How I keep my books looking decent

I searched up and down for an option to keep my soft cover teacher manuals looking ok. Contact paper might bubble, I could not find a premade to fit, what to do? I sewed a cover. It took one evening while watching Casablanca. I just measured and sewed.

I love toile as well as brown and blue so the fabric and ribbon was a no-brainer. It is still available at Wal-mart.

I reinforced the cover with a cereal box cut to size. An even better option is to use the quilted “Vera Bradley-esque” fabric. It is a bit stiffer.

I sewed in a ribbon bookmark and added coordinating tabs out of scrapbooking items that I laminated with packing tape. I used this all last year and it is ready for a new tm for this year.

Rescue Me

We have a boogie board that has seen way too much action. Keith stole my thunderon this one but Gilli and I were playing in the pool.  I was holding the boogie board down with my feet. It shot out of the air and hit Gill in the face. Blood was pouring, she was screaming. I found the source of the blood, her mouth.  Her two loose teeth were knocked out of her mouth. Where were the teeth? 

http://keithdeno.com/adosr/?s=TOOTH&x=0&y=0

This morning I saw a small shape on the boogie board.

I ran down to the pool, yep, a mouse. He was rescued.

Spotted!

Is this the famous cat whisperer I have heard so much about?  Note how she avoids eye contact and puts her hand out.

Ultimate Gift

It is Wednesday.  My Grandma’s wake and funeral were very nice. I hope to have some pictures of some of the flowers and figurines.

I allowed Ollie and Abby to help me making the arrangement  I brought.

As you can see, they were not very excited :-)  (Yes, I bought Ollie a belt, no he didn’t have it on)

Here is Christian and some of his friends at church.

My uncle sent up some things from my Grandma’s, including cards the children had made her.  He sent the above, knee socks with the flyer. It is hard to read on here but it says : For five year old girl  and it has colors.  That was so Grandma !

He also sent this, which I totally forgot about. It is a hankie holder I made for her out of a curtain that I loved.  Grandma was hard to shop for. She was a child of the depression and that defined her in many ways.  When she received a gift she would say “ That’s nice, I’m putting it away”

Grandma’s last and ultimate gift was bringing her seven children together. It was a very special  4 days I will not forget.

Reunion

Today we had a picnic at my Aunt Barb’s house.

It was so  amazing to have the whole family together. My Mom’s oldest sister flies in tomorrow. When she arrives, all 7 siblings will be together.

This is my cousin Vivianne Isn’t she sweet?

Meet Aunt Betty, she is an amazing cook!

The food was yummy. Note Ollie’s plate.:-) My Aunts work sent a ton of food and her friends also sent food and flowers. What a sweet blessing.

Keith has better pictures, I just can’t get them to cut and paste!

I need to hit the rack. The wake is tomorrow afternoon.

http://www.legacy.com/timesunion-albany/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=130284591

Friends

We had a great time reconnecting with some old friends tonight. We shared and laughed. The fellowship was awesome. My friend is trying to help me understand that we cannot do the Christian life yourself. We need to be fully relying on Christ:

Thy kindness Lord

Thy patience Lord

praying throughout the day.

One of my favorite quotes of the evening was this (read sarcastically):

Homeschooling is the way, the truth and the life, no man gets an education but by homeschooling.

God is bigger than that, I want to follow Him for the plan for my life. 

Oh Lord, more of You, less of me

Psalm 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day.

14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Thank you Father for a new day.

High Chair Cover Tutorial

I could be accused of false advertising for calling this a tutorial but you get what you pay for :-)

I started with a changing pad that was the right size.

I found a toile remnant for .25> Loosely measure and cut out to cover pad.

Use a lazy time saving method of sewing that doesn’t involve ironing.  Gently tuck your seam under as you go. Allow the original binding to show.

Cry because your last needle broke. Go to the fabric store and buy a new needle. Finish sewing around the edge.

Enjoy a touch of toile!

Do not allow any child to touch the highchair, let alone eat in it.

On a personal note, thank you for the kind wishes and prayers. Aunt Ruth, I can’t find your email again. Please call or email Keith about your project. Oh~ what are these purses I am hearing about?  Also note I didn’t paint the high chair cream :-)

Grandma

My Grandma, my mom’s mom died today. I normally do not blog my deep feelings, that is for me and who I choose. I wish I didn’t take for granted that she would be here longer. I have a blanket the kids and I made her that I never gave to her. She would have loved it, it had roses and birds. She always cut out articles and recipes and mailed them to me. She remembered my children’s birthdays and Christmas even though it was so hard for her physically and financially and I didn’t want her to. We complained about politics and the price of milk together. She was not a grandma like I imagine when I hear the word “Grandma”, cuddly and warm with a cookie and an open lap, but she was *my* Grandma and my children’s Great-Grandma. I miss her already.

I know I have “Issues”

There was the ugliest, craziest fish at the doctor’s office today. As the kids got close to the side he would swim up,

and kiss the glass!

The kiddos were kissing the fish through the glass!

I showed the children where I used to work.

No I was not a tattoo artist. This used to be my office when I was an admissions representative for a small college, I shared it with a financial aid officer.

What to say about this picture on my niece, Mrs. Everything. I am at a loss for words. :-) I love that kid!

 

They had fun today!

Sir Bear, Defender of French Fries

Gill built this cool toy out of CambriBlocks.

Eggstra Special Monday

Today we picked up our projects from the Fair.

Pictured here is a ribbon winner for her My Trip Around the World book. Great job Grace!  After that we walked around Ballston Spa a little. Gilli is going to be a city dweller I think. Every time we drive through a city she will beg to get out of the car and walk.

Ollie is swimming without floaties!  Way to go!

Chen shared his new play phone with Sophia.

We went up to SPAC for a running club. It was great! We made some new friends.

First we ran on our own.

Then we found the group. It was not the group we were looking for but they were great.

This is my purse.

I felt an odd shaped lump in the pocket.  I opened the pocket to see what it was and I found……

Yes folks, a hard boiled egg.Loose. In my purse.

What more can I say?

Even her desserts are pretty!

Nanette baked this raspberry pie for us! I cannot wait for tomorrow to eat it.

 

My mom stopped by with Julianna while Keith’s mom took Christian and Gillianne.  We gave Julianna  matroyska dolls for her birthday.

Saturday Cookout

We had friends over today!  It was a blessing to see them and their children.

 

This is Charlie swimming.  He is such a happy boy!  Kevin and Keith took the big kids to the gun club while heather and I stayed with the 5 and under set.

 

The children had fun swimming.

Julie helped by watching Sophie while I got dinner out.

We roasted marshmallows.  Gilli dropped her. Keith said it is only a little grass………..

oookkkkkk

Keith did everything. I was busy but he cleaned everything, cooked almost everything, I have no idea what I was doing.

A sidebar I noticed was what a good listener Heather was to all the children. She asked them what they like to be called. (Ollie said “O”) I thought that was so respectful and modeling kindness. She also has a very nice structured day. I was thankful to chat with her and glean some ideas.

A Song by Keith

Our guest blogger tonight is Keith. OK I just cat and pasted from his blog www.keithdeno.com/adosr .

a departure of sound reasoning smashing the logic barrier

“the fanboi”

the “fanboi” – a parody on the song “the boxer”, by simon and garfunkel

by sparky46

I am just a poor boy and my story’s seldom told

I’ve squandered my existence for an iphone and a macbook pro, such a fanboi I am

My wife does not jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear

And disregards the rest, hmmmm

When I spent all my savings, I was happy full joy

Mesmerized by aluminum

‘til I got home and showed my wife – then I was running scared

Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the rejected people go

Looking for the special places  only fanboi’s would know

Buy-buh-buy

Buy-buh-buy-buy-buy

Buy-buh-buy-buy-buy-buy-buy-buy

Buy-buh-buy

Having spent all my wages, I’m looking for a second job, but I get no offers

Just a come-on from the Apple salesperson at Crossgates Mall

I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome

I took some comfort there

Now the years are rolling by me, they are rocking even me

The Aluminum’s still shiny, and I’ve upgraded my iphone to 6g

No it isn’t strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same

And a mac fanboi I’ve remained the same

Buy-buh-buy

Buy-buh-buy-buy-buy-buh-buy-buy

Buy-buh-buy

Buy-buh-buy-buy-buy-buy-buy-buy

Buy-buh-buy

And I’m laying out last week wages, buying the latest gadgets

But these stupid things are bleeding me, bleeding me

But I never leave

In the house stands my wife, and laid back usually

But she carries the reminders

Of how I broke the bank that she punched me and she beat beat me

‘til I cried out for mercy in my shame

“We have no food – We have no food” she exclaims

And a fanboi I remain

Buy-buh-buy…

Night Fever :-)

Tonight we had a ladies night out to get the Stef, our mom’s and the bridesmaids together. It was a blast.

 

Tricia and the girls enjoyed smelling the teas.  The chocolates and vanillas were a favorite.  What was not?  100 Monkeys.  I think whoever invented and named that one has some unresolved issues.

We really loved our  towers of food. I think my mom has a crush on hers.

Ann Maries (yes, that is plural) sparring over who is paying.

It was like a fancy award show in that we all received a tote bag of lovelies.  Thank you Ann Marie and Stef!

We laughed all night. It was great to meet Liz and Amy. Amy is not pictured because she is sick and I didn’t think it would be appropriate for me to knock on her door with a camera. Catching up with Ann Maries, Stef and Tricia was splendid. I can’t wait until we can get together again.