Something I finished

This is Cooper's quilt. Cooper is a little boy who I watch. His parents are also good friends of ours.

I really enjoyed making this quilt. It is one of the first quilts I did completely on my own. The instructions were a bit confusing at times, but overall it was great. And I just can't get over the colors. They worked perfect!

I'm trying to gear myself up to start a new project. The only problem is, I put all of my quilting stuff away. Usually it sits on my dining room table, but since we had a family birthday this weekend I had to put it all away. And it looks so nice!

I haven't done a "Not Me Monday" in a really long time, but in an effort to blog more here it goes.

Not once during the family party this weekend did I want to smack a certain annoying family memeber. Nope!

I never considering quiting my current job in search for another despite the money difference.

I would never wish for a parent to pick their child up early. I mean I am getting paid to watch their child!

I certainly didn't eat a piece of birthday cake for dinner!

And there is no way, wouldn't consider, asking my daughters team mother what exactly she does, since I'm doing one of her main jobs.

You can visit MckMama who starting the "not me" by clicking the logo up top. And read many other "Not Me's" It makes me feel better!

Fail, epic fail

If your wondering what my title refers to, don't bother. And don't read my last post; ) I don't know why I bother making promises. I can't keep them obviously! The good news is I have taken some pictures and even downloaded them, I just didn't blog.

A lot has recently happened. I was voted in as PTF President at my kids school. I signed my oldest up for Jr high. My baby turned six, and my middle one lost two teeth. I also finished another quilt. Now that I have learned to blog from my phone, hopefully I will update more.

Pictures

I am horrible at taking pictures. I don't really know why. Cameras aren't the issue, I always have one. Subjects aren't the issue, with three kids, two dogs and daycare I should have a lot of opportunities.

I just never think about it. But when I do I get a little depressed knowing that I don't have tons of pictures to document the lives of my family.

So even though its been done, and it is kind of boring I'm forcing myself to take a picture and post it everyday. The hard part is going to be uploading. While I can take pictures I suck at getting them on the computer.

So here is goes. Starting tomorrow I hope to have a picture up!

Won't You Be My Neighbor

Neighbors suck.

No really they do. I have no idea why they hate us. We are quiet, never have parties, keep our yards nice and clean....what more could you want?

Since we moved in 3.5 years ago we have had nothing but issues. The first issue was my husbands company van. The neighbors didn't want it parked on the street. It didn't matter that they have a broken down old as dirt green truck parked in the street. They didn't want a nice, new, clean white van out there.

Then it was the chickens. Yes we have five chickens. In a coop mind you. No rosters. Oh but our chickens are noisy and smelly and we don't like them. They are in our backyard and we keep in clean so suck it people.

Now its our dog. I am home ALL day long. I literally leave for 30 minutes in the morning, and 30 minutes in the afternoon. The dogs are outside in a kennel on the side of the house. Apparently they bark sometimes. What freaking dog doesn't?! But my dogs bark is so bad that they have to call the cops.

Well the justice of that dear neighbors, is that the cop comes and sits outside. Comes to my door sypathizes because he has the same dog and then tells me he hasn't heard anything, so have a nice day ma'am.

Thats right spinless neighbors. Cops are on my side. So again. SUCK IT.

Have a nice day :)

Strep

Sorry for the absense!

And this post isn't going to be long either.

We have been hit hard in this house by strepthroat. First William, then Victoria, now Julia.

Lets just hope I don't get it or you may never see me again ;)

Pomegranate Jelly

I love pomegranates. Who doesn't? The yummy tartness of the seeds are just perfect for making Jelly. Now pomegranate jelly isn't that hard. It can be extremely time consuming though. At least the way I used to do it. I have a new and improved way!

First you are going to need about 10 pomegranates. I am lucky enough to have in-laws with a tree, so I don't have to purchase them, because they can be pricey.

Now the time consuming part is getting the seeds out of the pomegranates. The outer layer is pretty bitter so you don't want to try pressing the seeds out. You want to scoop them out. I used to soak the whole pomegranate in water, and while wearing gloves remove the membrane from the seeds. This would take forever. Now, thanks to a friend watching a cooking show. I simply cut the pomegranates in half, and pound the back with a large spoon. Its that easy. De seeding one pomegranate takes about 3 minutes, vs 20-30 minutes of the old way.





Once you have all of the seeds you are going to need to crush the seeds to get the juice. I used to put the seeds in a cone shaped colander (I'm sure there is a fancy name that I don't know) and pound and push and crush the seeds with a long tool that looks like a rolling pin. Again, not sure of the fancy name. Recently I have found that you can put the seeds into a food processor, run that baby for a few seconds. Then put your seeds/juice into a cheese cloth and drain the juice.




Once you have your juice (about 4 cups) Your ready to start cooking the jelly. Now would be a good time to place your canning jars into the heating cycle of your dishwasher. The hotter the jars, the better the seal. Also start boiling your water for the lids.



Place the pomegranate juice, 1/4 lemon juice in a large pan. Add some pectin. Stir over high heat. Keep stirring, or your jelly will burn. Once the rolling boil comes, a boil that cannot be stirred down, add 5 cups of sugar. Let boil hard for about 2 minutes and then remove from the heat. Your going to notice a film over the top, just remove that with a spoon, and then start filling up your jars. Leave about 1/2 an inch from the top.

Allow the jars to cool, and soon enough you will hear the seal of the jars. Enjoy!

Oh Animal

Happy Hump Day.

My what cute children you have!

Our family is an excellent one. And my children are beautiful. Of course I'm biased. The kids recently had their christmas concerts. They got really dressed up and let mom take some pictures.

They started like this.



And then I requested a "mafia" picture



A lovey picture



And ended with a crazy set




I love my kids.

Coffee table 1, William 0

This weekend was chugging along like any normal weekend. Brian was abalone diving, Julia was at a girl scout weekend in the city. Victoria, William and I were left home.

We did some shopping, Victoria got her ears pierced, and I did some quilting. Just a nice relaxing time.

And then Sunday happened.

Sunday Brian decided to take us out to breakfast, which isn't normal. But it was good food. After breakfast we went to the Dollar Tree. The kids' school is doing Operation Christmas child. You make a box of goodies for a child who might not get a Christmas present. I was very proud that all three of my kids wanted to help out someone less fortunate than them.

After some shopping it was time to go home, watch football and get ready for a Mother Daughter tea party with the girl scouts.

And that's when this happened.





Victoria was rushing past her brother and gently, lovingly? pushed him into our coffee table. Now let me say the coffee table has rounded edges, so apparently we are lucky that he didn't need any stitches.

Needless to say the coffee table has been removed from our living room. Not only because it bruised my baby, but right before William was pushed into it, Victoria was pushed also and broke the small glass square inside the coffee table.

Never a dull moment. At least I can say that.

P.S. Don't forget about the great giveaway by Oroweat bread!

October was here....

October is my favorite time of the year. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Every year we go to Half Moon Bay, pick out our pumpkins, visit the ocean and just have a great time.

Pumpkin picking doesn't really take us that long. Nothing like it takes us to find our christmas tree...but thats another post for another day. It usually the biggest pumpkins we can find that we take.



Then its off to the ocean. The ocean is one of my favorite places. I could sit and stare for hours, and thankfully Brian and the kids are just like me.






The following week we carved our lovely pumpkins. We spent the day carving, the children all did their own this year. Well ok, I helped William but the girls went solo and did a great job! Once we carved them, we put them outside and waited for dark. And of course I forgot to light them. So we wake up the sleeping children to see their lighted pumpkins and then usher them off to bed!

Oroweat Review

Want to be entered in a contest?! Of course you do, so hop on over to here and enter to win!

Good luck!

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way

This week has been very hectic. My sister had her first baby. My oldest got lice, my youngest for a 103.5 fever, I worked all weekend, hosted a huge fundraiser, attended a 75th birthday for my Nana, saw some much loved out of town relatives, started a new baby in my childcare, endured a horrific storm, cried to my brother in law on the phone, and just about snapped.

I'm trying to get myself back together. Until then, here is my nephew, Henry James.

In which the camera breaks

I attended a wedding this weekend. The wedding of my once beloved cousin who is a few years older than me. Why once beloved? Well she is still loved, but I haven't seen her in about....5 years. Recently connected with her again on Facebook and was invited to the wedding.

I actually had a good time. I wasn't really expecting to. See my family is weird. They don't talk to me. Why? No idea. I was 15 when my mom moved to South Carolina and once she left they kind of slowly stopped calling my sister and I. So I honestly say I don't put much effort into the relationships. Maybe I'm just as bad as they are.

But I took my camera and got a few good shots. Then the thing breaks. Won't turn on at all. And I know its not the battery. So I'm in the market. Brian just wants to try a battery replacement, but I want new! Of course I probably won't once I look at the prices of new ;)

Monday...I mean Tuesday is here

This weekend was fun and full! Saturday I had to work from 9:30-5pm. Incase you didn't know I work part time at my mother-in-laws quilt shop. I really enjoy working there, but to be honest its hard to work the weekends.

Sunday I took the kids to an Oakland A's game. It was the first MLB game for William, and I think the 3rd for the girls. They actually lasted the whole game! It helped that we were up in the shade and away from crowds so the kids could actually act like kids. Unfortunaley Brian had to work this day. But it made up for two days he had off during the week. So I can't complain too much.



Monday was a great family BBQ with my parents, and sister and her hubby. We had good food, great conversation, and loads of fun in the pool. I also have some great pictures of a water pyramyid we did, but those are on my dad's camera so we will have to wait!

Back in the swing of things

The kids have now been in school for a week and a half. The first week was bliss. Then the homework started. Wow! I don't remember having hours of homework at the age of 10, and boy is my Julia hating it! Usually we have at least 15 minutes of crying and freaking out. Of course anyone else is better to help her, for some reason we are like oil and vinegar in some cases.

Victoria isn't too bad, she has a lot more than last year, but she isn't overwhelmed yet.

And little William just loves that he has homework. Oh just way love...just wait!

First Day of School

My little loves all started school this week.

Julia is now in the 5th and final grade at her current school.


Victoria is in 2nd and now walking to class alone.


And my little baby, William, is in Kindergarten.


They had a great day, loved their teachers and didn't have homework. I'm sure it will change by the end of the week, infact I will be suprised if I don't have a hard morning, or a grumpy child doing homework by Friday. But for today, they are happy.

Still here!

I've been gone for three weeks. I have had things to post, but no time to do it! We went camping, celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary, making made dashed to get everything for school, working, making two quilts, quilting two quilts, taking trips to the aquarium..........

I'll post in more detail later!

Stellan

Right now Stellan is having a very hard time. Nobody knows what is going to happen next, so if you have a second to spare, please lift this little guy up in prayer!

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.



Its Monday again. Another week to work! Woo! But also another week to express what I would never, ever in a million years do.

Today I didn't spend $55 on hair products in hopes of turning my dull wavy hair into a beautiful mass of curls.

And after trying the $55 of product, I wasn't secretly excited they didn't work so I could return them.

Today I didn't skip my morning exercise and promise myself I will do it after lunch.

I am not thinking of eating a BLT and Dr Pepper for breakfast.

And I do not have piles of laundry upstairs that need to be folded and washed!

Ok its your turn!