The NW College Tour

Touring colleges with Kyle..... Day 1 was Linfield(where I went to school), Day 2 Georg Fox U. Had to keep Landon and Eliana entertained at the park.

We also stumbled upon the Spruce Goose at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville.

Go make some Playdough

I was asked by Eliana's teacher to make some Playdough. I jumped at the chance.

I grew up with homemade playdough, and didn't even play with store-bought until I went to someone's house(and I was all ewwwww, this is all hard ;))

Go ahead take 15 minutes and make some play dough

Here is a link to a good recipe
http://www.preparedpantry.com/playdough.htm

OH Yeah OhYeah

I am SO stinkin excited!

We bought a new camera last night. I have been wanting a new camera for about 2 years. I would look and than talk myself out of it! But Finally when I read about the new Canon D40 I was SOLD! We had an awesome Customer Service experience at the Best Buy:yes: nice that it can still be found.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8472244&type=product&id=1185265538679


I am in love.. Here are some of the first photos Seth and I have taken..Man do we have A LOT to learn.. like we have time for a new hobby..

I also bought a Paint Shop Pro Tutorial from
Youcanmakethis
click this link :)
http://www.youcanmakethis.com/index.htm?cxaaffrefcodea=

by The Fairy Pixel

So Far I really like it and I have learned lots and I'm only on page 8... I have been using this program for 2+ years and didn't even know it could do borders:blush: I am excited about this. I may have to buy some cool frames she has for sale too

A Dandelion using the regular lens..and my first attempt at frames.














Rachel who works for SewZannes :)I love this shot of her. She looks so beautiful and happy too








Using the cool new macro lens..Rachel's husbands hair :p








Kyle took this one.. way cool













Our cool cat Cookie







Lastly my artsy new glasses and me playing with frames again!




That's it. Look forward to new cool pictures soon.

Oh I forgot.. here is a picture from Ruffle-o-rama with a frame added..way cool huh

Ruffle-o-rama

This was so fun to create.
My daughter Eliana loves all things girly, pretty and ruffle-y. So how could I resist sewing up the new dress pattern from Ottobre 4-2007.

My friend Cheryl was here and she so kindly traced all the pattern pieces for me:) Thanks Cheryl.
I used some of my favorite fabrics from my stash. Some Robyn Pandolph (did you know she's a home-schooling Mom?) Hanna Bella collection. The ruffle is some vintage eyelet trim, I picked up at our local sewing thrift store.

Tons of pictures, you know the **She's so cute I can't pick just one" idea....




























I'm not sure what she's doing but it shows the dress well






















ahh a praying picture














yes, there's more..told ya I couldn't choose























okay a posed cute one






















alright last one..one of the back. I just love invisible zippers

Take My Hand

Amazing the power that Love has....

When we were on vacation this summer. Seth's cousin Pastor Dave took us out on his ski boat. It was a magical day. Seth's cousin is full of the joy of the Lord. He was so wonderful to be around.

The day was so perfect. One of those *remember that time on vacation days* That we will talk about for years.

Pastor Dave took us out on lake George in NY. There are some places on the lake where you can cliff dive/jump.

All my kids and Seth were so brave and jumped right away. Pastor Dave yelled "Hallejuah" which echoed everywhere and dove headfirst.. Very brave IMO

Now me, I climbed to the top and just couldn't do it. I was full of fear. My kids kept cheering me on..but I stood there for 15 minutes and couldn't muster the bravery. I climbed back down:(

But Love is always stronger than fear! I asked Seth if he would hold my hand and we could jump together. *Now I realise that actually jumping together is NOT as safe as jumping alone* But somehow holding his hand, my fears slipped away and I felt safe. It touched me so deeply that my love for my husband and his love for me was enough to make me do this :)

Back to School Sewing

Well, we did it. We sent our littlest one off to school. (We home school the other 3, well it's a Charter School..Sort of 3/4 Home Schooling and 1/4 Enrichment Classes.)

Eliana is loving Kindergarten. She has the cutest teacher. It's weird though her teacher is closer in age to my oldest son 17 than to my age. I remember when Kyle was in Kindergarten and his teacher and I were the same age..oh how life changes..Now this year I have a Senior in High School and a Kindergartener.

First her 1st day of school Outfit

Ottobre 5/2006 Bell skirt. I love this pattern. I do get lazy and omit the separate waistband. It does make it a tiny bit bulky at the waist, but it doesn't seem to bother her. The top is Ottobre Collection 301. A perfect t shirt pattern IMHO

Next up 2 Redondo Skirts by Studio Tantrum and yes More Ottobre 301 T-shirts. the first is a horse set with Heather Ross horse fabric and the embroidery is from http://www.embroiderydk.com/

Her designs ALWAYS stitchout so clean

Lastly a Hearts and Stripes Combo with a hearts embroidery

http://www.bunnycup.com/viewset.aspx?designset=175

BunnyCup designs are so fun and stitch out perfect every time

and for fun :)

Sweet 16

Yes, it's true..... Gabriella is now 16!
She's so fun to watch grow up... She's always been ahead of her time... Which means this hasn't always been easy.

Seth & I made her shirt using the freezer paper method from
Angry Chicken

(Seth says, if you get tempted to hurry the drying process by pressing hard on the stencil with a cloth....Don't do it! ....

He did just that and it made his clean stencil line bleed a bit ;o( ... he was bummed )


Gabriella loved her shirt, though. Gifts are her "love language", for sure!







So, she can officially "date"..... with a few zillion restrictions.....

She has had the same friend-boy for almost a year. (Now I am told I must give in and call him her boy-friend.) Good thing I really like the kid

They can now officially date..with lots of restrictions ;) The first being the good old Bible space rule!!!