Sunday, August 29, 2010

We all pick together...




So much for the computer fast, I uploaded these pictures and I didn't want to forget...
August 20, 2010
A beautiful day.
One brother in camp, one brother and one sister with me.
Blueberry buckets with harnesses for "hands free picking".
One baby in the hand, one hand for picking... she wanted to help too.
A beautiful day.
JMB

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Is it really almost time for school to start?

I haven't been around much, yes that is true. I have been busy with the kids, living the LIFE, you know. The past few weeks have just flown by. I was telling Big Daddy the other day "Each day is just the best day in the world and then it is just the WORST day. And then it changes again." It is normal, I think. With this mix of ages the mood of the group changes from minute to minute. One moment we are on the back porch at noon in our PJs playing Sequence in bliss and then a half hour later we are all hungry and needing to eat RIGHT NOW! So it goes.

Highlights of the last weeks are:
Little Mango playing on the pretend fire engine at the park just like a little girl. The same one that her brothers love to play on... a reminder that she is not so much the little baby anymore (she will be one in a week!). We welcomed a new little baby in to the world 2 weeks ago. She also is a third child and a beautiful little girl. She is so new that she makes Mango seem like a sophisticated woman of the world. I can't believe that last year at this time I was hugely pregnant and laid out on bed rest. I am so happy to be where I am right now.
We all entered things in to the county fair.... I was ELATED when I saw that I won a blue ribbon! Now when Mango wears her sweater this winter she can proudly babble to the other toddlers. (I really was so excited about this that it was ridiculous, I promise that this is the last time that I will mention the blue ribbon that I won... did you see it? It was a blue ribbon...) The boys both entered paintings and got 3rd place ribbons. We were quite an excited bunch. We missed the day that they paid out the prize monies so we are patiently waiting for them to mail us our checks. Some of us more patiently than others.
A peek of my Doll Quilt Swap #9 quilt.... it has been making me crazy, the background, the colors, what to make?? I have been having a computer fast until I finish it. It is due Wednesday. The crazy making around here will stop then, I hope! (hee hee)
JMB

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Eugene Modern Quilt Guild...

Hey folks, I did it. I am just inviting you to do it too. Come, join me in making a meet up place for all the cool quilters you know. The site is now up and waiting for members. I am hoping to have an inaugural meeting in September (probably towards the end of September, school is starting!!) So sign up, post to the forum, whatever... let's get this party started!
JMB

Thursday, August 12, 2010

One, Two, buckle my shoe...




There you go! It was as easy as that, two little boys picking two happy friends. The hard part was finding a time to post. I will email you for all of your particulars. Thanks for the happy wishes, thanks even to those who read and don't comment (I know you are there!). It takes all of us for the online community that we have built.

This week was busy because we were getting ready for the County Fair. I entered some new categories this year soft original toy and knitted baby garment. All it takes is the fair to get me to finally sew the little buttons on Mango's new fall sweater.
Isn't it cute? I discovered that I absolutely LOVE knitting little sweaters! I even blocked it. Not too shabby for a first try (I have completed a grown-up sweater, but it was not out of pretty yarn and it was too itchy and smelly....I think that it is in my pile of felted items to be repurposed!) This one was so easy and fun.

The brothers both entered paintings and recycled art. Brownie also entered a Lego sculpture and Blondie entered a "mixed" painting and drawing. Entering for us meant Mommy running around scrounging frames and adding hanging wire the morning of the drop off day (luckily the boys were in camp). I even swiped the frame from my wedding photo to frame one of the paintings. That is love for you! Maybe things run smoother in other families, but I am so proud that we got it all together this year!

I have also been working on getting a website together for a modern quilt guild for my little town. Learning a new website format is challenging, but I am diligently trying to get it together for a meeting this fall (my dream is September, but it is sneaking up.) I did tell a woman at my guild to keep me accountable and on task! It is working!
See you soon!
JMB

Friday, August 06, 2010

Four-year old boys


Right now:
I am listening to Blondie and his fellow four-year old negotiate what to play.
"I want to make the fort in the closet"
"I don't want to."
"OK, I will go in your fort."
"Come on, let's just play animal doctor."
"It's too hot in there."
"I have the biggest ginormous bat that is BROWN, it is big and brown."
"Let's go outside, this is not very fun..."
"Hey, here are 2 big pillows, cool"
"It is NOT a vampire BAT!"

And it goes on and on and on.

I like that they both say exactly what they want to with out apology or malice. Sometimes they play together and sometimes just side by side. It is so wonderful to watch and listen to him grow in to a Friend.
JMB
P.S.
Don't forget to comment on my last post to celebrate 4 years of fun!!