Done.

Just a little quilt to go on the table in place of our runner. My FMQ (free motion quilting) is improving. This quilt may not be my fave but it will be a nice change for the table!! This was also my first time using a "charm pack". 

Splish Splash..

O.K. I know they are mine so I am a little biased but those are some cute boy's. I am so glad that bath time still brings smiles this big. They have a blast in there with all their toy's and each other. 

I am almost done with my latest quilting project and can't wait to get a pic snapped so I can get it on here. Stay tuned!! I wasn't super happy with the fabric selection but now that it is in the machine quilting stage it is quickly becoming a keeper. I can't wait to have it on my table!!

Mike's Farm....Finally

After over a year of hearing people going ga-ga for Mac n' Cheese at Mike's Farm we finally went today. Our good friend Kristen invited us and I packed up the boy's and went. We started off on the hayride out to the pumpkin patch to select the perfect pumpkin:

Look mom hay! That's why they call it a hayride my dear!!

So many pumpkins...

which one do I choose mom?

One you can carry bubba! Perfect choice!!

Another perfect choice!!

 On the ride back and WHAT..... do my eyes deceive me.....is that a picture of........of ME. Thanks Terri (A.K.A. Mamarazzi) for snapping one of the boy's and I with my camera!!

Next we were off to see the animals!!

 Hay fight over on "hay hill"

little boy on a big tractor.

 All the kiddos!!

 I think Eric is developing a case of tractor love!!

peek a boo

We had such a good time doing all the activities. Everyone was right, that is some YUMMY mac & cheese too. Hopefully next time Troy will be able to come along. We couldn't have asked for better weather or company!! Thanks Ladies!!

All Things New....

Well, here are some of the new things going on in the Sayler House. We got some new fish friends. They are pearl gouramis (the big orange and pearly ones). Please pay no mind to the blue gourmis that decided it would be funny to poo poo while I took the picture. Everyone's a comedian in this house apparently. 

 Eric found a new 3 year old way to eat a cupcake. Nice cream cheese goatee buddy!!

 My new project
I started a little table quilt with a pattern from Simplify. Here are a few sample blocks. I have it all laid out I just need to finish piecing it together.

Well, the quilt below isn't new but I pieced it together about a year ago and in my new spirit of finishing ALL of my projects (even finished a little Christmas wall hanging quilt I started 15 years ago and I'm not kidding) I posted it on here so I would maybe push myself to quilt it so I can post the finished project. I thought it was such a happy quilt. I have never used rick rack on a quilt and I really think it adds something. This is also the first time I have ever bought a quilt kit. They have them at a great price on Fat Quarter Shop right now if you have the urge to break out the sewing machine!!

The Faces I Love

I ran across these pics and realized I had never posted them and they are probably some of my favorites. 

Airborne & Special Operations Museum

Fayetteville, NC

 Seated and ready to jump

 Look guys there's someone back there. No really. . .

 Iron Mike

Troy, Eric, and Jacob

Tryon Palace

New Bern, NC

 Look, it's our backyard.......LOL

yeah right.

READY...SET...GO...

 racing through the garden

 O.K. the look on Eric's face here is AWESOME!!

I see you brother 

Off to the Palace 

 Sailing the "Sturdy Beggar"

The canoe formed from fire.

Out of all the wonderful activities they have at Tryon and the new History Center (which were awesome), Eric's favorite was riding the huge golf cart back to the parking lot. The man driving was an older retired Marine and when he stopped by our car to drop us off Eric started crying and saying "more, more, more". Well, he didn't get let down and he got to go for a big circle around the parking lot and he even sat in the front seat. I will NEVER forget the look on Eric's face when he came around the last corner. If there was ever a bigger smile in the world I never saw it. He redefined smiling from ear to ear!! Thanks to all the people at Tryon that made our visit so special!!

Accountable Kids

Well, these are MY words of wisdom for the week... 

Our family has been using Accountable Kids for about 9 months now and I can't sing it's praise enough. I happened upon it while on a search for the perfect chore chart. Their instructional video mentions all the things I had been concerned about. I had 2 kids with serious "I want" issues and I was a tired momma trying to keep the house in order. I was left wondering where they got the feeling they were so entitled to EVERYTHING. They have always had to pick up their toy's every night but this added another element. It really made them realize how important they are as members of our family (and how to help momma not go insane). I am happy to report things have changed, and all for the good!! I have 2 happy helpers that have responsibilities they know they have to do everyday to earn their privileges. They also know exactly what they have to do to earn their own money to buy a special toy. One thing I never expected was for them to be SOOOOOOO excited about flipping their last chore cards for the day. I love the sound of, "NO MORE CARDS" (think of a kid yelling this really loud and then turn up the volume another 3 notches). It's just a little star sticker but it means so much to me and to them. Well, I could sing it's praises all day but try it out for yourself.

Words of Wisdom By Jacob...

"Mommy, this cinnamon sugar is falling off my raisin toast like, hair falls off a dog and feathers fall off a bird."

Hmmmm. O.K.

Good to know!!

I can already tell this is going to be an interesting day. The boy's will not leave each other alone and I have a lot to get done. Ready or not here I go. Off to the sofa for school and we'll take it one thing at a time from there. Have a good day!!