my first projects

So I've been hard at work using my sewing machine to embroider some gifts. It's been really fun to actually make something instead of just practice doing things. I have to thank my friend Sara for helping me out. We spent a while on Saturday making these 2 burp cloths and a blankie for our friend Tara who is having a little girl any day now. I posted both pictures because I didn't know which one you could see better.
Then the other day my sister and I were working on something else, and we hit a few bumps in the road. So I took my sewing machine in, thinking that the problem just had to be with the machine. But, oddly enough, the problem actually turned out to be user error! Oops. I guess that's what you get when you are just guessing how to use the software before someone actually teaches you (or before you even read the whole manual!). But I tried another project yesterday afternoon, and things are going along smoothly again. And I have my software class on Saturday, so hopefully I will learn the RIGHT way to do this stuff. But I am having so much fun doing this. Before too long everything in my house may be embroidered! Watch out, Bogie, better not sit still for too long. Just kidding!

buddies

I took these pictures the other night when David and Campbell were playing on the floor. David was on his belly, and Campbell just had to do just like his daddy. He even made sure to position his hands just like Daddy. So cute. I love to watch them play. Campbell just loves his daddy. Every afternoon when the door opens, he yells out, "Da Da!" as loud as he can. I'm so lucky to have such a great husband and father for Campbell.

to keep or not to keep...

...to paraphrase Shakespeare, who would roll over in his grave if he knew I was using his words to talk about my yard sale! But that is what I am doing--trying to decide what things in my house I want to keep, and what things are going in the yard sale on Saturday. There are the easy decisions, like the hideous ceramic box thing with angels and roses on it--yard sale! And then there are the tough ones like the beautiful, yet duplicated, crystal pieces. I have just uncovered the most beautiful crystal pitcher, but do I need it? And how many crystal bowls is enough? And where do I put all this stuff that I decide to keep? And for the stuff I sell, how much do I sell it for? Ahh, it's too much! I can't take it anymore. Anyone want to come over and make these decisions for me? Anyone?

Hazardous Housework

OK, ladies, I have the answer to all your problems. I have proof positive that vacuuming is hazardous to your health. Yesterday I was hard at work, cleaning my house when I was horribly injured. It happened when I picked up the vacuum. I had this pain in my finger, but being the brave soul that I am, I pressed on. A few minutes later I looked down at my still-throbbing finger and saw it was horribly disfigured. It was black, blue, purple, and swollen. But, don't worry, I finished the housework. And so, here is my proof that vacuuming is hazardous to your health. Now, by advised, this picture may not be suitable for small children and squeamish adults--it's pretty gruesome! The picture is a little blurry, but it is surprisingly difficult to get a clear picture of your own hand. I think that you can get the general idea of the injury. And I couldn't, in good conscience, neglect to share this information with all the women in my life. Hopefully, my pain will prevent you from incurring the same injury. So, in honor of my pain, take today off and do NO HOUSEWORK!! Happy Friday, and you're welcome!

Easter Fun

I always seem to be the last one to post holiday pictures for some reason. I think there's something intimidating about taking 80 pictures in a weekend and trying to decide which ones to include on my blog. And the funny part is that I stress over it and try to pick just the right picture. I'm strange, I know. But anyway, we had a great Easter. Campbell finally realized that eggs were for hunting and not throwing and enjoyed hunting eggs in Kentucky and Lewisburg. Too bad it was so cold he had to wear fleece! But overall, we had a great time. We got to see almost all the great grandparents, which is always a blessing. Campbell is lucky to have so many great grandparents who love him so much, and grandparents, too, don't get me wrong. So here are the winning pictures. I am bummed because yet again, I didn't get any pictures of him in his Easter outfit, which consequently was his 12 month pictures outfit since it was 30 degrees and I didn't want him to freeze to death at church. Hope your Easter was blessed, too.

spatula golf

I have to give it to Campbell, he has become quite resourceful in this cold weather. I guess the saying is right, "Necessity is the mother of invention." He started out by going to the back door and begging to go outside and then having a breakdown when I told him that it was too cold. But now, he's made up his own game he can play inside. I call this game spatula golf. Here's how it started. Campbell loves to "help" me unload the dishwasher. And so, in an effort to keep him from grabbing all the knives out of the dishwasher, I usually give him a spatula to play with. He thinks it's pretty cool and runs around the house with it. Well, the other day, he spotted a rubber baseball (used to be Bogie's, but now Campbell has taken it over--but it was always a little too big for Bogie anyway). He remembered his new favorite game, and decided the spatula could work as well as a golf club, and he hit the ball. Well, after that, shall we say, the rest is history. It is his new favorite game. The funniest part is that he misses the ball about 80% of the time, but he doesn't get discouraged. And he will NOT let David help him. The fierce indepence rears its head and he shouts, "No!" But, it keeps him happy indoors, and that's all I can ask for right now. Enjoy the pictures. And please don't think I never dress my child. Apparently all the Kodac moments happen first thing in the morning!

practice round

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, so Campbell and I joined a few friends at the park for a picnic and an Easter Egg Hunt practice round. Campbell pretty much just thought the eggs were balls. He kept saying, "BALL!" and throwing the eggs. I tried to get him to put them in his basket, but he would have no part of that. Throwing them was all he wanted to do. This should make the weekend exciting!

We also got our landscaping last week, and here is a picture of the front. It looks so much better than the 15 year old holly bushes that used to be there. The back looks great, too, but I haven't gotten a picture of that yet.

His Father's Son

Not that there is any doubt when you see my son's cleft in his chin that is a mirror image of his father's, but these two are freakishly similar. Campbell loves all the foods his daddy loves like green beans, fried chicken, and peanut butter and crackers. The later is our most recent discovery. We tried peanut butter the other day, but he didn't care for it on bread. So I tried crackers and it was an instant hit. The funny thing is that peanut butter and crackers was his daddy's lunch of choice each and every day from kindergarten through graduation. And now this weekend, we've found the latest similiarity: golf. None of you who know my husband are surprised by this, I'm sure. We bought Campbell a cheap little golf club set from Big Lots and gave it to him this weekend because David and his friend across the street were in the front yard chipping into a bucket. Campbell wanted nothing else but to do what his daddy was doing, so I brought out the clubs. Well, he has played and played and played with those things since then. This morning he was at the back door wailing and wanting to go outside and play with his clubs. So finally we went out there in his PJs and sandals, and his little face just lit up. We played until time for his morning nap. He just loves trying to hit the little golf balls around. And it's so much fun to see him wanting to be just like his daddy. There are many more stories of him imitating his daddy, but I won't bore you with them all.
In other news, we had a big weekend that hopefully we will be able to recover from today. Let me just say that I went to an overnight scrapbooking party at my mom's house with my sister and 5 of her friends. Mom was an excellent host, as always, and we all got so much done. I am up to last July now in Campbell's first year book, so I am feeling really good. Hope you all had great weekends, too.