Teacher's

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week...so I am getting all my little gifts ready. We like to give our teachers a little something every day. These little monogram things I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $2 each and I made the fun little flashcards. These are ready to start the week and now I need to finish the other 3 days.

Today after school the kids had a really great time. Have you seen these cute cookies to color on from Target? Ben and Madi think they are cool. After snack we played a few games of UNO. We each won one game.

Picking strawberries at Southern Belle Farm

First off today: I really enjoy getting to substitute. Today I subbed at the private school that sometimes calls me. Last year while sitting at Madi's gymnastics with all the other moms, Kim heard me say that I sub at Ben and Madi's school. She is the director of a private school and asked me to be on their list of subs and I agreed. So for the last year I have accepted jobs at both schools. So anyways today I was lucky to work at the private school. They have the coolest teachers and the sweetest spanish teacher. I would enjoy working there everyday.

It was yesterday that we went to southern belle farm to pick strawberries. There were strawberries galore. And what fun it was.

When we got back to the van there was a silly peacock doing some kind of funky dance for us.

Last night I washed a bucket of the berries to freeze. I laid them all out on cookie sheets and luckily I have two freezers so it was easy to freeze them over night like this.

Then today after getting home from teaching I grabbed the frozen strawberries and bagged and tagged them. Then I used this recipe to make some delicious strawberry jam. Steve just made two huge peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with it. Half of one of my jars is already gone...we may have to go back for more berries.

Climbing Stone Mountain

After staying home all day Saturday, yesterday afternoon we to get out in the nice weather. stone mountain park is a great place to go to enjoy the outdoors. There are so many things to do at Stone Mountain Park but yesterday we just wanted to climb the mountain....it's been almost 2 years since the last time we hiked to the top.

At the top we enjoyed some snacks we had stashed in the backpack. Ben just went and found his own rock to snack and meditate on...cracked us up.

When you are

almost to the top you climb up this steep rock.

Coming back down.

On the lower part of the mountain it's so pretty with all the trees.

Halfway up there is the gum tree...you can smell it as you hike by.

Close to the top...you can see the Atlanta skyline and Buckhead on the horizon.

What do you do on a rainy Saturday?

QUILT! I caught up on two of my quilt blocks from that jelly roll quilt along I am participating in. Despite the

rain and our baseball game getting cancelled we are all together here at home watching what else...the NFL draft mixed with a little bit a NBA in there. I have watched more of this years draft than I wish for. I watch a little at night with Steve and of course we tape it so Ben can watch when he gets home from school...we are 4 days into this draft but I am about to turn on my taped Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice...I am going to try at least.

this week...

...has been full of r&r...running and reading. I have never been much of a reader. But over the last year I have really stumbled across some great books. This past week this book The Help has been glued to my hands...it was so good you gotta read it. Anyone have any suggestions for me to move onto next?

He is sweet and silly....

...Steve that is. A few weeks ago he surprised me with a new tiny ipod. I had been wanting a small one I could just clip on when I went running. Sweet huh? BUT before giving it to me, he went and bought a song from itunes and put it on there....Michigan's fight song!!! What the heck?!? Cracks me up every time I am out there on the trail and that song comes on.

So I went and baked my Georgia lovin' husband some yummy Tennessee Orange cookies.

snowballs in April

I am telling you, I am on fire when it comes to quilting and sewing projects...I can't get enough! These American Jane fabrics are some of my most favorite, I love their bright colors. So does Allison over at cluckclucksew! Her taste has worn off on me. The tutorial on making a snowball quilt also came from her...it's on her sidebar along with lots of other tutorials. Right now this quilt is hanging over a shutter in my living room...it makes me 'sew' happy every time I look at it.

The G&G Blog giveaway!

You can win this super cute dress! All you have to do is go leave a comment on the the georgia grace blog by the 18th. Through a couple of marriages I guess you could say I am sorta related to Jordon. She makes the most beautiful clothes! Go on over and look...it will be love at first site!

Madi and Daddy and some Georgia Football

This past Saturday was Georgia's Spring Football game. Our whole family had plans to go, until Friday when Ben started making plans with his friends. I agreed to stay home for Ben. When Madi got wind of this the tears started flowing like a raging river! She wanted to go to the Georgia game. (Like we don't ever do anything...my kids have been to more NFL, NBA, MLB, World Cup, NASCAR and college football and basketball games than any adult I know and they are only 7 and 9 years old.) So Steve said he would take her. They had a date. For lunch they ate at the blind pig....a famous joint near Sanford Stadium. Doesn't she look cute in her aj green jersey Steve's mom got her last christmas.


On Saturday I got some organizing done...getting ready for the move. But you know I snuck in some fun crafty time! I can't wait to finish it.

Madi looked all patriotic this morning wearing some new shorts I made her in red, white, blue and peace signs.

Play ball!!!

Baseball started this week. The Chicago Cubs have been in town this week to play against the Braves. It's been hard to get tickets, they have been sold out but we got some last night. We just saw the Braves less than a month ago down in Florida at spring training...but there is nothing like being inside Turner Field! My kids take some goofy pictures...they are the same kids who rarely speak a word in public.





Atlanta is home to Cartoon Network and Turner Field has a really neat playhouse for the kids to play in.


Before the game we met Steve at his work. Ft. McPherson is right there in Atlanta and only 2 exits from Turner Field...funny how there is a big Army Post in the middle of a large city like that. After picking up Steve we headed straight to the game. We like to get there way early to watch batting practice so we just ate dinner there too. They have some YUMMY food. I had the New York dog.

Look at Madi's chili fries!!! They were so big that when she was done it looked as if she hadn't eaten any of them.

Some history: The Braves use to play in Fulton County Stadium. Turner Field was built to host the 1996 Olympics. After the Olympics it became Turner Field home to the Atlanta Braves. The Fulton County Stadium was torn down and is now the parking lot for Turner Field. In the middle of the parking lot is this piece of wall...the place where Hank Aaron's home run broke the record. NEAT! Back in the spring of 1997 Steve and I had only been married a few months. We were visiting Steve's family. Steve wanted so badly to go to a Braves game...it was Braves vs. Yankees and the first game the Braves would play in Turner Field. Steve's mom was so nice to lend us her car and we spent our last $100 on tickets...but we made it to the first game ever played in Turner Field...obviously not our last that's for sure.

circles, circles, circles...

Yesterday...we had to go down to Warner Robbins Air Force Base to get our passports and Visa's made. I think it's funny my kids have Korean Visa's...they are 7 and 9. Nothing in the military is simple!! I finished punching and punching and punching a whole bunch of fun circles to make some really colorful cards. I enjoy looking at all the pretty papers.

Easter weekend

Teresa, Steve's mom, came and picked up Ben and Madi and off they went for a weekend of fun. I can only imagine how much giggling and fun went on. Ben and Madi LOVE hanging out with their cousins...it's their favorite thing to do.
Steve and I sure enjoyed a weekend together. Saturday night we went to the Italian Oven for dinner and then did a little shopping before rushing home to watch the Final Four.
Thank you Teresa!!!



On Sunday Steve and I met up with everyone to celebrate Easter with lots of food and everyone playing outside. Even Great Grandma Marcella got out with her new white shoes on and played baseball. Alicia had gotten a badminton set and that was a hit! What a perfect Easter weekend.

Sewing with leftovers

All I can say is I LOVE themodabakeshop!!! Two of the quilts I made are free patterns from over there. I get inspired by so many of the things all the girls make for the blog. Last fall, Target had all the girls short sleeve t-shirts on sale and I bought at least 7 of them for $2 each, knowing I wanted to 'play' with a few of them. So on this one I made pleated flowers ...a pattern nicole did for the bakeshop.

The skirt idea also came from the moda bakeshop...here.

And now...Madi looking so cherry. This was so fun to make!

April Fools

I sooo got my kids after school today!!! Thanks to a fun idea from the talented Camille over at simplify which is one of my FAVORITE quilting blogs. Just look at Ben getting sprayed....there is a rubber band on the sprayer.

And...look at our "mashed potatoes" we are having for dinner. I think they will enjoy the joke. Have a FUN April 1st.

Looks like Easter

Here are two pictures of my Easter decorations.

Okay I think I may now hold the world record for the most money spent on Peeps. Madi has enjoyed helping me make over 40 of those adorable Easter treat bags. 14 are for her classmates and the rest are for our favorite Peeps at the kids school...I am very grateful to so many of the teachers and office staff.

P*E*E*P*S

This cute Easter treat was an idea I found over at eighteen25. I just finished making a dozen of them to hand out but need to get some more peeps to make some more.

Yesterday was opening day for Madi's softball league. She lucked out and got what she wanted...she was placed on the purple team and was also given the #11 that she wanted. Madi had and RBI and a hit and score. Her team won 14 to 1!

I can't believe Madi even played her game. On Firday night she threw-up 6 times. As if that's not hard enough she has diabetes. So after puking she had to eat sugar pills and crackers to keep her blood sugar high enough. She is such a trooper! She ended up getting some keytones in her urine so we were trying to cope with that too. Last night she ended up having quite a few keytones and we thought we might end up in the hospital but her Pediatric Endocrinologist talked us through stuff on the phone to avoid that unless it became worse. Steve went to the gas station last night at 9pm and picked up like 5 candy bars and skittles for Madi to try to eat. She needed to eat enough carbs to get an insulin shot...that is what the Dr. told us would help. So all 4 of us were up late sharing with Madi and taste testing all the different kinds of skittles and sugar babies...what a night. Today no keytones and she has eaten some and is almost back to being her normal self.

A good day and a good recipe

I have been teaching in Special Ed (moderate) at Ben and Madi's school this week. It is so fun but a lot of work. I do have a certain child that is 'mine' when it's meal time. I have to feed him...he is very small but the cutest bottomless pit. He will eat his whole school lunch plus the two small treats and juice his mom sends in. There are four other teachers in the classroom and those are the nicest ladies ever. It is sometimes tough love when teaching kids with down syndrome and some of the other special needs we work with.



Steve got home from work a little early so he could change clothes before going on his run. He said to make the night easy for me he would pick up Subway after his run so I wouldn't need to cook a dinner. So...as a little stress reliever I made Ben a new pillowcase he has been wanting. And it's made from Japanese fabric. In Seoul, Korea where we are moving is the world's largest fabric market...selling these oriental fabrics...I am excited!

Tonight I made black bean salsa for our lunches tomorrow...the kids love it too. It came from the back of the Rotel can.

1 can corn

1 can black beans

1 can Rotel

lime juice

chopped cilantro

Serve with chips.

*Lise...the letters I use on my fireplace are from Pottery Barn and the frames from various places. You can print you own large letters to frame.