Music man

Jonah is loving his piano lessons, I was supposed to be splitting the hour between them but he loves it so much I let him have 45 minutes and then the girls get a little bit of time at the end.  I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon but we're rolling with it whilst he's is keen.  So far he can play Harry Potter, Clocks by Coldplay and an Irish jig.

Ta dah!!

I finished the girls quilts this week and they look really cute.  My only regret is that I didn't make them bigger but I didn't realise at the time how easy they would be.  My sewing is by no means perfect and the squares don't quite line up but that is the beauty of the rag quilt.

I also made Max a little bag for carrying his cars around, I'm really pleased how well it turned out and I even managed to put a little pocket on the inside for him.  Just need to make one for Jonah and the girls now.

Superbike!!

Not sure I ever showed you my new bike, it's a cargo bike called a Mundo Yuba.  We love it, Max rides on the back everyday and we can even bring home a few friends from school!!  I can fit the weekly shop in the side panniers and all the junk that comes with four kids.

Blown away..

Literally!!

I had the bright idea of going to the beach yesterday even though it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale.

The weather was slightly better at this stage, when we first arrived you couldn't even get out of the car.  We watched other people trying to walk and it was virtually impossible so we tried to walk down to the beach via the woods so we'd be out of the worst of it.   We made it half way until it was too exposed to go any further, kids were soaked but enjoyed the fresh sea air and I'd wrapped them up in waterproofs so not too wet.  Ben however had his jeans on.....

My two drowned rats.

No pictures of Max as he wasn't being very co-operative!!

We got snow......

.....and then it rained!!

We were very excited when Ben came home from work the day before yesterday covered in snow, I even woke up in the middle of the night and saw a lovely white blanket outside.

Alas by the morning it had started to rain so instead of a snow day the kids had to trudge to school in three inches of slush, not the kind of fun they had in mind.

It seems that was the end of our snow and now it's rained constantly for the last day, our basement is slightly wet but at least we have a pump should it get too bad.

I guess the rainy season has finally started, shouldn't complain though we had a good run of dry weather up until now.

Resolved to sew 2012

That will teach me not to save my posts, I've just lost a whole page of waffling :)

Anyhow I had written about how the one thing I wanted to do before we left America was to make myself an American quilt but I really had no idea how I was going to manage it.  So I've just dived right in bought myself a sewing machine and am attemping to make my simple quilts, then hopefully I can start on my project.  I really wish I'd paid more attention to my mum though when she was making stuff for us as children, I'm sure it wouldn't be such a struggle but I am really enjoying it and can't wait to get my machine out in the evening.  Hopefully my little bit of crafting will encourage some of my friends to give it ago and see what great stuff they can whip up with a little bit of effort and very satisfying.  Although I think it's going to take me years to get neat and tidy with my sewing and I'm not sure I have the patience for anything that needs accurate measuring, I think my quilts will always be a bit wonky.

One of the other things I've been enjoying is finding out about a whole new world of craft blogging, you'll see lots of my favourite sites down the right side bar.  One of my favourites is Very Berry Handmade and Ali makes some fabulous creations (some of you have even had them as presents) and she has organised this fabulous fabric give away, click here to see and maybe even enter yourself.

I can't decide which one I like best but I think this would make a cute tote for the girls.

Photo booth

I forgot to share our photo booth pictures from this years school fayre

The girls first attempt at sewing

Of course Madeleine and Olivia want to have a go too and this is what they have made for their teachers Valentine present.

I think they've done a pretty good job

Olivia's

mine

Madeleine's, she still needs to decorate hers

My first attempt at quilting

I'll keep updating this post for anyone interested to see how it turns out!!

So I'm following this pattern which looks pretty easy (I hope), so far I have cut everything out and sewn about half the blocks together.  I used some of the girls old clothes as they have such pretty stuff.

The blocks I have sewn together so far

Madeleine will have the red and Olivia the pink

I still have all these to put together

Next stage will be sewing all the blocks together.

So it's now Friday 20th and I have finally sewn all the blocks together.

A pile for each quilt

I then laid them all out into an order I liked and now I just have to stitch all of them together....

I've sewn all of Olivia's together and half of Madeleine's so almost there, just need to snip all the edges and then wash and dry them both.

Thanks giving pictures

We went to the Wallowas for Thanksgiving, also known at the 'Little Alps', I forgot I hadn't posted any pictures for you.

Look at the scenery in the background

we turned back after Ben had to remove 3 trees off the road

our cabin was nestled in these mountains

Enjoing an icecream soda

Happy New Year

My first 2012 post (I think)

I guess I should've gone back and looked at my last post to see where we are

Everyone is now back at school and happyish!!  Max is having a private speech therapist come to our house but it only works if he is willing and we all know how stubborn he can be.  The kids are also having piano lessons now, the girls are a nightmare and won't listen to a word the tutor says, Jonah however has turned out to be quite attentive (surprisingly), he sits and listens and then happily does as he's asked.  I've decided to let him have most of the hour lesson and then the girls can get 15 minutes at the end until they learn to pay attention.

I bought myself a sewing machine for Christmas and am attemping to make two rag quilts for the girls, I've pieced together enough for one, just another 64 squares to go and then the long job of stitching them all together.  I will bore you soon with lots of work in progress photos.

Ben is working lots as usual, they go live next month so I don't expect to see much of him.

We attempted to hit the beach on Sunday but I always forget we have to cross a mountain to get there and it's snow season.  We lasted 20 minutes on the pass going 20 miles an hour before we decided to turn back which actually turned out to be a good thing as we discovered a fantastic State Park called Stub Stewart.  It was covered in snow so we got to go on a lovely winter walk, only trouble was the kids weren't really dressed for it so the little ones got cold very quickly.  We shall definitely be going back and may even rent a cabin next time, there was even a couple of little hills to sledge from and it's only a 40 minute drive away.

I have found some new blog templates so you'll have to bare with me whilst I play around and see which ones I like/dislike.

Ok off to bed, Madeleine is sick so I have a guest for the night.