Yesterday we went to a friends house to spend the day.  They have ten children so there is always something going on at their house.  It was a good chance for my kids to hang out with friends and for my soldier to play with other little kids like him.

He spent a lot of time holding Kristine.  She was born on December 29.  She seems to like hanging around with the big teddy  bear.  Why not, he's big and comfy.

Then came a battle of strength.  Arm wrestling with Matthew.  Bet no one can guess who won.

Then Seth and Quenten got in on the act.  Of course it took both of them to even move the big guys arm.  But they had a good time trying.

Now Abby is a little lady so she just snuggles with the big bear.  She was helping him play cards.

Elisabeth on the other hand is a big beast.  It took her almost the whole day to warm up to him.  Of course she was a whole year younger the last time she saw him.  She can talk and walk really well now and she potty trained!!!

My soldier really enjoys playing with the other children.  I think that and the food are the only reasons that he comes home.

Here he is in his chainsaw gear.  He tried to cut wood for us but the saw wouldn't cooperate.  But he wears the helmet and the mask well doesn't he.

I couldn't get a picture of the devastation in the kitchen because they wouldn't let me in while they were cooking but I did manage to get a picture while he was cleaning up.  It looks a whole lot better than it did about half an hour ago.

Here's one pizza before it goes into the oven.  This one is a stuffed crust pizza.  He managed to make the crust big enough so that he could fill it up with cheese.

Two of the pizzas in the oven.  The top one is my favorite kind.  It has shrimp on it.  He may make a mess in the kitchen but boy does he make good pizzas.

Fresh from the oven.  Lots of peppers and mushrooms and black olives.  Time to dig in.

Now if we can get the cook to remember the dough recipe?

A friend had a baby last September.  I am finally getting around to making a gift for the baby.  I bought this pink fleece awhile ago and have been saving it for something special.  I looks so soft that it is just perfect for a baby.

This coat and bonnet are made with fine wale corduroy and lined with pink cotten.  It's fortunate that I made them in the large size so she can use them next year.

I have another friend whose daughter is four years-old.  I saw this snowflake fabric and thought of Claire.  The dress has lace on the collar and cuffs that looks like snowflakes that I had leftover from another project.  Then I put buttons on the large patch pocket on the skirt that look like snow people and on the silver band around the skirt between the skirt and the skirt band I sewed snowflake buttons.  There is also a bag that goes along with it that has snowflakes on it. 

It's nice to be sewing little girl dresses again. 

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!!!!

On my birthday my daughter surprised me with these beautiful roses!!!!!!!!!!!!  They lasted quite a long time too.  I just threw them out yesterday.

Then I got an unexpected birthday present.  My old dryer finally gave out the day before my birthday.  So my loving husband sent me out shopping for a replacement.  His only caution was not to spend too much money!  How much it too much money?  Lowes had this dryer on sale and it is large enough to fit my king size comforter.

When they delivered it and installed it Doug asked how much and declared it not too much money!!!!!!

Then the Sunday after my birthday Jason had to go back to college.  So the night before we took all the kids out to Pizza Hut for supper.  Sometimes you just have to spend money and have a good time. 

Boy did we ever have a good time.  We laughed and joked so loud I think that the other patrons thought we were crazy.  Ian looks like he is being very tolerant of all of us.

Even Jason had a good time.  Matthew managed to charm another waitress at still another restaurant.  He leaves broken hearts where ever he goes!!!!

Afterward we went home and played games and went to bed very late.  Thank God that Ian was driving to Cobleskill.

What say you ladies?  Mothers have a right to think that he is not only cute, handsome, whatever.  But also to get all excited when one of their own is coming back into the fold. 

Admit it, boy, you are secretly pleased.  Somewhere, deep in that place that you call a heart you have feelings of happiness that someone treasures your presence.  Maybe it's just having you home to eat everything that is just sitting around doing nothing.  Which you have been doing a great job of thus far, I might say. 

Anyway,  judging by the reaction of your sister, youngest brother, and your father and the cooperation of your oldest brother in the scheme, I think that I am not the only one that is happy to have your big goofy self here for awhile.  Then may I mention the reaction of Mrs. Ellen at Mass this morning?  Or should that be saved for another post?    We love you you big loaf!!!!!!!!

There's an ugly rumor going around that my son, better known to all of you as Patrick OBrien, is in country and on his way home. 

Now, this mother tends to be a bit of a sceptic so my catch phrase is "I'll believe it when I see it".  But I got an email yesterday saying his flight was supposed to come in this evening at our local airport.  So I guess the thing to do is to go and meet his flight?

A friend is picking my daughter up from school and taking her to their house.  I will take my husband to a local farmer to discuss with the farmer the rental of our land this summer for his crops.  (legitimate just accelerated)

The house is as cleaned as it is going to get.  His bed is made ready.  The fatted chicken is killed, stuffed and ready to be put into the oven.  (sorry it's not a fatted calf, don't have one of those)  Now mom just has to make it through the rest of the day.

What did I do with Matthew you may ask.  Someone has to accompany me to the airport.  That's a 45 minute drive through rush hour traffic.  So Matthew is elected to go with me.  Besides I couldn't keep it from him since he is with me all day long. 

Well, Patrick OBrien, I hope this visit home is worth all the excitement.  We think so, I just hope it is for you.  Just command us and your every wish will be fulfilled.  Oh, and by the way, there is 8:00 Mass tomorrow morning.

Jason gave Mary-Kate a 410 shotgun for her birthday this year.  She was thrilled.  So this past Sunday afternoon we all went out shooting at targets. 

Mary-Kate let her dad use her gun to try it out.  He didn't hit the milk jug.  Here's Jason with his 30/30.  He hit the milk jug.

Dad trys again and manages to hit the milk jug finally.  He claims that it's difficult with bifocals.  Does anyone believe that?  Now Matthew is going to give it a try but he's using my .22

Ever seen such concentration.  He hit the milk jug a few times.  That gun is old and delicate.  It's hard for anyone to be accurate with, except mom.  I hit the milk jug everytime.  Keep practicing Matthew.

I think that Mary-Kate was so impressed with my having finished the other two quilts that she thought I needed to do some more.  This morning when she left for school she draped this quilt that she had made over my sewing machine.  All that it needed was some binding.

When she came home she was surprised to find that I had finished it and left it in her bedroom. 

Later she and Matthew had gone into the attic and got out the UFO box.  UFO stands for unfinshed objects.  I think that they mean for me to have the inspiration to finish the projects that are in that box.  It is full of mostly quilt tops and blocks that I had made in the course of teaching sewing and challenging myself to make different patterns over the years.  Now I guess the kids are right, it is time to tackle that little project.  If not the whole box at least some of it. 

Good job on the quilt Mary-Kate.  She did a nice job of picking the fabrics and piecing the blocks.  I'm proud of her.

They are done.  This morning I finished the second baby quilt and delivered them. 

Since both babies are boys I chose to do a sailboat pattern for the second quilt.  I like this particular pattern.  It is quick and easy to do and little boys really like it.

I think it really turned out nicely.   Now it's time to go on to some other sewing for my own enjoyment. 

A friend has two neices having babies.  So when you have babies being born who do you call for a baby gift?  Of course you call me to make quilts for the babies.

Both of the babies are boys so I chose my version of red, white and blue for the color scheme.  I don't care for pastels because I think children grow out of them too quickly (they are also impractical since they show the dirt too easily).  For this quilt I did a variation of the log cabin called the Dog Cabin. 

As you can see it has a scottie dog appliqued in the middle of the block.  Then it has the traditional log cabin configuration with other prints arranged around the central square.  Another thing that I do that is not traditional for baby quilts is that they are bigger than usual.  I like to make them large enough so that when the child gets to be a teenager he can still curl up under the quilt and stay warm.  I don't like all that work to be folded up and put away as soon as a child gets to be a toddler. 

Now that this one is done I just need to finish the other.