Almost Thanksgiving and boy am I thankful!

Thought I would take a moment to be thankful for my kids. First of all Will, a Senior in High School, just finished out the soccer season and is now prepping for his first basketball game of the year. I am so proud of him. Proud of his ability to play sports and complete school work and be a good son and a good boyfriend. His childhood has truly flown by and everytime I think about him graduating, I tear up. I am going to miss him and all of his friends. They have all become a part of our family.

I am also thankful for Ward. He certainly marches to the beat of his own drum. Doesn't follow in his brother's footsteps at all. He is getting ready to play rec. basketball, and hopes to make the school team. But he enjoys fishing and skateboarding more than his brother ever did. Has been spending a lot of time out on that quarter pipe in our front yard.

I love them both so much and feel truly blessed to have them in my life. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Make sure you tell someone you love them, and that you are thankful that they are in your life.

Sorry it has been way toooo long!

Hi all!! Well school has started and now I am busy as heck!! I currently have 6 scarves completed for Kindergarten Christmas presents, 2 quilt tops sewn but not completely embroidered. A yearbook that I have got to get going on!! It is on the computer, but I have absolutely no idea how to do it!! I have an IGP to write and submit by Friday, lesson plans to complete and a newsletter to write. I need to get my fall crap out of my attic and get it up before I turn around and it is Christmas!! Sheesh.... sorry this has been a complain fest! Ok, on to something good. My sister and her kids are coming tomorrow and staying for 3 weeks. I am going to Myrtle Beach with the girls in 3 weeks! Oh, and it is almost Mullet Festival!! My favorite weekend of the year! Sorry no picture today, but I promise next time. Hope all of you are wonderful and happy and healthy! Happy Fall!

Ben's Christening

Well the Wellons family was here last week for the blessed event of christening sweet Ben. This was Friday night, we were celebrating at the Icehouse restaurant. That is my sister Grayson's hand sticking a lemon on poor baby Ben's tongue!! Always good for a laugh. Babies and lemons! In other baby news my friend Anna is a new aunt! Her sister Julie had her baby on Thursday. John Fisher Hamm is here and weighed in at a whopping 10.6lbs!! Wow! Everyone is doing fine and Anna is thrilled that she was in town for the birth. This is my last week of summer vacation! Boo Hiss!!! Can't believe that the summer is over! I need to get busy on scarves for Christmas and finish Fisher's baby quilt. I have to go get some more thread, so hopefully tomorrow I will get to Hancock's for thread. So, I am hopeful to tie up loose project ends this week and get some boat/beach time in. Starting today..... going out in the boat as soon as I get off work! Hope you all have a great day!! Peace out!

He's Just a Sk8r Boy.....

I had really high hopes that I would get a blog entry in everyday, but alas.... wasn't meant to be! Although in my defense this picture was taken yesteday of Ward. He and some friends have found this old abandoned place (sorry, he told me not tell ya) to skate. Yes, me being the good mom went out there yesterday and took them some Gatorade and snapped a few pix! He has a few skate scrapes on his knee and on his chin. I guess those are badges of honor. Anyway we are all gearing up at our house for the new Batman flick coming out this weekend. Will and Tyler are coming home from camp tomorrow and want to go see it. I can't wait to go, but they want to go Saturday night and I am supposed to be involved with a sleepover with all my girlfriends from high school. So, I may have to bow out and go see it on Sunday. The weather is supposed to be yucky anyway, some sort of tropical system. I have started a scarf for Christmas for the Kindergarten children. I went to Wal Mart yesterday and stocked up on some Red Hart. I know, not the best yarn, but cheap and the kids use the scarves for leashes, belts, tug of war... you name it. So, I figured the cheaper the better!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Peace Out Sugars!

Bulletin Board Love

I know, don't faint.... I can't believe it either, that I am making another post this week and that I took a picture of the bulletin board like I said I would. Weird. Maybe I am getting ready to keel over! So, there it is in all it's glory.It is hard to see the white trim b/c of the white wall, but the ribbon is inside the white frame part. I really only put the ribbon there to hide the fabric edges and I didn't have enough of one color, so I went with the double. I will be putting more stuff on it, but didn't want to fill it up and not show it off first. Not too bad for a major diy project. Did a little embroidery last night while I watched the All-Star game. No, I didn't make it to the end.... sheesh 15 innings! But great that the AL won and that JD Drew was the MVP! Could have done without all the booing when they called my boys names out! Damn Yankees! hee hee! Ok, so major productivity this morning.... walked 3 miles with mom this morning and then ran three, then went to grocery store at 7am,then cleaned out my refrigerator. Well, I am ready for a nap! I think I will run out to the local thrift store and poke around a little, then have lunch then maybe a nap! Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Peace Out Sugars!

4th of July girls!

Ok, I know the 4th was several days ago, but just wanted to share my cutie patootie neices! I bought the crowns for them when I was down visiting the end of June and they look adorable! Hot here in lovely NC today, too hot to do a thing! Got a skirt pattern off of Angry Chicken yesterday so I may be back in business! I surely don't want to mess up any of my new pretty fabric. The next prototype will be on crap fabric. I will try to remember to take a shot of the new bulletin board tonight, then I can post it. I finally got it on the wall the other day. I had said I was going to get started on the Kindergarten scarf stash...... hmmmm... about that... I have finished one and am halfway through the second one. Got to get motivated!

Peace Out sugars!

Sox and Socks!

Hey. Yes, that is Jacoby Ellsbury!! He plays centerfield for my beloved Sox! That girl on the left is the newest ball girl! I wish! No, that is just me after the game, even have my rally cap on. Ward and I had a blast at the game. It was so exciting! Certainly one of the most exciting days of my life. The only way it could have been better is if we had won. Oh, well, can't win them all! We had great seats (thanks brother in law Jim) and I took lots of great pictures. I swear it was the fasted game in MLB history! I would have loved for it to go into extra innings! hee hee!!

The next socks are the socks that have been started, ripped out, started, ripped out and started again. Yes, I know Peggy, they mysteriously look just like they did after the last rip out. That is because I haven't touched them. I am a little scared! I will have to come down to the shop and sit with you a while and relearn! I have been reading a lot this summer and running and working, that is my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!

Well, Will is off to camp for a month so I am one teenager less around here..... which really means I am about 6 teenagers less, because his friends aren't here either! Things are kinda quiet. I bought some new fabric when I was in Tampa. I see lots of skirts being made!! I already tried a prototype, no pattern, just traced one of my skirts..... guess what.... couldn't get it past my thighs! sheesh! Maybe I need a pattern. Ok, hope you guys have a wonderful Monday!! I know I will, the sox are back in the lead in the AL East and it is the All Star break! WOW! I love baseball!! Peace Out Sugars!

Sometimes we all feel this way...

I think it would be nice to just lay down on the ground with my trusty bagel and not worry about anyone or anything! It's a nice life, too bad it is basically reserved for the under 4 set! Well, my first week of summer vacation is officially behind me and I did get a lot accomplished this week. I mowed the grass, had blood drawn (fun!), ran errands in Jacksonville, went to see my granny in the nursing home, and got my husband to move the daybed out of my sewing room! That was a biggy! Now I have to go up there and clean up! That will not be fun. I forgot that we use the underside of the bed for luggage storage, so all those duffel bags are littering my small craft space! I am going to fix a bulletin board. I am thinking I will paint it and craft it up a little. I also moved a huge mirror out of my kitchen onto a new chest in my bedroom, which frees up kitchen space. I have purchased a new hutch to put in my kitchen, which will have to be painted red. Right now it is a hideous dark brown. The only problem is that where the hutch will go is my bookcase full of cookbooks. Hmmmm..... I figured I could take the bookcase upstairs to the craft room and put all my knitting, craft, sewing books in it, that way it will free up space in the bookcase downstairs. But trust me not enough space to put in all my cookbooks! I know that I need to get rid of cookbooks, because there are some that I don't use that much (or ever). But the thought of getting rid of cookbooks sends me reeling! So, I don't know what to do. I may have to go through some of them. But most of them have sentimental value, bought on a trip, given to me when I got married, given to me by my mother or grandmother. Well, certainly gives me something to think about! The good news I won't have to think about it too long because I am going to Tampa on Thursday!! WOO HOO!! Can't wait to see the girls and Ben and get lots of "aunt kisses" ! Hope you have a super week! Gregg

Holy Smokes!

Has it really been over a month since my last post?? YIKES!!! Sorry to all my faithfuls! Hee hee, like I have faithfuls! Anywho.... my life has been busy! But school is out and it is finally summer so maybe things will settle. First the good news..... I have lost 30lbs! Yes, I am still surprised by it. It is weird and exciting buying clothes now. I have dropped 3 sometimes 4 sizes. So it is fun getting new clothes. But then stressful b/c I know I have to stay on top of it to stay this size and not go back to my old habits. I have several cord skirts that I am going to see about resizing and see if I can keep them. I really love them and don't want to donate them. But hit a great sale at penneys on friday. I got 3 cute skorts for 12.99 and a bunch of tees that were 5 a piece. Ok, on to crafty knitting stuff.
I have attempted 2x to knit the socks. peggy has yet again fixed them for me! I have not touched them since the last fix! sorry peggy! Now that school is out, hopefully I will slow down a little and I can knit. I did take a picture of my first sock toes, but ward deleted it off my camera when he was deleting some of his pictures. He said he didn't know what it was, so poof, gone! I am gearing up for some sewing. My plan is to get up in my sewing nook and straighten/pitch/clean and then I have a couple of baby quilts to make and a dress to sew together and a big quilt to plan. Hmmmmm...... Doesn't really leave a whole lot of time for sock and christmas scarf knitting!! I have got to get busy on those Christmas scarves for my kindergarten kiddos!!
Going to Tampa next week for almost a week.Get to see my sweet nieces and my nephew and of course my sissy! Going to see my beloved Red Sox play the Rays. Can't wait!!!!! Taking my camera, so be prepared for pictures when I get back.
Picture next time, I promise.
Have a wonderful Day!!

Gregg

PROM!!!

Ok, Prom is over....Thank Goodness! I don't know if I could have handled it if I had a daughter, having a son going was stressful enough! Seven couples ate dinner at a friends house, the parents provided the food, ( I made 11 twice backed potatoes...22 halves!) Then we went over there to take pictures. It was a blast and I got some really good shots. I probably took over 100 pictures. The teenagers were very tolerant of all the parents which was weird! Anyway, just glad it is over! 25 days of school left....But I'm not counting! HA! Oh, one last thing went to see Forgetting Sarah Marshall last night. Hilarious. Highly recommend it! Fun for guys and girls. Ok, Peace Out!

Great week!

Had a great spring break. Got lots of kisses from my little nieces and smooched a lot on my new nephew!! He is too cute! Lucy is at that fun age (21 mos.) where they copy everything you say. I had a blast with her. Taught her to say "Peace Out Sugar". Called her sugar so much while I was there that she had started calling me sugar by the time I left. I also taught her to yell "WOO HOO!" Too funny seeing/hearing her do that! High School baseball is winding down, this week is our last week. I am going to miss it. However, Red Sox ball is in full swing and I can't get enough of it!! Can't wait til the end of June Ward and I are going to see them play the Rays! More good news...... I have lost 20 lbs. I am finally in that weight loss zone and it feels good! Bought some beautiful fabric at Joanns while I was in Tampa. Thinking if I want to make a skirt or a jumper. I have a cute jumper pattern, so it may be that! Anything that I can just pull over my head and go is my kinda outfit! Bought some pretty flowers yesterday and got most of them in the ground. The yard is shaping up. 31 DAYS OF SCHOOL!! Yeah, I am a little excited. Although, I love a Spring Kindergarten child. They are wonderful. They know the drill, they are independent, sweet, terrific! It is a long road to get them to this point, but it is wonderful. I will try to slow down a little for the last days and enjoy it. August Kindergarteners, not as much fun! Enjoy your Sunday!

SPRING BREAK!

It is finally Spring Break! I am so excited. Ward and I are going to Tampa on Thursday. We are flying Delta, so I hope we will not have problems. Mom and I went to hear Bill Clinton last night in Jacksonville. I thought he did a good job and it was inspiring which I guess was the point. Had an unusual night last night, didn't have any teenage boys sleeping at my house. Weird indeed! Friday night I had 7. Had to take some tylenol sinus nighttime to fall asleep at 1:00am. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't recommend drug use, but sometimes a girl needs her sleep! Hope to get some sewing in early this week, I need to get one pig in the mail to Texas and get another one cut out. We have a baseball tournament as well. But the game on Monday is at 10 am so I can be back home early. Can't wait until Tuesday to buy JUNO on dvd. I could watch it over and over again. I know I am rambling..... Ok enough for today. Ya'll have a great day!

Pigs,Pigs!

So, finally a picture of the pigs! What do you think? These are the first two, and believe me they both have problems! I am hoping to send one to a sweet little girl on her first birthday. Then the 2nd one, well I don't know. If I give one to one niece, then I have to make another. So, we will see. But just wanted you to see them. Comment if you like! Have a great day

No Picture Today

I am sick! I was hoping that I had skated clear of a cold since I have not been sick all winter and WHAM! got sick on Monday. I am still trudging along and going to school, but it stinks being sick! I have almost completely lost my voice. I am currently working on some ragdolls. I have made one and have four more cut out. However, as with everything I do, just kinda winging it and the arms and legs were too small. So, I made a new pattern, but didn't redo the body/head, but they look ok, at least to me. It is raining here and suppose to continue through tomorrow. I guess we needed the rain, but I am sick of it!! Have a wonderful day out there in blogland!

Nice Hair!

This is what happens when you get the big brother to cut the little brother's hair! I am happy to say, that he did cut it off and he is not currently walking around like this! Whew!!
Couple of things on my mind this day before Easter.
1. I am not happy with Easter and St. Patrick's day basically being in the same week. I did not decorate for Easter and it makes me sad. However, I may just put some bunnies out for Spring.
2. I am doing well on Weight Watchers, lost 2.4 pounds this past week!! WooHoo! That is 11 total since Feb. 6th.
3. Why can't someone make jeans that fit my body? I really don't think it is asking too much.
4. I love to watch college basketball. There seems to be a game on at all hours of the day and night since it is March Madness!
5. I can't wait for Red Sox baseball. Total fanatic.
6. Really want to try to make a skirt. Of course my dumb self, just wants to use a skirt that I like and trace it out and make a pattern and let the seam ripper fly! We will see.
7. Great finds yesterday at the thrift store. A basket purse (vintage), a pair of little girl size 9 hanna andersson clogs (never worn) for 5.00, and some sweet old children's books.
Ok, enough rambling for today. After watching sweet Ms. Emily (Inside a Black Apple) on Martha the other day I learned something about putting a little softie animal together. So, now I can finish the 2nd pig and possibly not dread making the 3rd.

Happy Easter to you all! May it be filled with egg hunts and smeared chocolate kisses. I miss those days..... guess I will just have to wait for grandchildren!

Big Willy Style

So, Will started today on a pitch count of 50. He did a great job! Course I am not bragging or anything! I couldn't be prouder! Hope you all had as good a day as I did. Nothing better than sitting on the ballfield watching your kid play on a beautiful "bluebird" day! Oh, yes Peggy that is Pete in the background playing second!

Random thoughts

Ok for some reason everytime I try to upload a picture, blogger freezes. So, you are out of luck. I did have some pictures to share, but not today! Had a pretty good day at school today. I am trying to get a lesson up and running on the Smartboard. This is a great tool! It looks like a giant whiteboard but it is connected to a laptop. It has all these graphics in there and the kids can actually go up to the board and move things around with their fingers. They can write on it with their fingers or with the special markers. We are going to do a sorting activity with it tomorrow. I got it all set up and saved it to my thumbdrive, but when I tried to reopen it, it was there only teeny tiny. Apparently operator error! Hmmm, that is what the IT guy is for!!! I called him and he is coming to my classroom tomorrow morning. He should have never given me his cell number!!! So other than the teeny part, it was way cool and fun. Can't wait to do the lesson with my little kiddos, they are going to love it! Have any of you tried "Skinny Cow" ice cream sandwiches? They rock! The best part is that they are only 2 weight watchers points. I will gladly save my points til the end of the day just to have a little ice cream! Ok, i will try again later this week to post the picture. For now, Happy Hump Day!

Migraines and other things

First of all have had the wortst migraine since yesterday. My head was actually thumping this morning. It has subsided somewhat but I know it is still there just waiting. Ok, on to more happy things. Number one happy thing from yesterday, I bought some cuties. Don't know what they are? Little Mandarin oranges. Oh my goodness they are wonderful!! Sweet as sugar! And the best part two of them are only 1 weight watchers point! Two! Can't even believe it! Yes, I rejoined weight watchers. I am heavier than I would like to be. There, enough said about that. Number two happy thing, my child went on an overnight camping/4 wheeler trip about 2 hours away and he survived it and had a great time. This was big for me, letting him go. But it is bound to happen, he is a junior in high school and will be in college soon enough. When that happens, I will have no idea what he is doing. You know no one tells you about this letting go stuff when you have a baby, too bad they can't stay 5 forever. I am currently working on a scarf, it is being knit out of eyelash pink yarn. I hate this yarn, really hate it. But it is for a sweet little 6 year old I know and that is the only reason I am doing it. Thank goodness I am almost finished. I feel bad I haven't posted all week. I have been way to busy. Time to slow down. Hope everyone out there in blog land has a relaxing, headache free sunday.

Baby Ben

This is Ben. How cute is he? Even cuter b/c he is wearing a hat that I knit!! I couln't be prouder! Like I had something to do with it! Everything is going well, or at least that is the report that I am getting from the homefront! His two big sisters are happy, at least for now. Wait til he is bigger and getting in their stuff, then he won't be so cute. Welcome baby Ben. I can't wait to get my hands on you and smother you with kisses. You can come stay with your Aunt Gigi anytime.

Baby Ben Is Here!!!!

Great news!! My sis had baby number 3 today!! Baby Ben is 8lbs 6oz and mom and baby are doing great!! I will post a picture soon. The ones right after delivery are not the best, so soon, I promise. My mom made it down to Tampa yesterday and her water broke at 11:00 last night. So, that was lucky. So happy to have a new baby. A nephew. I am great with boys. Give me a bug box, a field guide, mud, and a two year old, and let the good times roll!! Congratulations sissy! I love you!

Hey there is my kid in the paper!!

Yes, that is Will soaring in for a layup on Friday night!! Woo Hoo!! This was in our local paper. Thanks to Randy Davie who took the photo. If you look close you can see my parents in the stands. Mom in the orange sweater, with dad right beside her. That is me behind dad sitting with Lachelle. We are busy, busy , busy with basketball. Friday was the last regular season game, we won. We start the conference tournament tonight. 8:30! Sheesh! I am usually in bed by 9. We have to go to East Duplin which is an hour away. I am going to be a tired pup tomorrow. Had a nice long weekend. Finished little Ben's quilt. I will have to take a picture of it and post it. It is strips, but no patches like the girls. It is very bright. Red, blue, yellow and some cute fabric with red whales. Too sweet! My sis is still prego. We are hoping for a Wednesday birth since it is the full moon and a lunar eclipse. He is due on the 29th, but my sis is hoping for earlier. I just hope she is done and home by sunday so we can watch the oscars together over the phone. I know my mother thinks we are crazy b/c we watch tv together over the phone, but I will take what I can get!! Can't believe that in a month it will be Easter! Yikes. My mom leaves for Tampa tomorrow to be there for the birth. The good news for me is, no waking up early to walk. So, I can sleep in, but will have to fit in a walk or run later in the day. Ok, you guys have a great week. I will try to post again this week with the quilt! Peace, Love and recycling.

Lucy's Quilt is done!!

Ok, I finished Lucy's quilt in record time!! I would post a pic, but it is the same as Lilly's basically. I am working on some little softies that I will share hopefully this weekend. I have one made, but haven't finished the second one. Thought I would have finished it on Sunday, but all the quilt making wore me out!!! Heard through the grapevine that my friend peggy is opening a yarn shop here in town. I can't tell you how happy that makes me!! I won't have to drive to buy yarn, I can just walk down the street!!! I hope there will be some chairs at The Salty Sheep, cuz I am going to be spending a lot of time there!!! Way to Go Peggy!!! Can't wait!

Ding Dong the Quilt is done.....

Ding Dong the quilt is done, which 'ol quilt? My first quilt!!! Well, it turned out better than I had hoped. The chenille was a great idea!! Got that off of sewmamasew. The top pattern was from Amy Karol's book Bend the Rules Sewing. Which I love!! But the addition of the chenille makes it nice b/c I didn't have to put anything in the middle. I have almost finished the top of Lucy's. Hopefully I am on a roll and won't let hers sit for months like I did Lilly's. The embroidery on the purple panel says Lilly, I (heart) you. Aunt Gigi. Anyway, I like it and will probably make more b/c it was super easy. You can't really see the cool flower stitch that I top stitched with but it shows up great b/c I used a hot pink thread. Anyway, hope it inspires someone out there!!!

Home with sick child

Ok, so this the pile of scarves for my Kindergarteners. This picture does not show all 23 however, I think I ended up with 4 green, 6 red, 2 blue, 7 pink, 2 orange, 1 purple, 1 black. Fun times! I think maybe next year if I decide to do this I should ask them their favorite color the first day of school. That way I will have more time. Yes, Ward is sick today. Sore throat, fever. I finished the quilt!!! Well, it is sewn together. I am in the process of tying it right now. Going slow, may take me a while. My machine has the cutest flower stitch, I put it all the way around the quilt. I am very please with my first try with making a quilt. Now I have to get started on Lucy's. I think with the left over chenille I will make the girls some pillows or maybe a cute pink pig! All for today. Off to minister to the sick.

Can't believe that my kid is driving!!!

So, a lot has happened since my last entry. For one thing, I am the parent to a licensed driver!! Holy Smokes!! Can't hardly believe that my little Will is mostly grown! Even though I worry about him, it has given me an extra arm. He can drive himself to and from practice, which is nice. We had a great Christmas around here. Lots of presents and surprises. Had a nice visit with my father in law and brother/sister in law. The ECU Pirates won their bowl game, that was exciting! I finally finished the scarves for my kindergarten class. 23 is a lot of scarf knitting. They were thrilled to get them, even if it was after Christmas. I had so many of the same color, that I backstitched their first initial on the bottom of each one. I am working on hat number 2. I like the first one I made, but think that it could be a little longer. So, I am trying again. I have one more deadline for the yearbook, really want to finish it! Maybe next year I will pass that baton to someone else. This month is too crazy with yearbook, report cards, and 2nd nine week assessing to do. My sister is in the short rows of her 3rd pregnancy. Can't wait for little Ben to make his appearance. Ok, I will post hopefully tomorrow, I have lots of pictures to share from the past month. Off to embroider on Lilly's quilt. (yes, I know, it isn't finished yet!)