Making a List....

of things that family is (and others are) requesting for me to sew for them.
So far....
DD #1 has requested a scarf, hat and mittens in black
DD #2 has requested a scarf, hat and mittens in black or another color, some rice heat therapy bags for use with her massage therapy clients and a tote bag for her business.
SIL has requested some boxers "that don't fall apart as soon as you buy them like the ones from the store".
and I want to make for myself a fleece blanket, and a couple of jumpers for summer, and work on 2 different gd some matching outfits.....
and a gal at work is wanting me to make her a "Colts" purse.

I'm going to make a list and hang it on my wall, so I can check things off as I go along.

How do you all keep track of things you want to do?

Well, it's finished for another year....

Christmas, that is.
Although, I do have to admit that I have already been contemplating as to what I can get started on for next year! LOL!
The blankets were a hit, from Grandpas to grandchildren, Mom had her apron on before it was completely unwrapped, and the girls tried on their scarves and hats, right here in the house! So, yea, Christmas gift giving was a success. We also baked bread and gave out fresh loaves and jars of homemade apple butter.
I have the best gift of all.....
eternal life with Christ Jesus. He was (and always will be) the "Reason for the Season" around here!

Beessings to you all, and I pray your holidays are just as wonderful as they can be....

Julie :)

Brrr.... Baby it's C-O-L-D outside!

As I sit and write, it's a bone chilling -1 degrees with a wind chill of -21 degrees!
I took our son to work with me, and now that we're home, he's having an attitude because the girls won DVD players each yesterday at a Christmas party. What his little pouty self doesn't realize, is that dh and I had already decided to go and buy him one of his own this AM after we drop them off at school. I know he's only 11, and just isn't thinking that as a possibility, but I get so irritated at his hateful, mean grumpy attitude toward his sisters because they got something he didn't get.
*SIGH*
Anyhoo~ I came home this AM to a freezing house (dd didn't get up and tend to the fire like her Dad told her to, and it went out completely) and now the furnace is on, shooting up the gas bill... AND to top it off.... our alarm system is beeping telling us it needs a new battery, and now we have to do that today AND get grumpy butt his DVD player....before we can go to bed! (I worked last night, and DH had to run to Kentucky for his job).
Haha! And life goes on.....
I did however get two large boxes from work that I plan to start filling with heat packs and tote bags for dd in Colorado for her massage therapy clients, and spring/summer outfits for a beautiful granddaughter..... so that's a good point.
Not much else to chatter about, so I guess I'll run off and tend to the fire and try to get it brewing hot to warm up this house! LOL!
~Blessings~

December 19, 2008

Things here on the homefront have been fairly busy with preparations for the holiday and all. I've been busy wrapping, sending, sewing and sending some more....

Sent out 2 big boxes to Colorado just on Wednesday, and then another box on Thursday.

In the midst of all the hub-bub.... we had another blessing to add to the clan....

Welcome our grand daughter, Payton.... Born 12-17-08 at 5pm, she weighs in at 7 lbs.

Isn't she just simply beautiful?

We are so blessed to be able to add her to our circle of love in our family.

Now Grandma has to get busy making teeny dresses for a young lady! :)

Christmas crafting....

A little gal at work has talked about my purse I made for myself, and I decided to make her one for a gift exchange we're having. This was a different pattern, and I used the rest of the blue jean fabric from Abi's skirt, and the lining was from an old skirt that my oldest dd had torn the zipper out of when she was in high school (she's now 28... LOL!~ can you say "pack rat"?) but I really love how it turned out. I still need to find a closure for it, and get that on, but I just love it!

And the little jumper is for one of our granddaughters. Kyle (Grandma's Calliou) was promised this fabric before she was even born. A lady at a flea market gave it to me when I purchased just a few remnants from her, and she didn't want the rest.... yea!

December 10, 2008

Today my baby girl turns 23.

Where did time go? As I sit here and type, my mind reminisces to her birth, the hard labor that resulted in nothing moving, then an xray that determined she had her shoulder in the birth canal and her arm over her head. Ended up having a C section.

Always did things her own way, that one.

We stayed in the hospital for 5 days together, her and I. She nursed and slept, and I was amazed at her beauty and her gentle tiny features and the complete and total little girl looks.

Her Grandma and Grandpa showed up together, probably one of the last times I remember seeing them together, my parents  both arrived and held this tiny bundle, and marveled at her. How perfect she was (and is) and how precious she was (and is).

As she grew, she excelled in everything she put her hand to. Or should I say, her voice. A marvelous singer and budding actress, her antics began early in her school years. Always dubbed "the smart one" by her teachers, she proved it by bringing home good grades.

At age 14, she began to work at a retirement community in the dietary section.

Always did things her own way, that one.

In her High School years, she often took on more than she could chew, in the form of drama, choir, Devilettes... oh my... the list goes on and on. All while continuing to work and keep decent grades.

She was also very active in church. Singing was her passion, and she has such a lovely voice. She sang straight to the Lord, and I know He blessed her just a little more each time she opened her mouth to give Him praise.

Then, after High School, my baby girl joined the Army.

Always did things her own way, that one.

She knew she was bound for Iraq, and took that challenge without fear, for she always knew the Lord was with her.

But the Lord heard this Momma's cries when my baby's many years of dance had done something to her hips, and she was honorably discharged.

Although she met the man of her dreams while in the Army, and married him, and they live entirely TOO far away from me, I can live with that. Knowing that God has been with her every step of the way, and will continue to do so, makes a Mom feel better inside.

She realizes this now, being a Mom herself, of two of the most beautiful grandchildren in the universe, that sometimes you just have to give them back to god and let Him handle their lives.

My baby is also a college graduate, and is a licensed LMT as a profession.

I am so proud of her. She's a great Mom, LMT, and wife to a wonderful husband.

But most of all.... she's a perfect and wonderful daughter to me, and I love her more and more every day.

I just wanted to put this blog entry in as a Happy Birthday to my most precious little girl..... my princess..... my baby.....

I love you forever Amanda "Leeover".

Feeding my addiction....

I went to JoAnn's yesterday, trying to contain myself (did fairly well too... bought what I went for ~~~ this time), and ended up buying a pattern for skirts for the girls and a slacks and shirt pattern for our son.
We've decided to send them to a Christian school (after homeschooling for 2 years), and they will need "professional dress" as it states in the handbook.
I am going back to school myself in March and cannot think of any way possible to effectively teach the children while trying to learn things myself! LOL!
So... off I go to the sewing room to get busy today!

Oh... I guess I had better clarify.... Miss Amelia, the "I'm15goingon30" teenager (who, by the way is turning 16 today) had a decent "grown-up" conversation with her Dad and I, and has agreed to wear skirts or dresses at least 3 days a week, and we consented to allow slacks (of a decent sort) the other 2 days.

So, I guess compromise has reared its head once again in the world of raising teens. Guess that's what it's all about though, huh?

 

December 1, 2008

Well now.. this year is almost gone... slipping by as quietly as it came....

I finally got the tree up and running....had to go to the store twice for lights, but that was ok, cept they had the ones we wanted, and we had already bought the very last box! DH fixed em up for me though... he's good like that.

She's only partially finished in this pic.... and my camera just doesn't do it justice, but you get the gist, I think.

I've not slept at all today (and worked last night). Well, maybe a 15 minute catnap about 3pm. I've been trying to work on an apron for my mother in law for Christmas, but it is wanting to argue with me, so I set it off to the side, and told DH that I would try again after about 4 days sleep! LOL! I did finish more gingerbread men to hang on my tree though!

Here I am, don't I compliment the tree nicely? :)

Dh has to drive to Ky again tonight. I'll miss him, but I think I am going to crawl in bed and sleep the time away. He didn't get much rest today because we went and toured the christian school we are wanting the children to go to, and then I came home and started on the tree. He'll be a tired pup tonight.  Keep him in your prayers that he comes home safely, ok?

As I said, we went and checked out the school today, and Abi LOVED it! She is so excited! I had to fill out a scholarship paper to see if we qualify for financial assistance, and we do, but we just have to wait and see how much. I am going to turn in the paperwork tomorrow, and the lady that spoke with us and showed us around, told us it is a possibility that the children could be in before Christmas. How cool would that be?

Logan's really not that shy, but he wanted to say that he really loved the school too! Especially the part of getting to play basketball next year! Wa-Hoo! :) He saw the gym, and the outside play area. We think we may start him in 4th grade again this year, and if he gets ahead, well..... GREAT! But we feel that he needs the little extra help another year can give him. And truthfully, I don't even think he realizes it. He's just so excited! He's already asking for button down shirts and cargo pants (no jeans allowed!). So we'll see.....

Then we have Amelia. 15 going on 30. Miss "I-know-everything-and-you-can-tell-me-nothing". She doesn't want to go to this school BECAUSE she would have to wear dresses a few days a week. No negotiations, no talking, just instant storm cloud brewing. DH and I didn't feel that she would be able to contribute anything toward her education by grumping and fussing and having a general bad attitude every day, so we are keeping her home and letting her continue her studies as before. She'll be alright. Unfortunately, she thinks as so many children do these days, that her little $190 paycheck every two weeks is going to keep her in an apartment and food and clothes for the rest of her life....

And thus is the life and times of the Hatfield clan.