Quilt Update and a Quick Kid's Project

Remember this one?
I wasn't really happy with it. I mean, there wasn't anything really wrong with it, but it lacked a certain punch.

After ripping out the border, I added a bit of brown:

Much better! Now, to get it quilted.

The kids have been nagging me to let them make small quilts for their webkinz. Who am I to stand in the way?

While at the fabric store the other day, I noticed the fat quarters were on sale for 99 cents each. Each kiddo got to pick out two - a front and a back. I helped them layer the fat quarters with a bit of leftover batting, and let them quilt to their little heart's content. Two of them are finished:

The toddler just needs a bit more time (and supervision).

I let them pick fabric from my stash for binding, then sewed that on myself.

The kids enjoyed it, and are pleased with the results.

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The last of the camping laundry is on the line. Now I just have to start in on the regular stuff.

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In other news...

I spent most of yesterday just trying to get caught up.

Laundry, mostly.

Six loads of laundry were in baskets -

Some folded.

Some not. And yes, there's another load in the dryer.

But all clean and needing to be put away.

I like having clean clothes, it just getting them there that drives me a bit crazy. I'm really good at starting a load, washing it, and getting it in the dryer. That's where I falter a bit. I have a bad tendency to 'not hear' the buzzer at the end of the dryer's cycle. When I go back to check on them, they're dry but I just want to fluff them 'a minute or two' before getting them out. I usually fluff each load, um... more than once before getting them out.

Last night I cowboyed up and got the clothes folded and put away.

Today? Today is a new day.

Viola - my new clothes line. It folds for easy storage (read: it's not sitting out there all the time driving my husband crazy), and I dug the hole for the quick-crete in the landscaping rocks (read: there isn't a concrete circle in our green yard). Also, it's better for the clothes and the enviroment. Go me.

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Other fun stuff, because we know how dazzling talking about laundry is-

Homemade dress for the Toddler...

Homemade whip (a la Indiana Jones) for the boy...

There are very specific rules for the whip - only hit the ground and rocks. No people.

The girl with a broken wing is continuing to get better. She spent most of yesterday doing one of her favorite things...

Watching TV in the garage. Hey, it gets her out of the house - right?!?

Finally Friday

I noticed today, that the house is showing signs of my nonstop crafting. Meaning - no crafting for me today - only cleaning! Boo hoo.

Today will be spent cleaning and doing laundry.

At least I won't have to do it this weekend!

Can I just say these kids live the life or Riley around here?

"Mama, I had a bad dream." Better snuggle up with me then...

Have a great weekend - there's still time to enter my drawing!

Playing catch up

Arrived home last night to an empty fridge and three kids that had taken late naps in the car... Fortunately, we'd picked up some Taco Bell and Long John Silvers. Yes, around these parts they have a joint TB/LJS.

Unpacked the car and fed the kids. Spent the rest of the night unpacking, designating dirty from clean laundry, and then trying to get them settled. Because of said nap in car, we had an extended storytime last night. Read the "required" reading for the big girl, and started an "American Girl Book" - Kirsten, if you must know.

The kids didn't settle into sleep until 10 pm last night. I know, we should have left earlier, but... well... it was hard letting go of the holiday weekend.

Today I'm looking at grocery shopping and most likely a Sam's run. The kids want to get the tree up, but it's currently residing in the rafters of the garage. I may be foolhardy, but I'm not stupid; I'll let my husband get it down when he comes home. The big girl wants us to come for lunch - it's French Toast Sticks after all. Have Mount McLaundry to tackle today and maybe a trip to the gym tonight.

Mmmm... French Toast Sticks...

Need to get going if we're going to make it to school by 11:15.

Just another day in paradise, right?

I've done all I can do.

It's been a long day. Twice I thought I'd cry. Right now I'm sitting at the computer with a drink on the coaster and some music playing (Thanks Dude. Now, exactly how many times can one person oscillate between "wild horses" and "crazy"?) ; and I'm mentally compiling my third list of the day. The first was a list for Target (check). The second, the actual "to do" stuff (check- I actually got it all done), and now, the to do's for tomorrow. D-day, travel day. Not much left for tomorrow, but heaven forbid we forget the Dora blanket the world may explode, or at least everyone's eardrums on the plane. Don't want that. After seeing my Dad's three columned list for hunting - I know exactly where I get the list trait. Thanks Mom. Really. Thanks. Without order there is only chaos.

For me, the preparation is the hardest part. The execution of getting four (five if you count my husband) people ready to go out the door for a four night trip is daunting. I could go into excruciating detail of it all, but I won't. Ok, maybe a little... Three loads of laundry, crying two year old unpacking her suitcase as fast as I can pack it, four year old throwing stuff in faster than I can mentally check it off my list, six year old letting me know exactly what she needs. All at the same time. And I am Alone. On my own. The master of my domain; the four walls of surburbia - all mine. No wonder I dream of pastures and glens and groves.

My husband left at 6:30 this morning and didn't get home until 9:20 tonight. He's had a lot going on as well. Maintaining a family of five on one income takes work. A lot of work. We're both working twelve hour days and only one of us is getting paid. We're doing it though, managing, maintaining, and occasionally even getting ahead. Not once has he brought up that I should go back to work. I've brought it up though...

And through it all, I'm terribly excited. Taking the kids on vacation? To the beach? Disney? Cripes, what more could they want... Considering I've been asked daily for the last two weeks if today is the day... I'd say not much. Really, the six year old "gets it" - she knows today's date, and if I tell her something is so many days away, she can figure it out. Not the boy. Today is Tuesday, tomorrow we go. No, we can't go today. Even if you throw a fit, we still can't go. The two year old? She's just along for the ride. As long as Mom's there, she's happy.

I've done all I can to today. Now, if I can just convince myself to sleep tonight.

Have a great rest of the week. Have a great weekend. Make the most of it. I know I will.

Got nothing.

Nothing today.

Got nothing.

Unless you want to read about laundry.

It should be around four loads today.

We're leaving tonight after my husband gets home. Driving to my parents (around 3 hours) tonight. Tomorrow off to visit his Granny (around 3 hours) for the afternoon, then on to his parents (2 1/2 hours) until Sunday. Then we pile back in and hit it home in 6-ish hours.

Sound like fun?

Between Sunday and Wednesday morning, I get to unpack, do more laundry, and re-pack for our trip to Orlando.

Ok, the Orlando part sounds like fun.

But back to laundry...

My latest peeve? Tide's "Because evey mom was a woman first" campaign. Well no shit. Apparently they think by sticking Febreze in the product, women everywhere will re-define who she is by the laundry she does. You know - that shoulder - the one your kids pick to rub their nose on? It will now smell like lavender. Her husband will be all over her, sniffing her thinking, hey... she doesn't smell. Great.

Back to laundry, more laundry. Always laundry. Oh, and cleaning out the car, loading four suitcases, packing snacks and drinks, gathering DVD's and the player, making sure everyone has exactly what they need. Should be a great day.