Saanich - May 20th

This garden was in Sydney.  Before going to Sydney, we had been in Saanich for an interview with BC Ambulance.  For Will of course (although we have considered me working but that's another story another day) and it would have been a great fit for him.  He worked part time with them for 15 years so he had the experience but in the end we decided not to move the family to a location of reformed isolation.  And... in the end he didn't get the position either so all's well that ends well. 

These flowers I just recently learned the name of - heuchera.

I love the bright yellow ground cover.  The girls would not smile!! 

I wanted to record how well all these plants went together for future gardening reference!!

At a park in Sydney. 

As you can see - the weather was gorgeous. 

This is the view from a neighborhood in North Saanich.  

We had to check out Butchurt Gardens.  We didn't have time or $$ to go in.  But I got this shot of the beautiful, blossomed drive way. 

For some reason these ferry shots are backwards - this was on the way there. 

I love the ride, even though it makes me seasick. 

Smile Gloria!!  This is your cruise for this year!!  

Madilyn is such a little monkey.  She'll climb anything. 

This kept the girls busy for a good hour.  

Victoria Day - Stanley Park

That's Peter from cathechism baseball. 

The four youngest by Lumberman's Arch.  

This little waterfall reminded me of Hawaii. 

We ate lunch in the shade. 

Saw the police horses. 

Kids played in the water park for awhile. 

Grandma and Grandpa Faber found us.  We walked with them to the totem poles and then walked the sea wall back.  

It has been a LONG time since I've seen Stanley Park.  

It was a beautiful, lazy, sunny day. 

This shot - I love!!  It is quintessentially Grandpa Faber.  

Walking with this hands folded behind his back. 

Around the World Scrappy Baby Quilt

We planted our garden and it was good. 

Take a picture Mom!!! 

I pillowcased enclosed this quilt and then edged it with a small zigzag - I loved the look it made! 

Can you tell I love brights?  This is the same jelly roll fabric I used for Madilyn's quilt.  I was trying to use up the left overs from her quilt but then I had to buy another jelly roll  to make this one big enough (the irony...I know) .  That was BEFORE my fabric fast.  I don't think I'll do 2 very similar quilts again or not for awhile anyway.  I was surprised that seeing the same fabric was tiring to me. It looked too familiar I guess.  I used the Around the World scrappy pattern found here. 

I put myself on a fabric fast in September before extra saving even became a necessity and it's amazing to me that I am still sewing (tehe).  I don't have anymore huge yardages of any one fabric, hence the pieced back.  I love it!!! 

I quilted flowers in each block and was generally happy with how that turned out. 

There was a huge bunchy part on the back of one flower that frustrated me. 

There is a subtle pattern of orange and purple lines - see them?

I put this on auction at Family Fun Night and it went to someone who LOVES it.  When I saw that it had sold I wondered how I would find out it where it went.  I was curious!!  Then...the new owner came up to me and told me how excited she was to have my work of art.  Clearly, a person who could appreciate the creative process and hours of work - I was so pleased.    

I am so humbled that it went somewhere to be loved and cherished.  

Will's 43rd Birthday and Matthew's 11th

Tis the season for ...sigh...allergies.  

Beautiful shot by Aleana nevertheless.

For Matthew's big party we rented the school gym and had nerf gun wars  - COOL!!!

Will commandeered this portion of the party.  

A quieter moment opening some presents.  

All of these boys were really good and well-mannered.  

Will's birthday celebration.  

Someone is having fun helping Dad. 

Uhmmmm, no one's looking, I think I can get this to work. 

Yum...I love cheese!! And...nobody saw me!! 

Not sure what brought this face on.  She just looks so much older here.  

This was Matthew's actually birthday with the family - so nice we sat on the deck to do gifts.

This guy is almost 3 inches taller than me now - stop growing!!! 

A kite always makes a great gift!!! 

We made good memories with it on Saturday at Centennial already!!  

Happy 11th
Birthday Matthew  - you are becoming more responsible in the past few weeks, showing yourself to truly be growing up.  We love you!!! 

Bits and Pieces of Life

Biking the Dyke in Delta. 

Peter had a hard time but he persevered!! 

Ummmm...I wonder what Nadia is getting into?

Madilyn is playing with the coasters.  Never mind toys when you have coasters.  

I hope to sew this up into a table topper.  

Can you guess what all these squibbles and scribbles are for?  

Finally...to make you smile - "Mom!!  Madilyn just put her sock in the aquarium!!"  

Yes, never a dull moment around here. 

What a blessing!! 

Nadia's Summer Dress that Wasn't (it's too big!!)

I think I'll call this Nadia's $200 dress.  That's how long it took me to put it together.  

Let me start at the beginning.  Nadia needs a spring/summer dress so me being the frugal Mom I am decided to use fabric on hand and a pattern borrowed from my Mom in Law to sew her one.  

I have NEVER sewn a little girl's dress.  I sewed up a dress for myself in Grade Nine in Home Ec class and that's the last time I've attempted anything like that.  See, this is why I quilt - it's mostly straight lines and no pattern to follow!!! 

So I spent a morning cutting out the fabric and that went pretty well.  I decided to cut a size 6 for Nadia as she is growing like a weed right now and lots of her clothes are that size.  For this dress it's just too big on her in the bodice.  In hindsight -  I should have measured her.  I also cut fabric for a dress for Madilyn but I think I need to recover from this one first before I attempt that.  Don't you love the foxes - they are so cute!!  They have been waiting in my cupboard for awhile begging to be used. 

So, here's the front...

and here's the back.  Notice anything unusual about it?  That was a cutting mistake I made but I didn't have any fabric left to fix it - when it comes to sewing I am not a perfectionist.  

When I opened up the instructions and started reading them - this is what it looked like to me 

gkaghkljagkjgkljklgjlksjgkjgahsouiouiojkljakljg.  You can imagine my befuddlement. 

I decided right away to figure it out on my own and make things up as I went. 

That's me and sewing.  I took an old eyelet fabric vest I had and cut that into the cap sleeve.  I had to modify that because I didn't have enought eyelet so I made the sleeve smaller.  I used a finishing stitch on my new fandangled sewing machine for a rolled hem on the outer trim.  I love how it turned out!!  It's really pretty.  I don't have enough for Madilyn so I'm not sure what to do about that.   

The ribbon is from Aleana - it somehow ended up in my sewing box and when she saw it said "That's where my pink ribbon went!"  I don't think she minds that it's been put to good use :).  

The button holes were a challenge, thanks to Will for helping me with that!! I have only done button holes once before.  They are not perfect but will suffice.  Overall, I am very pleased with the result but sad that I have to wait a year to see her use it.  

Answer to skill testing question:  The foxes are upside down.  It adds intrigue!!! 

A List to Lift Spirits

Today I feel like writing when I could possibly being doing something far more productive...like sewing or folding laundry or reading to the girls.

Who says writing isn't productive? Heh~ It certainly can be in many different ways. I am not thinking it's productive right now because it's an escape for me and my blah mood.

So let's make this a productive exercise shall we?

Let's start with listing 10 positive things about having your husband at home with you.  

1) Your 100% work load has now been reduced to 75% and some days even less as he just lends a hand where he can with meal prep and child care.  Wow!!  This one has thrown me for a loop.  Life is SSSSLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWEEEEEEERRRRRR.  I don't know if I can cope!!!

2) Not only am I seeing Will more, but he looks different to me. He's more attractive and handsome than ever before.  I guess that's what happens when... you have the most time you've had together since - well since last time he was laid off in 1998. Back then, as new parents to baby Aleana it was hard to have him go back to work, but it had to be done .

3) My hubbie is not just reconnecting with me but with the kids.  ALL of them.  That is a blessing that I wasn't really expecting, especially when some of them need it more than others.  

4) My In-laws have needed help around the house for a LONG time and now we have time to give to that.  I hope he has a few more weeks at home (not too many!!) so that he can get some projects finished.

5) When your husband is at home and he is in his forties it's a good time for him to re-evaluate his life, goals and priorities.  For Will, this has been a time of reflection and assessment and it is a gift to be able, willing, and ready to look at yourself like this.

6) So because Will decided to have a mid-life crisis, I decided with some of the free time I had to have one too - after all I just turned 40 too.  What do I do with my EXTRA time?  Do I just enjoy it and rest for a few weeks?  That's what I've been trying to do but it's hard when everything is unknown and up in the air.  And I'm not one to sit still for long. Time to have a plan, some goals, be challenged and get on with it!!

7) My other half is available for more picking up and dropping off trips, and being with the girls while I do the groceries.  I like being with my children, but all the lifting in the van, out the van, in the buggie, out the buggie, back in the van and out is physically taxing in every way. I'll do it and I'll make the best of it but if I don't have to - I'd rather not.

8) We are doing alot more walking and biking, and keeping fit more than ever before!!

9) We pray more together because we see each other more. We finish breakfast together after the kids go to school and then we have lunch together with devotions as well.

10) I didn't think I'd get to 10 - WOW!!!  The biggest blessing is that the LORD uses a time of hardship to draw you closer to Him.  He shows you in so many ways how much He loves you and He takes the worry away when it get's to be too much.  I can not begin to tell how many times in the past 6 weeks He has comforted us/me with words from others, songs on the radio, Bible stories you are reading to the kids, scriptures you are studying, and circumstances that fall into place. He is good - all the time.  All the time - God is Good.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After reading this you may think that these are GOOD times for us.  Yes, they are GOOD times from our gracious Father.  Yet, they are uncertain times.  The struggle is still there.  Guiding others through the mire when you yourself are weary is no small thing, my stomach is gurgling all the time.
Regardless of which way things go (face it, this could go on a LONG time), I pray that my head knowledge could connect it to my body that it's time to calm down.  We need endurance!!!      

Thank you to all of you for your support and prayers - we are most grateful!!!

"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our payers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work porduced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our LORD Jesus Christ."  1 Thessalonians 1: 2-3