sara with camera

Texas

From Manhattan, KS to Priddy, TX in 11.5 hours.  I'll post again tomorrow with photos of Kalissa's graduation (which is tonight).  Until then, I'm going to try to recover from yesterday.  As far as incredibly long car trips with two young kids go, it wasn't bad.  Overall, the boys behaved well (there was only that incident with Auden at McDonald's in Salina and Matti's low point outside of Jacksboro, TX.  Unfortunately, Matti's "wushie" dump coincided with my weak moment and Chris' nightly call making it Much more dramatic than it should have been).  Proof that kids these days CAN survive without a DVD player in the vehicle.  Love, Sara 

The Bernina (*picture added)

I shouldn't even write about the Bernina because it's sort of tainted- it's like showing off a prize unfairly won (reminds me of that time at Dixie's birthday party where I pinned the tail on the donkey Right where it belonged because the blindfold affixer was not meticulous).  To explain: those of you acquainted with Bernina know that the machines are priced to reflect their quality (25 yr. guarantee on the innards guys).  So I walked into the Bernina store to ask if they had any used ones- just out of curiosity.  Next thing I know my dreams were overtaken by all-things-sewing while I waited for my Activa 230 PE to make the trip from Chicago to Manhattan- which it did, Friday.   Truly, even in my sleep I was excited about this one.  Big purchase without consulting my husband- therein lies the taint.  I still feel guilty, but at the same time seriously happy.  I've already pieced a full-size quilt top (diggin' it? it's Amy Butler's Brick Path quilt in Lotus; you may remember the fat quarter photos, caveat- on close inspection I realized that the striped fabric is Joel Dewberry):

and sewn a pair of capris (with Liberty of London fabric cuffs) for Hana's birthday present.  Could I have done that on the $156 Brother XR-65 (Walmart acquisition)?  I don't think so.  I can't wait to start the next project except that we're leaving for Texas Thursday (5/30 through 6/11, so call y'all) and there's a house to clean and packing to do and a yard to mow and a cookout for which to prepare- all before we go.  So, I'll have to tear myself away from her- boxy, unsightly thing that she is.  See, it IS what's on the inside that counts.  Love, Sara

Oh, and just in case you weren't convinced I'd been sewing my little heart out, I'm on my fourth bobbin.  Hardcore sewing, right? 

The Creative Family

First, in an effort to provide Chris and David Robert with pictures of the boys:

Auden as a deer- that's not a stick; it's horns.  It's okay, our neighbor Matt didn't catch on right away either. 

I finished The Creative Family by Amanda Soule last night and if I had five stars to give, I'd give her three and a half.  She's definitely more earth mother than I am which is probably the only reason I'm keeping a star.5 to myself.  There were some good ideas and even a few great ones; some topics that served as reminders to me and others that we've implemented long ago.  For example, I don't like to purchase toys that aren't classic and don't leave much to the imagination, and art supplies and musical instruments have always been a part of our playroom (folks at Auden's second birthday party were shocked that we presented him with a drum because drum = noise).  Some of her suggestions are too far out for a momma like me- like making natural glue and dye (Not my thing- Elmer's and Ritz are just fine, thank you).  Now creating children's clothes out of adult clothes waiting to be discarded- brilliant!  I love it.  And, we totally need a dress-up trunk.  I'd considered it before, but just never acted.  I need to get on that.  Her Freezer paper stencil project- cool!  Embroidery with the kids- fun times ahead!  A few ideas we'll implement when the boys are a little older- like planting their own garden and keeping a journal.  It's an alright book, nothing earth shattering- certainly not for a relatively creative mom like Rachel or (dare I write Me?).  So, I'll make a list of the ideas I liked and forward the book to you Rachel- sometime early next week.  Oh, I should mention that there was one VERY Inspired suggestion that I plan to take and run with.  More to follow on that- I have Cori brainstorming before we proceed. 

The Kite Runner

First, my apologies for having practically abandoned the blog- only two posts in the last two weeks is pretty shameful.  I don't have a legitimate excuse or even a feeble one for that matter.  Maybe it's just that we haven't really done anything extraordinarily interesting- though to be honest, I've certainly posted before without having a single thing of note about which to blog.  We did make a trip to Lawrence last Friday.  Our first.  The mission was to check out Sarah's Fabrics (SF) & the Yarn Barn.  Once there, we couldn't pass up the Toy Store or Ben & Jerry's.  Sarah's Fabrics is the nearest Amy Butler retailer and, for me, it was the highlight of the trip (though the ice cream was a close second- Cherry Garcia, of course: if they could make those chocolate chunks smaller, I'd love it more).  I thought SFab would have more than it did, but I didn't walk away empty handed (the bottom two fabrics are a little blurry, but I was too lazy to shoot again).    Below: the Amy Butler fabrics (the top ones are just fat quarters).  And then there's the seer-sucker...

I love it.  I don't know what I'm going to do with it- I might keep it around always, just to take out and play with every once in awhile.  Everyone does that, right?  Take the pretty fabric from the cabinet to pet.  Yes, I thought so.   OH, and the yarn store lady was RUDE.  She was completely flustered by the boys who only threw One ball of yarn over the course of our patronage (Rest assured the offender was immediately placed on my hip thereby mitigating any further damage).  OUR local yarn store owner keeps magnetix for the kids.  Way cooler.  We hit Topeka on the way back and picked up water guns for the boys and The Creative Family by Amanda Soule for me (or us really).  I'm almost finished with it, but I haven't decided if I love it yet.  I'll get back to you.

RACHEL! I did finish The Kite Runner though- right after Matti finished his nap.  It took me longer to get into than A Thousand Splendid Suns did.  It repulsed me, and then eased up until it repulsed me again SPOILER HERE with the next molestation.  It bothered me that the protagonist was such a coward and just downright mean.  But, there Are those people.  It's a book of redemption that doesn't have a precious ending, and I like that.  Overall, I liked ATSS better- in that Oprah book club sort of way.  BUT, TKR is a stronger book; it really is- even if it didn't leave me with fuzzy feelings.  It gave me as much or more to think about- and, hopefully, thoughts will become actions (however small).  Even if it's just trying to rear boys who can stand up for themselves and others. 

By the way, I can't believe that you, Rachel, actually get to live in Turkey.  I would so join you in a heartbeat with Chris gone.  Crap, I could put our things in storage and hang with you until Chris gets back.  I'm sure Gerry would love that.  The money we would save in rent might make actually up for the plane tickets!  Seriously, don't respond back with any encouragement or else I'd probably do it- you know me. 

Well, I'm off to change a poop diaper.  Love, Sara 

Really?

After not posting for an entire week, REALLY, I'm posting more flower pics.  Bleeding hearts, part of ONE iris patch, lilies of the valley, and an Aggie iris. There was a yellow and white one too, mom, but the picture was unjust.

So for the big news: Jensey had a boy May 11 and his name is Carter (which I adore)!  Can't wait to see him in a couple of weeks.  Cute as a button, huh (we Do share genetic material after all)?  In other, less life changing news, Auden's last day of preschool was today.  Tuesday when I dropped him off, I noticed the sea of gift bags for the three teachers and realized that I had 48 hours to step up.  Not so easy when our day was spoken for yesterday and this morning as well.  But we did get to a store and Auden picked out faux diamond rings- giant, $2.50- serious bling rings for them.  That's my boy, he already knows jewelry is the straightest path to a woman's heart (and just for fun, we paired them with a Cold Stone gift card).  So our Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are wide open now.  What else?

I finished Three Cups of Tea and passionately recommend it.  I want to run away to Pakistan or any of the stans right now to build schools for girls.  Seriously.  Being as how that's not entirely practical, I Truly would like to organize a fund raiser.  You MUST read this book.  Put whatever you're doing aside, run to the local bookstore to fetch it, and don't resume normal activities until you're ready to run off to central Asia with me.  And then, read A Thousand Splendid Suns (by the Kite Runner author).  I really liked it too.  Thankfully, it didn't make me feel as if I had to make a beeline for Afghanistan.  I couldn't put it down which is saying something these days (to clarify, These Days books compete with yarn and fabric and little boys and yard work and housework and yarn and little boys).  NOW, I'm a bit into the Kite Runner- Cori lent me her library copy.  I'll keep you posted.  By the way, I should hedge a little.  Three Cups was decently written, but it's not a masterpiece.  Its worth lies entirely in its message.  AND My qualm with A Thousand Splendid Suns is that it seemed to wrap up too nicely at the end.  Too pat.  Well, dear family and friends, it's nice to be back to the blog, and on that note, I'll head for bed.  Love, Sara 

I Remembered

  *EDIT- ADDITION BELOW

I got the coolest compliment ever yesterday.  I've been running two times a week with Michelle and yesterday she brought her husband (who is here on His midtour break) along for the run.  When the stop sign (that is the end of the run) came into sight, I decided to kick it in (I don't always bother with the kick, by the way).  A few minutes later as we started our cool down walk, she said that Steve veered off to get a little more mileage in and that he had intended to catch up to me to say goodbye but that she told him that I'd just run faster so it was a waste of time to try.  He totally could have caught me, but she's right, I would have Tried to go faster.  It made me smile. 

And then this morning, I heard Matti say, "I goin' runnin," and seconds later I heard the unmistakable sound of little feet in bigger running shoes making their way across the living room floor.  Sometimes they are so stinking cute and sweet and then there are the all-too-often other times...

So as the boys and I were reading National Geographic Little Kids on the porch- specifically the article on robin eggs hatching, I heard little chirps.  Turns out, our babies have pecked their way to freedom.  It's impossible to see the nest's contents from even the porch railing, so I hauled the ladder up from the basement, dangled precariously over the edge and got this:

Kinda ugly, huh (click on photo to see little birds BIG)?  Exciting nonetheless.  AND, mom, two new colors of irises have appeared though I'm not holding my breath that you'll love them...

PreSchool at the Zoo

So yesterday Auden's class took a field trip to the zoo.  Not much to note except one of the kids said he wanted to see the "cheetos" when he obviously meant cheetahs and little Hannah who likes to be called Hannah Montana was absolutely exasperated with him and tried like H E double hockey sticks to set him straight, "They're CHEETAH'S- Like the Cheetah Girls..."  Because every four year old dude knows about the Cheetah Girls, right?  I distracted her before she completely flipped out on him.  The only other incident occurred at the Maned Wolf & Anteater exhibit (though the maned wolves were nowhere to be seen yesterday).  One of the moms who seemed pretty smart and together was telling her son that the anteaters were, "maned wolf anteaters."  I, like Hannah Montana, was flabbergasted and attempted to correct the dissemination of bad information- though without any references to female tween pop groups.

So after the zoo, the boys and I filled up the truck (tank with gas).  From now on we're walking everywhere we can.  EVERYwhere.  At $77.76 a pop, we're going to travel the European way.  What else?  Seems like there's something...Well anyway, I'm off to take a short nap (couldn't sleep last night).  Love, Sara

Mama Bird

I finally caught mama bird in her nest.  I've tried a couple of times before, but she always flew away.  Lately we've spent quite a bit of time in the yard.  Tilling and seeding and weeding and re-creating beds, planting, & watering....and while not in the yard, I'm running or knitting- dishcloths.  I'm back on the dishcloth kick, trying to knock out some of the cotton yarn I have stockpiled. 

I actually took today off- left the kids at Linda's and knit, read, and got a massage.  Not a traditional massage- I went to a practitioner of structural integration (more commonly referred to as rolfing).  My back has been hurting off and on since summer '06 and while stretching helps a bit, it would be nice to be rid of the pain altogether.  The structural integration involves a series of 10 sessions and then all is supposed to be well.  I'll let you know...

Afterward I had the pleasure of renewing my CPR certification.  I think it finally stuck this time (No kidding.  I've taken classes here and there since I was 12, and [until now] I couldn't have told you a single thing about CPR once the class was over).  Now when Matti nearly chokes on gigantic bites of whatever, I'm ready. 

By the way, I just read Layla's comment before writing this and I laughed my butt off.  Layla, I bet your mom's casserole is better than mine, and that Mehdi will be turned on to "quite right" tuna casserole after all.  Tell him hello, and we'll have to get together when we're in Texas for Kalissa's graduation/Jensey's baby.  We should be leaving around the 28/29th!   

Love, Sara