Last One

As of today, all the baby grands are back to school.

My bestest 8th grader

So glad Leia didn’t have to wear the “boot” she’s been in since hyper-extending the top of her foot in volleyball practice last week. 

Ouch!

Back To School

School started today for Leanne and Jaclyn and we are all thrilled.

My favorite 5th grader

Jac spent an hour at kindergarten orientation yesterday,

meeting her teacher, 

learning her way around the classroom with a scavenger hunt

and getting comfortable with the idea of big girl school.

And her reaction to her first full day? “I. HAD. SO. MUCH. FUN!”

I think it was a tad stressful though. Jac’s usually a very light, picky eater, but when we took her to lunch today to celebrate, she polished off half a waffle, eggs, 2 strips of bacon and a glass of OJ.

Gotta store up energy for More. Fun. tomorrow.

Before and After

After almost 4 months, the new windows are here!

Love the clean, fresh look 

 Thankful for curtains that will hide the a/c unit and the neighbor’s roof.


and we’re *really* going to love the insulation and warmth this winter. 

Well worth the wait (and the $$).

Prep And Treasures

We’ve been planning a window remodel since May, so we've put off cleaning out our master closet until the windows were ready for install. Hey, no point in moving all that crap stuff twice, right?

Hubby got lucky since it was all the stuff on my side, not his, that had to come out.

It took the better part of two days to sort through everything (Jac slowed me down helped today) but it’s done. 

AND I found a few treasures (including my favorite mask, which had been AWOL since our trip to Mammoth). . . .

my Girl Scout sashes from when my family lived in Tennessee and Georgia, before we moved to California; baby clothes from when our kids were infants, the best of which I passed on to Leanne and Jac for their dolls;

and this fabric I have no memory of purchasing, 

which, based on papers in the same bin, was well before I started quilting, 

 Christmas bunnies!

some of which will go perfectly with the Christmas quilt I’m planning for this year. Yay! Now we just need to survive construction, and putting the closet back together, so I can get back to sewing. Double yay!

Stash Up

Friday’s run to Old Town Quilt Shop in Orcutt was a big success. 

 Toscana Moody Blues, Kona Graphite, Century Solids Storm

Judging by the 50+ empty bolts behind the counter, their “skinny bolt” sale - if there’s less than 3 yards on the bolt, that fabric is 35% off - was hugely popular. 

I had a list and pretty much stuck to it, coming home with only two fabrics I don’t have plans for already. But how could I pass up that brown and teal batik?? Especially when it was marked down from just over $24 to just under $6. I do love a bargain!

I also picked up a jelly roll (not on sale) and a background fabric (35% off)

to make this Strip Strip Star that’s been on my must-make list for awhile. 

 Lunch stop, The Homestead in old town Orcutt, had amazing sandwiches. Definitely going back!

It and a second aliens quilt, using the blue and grays in the first pic, will be going back out the door as gifts as soon as I finish them. And with school starting on Wednesday, I’ll have lots more time to do fun quilty stuff (fingers crossed). 

Siblings

Donovan, giggling like mad: “I squish you like a BUG!”

Leia, laughing: “Whatever, dude.”

No Jackie? No problem. He gets all the cars! (He really misses Jac when she’s not here.)

Donovan wasn’t sure what to make of the rain. “It’s wetting me!”

And yes, Leia wears those earphones constantly. Even when she’s asleep. Yet another sign she’s officially a teenager. 

Alien Progress

Woot! Making progress on this.

Just have the outer borders left to do before it heads off for long-arming. 

Oh, and waiting for the backing fabric to arrive. 

I love the ease of internet shopping but I still want the instant gratification of brick and mortar stores. 

Heading north tomorrow for a quick shop in Orcutt. Their sale started today so I hope there’s still some goodies left by the time I get there!

Entertaining

Jac wasn’t feeling so hot yesterday (allergies) 

so I needed something new! and exciting! to entertain her.

Madam Grumpasaurus gave a big thumbs down to digging for dinosaurs, her usual favorite,

so I brought out the big guns and turned her loose with the spray nozzle and garden hose. 

Success! She didn’t even care that she was getting wet, something she usually hates.

Bonus points for puddle stomping

And her response when I mentioned that her shoes were on wrong? “I know that, Grandma. It’s how I like them.” That’s my Jac!

Summering

Hard to believe summer is almost over.

Addison is already back in school - HIGH school. How did that happen so fast?? (photo by her mom)

The rest of us are making the most of these last weeks, with double-decker blanket forts,

iPad-ing (especially when grandma isn’t around to say “Go play with your sister/cousin/brother!”),

naps,

hanging out waiting for Donovan to wake up (with an iPad, of course),

helping Pop,

and making up games with your best buddy.

And did I mention iPad-ing? 

Play-do crafting

The plan, as of this week at least, is that all the girls will be back to in-person school this fall. I’m going to miss them but I’m also looking forward to all those quilting hours. Come on, September!