Wednesday, November 21, 2012

I am we'll

I have an I phone nos and am trying to figure out how to get my pics on here onto the blog... I tell you, if its not one thing it's another!   Things have been busy but great.  I am no longer house hunting.  My car broke down a month and change ago (timing belt snapped and my crankshaft is now 45 degrees off kilter) in addition to all the other things I need.  Dad and my brother and I are trying to find me a new car but all of us are dragging our feet.  We narrowed it down to a slightly used 2011,2012, or dealer model/demo 2013 Subaru but no more details than that.

The girls are great they both love school and I just had conferences with Ed teachers.  They love having her in class, she participates well.  Nurtures her peers, can speak well in front of her class's.  she has a ways to go for reading, but will get there.  That's so nice to hear.  H has nothing major to note but thinks the a b c song is only for her to sing.  Too funny

Adam and his mom are coming out dec 14-16.  I have not heard from him since march and know he only called to tell me they were coming because he was forced into it.... No manipulated into it by his mom. He's not doing it on his own or because he wants to which is so sad.  I amgoingto ask rs librarian if she knows any characters in books who are overcoming being in or under loved and have a hard time showing love or growing up.  Help her understand its nothing to do with her.  I still have yet to speak ill of him around the girls but I ant to be ready for those tough conversations when they come up.  Honestly, respectfully, and empathetic lay.

I found an awesome online fabric store.  Ozark fabrics and other fun things on Facebook ( my phone won't let me share the link) she has greasy prices, but selection is limited and moves fast.  She does close outs from manufacturers!  She's doing a membership drive now!

I will figure this picture thing out and bombard you with cuteness by the end of this month!

Miss you all!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

tiny posts

sorry for all the little posts, but you have to live =) I want to share and celebrate the girls, and quilting if I ever get back to it.  I now have three quilts ready to bind thanks to my wonderful aunt and her long arm machine.  Two for Seattle Children's and one that is on R's bed, not yet bound but oh well.

This morning I had to get the girls to daycare since I started later (6:45 instead of 4:30am) and daycare was open.  When I woke H up (R was already getting dressed) the very first words out of her mouth were "H sleeping.  Shhhhh" (in her cute toddler accent).  Poor sweetie. 

R is really pushing the limits this week.  She cannot ride her bike (to the neighbors driveways on either side of our house) nor go play with the neighbors tomorrow.  That's what happens when you don't help mommy with the chores and you don't listen. She is going to be a tough one come teen years!!!

Monday, August 20, 2012

note to self

This is a little on the preachy side, so don’t feel like you have to read. I just wanted to share and remember.


This weekend I went to the Washington Auction of Wines (WOW). It raises money for Seattle Childrens and the Washington Wine Education program at WSU. (Did you know that Washington is now one of the top wine producing states? We are going to knock CA off the charts!) We had a winemaker at our table, and drank his wines with out meal. He was odd, but what winemaker isn’t? I was there to balance the table out, there was one person who my folks wanted at their table, but they were a singleton so they bought me a ticket so I was another singleton. Wonderful experience.

Anyways, I am always so thankful I have not needed Seattle Childrens various services for my children. But more profoundly, my dads’ parents were my babysitters that night. How amazing is it that my girls get to spend time with my dads’ folks (at their own home, playing in their back yard, reading books on their couches…the same house and couch and yard my dad grew up with.)

On the way to their house, R wanted to list all the people she loves:
Grandma
Grandpa
Uncle B
Aunt K
(the rest are actually greats)
Aunt T
Uncle N
God
Aunt MA
Aunt J
Pop-Pop
Nana (“who is in Heaven but I can still love her”)
The Other Uncle B
Aunt K
All the other people I have not met yet but are my family.

How wonderful that they get to spend time with MY aunts and uncles and grandparents (Nana and Pop-Pop are my moms folks, Nana passed away 2 ½ years ago, but we talk about her. H is so much a mix of the two of them it’s amazing.) How wonderful that both girls know them, has memories and special times, and they both know they are loved back.  H can list them off too, but usually when prompted, not spontaniously.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Two wonderful days

Last Thursday was National Neighborhood Night Out (or maybe not national, but I think it is.) The girls and I participated. We went to City Hall to meet and greet the local police. I thought it would be into a room, la-te-da shake hands, touch a car, look at a badge, get a coloring book, take a picture, and back home. I didn't plan to be there for long. OH NEXT TIME I WILL KNOW! We were there for almost 3 hours and still didn't do everything.




When we got there they were just getting going, we got to climb into a police car, see a clown act, tie die t-shirts, climb into a garbage truck. By the time we did all that the county's search and rescue teams were they’re pulling out rafts and rescue gear for the kids to climb on, touch, try to wear. As the girls were climbing all over one of the rafts, SWAT pulled up in TWO trucks. The girls got to climb all over those too, and they got to see one of the bomb deactivating robots in action and got to control one of the robots that goes in and scopes things out. They each got a turn! There were two local high school cheer squads that did little shows, their mascots and Smokey the Bear got into three legged races with the sheriff, the police chief, and the fire chief. Smokey won. I think he and the fire chief have been practicing. As that was finishing up a county helicopter flew RIGHT OVER US! and landed at the bottom of the hill and all the kids were invited to climb all over it. This was the third stop for the helicopter but you'd think it was the first with how wonderful those men were. The girls also got fingerprinted; they did get those coloring books (copy write 1991, so the same ones I grew up on!) I got AFIS kits for both the girls, hot dogs, sno cones, and hula hoop lessons from the clowns. All.... wait for it.....for free!!! And there were only like 50 kids, so 75-80 people plus all the officers. AWESOME! We are doing that one again next year!



Today was less structured. We were at a local outdoor air mall (why do they build those around Seattle?) where I left a book at the Starbucks I had a meeting at earlier today. We got coffee, and as we were leaving I saw a fire engine parked in the middle of the mall (the road runs through it) without lights on. Odd I thought. Then I looked around and made the girls follow me. Eventually they saw it. Four firemen were in the middle of a spay fountain (that doesn’t pool but recycles) splashing around with the kids who were playing there. I let the girls join in even though they were not in swimsuits like the other kids. How could I not? In the end the men were SOAKED, the kids were thrilled, moms were taking pics and video on their phones (yeah I am not that cool!) and my girls were happy. The firemen drove off and honked their horn, the kids cheered, they all got hats signed by the firemen, we had fun.



Even more wonderful, on the way to the car, soaking and happy, R said "Mommy, thank you for letting us play. It was so much fun." I said "you are welcome, sweetie." H said "Thankum Mommy." I said "Welcome, sweetie." and a lady walking next to us said "Wow, What wonderful manners." Yup, sometimes I am doing a good job.



testing testing....yup still here!

ahh summer, how I love you. We've been rather cool for the most part here in the Pacific Northwest. Only a few 2-3 day long tastes of summer. Just when I put the sweaters back in the closet, pull out the shorts (or skirts since I don’t like my legs in shorts) I have to pull them back out.... one...at. a...time, hopeful that I will put them right back. The good thing is R is now 6, and we have a neighbor girl who is 8, and HER brother is like 11. The two girls play together a lot, and the boy keeps a good eye on them without playing with them much. I let her ride her bike to that neighbor’s driveway and to the other neighbor’s driveway too. BIG privilege, which also means she sometimes, looses privileges for a day, or an afternoon.




School starts in about 2 weeks for r and 3 or 4 for H. WAHOOO. I mean, so sad, I lose time with my girls.... yeah, that's what I mean.



I had a practice interview for Assistant Store Manager (ASM) and she gave me some great feedback, some encouragement, some tools to use to learn more, and wants to work with me on refining my presentation. I have the passion and the knowledge, but if I can incorporate more "starbuckese" into my conversations I'll stick out in a crowd better. All for that!



Monday I saw a new dentist (new since move.... I loved my old one, but I think I like this one so far. I didn't cry, and that's HUGE for me. I had a VERY bad experience when I was younger and dread and hate the dentist like none other.) Tomorrow I am having a root canal done. The tooth that my last dentist said 40% chance it would be fine, and 60% we'd have to go back in and do the root canal...well, 60% here I am. That's tomorrow at a specialist, then Thurs I am going into my guy again and we are going to go over my x-rays, figure out which teeth to take care of first (what’s bothering me, what's bad, and then the rest), how to get me to my $2000 insurance limit before my insurance year runs out, etc. and then get to work!! I am in pain on three teeth; one is the one getting the root canal. I am glad to get this worked on, but I am anxious.



I ran head first into a quilting wall. I told Katie (HI KATIE!) about it on her last post, I ran out of bobbin thread and just have not been able to get motivated. I was 1/2 way though a seam too.... odd.



anyways, that’s all for now!

Sunday, June 03, 2012

blah blah blah....

I wish I had pictures, but in the meantime:

My aunt has a long arm machine (that does it all!) so when I was visiting, I got 3 quilts quilted, and backing for two tops.

The three quilts done are now bound too. Two are for Seattle Childrens' Hospital, one is for a co-worker having a baby.  I don't think she'll appreciate it as much as others I know would.  You know the type.  Oh well!  I couldn't NOT make her one especially since I already HAD the fabric.

I learned my "slightly over sized queens" are really "jumbo kings"  ooops =) I love my aunt.

I made a CUTE quilt with leftovers from the co-workers baby fabric (and will donate it) and STILL have more!! I want to track down just one fat quarter of Hungry Caterpillar fabric with numbers on it, NOT blue or yellow. Willing to bribe it or trade it out of some one's stash!

I took a class with my mom on making a tree skirt with the 9 degree wedge ruler.  The math for my strata and the wedge ruler cutting were the hard parts, the skirt (and strata) came together easy peasy!  I am donating it to the girls' school auction along with a bottle of wine (to guarantee it goes) and some place mats, maybe make some of those tree folded napkins.

a "new" car is taking precedence over a new home.  We are still looking in case there's something WONDERFUL but not being aggressive about it at the moment.  My car needs: a new catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, driver side mirror, mechanism to roll the windows up and down, trunk release thingie, somethings wrong with the ABS system (according to the light) as well as an airbag (again a light).  By the time I fix all that plus little things like cup holders with cracks, fabric wear and tear etc I am paying more than the value of the car, so my brother is helping me research more family friendly cars than a 2001 VW Bug.  I will be so sad to see that car go.

That's it for me! I have been reading along, I just feel posts with pics are better, but oh well!

Monday, April 23, 2012

I'm not lost!

I am sorry for not visiting.  I have been reading.  With no camera (well, camera, no charger-lost in the move somehow! and this computer doesn't have the little drive I used to use on mine, and mine isn't connected to the Internet) it's no fun to blog.  I can tease you all I want trying to describe what I've been working on, but I just want to SHOW you!

The girls are doing well.  R's teacher told me she's really noticed R's maturing a lot since the year started.  We are starting to work on eye contact and consequences for her actions more than punishment.  Time outs weren't working, losing privileges weren't working well but consequences seems to be working, maybe it's just the novelty of it.  Consequences can be good or bad.  you do your chose, you get desert, you don't do it, you don't get desert.  You clean your toys up, H doesn't play with them and lose something, you don't clean them up, mommy might take them away for the day (or at night for the next day)  We talk about it A LOT!

H is growing.  She looks so much like me it's scary sometimes.  R taught her how to write the letter H, and how to sit "criss cross applesauce" so that's what we do =) Mom and I were talking about her a few days ago.  She was talking about how happy she is that we can go visit her dad (more on that in a moment) and how much H reminds her of Pop-Pop. I said "really? I see ALL Nana" Mom sees the engineer, logical, thinker and planner; Nana had this gift where she could meet you and you'd be drawn to her.  She had so many life long friends she made by chance encounters.  She loved with all her heart and genuinely cared about those who came into her life.  She could make a friend anywhere.  H has that gift too.  Mom was pleased and surprised that I knew that about Nana and that I can see it in H.

So we are going on a trip soon!  My aunt who lives in Vegas has a long arm machine, and mom has gone down a few times to help her learn about it. (that what she says she's doing) and I have sent two donation quilts and one for a co-worker who is having a baby soon,  Then we discovered that I am about to stop accumulating vacation (120 hours, I am at like 109 right now!) so I need to take some...why loose out on "free" money?  we talked to my aunt, then Pop-Pop, who lives in Vegas too, and they both are free on the same weekend, so we are going down! I have an uncle who lives there too (and is with LVPD so I can't get into mischief, not that I would!) And then mom asked her other sister if she was free that weekend, and she is, so the girls and I fly down early Friday (12 days from now), and get in 10 minutes before my aunt, she will meet us in baggage claim, hopefully my uncles girlfriend can meet us at the gate, since she works for LVPD-Airport and can help me.  Mom will come down later that day.      Dad will hopefully get some work down on the remodel without his two "assistants."

No luck on the move yet, a second place mom and I liked was snatched up fast.  We are looking at one tomorrow that from the pics I am REALLY excited about so pray, cross fingers, wish luck....whatever you do that might work.  Mom and I will see it, then if we DO like it, mom and dad will go back.  That's the part we keep getting beat out of places with. 

Friday, February 17, 2012

FNSI! WAHOO

I participated in FNSI tonight.

in addition to cleaning up after H from 4-9 when she was tossing her cookies every 45 minutes or so (and R making the choice not to have root beer floats tonight because H wouldn't be able to have one too) I cleaned the kitchen for mom (she's out of town this weekend but her sister is due in on monday!)

I DID do some sewing. I made 6 "granny square blocks" I found a tutorial on pinterest (you can find me on there, lisapotpie) They are done with some Hungry Caterpillar fabrics, so fun! That will go to Seattle Children's but I don't know how big I want to make it...more than 6 blocks for sure!

I also worked on my hexagons. I have 39 hexies all basted, and three flowers done now. I have more in storage that I can't get to right now, I think I have 32 basted in storage too, but I am so happy to be working ahead on these that I do have. I had 20 done at the start of the day! And I am tired enough to not care that this paragraph is poorly written and my lit teachers are cringing reading it =)

I REALLY need to get my camera working. I thought I had it for a bit today but then nope. Dad is out of town with mom too....he's a tech master!

Sunday, February 05, 2012

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!

we will NOT be watching the game

We WILL be eating the snacks

After helping Mom get the house ready for her sisters visit in a week and a half (or at least getting a head start because with two girls and a construction project it will be an unending project)

I will be working on Hexagones!

I finished my first flower last week!

I bought two more colors to make more with

I can't WAIT to show you! (darn camera/computer/self!)

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

my weekend

thank goodness for PlayDoh! Who'd have thought that the girls would play so well for long periods of time together with it. I am now trying to save it for weekends/days off because....


mama got to sew!


This last weekend I had a 1/2 day Friday (4.75 hours) and sat and sun off, and closed on Monday (so I left the house at 11:30am) My mom hightailed it up to visit a friend in Canada, and have lunch with my brother and his girlfriend. My brother came home for Sat to watch the 24 Hours of Daytona with my dad and weld something, and help dad with something in the master suite. Dad was watching the race and working on the remodel...the girls PLAYED PLAYDOH and I took over moms sewing space with my projects and machine.

I got the piecing of the Spooktacular Chains quilt finished, just have to draw out and do the applique. Just as I wanted it's an over sized queen, most likely pushing king coverlet. That ones for ME!

There were 4 left over 6" blocks (finished size) plus a 13"X15" strip from the middle thingies on the quilt (when I get pics for you you will understand) that I put together and will add onto with other left overs. It will be a little wild for me, and a lot of fun to see what it ends up looking like. I think that will go to Seattle Children's' Hospital.

I made a top with a Kona Cottons Solids Charm Pack I won ages ago. I just took the squares and added white sashing. It needs a border but I don't know what to use yet for that. Mom and I will go together sometime and pick something out. That's for SCH!

I found some orphan blocks from a valentines quilt I made for the Hospital along with some 2" left over strips. I had one more block's worth of pieces cut out, I don't know why I didn't make that block at the same time, and enough scraps to make another block with a little improv. I then had 12 blocks, used the 2" strips to frame those blocks, and stitched them together, 3X4 I think the blocks finished at 8" or so, so a small quilt but perfect. Headed to SCH too. It also needs a border, no idea what to use for that either!

Lastly I am two hexagons away from finishing my first flower. They are basted, and I have a ton more hexies basted too, but those are flower centers and I have most the rest of the pieces in storage still. I am doing prints in the middle with just one ring of petals in solids. Since most the fabric is not with me, I don't know what solids I need to get to go with most the centers, and I can't remember what the line of fabric is called....oops. at least I am not in a hurry to cross that one off my list!

pictures will come soon....I hope!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

pick one!

sorry for the second post!

one of my co-workers is going to have a baby in Aug. It's too early to tell boy or girl, but I do want to make her a baby quilt. I like the new quilt on the moda bakeshop, so it's a possibility, but aside from the pattern should I make something with:

The Bernstein Bears
http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_welcome_to_bear_country.pdf

or

Spot
http://www.andoverfabrics.com/Grid.php?GroupName=Spot
and/or
http://www.andoverfabrics.com/Grid.php?GroupName=Goodnight%20Spot

or

Just go with the original inspiration and stick with the pez?
http://www.unitednotions.com/fcc_pezzy_print.pdf
which I'd just go with that pattern instead of trying to come up with my own.

there's so much more I want to share with you, but I dont want THREE posts in one day! hehe!

the winter storm

You all know I now live in the Seattle area right? And did you hear about our snow? If only the computer I use here worked like mine...or if I got mine out of it's moving box and had dad fix it. The girls spent a lot of time outside these past few days. In the snow. they got into and out of all their snow gear on their own. (big deal for H!) but we couldn't find their winter gloves, just their knit ones...so both got ziploc baggies taped over their gloves to keep their hands dry and them outside a little longer.

I still had to get to and from work, even though headquarters ("corporate") was closed, and our distribution center was shut down for three days because of no power. I had to open the store and be there by 4:45, so I left my house by 3:20 every morning. I couldn't make it up my hill, so I parked at the local 7-11 and dad got me in his truck. Mind you I drive a 2001 beetle, and it's AWESOME in the snow, but the grade on my hill, especially on the bottom was a little too steep. Especially without momentum. I tried three streets my first day, and one the second. Dad was nice enough to drive me down to my car in the morning, after remote starting his truck so it was warm, AND scraped my windows and let me stay in the truck. Nice dad! I worked my 8 hours, and then some off the clock to help out some, and was home by 3 most days the week but not until 6pm one of the days. I had to get gas for my car, and for the generator. We did lose power for about a day and a half (that's how I made it up my hill the third day. They had major league plowed and sanded one of the roads to help the PSE guys get up to restore power to the area.) now most the snow is melted, we have some major wind storms going through and temps rose quickly with lots of rain, so flooding is an issue in some areas. Mind you this whole time my manager was on vacation, and it was extended two days because our airport was cancelling flights.

What really tickles my funny bone about this storm we had is not that people don't know how to drive and almost everything shuts down. I'll admit it's a totally different thing trying to get around out here in the snow than in Montana, but it's that people FREAK OUT about it. They panic, they are dumb, there are so many accidents, one news station even reported that they stopped counting after the 6,500 point in one county. No one remembers a storm like this before....it happens every year. At least once. Usually in late Jan, early Feb. Every year. Usually for one week or so. Why isn't anyone prepared? Why don't people remember last years? make plans in advance? So funny!!!

Monday, January 09, 2012

little facts

merry late Christmas, happy new year, and um...anything else I missed!

Not much to report around here. I am almost done with my Halloween quilt, and I found some of the fabric I want. Just not the green, but I think I can live without it if I have to. I will keep looking until the last possible moment, but I can be happy with what I have.

I am working on editing the patterns I want to make the girls quilts with. I "need" some of Moda's Porcelain Bella Solids, but don't want to buy anything else. I will keep that on the back burner until some of my other projects are finished to see if I have enough tip money saved up, and can sneak it into the house. =) I could use white, I have a bolt of Moda Bella White, but it's just off enough it would bother me. Most likely no one else, but me.

Next week we will be applying for Kindergarten for R and Preschool 1 for H! WAHOO!!!

I don't know if I shared the whole fiasco with my Child Care Assistance, but basically I was kicked out of the program because I didn't have an active child support case against A going (or receiving support) and I passed my 30 day period. The next week (so like 36 days) I got my letter saying my case is now "active" and I filled out a TON of paperwork, so I have been calling all morning to get back on the wait list for Support, but keep getting "all circuits are busy now, please call again later, good bye." and the one time I got through I was disconnected. How frustrating. But it'll work out in the end!

I joined the quilters group at my church. I am 30-35 years younger than the youngest member of the group. I was expecting that. They were not expecting me. But I think it will be good. I will learn some things, I will share youth and energy and interest. They will know the art is not dying out with their fellow quilters....I am excited about it!

I also joined the churches prayer line and am trying to make it to a pray and play group with H. Darn work keeps getting in the way.

R is in swim lessons. She loves it. It's about time she joined too! 5 1/2 and never before been in swim lessons! SHESH!

H has so many words, loves puzzles, is so stinkin' smart it kills me sometimes. She looks so sweet and Innocent and little, then you turn your back and she's gotten into something she couldn't possibly been able to get into and you can't help but laugh!


AS for PHD/WIP's for me....I just want to work on the list I started last year and never got to finishing since the move and I am still not in my "own" space. It's hard to haul everything to my friends house, set up, sew, make sure the kids are playing nicely, eat, stop fights, pack everything up and then go home. But you do what you've got to do!