Saturday, June 30, 2012

In the company of Champions





That beauty is Gabrielle Douglas, currently second in the standings at the U.S. gymnastics Olympic trials.  I wish her luck!

The trials are being held not far from us, in San Jose.  This is an incredible opportunity for my budding gymnast Wasabi Girl to see fabulous world class gymnastics.  We'll be going to the finals on Sunday evening.

Today she will be among the demonstrators for the  meeting of the U.S.A. gymnastics congress, a meeting of gymnastics educators that's being held in the convention center next door.  They put out the call for young gymnasts with specific skill levels to come and demonstrate moves and routines.  She'll be spending all morning with other local talented gymnasts doing fly-aways and other skills on the uneven bars.

It's exciting to have this happening near our home town.  Good luck to all the hopefuls out there!

If you'd like to follow the standings, visit http://www.intlgymnast.com/ for up to the minute news.  My screenshot above is from Universal Sports.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Stars, Stripes, and a little lite kibble.


I finished up my little flag pillow.  It fits right in on my red club chair with my patriotic quilt.  If you would like to make this quick little project, you can find the free pattern at ASE Keepin Creative.  I found this pattern via Pinterest.  I've actually got quite a few ideas and inspirations on my Patriotic board. 

Yesterday was the annual cat roundup.  Here they are, mad at me and crying nonstop as I get ready to take them to the vet.  Okay, I know you can only see the boxes, but this represents quite a feat of cat-wrangling:


According to the vet, *Somebody* needs to go on a bit of a kitty diet.  I'm sure that will be easy and fun!  (not!)

Have you ever had to put a pet on a diet?  I'm open to suggestions.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Needlework Tuesday: Patriotic Stitches





Here is my finished July 4th cross stitch.  I couldn't find a perfect star button so I settled for a tiny flower.  Works for me.  And I finally found a use for a little red chair that has been sitting on a bookshelf.  I have no idea where it came from.


Today I hope to finish crocheting 18 tiny stars for this little flag pillow.  They're a bit fiddly, but they turn out cute. 

I'm still working on my big patriotic quilt.  Not sure it will get done in time for the 4th, but I'm enjoying the process.

Needlework Tuesday is hosted by Heather at Books and Quilts.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Sorting Day






Today is Sorting Day for Jungle Boy.  Well, they don't really call it that - it's really something like "Placement Day."

He is off in North Carolina for a month to study with American Ballet Theatre during their Summer Intensive.  Four weeks of all-day dance classes with some of the best teachers in the world.

He flew on his own this time, with a single suitcase and his dance bag as a carry on.  I have spent weeks worrying about packing everything he needs to stay in the dorm - bedding, clothing, a ton of dance gear.  There wasn't room for any extras so his room will be pretty bare.

My husband and I sent him off on a red-eye flight so he could get there to check in on Sunday morning.  When you're 14 a red-eye is probably more fun then when you're older.  Then we watched our computer screens to see if he would make his connection.  This is the hard part about sending kid off on their own - worrying about whether they can negotiate a strange airport.  It didn't help that his flight out ended up landing 25 minutes late.  We both started texting him.  His dad told him which gate to get to, and told him to hurry.  I waited until he texted that he had made it to his next plane, then I told him I was praying to the luggage-transfer gods.

We got a call from the service that was picking him up - someone else in the program flew out on the same flight but missed the connection.  They wanted to know if he made it.  I was so proud to say that he did.

Hours later, we got the texts that he and his luggage had arrived just fine.  I am so relieved!  Now I'll try not to worry about him.  He has enough changes of clothes and dance clothes to last him if he does laundry every week.  They'll feed him all he can eat at the cafeteria.  He got a haircut the day before he left so he wont look too shaggy in four weeks.

And today when he takes his classes to get sorted into a group, I'm pretty sure they'll see a whole lot of awesome.  I did my job, now he can show off all of his hard work and training.  Good luck Jungle Boy!  Have Fun!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Big One

Today is my Birthday.  The Big Five-Oh.  My jubilee.

I've been sort of dreading this milestone.  When I woke up this morning though, I was greeted by a loving, understanding family who has helped soften the blow.

It's a number.  Just a number.  50 is the new 40, and as I recall, 40 was the new 30.  I'm probably not even middle-aged yet by some standards.

The one thing I do know, is that the years keep getting better and better.  I've overcome physical problems that had slowed me down. I'm not getting exhausted chasing toddlers all over the place.  I've figured out what hobbies nourish my spirit and I will probably never have to move to another house again.  I have so much to be grateful for.

So today, when my family asked me what I would like to do with my day, I answered from my heart.  I just wanted to go to the zoo.  We haven't gone as a family in ages, and I haven't been able to walk through it without pain for many many years.

So while I may not have the grace and beauty of youth,



Or the flash and intelligence of a genius,



I do have a pretty awesome family that puts up with me day in and day out.


And that's the best thing in life.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Congratulations Graduates!


It seems like not so long ago I dropped off my twins for their first day of kindergarten.  I pulled out my camera and asked them to stand together for a picture.  Jungle Boy threw his arm around his sister and made a series of goofy faces.  I couldn't get a serious smile out of him but the photos match the giddy happiness that day.


And here they are last night, all ready to go to the 8th grade graduation dance.  I asked them to pose for a picture and Jungle Boy put his arm around his sister again.  A little more serious this time, but no less happy I think.

Congratulations on finishing middle school kids!  I love you so much.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Needlework Tuesday: Stolen moments

Lots of running around here lately.  But I've had the chance to put the final stitches in two little projects.


This was a free pattern on Glory Bee.  I think I'm going to find a small frame for it.  It also needs a small star button on the blue of the flag.  Time to search through my giant button jar.  Of course, after I spill out all million buttons and go through them I wont find exactly what I need so I'll have to go to the store and buy more buttons.  This is how these collections get out of control.


I also finished my bunnies.  I think they're pretty sweet.  Still deciding on a backing color for this one.  Possibly light blue?  I'm thinking I'll put some piping around it too.  I'm lucky my family puts up with my cuteness addiction.  This was a lot of fun to do.

Needlework Tuesday is hosted by Heather at Books and Quilts.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Design Wall Monday: Doll quilt


I finished piecing my doll quilt.  This has been a fun way to use up scraps, and I think I've done enough tiny triangles to satisfy me for a while.

I know to be a purist I should hand quilt it, but I have so many projects I want to move forward right now I just don't know if I want to spend the time on it.  There are a LOT of intersections and layers to work through on this.  Maybe I'll just do a very minimal amount of quilting and call it a day so I can move on.


The stars on my design wall are joined into rows.  I need to join up the rows and start on the border triangles, which are all cut out and ready to go.  I'm optimistic that I might get this one done by the 4th of July - but June is zipping by so fast!

A lot of things going on at my house.  As always, a little stitching helps me preserve my sanity.

Design Wall Monday is hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Persuasive Argument for a Friday

related [litandlaundry.blogspot.com]
Breakfast of Champions

Where does she get this stuff? And why does she think I'll fall for it?


Maybe because I'm so tired and ready for the school year to end.  And I'm sorry that she's home with a sprained ankle just before the ballet recital.

Cheers Finland!  Even though I seriously doubt anybody there has ever had a s'more for breakfast.

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