A Day of Firsts

Being a working mom sometimes sucks.  Today - my little guy Jake had a big first for him - he went skiing for the first time!  It sucks because I stayed at home to get some work done and missed his first big day.  As we were getting him ready to head out - he said to me (sitting in the bathroom so cute in his little long johns) "I'm kind of nervous mom".  His nerves must have faded quickly because once he was at his lesson he was asking the instructor when he get on a lift.

Here is is walking to the slopes with his instructor.  Note to anyone wanting to take a lesson - go to Alta, during the day - midweek - he basically got a private lesson as there was only 1 other kid who left the lesson before it even began.

Luckily I Mike was around to take a few pictures, some video and give me a few play by plays.

It was a beautiful day to be outside - sunny and not crowded at all.  Jake loved it, so we will be heading back out real soon.

Back at the ranch (Tal do you remember that reference?)  This little guy had a first of his own - he told me he had to pee - went to the toilet pulled down his diaper and peed all by himself.  Too much info?  But we are proud - we jumped around screaming "I did it!"  He was very excited.

It was a big deal all round - whether it be skiing our peeing my boys had a few firsts!

Weekend Updates

Early weekend started on Thursday night - I went to a sweet play with a few of my in laws.  It was a beautiful play with great music.  Came home at 10:30pm to a sleeping house - all 3 boys were snoring away - so what better time then to flip on General Hospital and finish up Whit's quilt .

Friday night the whole Latimer clan went to dinner to celebrate my in law's 55th wedding anniversary.  It was fun to get together as we don't do it often enough.  Whit was nice enough to tend (thus the bribe of having the quilt done) so Mike and I went out for a little date night.  After dinner we - drove around - couldn't find a movie - hit up one place which was closed - Mike didn't feel like shopping - so we hit a quilt store - he said to keep me happy....does he know me or what?  Once we got home and got those boys in bed (their new bedtime seems to be 9:30 - 10) I had a late night sew.  Didn't come up til 2:30 AM!  I got this little quilt done.  Forgive the messing sewing room - and middle of the night iPhone shot....

I've recently - like in the last week decided its going to be a quilty Christmas - meaning most my gifts are going to be quilts.  Don't know what I was thinking - but here come the late nights!

Saturday we woke up and went to swimming lessons.  My little Sammy finally jumped into the pool without a tear.  He laughed, splashed, and swam happily - has never done that yet during lessons.  Its amazing at how different Sam has acted over the last week - could he really be aware that he is 2 now and he's growing up a bit mentally???

Jake and I spent the day watching shows (he watched, I bound quilts) making Christmas cookies and holiday hearts (his words).  We had fun decorating and eating dough together.  Before grabbing some take out we drove around and saw some lights.  It was a perfect family day together.

Today I finished quilting a quilt, got it bound, cut and sewed together yet another quilt, and finished binding 2 table runners.  Went to church with Jake who had a little talk and did so well, had lovely seafood dinner and did my nails.

Can I just say how much I love productive weekends!

Quality time with my family - check
Quality and quantity time for quilting - check
Completing a quilt that I started 5 years ago - check
Cleaned my house .... 3 out 4 ain't bad right.... at least I got 1 load of laundry in the dryer....that is progress.

Hope you've started your season with Christmas cookies and holiday hearts!

Labor Day Events

I love the first week in September.  The air feels a little cooler especially in the morning and evenings, school is back on, the leaves even start to see a little color in them - by far, fall is my favorite time of year.  This weekend has been full of events.

I took Friday off and stayed downstairs in my quilting room all day.  It was so much fun to get caught up as my machine has been in the shop.  The kids didn't even know I was here until 3pm!  I got a few quilts quilted, a block or two completed - and Whit's turning 20 blocks are sewn and ready to be put in rows.  I'd say pretty eventful!

Saturday we have a little swim party with Jason and Whitney which was tons of fun.  The kids love it when Uncle Fun comes to play.  We laid in the sun and relaxed.  Mike and I even watched a movie last night - we haven't done that in ages!

Today I started getting all the fall decor out - I love transforming my house with Tribute to Fall as we call it in my family.  I'm even getting out the Halloween decor early - (is it too early?) but my kids are so excited I thought why not?  Can't wait to get it all done tomorrow.

I'll be sharing some pics of finished projects over the next few days so I can add them to my side bar of completed projects.  I love making that list longer!  Go check it out.  Hope you're all having a great long weekend.

Weekend Updates

Stayed up til 2:30am on Friday night/Saturday morning.  I got the following completed.
 - Binding on a fall table runner
-  New fall table runner completed
-  Borders on a square fall table topper
-  Loved the square table topper so much - make another one with an extra border on it
-  Sewed the first portion of the turning twenty blocks for Whit

I even woke up at 8am Saturday and wasn't tired or complaining!  We had a fun Saturday of shopping, eating out, kids took 3 hour naps!  It was a joyous day.  We swam late intot he night, roasted marshmellows, and had adventures with the tree ghosts (something Jake has made up). 

Sunday has been a lazy day at home - a little grocery shopping - a little sun - and I started sewing together my next 2 Swoon blocks.  How I'm loving this quilt.  I can't believe how many pieces are going into one block.  Good thing they are so big! 

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Back on Track

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Weekend.  I had an extra long weekend taking Friday off.  We spent the morning at Little Gym, road bikes in the park, played at the park, lunched with Whit, quilted with Ann.  What better way to start off my weekend? 

The previous weekend we decided at 6pm on Sunday night to convert Sam's room into a playroom.  He has refused to sleep in his crib recently, so why have a room devoted to his crib?  We spent the last week or so, looking for bunk beds and bedding.  On Saturday the beds were deliveried and the transformation began.  We spent the better part of the weekend putting together furniture, rearranging rooms, decorating, and cleaning.  Although not the most fun way to spend a holiday weekend - it is like a weight has been lifted and I'm so excited to be able to see the floor in Jake's room again.  It was being overrun with toys!  It is so nice to have the playroom and the boys room seperated.  I'm not ready yet to let Jake sleep on the top bunk, but its been fun watching the boys get up there and play.  Yesterday Mike made a fort for them throwing a blanket over the opening to the bottom bunk.  Hours of enjoyment. 

I also spent the weekend sewing.  Til 2am!  I'm working on a custom quilt order for a graduation present and I'm so excited with how it is looking.  A mixture of t-shirts, blues, greens, and white.  It is turning out really cute.  I hope my client likes it.  My goal is to get the borders on it tonight - quilt it tomorrow - bind it on Thursday and have it ready for pick up on Friday.  Hopefully the kids will cooperate! 

I've also been working on a little Moda Bake Shop project and a Bliss zig zag project.  When I saw the Bliss quilt I knew I had to have one.  How to people come up with such cute ideas? 

I have lots of pictures to share - just need to get them downloaded.  Be back soon!

Queen of Hearts

Finished a fun little table runner this weekend.  I used a few Buggy Barn blocks as my inspiration.  I love the way it turned out!

I love getting a fun quick project done BEFORE the actual holiday hits.  Check out my etsy store for this runner and other Valentine inspired items.

Tuesday is the first day of my week

After not working out, and eating not great yesterday, I'm taking the right to have Tuesday be my first day of the week. 

Workout  - up at 5AM - Check
Ate well - stayed around 1000 calories today - Check
Made dinner for everyone - check
Got some sewing done - check
Got some quilting done - check

AND its only 6pm!  I've got grocery shopping, house to straighten, kids to be early, and some more sewing!  I think I've been pretty productive today....considering I worked all day too!  I wish all days could go like today.

August Wrap Up

August seems to have been a very busy month.  Thus the lack in blogging.  Here are a few things I did get done this month.

- Business trip to Pittsburgh.  I have 2 clients in the city and its been over 2 years since I visited with them.  I do love the city of Pittsburgh.

- Sewn and quilted a car quilt using the Wheels line from Riley Blake.  Jake calls it his cuddily quilt.  I guess he's getting it.

- Made raspberry peach jam, and I do have to say it is delicious!

- Actually even got some quiltling done.  I LOVE this quilt - I want to make one for myself now.

- Threw a few showers - Images can be seen here and here

- Introduced Sam to my quilting machine. I found him under the machine, and had climbed up a bin while I was quilting.  Maybe he doesn't like how loud it is????

- Got hooked on scrabble....

- Jumped on the trampoline in the pouring rain with Jake

- Playing with my boys.

All in all I think August was a really good month.

****as a side note, I also tried using my phone as my camera for quick last minute shots.  All pictures posted above are taken with my iphone.  I'll have to learn how to make them larger and edit them in the future.

Been Busy

I've been very busy this week getting some of my sewing projects done and cleaning out my craft room.  Pictures to come soon!

Much Accomplished

Last night the kids were in bed, asleep by 8:34. I had a few hours to myself so I decided to take advantage. I am AMAZED at what I got accomplished in such a short amount of time. Goes to show you, if you use your time wisely much can get done.
Here is what I got done...

- Put together, wrapped, and got ready to ship Valentine gifts
- Sewed table topper rows together from the Moda line Sweet (so cute)
- Cut jelly roll of Glace' for a postage stamp quilt
- Cut out Glace' layer cake
- Cut binding for Wonderland quilts (3 of them)
- Sewed together binding for the Wonderland quilts
- Cut binding for a Blush table runner
- Sewed together a backing for a Blush table topper
- Sewed binding on a Blush table topper
- Sewed rows together for my Maison de Noel quilt
- Completed start to finish a Blush baby quilt

I started sewing together leftover layer cake squares out of Blush to make a little baby quilt. I started laying them out at 10:38pm. I told myself I had to complete the quilt by 11pm which is lights out at our house. (Literally, the lights all shut off at 11pm...its a SmartHome thing). I was ironing my last row when the lights went out. I actually completed it, start to finish in 22 minutes!

I'll post pictures soon. Again, its so amazing what can get done when you focus. And the energy I feel is priceless. Especially since I have NO ENERGY these days.

Tonight's goal....workout before hitting the sewing room. I will not let myself in the room if I haven't worked out first!