Today's cute saying.

7. We ordered a Shamrock shake at McDonald's today. As I ordered it Nathaniel popped up to the front seat and yelled "and don't forget the Shamrock" really loudly. (3/17/10)

More memorable phrases

It's been a while since I added to the list of Nathaniel's memorable phrases. I always pull the oldest ones to keep them with the newer ones so I have a full list. I think I'll start dating them.

6. I was explaining to Nathaniel (6) how my parents are his grandparents, daddy's mom is my mother-in-law and if my mom was living she would be daddy's mother-in-law. Nathaniel's response? "She's an angel-in-law."
5. "Does God make police cars?" I tell him "no, God gives us the intelligence and technology and man makes cars." His response. "Or girls. Maybe bad men make race cars." (9/21/08)
4. "I think we should get a green golf cart" (the neighbors have a golf cart that they drive around the neighborhood in). "That way we could go hunting in the woods." When asked what he wants to hunt he responded "we could hunt for bears!" (9/21/08)
4. "Why does God give morning breath? Why doesn't he just give regular breath?" (8/20/08)
3. "Why does God make Tornados if he wants to take care of us?" When I responded "I don't know" N suggested "let's dream about it."
2. "Can we see when we're dead?" Not having any idea where he's going I respond "no, we can't see or hear or eat or anything." His next question is "Then how can we see God when we're in heaven?" (5/18/08)
1. "Is the sky God's floor?"

How Much Fabric? Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is a pretty cool giveaway. Maybe I should say it's not so less people are in the running. LOL.

How Much Fabric? Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Simplicity 2931

Tonight I finished up another new shirt for M. Here she is modeling it. No, she won't be wearing it with a purple shirt, that's just what she had on (whoda thunk she'd be wearing long sleeves in Aug?). I made a size 12 but had to take it in on each side about 3/4", which I tapered down to nothing at the bottom hem. She's in between sizes according to the pattern but I think next time I'll make her a 10. Both of the last shirts I made I had to take in through the bodice.

I bought this fabric from Joann's. It was a home dec fabric that M just loved. It washed up very nicely and has a great soft feel to it. I think it will look very nice with either a forest green or brick red shirt under it.

K is saying how much she likes this shirt and how she thinks it will fit her. LOL. It remains to be seen if M shares it with her. Some days you never know with those two.

Win End of Summer Reads

My girls have been inhaling books this summer and these look like they will fit right in with what's been on the menu around here. Check it out maybe you'll win.

Win It: End-of-Summer, Back-to-School YA Book Prize Pack!

Want to squeeze in a few good reads before summer gets away? Need some fun titles to offset the sting of cracking open those textbooks for the first time? I’ve got THREE amazing books up for grabs. The winner takes the whole kit and caboodle. To enter, go to th Win It site and just leave a comment.

Simplicity 4127

I finished M's top from Simplicity 4127 today. This sure took me a while. I kept putting it down after each step instead of plowing right through. I think nice basic knit tops have really spoiled me. LOL. I added 5/8" inch to the neckline so it wasn't quite so low and then added 1 1/4" to the bottom of the bodice so it wouldn't end too high. I needed to take the back in a bit more than the pattern allowed for and I thought I got it just the way she wanted it but it is a little looser than she wanted and than what I thought I had. I had already put the zipper in so we decided it is ok. With just a tank on underneath it gapes a little under the arms. When she wears a long sleeved shirt under it you can't see the gaping as much. I didn't want her to feel restricted when she moves either as this has no stretch. I couldn't find a brown regular zipper so put in an invisible zip. I think I didn't figure out where the back would fold by the zip right, which is why I got a little more ease than I initially wanted. It does hang evenly on both sides, she just has her arm pushing it down on one side and not on the other.

New in the backyard

It is always nice to have people help with big projects. Working in the backyard is no different. Here are the most recent projects that have been completed in the backyard with the help of friends and family.



My ILs helped me dig out all the grass, haul compost to fill the area in, and edge this. My next door neighbor donated and helped me move all the plants except the ferns. Here's a daytime shot from straight on. You can see some space between the two large yucca plants. My Stella d'Oro day lillies will go there after they are done blooming.



Here's a nighttime shot off of the deck last night when it was raining. I have a couple of small bleeding hearts that I may add on the edge in front of the large sedum.



Here's the back of the house outside the bathroom and K's room. My MIL helped me add edging to this and the kids and my MIL helped me get the paving stones evenly down. The hostas were our $1.99 find at Home Depot.



Here's one of N's lily's that he bought with daddy and planted a couple years ago. They are just beautiful. This is the only plant that is doing this well. All the others are very small. Maybe if I keep the weeding up, keep them watered better, and keep the darn gophers out of there they will continue to grow.



M chose a Columbine this spring to plant in the back yard. It has doubled in size and is getting a new batch of flowers on it. They are so cool!

I will hopefully be going back to the compost place and get some mulch to put around all these new plants to help keep the weeds out.

Now that this project is almost done I'm considering other options to work on. Hmm.....