Cross it off my list.

I've got a strange bucket type list that ever changes in my head.

One of the items was a quilt.

I wanted something that all of us could sit on and picnic.  I also wanted it to be useful on someone's bed or to cuddle by the fire.  I am not into decorative items (=clutter) so it had to be totally functional right away.

All the fabric match my boys in some way...the Lorax, the bugs and snakes in jars, cars and planes, farming, the solid colors... everything I see makes me think of them.  Most of the fabric I ordered from the fabricworm.com and the rest was acquired at Jo Ann's with the help of my trio.

There are 784 squares and 6 large panels on the back.  I was going to hand sew the binding but then I remembered I have three little boys, it was over 100 degrees out for weeks, and I have knitting that I needed to start.  I ended up doing the machine sewn binding and then hand tied the rest of it.

I'm happy at how it turned out.  I'm really glad I did it and I think it taught me a lot about sewing and how to use my machine. 

The next quilt on my bucket list of things to make is to take my boys' crib bedding and make a quilt from it. All three used the same sheets and they are worn and soft and stained and perfect little parts of their baby lives.   I know I won't do this until they are older and I have more time and space to dedicate to it.   But it is on the list.

Moments

Last baseball game ::  hiking through the woods ::  beating the heat :: horses and lessons ::  going to the leathersmith :: farming in the parking lot :: almost finishing the quilt :: good times

 :: exhausted mother ::

Five

Sweet, creative, and complex little Mason turned the big FIVE last week.

He has been anticipating this day since he was just a wee four year old.

To celebrate this, as we did with his older brother, we had a party.  A large party.  Not really a birthday party (well maybe) but more of a BBQ.

He is famous for being one who can not make up his mind because there are just "so many possibilities mommy!" so we went with the "favorite things" route.  He got to pick all of the unmatched napkins and plates he desired and of course he got to pick his cake. 


A garden cake complete with worms and maggots (he wanted lice).

It was epic to him.  He had the ultimate say in just about everything...from the drinks to the eats (beef jerky - of course!) to the cake.  He shopped for it all while insisting certain stores had better this or that. We kept the food very simple with only the staples since we were feeding the lot that came and it worked out just great.  I'm pretty sure no one left hungry or thirsty. 

 

Since we invited a lot of families (over 65 people came!!) we decided to boycott the usual birthday flare of goody bags and games and just have lots of w i l d free play.  I set up little centers:  farm and animals - complete with a corn table, dress up, and balls with a soccer goal.  It was very easy as I just brought all of our stuff that we play with every day outside.  I had no idea how many kids would love to dress up in all kinds of weird things.  There was imaginative play all over which was perfect - as it was just like our little Mason.

I didn't pick up my camera all night and only managed to get 5 pictures!  I wished I caught kids in their get-ups.  It would have made for some great laughs when they are older.

The clean up wasn't too bad either.  I'm sure the squirrels are even fatter than before. 

Summer so far

:: More Harry Potter

:: Ice cream

:: New tractor shopping opportunities for the two year old

:: New projects

:: Getting closer to finishing the quilt

:: Journals and beginner reading

:: Morning coffee time with the littlest one

:: Anticipating a birthday

Scenes

::Summer is here at full blast and we have lots of things to do!

::Last weekend was a horse show.  Saturday I spent with my mom and my barn pals watching and cheering on.

While Nathan had the boys all day to himself.  A good hike started the day out right for them.

Sunday of the show was Mason's show day and more cheering on of the pals.

Mason really loves to ride. Both of the big boys do and I imagine that Logan won't be far behind.  I look forward to the day where one (or more) of my crew can have those fun, special barn days that I always had with my mom. 

::The week progressed with swimming lessons.  Apparently my water-bug boys have totally forgotten to swim over the winter.  It looks like I need to find some indoor lessons next year.  Hopefully over our summer vacation in Florida, my mom and I can catch them up.

Summer school is a favorite time of the day for the boys.  They are enjoying doing different things to keep their academic progress progressing.  Plus, lots of play time and crafting time too.  Boy, are they messy!

::My porch redo is almost done.  I just need to touch up some paint.  We've used it a lot this week with the cooler temps.   I'm so glad we did it!  Thank you Pinterest.

::I've been consumed by my first quilt.  I'm sure it would have been a good idea to do something smaller but I don't need any small blankets.  I've got a ton of those thanks to all of the small people in my house.  This one will be a full/queen sized one.  I've got all the rest of the strips ready to be put into blocks.  I still have to make another trip to the store for the backing, batting, and edging.  Nathan is looking forward to getting our bedroom back.  Quilting is messy.

::The week finished with an impromptu bonfire and camping.  Smores and movies and sleeping outside.

::Summer fun. 

Typical

I am supposed to show last days of school

Reminisce about how much my babies grew this school year

What our summer will look like

All the sweet knits I've been working on

But that would be typical.

Instead, I thought I'd show a scene from today.  A typical one. 



Logan:  (remember he doesn't talk)...singing the Starwars Theme song....

Mason:  Really Logan, I like the dragon one.

Logan:  ....singing his own version of what a shield would sound like...

Mason:  Captain America Dragon?  Logan - You can be anything you want.  It doesn't matter.  A cape is just great.

Logan:  ...(giggle)...singing his version of what a sword would sound like...

Mason:  You're the best "browder "

Yes my dear boy.  A cape is great.

(ps...Nana, I don't have any gloves.  I am supposed to have gloves when I am in space)

around here

Around here...we've been more than busy.  That is pretty obvious as I've not been on here lately!

So for a fast recap...

:: We took a quick trip to Nathan's family's farm to see Nanny, Pop, and all of the critters, tractors, and all things Ei-Ei-Oh.

::Logan's eyes are progressively getting worse.  Luckily we are seeing a specialist sooner-than-later.  I've become the panicking mother (who will call again tomorrow to see if we can get in sooner).

::T ball and P Nut league are in full swing with just one more week of practices and then the games begin.

:: Reagan started Violin lessons!

:: Sewing projects are done for now.  Once the painting is finished (see below), I'll start up again! I've got materials for a few jumpers, knit shirts, and another set or two of play pants.

:: I got to escape for just one part of a day to see my mom show her new horse Dually.  Now we are all completely in love with him.

::  Painting, painting, and more painting is happening around here.  I'm pretty sure I've got some sort of must-constantly-paint something disorder.  Right now it is our doors (now black)  and porch (now blue and marshmallow).

:: Our screened-in porch, which is our favorite room (ever!!) to be in, is getting a face lift this week with new screens and door (to go with all that new paint too)!!

:: School ends in just a week and a half!

:: The yard has been lots of fun to work on.  This year it is quite a family run job.  Everybody is pitching in and feeling the love from it.  If you need something watered with a tiny watering can, I know someone for the job.

::  "Crops" are just about ready to start feeding us.  Reagan is ever so proud of his peas and has to "check" them regularly.

::  Nightly knitting is not as much as it used to be.  See above for reasons.  Although, I'm completely smitten with this new sweater...a steeked tweedy colorwork cardigan.  It has made me obsessively knit up some scraps for donation hats and sell some hoarded yarn so I can (in my head) justify starting it.  Plus I can't decide if ordering yarn from Shetland would be better than from Montana.  Such decisions.