Yes I am looking for pity or maybe a prayer!

The McCleary family is hitting the road. Ken's oldest sister's oldest daughter is getting married on Saturday. Carolyn is a Jr. Bridesmaid (dream come true) and Anna is a flower girl (mommy's nightmare????). Anyway, I am packing for all but my hubby. I figured I need to pack 40 outfits (50 if you count 2 swimsuits per person). We are gone 5 days and need 3 additional dress-up outfits each (rehearsal, wedding and church). I guess I really only should get credit for packing 48, since the Flower-girl and Bridesmaid's dresses are already in Michigan. Wait, wait....I also need to bring each kid a sweatshirt (just in case) and the girls long pants (again, just in case). If the weather forecast is WAY off, the boys will have to double dip with their dress clothes. So I think that brings me to 53 changes of clothing, if you count PJs and the 2 swim-suits/person and the cold weather gear I hope never sees the light of day. Don't forget to factor in snacks for 4 days of travel and activities to keep the kids entertained during the 1000+ miles on the road.

I am about 75 percent packed, but it is very complicated, because we will be staying in 2 different hotels (one in route) and one night (on the way home) at a friend's house (N.C.!!!!!!, which really only means something to 3 of my faithful readers (one of which is N.C.), but since I only have about 5 readers, that is ok!) I digress.....so I am packing 3 different bags, one for each place we will rest our heads. This has worked very well for me in the past, so I am going to try a repeat performance!

If you understood the last paragraph, kudos to you. The entire prep for this trip has been complicated (or at least not aided) by the fact that 1) Ken is not back from Minneapolis yet, 2) he still needs to mow before we leave and 3) my children are having all kinds of trouble going to sleep tonight (and Anna didn't nap today).

Wish me luck and send a prayer!

Newest project

On the wall...(with some missing spots)



Another friend is having baby #5! To celebrate I am making a quilt. (I know you are shocked.) The red/white square quilt is finished (I will post a picture someday), and I LOVED it sooooo much I am making another one, trying again to be gender neutral with turquise/purples/white.

Shrinking Pains (you know - opposite of growing pains)

If you are new to this blog (ha ha) you may not know that we had an enormous garden last year. Well this year, that plot wasn't available, nor could we find a good alternative. Therefore Ken made me a delightful "box of dirt" as I so lovingly call our new garden. I love having it in our backyard, but it is sooo small. There is no place for Anna to walk, without smushing something. (last year we could always direct the kids to place where they could do no harm) Once our plants get bigger, the problem will either be bigger or smaller, depending on how things work out. (there will be less room to walk, but it will be easier to see the plants....which are right now pretty little!)

Why Was Friday Special - I bet it will take just one picture and you will know

I knew you were a quick study! I think Anna had a fun birthday. She was able to go to the photographers all by herself. I don't think I have taken just one kid to get a picture taken since September 2001, when Carolyn had her first pictures taken!



Here is a bit of an explanation for the next 2 pictures.......So I called on Anna's birthday to see if we could get an appointment to have her picture taken. They said "sure, see you in 40 minutes"...."oh and by the way, we are having a Mommy and Me special, so you will get a free 8X10 of a picture of you with your daughter"....of course I had just gotten back from a walk and was not exactly "camera ready". I got a quick shower and away we went.

Virtual Quilting Bee - MAY

I thought last month was a challenge - but happy that I could "get 'er done". (repeat after me, challenge is good, challenge is good) This month was equally challenging and I am glad that I tackled it! I have appliqued before, but it isn't my quilting of choice. (When I get to choose, that is.) This one took HOURS of hand-sewing, appliqueing around curves - but it was a nice activity while sitting with my hub. after the kids went to bed. If you can't see it, I made the cupcake holder "ridged" like a real cupcake holder (the ridges were not done by hand).

BTW, the instructions included the picture of the cupcake and the directions "applique-only" and a square of the border material that I matched my fabric to. The Quilter of the Month is making a birthday quilt.

I couldn't have this quilt in my house...it would make me think of eating cake, beautiful festive cup-cakes...all the time! YUM!