More than 3 Years Later.....

It's Done!!!

Well, ok, not technically done, but the body of the quilt is finished!!!!That is a LOT of quilting!!!! Whew!!! Three and a half years later......I did put this aside quite often in favor of other projects, but I am so thrilled with the outcome. The borders have already been started and are quilting up pretty fast! In just an hour and a half, I think I have half a side of the pink border done.
I also wanted to share some of Charlotte's newest projects. She has begun a blanket for her bed. It will be twin size, so she has quite a ways to go, though she just started this 4 days ago.
So pretty!!!! In that 4 days she has also crocheted 3 of the 6 dishcloths that were special ordered by her Aunt Debbie. She is making one a day and then working on her own project. Great plan! Here are 2 of the dishcloths.....She certainly has gotten to be quite the crocheter!! Is that a word???
And as for Sass.....the other female in the house.....though she has no skills with a needle, she can certainly appreciate the benefits of being in a family of yarn and fabric lovers!Grandkids are coming tomorrow! WOOHOO!!! See you next week! Have a blessed weekend!

Training Daughters

I admit (OPENLY) that I do not have a clue how to raise a daughter. Growing up a daughter, with a sister, you would think I would have picked up a few things from my mom, but I guess I did not pay attention. Raising boys.....now THAT is something I can do. I read an amazing article the other day. I even shared it with Charlotte.....if you click here, you can read it too. I was majorly convicted during the first part of the article, but the last parts, actually made me think I might just be able to do this after all!

I thought back to when I was 12 and 13.....I had household duties which included, cleaning up the kitchen, vacuuming and dusting, keeping my room clean, and even doing the families laundry (wonder if that is why I detest laundry?). Charlotte has been given some duties over the last year. She has been in charge of her room for quite a while....she has to do her own laundry....she is asked to put Zach's laundry away....she is to wipe down the kid's bathroom daily and give it a good cleaning once a week, she empties the dishwasher, and she is to clean up the kitchen after dinner 4-5 nights a week. Does that sound like a lot? It really isn't. Her laundry is done once a week, as is Zach's. The kitchen is not a total mess....I clean as I cook (for the most part) so it is a matter of loading the dishwasher and wiping the counters and stove top. The kids bathroom takes about 4 minutes to wipe down and about 20 minutes to deep clean. All these jobs contained training. I worked with her and set standards of work. She met them in every task....until recently. Recently she half way makes her bed....there are dirty clothes on her floor AFTER she says her room is clean....the kids bathroom stinks......Zach's clothes have been a wrinkled mess, as are hers.......the counters and stove top never get wiped down after dinner and the sink is disgusting (you all know how I feel about a clean sink!) and I can not count how many times lately I have pulled a dirty spoon, fork, or knife out of the drawer. So.....what do I do? Do I criticize her? Do I make her go back and re-do the job? Do I follow her around making sure she does it all correctly? I really do not have the time, nor energy for any of that. Here is what I did....I pulled all of her jobs, except one....her bedroom. I explained to her there is a "ladder" to chores. You are trained in an area and when that area is mastered you move on. She seemed relieved that she no longer had chores. bwahahahah!!!!! Little did she know the ramifications to that!

As the days went by, my kitchen sparkled again.........laundry is folded nicely an put away.....the kids bathroom smells like a flower garden....and I can get a spoon out without picking a dried noodle off of it!

I did my (her) chores happily, singing and smiling through it all. It was not long before Charlotte began asking, "Mom, can I empty the dishwasher for you?", "Mom, do you want me to clean the kitchen? You can just relax tonight.", "Mom, I can load these dishes up for you." I would smile and say "No, thank you Charlotte. I noticed you are still learning how to clean your room. Just focus on that one job." She would reply, "My room is clean." I could easily come back with, "Sorry, Charlotte, but I saw pieces of paper all over your floor, and your laundry was "near" the hamper, but not "in" the hamper, and your bed looks like your still in it. You need to practice that job before you can move back up the ladder." Her face would drop and I would continue on with my own chores. Speaking of chores....I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!! It cleans great and smells wonderful! I feel like the Biggest Loser show....throwing a commercial into the middle of the post without you knowing! OK, back to Charlotte. The kicker came when she asked to make dinner....something she LOVES to do. "Sorry, honey, but that is way up the ladder.....you were there once and with some effort, you can make it again." All of a sudden her room was clean daily.....she has been allowed to move up a rung to unloading the dishwasher again. I explained that a dirty item would result in her stepping back a rung. So far, so good. Training daughters....it is no fun and I am not good at it!

Boys....let's talk boys for a minute. Zach is a master builder of Legos.He is also working hard to keep his room clean and his bed made. Since we moved all his toys downstairs, it has made it easier for him. We have also been working on "staying in bed at night" and let me say, he has done great! This kid was climbing out of his crib at 18 months and has been getting out of bed at night ever since. We put his bedtime back to 8 pm and told him when he could stay in bed 7 days in a row, he could have his "age appropriate" bedtime back. It worked....easy. Boys are a breeze!

Training kitten's is not hard either...."Go lay down, Sassy."Sassy is doing well....she always uses her litter box. She has not gotten on the counters, and she is willing to play whenever you want. She has a sinus infection and got a shot of antibiotics yesterday. She is eating well and is very playful, but her nose is stuffy and she sneezes alot. Dr. Frost thinks the shot will do the trick!I have spent most afternoons watching the Olympics and quilting.I am ready to turn the corner to the 3rd side of the quilt....my original goal was to be done with the body and starting the borders by Feb. 1st. Well that did not work out. Still, I will continue to work hard and cross this quilt off my list soon!

Of course, my chores will get done first!!! Gotta be that example! If you have a daughter, then you must read Mrs. Fuentes' article....again, you can find it by clicking here.Have a blessed day!!

For Alyssa

It happens to the best of us!!!! The top and back were GONE. All we had left was the sides....since it was just before Easter, we left those sides.

HATS...think hats!!!!!!After Easter, we had it trimmed up.....well, that is simplifying things. It was tragic. Still.....it all grew back beautifully, and by the time the snow was flying everything was back to normal! Remember.....hats!!!!!

Groundhogs Day

It is official.....SIX more weeks of winter. What a treat *said with a hint of sarcasm*. As I type this, it is snowing outside. There is probably an inch or so of fresh snow on the ground this morning and I am not sure how much more we will be getting. Good thing I saw Punksitony Phil on the news this morning or I would not have known what day it is.I still do not have a 2010 calendar and have had to use the little January square at the bottom of my December 2009 page. Now that is gone and I have taped a piece of paper to write dates on. I forget to pick one up every time. I need to grab one today while I am out.

Yesterday Charlotte had her first "at home" sewing lesson. She had went last Tuesday, and will go again today, to Hancock Fabrics for some formal machine lessons. She did quite well on my old White.No thread or bobbin in, but she followed lines on pieces of paper.Ewww. Her nails look dirty, but really they are painted that way. She and Anya did manicures yesterday! Pink and black. To be 12 again! The ovals were a challenge, and by the end she had greatly improved, but look at these sewing lines on the squares....she really did GREAT!This morning, before she goes to Hancocks, she will do this sheet.....I think I would have a hard time with this one.Our goal is that she will be wearing the new skirt she made to church on Sunday! A very easy 2 piece pattern with an elastic waist band.

Zach had a rough day yesterday. He had to make up some math pages he had "skipped" and he was not happy about it.He did get it all done and out of 104 problems, he only got 2 wrong. What a guy!!

His room got a complete cleaning yesterday too. I cleaned out drawers and closet, bagging up clothes that no longer fit and some that had seen better days. Zach will always pull the most ragged article of clothing rather than a nicer choice....now he does not have the raggedy choice!
We removed the headboard Sweetheart had made. It was just a junk collector. When he is older and has more control over his "collections" he can get it back. For now it is about keeping things as simple as possible for him....he HATES to clean his room. On the quilting front, I have nothing to show....how many pics of the pink and brown can you take??? They all look the same at this point, but be aware that I AM working on it and plan to have it completed in the near future!
How could I leave you without a Sassy picture??? I think she is going to be long haired! Heaven help me!

Phase 5 and Some Kids

Phase 5, and the final phase, of the big project was to create a space for the kids. They had the Man Room, which you know Sweetheart and I took over. This was not accidental, as my children are very hard on things. I would assume all kids are. The Man Room was, at less than a year old, showing signs of "wear and tear". Sweetheart repaired all these things before we "moved in". Now we have Kyle's old room empty and it is a perfect spot for the kids.Their chairs and bookcases of DVDs and videos (yes, we still have VCR here) make it a room they can enjoy.The closet in the corner is a great place for games and puzzles. This table is already holding a jigsaw puzzle they are all working on.Kyle also gets use out of this room. I have a strict rule....NO FOOD UPSTAIRS! Kyle brings his morning cereal and his afternoon snack down here to watch TV and eat. There is really nothing they can do to this room. The carpet is industrial strength, so even the most apt picker can do no real damage, and the walls are cheap paneling. Zach calls this "The Little Man Room". So now our project is complete!

I had some grandma time this weekend. TJ spent the night. He and Zach had matching pj's.Emerson played the piano, ever so gently at first then she built to her finale of pounding on the keys!!She is finally walking and was very proud of herself. Every time she made it across the room she clapped!!! We had a nice dinner. TJ ate non-stop all weekend. He must be going through a growth spurt, cause it is impossible to get him to eat!Here is a rare photo....all 4 of my children sitting at the table together....just my kids. What a sight that was. Sweetheart and I both noticed at the same time. It was a nice sight.They are a raggedy bunch, but they are ours!

Charlotte learned several new things at crochet class....a granny square, a shell stitch, and how to sew in her tails.She sure loves to crochet. I am so glad she has that. I spent the time hand quilting. In the afternoon I spent more time at my machine piecing the Hidden Star. Today I plan more of the same. Right now I need to get off of here and jump on Ugly Betty! I really dislike walking a treadmill, but I am motivated, so off I go!

Making Christmas Gifts

The gift making continues here in our home. Charlotte has created numerous dish cloths and has added dozens of rows to her Daddy's afghan.

I have been making more miniature wallhangings/table toppers. I just love little 9 patches made with 1" squares. They are so dang cute!!! Add some fence rails and 1/2 square triangles and you have the makings for a sweet little miniature. All I need to do is mark and baste it and it is ready for the hoop.I played around with a Christmas jelly roll.....Not at all thrilled with this little table topper. Zach had some fun with the strips....He wants me to stitch that creation up for him. LOL

My sweet friend Debi sent a package our way. She made Charlotte and Zach beautiful fall themed pillow cases. They are NICE!!! I want that pattern!She also enclosed a few things for me. A sweet pincushion, some notecards and a wallhanging kit. I am in love with the design and the fabrics are so me!!! Thank you so much Debi. You are such a blessing to me and my family...in more ways than one!!

Well I am smelling the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars I have in the oven. Better go check on them! Chicken Dressing Casserole for dinner tonight....one of our favorites around here. Click on the link to try the recipe! It takes a double batch for our family.