It's Been a Minute

 I am so sorry it's been so long. 

 Life seems to be moving at warp speed these days. 

 Theo girl is already 7 months old.  

She is crusing around the furniture and I don't think it will be long before we have an independent walker, oh my!

Avery is almost three and a half already.

Learning his letters and we are having a lot of fun together.

My health.

I went home to MI in Feb for a quilt retreat but also for doctor appointments.

Mammogram was normal.

Oncology visit was normal.

Learned my oncologist is also a quilter.

I think we spent more time talking quilting after my check up was done than during the appointment!

She is awesome.

Quilt retreat was up next.

Met up with my SIL, my friend Kailie and my other friend Cori.

It was a much needed respite from childcare duties.

I had made this ghost pillow to go with the book,

the Patchwork Quilt that was a Ghost.

I stuffed him and closed him up at retreat.

I have a second one waiting to stuff and close at home.

Kailie taught me how to make a Hamingway pouch.

I am now OBSESSED with them.

I made this one for my kindle

I used 2 of my favorite Tilda fabrics.

Next up were some advent calendars.

I made this exact one for Avery and he loves his "mail pockets" so much

 one of his friends asked for one too

I made 2 of these.  

One for his friend and one for a dear friend of the family.

She had twin girls and has another daughter, and recently they just had a son.

This is the back of the one for Avery's friend

And this is the back of the one for our friends kids

Realizing that perhaps it might be too much to expect 4 kids to share one,

I made a second one for them.

Isn't this house the cutest?

This is the back of the house one.

The directions tell you how to add the pockets but not really how to finish it.

I quilted all three, and added the tabs then bound them.

They came out pretty cute, I think.

Can't wait to mail these off next fall.

Another quilt on the "to do" list was this Minnie mouse quilt.

I needed to bind it so I could gift it.

I managed to get it bound while at retreat.

Will have to gift when I get home in the fall.

I used a white minky on the back.

Here we are on our last day together.

I sure do miss these ladies!

Seems like all this just happened yet it was a whole month ago already!

I have more quilty things to catch you up on.

I will be posting over the next few days to catch up.

Hope you all have been well!

~XOP~

Resuming My Blog

 My poor neglected blog!

I can't even believe I have not posted in SO long!

I will begin with the birth of our newest grandchild, a GIRL!

Her name is Theodora and she is amazing.

We are over the moon for her (and her brother).

He LOVES his little sister too.

I have lots to catch you up on but this seemed like a great start.

Theo was born on my sister's birthday, in August.

More to follow so stay tuned.

XOP

Baby Sprinkle

 We were in NC again but just for a week this time.

My daughter's best friend was throwing her a baby sprinkle. 

A sprinkle is a shower but for a second baby.

Since her first was born during Covid she didn't have a normal pregnancy/baby experience.

This included the baby shower.

I was in charge of the desserts.

A little pressure since my daughter told her friend that desserts are the most important part of a shower.

I ordered the cookies from my SIL's sister.

I asked for unicorns and rainbows.

They came out SO cute!

My daughter and family were on vacation so I was able to use her kitchen to prepare.

I made mini cheesecakes, and her favorite peanut blossom cookies.

I put rainbow sprinkles on top of the cheesecakes and cookies.

I had my hubby spray paint the chocolate kisses with gold and silver edible spary paint.

I dipped Oreos and pretzels in different colored chocolate and put sprinkles on them.

I bought brownie bites, frosted them and added sprinkles.

I ordered cupcakes from a local grocery store then wrapped them in unicorn face wraps, and put horns with ears and flowers on top.

I bought stands for the cupcakes and trays for everything else.

I have to say it turned out better than I had hoped and everything was delicious!

Ready to see the results?

These were the party favors

We had a "Mommosa" bar.

Gigi and Grammy with the expectant mama.

My BEST friend flew down to NC from MI for the shower.

We met at work and have been besties for almost 40 years!

We all had "unicorn horns" to wear.

I thought I might need 2, LOL

Such a gorgeous venue

Gift table.

Grammy knitted the cutest hat and blanket.

A self binding blanket made by Gigi.

I embroidered some Onsies for the baby

This bear face was so cute!

Took this pic on our last day there.

He was saying goodnight to us as he was going to bed and we were leaving in the am to go home.

He is going to be a GREAT big brother!

Such a special time celebrating Little Miss!!

We can't wait to meet her!

~XOP~

Our Time In NC

 The month we spent in NC was a good one.

We will miss our daughter's family, and the good weather, but it will be good to be home.

Some highlights from the trip (since my last post)

We saw deer a lot in our campground.

This one and his friend were behind our camper!

We helped with the gardening

Stopped at 2 quilt shops

Went to the science center butterfly exhibit.

Made my hair wilt, LOL

Walked all around the outside exhibits

Ate some Superman ice cream (someone's first time)

Went to the antique festival in Liberty.

Lots of great sewing stuff.

Broke out my machine and had LOTS of help

I finished all 24 of my Sparrows for the Sparrows quilt.

Stopped in Mebane

Chris took his kayak out on the Haw river and went fishing!

Helping Papa water the plants

Playing with the "Dump DA"

Lots of playing in the new whale sprinkler!

It's important to drink enough water, LOL.

Dinner followed with ice cream

Saying "Cheese" 

We leave with our hearts full and excited to be back home with our family here.

~XOP~