Simplify: August 2011

Catch up

Thursday morning the husband called from work and said he wanted to go to the beach. Umm... YES. He booked a hotel for two nights, I packed bags for a family of 5 (no small feat) and we left the next afternoon when he got home from work. It. Was. Lovely.

Oh, it was such a wonderful weekend. We spent the entire time playing at the beach, exploring, and eating amazing food. And because we spent a day in Newport there was no shortage of Arrested Development references. Or Ruby's. Ooooh how we love Ruby's.

I'm pretty sure we could have stayed indefinitely, but had to get back for work, school is starting next week, etc... I was less than thilled about leaving.

At least when I got home I found this in my mailbox...

It's been the source of many an @ on twitter, and I was so happy to finally have my copy. This is the second Scrap Lab Joanna and I have done, and it turned out great. We had Patty join us, so how could it not turn out great?

In this issue, there are instuctions for my simple simple placemats, Patty's scarf, and a pillow from Joanna. Also in this issue of Quilts and More? Some Zombie, some Rachel Griffith, some BariJ. Good company, all around.

Okay, better scoot. Weekend road trip = sand + laundry + messy house + exhausted baby + a whole lot of catching up to do.

August 22, 2011 at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (34) | TrackBack (0)

Arthur

I know the nicest people on the planet, it's true. If you want proof, just read through the comments on the last post. Thank you SO much for all of your sweet comments and encouragement for Canon. He loved reading each one, and was especially excited that there were people from so many different places around the world reading his book.

Last night while we were reading comments, he looked up at me, and said, "Mommy, it's like I'm a famous arthur!"

You made his summer. Mine too.

Thank you. Really. :-)

August 15, 2011 at 11:40 AM | Permalink

Summer 'Board'om

Entertaining my children has been especially challenging for me this summer. In case you didn't know, we live in the desert. It's ridiculously hot here. I think I may have mentioned that before.

Anyhow, one night I was cleaning my studio and came across a little 6" blank board book that the lovely people over at C&T had sent me. The next day when my 7 year old professed his boredom, I whipped out this board book, and he got to work.

You see, for some reason my children have a fascination with authors. They've had a few come to their school, and it always sparks something in them.

Since I know my children well, I knew that boy 2 would want to do whatever his big brother was doing, so I bought a few more 10" x 10" books on Amazon. Aiden has started two books, one called Aiden's Adventures in Idaho, and one called Robotics (above). Canon is still going through his superhero phase (and has been for the last 5 years) and wanted a book of his favorite superheroes.

Here's how it would go. Boy draws picture, writes words with pencil. Mom traces with a nice felt tip pen while baby on mom's lap tries to grab felt tip pen. Boy colors with mom's nicest colored pencils. (Mom cringes a little.) I also wrote the titles on the bindings, those things are tricky. It worked out perfectly, and best of all, ate up a good two weeks of summer boredom.

Canon finished his last week, and couldn't be prouder.

The last page of himself, with a whole bunch of different superhero bits and pieces. I love it. I loved watching him work so hard on it.

When I was taking his picture, he asked me if I would show my friends his book on my blog, and ask which page was their favorite. I told him I would. So, if you have a minute, could you tell him?

(Thanks)

Oh, and two more pictures of my tiny men I took a few minutes ago. Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.

I'm pretty sure Nicholas is the luckiest little brother on the planet.

August 12, 2011 at 03:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (259) | TrackBack (0)

Raising boys

Maybe its because they are running wild around the house all day every day, but I've been thinking a lot lately about these three boys I'm raising.

Both of my parents grew up on farms. There are six boys in my dad's family, and many times in my life I've heard my grandpa say "We weren't raising potatoes, we were raising boys."

I want to raise good boys. I want them to be kind to others, I want them to be strong. I want them to know who they are, and to choose to do the right thing in difficult situations.

Today I came across this video.

And it was exactly what I needed.

I hope it is what you need too.

August 09, 2011 at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (51) | TrackBack (0)

8 months

Yep, 8 whole months.

This month has been a big one for Nicholas, he is now mobile. He gets anywhere he wants to go, and gets there fast. Goodbye sitting in one spot playing with toys, hello darting toward outlets, tugging on computer cords, and a newfound facination with finding things in the carpet. I vacuum a lot.

His method of transportation is a combo army crawl/regular crawl, and it is highly effective. I blame his brothers for teaching him this, as they crawled around on the carpet for a month trying to motivate him. It worked.

The boy loves food, and will eat anything we put in front of him (see above) with his 1-1/2 teeth. He is my best eater by far. Peas, green beans, avacado, anything. He absolutely loves kid's quesadillas at Cafe Rio. True story. He's a third child. Don't judge.

(Looking at these pictures I think it is time to break down and buy some 18 month onesies. As my grandpa would say, he's growing like a weed.)

I think it is true what they say. You know, how time flies faster with each child. That is the only explanation, because there is no way that this tiny baby is now this one:

Love you, boy. You and those chubby little legs. Even more than last month.

*quilt is a traditional rail fence design, fabric is Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt

August 02, 2011 at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (54) | TrackBack (0)

Farmer's Wife weeks 7, 8, and 9

cheery fabric in my dark (blinds closed) sewing room

Summer here is depressing. There, I said it. Any chocolate I buy is completely melted by the time I leave the Target parking lot, Sonic ice doesn't stand a chance, and it is too hot to do anything but swim. Have I mentioned how much the sun hates me? (How's that for cheery?)

Since I have a baby who needs naps during the day or he's a bear, we end up stuck inside a lot, trying to stay quiet as to not wake the bear baby. I often compare summer here to winter elsewhere. It is really the only time all year that we aren't always out and about, and it is just easier to stay inside and stay cool. Last week was an exception to that, with the boys in soccer camp in the morning and swimming lessons in the afternoon. We have swimming lessons this week too. Sitting outside in 108 degree heat for 45 minutes in the hottest part of the day watching the boys swim? Yep, so fun! (Sense the sarcasm.)

I'm such a grouch in the summer.

So I don't completely lose it, I make sure to get plenty of sewing time in. Especially at night when everybody goes to bed. In fact, I may have gone a little overboard this past week and a half with my farmer's wife blocks...

I thought about lying and just posting six blocks, but decided against it. I even came clean with Amanda and Angela on twitter, and they assured me I wouldn't be kicked out of the group for breaking the rules. Phew! Aren't they nice?

(disclaimer: Really, I'm teasing, they would never, ever kick someone out of the group. They are really awesome like that. And in every other way. Good grief, Amanda can CAN. I'm so jealous.)

So, anyway, here are my new blocks this week: