip of your cousin to make you laugh.  You can pretend he's saying, "Oh, we missed it again!"  ...or... what he's really saying is, "Peek - a - boo."  Love you E!   

A New Year!

I have arrived at a fresh year of life.  I am halfway to 70!!  I have decided not to grieve my age as some do, but to enjoy it!  Honestly, if you ask me anytime after this week how old I am, I will probably have to think and calculate for a while.  Maybe, just maybe, with the halfway to 70 comment, I will remember my age this year??  

Last week, Kevin's dad had an anniversary at the farm he has been working at and his mom decided to hire a photographer for some extended family pictures.  The timing was right and so were the backdrops!!  We haven't done it since L was just a bump! 

Here is me and my sweets on a combine that I mislabeled as a tractor.  I just thought all the big green vehicles on the farm were tractors...  I guess I am neither a city nor a country girl!  Since I have never ridden in a tractor (or a combine), Kevin's dad said that we could come up one day this fall to ride in one.  I'm excited for that, now I just have to follow through!  There are so many experiences available if you just have the follow-through!  I'll be working on that this coming year.  I don't know how long I'll be homeschooling or how long this flexibility will be in our lives, but for now, I want to do what I can. 

Also, happy 9th anniversary to us!!

L was reminiscing about my last birthday.  She reminded me that I had been sick and daddy had stayed home from work and made macaroni and cheese for lunch.  That was fun!  ...for her...

Sew Matching

Birthdays were coming up and I wanted to make something instead of buying things.  My girls have been inspiring this habit in me as well.  It does sometimes take a little more time and effort, but not always.  So, E's birthday dress was the first to be made (bottom picture).  Then I was going to do something similar for her under one sister, J.  After thinking that over, I decided pants would work better for her as she is a crawler.  So the pant idea came about.  Before carrying out the pants plan, I thought about a skirt for mama, but the fabric, I thought, would be a bit much for an adult skirt.  Then the search for the right top started.  I finally found a nice clearance t-shirt at Target!  Finally got back to little J's outfit, and decorated the shirt to match the pants.  The party is next weekend, so the timing is right. 

Also, with the L outfit I made, Kevin asked if I was going to make something for Kj for her birthday.  I started to but it hadn't worked out, so I had put it aside.  Now, just a few days away, I came up with a plan!!  Hoping to have time to execute (without her knowledge)!  She had, several years ago, picked out fabric for her Nana to make matching dresses for her and L.  She found that fabric again at the fabric store last week.  So, while Grandma was here with the kids, I headed to the grocery store.  I decided to go to a different grocery store, right by that same fabric store.  I bought some to make her a long, simple skirt.  And now, off to that!  :)
   

To My Only Little Sister:

I love you!  Hope your day has been going along splendidly. I wonder if you ever thought you would see these t-shirt logos again...

I finished the top of this quilt just in time for your birthday evening!!  Thankfully, I wasn't planning on seeing you today, so I didn't have to have it done.  Who knows maybe I'll get it completely finished by the March pool party...don't get your hopes up!

This is my first attempt, my sampler, of a t-shirt quilt.  It was spurred on by Cousin L's desire to make one with her dad's shirts.  She had the book on the how-to, so I decided to try it out on my little sister's cast off t-shirts.  Originally, I was going to make her little girls two baby-doll blankets, but then it turned into this lap quilt.  :)

Hopefully it will be enjoyed before the heat of summer!
aj

Birthdays!

We started a tradition this month.  My girls got to choose a cake flavor (L: Blueberry, Kj: Peppermint), and we made a cake together the morning of their birthday.  We used the The Cake Mix Doctor Cookbook.  Then we ate it gradually throughout the next week.  BUT since their birthdays are so close together we also had a birthday party for them and a couple others.  So, I made multiple cake mixes one day and made layers corresponding to their age.  B: 1, L: 3, Kj: 5, Bumpa: 62...ok, so I fudged a little on his, he got 1 layer with a big 62 on the top!  :)  Yumm...I'd skip the plain cake mixes next time though, as they are a bit drier than my doctored recipes which add yogurt or cream or pudding!! 

My Birthday Cake

I was looking through my Cake Mix Doctor book trying to find a desirable cake for Kevin to make with the girls.  Well, I ended up with a somewhat complicated, expensive cake.  Therefore, Kevin allowed me to help make it.  It was a chocolate toffee cheesecake.  You are to use a cake mix for the crust, and so to make it gluten free I used a double batch of a mix I had tried before.  Oh was it good!  It also called for chocolate sweetened condensed milk, which I couldn't find, so here is a recipe.

Here is the clean-up crew:

And the watchers...we made the cake right before bedtime, so they had to go to bed while it was still in the oven.  We promised them a tester bite in the morning.

They're in bed and now I'm watching...

Yeah!!  She was glad that we didn't have to wait all week for my birthday to come so we could taste that cake.  We ended up eating it all week long, just little bits at a time.  In fact, there is still one more small piece for each of us in the fridge for later this week!

How I Spent My Birthday!

The girls and I got ready for the day after eating part of our breakfast with Kevin. Kj and I were going to Bible Study and L had to stay home with our friend, E's mama. Didn't really participate in the discussion as I had been ill and unable to finish my "homework". Got dropped off back at home where E, C, and L were waiting. Got a call from my ride, "I'm a horrible friend, is it your birthday today? Well, have a great time with your good friend (meaning C)."

Went out to eat at a new restaurant. Two moms, three kids 3 and under. Adventure!! Not much fun talking. That's ok, it was quite enjoyable, and I didn't have to prepare it. Bonus!

Naptime...sort of. I kept hearing L's, "mama, mama." I go in and Kj tells me L is signing potty. Good girl (l)! Wonderful helper (kj)! So, no naptime. Play, try not to play, play, try to read, play.

Kevin home and heading to church for supper. Again, no preparation for me!! And no clean-up! L now has goopy eyes, so took her out with me when my friend surprised me with a treat outing. Yummy bagel to share. Back to church to pick up the girls. Kevin stayed for worship team practice.

Some computer messaging fun with birthday well-wishers. Then sewing! Finished one hat, waiting for a part from my mom to finish the other. I'll post pictures another day. Kevin's now waiting and ready for my teeth brushing companionship. Good night! Good day!