I'm a mom to a teenager!!??!!??

also known as catch-up post 4

So, yep.  It is true.  My little Jakey Smoothface is a teenager.  *sigh*  It is still so hard to believe that this little sweetness...

...has grown into a teenager.  When I look at him, I still see this little guy. 

In those days it was all about:  his shirt sleeves being pushed up, his boardbooks, his Bear in the Big Blue House, his binky, his hot wheels, and running while laughing uncontrollably. 

These days, it is all about:  girls, AXE (ugh), schoolwork, music, more chapter books than I can keep available, games, and hanging out with friends.  (One thing that he isn't about is photos.  I tried to take one for this post and he was less than thrilled.  I pick my battles and that wasn't one.)  :)

But, I'll tell you what is really cool. 
The conversations. 
He is such a smart kid and I love that he has some strong opinions, loves to play devil's advocate, has an uncanny sense of fairness, enjoys stirring the intellectual pot, and owns a generous and kind heart.  *love*

Idyllwild 2011

Also known as, Catch-upis Interruptis.

As soon as Rene heard that a big storm was making its way toward Southern California, he texted me and asked if I wanted to take the family up to Idyllwild. Winning! (Ok, forgive me. I am fascinated by the whole Charlie Sheen demise before our very eyes and Howard Stern keeps playing this stupid exclamation that has become ubiquitous in Charlie's conversation.)

So, we quickly called and made plans. Our favorite cabin was no longer up for rental. Boo! (However, it is for sale. Hmmmm?) We ended up booking another cabin, that was pretty fabulous, as well. If you are ever in the market for a cabin rental in Idyllwild, I highly recommend Idyllwild Cabin Rentals (We stayed in the cabin called Alpine Chalet, this time.) Robert and the crew really go out of their way to be as helpful as possible!

So, we drove up Saturday and just before Anza (we prefer going this route because we despise driving through Hemet...ick), the snow started, without hesitation.





We hadn't put the chains on yet, but were fortunate enough to follow some four wheel drive trucks. It was unbelievable how quickly the snow was accumulating!

By the time we were climbing the mountain, we were really wishing that the chains were already on.






We finally reached Idyllwild and stopped to put on the chains. Woot!






So, the cabin was gorgeous! Not our favorite...but still very nice.
The kiddos spent many hours out in the snow and we discovered that our little Daisy dog is a total snow bunny. :)






Rallying the troops for a snowball fight





The deck





Jake's snow-angel












The kids finally wore themselves out and settled in for some movies and warmth!




I moved the kitchen table and set up a little quilting station in the kitchen using my SewEzi table. (Thanks to Andrina and Donna for buying these tables and helping me to decide to splurge on one, too!) It felt like a little slice of heaven!




Then, I started to feel a little spoiled!





The next morning was clear and sunny! A perfect day for more snow play.





It was a great weekend for everyone and I loved every minute of it!
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Snowman Block Exchange...

also known as Catch Up Part 3

Have you ever participated in a block exchange? Basically, you create a block for each member in the group and they do the same. Then, you distribute your blocks to each person and take one of theirs. The idea is that everyone will use these blocks to create their own interpretation quilt. Each will be different, but have the same core blocks. Fun!

I belong to two friendship groups and each group has held a block exchange.

One Friendship Group (Crazy Quilters) hosted a spool exchange. That exchange went on for about six months. Every time that we met, we brought enough spools for each member of the group. In the end, I think that I received nearly 40 blocks. (I never counted and I obviously haven't put it together yet.)

My Cabin Fever Friendship Group (aptly named as the group formed around a Quilt Retreat in an Idyllwild cabin) hosted a snowman block exchange, but it was a "one and done" situation.

We met on the last Sunday in January to exchange our blocks. The ladies did a fabulous job and I can't wait to begin putting them altogether!

Take a look!






















Aren't they cute? We are still waiting on one, but we got a sneak peek and it is pretty fantastic.

Thanks, friends! This is going to be "snow" much fun. (Oh hell, even I am cringing at that.)

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Love this guy....

also known as: Catch-Up Part 2

Is it any wonder that I love my husband? On top of being an amazing teacher, fabulous father, outstanding intellectual, and best friend, he remembers sweet little things like the day that he realized that he was in love with me.
The crazy part is that we were both, happily, with other people. He was engaged and I was in a serious relationship.

Then one day, we were teaching first grade together and attended a professional development day together. That did it.

He told me (after we were married), that he went home that day and realized that we would be together eventually. He just knew it.

Well, he was right. It would be a looooooooong time before we actually connected, but it did happen. (Lucky me!)

Then, he sends me sweet texts like this one, reminding me of that day that changed both of our lives:






Of course, he also does stuff to make me laugh and be silly like change my sweet and innocent label for:






to the not-so innocent:









What a nut! :)
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Road to California Quilt Show...

also known as: Catching Up Part 1

January 15th, I had the pleasure of attending the Road to California Quilt Show. It is a great place to see some award-winning quilts, take note of any new trends, meet many new people/designers/vendors, and buy a heap of new things on which to work!
Here is my haul:



Good stuff!
I've included some of my favorites from the show:
Some fabulous "Dear Jane" quilts!





"THE" tea quilt. (Everyone was all a-buzz about this one. For good reason!)


Check out the detail:


Best of Show





Holy hexagons!


The rust colored quilt in the center is one solid piece of fabric and the details were created solely through quilting.


Exquisite.


Ruby from the Fallbrook Quilt Guild had a wall-hanging in the Hoffman Challenge!


A very cool art quilt.


I could share tons more, but they truly can't convey the workmanship and talent from the show! If you are a quilter and have never been, you should make plans to attend.

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Quite Contrary

Yes, I know that I am scheduled for an epic catch-up post, but I have to share this first!
I am so excited for an internet "friend" of mine. She is a digital scrapbook designer and creates some fabulous kits and patterns. It makes me wish that I was still into scrapbooking. You can find her designs both on her blog, The Project Girl, as well as on Design House Digital.
Although I can appreciate her digital creations, her newest endeavor has me stoked!
She created a fabric line!! Not JUST a fabric line, but an adorable, happy, fun, bright, girly, fantabulistic fabric line! *happy dance*
Want a peek?







Love it!
She is hosting a giveaway on her blog!
I really hope to get my hands on a set of fat quarters, but it is getting kind of hard to type with my fingers crossed.
Congratulations, Jen!
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Epic catch-up post...

...is overdue.
:)


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We're off to see the Wizard...

My sisters have been asking me for quilts for a LONG time. Although they are a definite priority, I have been severely backlogged with projects.

Dawn requested that I make her a "Wizard of Oz" themed quilt. Hmmm. I like "Wizard of Oz" just fine; however, I wouldn't consider myself a fanatic. (Admittedly, I enjoyed Gregory Macguire's novel "Wicked" far better.)

So, this past summer, I bought some Oz themed fabric to use for Dawn's quilt. I brainstormed and brainstormed and brainstormed. I couldn't really think of anything that I wanted to create with it.

The problem was two-fold: I am not a fan of panels and the colors were pretty overwhelming.

I finally rolled my sleeves up and got to work, piecing the quilt without much of a plan and hoping that inspiration would hit.

I took the pieces that I had pieced, thus far, to Idyllwild on our quilting retreat and received help from some of the fabulously creative quilters there.

We placed it on a bed and started moving pieces around, auditioning fabric underneath the pieces. The consensus looked something like this:





So, I got back to it around the beginning of December and finished it shortly thereafter. I'll just say that it is not my favorite project that I have created, but my sister, Dawn, adores it. (Yay!)
This is the front of the quilt. It is obviously a lap-sized quilt.





The back has more scenes from the movie.





A close-up of one of the photo panels.





Another close-up of a photo panel. I quilted this on my Bernina using a stipple pattern. (The one thing that I really do like about this quilt are my little pinwheels using the ruby slippers and the blue gingham fabric. You can see them peeking out at the top of this photo.)





I am glad that my sister is happy with her quilt and I am thinking about how to do Kindyl's. She hasn't requested anything specifically (which makes it easier on me), but I have some fun ideas. :)

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Ready for the week...

Getting our little family for the week sometimes feels like a full-time job. I like to make sure that all of the lunches are prepared and closets are stocked on Sunday. This makes my Sunday pretty busy; but, it makes my week go so much easier. Here are some examples of my Sunday tasks:


PB&J sandwiches for the kids. Yes, my kids are spoiled. I cut the crusts off using this little Pampered Chef tool. It just makes it easier to freeze them because it seals the edges. Yes, again, I freeze them. (The secret is peanut butter on both pieces of bread so that the jelly doesn't get gooey.)


Well, I don't give the kids sandwiches everyday. So, sometimes I throw in things like tortilla soup, pasta, or Israeli couscous. (Don't forget the grapes.)

Then there are the clothes...
Jake's (Thank goodness, he is almost self-sufficient in this area.)


And, his PE clothes.



Cristina, Daniel, and Gabriela have their clothes grouped by day.

















Now, we have the backpacks ready to be filled and grabbed in the morning.










*whew*
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