Stitch, Quilt, Sew

 So I started this announcement for Keith months before he was born and there is really NO excuse why it took me so long to finish but a couple weeks ago I finally finished it. I like it a lot and REALLY like the frame with it....especially since Michael's gave me a really really good price on it :)

$35 on sale for 50% off takes it to $17.50 then another 25% off of that with a coupon = $13.13 = Win for me!










This is another project that I started months ago and should've finished....although it wasn't entirely my fault that it was unfinished as I was waiting for the PERFECT border and binding fabric to be purchased and shipped to me....as this is a quilt I made for a friend's son, using his outgrown T-shirts.  I think it came out pretty fantastic for my first t-shirt quilt. Especially since I had no idea what I was doing at first.

I learned a lot with it and she's asked me to do two more for her other kids so I guess she liked it too :)
 







And here is my little Keithie-Cheeks modeling my latest completion from the craft room.

I bought the monkey fabric originally with the intention of making them all matching shorts but when I found a banana print to go with it, I wanted to do something else.  This McCall's pattern was the perfect fit. So for a fraction of the cost of buying one of these covers, I made my own. And had fun doing it too!

It's not perfect but no one will notice the blips but me. And it serves it's purpose completely.

I have lots more projects lined up so I better get going.

We're doing well, here in VA and with this beautiful 66 degree day on December 5, 2011, I'm so glad I'm here and not freezing my bum off out west.  Love ya'll!

Big RULER!

So I found this idea on Pinterest which was apparently taken from a discontinued Pottery Barn Kids item.  I made this life sized ruler to measure my kids on.  We had a height measurement wall in our house growing up and my kids are getting to that point when I'd like to do this. But as a military family we are pretty much nomadic so I wanted something we can take with us. This completely fits the bill. And, although the stain turned out a bit darker than I anticipated, I'm really happy with my larger than life ruler.

Sam put the big hole in the top of it, which I thought was pretty clever since every ruler has one!  I think we are going to try and make the hanging mechanism look like a giant nail head too.  I can't wait to get my little monkeys measured on here.

Washington DC Temple Trip

This past Saturday we had the opportunity to take a bus trip up to Washington DC with a bunch of soldiers and the senior missionaries. It was a really long day but very well worth the trip.  We stopped first at the DC Temple.

 

Next we stopped at Arlington National Cemetery and witnessed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  What a special place!! I love cemeteries.   Sam commented on how all of the fallen soldiers' tombstones look like they are standing at attention.

 

Our final destination for the day was the National Mall.  We made several stops there. First, The Lincoln Memorial.

 Look at these handsome boys!!!

 As we walked through the Mall we made sure to visit our fallen comrades of the Vietnam War.  I just love this shot of Connor walking along the wall.

 And here is my handsome hubby and I reflected in the wall.

 Oh Look! It's mommy and the boys! A rare opportunity these days to get to be in the pictures with my monkeys.

 These pictures are dedicated to my dad.  They are all taken in the Air and Space Museum touching the Moonrock right at the entrance of the museum.  See following picture, taken June 1994.  Don't laugh. Then the next one, taken June 2004. And in continuing the tradition....All of my boys are touching the moonrock in November 2011.

And then, right before we got back on the bus we got to have our picture taken on the steps of the Capitol building.Notice how we're the only ones on the steps? Only those in uniform(and families) are allowed on the steps at the moment. Pretty nifty.

So in a nutshell, this was our trip.  We had a really good time and even though we were all feeling a bit under the weather, I'm glad we went.

5 months old

So Keith turned five months old about a week ago and I haven't taken a picture of him until today.  But here it is.  I love his "deer in headlights" look while watching The Lion King with big brother, Bear. Hehehehe!!

Other updates on Keith...
-he's rolling over both ways
-he's starting to make raspberries (So cute!)
-he's starting to eat solid foods...doesn't love them yet but it's progress.
-he's very ticklish. Especially his ribs and neck.
-he's found his voice and loves talking/yelling at his toys.
-his eyes have turned blue...officially blue, not baby gray/blue.
-he can get up on all fours when he's on his belly and I give him about another month or so before he's crawling.  Now to find a gate for the stairs...

I just love this little monkey.

Because two thumbs are better than one.

I know. I know. I've been gone FOR-EV-ER.  My sincerest apologies.  However, I have three FANTASTIC excuses. Their names are Connor, Bear and Keith.

This post is about Keith though. This video was just too flippin cute not to post. Take a look.

While the video is uploading.... I'll include some of our latest news.

In bullet form  -Sam graduated BCT(Basic Combat Training) at the beginning of August
     Not in         -While we visited him there he told me he wanted me to move to VA with him for AIT
 chronologic    -My house is currently in boxes in preparation for my move to Virginia.
       order         -Bear has been potty training himself and doing a pretty darn good job at it.
                        -Connor has learned how to spell and write his own name.
                        -I have learned how to sew my own clothes and am having a blast exploring the world of patterns(stay tuned for some really cute homemade Halloween costumes).
                        -Keith is not even close to sleeping through the night due to the teething regiment he's working on. But he's a happy, healthy little boy so I don't complain.


I'm sure I've missed some very important events but it's late, I'm tired and all three of my boys are zonked so I'm gonna go knit and purl a little bit before hitting the couch myself.  Yep, the boys have my bed since their mattresses are already packed. Goodnight Moon.

I was right...

In my last post I mentioned that things will get busier and boy, was that the case.

Connor started school and absolutely loves it. I went back to work and really enjoy it. Madre is coming in on Tuesday this week. Plus, I've gotten some business for My Quilting Corner and I'm about to wrap that up in a little while.

I got a phone call from Sam on Fathers Day. It was wonderful. We talked for almost a full hour before we both needed to head off to church and then after church we were able to talk for another 40 minutes. It was so nice to have the time to catch up a bit. He's doing well and enjoying many of the training exercises.

His branch provides an email service for his soldiers so I get an email from him every Sunday and he is able to receive one from me as well. I think it's the COOLEST service.

As of Thursday, Sam had been gone a month and I think we are doing pretty well. At least now, I know that we'll all survive.

I'm sure there is more to update but the real thing I couldn't wait to post was this AWESOME video I got of Keith's big smiles on his six week birthday. I wish I had a way to show Sam before graduation. Unfortunately, I don't.

Update: PFC Montague

I got a 13 minute phone call from Sam on Sunday. It was such a relief to hear his voice!!! I couldn't help but cry as soon as I saw that it was him on my Caller ID(and several times throughout the call)

He sounded really good. A little sick, but not depressed or regretful about our decision. He was proud to tell me that he'd already written me two letters before he called too. That was fun to hear. I was really worried that I wouldn't get very many letters at all.

I received the letters yesterday! There was even one for Connor, complete with a drawing of a helicopter with Daddy in it and Mommy, Keith, Connor and Bear watching him fly it. Connor has hung the picture right under his light switch so he sees it often.

So we are about a week and a half into our 10 week initial separation and all parties seem to be doing well. I keep Xing days off on the calendar. It gave me a foolish kind of pleasure to flip the calendar to June this morning. That means I have almost exactly 2 months until I leave to see him for his graduation. And things will start to pick up as far as us at home staying busy this month. Connor starts school, I go back to work, Madre comes for a visit and at the end of July, a family reunion in Roosevelt. OFF WE GO!!!!