Cub Scouts are Hooked on the Blues

The boys are really having fun in the new pack. The latest adventure was the Scout Night Camp Out at Harbor Yard. We caught a double header with a Scout parade between

WIP - 1/20/10

It is late, but it is still Wednesday. I spent so much time working on the quilt and making with Andy that I didn't get a whole lot of knitting done. I have actually been busy at work too - which is good. The socks look pretty much the same as last week. I have the prayer shawl on US17s and that seems to be working out well. About 25% complete.

While I was sewing, designed drafted and pieced this square for the guild's block challenge quilt. the committee will piece the squares into a quilt top. Everyone who made a square will have a chance at winning the top. I decided to make our summer home - Brown Gables. I think this block will be a precursor to a wall hanging for Brown Gables.

One Saturday in the Sewing Room

Todd took Ryan to his belt test this morning and he is now a blue belt! While they were out and Colin played with his Cars, Andy and I played in the sewing room.



First, we made so- called "brag vests" for their Scouting patches. Ryan let me make his. thanks. I printed out this pattern. I bought some of the quilters Tru Grid and ironed it onto heavy weight sew in interfacing. I transferred the grid from the paper pattern and cut out the fabric one. Andy traced the edges with chalk, cut it out and sewed the shoulder seams. I had to help with the grommets - they were tough. All that was left was to thread the lace and sew on the patches!



Next we got to work on his Hungary Caterpillar quilt. He wants to show it in the guild quilt show. He finished the last two blocks, bordered the squares and assembled the top. I showed him how to spray baste the quilt sandwich. I need to get some more thread and some more time alone with Andy to quilt it. I'm going to show him how to quilt by machine and by hand. I need to track down some more of the Eric Carle fabric for the binding. I don't think I have enough left. Here it is ready to be quilted!




Next on the sewing agenda is to get more batting for my blue and white quilt so I can get that done in time for the show.

A long overdue update

I know. I know.... I miss my blog - even if no one reads it, it makes me happy. The good news is that one of Santa's elves just told me a new laptop may be under the tree. (Actually, I Santa may set it up ahead of time and put a bow on the amoire for the kids to find after all the rest of the gifts are opened.) My very smart and very cool cousin Kerry just told me about the Disney Netpal and it looks perfect for the kids (and I can blog on it).


so, a quick round up....

Andy and Ryan are pretty much the same - just taller. They are both still in MMA, but Ryan is now a higher rank than Andy (D'oh).


Ryan actually is having his best year yet academically, but best of all NO behavior issues. Andy's grades are pretty good, but his effort is lacking. If he did more than the minimum, he'd have all A's. He is also going to get OT for his handwriting and they are having him work on typing to help him keep up cognitively - hence the kid friendly computer.


Colin is now in Pre-K and LOVING it. He was the only student in his class for a while, but now he has two new friends. They are going to increase his class time to 5 mornings a week - YAY! He is going to have such a great time. He wants to get on the bus every morning anyway. That will start after Thanksgiving break. He wants to take karate too, but we told him he has to go poopy on the potty first.... soon enough...


Todd is back in MMA as well. I should actually start with - Todd is back. there are no words to truly explain what the last year has been like for us. The changes he has made in himself are astounding. He is a new man, and trust me the changes are for the better. Our lives now are so different from what they were last year that it is sometimes hard for me to remember what it was really like then. Don't get me wrong, the insanity isn't 100% gone, but now it is just fun insanity - or kid related.


As for me... I don't know where to start. The new job is OK. The work is easy. The hours are... well they vary. I'm at the end of a 3 month night rotation now. The nights are sometimes hard, but it does offer me a lot of flexibility for the days. I am actually going to guest lecture at CCSU this morning and I'm looking forward to it. It is really amazing what opportunities have opened themselves up to me now that my decisions are based on my own desire.


how about some pics?


I am doing a BOTM on Ravlery and I'm assembling the strips and lap quilting them. The print fabrics are vintage feed sacks. This is the first strip:



The back pieced from the scraps

the first block of the next strip

scraps from that block for the backing strip

This is a top that I threw together last week from strips in my stash.

As you can see, I've been in more of a sewing mood lately. I have been knitting too, but mostly boring utilitarian socks for work.

Communion Revisited

more pictures from the communion...

SO grown up!

Andy made his first Communion a week ago. For those of you who arent' Catholic, it is a HUGE deal - a major rite of passage. What has been really interesting to watch is how he's started paying attention and following along in Mass. I suppose it all makes a LOT more sense now that he know what is going on and why.

Anyway... I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

more pictures to come once I get them from my FIL.

Derby Days!

Pinewood Derby time! Ryan placed 3rd in the Tigers' Den.

He was quite proud of himself! He should be! He made his car by himself! Well, one of the dads carved the blocks into car shapes that the kids picked.

Andy didn't place in his Den, but you know what? He is very proud of his vampire car - which he also made himself!

It all happens SO fast!

I can remember exactly when they were conceived (really). I remember their births like it was yesterday. It wasn't that long ago it seemed like neither one would ever learn to use the potty. I remember thinking how "grown up" they were sending them off to pre-k and then Kindergarten - aka "real" school.

Now, they have nightly homework, friends, hobbies and interests that don't involve me. They don't need me to pick out clothes or to make breakfast.

They are such big kids it scares me. Soon (too soon) they will be off riding their bikes or boards to their friends houses, asking for cell phones and cars, learning to drive and getting jobs (at least they will if they want a cell phone or a car).

For now, I am overwhelmed with pride when I see my guys (voluntarily) sitting at the table doing their math homework! Ryan really loves it, but has a hard time reading the instructions. Reading really frustrates him. Andy, however, sat there saying how hard it was and how much he hated math. I looked at his paper. He had ALL the correct answers! Don't know why he hates it so - maybe b/c he has to think. He's the reader. he is WAY ahead of grade level with his reading.

Camp - the kids' perspective (photo heavy!)

I gave Andy and Ryan each a disposable camera (yeah.. the kind with film. now you know why this post took so long!)

The highlights from Andy's perspective (I'll spare you t he dining hall, the rock and the puddle!)

our Cabin:

at the beach:

From Ryan's Perspective:
self portraint:


Andy from the treetops:


Look closely, there are people swining on ropes in those trees!


I took these of the boys on the low ropes course.

What did I do at Camp? Well, I found a few minutes to knit here and there and started some longies for Colin. I'm calling them the "HiRock Longies" (Ravelink here ) because the colors reminded me of the trees. see (wooden tree painted by Ryan at Arts & Crafts):

Happy Birthday Todd!

Happy 34th to my darling hubby!

So, what did the Birthday boy get? well, yesterday he got this:



That's right... it's back to school for the big guys! Daddy used his quiet day to get his arm tattoo worked on. it's been 1/2 done and looking pretty sad for a long time.

The big boys had a great first day. They love their new teachers and are very excited about a new year!

I got to spend the day monkeying around with Colin... and speaking of Monkeys and Colin... he had his party on Sunday:

overall, an extra good extra long weekend!

Proud Mama!

If you know us at all or you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that Andy has had lasting effects from the trauma of the fire. At first, when we were rebuilding, we could see leaps in improvement as he saw construction progressing. Since we've been home, things have leveled off. He's tested out of ST and it has (thankfully) been so long since his last episode of night terrors that I'm not sure when it was. However, he is still afraid of his own shadow. He wouldn't try new foods or take new adventures. we had to practically bubble wrap him to get him to get him to learn to ride his bike without training wheels.

Something has happened this summer. I picked up some Chinese take-out for dinner and he asked me if he could try some. I know for most kids this is no biggie, but for Andy? HUGE!

He continued to amaze us this summer. Our first night at camp, I had to tell him to stop jumping on the rocks. He was jumping from boulder to boulder - next to the camp fire. not. safe. but I was proud of his bravery.

Then he asked to do the low ropes course (yeah.. I know... photos coming next week..) and tackled it like a pro!

Next up? WATER SKIING!!!

yes, this is the kid who won't swim without a kick board AND a life jacket... in the shallow end.

We ran right to the office to get him a pass and enlisted the official family photographer (Grandpa) to take pictures.

First, Eric worked with him on the dock and showed him how to "stand up" on the skis.


Then, they got in the boat and went out to the center of the lake (where his cousin, Jessica was skiing circles around him - literally!). Eric plopped him in the water and gave him some more pre-flight instruction.



and off they went!



he never really got up, his arms aren't quite strong enough, but he is ready to try again next summer when he is bigger and stronger.


I was so proud of him when I stood on the dock watching him. It is almost like we've got our "old" Andy back. I know he'll never be quite the same, but I just hate to see him living his life in fear. I don't want him to miss out on life's wonderful opportunities.