Baby Shower Fun!

Katie and I hosted a baby shower for Jessica on Saturday. It was so much fun! She got loads of great gifts. You should have seen some of the diaper creations people brought her. She received two diaper cakes, and a diaper tractor/wagon. I wish I was that creative! Pictures are better than words, so here's Jessica's shower:

Ready for some games

The mommy-to-be

The cake

Katie, Jessica, Me

The gifts

The guests

Katie, Shelby, Natasha & Justin

One of her friends knitted this towel/washcloth set

Her baby book

Gifts from Indiana

Hand stitched gifts from Janel

Gotta have a pack 'n' play!

Look at this diaper creation!

Jess and Adam - excited parents-to-be!

Happy Easter!

Stitching Update: UFO

Way back in 2007 I started stitching a large nativity project. It is gorgeous, with vibrant colors and I was determined to complete it and give it to a friend. Of course, it took much longer than I anticipated, mainly because I got bored with it after several weeks and had to put it aside.

I picked it up and in 2009 I was making good progress on it when disaster struck. I cut the fabric accidentally when I was frogging. It was right in the center of the road in the lower left of the pattern. I managed to stitch over it so you can't see the cut, but the damage was done. I knew where the cut was and I put it away.

I've looked at it from time to time in the years since, but my eyes were always drawn to the spot where the damage is. I would fold it back up and place it at the bottom of my WIPs. I still wanted to finish it, but I wasn't sure I ever would. I could not bring myself to throw it away.

Last November, my DIL, Janel attended a stitching retreat. It was her first time and she enjoyed herself thoroughly. When she and JD came to visit at Christmas, she brought along some goodies that she had received at the retreat to show to me and Jessica. One of them was a UFO project.

She didn't have any UFOs and asked Jess and I if we wanted the project. I took it, not knowing when or if I would ever have a UFO to use. Then the other day I was going through my stash and happened upon the nativity project. This time I knew I had to let it go. Then I remembered the UFO project.

I cut up the nativity and made a little pin cushion out of it. The project included a UFO button and a pin. I am thrilled with the result. I still have the beauty of the old nativity, but it's not hanging over my head. I'm going to purchase new fabric and start it again one of these days.

 

Thanks, Janel - your little UFO project saved the day!

Stitching Update

I am so fortunate to have a daughter, Jessica, and a DIL, Janel who love to cross stitch as much as I do. In addition to the pleasure of seeing this craft embraced by a younger generation, I have the luxury of sharing patterns with them. We try to go through each others' stash when we get the opportunity, but it's hard when two of us are in Arizona and one of us is in Kansas!

I think we've come up with a solution. We created a secret board on Pinterest and are putting the patterns, magazines, and kits that we own on it. We put our name on the stash that belongs to us. We've even added some additional info such as not yet stitched, stitched for (name), available, etc.

So far the only down side to this plan is that I am forced to confront just how many patterns I own! It's quite fun to see what the other girls have in their stash and we've even left a comment stating we want to stitch a pattern in the future on some of the pins.

I have been stitching away on a baby sampler for one of Katie's friends. Her due date is April 4th, plenty of time, right?! However, she had the baby last Friday. Now I'm stitching frantically on the baby sampler!

I have a finish to share. I completed the stitching on this a few weeks ago, but I finally got around to framing it yesterday. Can I just say here that I love Hobby Lobby? I take my stitched pieces into them and they help me choose the matting and then cut it for me while I wait. The guys at my Hobby Lobby are so helpful and patient when I'm trying to choose just the right shade of color to compliment my piece.

Katie was happy with how this turned out, so I'm happy too! The photo doesn't do the fabric justice. She wanted a grey fabric, and this is a beautiful grey tone from Picture This Plus. The matte is not as red as it looks in this photo, it's a darker shade. Oh well...

Always Kiss Me Goodnight

Morning Glory Needleworks

16 ct. "Echo" - Picture This Plus

Three!

Skye is three! Her birthday party was this past Saturday. A great time was had by all. I just love to watch Skye, Sunny, and Thunder play together. They call to each other with a "come'ere, come'ere" and race off to tackle a new adventure together. Happy Birthday, sweet Skye!

"Let's get this party started!"

She shoots...

She scores!

Skye, Grandma Debbie, Uncle Tyler

Madison, Skye, Sunny, Katie, Thunder, Shelby

Shelby, Jessica, Katie, me, Ashley

We were all hoping we didn't have pizza in our teeth!

Grandpa Bob helps with the presents

Shelby, Matt, Jessica

Making a wish...

and blowing out the candles!

Gramps and Grammy love you, Skye!

Grand-Pets!

Not only are we blessed to have three grandchildren with a fourth arriving soon, but we are also blessed with several grand-pets! We currently have four grand-cats: Shadow, Twilight, Marley, & Nym, and three grand-dogs: Coco, Buster and a brand new puppy. The newest grand-dog arrived on Friday. She is a Boxer named Brownie. Actually her full name is Brownie Sparkle Princess Butterfly. This is what happens when you let the two-year-old and four-year-old choose the name! She's a little sweetie... welcome to the family, Brownie!

Brownie checking out Thunder

She has now moved on to Sunny

Buster sniffing his new baby sister

45 minutes into it and she falls asleep!

Weekend at Grammy's

Sunny and Thunder came to stay this past weekend. We were on the go from the time they got here on Friday night until they left Sunday afternoon. It is such a blessing that they feel so comfortable in our home. Although they miss Mommy and Papi, they don't really get homesick because they consider our house their home, too.

During their stay we managed to enjoy animal pancakes, playing outside, lunch at Freddy's with Tia Jessica, more playing outside, helping Gramps move rocks in the backyard, Skyping with Tio JD and Tia Janel, dinner with Gigi and Papa, donuts from Dunkin' Donuts, a trip to the park, a walk around the lake to see the dogs in the dog park, and more. Thank you, Katie and Gabe, for being so generous in giving us time with your children!

Waiting for animal pancakes on Saturday morning

Thunder got Mickey and a horse

Sunny chose Pluto and Minnie

I guess Thunder thought the Pool Deck needed cleaning

(Yes, there is an adult standing within arm's length)

Sunny wanted to scoop the leaves out of the pool

Carrying a load of stuffed animals into the "fortress"

Setting up house

Thunder was listening to see if he could hear the baby

My three "donut monsters"

They started out going down one at a time,

and then advanced to double sliding...

... which led to sliding on their tummies!

There's nothing like a good swing!

Thunder preferred the hands-on activities

Gramps and Sunny practicing their pumping

After Gramps showed him how - he kept climbing 

on his own - over and over and...

One last slide before we head home