A Nightly Ritual

I may have mentioned a new nightly ritual that takes place at our house, every night.

Kyle tucks us into bed.  Often we are all headed to bed at the same time, but even when he is already in bed, he waits until we are then he comes in to 'tuck' us in.

Last night started with the usual belly flop onto the bed and Tim giving Kyle his wild bucking bronco ride.  Then they started pestering me!

I started to take pictures...

We were laughing so hard that Sarah heard and couldn't resist coming to join in..

That's when I wisely got out of the bed

The object became to get Tim out of the bed also...

 Victory!

I always ask why this has to happen at BEDTIME but it's become a ritual between them, and I wouldn't change it for anything!

Sewing For The Babies

As you know we have two new baby girls on the way in our family.  I have been waiting to find out so I could get busy sewing snuggly blankies and simple quilts for them.

Today, I made my way to Jo Anne Fabrics and found the cutest patterns.   I take Emily and Kayleigh's tastes and color likes into consideration as I pick out the material, but I also like the blankets to reflect a bit of me, as I am making these especially for my new grand girlies!

 This will be for a snuggly blankie for the Rabe Babe.

 This is for Emily's wee girlie to snuggle with.

 I'm going to quilt this for Kayleigh's girlie...

And this one for Emily's baby.  It's reading more blue, but it's actually teal, a favorite color of hers.


It's a joy to make my granddaughters' blankets and quilts to be wrapped up in for comfort and warmth.  As I sew I will be praying, and dreaming about holding them and loving on them.

I'm thankful to God for the gift of these children.  They are already greatly loved.

Joining with Thoughts of Home on Thursday @ White Spray Paint 

Big News!

Kayleigh really wanted to do a gender reveal party when she knew that she and Emma would be having their ultrasounds on the same day.  It was just family, including her dad and stepmom.


Kayleigh arranged it with Emma that they would make cupcakes and put the color of the gender inside the cupcakes.  After their appointments they each baked cupcakes at their own houses.

 Rachel and I went out today and got a few decorations including these cute straws.

Kayleigh brought Raspberry Lemonade and added blueberries.  She also made these cute cupcakes.

Emma made these fun cupcakes.  I had both kinds of course because I wanted to reveal who my new grandbabies were going to be, and they were tasty!

I made these cookies.  Well, I dipped animal crackers into melted vanilla chips that I added a bit of food coloring into.  They tasted really good.

We bought some balloons - a party is more fun with balloons, right?

A cute banner...

Sarah hung streamers...

Waiting for everyone to arrive - only the people on that couch (and Nate and Kamryn) knew whether they were having boys or girls.  I can't believe how patient I was!!!

  

We had everyone right their prediction.  I wrote what I knew they thought they were having.

Finally - A bite from each cupcake revealed that both Nate and Kay and Vinnie and Emma are having girls!  As Emma hashtagged #twincousins!

I am super excited!  I have three grandgirlies!

I am going to go to the fabric store now and get busy with blankies and quilts!  Oh, and little dresses, and ruffled bloomers, tights, lace socks and little Mary Janes.

Sigh...

I'm super happy.  Of course if we had found out they were boys...or one boy and one girl we would be equally happy.  Let the fun begin!

I Can't Wait Until This Evening!

This evening there is going to be a fun gender reveal party here at my house!  Kay is planning it, and I am excited!

We (hopefully, if the babies cooperate) will find out whether the two grandbabies, due in October, are boys or girls!

For those who don't know, our son Nate and his wife Kayleigh are having their second child, and our daughter Emily and husband Vinnie are having their first - 5 days apart!

Really cute ideas from Pinterest!

They both are having 20 week ultrasounds tomorrow.  We are all excited!

I'll take photos and be sure to let you know on Wednesday!

Cleaning Up After The Weekend

Tim and I were away from Thursday night until Saturday night. The kids came home Friday night with Lindsay and Joseph and then there was a big Airsoft event here on Saturday.  This house gets used which is how we like it.

After church yesterday, we went to our friends home, where we helped host a grad party for Rachel and our friend Quinn.  It was fun!  Tim and I arrived home from that after 8:00pm and the kids almost two hours later.

This is how the house looks this morning, though I admit to moving the blanket and pillow before I decided to take the photos.

The kids are sleeping in a bit and when they get up this will all be tidy in no time.

I don't mind these kinds of messes.  They are a sign of life being lived, fun being had, and events being celebrated!


Joining Bernideen for BTTCG and Sandi for No Place Like Home

Graduation 2016

Just a quick few photos from last night, all taken by phones, the first two were with mine and the rest with my mom's.

She was excited and nervous!  The graduates all prepared something to say to their parents during the ceremony, and this is not her comfort zone.  She did great though!

Before the ceremony

The graduates file in to Pomp and Circumstance with their parents.  Tim is just a step out of the frame on Rachel's right side.

We had a few graduates perform music, a graduation speaker and then the awarding of diploma's to our students.  There were 26 graduates that participated.  After we gave her the diploma, she gave me a rose and then shared a few words of thanks with us.

 The graduating class presented...

After this they tossed their caps and filed out!

A friend took photos with his camera, and will be sharing some with me.

Our friend Quinn graduated with Rachel and that is so special.  I hope that someone got photos of Quinn and Rachel together!

We were so blessed to have all our family, and many friends, including friends from church come to share this night with the girls.  Its at least an hour's drive without rush hour traffic to get there.  We are so thankful to be part of this fellowship.

This morning Tim and I are headed back to the convention.  I was a volunteer all day yesterday, and today I'll do my listening and shopping!

The kids are all at home.  Air soft is on tap for today for them.  Tomorrow afternoon we're having a joint grad party for Quinn and Rachel.

Today's The Big Day!

We are at our state Homeschool convention today and tomorrow and tonight Rachel and her friend Quinn will graduate!  It's very exciting!

I'll be at the CHAP booth for part of the day on Friday doing mentoring, so if you are attending this convention stop by and say hello!

Painted Chair - Update

Yesterday, I shared about painting this little school chair.  I had it all white then thought that it 'needed' something.  So I painted the seat and seatback in ASCP Florence.  Its a beautiful color, but I thought the contrast between Old White and the Florence was pretty stark.  You can read all about it here.

My sweet friend, and experienced ASCP painter confirmed how to go about lightening the seat and seat back and that is what I did.

I need to wax and sand it still but I like this much better.

I have two chairs still and I may try the Old White again, but do a color wash on the seat and seat back of lightened French Linen.

I'm having a good time with these projects.  I don't know if I'm good at it but, it's fun.

Joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday @ White Spray Paint.