Is it REALLY the end of July ALREADY!!!!!????

I simply canNOT believe this is the last week of July already!!  Summer has went by in a blur.....Here are some pictures of the last couple of weeks.....

Some might call me crazy, but last Sunday afternoon, in between packing for youth camp and church services and lunch preparations, I sewed Callie a new dress that she wore to church that evening!!  You see, I had requested to be a tester for a new pattern that was coming out. Well, the pattern designer was all filled up for that particular size.  I forgot all about it, until receiving an e-mail Sunday right before lunch.  She asked if I was still interested.  Someone wasn't able to make the size I had signed up for.  The only problem was....she needed it sewn in the next 2-3 days!!!!  Well....I was leaving for camp THAT NIGHT!!!!  I REALLY wanted to test the pattern out.....so I told her if I got the pattern e-mailed to me that afternoon I could do it.  I got it after lunch and while my dear father-in-law and sons were washing dishes I was printing and cutting out a new pattern to sew up in a flash.  Less than 2.5 hours later here was the end result.   

I just love this pattern and so does Callie.  We have fabric for a couple more waiting to be sewn up now.

 It's plenty long enough that it should last for an entire year...hopefully!!  :)

 Every year one of the local schools has an enormous garage sale.  The kids and I eagerly look forward to going.  On the last day of the sale, you can fill a bag for just $1!!!!  I stuffed 3 bags full of clothes.  Most of these clothes will be used to up-cycle into other clothes for Callie to wear this fall.  This will make her wardrobe very cheap to sew and I'll have a blast doing it! :)  I was happy to find some XL men's tech shirts that will be turned into shirts for me.  Also found 5 pairs of brand-new condition men's dress/casual pants for Duane!  Another find, not pictured, was a bean bag chair.  I needed some bean pellets for some sewing projects. They are very expensive to buy.  Now I have more than enough!!!!  The kids found some toys and the total amount spent.....$3!!!!!

All washed and drying on the clothesline.  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE hanging clothes out to dry!!???;)

 Callie found a purse to add to her collection.  I don't think she quite knew what it said on the front, but it made me smile.

 This is what Seth looked like last weekend before we left for camp.  This was after 2 doses of steroids.  When he woke up on Saturday morning, one eye was completely swollen shut and the other was almost.  By Sunday night, on the medication, he looked almost normal again.  He must have got into some sort of poison ivy plant weeding the flower bed for me.

 Found some leopard print knit in the weight I use for my running skirts.  I couldn't resist buying some and making this up.  Now to make a co-ordinating shirt.  lol

Callie and I went shopping at JA's on Friday.  She had fun picking out another doll clothes pattern.  They were just .99 cents last week.  She is planning on 'helping' mommy make the denim dress in the lower right-hand corner for her doll, Jenny.  She also picked out the pink heart-shaped buttons for the dress.  The crayon fabric will be for her first day of Kindergarten dress. She wanted me to take this picture so her Aunt Sarah (in the Philippines) could see what she bought.  :)

On Friday, Samuel was invited to a b-day party the following day. Of course, I just had to sew up something for the birthday boy.  :)  I was shopping at Wal-Mart and found this fun activity pads for Hangman and Tic-Tac-Toe.  What kid doesn't love playing those games.  I bought them Saturday morning, came home, found some fabric and make this little art case to hold them in.  Also sewed up a gift bag to put it all in.  I NEVER have wrapping paper or tape in my house, but ALWAYS having plenty of fabric to wrap a gift it.....lol. 

 I would have loved to have an applique on the front of the case, but time was clicking by FAST!!!  The part was at noon....sooooo, I had to make do with just a plain outside. ;(

 Samuel, with his gift, all excited to go to the party!!

 A close-up of the card Samuel made for Caleb.  I thought it made a cute gift tag for the bag. :)

 My sister-in-law Teresa also celebrated her birthday on Saturday.  We had a fun cook-out with the family and of course, I had to see what kind of fun gift I could give this year.  I love giving gifts, this year it was a Hawaiian-themed outfit.  I found an orange grass skirt with accessories. 

 Doesn't Jerry look cute with the grass skirt!! :)

 The yummy-looking-3-different-kinds-of-candy-bar-birthday cake!!  Can you guess which 3 I used?

 We also had tons of fun shopping later that evening trying on all sorts of silly stuff.  We ended the evening with a yummy meal at Chipotle.

 Happy Birthday, Teresa!!!



Saturday Sewing & more....

I dearly love suprises!!!!  This was an unexpected gift from a piano student on Thursday.  A cute reusable tote bag, sweet note and a gift card to one of my favorite stores in town.....Jo-Ann Fabrics!!!!  Of course, I just had to go on Friday and buy some fabric for me.  I bought some dressy knit fabric that was 50% off and 5 yards of interfacing to use for loads of other crafty things.  I still have a little left of my gift card for another day!! 

 Here are the 2 skirts I made today for church.  I fell in love with the pink, black & white fabric when it first came in stock.  But at 12.99 a yard, I wasn't going to buy it.  The 50% off sale made it $6.49.  Not a bad price for a new skirt!!!  The colors are kinda washed out, but both of these skirts are nice and bright for summer.  I love the lime green and black print.  It practically glows!! lol

 Samuel models some summer pj's I made for him on Tuesday.

 Samuel spends hours creating things out of legos.  Here's something he came up with...

 The ship coming in for a landing on his own docking station.

 The ship has landed....

~Samuel's K-5 Graduation~

Samuel's K-5 graduation program was on Thursday.  Their class did a little skit entitled 'Good News'.  All the kids did fantastic.  They had a wonderful teacher this year!!!

 Samuel and his classmates.

 Singing a song together.

 I get all choked up every. single. time. I hear the graduation processional.  My baby boy graduated from kindergarten already!!!!

 Samuel tied with a classmate for the Highest Academic Average Award.

 His teacher refered to Samuel as 'her little mathmetician'.  He received the award for the Highest grade in Math.

 He also received an award for Most Improved Student.

 He also received an award for Exemplary Student. 

 Walking back with all his awards.

 My happy K-5 graduate.

 Samuel did this little dance when they announced the class of 2011.  Way funny!!!!!  And he denies doing it!!!!!  I even showed him the pictures and he was like, "No way, I didn't do THAT!!!:)

 Samuel and his teacher.

 The graduate and his family.

 We had cake, ice cream and a little gift for Samuel at home after his graduation.  He helped bake his cake.  It was chocolate cake with reese cups INSIDE the cake and on the top for decoration.  It was Samuel's idea to put the reese cups inside the cake!!  Turned out yummy!!!

 A new Lego set.  He couldn't wait to put it together!!

 The younger 3 all helping Samuel.

 Callie spending time with Grandpa.  She was just a bit miffed that the ENTIRE night was all about Samuel.  :)



Here's all the cute little video clips from his Graduation.

Some April Sewing....

I made this purse set for Samuel's teacher one afternoon.  He gave it to her as an Easter gift.  She was thrilled to receive an unexpected suprise!!  It was fun to make.

 The purse had 2 small divided pockets....

.....and a zippered pocket inside.

 Samuel made this sweet card for his teacher.  This is the inside view.

 The front/back cover....

 Jenny needed a Sunday dress, so I spent a Saturday afternoon making this for her.  Doll clothes are fun make, but take almost as long as big people clothes!! :)

 We spent a day in Columbus with the kids during their Spring Break.  I have pictures on my cell phone that I need to upload.  Anyways, I saw this adorable white shirt in one of the store windows.  They had sold out of all the shirts except for the one on display.  I came back and found an old t-shirt and some scraps of lace trims and made one for Callie.  Here she is modeling it, late at night, chocolate face and all!!!  :)



Just Jam......

My kids LOVE jam!!!  We've been out of strawberry jam for quite some time.  I decided TODAY was the day to whip up a new batch.  Samuel was my helper in the kitchen.  He did so good helping me stir the pot WITHOUT STOPPING!!!!  It made it so much easier for me to get everything ready.  He had fun and loved counting up to 60 when the jam started boiling for the second time. 

He wanted me to take a close-up picture of the pot that he was stirring. :)

 The finished product, still warm, on a slice of homemade bread....yummy!!

~Easy Strawberry Jam~

*for Carrie*

This is how we made the jam today....

Put 5 cups of thawed strawberries along with the juice in the blender.  Turn blender on for just a few seconds to get the lumps out.  Put the blended berries in a LARGE stockpot.  Add to the berries one box of Sure-Jel and 1/2 tsp. of butter.  In a SEPARATE bowl measure 7 cups of sugar and set aside.  Over high heat, heat the berries to a rolling boil while stirring CONSTANTLY!!!  (A rolling boil is where the berries keep boiling while you are still stirring.)  Quickly pour in ALL the sugar while you still stir.  Keep stirring until the mixture comes to a rolling boil again.  Remove from the heat and pour into prepared jars(see below).  Be VERY careful.....the jam is VERY hot!!  I have a funnel that I put in the jars that makes it easier to ladle the jam into the jars without burning myself. ;)  Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean wet cloth, add seals and rings.  Turn jar upside-down for an hour or so.  Turn right side up and allow to completely cool.  This makes 2 quart-sized jars.  You may also use pint-sized or jelly-sized jars but we go through those far too fast!!! :)

HOW TO PREPARE JARS/LIDS/RINGS

Wash jars in hot, soapy water.  After you rinse them, pour hot water inside and allow them to sit inside a pan of clean, hot water.  Place the lids/rings in hot water as well.

*we also make this same recipe with fresh strawberries when they are in season*  If you buy fresh berries from the store or pick your own, just mash up enough berries until you have 5 cups of berries/juice and then follow the rest of the recipe.  These berries were fresh-picked berries that we had in the freezer leftover from the last time we picked them.  Tip....pick lots of berries and freeze them....they make just as good jam months later as making it up the day you pick them. :)  Also, if you can find a local strawberry farm that allows you to pick your own, it's a whole lot cheaper than buying them already picked.