Keira is Double Digits!

Keira turned 10!  As we usually do, we planned a special cake for her.  I found a carousel bundt pan.  Avalyn made a Gluten Free pound cake using the pan.  Unfortunately, the cake wasn't dense enough to show the intricate shapes of the pan, but Keira still liked it.
God is amazing in how he has showed us his watch care over Keira.  With all of her early health concerns, she is really healthy.  She works hard at her school work.  But most of all she loves horse back riding!  God has graciously allowed her to grow and learn and has showed us himself in the struggles.

We dusted the cake with powdered sugar in hopes that it would help the shapes on the carousel stand out.  It didn't work very well, but the cake tasted really good!

And the powdered sugar made blowing out the candles more fun!

Each of the kids bought Keira a present and she enjoyed opening all the gifts.

First Day of School

We started school on August 1.  We wanted to get a start on the year so that if things came up, we would still be able to have a summer vacation!  The kids were ready to start and I was ready to get back into a routine. 

Keira sorted money.  She was very diligent and wanted to go sort our coin jar when she finished with the toy money!

Avalyn asked if she could help Sophia start her math.  Sophia started Alpha Math U See and was really excited about it!

Kyle worked hard on his math: Gamma - Math U See.

Sewing: July

I was looking back, and the last exclusively sewing post was for April!  I didn't do much sewing in May, with NO pictures of fabric.  I put together some fabric in June, but I didn't do much sewing.  July was the first month of more sewing!

I wanted to use the summer to get so sewing done, but until July, I didn't really get the chance to sew much.  That is fine, since family life is more important than any sewing project!  With the Mighty Lucky challenge, I worked on April's project.  It was interpreting a photograph into a quilt.  If you think that sounds challenging, in practice it is much harder!  It took between 12 and 15 hours of sewing to get my "block" which could really double as a small quilt.

I used a picture Adrian took of an orchid from our first trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  I never knew I liked orchids until that trip!  This is the picture I based my quilt block off of.

And this is my translation of that picture into a quilt block.  Every time I think about this particular challenge, I think of a quote from one of my favorite quilters Lynn at the Patchery Menagerie.  She says, that recreating pictures into quilts does not use the medium well.  She likes to use quilting to convey other ideas, not recreate pictures.  I tend to agree that the medium is not conducive to reproducing paintings or photographs, but I like the idea of interpretive or stylized pictures and may try this again some day.  In any case, it was an interesting challenge and definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Here are my first four blocks together.  April's block is almost as big as January's and Febrary's blocks put together! 

I started on the May challenge as well!  It is about color contrast.  The idea is to use one block and change the fabric choices for different components of the block to see how it changes the over all look.  I wanted to choose a simple block since I wasn't planning on making a whole quilt and wanted it to be small.  Then I chose my fabrics and got to it!  This is the first of many contrasting blocks!

Once I got started making these blocks, I just couldn't stop!  It was so much fun to see how each fabric choice changed the look of the block!  I went overboard and made more than I needed!

I kept everything organized by drawing out my plan and then stacking the fabric on top of each plan.  With that, I could chain piece several blocks at a time!

Not quite a complete set, but still a lot of blocks and many different looks!

I got to work on Mercy's quilt and actually finished the third color section!  Each section is quilted differently, with the light pink section quilted with "organic" lines and bubbles.  I really like the way it came out, and a bonus was that it didn't take very long to complete!

The blue name panel on the back shows the quilting very clearly.  I love seeing the different quilting styles next to each other!  I can't wait to see this quilt finished!

I wanted to use up some decor weight fabric I had, so I made Mors Bags!  I love how sturdy these bags are, and since making them, I have used them as library bags.  I made several so the kids could have some too.

Kid's Creek Therapy

For over a year, Keira has been going to Kid's Creek Therapy.  First for speech, and later for physical therapy.  She did a great job, learning a lot and working hard.  But we had to stop going.  On her final week, I took pictures of what she did and took a lot of notes so that we could work on therapy activities at home. 

When Keira first started the physical therapy, I had trouble understanding her therapist as English was not her first language.  Over time, I learned how sweet, caring, and Godly she was.  I was so thankful for her kind words and encouragement, and I miss seeing her every week!  The therapist was working with Keira, but she had Sophia work with them too, in order to encourage Keira and show her what to do.  The girls grew closer together and loved sharing this time.
The therapy location had the greatest room!  It had a tree house with elevated walk ways, a rock climbing wall, a ball pit, a sliding swing, and a bunch of other things like trapezes and punching bags.

Project 366: Week 39

I have not been taking pictures as frequently.  I pull out the camera when I see something I want to capture, but not just to get a picture.  Maybe I'll do better soon, but the motivation has left me!  This is for the week of September 25 - October 1.

Sunday: I did not take any pictures on the Lord's Day.  I am thankful for a day where we can have a change of pace and learn more about God.

Monday: We had friends over for dinner.  Jeff served on two an aircraft carriers!  Kyle was completely fascinated by his stories and pictures.  I am thankful for good friends who can share their experiences with us.  (I've know Jeff since I was in 5th grade and his children were babies!)

Tuesday:  I didn't take a picture on Tuesday.  This picture is from Thursday.  The Junior Chemistry class made a periodic table from sugar cookies!  It was a more difficult project than it probably should have been, but the results were tasty nonetheless!  I am thankful for Michelle teaching Chemistry to the kids and doing all the experiments and projects to go along with it.

Wednesday:  I bought Kyle a VCR from Goodwill for him to take apart.  He loved figuring out how to take the case off.  Then he took some springs off and watched to see if it would work.  He couldn't get too much further, but he enjoyed the process.  I am thankful for Kyle's desire to learn and explore.  I am not sure how to further that desire, but I try where I can.

Thursday: I teach two critical thinking classes at the co-op at our church.  I love the material and I try to make the class exciting for all the kids.  We play games and try to solve problems!  Kyle is playing with a geoboard.  I am thankful for the opportunity to teach some of the kids from our church.

Friday:We got pool noodles to turn them into swords!  Patrick loves carrying one around and hitting the ground.  I call him my little warrior!  I am thankful for the kids' imagination and creativity in their play.

Saturday: Kyle tried to make a sling out of duck tape, but it didn't work very well.  We looked online and found several tutorials on how to make a sling from paracord.  We bought the paracord, and Kyle made a jig and then wove his very own sling.  He practiced with it and decided he needed a bigger cup in it, so later he modified the jig and made another sling!  I am thankful for Kyle's desire to work hard at what he wants!

Celebrating Independence

We went to my parents' house for a BBQ to celebrate Independence Day (several days late).  My brother and younger sister also came!  We had a great time, and as a finale, my parents' neighbor shoot off some fireworks for everyone to enjoy.

This was the best I could get of all the kids together!

The kids sat so nicely on the curb waiting to see fireworks!

Mercy decided to cover her ears early, just to be prepared!

Project 366: Week 38

September 18 - September 24

Sunday:  The Lord's Day is sweet!  I even captured a picture of the wonderful fudge my little boy enjoyed in celebration of the Lord's day.  I am thankful for the day of rest our Lord gives us each week!

Monday:  Talk like a Pirate Day!  Avalyn and Kyle dressed like pirates and each got a dozen donuts from Krispy Kreme to share with our family!  I am thankful for the kids' enthusiam and desire to be a little goof for a good cause. :)

Tuesday: I got to work on Mercy's quilt again!  One of these days, I am going to finish the quilting.  I am excited about this quilt and seeing it completed!  I am thankful for the opportunity to make such special things for my family.

Wednesday:  Mr. Turtle loves carrying candy for all the little kids.  He loves hiding and waiting quietly for the kids to find him.  He loves the joy the kids have when they quietly find him and try to get his candy without their siblings seeing them.  I am thankful for this fun little game of hide and seek the kids and I enjoy!

Thursday:  Patrick tried to climb at the church's playground.  He did a good job, but got upset as soon as he saw his mama!  I am thankful to get to witness my children growing and learning new things.

Friday: Megan and I got together to sew a little bit on Friday afternoon.  We managed to finish this small quilt top!  I love making baby quilts because they go so quickly.  I am thankful to share this hobby with my sister.  It makes it so much more fun to get to sew with someone!

Saturday: At the last minute, our favorite friends invited us to spend a day at the lake.  We took advantage of the opportunity and had a great time!  Mercy got to ride in the tube for the first time and she absolutely LOVED it!  I am so grateful to God for giving us such good friends that even through the many moves and long distances, we are still friends and enjoy our precious time together.

Project 366: Week 37

September 11 - September 17

Sunday: Sunrise through the rain beyond the pier.  What a beautiful morning!  I love looking for the rain!  I am thankful for God's handiwork.  He could have made the whole world a monotone, but he paints with a million colors!

Monday: Sophia reading to Mercy while they wait to go to the beach.  I am thankful for the ability to read.

Tuesday:  What an awesome experience: to see the Blue Angels!  They were spectacular!  I am thankful for the opportunity to enjoy such an amazing performance.

Wednesday:  I am thankful for the Lord's allowing us this time to witness his creation in different areas!  What a wonderful sunset!

Thursday:  We took the kids back to the Naval Aviation Museum.  We enjoyed some of the displays on Aircraft Carriers and took the guided tour.  The tour was paused for a ceremony to honor veterans who served on the first intentionally build aircraft carrier.  What a special thing to witness! I am thankful for my children's love of learning.  They would have gladly spend another full day at the museum over going to the beach!

Friday: We rented stand up paddle boards.  Adrian and Megan took a couple of the kids out on the boards.  Avalyn and PaigeEE actually managed to stand up on the boards for a good bit of time!  I am thankful to have gotten to try something new!  The paddle boards were a lot of fun, though they provided quite the workout!

Saturday: (Taken on Friday evening) We never managed to take a family picture on the beach, so Friday evening, we took several pictures from the balcony of our condo.  The kids especially love the goof pictures!  I am so thankful to get to spend our vacation with my parents.  It is a joy to get to spend this time together.