Changes, Changes

Sometimes I swear my life revolves around changes...everything changing, constantly. Just when you think you have your month planned, something changes...and just when you start to have your feet firmly planted under you, something changes.

Of course, not all changes are bad...in fact, far from it! I think most changes really are for the better. Things like Spring Cleaning and new grills are definitely on the list of changes for the better...which brings me to our Memorial Day weekend. We were so busy we hardly sat down all weekend...from cleaning out to sprucing up, the house was in a constant state of turmoil.

We hung a flag out front, bought a new grill, cleaned cleaned cleaned...it was a good weekend!

I do have some pictures to share...

Pigtail Lucy

Lucy feeding her baby doll some toy ketchup...in her defense it does look kinda like a bottle...

Curtis trying out the new grill last weekend. He's working on ribs on it right now - yum!!!
Last weekend we went to the marina down here and the kids had a great time in the water -

Ok, I think that's all for today! Have a great weekend!

4 Day Weekend, woohoo!

Curtis is on his way home and then it's holiday weekend, baby! Not that we have ANY plans, but sometimes that's even better than being booked solid. Actually I am going to see a play with my friend on Saturday night, so I'm pretty excited about that!

Anyway, 2 of my lilies burst into bloom this week - aren't they pretty?

We played with sidewalk chalk yesterday and Toby was making silly faces....

Lucy with that crazy long hair...

A sweet smile from Toby
Lucy modeling her new Tinkerbell dress :) (made by mama!)
Lucy's new jellies...I had to get them. I had jellies when I was little and I LOVED them! I was so excited to get them for her! Plus they were 50% off, so even better!

Lucy all geared up for summer. Isn't she looking like a little girl these days? Less and less my baby... :(
Anyway, so the kids are coughing again so we've stuck close to home this week. Today we made books, and I think the kids enjoyed the craft! (Mom did too!)

Ok, daddy's home, so time to get dinner on the table!

Embroidery

I posted this cris cross dress earlier but had been thinking it needed a little something to spruce it up. I know several people with embroidery machines so I was thinking of asking someone to do a little something on this for me, but...I am impatient. (blush) So I decided to do it by hand and I'm thrilled with the outcome!

It took 2 days, and I didn't work on it at all in the evening - just nap times, so I think that was pretty good timing on my part. And it was super easy! Lucy loves it - she's wearing it now.

In the evenings I'm still working on my first stash eating baby blanket, which I might give to Toby. The colors just aren't...babyish and I'm not sure I know anyone who would love it. But Toby loves anything I make and I know he would have a blast with it. I just have 1 more square to put on, weave in the ends, and maybe crochet a border. So it is coming along. I've found a couple other blanket patterns I'd like to try for my scrap blankets too.

Video Time!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thought I'd share a video from last week...Toby's started singing, practically nonstop. If he can't think of an appropriate song, he makes one up/ :) It's cracking me up all the time!

A Rainy Day Update

It's a gray, drizzly day, so a good day to spend some time updating at the computer!

First up is a nightgown I made for Lucy. I LOVE it though and may end up using it as a dress. This design is super easy and fast and if there's interest I may start stocking them. I'm already eyeing some more vintage fabric for more of these!

Here is a detailing of the hand crocheted edging. I'm still working on the edging for the bottom, but the rest is put together.


Here is a criss cross dress with rick rack trim for the store (say that 5 times fast!)
And another for Lucy.
A soaker for Lucy.
And another soaker for Lucy. This one has ruffles on the bum, but I'd never done it before, so I put the ruffles too far down...it just doesn't look right on her. So I will probably take them off and try again...thank goodness they were just sewn on!
And that's it for right now. Several projects in the works right now, but first and foremost is finishing the edging for the nightgown/ dress :)

Crab Tales

SO, last Thursday Curtis moved the emerald crab from the quarantine tank into the main display tank. The two weeks he'd spent in quarantine he'd firmly lodged himself into a hole in a rock and we did not see him at all. Once in the main display tank he disappeared immediately. In the last day or two we'd seen him on the backside of a rock, but he didn't move...and didn't move...

So it sounds like the worst may have happened...BUT...crabs, like other invertebrates, do molt in order to grow. We were hoping that what we were seeing was just a molt of the crab, but it was in a hard spot to get to so we couldn't really pull it out and see. So we were left to look for signs of the crab in the tank, and of course he's no where to be seen. But, alas, this morning we can tell he's been nibbling voraciously on the live rock (there's a whole section that's been eaten!), so chances ar good that he is indeed alive and eating well...we just can't see him.


In other fishy news, we have two new fish in the quarantine tank right now. They are called dartfishes, and they are still in the hiding phase, so here's what they look like, but this isn't our fish.

We are catching them out and about in the tank, so I don't think they're terribly timid, just getting used to their new place.

Let's see, no new pics of the kids yet. I just haven't had the camera clicking this week. We did go to the zoo yesterday but I didn't even pull the camera out. Both kdis were worn out and CRANKY by the time we got home. Hopefully a quiet day at home today will restore their good spirits.

It's grey and gloomy today...a very good day to stay in with a good cup of coffee and a craft. I sewed a nightgown for Lucy last week and am now crocheting the trim for it. I love it...it's a new pattern and I think that it could easily be used for a dress too.

Curtis is researching new lights for his tank...when he upgrades the lights he can start to keep corals in his tank.

Toby is currently building a train track...he loves to build huge winding ones...keeps him busy for hours, as long as Lucy isn't behind him destroying it.

So there's my update for the week...not a lot new. We are enjoying spring though!

Congrats, hubby dearest!

A big shout out to my hubby of (almost) 6 years...he received his Masters degree this weekend! (Well, really, he got a piece of paper saying the diploma would come in 4-6 weeks :P)

Cutie patootie in the church before graduation
My guy!
Curtis's parents came in for the weekend, and we have been going nonstop! On Friday we drove to the Richard Childress racing museum and we got to see the garage and everything! It was a lot of fun! Casey Mears drives for them so it was very cool to see just where they build his cars!
Today for Mother's Day we went to the zoo...we had a great time! Perfect weather and small crowds made for a fantastic day and Curtis planning a great picnic for us all!
Toby and Daddy watching the giraffes.
Lucy and Daddy
Toby caught a ride (he wanted to wear the cowboy hat...don't know why, but it was very cute!)
Giraffe...
Zebra
Toby reading the map
Tired Lucy
The had a huge orchid exhibit on display for the month of May, so I was very excited to see it! It was GORGEOUS and I had TWO free hands so I played with my camera lots! I think I took 100 pictures just of orchids, but I won't share them all :)

This is a picture of the big display
And a couple close ups

We've had a great (and busy) weekend!

Happy Mother's Day to all the great mothers out there!!!

It's Raining Yarn

Hallelujah, it's raining yarn...

Not quite, but after my stern determination that I need to cut down on yarn, I returned from Ohio with a large rubbermaid tub full of yarn.

In my defense, it was free.

I love my hobby!

Welcome Home, Little Crab

We welcomed a new crab to the family today! This is a picture of AN emerald crab, not our emerald crab (he is currently in hiding). They are good for eating bubble algae, something that has been plaguing the tank for months. I can't wait to see what he does in the tank!

Let's see...busy day. Got the green light at the dentist this morning (yay!), then we ran to Raleigh to pick up Curtis's graduation gear. Bought the crab on the way home. Finally unpacked all the bags, hid the laundry behind a door in hopes it would do itself. Still not done...

Cute story...Toby LOVES Dr Seuss...loves him. Every night he chooses to read a Dr Seuss story, and his favorite changes from week to week. His current fav is Oh, the Places You'll Go, but he calls it...the hiking story :) I love it!

Dancing and Traveling and Visiting, Oh My!

We are home again after a whirlwind trip to good ole O-H-I-O. It was so much fun, but much too short...I need more recovery time before driving home again!

Anyway, here are some pictures from our trip...

The reason for the visit was to celebrate the marriage of my cousin and his lovely bride (congrats you two!), so we'll start there, even though officially that was the end of the weekend (aka, blogger uploaded my pictures in backwards order, so sorry!)

I knew my kids liked to dance. They dance at the house, they dance in the car...I figured they might last a full song on the dance floor, then be on to some other interest. Ah, no. Lucy was dancing for probably a full hour, took a couple songs to rest, then was recharged and back out there. I was shocked. She was hilarious. She about danced herself right to sleep. Toby was also enjoying the dancing, but gave out long before his sis. Here's a pic of the two of them having a grand time!

Lucy all dolled up before the reception
And my little man!

Lucy playing outside

Daddy and his kiddos
We had a great weekend and can't wait for our next trip already!

Last weekend was Springfest and Toby rode in the bike races...he was so proud of himself!

And here is my paltry garden. It may not be much to look at, but I'm hoping for some yummy veggies this summer!

This picture was taken the day we planted (1 weeks ago), I checked it today and the tomatoes have doubled in size (at least). The cucumbers are growing well, but something is already eating my green pepper! ARGH! So this summer we shall see just how green my thumbs are.
We have a busy week ahead of us...tomorrow alone is my dentist appt, a pick up the dog, Curtis is buying 1 (or 2) new crabs, we have to get his cap and gown, and will probably find a few other necessary errands. And I have no food here, and I still have not unpacked anything. I am far too tired.

Good night :)