My daughter finally has her own (completed) doll quilt. With matching pillow.

Yes. I am quite proud of all 18 inches of it, and she’s at a great age for actually using a doll quilt, which is always nice. Although I am still a sucker for the wall of doll quilts decorating technique. There must be 7 work-in-progress doll quilts lying around the sewing room just waiting to be enjoyed by some friends daughter or cousin… but this is the first one actually finished. Slight problem (okay, maybe a big problem…I had to rip out 3 corners) with the binding however. See below:

That’s what happens when I try to complete the binding on a quilt without this handy dandy continuous binding tutorial from Heather Bailey

At least the pillow turned out alright.

Lately my mind has been looking like this:

• Call Grandma on Mondays, because that’s my assigned day (but remember to quickly pick up the phone at 6:30 a.m so the kids don’t wake up… because she calls nearly every day, thinking it’s been weeks since we’ve talked. I’m still trying to figure this Alzheimer’s thing out. Do I pretend like everything is normal? Remind her about every overlooked or forgotten detail? Just the important ones? Prob. just the important ones that are upseting her, right? I just really miss her.)
• Remember to bring back the plastic tub (freshly washed) when we pick up our new CSA produce basket. I love this local food… and the drop off couldn’t be closer. Just a few blocks away really. So why am I worried about forgetting this small detail?
• New shoes for Lauren. That she’ll actually wear without tearing up (very sad sight). No clue where to start.
• Present for my parents upcoming big anniversary. Seriously. I need to get them a good present to make up for the ten years or so I haven’t gotten them anything. Which makes me feel like the most terrible of daughters. Somehow anniversaries mean alot more to me this year. I’m going on 9 and it seems like a really big deal at this point. And 39 years of marriage. Wow.
• Our local home school support group has us sign up for the county (one charge) and the city/community (another) before we get the updates on classes and park days and the like. So I’ve been stuck in the middle without even knowing it (I just signed up with the county). And now that I’m all properly signed up (I think)I have so many socializing/fieldtrip opportunities, I’m actually having to say no occasionally (alot actually), just to get some schooling done on a regular basis. That feels weird.
• This weekend is our home school EXPO. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. But I’m putting myself on a very tight budget (promise honey!) since theoretically I have all but 2 subjects covered for next year (kindergarten/1st). And this makes me nervous. I can save money all day long if I stay close to home and never pull out of the driveway. It’s only when I go out into the world that the money starts to run away from me. I’m a sucker for a sweet talking sales person and good marketing. Glycolic facial peels (”Honey, those crows feet age you 10 years… you’ve got to do something.”). I’ll take one. (But isn’t 33 a pretty normal age to get lines around your eyes? I think so. Or I remembered that I thought so once I got home from Nordstroms that day.) Bath and Body works 2 for 1 deals? I’m in. GapKids shorts: Buy 1 get one at 50% off? Yup. Give me a sales person with a nice smile and a pitch, and I’m a goner. So lately, like so many other Americans (since the gas and grocery bills are completely unpredictable these days) I’ve tried to keep things nice and lean around here. If we don’t really need it, it can wait. So for me, that means I can’t leave the house. Except for groceries, and gas, and parks, and playdates and doctors, and Jamba Juice. And maybe the occasional trip to Antique Alley. I’m in for a big test this weekend. The biggest temptation for me, bar none, is books (and bookcases). I think I’ll have to leave my wallet and checkbook at home and go cash only to play it safe. I’m weak! (This was written last week and although I didn’t go cash only… I was much more selective than I have been in the past. I truly wish I could claim my character has suddenly taken a much welcome frugal bent… but I’ve a feeling every housewife in America is watching her pennies with all the bad news out there right now. I don’t care what Bernanke says!)
  
• My sweetie wants some new pictures of the kids for his office. (no big deal, right?). Framed. (Big deal.) For some reason getting pictures framed is making me very anxious. (Where to I go? What style? How much?) Such a simple thing really.
• Why is my 2 year old daughter not going to sleep until 10pm? This worries me. Already tried naps, no naps, cut out sugar, lots of daytime play, solid bedtime routine, etc. Still no sleep until 10. I think she just wants to watch all the Jane Austen movies I’ve ordered from Netflix with me. Persuasion is on tonight. (Mansfield Park) With earphones.
• My orthodontist was supposed to call me a week ago to set up my big appointment to put on real, hones-to-goodness, braces. Now, I could call myself. But they said they would call me with available days, and I’m getting ornery in my old age and fully expecting them to follow through. Whew. They called, and I have an appointment on the 21st of May.

I still have nobody to vote for this year, and I’m seriously considering sitting out this election. Or hoping Ron Paul runs as an Independent.

moving

Originally uploaded by laluandmatt

So… most families take pictures of their kids playing sports, yes? But this picture means so much to us because it is living proof that there is something greater at work here on earth. You see, it means our big 5 year old now has depth vision for the first time ever. Real, honest to goodness, depth vision. He can catch and throw and dodge and generally just have good old fashioned boyhood fun.

Last summer, there was no hope of this ever really happening. He had eye surgery, but his very competent doctor said that he would never have binocular vision like this. A true miracle, and we are very, very grateful this month.

And… I’ve put a few more things in my etsy shop today too. Good days, these.

pin pillow

Originally uploaded by laluandmatt

With only one tiny pillow. But it’s a start.

After much hemming and hawing, we’ve finally managed to kick TV programming to the curb. And here are just a few things we’ve done this week instead:

1. Letters written to great-grandma who was just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She has moved now to a safe, loving environment where she will be visited by family often - but sadly, not by us, as she now lives far away in another state. The move was quick and sudden, as was the disease progression. But all is not sad, as she is being well-loved and watched over. So… pictures were drawn. Some tears shed - not so much from sadness as my own awkwardness in trying to explain all this to my son.
2. An extraordinary amount of birdwatching. This is where the kids and I end up immediately after waking - all cuddled up on the couch looking out the window trying to figure out where the quail will lay her eggs this year. Even before coffee. That’s how exciting it is. Well, for me, half the excitement is in watching them - so aware, so in tune with all the noises, movements and colors in the yard. We’ve been using the Burgess Bird Book for Children in our morning read-aloud time this week.
3. And an inordinate amount of sewing. Purse-making for a friend, presents for our brand new little niece (!), pillows for us, various girly dresses (Using Japanese patterns as inspiration for Lauren’s summer wardrobe. Inspiration because the patterns are, indeed, in Japanese, and I can’t quite figure out all the steps without a translator!), and frequent arguments with my sewing machine over tension control for free-motion quiltiing!
4. Increased our Netflix account to 5 instead of 3! The Inquiry is next.

Enter Exhibit A. and B and C and, well… too many. I can’t help myself.

The pattern book, on top of still unfinished quilt top…

For summer. In linen and fabric and jute.

Inside.

For a friend. Still trying to figure out the handles.

More linen.

A dress for the littlest one. From this:

The house isn’t any cleaner just because we canceled TV. But we sure are having fun.

The less obvious list.

• No morning after let-down. Christmas and Independence Day (usually my favorites - I’m so predictable) have a way of souring the next day. Unless you can go sledding (in the first case), or boating (in the latter). Easter just kind of fades into a much-needed weather change here in San Diego. We’ve had 90 degree days this week. And sunburns.
• The decorations. I’m keeping out all my vintage paper eggs for the entire season. Great if you like birds and eggs and bunnies. And who doesn’t. Well, maybe not the bunnies if you’re a guy. Sorry sweetie!
• Egg salad for lunch - easy peasy. Made with my mom, in my own kitchen, for the first time. It’s awesome having my mom around. The Food for Life bread I just found at the store is pretty awesome too. But not as awesome as my mom. Who managed to potty train Lauren with a dolly and get Matt to read aloud all in one day. We’re still working on the potty training, but the train is definitely on the track! And for all those non-moms out there who think I’m crazy to blog about bread… I have no defense. You should have heard my mom and I discussing our three different mayo-replacement choices!
• The Easter Story read by Poppa and the little ones old enough to listen to all 20 minutes of it. It helps when your grandpa is a professional story-teller of sorts, I guess.
• Basketball games. We are on the verge of canceling TV completely… and the boys lucked out last weekend since I’ve been procrastinating. (I’m not so anti-TV as I am anti-advertising. But that’s a whole different post.)
• Cottage cheese pancakes and mangoes for breakfast.
• No Easter baskets. Less running after super-hyper kids and way more relaxing. And bubble blowing. And sewing. Well, honestly, I kind of forgot about the Easter baskets, so it’s not as if I planned the holiday to be this super no-sugar holiday. But it all worked out perfectly. See below…

Flamenco Twirly Skirt, Draft 1:

A spur of the moment combination bubble/twirly skirt with all my favorite springy fabrics. I didn’t use a pattern for this, since I seem to have pattern ADD, and lose interest before I finish reading through the pattern instructions. (That said, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of these new adorable patterns from Oliver and S.)

The longest tier was more than 18 feet long (likely not a surprise to you veteran sewers out there). Hanging there on the pegs the skirt looks a little funny (apart from the crazy threads), but on Lalu it’s just the sassiest little skirt ever and I love it. The only thing I really want to change is to thicken up the waistband a bit. Oh, and wash out the orange juice stains. And then bribe her to stand still.  For a picture.  Before the grass stains.  And after the threads are snipped.

I hope you had fun last weekend too!

First Desk

Originally uploaded by laluandmatt

and a new corner. I found it in a dusty corner with the wood sanded down and covered with clutter at the local antique mall. Our (almost) five year old has been asking for his own desk in his room, and his daddy had the same kind of desk when he was small. So we officially have an heirloom folks! And lots of messy jeans & hand stained memories to go along with it. I keep peeking into the room just to look at it.

Happy Easter everyone!

Sure sign of a “first-time” home schooler: Piles of random catalogues and newsletters detailing the lastest HS news and regulations, late night schedule planning marathons (not the “un-schoolers” I guess… I’ll have to think about that (now very appealing) option… social planning (sports, PE, field trips, play dates, etc.), and a good dose of self-doubt for even this most confident (I thought) of mama-teachers.

Traditional schools provide all of this. I’m not sure I quite realized the sheer amount of planning required to educate a child within a modern framework. And I feel - daily, but only momentarily - that I am missing big chunks of the puzzle.  Do I really need to explain what an amber alert is to my 4 year old?

Don’t misunderstand. I DO sit down with my incredible, spirited son and just bask in the time I have with him, realizing the most important things to teach him now are not in any books: most of them learned while trying to get along with his 2 year old sister who steals and usually destroys his favorite lego buildings. Patience, compassion, empathy, kindness. But our French lessons are suffering terribly. We still haven’t memorized Frere Jaques - and it’s only 4 lines! (The Bonjour Les Amis videos are charming to watch however.)

I remember my first year of law school, everyone read a new book called One L: The turbulent true story of a first year at Harvard Law School. The thrill of beginning, the fear of being weeded out, or indeed, just not liking the intended, very expensive, course of study. The book was frightening and thrilling at the same time. But I liked it most of all because I knew I was not alone. Someone else had gone before me and felt the fear, the pride, the frustrations, and yes, the joys too!

I think many many books on home schooling are written by home educators who know so much, they forget what they felt at the beginning, and in this memory lapse, lose an important connection to the reader.  Today I am wishing for a good old-fashioned first year diary to encourage me in this huge endeavor so many of us have taken on.  Can anybody recommend one?

Just to clarify: I am experiencing (in spite of the aforementioned re-occurring self-doubt) overwhelming joy and excitement being the primary knowledge sharer.  Overwhelming joy and an overwhelming sense of chaos accumulating while I ignore the dishes to blow bubbles (and nature journal) in the backyard for the afternoon.

One thing that has truly made a difference in how I approach each day is my (very) simple notebook. It won’t do the dishes for me, but I can take it outside on those days (like today) when the weather is too nice not to be outside! There are hundreds of great ideas in the blogging world for how to make your own tidy notebook, but this how I went about it.

1) I found a simple sturdy notebook that I love. Since I will be carrying it around with me everywhere. I used these binders from Russel and Hazel. They have a nifty rubber band that holds all my loose papers together - I always have some loose papers trying to escape!

2) Filled with  dividers, folder pockets and top-loading page protectors. And, (this is key for me, or I would never use the notebook!), a pen/pencil zip case to store the “mama only” fountain pens & highlighters.

3) I really wanted an “everything in one place” kind of binder, instead of separate ones for school, home, food, etc. I didn’t need a filing system, just a reference system. So my sections are as follows:

• Pencil Case
• 1 Page protector with: Current weekly combined schedule (HS and family events) on one side and my Dreams/Goals list for myself and both children on the other. The Dreams/Goals list also works great as a prayer list for me.
• A folder divider with pocket. I usually have a composition book (with the Spell to Write and Read WISE guide words) here, along wtih some nice sticky notes and labels .
• Another page protector with the “family rules” : Be Kind, Obey Quickly, Be A Cheerful Giver, No Whining, Be Truthful. Alongside these rules are the Bible verses we use for “training times.” Most of the verses I found in the Proverbs for Parenting book.
• Section 1: Family Calender/Contacts
• Section 2: Kids: personal - this includes their immunization schedules (yikes), vision prescriptions, height/weight. I’m also using it as a journal for those great moments you want to remember but don’t have the time to record them properly. At least I’ll have some scribbles notes about Matt’s first visit to the dentist that I can reference later on!
• Section 3: Food (recipes and master grocery list)
• Section 4: Budget/Bill Schedule (just a reference for dates - I’m far too paranoid to put any account information in my notebook.)
• Section 5: California home school laws and home school support group information
• Section 6: (By far the biggest section) Home school schedule and curriculum. For this section I purchased a down-loadable planner called The Image Bearer. It’s technically for those who are using the Charlotte Mason method, but I’m using a pretty heavy classical approach and am finding the two mesh nicely in this planner. I can choose to either type in my lesson plans or print out the sheets and handwrite them as I go, AND, I can use it for every year, every student, for the rest of their time in our home school! This planner was my catalyst for getting organized, and it also reminds me to keep the lessons short!
• Section 7: Home School - long term planning/objectives. I’m adding here the neat stuff I find (usually on the internet) but can’t really use in kindergarten.
• Section 8: Books & Media: reading log, library lists, things to check out, things to buy
• Section 9: Character Training and Practical Skills. In The Image Bearer planner there is a great list of habits and character traits to teach from, if I’m hard up for ideas that week. Although, I have been spending an inordinate amount of time on the Konos website lately thinking about using their unit study as a supplement or maybe a summer program.
• Section 10: Field-Trips and Fun Crafts

That’s it! Well, it does sound like a lot. But it didn’t take long at all to do it and I feel much less overwhelmed. More in control. Because I am, in fact, a closet control freak. And if we need to be evacuated because of wildfires this year, I’m set.

My newest obsession :: vintage footstools and scrappy strips. Preferably painted and all lined up. At least the footstools are a practical obsession, right? Am I the only one? The little ones are becoming so independent with the washing hands/brushing teeth/giving teddy a bath thing, as long as I provide them with a perch. So there’s my justification for the first. As for the scrappy strips? Well that’s not really anything new for me, but I just had to make something to match the log cabin pillow present. Because, ya know, I’m a product of the 80’s (esprit collections in yellow and purple squares come to mind), and matching is in my blood. So the pillow needed a complimentary friend.

I couldn’t find a pattern to suit, so I made mine up. The blocks here were just made with a bunch of 2.5 inch strips left over from the log cabin (and various other strippy projects), all laid in lines on top of a square ruler before sewing up to make sure I had enough length to fit inside. Except the middle one, that’s an even 3 inches., because I measured the white wrong. I also learned about halfway through it helps to overlap the edges to compensate for the seam allowance. A real quilter would have thought about it beforehand!

And there are so many inspirational quilts out there right now. Large strippy quilts with cherry blossom applique, little doll quilts look cute and scrappy, rectangle scrappy quilts, freshcut baby strippy quilts, even a fabric scrappy strippy rug! And, ooo, I spotted a really colorful one, here. And the amazing House on Hill Road (of twirly skirt fame) , is working on one, too. And her corners match. I’m jealous.

(Edited to add: Go visit Wee Toes and Noggins to see a properly constructed foundation pieced strippy scrappy quilt - look for the tiny bird!)

Have a fabulous Thursday everyone! Hope it’s as beautiful and blue where you are - we’re headed outside for the rest of the day!

P.S. For those home-school moms out there, I just found a cute new site - the Homeschool Lounge. Like I need another thing to do on the computer… but it seems kind of neat.

Well, at least the sewing kind.  A little (or rather big) log cabin pillow cover, some lentil-filled beanbags for juggling,  a little zipper pouchy with the lining sewn in by hand (per bend the rules sewing).and a pile of other projects that received a bit of attention as well.

My sweetie cooked every single meal this past weekend.  Now I love to cook, I really really do.  But considering how backed up I was with upcoming presents, parties and birthdays… it was nice to have big chunks of time to work (or play!).  The best Valentine’s ever, I’d say.

There has been alot going on here, but I’ll save that for another day.

for the cars

Originally uploaded by laluandmatt

and the cars, and choo choos, and lego (or playmobile) people, and, well, anything he can imagine. He picked out the blue dot fabric and I picked out the Amy Butler fabrics and we debated over black or brown roads for a good long while… and it’s finally starting to come together.

Of course, this entire project was heavily inspired by Wee Wonderful’s delightful blog and her son’s amazing race car quilt. Which was all abuzz the blogging community oh, let’s see, more than a year ago? I’ve basically spent the last 11 months trying to talk my little guy into something less complicated. He would have none of it, and I’ve actually come to enjoy those curvy seams (without pinning!). There is another way to puzzle these patches together to make a bunch of (very graphic looking) dots, which I love (click on the flickr picture above to see this option).   If you can, I suggest making these on a rainy day.   So enjoyable seeing all these colors come together when the skies are grey outside.