My parents are here for the weekend. Not sure what we're going to do, but it's good to have them here.

...

Managed a 60 minute walk today. The weather has been absolutely wonderful - mid 70's.

...

I have the best kids. No... Really.

...

Last night were parent/teacher conferences. All of the teachers said the child of mine in her class was a joy. They listened, followed directions, knew when to talk and knew when to be quiet, and most of all worked diligently when required. The only issue is The Boy's reading, though we've known that and are working with him. Even with that the teacher said how great it was to work with parents that really cared. I couldn't believe it. Who doesn't care if their child succeeds? Isn't school really a partnership between the teacher and the parents? I digress... I really couldn't be prouder of them. Until this morning.

There are conferences continuing today, so the kids don't have school. Usually that means they get to stay up a bit later knowing they'll sleep in. And for the most part they do. This morning they were up by eight. I heard them rustling around and turning on the TV. This does not bother me as long as they shut my bedroom door.

Around 8:15, a small voice asked me, "Are you done with these?" holding up a package of black pipe cleaners. With one eye open I croaked, "Yes and you can use them." I fell blissfully back to sleep, only hearing occasional chirps from my charges.

I woke at 9:14, the kids keeping themselves delightfully busy with a package of 25 pipe cleaners. No fussing, no bickering, and they'd put their cereal bowls by the sink. I'm not quite sure what more I could ask for.

...

Lest this post get to wordy and bragging...

Just because I stay home with the kids in school doesn't mean the dishes are always done.

Or the counters are always cleared off.
Or the family room is ready to receive guests. It serves an excellent place to baste a quilt.


I'm just doing the best I can, and knowing I have great kids goes a long way toward that.

Monday, Monday

There are a few things rattling around in my head that I just can't quite shake.

-Friday I went to a quilting class on double wedding ring quilts. I bought the acrylic templates. Now I just need to settle on the fabric for my 'test' quilt - meaning it will be lap/throw sized versus bed sized.

-Saturday and Sunday I sorted my fabric. Nothing terribly exciting, as I'm only half way done. I did however find a couple of half started projects that I'm looking to finish. I may offer these as a giveaway at a later date.

-An event Saturday night (early Sunday morning) as left me shaking my head and wondering what is happening to our friend's marriages. Love, honor and cherish have been replaced with bitch, complain, and bicker.

-Since we moved a little over three months ago, we've had two displaced husbands stay at our house. One night only, then I strip the bed and kick them out (with a hug, of course). I have my own marriage to look out for.

-Early this year I started a Dear Jane quilt. Needless to say it's been put away for awhile. I started using quilt quality fabric with muslin for the background. After the quilt expo last weekend, I'm wondering if I shouldn't use something a little better than muslin for the background.

Here are my possibilities:
a) use what I have for another project - wall hanging, pillow, something that won't get a lot of use - and start over with the better background fabric.
b) pick up where I left off, leaving my decision (re-make or just leave) of what to do until later.
c) one by one, take the blocks apart and remake them with other fabric for the backing.

Initially, I chose muslin because it was so much less expensive then other fabric. Now, I'm regretting my choice, as I really want this to be something that lasts a long time. What would you do?

...

Slow going

Costumes must be done by tomorrow, as the class parties are Friday.

Next year, I'll just buy them.

Yea... Right...

Thankfully, the kids are back to school today. Having them home most of last week, and with a teacher inservice Monday, gave me plenty of quality (and quantity) time.

Yesterday we managed to get supplies for Halloween Costumes. That means today I'm making a mummy, a vampire, and a witch.

...

As you may have noticed, I changed the look around here just a bit. I started this blog four years ago with a one, three, and five year old under the name "Throwing Bananas at Toddlers." Two years ago I changed the name to "Bananas and Toddlers."

Today? I have no toddlers. They're all in school. I guess that makes me a housewife. No worries, I can keep myself busy:

My latest quilt: I Miss Mondays

I'm back here now as well: Run, Gretchen, Run.

...

Double Booked

It's quarter past twelve in the morning and I can't sleep.

Tonight I realized I double booked Friday afternoon.

Friday afternoon the kids are having the Halloween parade and parties at school at 2:15.

Friday afternoon I'm supposed to be at my quilting class at 2:30.

There is no way I can do both.

I have missed parties before due to having a toddler or illness or something else I had to do. I have never missed a party because there was something I wanted to do. I was so so so excited about this class. Now, will I attend it with a shadow - thinking I should be there for my kids? Or will I attend knowing full well there is so much going on I doubt they will even miss me?

...

24 fever free hours

The ticket to the kids going back to school is 24 fever free hours.

Meaning, two of them are spending the day driving my slightly crazy as they are feeling much better. The third is back at school.

That means tomorrow may be my first day this week with all three kids at school. Go Team!

...

I have been working furiously on my sister's and youngest niece's birthday presents. So much so my shoulders ache at the end of the day. Wish I could show you pictures, but then it wouldn't be a surprise.

...

I really can't complain about the kids. Right now they're working on the homework I picked up yesterday.

...

In My Defense*

Your honor, I'd like to submit these into evidence of why I haven't yet returned to the workforce.

Exhibit A:
Exhibit A is being the most difficult as of yet. She's complaining of being hungry but not knowing what she wants, excessive crying both while in bed and standing next to me, complaining of a mysterious substance on the roof of her mouth that can not be seen, and coughing and gagging while taking the medicine that will make her feel better.

Exhibit B:

This exhibit, while generally quite agreeable, did manage to find me at 11:30 pm and proceeded to want to lay right next to me all night even though he was running a fever thereby making me sweat. He also managed to keep either his knees or feet, or both, on my back most of the night. While not knowingly or meaning to try and push me out of bed, it was very annoying.

Yes, Your Honor, both Exhibit A and B are in my bed. Yes, those are the sheets and blankets I washed yesterday because I thought they were "better."

Exhibit C:



Exhibit C is home today because she was sent home from school yesterday with a fever. Though happily playing with her American Girl dolls, eating peanut butter crackers, and drinking plenty of fluids - she is still a bit punky. That and she frequently forgets to "cover her cough" and likes to cough in my face and on my food.

I rest my case.

...
On the up side, yesterday was such a good hair day I didn't want it to end.



...
*I really don't feel the need to defend myself. I just like to think I'm funny.

Having taken a three month hiatus...

I realize that my life isn't very interesting.

Really, who wants to hear about my sick kids, the fact that I'm home alone all day, I just moved into an amazing house, or my latest project? Sometimes I bore myself.

...

The two kids that were home sick yesterday are back in school, the other one is home, though. During a run to CVS for Tylenol, Motrin and cough medicine I realized I am back in civilization - you can by liquor and wine at the drug store. Unlike MN where anything stronger than 3.2 beer requires a trip to the liquor store, I love the fact that I can pick up a bottle of wine (or vodka) along with your cough medicine. I didn't... This time...

...

Yesterday I got quite a bit done on my sister's birthday present. I was planning some more work last night after the kids were in bed, but given the crap that's going around our house I went to bed at 8:30. As soon as I hit publish, I'll be back in the sweatshop, I mean basement... You don't turn 29 every day - right Sis?

...

Monday, Monday...

Two kids are home sick today.

I signed myself up for a class at the upcoming sewing and quilt expo next weekend. It's about Double Wedding Ring Quilts and the like. I'm pretty excited about it.

The temperature has dipped, but not so much as in MN - talked to one of my friends back there and she's reporting two inches of snow. I guess Cow Town does have it's benefits.

My dear sister's birthday is this weekend. Must get cracking on that one. Off to the sewing room...

Finally.

A few pictures of the house:

Kitchen.


Kitchen, table, and deck.



Dining room. Yes, I sewed the toile curtains. Lined them too.


More dining room. The black and white pictures are ones my cousin took while we were at my Grandparent's old farm. The green was not intentional, I was going for a moss green, and ended up with a Kelly green. The longer it's up there, the more I like it. You can see the half bath through the door.

The view out my front door. Sunday they were moving hay bales.

...

More to come later. Having been without internet for nearing three months, I have a bit of catching up to do.

...

Also, I started another blog to keep track of my sewing projects: I Miss Mondays. Not much is up there. Yet.

...

It's been a hell of a week and it's only Wednesday.

Today the movers came and packed up the contents of the house.

It's strange to see your stuff turned into one semi load.

And it was a full load.

I took a few pictures of the process, but I'm using my parents' computer and I have no way to down load them.

The unload starts tomorrow.

As of right now, we have no internet at the new place.

Once we do, though. Better watch out.

...

All this packing has me wondering...

-Just how much stuff does one person need? No, not just one - Five.

-If I were to be traveling by covered wagon, what would I take?

-Will I be ready Wednesday when the movers come?

-Where will all this go in the new house?

-How long will it take to unpack?

...

My nerves are getting the better of me. I was up packing at 5:30 this morning.

..

Saturday

So we closed on the house on Wednesday. Having had to be pulled from the mover's schedule once, I didn't want to repeat that. Sometime Wednesday afternoon, I called the mover and asked when he thought we might be able to get back on the schedule. Having worked with plenty of neurotic housewives, he was up for the task.

"Would later next week work?"

NEXT week? You mean like a week from Wednesday?

Yes.

So here I sit, getting ready to start my second full day of packing. Yesterday it was all I could do to get half of my craft room done.

Needless to say, I'll be even more absent than I've been.

However, even with a new house, I look forward to sharing my Before and Afters.

...

The neighbors have set up a going away party for us tonight. I'm aiming not to drink too much as I can't lose a day to a hangover.

...

Have a great weekend.

...

A picture is worth...

Keys to the new house.

More pictures to follow. Today has been an absolute whirlwind. If you'd asked me Monday if we would close on the house (of my dreams), I would have said no.

Sew Connected 3

Earlier in the year, I joined a block swap. Having never done one before, I was a bit nervous. I mean, what if they didn't like my work? What if it wasn't good enough?

Every month, one or two people send out fabric with instructions. Some are vague: have fun with the fabric. Some are much more specific. July's quilter wants to make a string quilt.

After making the four squares, I just couldn't decide how to put the fabric together.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B: My parents are visiting. My dad thinks he's funny. He really is, just not at midnight when I'm trying to take pictures with the camera on my phone because I can't find my other one.

Ok. Exhibit B:
Finally: Exhibit C.

After putting it all together, this is the one I liked the best.

It's been really fun and pushing me outside of my quilt comfort zone. Can't wait for my month!

...

Zig Zag

Oh, you wily triangles... I do love how you come together.

I made this lap quilt for my back yard neighbor. As one of the few full-time stay at home moms in the neighborhoo, I leaned on her quite a lot when we first moved here. Yesterday she called to see if I would like to see some fabric she was looking to get rid of. What I found was a box of wonderful purples.

At some point I'd like to make The Todder a twin size quilt like this.

...

Sunday Night

Of all the things I should be working on tonight... This isn't one of them.

...

47"

Yesterday afternoon my husband got thinking... It's when a while since we've had a family fun night. A quick brainstorm (me) and we decided on Nickelodeon Universe - the theme park inside the Mall of America. It used to be Camp Snoopy.

Our main reason? After 5 pm, the unlimited wristband ticket price drops from $29 to $17.

Five tickets later we were off...



Especially The Toddler. She's four, and 47" - the minimum height for most of the rides. To ride without a chaperone. Alone. There wasn't a ride she didn't like. Even the roller coaster that spun circles while on the track - she went FOUR times.

For the most part, we stuck together as a family.

Until the end, and my husband and I couldn't take another Log Ride. So we sent the kids. More than once.

...

With the kids home for the summer, and my husband home since February 12th, it feels like every day is Saturday.

No reason to get up too early, no reason to worry too much about bedtime... This morning I slept until 9:30, and my youngest until 9:45.

I know it will come to an end soon enough, but I'm just enjoying the time right now.

...

Friday afternoon I'm hosting an informal happy hour for the neighborhood ladies. I figure we should make good use of the patio while we have it.

Anyone have any favorite drink or appetizer recipes?

I was thinking sangria... and guacamole. But I'm open to suggestions...

...