My Tabs

Have you noticed the tabs I created under my blog topper?

Aren't they pretty neat?

I am not quite sure I have enough to blog about that I would need a separate page for all the subject tabs I created but I thought it was pretty fun to learn how the tab making was done.

Ya ya! Who am I kidding! I am pretty long winded when it comes to blogging and have lots going on to blog about! I figure that those who are interested in a particular aspect of large family life (eventually) would not have to wade through all the other blah blah stuff.

The interesting thing is if you ever talked to me in 'real life' you would think I was a totally different person than the blogging me. I am what I would consider a socially awkward, odd kind of person. Totaly insecure and draining,that type of person. You know, the person you would smile politely at at a social gathering but as you listened to my totally confusing ramblings you would be sweeping the room for a quick escape route. And once you escaped, you would think things like 'oh dear, her poor husband and children. How do they bear it every day'.

Sadly, it turns out that as I am entering my early twilight years, the people I am most comfortable chatting with in person besides, Jeff and the kids, are the fabric ladies at the fabric shops I frequent! Let's see, that would be the ladies at the fabric department at Walmart in Owatonna. Yes, Joann's and Hancock in Mankato. Sometimes, the fabric ladies at Hobby Lobby but they are not always the most chatty ladies.

Anyway, I predict that the blogs I would write most in would be this one and the sewing one. I eventually would like to write our family story on the About Us page. Also introduce each of the children. It can be hard to tell who is who with just random pictures in my different blog posts. That will take some thought, though.

Ok, back to my tabs. I still have a little image tweaking I want to do with them. Things like change the letter color, make a bigger space between the topper, the tabs, and the quote. I also am a little bothered with the extra solid white around the outside of the tabs. I like the solid white underneath the actual tab words but not that extra stuff. I will get it figured out sometime.

Isn't this a cute picture?!




Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

WARNING

The images below may not be suitable for all my blog readers.

It is advisable for all impressionable children to leave the room before you continue.


Table Manners

The Fryes they lick their fingers,



And the Fryes they lick their knives;




They spill their broth on the table cloth-



Oh, they lead disgusting lives!

The Fryes they talk while eating,



And loud and fast they chew;

And that is why I'm glad that I

Am not a Frye-are you?

Adapted from the poem Table Manners by Gelett Burgess


Many thanks to the Frye children who do not have a sense of manners. Without them this post could not have been made.

And a special thanks to creative consultant Elena (who for obvious reasons did not want to be pictured eating) who took great effort to make sure the above 'reenactment' was an accurate portrayal of eating at the Frye home.

Another thanks to mom for the terrific cheesy noodles (not to be mistaken for mac & cheese, mind you. There is a difference. For if she did not provide her children with such tasty meals, teaching manners would not be needed.

Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Beautiful Gifts For Me!!!

I was working on a quilt project this past week and was cutting a lot of quilt pieces. This means a lot of little fabric scraps that the kids collected.

Well, because of that I received many fun handmade gifts this week!

Here are just a few.

A mini quilt made by Josh.




A sleeping bag for my tiny bunnies and a little bag, both made by Anya. Odell made the very pretty little quilt.



Here is a beautiful flower made by Josh. He did not use a pattern or anything! Isn't is so sweet?!



I thought it would look perfect in my shelf with my little tea plate and tiny spoons.



Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

P.S. Am I the only mom with my own special little toys? My little bunnies have tiny tea cups and I keep them in a little wood box. I take them out every once in a while and the younger kids just love to play with them. The same with my tea plate and spoons. I just love anything tiny and cute.

BlueJay Pride Night!

This evening was Waseca Bluejay Pride Night.

We all had the privilege of going to the Varsity Boys Basketball game! Unfortunately, none of our kids were playing in this particular game. Grant is on the B team, Alan is on the 8th grade team, and Joyce is on the girls 9th grade team. But it sure was fun to watch the varsity game anyway! The Bluejays won 61-48 win over St. James. They did a great job!!!

Here they are in action!

The Bluejays are the boys in blue. Ha Ha. I think I hear a certain child of mine in my head saying "Duh mom. Of course the Bluejays are the ones in blue". But just in case there are some out there reading that are a little slow like me,I thought I would mention it.



I sat on one side of the gym with these eight cute children. Elena also sat with me but was camera shy.




While Jeff was on the other side of the gym with none other than the halftime show...and guess who the half time show would be?

Our very own

HeavenWord Handlers!!!

See them all over there in their bright yellow shirts?



Just in case you are wondering, HeavenWord Handlers is a local FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Basketball Handling Performance team. Grant, Alan, Cyrus, Joyce, and Nolan are a part of the team along with friends Shane,his brother Cole,and Rochelle.

Here the HeavenWord Handlers are just starting their performance.



Grant doing a spinning trick. (I'm sorry for the very fuzzy pictures)



Cyrus spinning the ball while doing a somersault.



Alan doing a double dribble trick.



Grant spinning a basketball on a very tall crappy pole.



I missed getting pictures of Joyce and Nolan doing their tricks but hopefully I will get some at another one of their performances.

What a great job they all did!!!

After the game, the varsity players took the time to autograph Bluejay Pride posters for all who wanted. The kids just thought it was very neat.

I was SO glad we were able to all be there to watch!!!

Warmly, A Patchwork Mommy

A Little Dose Of Josh

I thought I would provide you with a little dose of my sweet Josh.

He is my sensitive, artistic, thoughtful child.

He has huge blue eyes and long eyelashes.

Most mornings he makes me a sweet note and slides it under my bedroom door.
Sometimes he wishes me a good day, sometimes he reminds me that I am a good mom, sometimes it is to say sorry for something, sometimes he draws me a picture, but included with every note is his reminder that he loves me and He always will.

He is almost ten but he still remembers to stop and hug me. He is a child who would really stop and smell the roses in life. He will stop to watch the butterfly flutter by, runs after the fireflies, and cries the hardest if a pet dies.

He has been patiently waiting weeks for me to help him make a bird feeder out of a pop bottle. He waits and worries about the hungry birds starving until I finally get organised enough to help. He does not pressure me. He just waits and worries.

I tend to have the knack of being ruff, quick, task focused so I plow by him throughout the day. I hurt his feelings and cause him to cry more often than I would like. He forgives me every time. Every time. Even when I do not deserve it.

So to you tonight, I will share a dose of Josh but you can not keep him. He is mine.

Josh coming back from his paper route this past Saturday



Josh doing his school




Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

I Shouldn't Have

but I did.

And she loves me for it.

I can tell.

You know why God made moms? Lots of reasons I think but a biggy is to totally bother the teens under their care. Now, some might argue against that but I'm right.No discussion needed.

I love to get my oldest riled up. I live for the times I hear "mommy!" coming from another part of the house. Yes, my oldest calls me mommy when I was successful in bothering her.

Elena loves music and bands and she is always changing the computer background to different bands she likes. Family Force Five stared back at me the other night. No offence to them, but I was thinking they should have washed their hair before they took their picture.

Anyway.

Elena had this computer background the other day. She is getting exited about Sonshine this summer and she LOVES Stellar Kart. Notice the sweatshirt she was wearing in yesterday's post. As I was studying the picture, I must have been over tired because...




I thought I would add a few extras (you know, a little bling) to surprise Elena when she turned on the computer next time. Maybe I had a little '80's nostalgia going on as well.



I think she liked it because I heard "MOMMY!" coming from the other room when she turned on the computer.

She does indeed love her old mom.

And I have a very clever sense of humor.

And I do like Stellar Kart so I hope they are not hurt by my late night additions to their picture.

Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

What About The Non-Conformers?

Aren't these fun pictures?

I was making grilled cheese on Saturday for supper. Joel and Lily were sitting on the counter watching me flip the grilled cheese on the griddle. The girls started trickling in to watch as well. What a great picture opportunity!




Group number two was all for a staged photo on the counter.



Here are my picture-on-the-counter non conformers (not including Jeff. He conformed). Those rebels. The reason behind the no picture-on-the-counter protest? "Because I don't want to look all cute and perfect for your blog" was stated by one. The other two were just too weak from hunger to move. At least they smiled.



Warmly, A Patchwork Mommy

I'm A Big Girl

Hey,Lily...you are looking like you enjoyed your dessert this evening.

Interesting outfit choice, little one. Did your mommy forget to turn on the lights to pick out your clothes this morning? Did she mistake the dirty clothes basket for your dresser this morning? She just might have...

Pardon? You picked out your outfit? You picked out your outfit because you are a big girl now?

I see. Well, in that case, you look very pretty!




Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

A Prayer For Their Future

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,

who walk according to the law of the LORD.

Psalm 119:1





Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Sometimes A Pile Beautiful of Beads

can give me a little mom thinking time



and

~breath~ *sigh* ~breath~

that benifits everyone.

Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Sometimes Only...

the guinea pigs want to play.






and that's alright.

Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Brothers

Brothers



some big and strong



some big and strong and some small and sweet



Brothers


Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

The Old Woman

You know the old woman
Who lived in a shoe?
And she had so many children
She didn't know what to do?

I think if she lived in
A little shoe-house-
That little old woman was
Surely a mouse!
~Beatrix Potter~

My Boys

L to R: Joel 6, Grant 15, Josh 9, Cyrus 12, Alan 13, Nolan 11



My Girls

L to R Elena 16, Anya 8, Odell 9, Lily 3, Grace 6, Ekie 9, Joyce 14, Naomi 8




Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

How Can It Be

That you are

THREE !!!!

My sweet baby

My little tot

My Lids

is three

already?

Time went way, way (did I say way enough?) too fast.

Lily is all ready for her special birthday dinner with daddy at McDonald's.

Elena and all of Lily's friends are going along to help her celebrate.

Let's see... Talking Eeyore, white puppy, Princess Lily baby, Butterfly baby, and Hello Kitty blanket just in case anyone gets cold.

Looks like everyone is set to go!




Lily came home with another friend, little Happy meal bunny guy.

Nice to meet you!



Have you ever seen such excitement.



She is almost ready to burst.



Ah super star Lily!




Happy birthday to you sweet little Lily!




Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Pay It Forward

Sometimes I sneak onto Jeff's Facebook and catch up on all our friends are up to.

I am a Facebook stalker.

I do not desire my own Facebook.

I am very content hiding behind Jeff's name.

It's safer that way.

No personal Facebook rejections to deal with.

I bruise easily.

I'm weird.

I know.

Anyway,

Today I saw this on two different friend's statuses and being one who is fond of handmade things I left a comment on both there posts.

I know kind of hoggish of me.


Pay it Forward 2011:

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must, in turn, post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011

I posted this on Jeff's Facebook status and thought how great to do this on my blog as well!

Anyone interested?

No pressure with posting this on your blog.

I just wanted an excuse to make something for a few of my blog readers!


Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Go Bluejays!!

This is Joyce's first year playing girls basketball for the Bluejays.

She is really enjoying it!



She was so exited to get her first ever team sports pictures.




It is hard to believe we are just a month away from Joyce, Odell, and Naomi's three year anniversary of being a part of our family. Joyce sure has become a young woman right in front of our eyes.


Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Finery

Finery

In a frock neatly trimmed with beautiful lace,
And hair nicely dressed, hanging over her face,
Thus decked, Harriet went to the house of a friend,
With a large little party, the evening to spend.

"Ah! how they will all be delighted, I guess,
and stare with surprise at my eloquent dress";
Thus said the vain girl, and her little heart beat,
Impatient the happy young party to meet.

But alas! They were all too intent on their fun,
To observe the gay clothes this fine lady had on;
And thus all her trouble quite lost its design,
For they saw she was proud, but forgot she was fine.

'T was Lucy, though only in simple white clad,
(Nor trimmings, nor laces, nor jewelry she had),
Whose cheerful good nature delighted them more,
Than all the fine garments that Harriet wore.

'Tis better to have a sweet smile on one's face,
Than to wear a rich frock with an elegant lace,
For the good natured girl is loved best in the main,
If her dress is but decent, though ever so plain.

-J.T.













Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy