Seoul, Korea....here we come!

We are moving to the 3rd largest city in the World...Tokyo(lived there), New York, Seoul, Korea. 14 million people...it's gonna make Atlanta look like a one-stop-light town.

Rock-N-Roll Friday...

starring Madi bee...that is her nickname. I whipped up these fun pants last night using an indygo junction pattern. They are so cute and only cost me $8 and an hour of my time. I have a feeling Madi will be getting a few more new pairs of pants...I need to try making shorts.

4 down 4 to go

Man oh man...Madi had 4 baby teeth pulled today. She went to the orthodontist a few weeks ago and he said to have 8 baby teeth pulled to allow her adult teeth to come in in the proper place. My poor little girl. But she will be rich tonight after the tooth fairy comes!

Plus, her sweet dad walked in from work tonight and surprised her and Ben and I with 4-day passes to Disney World...13 days and counting.

Madi's quilt

I finished Madi's quilt! It is so her...fun, loving, bight and cheery. It's a scuffily quilt. Last summer I saw the pattern on the modabake shop. It's a pattern that rachel from p.s. i quilt ca

me up with. She comes up with lots of fun stuff to make. Remember those fabric necklaces.

I am so in love with Madi's new quilt. It's white on the back. I used a variegated thread to sew around the squares for the quilting part...thanks to Jamie from my local quilting store for that idea :-)

I am so addicted to this quilting now...I am already looking forward to starting something new again.

The Greatest Show On Earth!

Last night we headed downtown to Phillip's Arena...to watch the circus...Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey....The Greatest Show On Earth. And boy was it great!!!




First we ate dinner in the CNN Center.




Madi got a picture with a Wolf Blitzer stand.

Back in 2003 we all watched the war news from Warrior One in Iraq...the CNN Humvee.

The circus was so magical. We saw the acrobats

...the tight rope

...tigers

and the elephants. It really was a fun magical night!

Now today? Steve thought it would be fun to go back over to Athens, Georgia to watch another basketball game. Well Ben didn't and he wanted to stay home to play with friends. So I am at home and Ben's twin friends Blaine and Bailey are here. Madi and Steven?...are in Athens watching the University of Georgia vs. Alabama play basketball AND a girls softball doubleheader...Georgia vs Virginia Tech. Steve has the perfect child...a little sports buddy.

Essence flowers

Last week my friend Amber made the prettiest cards. So last night with my extra scraps of fabric from my quilt I thought I would try making some of the flowers for some cards of my own. Sewing background fabric onto paper was a little tedious and annoying but I still like the way they turned out (Ben says they look like dead flowers)....just next time I think I will use paper on the card with the fabric flowers.

My new quilt

I had so much fun making a quilt out of Essence fabric by Moda. The pattern was a free one I saw on the Moda Bake Shop a long time ago...I just now got the nerve to try it. It was sew easy!

My kids are out of school this week. Madi has asked me to make her a 'pretty' quilt so we picked out some OZ fabric by Moda. We have already starting sewing it...see the kids arranging the squares in the order they think would look best.

Steve never stops cracking me up. On Monday night he went to Griffin, Georgia. The 2nd Baptist Church of Griffin was hosting a Wild Game Banquet and the guest speaker was UGA's football coach. So Steve wanted to go munch on Bear, Elk and Moose burgers to be able to hear what the coach had to say. The High School in Griffin has 2 kids The University of Georgia wants to come play football...see the catch.

UGA vs SC...basketball

All the snow we got here in Atlanta didn't stop us today. Ben and Madi's basketball games were cancelled because of the snow. So, we headed over to The University Of Georgia in Athens, Georgia (about 65 miles from our house) to watch a college game. Our Bulldogs played South Carolina and the Dawgs won!!! I am never in many pictures with my kids...so of course my eyes are closed.








We saw the UGA baseball team practicing...in the snow. Their games start in a week or two.

OMGosh! I am sure every college has their own...you know the guy how wears nothing but Speedo's printed with the American Flag and he is more cheerleader than all those girls put together. If you look closely he is in the student section about 5 rows up behind the hoop. He was NON-STOP entertainment! This was such a good game...a one point game in the last 50 seconds. What a super fun day! We can't wait to go again sometime.

We may not have had a White Christmas...

...but we are having a White Valentines. I guess Atlanta decided to join the rest of the snow-covered nation. Steve thinks we have already gotten 4 inches and we are only halfway through the winter storm.

Yes, that would be my man shoveling our driveway.

The kids are going down the street to their friend Isaiah's house for a HUGE snowball fight. Look at all that snow...huge flakes.

We are in an Olympic mood now! The kids have been playing Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games on the Wii today and now the snow. Have fun watching the Olympics!!!

Saturday

It's just Saturday. But I have done all my important things today and it feels good.

This morning Steve was the last one to get up. When he walked out I was in the kitchen. He came in and asked if I saw Madi. We both crept down the hall so we could both peek. She was on the other side of her bed reading a chapter book aloud...it was just funny...she was all alone and content.

Tonight for dinner we made Pioneer Women's enchiladas. They were alot of work but were soooo yummy and worth every minute.

I had not been very motivated to run lately. It's hard right now. I was doing so good...that's gone and it's HARD! But the other day I was really motivated. My cousin betsy has 5 kids. They are 8, 5, 3 and twins that are 4 months. She has been running everyday and started training for a half marathon...and she had a c-section to get those twins 4 months ago. So if she can put forth the all that effort I can too. I have been running everyday since! Thanks Betsy!!!

looks like Valentines

I can not function...for two days now!!! Why? Sometime soon we will have to move. We are stationed at Ft. McPherson (Atlanta, Georgia) which will be closing July 2011. So within 16 months we have to move. Yesterday some overseas choices came out. We have already spent 7 years overseas and loved it, but here are our choices:

Youngson, Korea...we would go as a family for two years. We have been to Seoul and liked it...we are big city people. They even have brand new housing there. This is Steve's first choice.

Kadena, Okinawa, Japan...LOVE Japan. I was stationed at Yokota AB (Tokyo) but both Steve and I spent plenty of time down on the island. The base is huge...it's a fighter jet and tanker base, they have some of the nicest facilities in the whole Air Force.

3 bases in Germany...but we just left Germany 3 1/2 years ago not sure if I am ready to go back.

Vicenza, Italy...it's an Army Base only 45 minutes from Venice. Steve would work lots and most likely deploy 2 times out of the 4 years we would live there. Italy has lots of crime...base housing made garages to protect cars from theft and they are not very friendly towards Americans like the people in Germany...I just couldn't go shopping easily at flea markets and stores like in Germany. But it's hard to say no to Italy. Plus we have never been to this base.


So We are not sure what we want to do!!! I can't function because it's all I am thinking about.






Thank goodness on Monday I put all my Valentines decorations out before all this talk about moving distracted me! Ben has been home all week...poor guy still doesn't feel well. We went to the pediatrician yesterday, no need for antibiotics, just time and rest I guess.

I am NUTS about you!

Ben and I finished his Valentines. He likes them...and that is hard to do! Poor Ben woke up in the middle of the night with a fever so he stayed home from school today. It was nice having one on one time with him. We enjoyed a lunch of fried Bologna sandwiches together.

I also finished a small quilt/table runner for Valentines. This is my best sewing yet! I am getting the hang of this. There are SO MANY things I want to make.

I hand stitched the binding on...but still learning. My corners are good though.

14 Days of Valentines

The 14 Days of Valentines idea came from my friend amber. I LOVE it and am doing it too. It will be one small gift everyday for Steve. I can't wait to get February started.

1. reese's cup.....There are a million 'reese's why I love you.

2. socks.....You knock my 'socks' off.

3. almond joy.....Thank you for 'almond joy' you have given me.

4. can of beans.....'cool beans' you're mine....inside joke

5. hot tamales.....you're 'hot'

6. smoothie ingredients.....you're 'smooth'...Ben's idea

7. velveeta.....you 'melt' my heart...Ben's idea and for Feb. 7th Superbowl Sunday to make rotel dip.

8. pop rocks candy.....you 'rock' my world

9. lucky charms.....I am 'lucky' to have you

10. jr. mints.....we were 'mint' to be together

11. nuts.....I'm 'nuts' about you

12. sweethearts.....you're my sweetheart

13. olive oil.....'olive' love you forever

And for the 14th...still working on that one.

Steve is working late tonight so I was just working on the tags for these. Two of Madi's little girlfriends are over here...their favorite is the lucky charms because there is a kiss on the tag...they said I should do that on all of them.

Pioneer Woman inspiration

It seemed like everyone I knew had the new Pioneer Women cookbook but me. So I had mentioned wanting to get the book to my friend susy and she said to order it from amazon.com...it's only $11.50 there. So I did. It has helped me get out of my cooking slump. For the past week I have been making the best dinners with homemade pies, rolls, yummy salads with homemade dressings. One of Steve's favorites is apple pie. Not that they are hard to make but I stress over trying to get it looking picture perfect so when I saw Pioneer Women's flat apple pie I knew it was for me. I used my grandma kiehl's pie crust recipe and my mom's/Pioneer Women's filling recipe....there were only two differences. All I had to do was roll out the pie crust, lay it on a cookie sheet, pour pie filling on top and fold up the edges...it was perfect tasting. Steve is always very nice...if I don't have dinner plans he always offers to pick up Subway or something on his way home from work. But, if I have a yummy home cooked dinner waiting there is a twinkle in his eye. Tonight's menu is Pioneer Women's Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Pentagon

The kids in Ben's SAGE (gifted) class were given the assignment to pick a world landmark to write a report on and build a sturdy replica of...holy moly is kinda what I thought. Ben chose the Pentagon. Some of his friends picked the Eiffel Tower, Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Pyramids...makes me a little grateful for the Pentagon. Steve thought and thought how we could do this and then asked for my help...we used all my craft stuff. The foam board I use to make explosion books,the flags I use in tasty treats, my glue gun...that he has never used and my elephant gray paint. Our family learned alot about the Pentagon from this project. The neatest being the interesting fact that the Pentagon was dedicated on September 11, 1943...58 years to the day before the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

cozies

I already finished making these cozies that we are going to give the kids teachers for Valentine's Day. Ben picked white for his teacher and Madi insisted Mrs. Kave once said red was her favorite color so red it is for her. I got a kit with the supplies to make these from sweetwater...I enjoy all their products. Their line of fabric authentic is one of my favorites. I think I am going to go to Starbucks and get empty cups to wrap these around and stuff a small gift card inside.

My "under the sink"

It all started when I found this wonderful scented dish soap at William Sonoma...spiced chestnut. I was talking to my friend Susy who is the everyday gourmet...and the queen of William Sonoma all about this new favorite product of mine. So in return she sent me the link and a coupon to get some more yummy scented dish soap. I stocked up and love having a basket full under my sink...and countertop spray too.

My other new fad is pretty dishtowels and washcloths I crocheted myself.

One of my friends moved and so for a little gift for her I sent my new favorites...gourmet dish soap with crocheted washcloths for her new kitchen.

Today I had the BEST day! My legs hurt so bad...I LOVE self-inflicted pain from exercising!!!. One night last week I was at the gym (LA Fitness) and they had a local radio station playing overhead. I take my own music but as soon as I got there they were announcing the number 1 downloaded song in Atlanta...the Avett Brothers...I had never heard of this number 1...they played the song and I had been craving to hear again ever since but couldn't remember the name of it. So today I was outside in our beautiful 65 degrees running over at the Salem lake and in my ears the radio played this song...I am a sucker for songs that have an anthem tune. But when it was over it was a commercial so I switched stations and then the Judds 'Love Can Build A Bridge" came on...I busted into tears in the middle of my run because I was thinking about what is going on in Haiti and the people who are down there trying to help. It's so sad.

yummy flowers from Madi

Madi and I just finished these cute valentines for her class just a few minutes ago. We found the idea on another blog. Madi went through my paper and picked what colors she wanted to use, she put the paper in the printer, cut a few of them and poked the yummy suckers in the flowers. She and I both are excited to give these to her friends next month.

January x 4

This past week has been AMAZING! I spent my week substitute teaching in Special Ed...where some kids can't walk or talk or feed themselves or go to the bathroom by themselves. I have taught in there before, but this is the first chance I have had to be in there this school year. If you have lived with or taught these kinds of kids you know how I am feeling. Since I have to be at school early and stay a little late my own kids come in the classroom with me...they are amazed and are learning to accept and enjoy these kids too. We crack up because one of the kids in my class calls me Ms. BB (Ms. Jeni). Steve doesn't know any of the kids but Ben, Madi and I have been talking non-stop about them all week. After my experiences this week and watching the devastation in Haiti my heart is overwhelmed.



I am thankful for all I have and the things I get to experience...January has been good to me so far. I have 4 different sets of month stitcheries. It is so fun to change them at the beginning of each new month.

This crow one is my newest one and now my favorite. Tonight I am working on the February pattern.

Happy January!!!