I did not like myself today.

Today I had a terrible attitude!  My personality is usually happy-go-lucky.  Things might frustrate me during the day, but I can usually shake it off and move on.  Today was very different!  Everyone was on my nerves, in my way or just pissing me off!  My nerves were raw!  I tried to smile and tell myself to relax...it didn't work.  I kept singing the Eagle's song "Get Over It"...it didn't work.  I didn't even like myself today!  I was in the bathroom, washing my hands today, giving myself a pep talk.  Saying 'quit acting so pissy. Smile. It's Friday. You are off this weekend. What is so bad in your world that you are acting like this for?!?'  I walked out of the bathroom a little less frustrated...then someone pissed me off again (over nothing, I'm sure).  If I could have a dollar for every time I rolled my eyes today or clinched my jaw, I'd be able to buy my new sectional this weekend!

To anyone reading this that had the misfortune of putting up with my pissy, frustrated attitude today. I AM SORRY!

In trying to figure out what is up with me because I am so out of character, I wonder if it's because "Aunt Flow" is visiting for the 1st time in over a year?!?  Who knows?  I've never been moody or even very crampy during the dreaded monthly visits.  This better not be a new norm for me!  I hate bad attitudes!  I certainly don't want to turn into one of those grumpy people!

On my way home, I turned on my music that usually puts me in a good mood.  I rolled the windows down (turned the heat on).  Sang.  Prayed.  When I got home & opened the mail, I thought things might really be turning around...the power bill was lower.  I got a sweet thank you note. A little (but wanted) paycheck from my flexi job.  I heard the music blasting from upstairs.  I knew Jacob was up there working out.  I opened Lucy's door, she was peacefully sleeping.  I went in the bonus room to see Bella dancing and she lit up when she saw me.  I dropped to my knees and got a big hug and kiss.  I knew my day was better!  I got a little hubby-lovin'.  Turned on Jillian's 30-day Shred and got busy!  I never work out after working a 12 hour shift, but I was working out all my frustration from today!  It felt good.  I feel good!  Even though old "Flow" hasn't left, my bad attitude is!  Good riddance.

Me working out my frustrations.  Laughing because I know how stupid I look doing work out videos.  

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Rag Quilt

I'm so happy that I did my 1st ever rag quilt!  I love the way it turned out!  You know how I said that I love  baskets, well I love quilts too!  Jacob's grandmother has made us and Bella quilts and we use them all the time.  I saw a rag (strip) quilt on Pinterest, that was a good type of quilt for me to try.  I visited my favorite Sew Close to Home fabric store and found some adorable fabric.  Ms Sue and her good friend Nancy gave me tons of advice and even told me to come to her shop to make it.  I took them up on the offer.  It was wonderful have their advice with each step.  The atmosphere of the shop was so cool.  There were several people who came in and out all day long.  Some came and sewed on their own projects, some just sat and talked and there were a few that just stopped by on their lunch break.  It was a perfect hang-out for these kind, crafty, christian women. Even though I didn't know any of them well, they were all so kind to me...checking on me often and giving me advice.  I know it wouldn't be anywhere this cute without their help!

How beautiful is this!?!  Right across her house is a cotton field...even better!  Ms Sue's basement is set up perfectly as her shop.

I bought 7 different patterns.  I tore 70 - 9 inch squares of the fabric, then 35 - 8 inch flannel squares for the filling.  I did the same "birdie" fabric for the back, so would be easier for me to recognize the back and the front of the squares.

 Then I made 35 "sandwiches'.  Birdie back side, flannel filling, then different front-of-quilt side.  

I sewed and X to hold them together. 

My 1st square!  I was so excited.

 So I kinda forgot to take pictures for the most of the project.  After all the squares were sown in X's.  We laid them all out and figured out our pattered for quilt.  While it is random, I didn't want the pinks, browns, or greens side-by-side.  Then we carefully stacked them and pinned what number row it was and went to the sewing machine again.  I sewed them together to and made a row, sat it aside and did it again.  Once I finished all 7 of my rows, then I sewed each row together!  I was so excited at this point because it was finally looking like a quilt!  I sewed around the edges of the blanket for good measures.  The next step was to clip little slits to "rag" it up a bit.  I washed it and am under it now!  It smells and feels so soft!  And looks adorable of course!  It took me 5 1/2 hours of uninterrupted time to tear and sew, 15 minutes to cut my slits and whatever wash/dry time to complete.

This was the PERFECT quilt for me.  I ONLY do simple square crafts.  Sewing several squares to create one big square blanket = my kind of project!  I also love how it isn't meant to be perfect.  No one will ever notice all the places that I messed up!  A rag quilt is meant to look cute, cozy and worn! 

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A morning at the Zoo

I work with a wonderful group of ladies.  We are blessed enough to all be going through this life stage together and figuring out how to be good mommies.  We are constantly getting advice from each other.  Not comparing, saying my kids are better than yours...but laughing at stories about our crazy kiddos and how our lives are now nothing like they were, but busier, crazier, louder and so much better.  When each of us were on maternity leave we would get together and eat at the Cheesecake Factory.  It had a huge variety for food, they give the babies bananas & bread for free and it was usually loud enough that we weren't causing a scene.  It was always funny to see the waitresses try to figure out how to seat all of us, each of us needed a high chair or sling...or both!  But with the infants growing into toddlers and the weather warming up, we decided to meet at the zoo one morning!  We had so much fun and so did our babies.  We had 7 babies and there were 5 of us.  Some of the kids couldn't make it and others were supposed to come, but couldn't because they had to work or had sick babies.  

I feel completely blessed to work with such wonderful ladies!

I asked for a smile...this is what I got.

Bella and Brookelynn

Lucy just sat in the back of the double stroller and enjoyed the ride!

We packed a lunch and ate under the trees before heading home!

I know that I'm a whiter shade of pale, but I am trying to avoid the cancer-causing tanning bed.

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Easter 2012

I had a good Easter. We went to church. It was a good service. It was Lucy's 1st time going, I'm ashamed to say that we haven't gone since I've had her. I'll admit that I've become one of those who go Easter & Christmas and other times sprinkled throughout the year. But not regularly. I plan on changing that. I enjoy going to church. It encourages me, invigorates my commitment to Christ. Most importantly, I want my girls to know Christ & accept Him into their hearts. I want them to find that peace & hope that only He can provide. I know they are young, but Bella, at the age of 2 is very smart & very aware of her surroundings and our actions. I want for her to know that her Mommy & Daddy love the Lord and believe that church is important. I want to teach them by showing them that worshiping & learning about Christ is a regular thing. Not something that's important only a few times a year!

When we woke up, Bella was excited to discover her basket & search for the Easter eggs that the bunny left for her. After church we ate lunch, dyed eggs & had a fun Easter egg hunt with our family. All that fun wore out those girls. They were asleep in about 5 minutes after buckling them in the car. Jacob washed my car. I messed around outside a little, then headed in for a nap myself. Woke up in time to eat dinner, watch our show, Ax Men, snuggle, giggle & watch the girls play. Then maybe my most favorite moment of the day...I rocked Lucy to sleep, I sang to her and said a long prayer with her in my arms. For a while, she just stared into my eyes, flashing a smile every now & then. Those sweet hands would reach for my face as a softly sang. It was such a tender moment that I wish I could relive for the rest of my life. But I know these days are passing too quickly. And like Bella did, this phase will eventually pass & I'll no longer be rocking an infant. That thought breaks my heart.

Here's some of our fun from Easter:

Lucy is checking out her basket.

She's excited about it!

Dyeing the eggs.

Finding them...

 See the concrete pig hidden in the tall grass?  Well, Bella didn't.  All she saw was the orange egg on its head.  She reached for it then noticed what it was, snatched her hand back and yelled "Ahhh, PIGGY!"

There was a prize egg with $1 for each of the grand babies.  Bella found hers and was disappointed it wasn't chocolate.  In her little mind, everything is free.  She'll learn soon enough.

Uncle Bobo & Papa hunting eggs with her.

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Easter, years past...

2012

Mamaw's Japanese Maple and these pictures is one of the reasons why that's one of my favorite trees!

 Last Easter, we shared our BIG SURPRISE.  We let Bella "announce it".

2011

 2010

2008

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My (crazy) family, that I love so dearly

My family get-togethers consist of: eating a wide variety of delicious food, roaming around Mamaw's yard, laughing, being silly and taking pictures.  I love it!  I always look forward to hanging out with my crazy family!

Mimi, Aunt KK, Lucy

Camera hogs...my sisters!

Bella and her sweet daddy.

TRADITION.  Mamaw and her grand and great-grand children.  We have always took pictures on Mamaw's front steps.  Funny how as we've grown those steps have gotten smaller.

Crazy

My beautiful girls and I staring straight into the sun, trying to take a picture.

Our little family.  Now that's an AMAZING LOVE.

My wonderful family.  I love how it is growing every year!  

Daddy with his girls!

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