Unexpected needed fun

My neighbor Kristy from across the street came over acknowledging how busy we are and that we must be tired after having movers at our house but she had some free Braves tickets for a game that was starting in 40 min. and they couldn't go. She had a parking pass for the Green Lot (front row) and $40 gift cards attached to the tickets for food. Well you don't have to twist our arms to take an offer like that...we were ready in 5 min., jumped in the van and headed toward Turner Field.

We had great seats.

The wave made it around the stadium a few times...that is what Madi was watching.

A grasshopper made it to the game. Isn't it funny perched on the bar with the scoreboard and skyline in view.

We are all tired now!!!! We needed that fun time enjoying the night outside.

Grandmothers flower

Just what I needed a new hobby...hexing...english paper piecing. I really enjoy doing things with my hands like stitching, cross-stitching and now hexing. This small quilt used 19 1" hexagons to make the traditional grandmother's flower.






My red flower was so fun to make I made a blue one to use as a gift. I bought a pack of 600 paper hexagons so all summer long I will be hexing here and there and everywhere. We will be in a million hotels.



Today this yummy fabric came in the mail...I have paper to match this too. My first set of movers come on Tuesday but then our fast shipment is being picked up until 12 July so I think I am going to keep my sewing machine out so I can have fun from now until then.

Steve leaves for Korea the first part of August and the kids and I will follow the middle of August.

God Bless America

I made 4th of July cards.

It's summer and we are moving so all the parents are letting kids play and play and play. Last night we ordered pizza for everyone.

Tonight it was just Blaine, Bailey and Emily who joined us. It's so fun when the kids can go play from one house to another...I am going to miss this neighborhood!!!

We have been watching lots of soccer. Ben and Madi wore their World Cup shirts today...we went with German ones. Ben has made it very clear that the USA is his 1st favorite team though.

Did anyone watch Wimbledon??? HOLY COW was that fun the last 3 days...and the winner (Isner) of that crazy game was a Georgia Bulldog too.

3+3=6 in 9 years

Those are Madi's stats. Steve and I were talking about them. When Madi is 9 years old she would have already lived at 3 stateside bases and 3 overseas bases....

1. Scott AFB, IL
2. Rhein Main AB, Germany
3. Wiesbaden AAF, Germany
4. Ft. McPherson, Georgia
5. USAG Yongsan, Seoul, Korea
6. Beale AFB, California

Now that is some record...she is going to be like me if she keeps it up. This next move will be my 9th move since marrying Steve 13 years ago but my 23rd in my whole life.

And since we have been in Georgia Madi has traveled to 9 states...Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio and oh yeah DC...District of Columbia and the Bahamas. She is going to add at least 4 or 5 knew states to that list this summer before leaving Georgia...we have a real exciting trip planned for next month!!!

Today I went shopping at my local quilt store and Hobby Lobby to stock up on a few things before my packers come, so I have lots of fun crafty things planned while living in Korea. I am a little freaked over leaving the land of quilt stores, Hobby Lobby, Target, Walmart............

This really cute State fabric was one of the things I picked up today and it only took me 15 minutes to whip up this super sweet skirt for Madi...I just love it!

Swimming

Monday morning at 0751 my phone rang...it was Ms. Jennifer the kids swim coach. She said she had an opening in both level 3 and 4 that were back to back this whole week and she would like for us to come free of charge as a Thank You for Steve's service in the Air Force. The kids were super excited and we took the offer! This is our 3rd summer at Ms. Jennifer's pool and boy are we going to miss it!!! Jennifer and her team have turned Ben and Madi into some really great swimmers.

Madi's best stroke is the elementary backstroke. In this picture she doing the backstroke...crisp arms and pinkie finger in first.

For Ben's level 4, the new strokes learned were the breaststroke which he mastered and the sidestroke which he needs to work at still. Also he started diving standing up rather than on the knee.

Ben always like to wear a swim shirt...everyday.

It's Friday and for our Friday night summer dinner we are having Greek salad with a new yummy looking summer dessert.

crust:

2 1/4 c. flour

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. butter

mix

press evenly into 9x13 greased dish

bake 350 for 20 minutes

cool

topping:

1 pkg oz cream cheese

2 TBSP brown sugar

1 6oz flavored yogurt

1 tsp grated lemon peel

Spread this over cooled crust

Top with favorite fresh summer fruits

Every Christmas I am given the gift (thanks Liz!) of a subscription to the Pillsbury monthly cookbooks that are always a surprise in the mail...I love that. Anyways I was looking through a large stack of the books and saw this yummy summer dessert and decided to try it.

a fun birthday tradition

Usually you see these chains in red and green construction paper handmade by little kids. I made this chain for some friends of ours out of happy scraps, fusible interfacing and velcro. Now this chain can be a fun family tradition used over and over to countdown those birthdays...my kids are always asking how many more days! Now I want to make a longer chain for a countdown to Christmas to use every year. I got the idea for this out of Sandi Henderson's new book I mentioned the other day...it's only $11 at amazon.com rather than $18 at the bookstore.

This cake takes the cake!

For Madi's birthday cake we made vandco ice cream cake. This thing screamed summer birthday! It was so good we all had two pieces. Madi, thank goodness felt better...no need to go to the hospital. Since her diagnosis we have never had to take her in except for routine apts.

Every year we get Madi a gag gift. Last year it was a huge jar of pickles...this year a dozen cans of her favorite beanee weenees.

Time for a picnic....

...now that I have made us the perfect picnic quilt. I have been wanting to make one of these for a long time and when I was looking at the medowsweet line of fabric it said picnic quilt to me. All but one of the fabrics used were medowsweet or farmers market by sandihenderson. I love all her designs and her new book...I have already started making something out of it...my clock is ticking...our first set of movers come in almost 2 weeks.

The back of the quilt is mostly white with some greens edges and then I used a brown for the binding.



Yesterday my kids had to go to their Pediatrician to get TB tests done in preparation for moving to Korea. Right before the Dr. came in Madi stated saying her belly hurt...I thought it's only because both kids are scared of the shot/TB test...even though Madi has type 1 diabetes and get 4-6 shots daily. Then last night at dinner my 52 inch, 52 lb. Madi couldn't eat and her belly still hurt. At 11 pm she started getting the runs and throwing up. It lasted all night and all day today. She hadn't eaten or had anything to drink since 3:30 yesterday afternoon...Madi has diabetes and that means other things start going the wrong way. Sure enough at 2pm today she finally peed so I was able to check her keytones....dang, large amount...first time ever. So I called Steve and then he called the Pediatric Endocrinologist so I could start packing overnight bags for both Madi and I. But we are still at home, still have large amount of keytones but she is now keeping a few chips and Gatorade down so hopefully we are on the up and up. I LOVE that team down at Emory University/Children's Hospital. They talk to you every hour trying to keep you at home and still confident at what you are doing. I am hoping for a full nights rest tonight. Tomorrow is Madi's birthday so she has to feel better right?!?

Card group cards

Our assignment was a birthday card...with the ultimate challenge being to add an office supply (paperclip, staple...) somewhere on the card. I did the birthday card but flopped on the challenge...I still like my cards though. This was our last month. I have my big move overseas and the other ladies were all for taking a break for a few months. I will be ready to go again in the fall for sure...I am dreading not having all my craft supplies...the Air Force takes 2 LONG MONTHS to ship our household goods to Korea.

more flip flops...

Last weekend Steve's family came with bags and bags of birthday gifts for Ben and Madi. Of all the fun things, these pink flip flops with balloons tied on them my sister-in-law made are my favorite! Madi and I made the red and aqua.









The other day I got on my computer after the kids had been on there and noticed what the last google search was...see it by the Norton on the top left. hmmmm...I wonder who it was?

Memorial Day

Our family spent Memorial Day down at Turner Field....Braves and Phillies with a Beach Boys concert to top it off. There was an abundance of patriotism at every turn. Look at this flag made of baseball hats. The Braves wore white hats...all MLB players did in honor of Memorial Day. Lots of decorated troops were honored on the field before and during the game. I think Ben and Madi felt what Memorial Day is for.

Madi and Daddy.

The kids got their favorite chili cheese fries and Braves helmets full of dippin' dots.

Braves won putting them in 1st place!!!!!!!!

After the game we sure enjoyed the Beach Boys concert right there at Turner Field!!!