I worked at the LONGARM!!!! WOOHOO!!!

My sister made this quilt...it took awhile but it turned out beautifully!!!

I hope she likes it!!!

The blocks are signed!!!

Here is an update to the previous post! I had every intention to take pics...as Sue suggested...and here they are! the boys were so appreciative of the free meal! And i was so appreciative of the blocks being done! WOOHOO...actually, I have 2 that I need to have sign but that's not bad out of 24!!! YES!!!

On the way to Chicago though, I stopped at my FAVORITE rest area! it totally ROCKS...it's clean and a quilter's heaven! Check it out!!!

Here is DS and a few of the guys...

This is Nate and Nemo...both seniors!

Hopefully the quilt won't take too long!!! GO NORTH PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOO...I QUILTED!!!!!

After many many many days, a lot of them weekends, getting this house ready to be on the market, I FINALLY QUILTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It felt so good too!!! I am making a quilt for my son's college soccer coach. Kev is a senior this year and I wanted to make something special!

I used a pattern from Buggy Barn which will make the borders of the quilt. The center will be the Viking Ship from the university's website that I will get blown up a bit in order to fit inside the star border. I am taking the stars to Subway (near the university) tomorrow, before the game, so the boys can sign them. I bribed them by saying if they showed up I would buy them a $5 footlong sub! LOL...ya gotta do what ya gotta do...and I did NOT want to leave them with my son! NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!! Kev is responsible but I don't trust the boys to do it properly without my supervision! LOL I'm getting excited about this project!

I had a heck of a time finding bright yellows so I didn't do it scrappy...I used one yellow. Time is of the essence and I just didn't have time to go to a 4th or 5th LQS when they are over 30 mins away. This will have to do!!!
the yellow stars...
the white stars...
a sneak peak of what it might look like when it's done...
Can you tell what their school colors are? LOL

Update...

Remember this post??? It's the one about the steam dryer in dh's apartment. Well...he tried to dry a load last week and after 6 HOURS he gave up as well! I called the office and they had it checked it the next day. The handyman cleaned out several lines and when DH got home from work he said his JEANS...yes JEANS...were bone dry!!! NOT damp to the touch...but BONE DRY!!! So I guess the steam dryer does work...as long as it's in proper working condition!

I sure hope to quilt today! FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pics from the fun weekend in Chicago!

It was such a great time in Chicago! here are some pics to prove it! LOL It's also my oldest's 25th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE!!!

DH having a little fun with me at dinner Friday night!!!

The kids and their paternal grandparents...LOVE LOVE LOVE this pic!!!

My 4 kids all together! It had been awhile! What fun we had!!!

A beautiful day for a tour of NPU...North Park University! This is DH, his mom, Dan, Kev, and dh's dad.

A little post-game photography...Kev was being a dork! He scored a goal and the team won 3-0! WOOHOO!!!

YEP...a great weekend was had by all!!!

back home...

I am back home after being gone for 8 nights and 9 days. It will be great to sleep in my own bed tonight but it won't feel so good cuz dh wont' be here by my side. this morning, at a motel in a suburb of chicago, dh and i had a tearful goodbye. he was headed back to mpls and i was headed back to kansas city. i cried for about 3 miles of my trip. dh said his trip from rochester to mpls was longer today than it was last week (last week he was headed north to me).

I HATE THIS...and so does dh. I hope this house sells QUICKLY...doubtful though...but I got married 26 years ago to live with my husband...not to be in separate cities/states.

I LOVE YOU STEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun Weekend ahead...

I am sitting here in a hotel in Glenview, IL. I have a few things to do today but the most exciting thing is that all of my kids will be here, along with DH and his parents, for the weekend!!! Tonight we'll have dinner together and celebrate our oldest's bday (it's on monday) and just enjoy being together.

Tomorrow I am not sure what we'll do to kill the day, but at night we'll watch Kevin and his college team, the North Park Vikings, play soccer! WOOHOO!!! Then Sunday will arrive and we'll all head our separate ways!

I will enjoy this blessing that God has given to me!!!

Steam Dryer...

Remember the steam dryer in the previous post???? Well let me say this...I would NEVER EVER EVER EVER buy one of those things! I had a small load: 3 tshirts, 1 pair of shorts, 1 hand towel, my jammie bottoms, 3 pairs of undies, 1 bra, 1 pair of socks, and a nice shirt. I turned the dryer on for 40 mins on high heat. The clothes were still WET! Dh said, the lady said they would be damp to the touch. YEAH, DAMP not WET! SO, I turned it on for 120 mins while we went to dinner and the Eagles concert (amazing concert btw!!!). When we got back to the apt. around 11:30 the clothes were not as wet but still wet IMHO. SO...I took out the undies (they were dry), the socks, the bra, and turned it on for 20 more mins. STILL not damp to the touch. I wanted to go to bed so I took the clothes out and laid them across the back of some chairs and on the shelves in the bathroom so they would dry overnight.

UGH...dh will NEVER get his clothes dry...NEVER EVER EVER EVER with that thing! How can a person expect to fold damp to the touch clothes and not have them get moldy?????

I'll take my regular old dryer anytime...thank you very much!!!

DH is moved in

Well, DH is moved in to his new apartment in Minneapolis. It only took 2 trips. LOOK at this washer/dryer combo! WEIRD huh? My clothes are in there now and I'm now sure but I think I put toooooooo much detergent in there...I also found out where the detergent SHOULD go AFTER I poured a bit directly on my clothes! EH...stuff happens! LOL...so once the wash cycle is done I just switch the switch for it to become a dryer! It's steam heat drying so we'll see how that goes! I'll have to give dh lessons before I head out tomorrow morning!

Here is the morning sky from yesterday...kinda cool huh? He's on the 26th floor...the TOP floor so the views are amazing!

Here is the evening skyline............

and it's just your typical one bedroom apartment!

oh, one final skyline...this was yesterday afternoon!

I gotta run...I'm going out with our realtor to look at areas/properties today. Tonight it's The Eagles in concert at Target Center! And...GO TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Road Trippin'

My 10 day road trip has begun!!! Friday I left KC and headed to Chicago with DH following me in his car, packed to move him to MN. We enjoyed a soccer game our son played in (they lost though) and then went back to the hotel for sleep!

Saturday morning I was up early and headed to Apple Valley, MN. My sister and niece are having a bridal shower for another niece today and we needed to prep for it. We got all of that done and then I headed to the hotel (my sister has been having some remodeling done and has no bed for me to sleep on!)

Today it's a shower and get cleaned up, head to my sister's, put the finishing touches on the shower, bridal shower, and clean up. Then DH will be there and we'll head to Mpls to get him moved into his 26th floor, view of downtown St. Paul, temporary apartment housing. We'll probably get some groceries and other stuff he needs as well.

Monday I will check out the complex, downtown area, and possibly drive by some properties in the area. Tuesday...out with the realtor.

Wednesday: head to Racine, WI for another soccer game
Thursday: drive to Chicago and relax for 2 days!!! Dan arrives in Chi-town
Friday: DD, DH and FIL/MIL arrive at hotel
Saturday: soccer game for DS
Sunday: drive home through Columbia, MO to take oldest to dinner for his bday and then CRASH in my own bed when I get home that night! WHEW!

Taking a break...

The house is finished and on the market. My DH and I drove to Dubuque, IA on Friday for a soccer game that our son was playing in. Then on Saturday we drove to Chicago, but first we stopped in Genoa, IL to visit a winery. It was EXCELLENT and we had a great time.

We arrived in Chicago around 2:30 and called our son. We drove to his apt. and picked him up. We went to have an early dinner at "Art of Pizza" (YUMMY) and spend time with Kev. Kev and I gave DH grief about being "unemployed" (he is done at his old job and starts his new job one week from today) and not pulling his weight in the family! LOL...dh says he's on vacation! I said, VACATION??!!!!!!!!!!! You don't have an office, no phone number, no computer, no blackberry...and you are on VACATION???!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like unemployed to me! ROFL!!!

Anyway, after dropping our son off at his apt. we went to a brewpub near our hotel and had a couple of beers. Then back to the hotel and watched a movie.

Today we are going to go to "Trader Joe's" and buy some groceries that we can't get in KS. Our son plays at 7:00 tonight and then we are going to "The Rail" for ten cent chicken wings. Tomorrow we drive home. DH and our youngest are going to a concert tomorrow night and I'll enjoy having the house to myself!

Have a great day everyone!

MOVING STINKS...

*SIGH* I am sooooooooooooooo very tired of this moving stuff. Clean, declutter, paint, declutter, clean, declutter, clean clean clean...it just never seems to end! But I think we're almost done. Carpets are cleaned tomorrow and then we should be good to go...house on the market.

DH has 2 more days left at his cmopany here in KC and then is taking a week off. We are hoping our son in Chicago is able to play soccer again (he strained his hamstring last friday) so we can attend the games we had planned. DH has a concert on Tuesday of next week and then he'll be heading to MN to begin work at ING on Monday, Oct. 29th as their Chief Actuary VP. *sigh* I'm excited for him and our financial future but I will truly miss our life here in KS. Fortunately, I don't have to go yet! :oD I'll stay with our youngest until the house sells. Then we'll have to find a place for Dan to live! The fireman needs a place to live! ;o)

Leaving 2 kids here and some AMAZING friends makes me sad. Going back to family, especially elderly parents, is a plus to this move. Life will be fine...I just wish I could sleep for a month! LOL

FLOODING IN CHICAGO...

My son goes to college at North Park University in Chicago. We left there yesterday and there were torrential rains. We were able to get thru the traffic and drive pretty uneventfully back to home. These are pics from campus that Kev sent me last night. They have evacuated 3 buildings on campus. Kev also said he lost power in the apartment this morning and he said it most likely won't be back on til tomorrow.

This weather is really reeking havoc with the midwest. I wish it would stop. Please keep everyone in your prayers.

Laurie

EXCITED...

My husband is flying to Chicago this afternoon and we will go see our son play soccer tonight!!! I need a hug from him! Is it 3:45 yet???



These are my guys!!!! Gotta love 'em!

Always Remember

7 years ago today, life in America as we knew it, safe, free, and full of life, turned to a country of despair and sorrow, fear and resolve, and we knew that the terrorists would not win this war.

I remember coming home from running errands and turning the TV on...I was stunned. I also remember my kids coming home from school and 3 of the 4 watched it all unfold on tv. Our 3rd child was a freshman in HS and the principal gave the teachers the right to teach their curriculum or watch history unfold. I was stunned and angry that Kevin was not allowed to see first hand what was going on with our country. His teachers chose to teach their curriculum.

A year later, after moving to KS, Kev asked me to take him to a tv station here that was allowing people to sign a huge memorial for the families/victims of 911. I couldn't tell him no...so we went.

My heart goes out to all...my dh was supposed to be in the Twin Towers that fateful day, but God saw fit to cancel those travel plans. THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Laurie

*SIGH*

The past month has been hellacious. From troubles with the oldest, the job interview/offers/counter offers for dh, our 3rd son being hospitalized for a severe infection and my flying to Chicago to be with him. Our oldest moved out, the youngest helped him and he was tired, thought he had his truck in drive but it was in neutral, the truck slid backwards into a loading dock and trashed his tailgate to the tune of $872, our dd moved out and it goes on and on and on!

DH took the job offer and we are moving back to MN. That means cleaning and decluttering, getting window cleaners in place, painters in for estimates and work, carpet cleaning to take care of and "staging" this house! UGH...calgon take me away! Today I felt like I got nothing done but I did...dh reminded me of it all!!!

Tomorrow the painters come and so do the window cleaners. I HAVE got to clean my sewing room and get that done! THEN...on Wed I leave for 5 days to watch Kev play soccer. I have to let it all go...it needs to be handed over to God and I have to have faith that it will be fine!!!

As for the move...it's a mixed bag of emotions. If this had happened 2 years ago I'd be jumping up and down. But now I have a 2 kids living here and a ton of great girlfriends! I am thrilled for DH and this opportunity, the financial security that it provides, going back to parents and siblings, but I am sad to be living a place that I have grown to LOVE!!!

Life is not going to slow down...

survival...

I am just trying to SURVIVE!!! Literally SURVIVE! My head is spinning with a lot of "crap" and it needs to be sorted out! If I am MIA, I hope to explain it all soon!

I flew to Chicago suddenly on Tuesday due to my son having a skin infection around his elbow. It was resistant to antibiotics and we needed to get him on an IV. He went home today and is much better but not 100%. I haven't slept much and really need a LOT of sleep!

No quilty stuff going on here! *sigh*

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I MADE LIFETIME AT WW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was THRILLED because with all the stress in the house I gained 8LBS but I was persistent and made it there today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now to keep it off...FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steve is taking me to a VERY NICE dinner tonight to celebrate my Lifetime membership.

Life is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's DONE!!!

WHEW...this quilt was a big one! LOL...but it is GORGEOUS and I hope my longarm quilting enhanced it. Sure hope the maker and her grandma like it!!!!! I haven't quilted a quilt this densely in a long time! It sure was fun to do though!

This is the center, log-cabin medallion. I incorporated the ferns, hearts, and the leaves from the body of the quilt into the center. not sure why it looks like purples (at least on my monitor, but they are browns) CLICK THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE...

Here is the full length of the quilt...hard to get it all in!

the brown border represents wind, the yellow is leaves, and the body has the leafy/ferny type quilting.

part of the back...I used a green thread and Superior So Fine...

A closeup of the back...

the medallion back

Tomorrow I'll get it shipped to PA!!!!!!!!!!

Someone was busy last night! LOL

I went on a long walk to clear my head and when I walked up the sidewalk to the front door I saw the most amazing spider web. I think I captured it pretty well. I would guess it's about 15" long. No spider in there though. Back to the quilt on the longarm.

Fun project...

My friend Barb's DGD made a special quilt for a raffle. I am fortunate to have a hand in the process...I get to QUILT it!!!!!!!!!!!! Life has been pretty stressful here lately, (see previous post) and I haven't wanted to touch this beauty with an emotional heart. SO, I loaded it a few days ago and left it at that. Today I FINALLY felt I could place my love into this special project. Here's a sneak peak!!!

Here the quilt is on the machine. Just WAITING for some inspiration from moi!!!

Here is a sneak peak at my inspiration!

ENJOY!!!!

TESTING...this is GOD TESTING...

*sigh* God keeps throwing hand grenades our way...it's been a stressful 10 days and I sure hope God sees fit to stop testing us. We'll be fine but our emotions are on overload these days.

Wedding Fun!!!

This past weekend my niece got married and we had a great time! Time with family is THE BEST!!! Here are a few pics! Congrats Katie and Eric!!!

Introducing Katie and Eric Stinson!!!

Katie dancing with her little cousin Jacob!

The happy couple!!!

QUILTY FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK...so the heat index is around 110 degrees today...that is a combination of the temp and the humidity...so basically, it's STIFLING!!!!!!!!!! We are due for a cool spell this week so that is great! BUT...I felt a need for something chilly and Christmassy (is that a word???). SO, I went shopping online and find this FUN Christmas fabric! Who knows what it'll become, but I'm sure it'll be FUN! The fabric across the bottom is for the backing!

This top was finished 2 weekends ago. I just felt the need to put SOMETHING...ANYTHING together that was quilt related! SO, here it is!!! I am not quilting as much as I'd like, but at least it's something! ;o)

If you are in the midst of this heat wave in the Midwest, stay cool!!!

OH WHAT FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And no, it's not about Christmas! But it might as well be! My son called last night and asked what I was doing today...i said nothing and he said he and his girlfriend were on the way to ourhouse! OMG...does life get any better? I just LOVE LOVE LOVE suprises! And this was a super one!!!!!

We had a TON of fun in the pool...here are Kev and Dan getting the nets put together for the water polo game I bought at Target.

Sarah and her friend Molly's boyfriend ready for some water polo action...

Kev and Ashley waiting for some action...

Kev and Dan doing the brother thing!!!

And Kev and his AWESOME girlfriend Ashley! She is totally amazing and I just LOVE her!!!

Life is good!!!!! Cherish the moments...