Wish List

This week I have been watching an 8 month old little boy for some friends whose regular sitter is out of town. Tommy said I could use the money they pay me at my discretion (he's great, I know).

I am having trouble deciding.

I am tempted to spend it all here:







and here:






But I've also had my eye on this:















along with some melamine plates from:







But then I noticed that Aldi is selling:









And I thought we could use some:








to spruce up the outside.

And Tommy will be doing this soon:














So I probably need to get him something too.

I think I need a job.

80th

Last summer my family celebrated my Granddad's 80th birthday and this past weekend we celebrated my Grandmom's 80th.




















I love my grandparents. I know everyone says that; but I really mean it. They are both phenomenal people.

I was the only grandchild on my dad's side of the family for 10 years. Until my grandparents moved in 2001, we lived only a few miles away. Just about every weekend until I hit high school and thought I had better things to do, we went to my grandparent's house.

Even though the house was torn down, it will always be preserved in my mind. In some ways I am glad I don't have a ton of pictures of the house. Pictures have a bad habit of replacing memories.

I can remember Grandmom's wig from her battle with breast cancer. I remember her painting the dobermans toenails red. I remember riding on the tractor with her. I remember her painting the garage desert pink with cacti on the walls. I remember her giving the dogs baths in the pool and locking them in the bath house until they dried. I remember shoveling cow patties with her. I remember her watering the hanging plants that lined the side of the house. I remember going walkies with her and all the doggies. I remember her singing off key praises to Jesus.

She is older now, and not quite as strong as she used to be; and sometimes she forgets things. Arthritis is bending her fingers and she watches Judge Judy more than she used to.

But the influence has been made. Creativity and a love for the outdoors has been impressed upon me.





Grandmom with my dad, at the beach, 1955

















When I first saw this line of fabric, I immediately thought of my grandmom. The bluebonnets and wildflowers had her name written all over them. This quilt is by far my fastest quilt finish ever. I used the time I spent making it as an opportunity to pray for her and for my family. I pray before my grandparents die, that they will without a doubt know that all five of their children will be in heaven with them singing gloriously on-key praises at the throne of Jesus.

Easter 2010

The weekend before Easter we went to the Seminary's Eggstravaganza where Daniel got a whopping two eggs.


Thankfully the dum-dum drool washed out of his shirt.
















The day before Easter we had an egg hunt at my in-laws where the kids hunted on one big team and then divided up the loot.

Isaiah

This past weekend we finally got to meet the newest member of the family, Isaiah Richard Vaquera. Tommy's sister spent a long few days with him in the NICU after his birthday, February 14. He is doing just fine now, Praise God.

I got the chance to cuddle with him some over the weekend. Daniel is already getting so big, stinky and sweaty so holding Isaiah was a nice change.
















This is Isaiah's favorite blanket. How could it not be? It was made by his favorite aunt after all.

My Day

Today Daniel got to hang out with two of his best buds while their mom and dad were out.

Allie and Isaac are twins one month older than Daniel. Their mama Erin and I met while we were pregnant and really bonded while trying to walk off baby weight after they came. I must say she did much better than I did! We had a blast today. The counter was a big hit. Go figure. I gave them each their milk and a magazine and they loved it.






























I also finished binding this quilt. I LOVE this tutorial on machine finishing the binding. So many quilters claim they love hand finishing the binding. I personally don't think I'll ever do it by hand again. This way is faster and comes out much neater for me.








What did you do today?

Dreams Come True

When I was a little girl, somehow I ended up on the mailing list for the American Girl Doll catalog. Each one was loved with dogeared pages, circled items and water marks, from tears or drool; I'm not sure which.

I.never.got.a.single.doll.

Not even an outfit. I did get three or four series of the books. Because that doesn't make you want the doll more or anything. At close to $100 each, I don't actually remember anyone else having any of the dolls either.

Yesterday I noticed an add on Craigslist for a garage sale less than a mile from our house. I wavered back and forth on whether I should go or not. I usually like to hit several if I'm going to go, and this one didn't start until 10am. And I hit a few yesterday (score on the $0.50 Wilton cupcake pan). No, I wouldn't go.

But I needed a few things at Albertson's (score on the $1.68/lb chicken breast). And since the sale was right around the corner, it would make sense to drive past. So I did.

I spotted a few children's wooden rocking chairs that I figured were worth stopping for. When I saw they were price for $10 each (which I consider a little high for a garage sale) I didn't think anything else would be priced well.

And I spotted them. SIX of them. American Girl Dolls.

"How much for the dolls?" Pretending they were just run of the mill dolls, nothing to get excited over.

"$5 each." Happy Dance. Happy Dance. (On the inside, lest they see my joy and jack up the price.

I immediately started racking my brain wondering which dolls my cousin has, and wondering which she would want. And what about my friend's daughter. Surely she would want one.

Providence is a beautiful thing. My aunt called right then. "What's the weather like up there?" Weather smeather.

She put Sarah on the phone and she told me which dolls were her top two. Right as the man put out out a box of American Girl Doll clothes.

It got a little hectic at this point. Outfits, dolls, prices and an 18 month old little boy making himself at home in someone else's junk.

I chose three dolls and the box of clothes which the man priced at $7.00. I asked if he would take $20 for the bunch, and he said no. Whatever, it was worth asking. $22.00 was a STEAL.

An hour later, after buying my weight in meat at Albertson's, I went back for the remainder. I couldn't help myself. Someone had snagged one of the dolls, but I snatched up the remaining two.

5 dolls, an assortment of clothes all for $32.00.



I tried to match the girls with the clothes, but some of them are retired, so it was a little difficult.













I wasn't sure which of these outfits went to which dolls, or I didn't have the doll that went to the outfit.










And yes, I will be dressing the dolls until I have to surrender them to the next generation.

Slowly

The house is coming along slowly. The kitchen is mostly unpacked, and we bought paint yesterday. Daniel likes to open all the drawers and cabinets.














We also bought paint for the study. I can't wait to get that room painted and set up. It will be our library/study/office/sewing room. I've gotta say, I'm most excited about it being a sewing room.

Belated Valentines

I forgot to post these pictures of Daniel enjoying his Valentine's cupcakes.
Enjoy... we did!