Gotta a sword?

On Sunday night we let the boys sleep in the living room. It's a big treat for them and they look forward to any occasion to sleep downstairs. So since there was no school on Monday we let them stay up late and sleep in the living room. But before we could even get to the watching of their favorite shows Daddy started his favorite game.....Sword fight!

The boys love to play with Dad, but before we begin we have to get "powered" up.

Kimball is saying "by the power of Thomas" 

[Dad grew up watching Heman, and we were able to find some episodes for the boys to watch. They liked them but what they gained most from it was the powering up from normal to a fighter. In the show Heman puts his sword in the air and says "by the power of grey skull" and transforms. So from this part, before we play, we have to "power up"]

Nathan is saying "by the power of soccer boy"

Then Brandon is saying "by the power Indiana Jones" (We have been playing Indiana Jones on the WII lately)

Daddy stands alone and gets ready

But we have time to stop and give Mommy a smile 

The fighting begins!! Brandon and Nathan have learned that Daddy has the upper hand so we get in some hits, but mostly we yell and try to intimitate, but Kimball still thinks he can conquer Daddy so he engages a lot!  

Sometimes we resort to whatever we can, and Kimball has just lost his sword and is trying to scare by pretending to bite (No Daddy's or children were hurt while playing this game)

Brandon and Nathan got some more weapons, Brandon has a shoe string whip, and Nathan has a racket shield to help them in their fight

Daddy gets another sword.....watch out! 

Oh no he got Kimball , and what??? He gives him a kiss?? The special torture of Daddy! 

Nathan gains the upper hand by transforming his sword

Daddy wins by capturing Kimball (Okay so Daddy is tired and ends the game)

By the power of playing! 

(Notice how Mommy has learned to stay out of the game?)

Jared's Quilt

Remember when I was saying that I was working on a quilt for Travis's friend Jared, for his wedding?
Well I worked hard on it all week and was able to finish it. I got all the blocks made and a few rows put together when Travis asked if I could make it bigger, so I went and bought more fabric and added another row to the bottom and an extra block to each row. (I was doing a mixed up pattern so it was easy enough to add). But when I got to the point where I needed to put it on my frame, it was too big! So I had Travis rip out the extra column of blocks. But when I got to the very end I couldn't add the extra row because I didn't have enough back fabric. (I was bad and didn't double check measurements). BUT in the end it turned out just fine!

I wanted to give it a cool name, but in the end it will just end up being called Jared's quilt! 

When I was all done putting the top together I realized that I put on 4 (used to be 5) blocks backwards! I was prepared this time to rip out my seams and put them right, but Travis really liked it like that, so I left it. I wasn't really looking forward to ripping seams anyway.

I just did a simple stippling on it, I needed to get it quilted fast. I used a dark green color and a medium size weave. Up close you can see it clearly but from a distance this is what it looks like!

I made them some matching pillow cases with the extra blocks and then some throw pillows. The block size is only 8" so they were small throw pillows but I thought it would be a nice complete set. I of course forgot to take a picture of those! Oh well, just think beautiful!

For the back I used a dark brown sheet. I like using sheets for a simple back, if I am not planning on adding anything because they are so quick! This makes it look faded, but it really is a nice deep color. I used a nice deep green for the binding.

I had to get a quick picture of them at the reception. The one behind the computer is another friend from work, Issac, and then there is Jared and his new wife Kim! They loved the quilt! Which makes me happy! I have to admit that I didn't wrap the quilt, but folded it and put a bow on it so that I could see their face when they saw it. It was nice, they loved it and then put it up to display. (Doesn't Jared look like Travis a little?)

Diaper Bag

My Sister in law will be having her first baby next month (well maybe this month....she just wants to come out early). Since she lives all the way in Colorado I wasn't able to attend the baby shower or just in general be with her during this time. So I called her and talked to her and found out that she still needed a diaper bag. So after looking for a few and then getting help from my good friend Rene, I found a cool diaper bag tutorial.

I began to get going because well the baby just wants to come out.....I was very nervous and scared that I would ruin it....and well just all in all tense...

Travis was very sweet and kind and helped me relax and said that if it didn't look right, then fine I got to keep it and got to make another one. But unfortunately I made it just fine! After I relaxed it came together nicely (see what relaxing can do!)

(Front view)

Amber (SIL) has a brown and pink theme, so I made a brown and pink bag. Fairly neutral prints so it will blend with all of her things. 

]

(Back view)

There was a zipper in the back and at first I was really scared but when you actually use a "zipper foot" its not that bad.

(Inside view)

I did some deeper pink for the pockets. It was kinda hard to get the pockets to work, well sew it together with the elastic, but well worth it in the end.

(Side view)

There are pockets all around the front and sides. This is what made me frustrated in the first place and trying to understand the instructions, but again in the end it turned out fine. 

One thing I did learn is to make sure that you don't use too stiff of an interfacing. I used a pretty stiff one and I could barley sew a top seam on the bag because it was so thick. I broke 4 needles on it! (They were the heavy duty needles too)

I am entertaining the idea of taking this pattern (with the permission of the author) and making a few bags to sell. Mostly because I liked making it (see once again, see what relaxing can do) and I thought hey, maybe I could make something out of doing something I like! Maybe if my wishes come true I could actually afford to fund my quilting passion!

Wordless Wednesday......Got pins?

Turning 34 Part II

We had a family get together on Sunday to celebrate Trav's birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Walker, Rose (Trav's sister) and Derek were there and we had a nice bbq and some cake (well sort of).

(Look closely and you will see that they all have the same smile!)

Relaxing outside while Grandpa cooks the food!

He is ready for action!

Look they have the same smile too!!! (I had to bribe him to sit down so I could take a picture.....he really wanted to flip the hamburgers krabby patties)

For his "offical" birthday cake I decided to try something new. Rose doesn't like cake much but loves brownies....so I made a brownie cake! I cooked to pans of brownies and put them together! (It was hard to get the brownies out of the pan, but since it was still warm I could mold it a little.)

It turned out really good. It was really rich. I think if I did it again I would use a chocolate frosting because I like chocolate more.

Kimball really liked it

Derek liked it too....I think Barney would have liked it too but he didn't get any (the cat).

It's always nice to get together with family and chat and talk about different things and just spend time together. I love being close to family and getting together for weekends, Sunday dinners, games....well anything. What can I say I'm a family type of gal!