A CRAZY WEEKEND

For my birthday present from my mother-n-law this year; was a Crazy Quilt/Stitching Weekend Getaway (4 wonderful days with out kids or husbands :)). We started off bright and early on Thursday...didn't make it to the house she rented until about 4:30pm. No, it was not that far away only about 45 minutes in Federal Way. We had fun going to fabric and needlepoint stores on the way down. We were like two kids in a candy shop when it comes to anything sewing. We even got grocery so we didn't have to leave the house all weekend. Just stay in all weekend in pj's, stitching, relaxing and having fun; could it get better then that? I forgot to mention how incredible the house she rented for the weekend was; the house was huge, full of antiques. My room was a "Iris Room" ( that why I pick it, all the pictures in the room had irises and they are still my favorite flowers). All the bedrooms' furniture were amazing, old antique bed frames. The house also looking over the waterfront and the view was so beautiful. I don't think these pictures justify how nice it was but here are some pictures:

I received a crazy quilt that belong to my neighbor Mickey...when Mickey past away her kids were going through her stuff and came across this crazy quilt and they were going to throw it away because it was so damage but thankfully my Mom was there and got it out for me. Well it been packed away for a long time, but a couple of month ago I came across it and thought that this would be fun to repair and finish this crazy quilt. I love just looking at it; seeing all the fabrics on it; from all the aprons or blouses that I remember her wearing when I was growing up.

My mother-n-law has been working on her crazy quilt for awhile and I knew with her help I could fix this quilt up and I think that Mickey would be happy that I have it to cherish.

Well, I never knew how long it took to make block until this weekend...I help my my mother-n-law make two blocks for her crazy quilt. It is an amazing process to put a mixtures of fabrics into a square block, it's like a big jigsaw puzzle, color coordinating fabrics together that you never thought could be put together and look so good. Here are the blocks we did:

I one on my top is my favorite...I think I'm more particle to the red one because I got to help alot on one this block; helping pick out fabric and learning to sew on it. Sherrie got a new sewing machine and it was so nice to use it. It self thread, has no foot peddle and cut the thread at the end...it was wonderful to use. It took most of the day up but I would not of change anything, it was so fun to learn and create something that came out so beautiful.

Here are some of my stitching that I did this weekend on Mickey's Quilt:

Here are my first stitches... besides my spider web that I will take a picture when I finish it to show all of you. They didn't come out like I planned but I will all remember that these were my first stitches on this quilt.

My first flowers on the quilt, which I'm really impressed how they came out....don't you think?

My spider rose.

My first tree...my mother-n-law has a lot of trees on her quilt that I adore so I thought I would try making one...took awhile but it came out beautiful.

This weekend was CRAZY FUN. I wish we could do this more often. Thank, Mom for this wonderful weekend away. It was an amazing birthday present :).

Gotta Go Fast: Erik's 9th Birthday Party

Erik for this year's birthday wanted to have a Sonic the Hedgehog's theme. I thought that will be easy....not!! I think my kids like to pick themes that they know will be hard for me to do (not so popular at that time). And I know that 3 months after the birthday party there will be a plethora of stuff for that theme. But for all that know me...I will create anything for me kids when it come to parties. I love doing theme parties. With all the hiccups; ordering online (what a headache) or creating it myself (and with my family's help) it turn out to be a great birthday party.

They played a lot of fun games. We played "Emerald Chaos" I hid ring pops(the ones that look like gems) around the house and they had to go find them (this was truly a chaos). They found most of them in the time frame but throughout the party they were finding more. We played "Rings" that we put rings/gems (the rings were wedding ring favors and the gems were plastic beads, that I got at the craft store) in balloons that they had to pop to get the rings and gems. The rings and gems had a point values so they more they got the better. By the end of the game the balloons were popped everywhere around the house so it was a mess but they had a blast. And the last game I want to tell you about was "Sonic Colors"; my Dad drew me a picture; cutout on foam board with easel on back to hold it up of Sonic the hedgehog that the boys toss color rings on it. (These are the pictures from up above)


These are the cupcake toppers that I made...didn't they turn out cute? Well , I think so. (I had ordered some online but because the lady from EBay didn't pay enough postage, they were return to sender. So I had to make them myself...they came out a lot better and cheaper.)

I can't believe that Erik is 9 years old.

They all had a great time and Erik loved it so I think all of it was worth it. I love you, Erik!

Scatter Sunshine All Along Your Way

Scatter sunshine all along your way;

Cheer and bless and brighten

Every passing day.

Kjell was having fun playing with his new umbrella until it started to rain. I really doubt he going to use it for what it was designed for. It now just down pouring and he wants to come inside. The rain is coming and going. It is nice to have a few breaks of sunshine come throughout the day. It made me think of the church hymn; Scatter Sunshine.

We didn't get much out of the garden this year, but we did get 9 pumpkins...that is our biggest crop yet. We were going to use them for Halloween but it didn't get warm enough to turn them orange but they are excellent fall decorations. Normally we get about 3-4, just enough to carve. We did get a lot of Strawberries this year...if you want some starts; come get some.

I can't believe it...Thanksgiving is next week and 4 weeks until Christmas. Where did this year go??

What does a Ninja and a Pirate have in common?

They are brothers.

This Halloween, Erik wanted to be a Knight but he saw the Ninja costume and the accessories that went with it so he suddenly change his mind. He said it is a "Ninja Knight". He liked the katana, the sai and the throwing star so whatever he wants to say to justify it, is fine with me.

When I took Lily and Kjell to the Pumpkin Patch; I needed to buy boots for Kjell. Well, I end up finding a cute rain jacket that went with the boots. So to make a long story short... I spent way too much money that I decided that he was going to be a pirate for Halloween. Which he was fine with until he saw the Buzz Lightyear costume... maybe next year. He still loves pirates., though, he still carries the pirate boat that he got from vacation everywhere he goes.

Erik and Kjell had fun at the Ward's Trunk or Treat on Saturday. Kjell ended up not coming out on Sunday with Erik and me. The neighborhood churches on Main Street had a Trunk or Treat so it was fun just going around the neighborhood. The houses on Main street near the churches ran out of candy because there was so many kids this year. I tried to push them to stop by our house a couple of blocks away but no luck...we only had 3 trick-treaters. We even had full size candy bars. Karl is happy though, he think because he didn't get to go this year that he should get the leftovers...yeah, that what he think.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Click here to view this photo book larger

First Days Of School

Erik started school yesterday. He had a fun day with is friends and his new teacher, Mrs. Relph. Can you believe it? He is now in 3rd grade. Here is the outfit he picked for the first day:This kid is always thinking, playing or dreaming about video games and he is even picking out shirts with Nintendo Games on it. I'm not sure about his haircut but that's what he wanted so I will have to get use to it. He wanted it "spiky". Erik present for the first day of school was having his Wii fixed (it has been broken for long time) and 2000 Nintendo points; he was so excited that him and Karl played no stop till bedtime.

Karl started school today and as you know he is a teenager and doesn't like to get his picture taken but I made him pose anyway. This year Karl didn't want me to drive him to school anymore he wants to ride the bus...he wants to hang out more with friends then his Mom. Can you believe that? Karl didn't want much school clothes this year. He is excited about is new hoodie; it fuzzy and warm inside and he skate shoes. All Karl wants to do is play his guitar, play his computer or skateboard; he not a little kid anymore and sometimes I forget how much I miss those days. Karl is getting Halo for his computer for his first day of school present. I know he will be very excited; he has been asking for it all Summer long.

Summer Fun!

My kids had a blast this summer. Karl even made a comment that "they got to do a lot more this summer than last summer." I'm glad they did....here are some pictures from this Summer:

Kjell turned 3 years old and had a pirate theme party...can't seem to find any pictures (I think Sara has some cute ones so I will need to get some later to post)

Karl turned 13 years old...."ugh, I have a teenager". Karl's birthday present from us was a guitar. He is so excited to play the guitar...he plays this more than he plays his flute (he never touch his flute this Summer and now school is starting ...get practicing Karl; school starts tomorrow).

Matthew spent way too much as normal on fireworks for Fourth of July but the kids of course didn't mine. Kjell still hasn't got into the fireworks stuff. He spent most of the time on Matthew's lap or in the house.

They had fun at Flowing Lake. It was so cold but they want to play in it anyways.

They had lot of fun on the cousin's vacation at Camano Island. The vacation house we stay in had toy box filled with toy...Kjell found a pirate ship and dragged it all over that week. Grandma ended up buying it for him to take home because he loved it that much. This year the kids really got into making the cucumber boats they had sails and decorations. They came out really cute. Kjell was quit upset to find out that we were going to release these boat out in the water. So he ended up eating his instead after playing with it on the beach.

Hopefully this picture hasn't been used yet. I was trying to find a picture that no one already used in there Blog. Every 5 years 3 sets of sisters that grew up together; get together and go on trip. This year the Twisted Sisters went to Disneyland. Yes, no kids. We had a blast being able to rides as much as we wanted too and not worrying about our kids. In 2015 were are planning to go to Hawaii. I'm so excited.

I also got on Matthew's motorcycle for the first time in the 14 years we have been married. We went on a little vacation down the Oregon's Coast. We had a lot fun and I learned that I do like riding with him on his motorcycle. It is so amazing what things you see and smell that you don't in a car. Can't wait to go for another ride.

All and all we had a fun Summer. Erik went to his first Cubscout Day Camp this Summer. He loved making the wood crafts and shooting. Karl went mutiple times on camping trips with the scouts and went to Fire Mountain Scout Camp for week. They both spent alot of nights at friends and cousins houses.

Too bad school is starting again....Erik was excited that school started today, though. I will post that later today after he gets home from School.