School Pictures

I LOVE getting new school pics of the

grandkids. Its my favorite snail mail.

And yesterday new pictures arrived!

After I quit doing my happy dance,

I ran to the scanner to get them

on line. Us Grammies have to brag

you know!

This is Landon.

He is one happy boy!

Don't you just love school pictures?

I did not know they took school pictures

for preschool! I found out at the beginning

of the year when I received another set

of Landon. Just as cute.

We don't get to see him often. He lives

in Texas and his daddy is in the A.F.

We would like your prayers for his

daddy right now because he is doing

yet another tour in Iraq. He has

three long months left. So we would

appreciate all prayers sent his

way!

The happy Little Guy

Here he is. Our grandson, the little guy.

Sportin' a big smile

and his new robe...

He is doing really good now. All settled in

and used to the new Poppa and Grammie.

I have a new project in the works. Just a new

bag for me. I'm not sure if its considered a

tote or what. I cut the pattern thinner so

I could center the pattern on at least one

side. I of course did not think of cutting

the sides seperately so the pattern

would be centered on both sides.

I guess I just can't think that far ahead

of myself! ha! Anyways, its all

cutout and ready to be sewn up.

Its tomorrows what I wanna do!

stay tuned! ha......

A robe for the Little Guy

Since little guy has been here I've wanted

to make him something. Of course, what

I make all the 'little guys' in my life, is a

new cozy robe

Thomas the Tank is his absolute fav so

Thomas it was! I found a nice piece of

flannel on ebay that was perfect! I LOVE

little guys in red for some reason.

And here is the result:

And the back...

I will have to get a picture of him wearing it.

Its too cute.He always wears it right

after his bath and until bedtime.

And with the hood up which is even cuter.

The momma ties it with a bow which for

some reason just tickles me.

Next, maybe some Thomas the Tank Jammies...

Cute little sewing kit

When we were living in Japan I was able to get

several fun items. This is one of my favorites.

A cute little sewing kit.

It is 3 1/4 inch long, 2 inches wide. Pretty small!

And look at all it holds! It is

so sweet. I haven't ever used. Just couldn't!

Too cute! And I love the little horn shaped

button that holds it closed. I don't know if

you can tell, maybe enlarge pic you can,

but there are 2 spaces for the goodies.

I'm wondering if I would be able to make one~

I think so, it does not look toooo difficult.

Ya think? I do have a nice scarf, that is

of the same fabric, wonderful pattern.

It is doing nothing but sitting in a drawer

for the last 10yrs. I'm thinking its time to

get creative with it. And this is the

perfect little craft I think!

Thursday

Have been so busy! Been a long long while since

I have to care for a 3 almost 4 yr. old full time!

I think the difficult part is getting to know this

little guy, getting him used to us while he is

missing momma and dad. He is doing good

considering it all. WE do see a bit of acting

out which is centered towards the dogs. So

we do have to be extra viligant in that aspect.

Our dogs are all sweet hearts, but even they

can be pushed to their limits.

The kids should be back in town by the middle

of next week. I hope. As I don't seem to be the

healthiest person, this has really taken its toll

on me. Bob is a HUGE help and just dotes

completely on the little guy and is always

scooping him up and away so I can get some

rest. I love my husband.

Even with the sewing room packed up, I'm

not letting that stop me. We were very

careful with the packing, its soooo organized

so I know right where everything is. Today

I cute out a cute Thomas the Tank robe for

little guy. Will hopefully sew it up tomorrow.

These robes are so easy to sew up. I love making

them too.

I, for some reason, like the little ones to have

and use bathrobes. I love robes. I have 5.

ha! I use them all too. Well, year round different

ones. I am planning on making some summer

ones too.

I did take some pics of a tiny little sewing kit

I received as a gift when we were living in

Japan. Its adorable. I really want to try and

get a patter off of it and make a few others.

I have a few things, napkins and such, that

I got in Japan that I am going to use for

fabric for the sewing kit and a few other things.

Will have Bob load the pics up tomorrow. You

see, I have not yet learned how to load pics

yet! *hiding face in shame*....

I love cool summer evenings

I love Fairfields delta breeze

I love my husbands good soul

I'm thankful my daughters going

to be ok.

I'm thankful I get to go to bed early

tonight!

I'm thankful for you!

Fathers day is coming!

Well when did the middle of June

get here? I tell ya, time sure flies

when your keeping all kinds of

busy! *sigh* and none of it has

to do with sewing or scrapping.

OH well....

With fathers day looming, I've

been thinking so much of my

dad. All the fun things we did

as a family when I was a kid.

How hard he worked at 2 jobs

so we could do those fun things!

He was and is a really good dad.

1949

This is 1950, Dad and mom and my sister Teri

I've finally joined the family...huge head and all! ha!

I love the memories from when I was small.

Christmas hadsuch a magic, the trees seemed

bigger and brighter! Packages wrapped so

pretty with lots of ribbon! The cards I always

worked so hard on for fathers day. You knew

school was ending when we were making fathers

day cards! It seems they always had us make ones

with ties on them. I hated them. My dad

never wore a tie!But he sure didn't seem to

mind when I gave him the card. Made me so

proud I worked so hard on it.

I hope my kids have those same kinds of

memories. I tried so hard to pass on the love

I always felt with my family on holidays.

To make them feelspecial...

know they were loved.

ON a different note, I am busy

packing up my sewing room, hating

every minute of it. Finished putting away

allll my scrapbookingpaper and tools.

Will work on fabric and trims later today.

As I have been sorting

through stuff, actually goodwilling a few

things I know I will never ever use, I

realize just how blessed I am. I have so

much. And so much to share. I have to

keep this in my mind during this whole

family situation. I've put my big girl

panties on and decided I can get

through this with a smile.!

I love allllll my fabric!

I am thankful for allll my fabric!

I love all my family pics

I'm thankful I have so many of them!

I love scrapbooking

I'm thankful I have a huge rollalong storage

for all my scrapbooking papers and dodads.

I love pie ha!

I'm torn

As I said previoiusly my son and his family

are going to live with us which hopefully

will be just a short while. Yes, I said a short

while. something I never dreamed I

would ever say about one of my kids.

But this certain 'kid' , 36 yr.old kid,

has had a pretty terrible history of his

own making.

I used to feel so guilty for all of his

problems. If I only would have done

this, or that, or the other. But over

the years I have come to realize

I did all I could as a mother. I tried

to guide him, to teach him right

and wrong. That there were consequences for his actions.

Love him unconditionally and help him when he

needed help.

He made some very bad choices many times.

I was always there for him in one way or another.

So when do you as a parent say I'm tired?

Do you keep bailing them out at any age?

I really don't know if I can do this. My health

is not the best and I'm already stressing.

Its so difficult.

People who are close to us say oh its such

a wonderful thing to open your home. Your

warm loving people....giving. Well,

I do not feel it anymore with this kid. I feel

as we are again being used. When I showed

him the room they would be staying in,

which is now my sewing room, and all that

I had to pack up and store, I didn't even

get a 'we appreciate you doing this', or

I'm sorry you have to move this. Or ANYTHING.

They just looked in the room and said

ok. I don't get it.

I can't even pray I'm so upset. I know I

should, I would feel better. I guess I'm

to deep in my own little pity party.

My husband has worked hard to give us

this life we have. Its a simple life. We

have a nice little home. We are very

careful with our money so we can

take the occassional trip to visit kids,

or a weekend for ourselves. Am I

wrong to be hurt they don't care they

are disrupting our lives without a

second thought?

I know I am whining, but I had to get this

out. Put my thoughts down and be

able to read them to see if I am just

over reacting. So why did we say ok

come stay here. They had a 4 yr

old with them. Which makes it even

harder. Heck, mama hasn't even called

him in the 2 days they have been gone.

I know God never gives us more than

we can handle. What is he teaching me

with this one though?

I'm thankful for Bob's strength

I love lays potato chips

I'm thankful for the bright sun today

I love Bob's quickly growing cucumbers!

I love warm tomatoes off the vines

I'm thankful for my life

I love hearing the laughter of a toddler

Lots going on these days!

There has been soooo much going on lately!

As I said in my last post, my son and his

family were coming to visit! Yippee!

It actually ended up taking a bit of doing

getting them here, but arrive they did!

With news nobody cared for. They lost

their apt. and as of that night they

were homeless. Geez.

They decided to move up here for a fresh

start, but in the meantime had to head

back home to get a few things worked out

and sorted through. As they were not sure

where they were going to stay, we offered

to let the little guy stay here with us

for the 2 weeks. And he is here!

Its nice having a little one in the house.

Has been a long time since we have had

one here without a parent! Just like riding

a bike ya don't forget how ha!

So this is his second day without the

'mama' and he is doing great! Of course

we are getting used to each other

and new rules and such,but all in all

its all good!

I am surprised at how different I feel

in caring for a 4yr old as a grandmother

and not a mother. I still have little

'rules' I guess you would call them,

but there is a different softness in

myself. I just don't find myself reaching

the point of pulling my hair out or

getting exasperated easily.

I love being a grammie. I wish

my other grandkids were here,

or at least close by. Texas

is soooo far away from No.Calif.

But its wonderous at how far

your heart can stretch. And its

all wrapped up tight around

the other 4 sweeties in Texas.

Later I will talk about my son

moving in here.....yikes!!!!

cuddly fire engine quilt

I'm sooo excited! THis weekend my son and his new

family, wife Brandy and her son Calvin are coming

for a visit! I have met Brandy briefly once before

and she is the sweetest girl. So easy to talk to,

funny sweet. A great daughter in law!

But I have not met her son Calvin yet. But

I get to this weekend! So to make him feel welcome

I decided to make him a quilt.

A cuddly fire engine quilt!

What little boy doesn't like fire engines?

And of course it had to be a raggy quilt. For some reason

these just seem extra cuddly.

And of course I had to be sure there were dalmations included!

The flannel and the other 'white' looking portions are all

actually a lovely warm ecru. It gives the quilt/blankie

a warm old look. Which I love. Reminds me of the

quilts a great aunt used to make.

And it had to be fire engines. Bob is a retired fire chief

in the Air Force. So of course there are fireman

related items through the house. So Calvin

should now feel like part of the family to have

his own fireman stuff just like Poppa Bob.

I'm thankful for new family members

I love having another grandson without the wait!

I love how this quilt turned out

I'm thankful I had exactly the right remnants for it

I love the hunt for remnants

I'm thankful David and his family live in Ca.

I love chocolate cheerios

I love lounge clothes

I thankful the bird is quiet today

I'm thankful for you!

I'm thankful for Tuesday

I'm thankful for Tuesday

I'm love my soft jammies

I'm thankful to have so many soft jammies

I'm thankful for Bob's silliness

I'm thankful Priscilla posts so many pictures

I love Priscilla calling me mama san

I love mini drumsticks

I'm thankful all my new sewing books

I love sewing by hand

I love retro/old fashioned looking fabric

I love flannel fabric

I'm thankful for having so much fabric

I'm thankful for all of you and your great blogs!