A few pics

A few pictures from the last few days. I've been sewing at the dinner table while Maemae takes her morning nap and Peanut plays outside or watches a movie. It's not ideal for me; I run upstairs a lot for things I need then end up with a pile to take back upstairs when I'm done. But, I did get Maemae's 4th of July romper done. It's uber adorable. And Maemae already put her touch on it: spit up chunky milk on the front and had a poopy diaper leak on the back.


I've gotten a few diapers sewn together over the last few days as well. I would have more but my upstairs machine and I are on a break. Kenmore has decided to not sew properly and I don't have the time yet to sit and make up with it. So my good old reliable Brother was put up downstairs and she's been a champ. For me, the more basic a machine is, the better I like it. No fancy shmancy sewing machines for me.

Maemae turned 6 months last week. She had her check up and is doing well. She's 15 lbs 10 oz and 26 inches tall. The doc doesn't think she'll reach 20 pounds by her first birthday. We'll see. Here's her checking to see if Daddy was still at the end of the table. She was fascinated by seeing herself and us in the mirror.
And I can't leave Peanut's picture out of the blog. He's so quick that it's difficult to get a good picture of him. This is the best my crappy camera could do tonight. He had a haircut a couple nights ago and we won't be doing that again. Too stressful for him and for Mama. From now on, it's a quick trim with scissors until he gets older and understands what's going on better.

Weeding our crappy lawn again. Sigh, our landlord is an idiot who doesn't care one ounce about the backyard (or her house). And we refuse to do more than the minimal weeding that is necessary.

We are officially moving, AGAIN, in September. To another rental house about 1/2 mile away from here. But it's a ranch and has front and back lawn care included. No more mowing the lawn until we buy a house. We don't want to rent again, but need to take care of a little more debt before we can get a good mortgage. We're excited about no stairs, no lawn work, closer to the park, and lower rent. Not so excited to move our stuff again and that it's 400 sq. foot smaller than this house, but we'll make it work and be happy. I'm already starting to go through stuff and purging.

That's about it for now. Both kiddos are sleeping, laundry is going, and I'm off to set up my serger to finish a pair of capri's for Maemae.

TTFN ~Crys

Latest Happenings

It's the middle of June, already. That's what I thought all day today. Wow, time has been flying by and I'm barely keeping up. Both kiddos are doing very well. Peanut has had a language explosion and is saying new words everyday along with 2 or 3 word sentences on a regular basis. All that worrying I did about maybe needing a speech therapist was for nothing. That will teach me to worry. Maemae is getting so big. She's trying to sit up unaided, trying to crawl, and HATES it when Peanut goes out of her sight. Peanut is her best entertainment and she watches him every chance she gets. It's so worth watching them interact with each other. The love is obvious in how gentle Peanut is with her and how concerned he is when she fusses and cries. And he loves to kiss and hug her. Plus when I ask if he loves his Sissy Maemae, he gets a huge smile on his face and nods repeatedly as if he's saying yes, very much.

We haven't been up to much lately. Well, I haven't been. Mike's been busy working his butt off at 911 and with the Guild. Guild work has picked up a little bit and I think will slowly pick up a little more over the summer then taper off when the winter gets here. I've been sewing a little. My latest project was finished tonight - Peanut's 4th of July shirt. Maemae will have a little dress out of the same fabric so they'll be matching but I have to get a different pattern for her. The one I have isn't good for summer time since it's lined and has a petticoat. I'll have to check out the pattern company's websites and make a list so I don't have to torture Peanut by looking at the books in the fabric store. Maybe we'll stop there on the way to Mom and Dads tomorrow. I'd like to have her dress done in the week or so since the 4th is almost here.

I'm been making some diapers for Maemae and have 7 cut out right now. They sew up really quickly but it's not something I want to try to do when I'm tired because the outer waterproof fabric can't have any mess ups on it. I calculated last week by switching to cloth, we're saving around $200 a month on disposables. Yep 200 big ones! And it's only around $20 a month in utilities to wash and dry the cloth diapers. Once the sun is here, they can dry outside and save a little more. I can't wait to get stocked up once Maemae's are done and be disposable free. At least in our home. Mom and Dad can still use them when they watch Peanut for us.

And now for the part I think everyone wants. The latest kiddo pics.

Laughing at Peanut one morning while I made breakfast.

Lounging on Peanut's foldout couch.

Taking a break in the toy box.

Riding his wet bike during a brief break from the rain.
Happy 4th of July shirt. I really like how it turned out.The Domke/Domke-Grimm Garden! It's at Mom and Dads. It's finally planted and everything is coming up. I can't wait to see it tomorrow and see how much everything has grown in 3 days. It's all fenced to keep the dogs and critters out and has a chair in the corner for taking a break. Dad even rigged up a sprinkler to a post so they don't have to stand out there watering it. It's all organic too, no yucky pesticides for us.

Digging in a mole hole.

A tractor ride with Papa is a must each time we're there.

That's all. I'm off to hang up my diapers to finish drying and going to bed.

Happy Father's Day to the dads out there, especially mine and my hubby. XOXO

TTFN ~Crys

Work Work Work!

Today I had a repair job to go do down at the Beach, Manzanita Oregon to be exact. It's a short 2.5 hour drive one way. The weather wasn't all that bad so we decided to make it a family excursion. So, Crystal got up super early (before my alarm went off at 6), I feel back to sleep after the alarm went off :) and we were out the door about 7:30. After a quick stop at Sonic for breakfast and a quick trip to home depot to get a new coping saw that I forgot to grab, we were on our way at last. We pulled into their drive way at 11:00....you do the math :)

I arrived to find the following damage....




So, after looking at the chair first hand, I decided I could fix it on-site at the peoples house, and there was no need to haul it all the way home just to haul it all the way back. So, I told Crystal I'd need about an hour and she decided to take the kids down to the "main drag" in Manzanita and look around. Needless to say, if you've ever been there, there isn't much to look at. But somehow they managed to kill almost an hour. We had cell phone coverage so I was able to call her and say "I'm all done, come get me". We had originally planned to either pick up the chair and go play on the beach, or fix it and then go play on the beach, but the weather wasnt all that great, it was lunch time when I finished the chair, and Elliot was quickly running out of fuel and needed a nap. So, I finished up the chair, got the shipper to sign off on the repairs, and off to lunch we went. Found a little hole in the wall dive to get some fish and chips (what else do you eat at the beach?), Elliot a grilled cheese sandwich, of which he took 0 bites, then it was a fresh diaper for each kiddo and back in their car seats to start the drive home. Elliot slept for about an hour of it, which was wayyyy longer than I thought he would, but no where near as long as he needed. He got an early bed time and went down with little fuss. Over all, a pretty good day. I got to see the family (which is something that comes rarely these days) so I have no complaints...oh, and as for the chair? Well....

Happy Mother's Day

I had a great day today. Watched the Bee Movie with my kiddos this morning, played basketball outside with Peanut while Maemae napped, cut out jammies for Peanut, ate lunch together, and then became friends with my serger again while both kiddos napped this afternoon. Was taken out to dinner and dessert and then played a little Sudoku while holding the bubble bottle out to Peanut in the tub and Maemae chilled in her bouncy chair. Both kiddos are sleeping and I'm going to go read in bed for awhile. It would of been better if Mike didn't have to work last night or tonight, but he has tomorrow off so I'll take it. I got 3 bunches of mini pink carnations on Friday and a rocking chair Mike picked up off Craig's List that is now torn apart in the garage, waiting to be refinished. Hopefully it will be upstairs in our bedroom for those nights that Maemae needs extra huggles before bed.

A few pictures to end this great day.
TTFN ~ Crys

A new Moby D wrap I picked up off craigs list. I LOVE craigs list and have found quite a few good deals on them. Plus I love the whole idea of buying excellent/gently used items instead of rushing to a store and buying new. It is a super comfy baby carrier and I'll be able to carry Maemae in a variety of positions that my other carriers can't do. And I can nurse while carrying her in the forward facing position.

Peanut helping me work in our weed filled back yard. He wears one of my gloves and I get the other.

Playing basketball.

Pretty girl Maemae in the bumbo while we eat lunch.

Picture and cuteness overload

Here's a few pictures from the last 3 weeks.

Kisses for sissy.

Showing Maemae how to use this toy.

Fixing Mom's dishwasher with his assistant, Uggie the dog.

April 1st and Mom and Dad still had snow around their house.

Pretty girl's big smile while clutching her blankie.

Peanut's gigantic egg after hitting the side of my dresser while reaching for something. The open wound part is from his skin splitting about 30 seconds after the sickening dull thud I heard. I was imaging the stitches scar across the forehead but thankfully that was not the case.

Side view of that bad boy.

Future ball player.

Movie snack. We love us some kettle corn.

Maemae looking oh so adorable in her Easter outfit a month after Easter.

Enjoying playing outside while Mom and I work in our new garden. One the 1 day that has been 80 degrees. I think it rained the next day and has been raining every day since.

Quad time with Papa. And before I'm yelled at for no helmet, nothing cracks this head. See above pictures for proof.

Bath time fun from tonight. Before Mom washes his hair.

After hair washing.

The end. (Sorry Mom if you can't load all these. Guess you'll need to come in and use our lightening fast internet cable. Hahah.)
~Crys

Quilt show

Maemae and I met Mom and Sonya at the Clark County Quilt show a couple weeks ago and perused the quilts hanging up with awe while wondering where the women (and a few men) find the time to make such creations. Maemae slept through the show after eating and managing to stay awake for about 10 minutes. But I enjoyed the time being toddler free and able to take my time and not have to rush like the last quilt show we went to with Peanut before Maemae was here.

I took a few pictures of my favorites. None of these are my creations, but they do give me tons of inspirations. And I get hope from them that once my kiddos are in school (if we're not homeschooling) I'll have some time to expand my quilting comfort zone and become more detailed in my quilting.

My favorite and just my style. I did take a close up of the quilter's information that had the pattern's name in it for one of my next purchases.

Simple-ish and very springtime-y.

I stared and stared at this one and could not make my eyes see that it is only 2 dimensions. We were given white gloves when we entered so we could touch and we did....a lot.

I really like this design and have seen many variations, but really don't have a burning desire to make my own. It kind makes my head hurt after a while because I try to figure out where each block is and it's not a block pattern. From what I understand, how it's sewn and cut is where the design comes from. Pretty but not my thing I guess.

Can't wait until another quilt show is in my area to go get inspiration from. They certainly do give me a boost to get working at my machine again.

TTFN ~ C

Another in the same day!

Yes, I know, I am amazing. Another post when it's been 40 minutes since my last. Photobucket is being very quick so I uploaded some more pictures to share and brag about.

Quick panel quilt for Jonah's 4th birthday.

Peanut's apron that I sneak onto him when we're baking.

Purse/bag I sewed last month but am not sure if I like the style of it enough to use it. I love the fabric and have enough to make another style that I know I'll use.

Lounging in Peanut's bed after Peanut's naptime.

Pretty pretty girl.

Maemae 3 months old.

Peanut at 3 months. Wow, Maemae is much more cushion-y than Peanut ever was.

That's all for now and probably the next week or so. :c) ~C

Quick catch-up

Whew, I haven't posted in a while. Life has been quickly going by and I find myself tied to my cranky baby at the end of the day waiting for her to fall asleep so I can follow. Just last night, Maemae fell asleep right after Peanut (and stayed asleep!) and I was able to clean up a little and play with my sewing stuff. I have gotten a few things off my ever growing to-do list in the past week. A quick panel quilt for my almost nephew Jonah's birthday, a start on a mystery quilt, a small quilt quilted and bound for Peanut that I started at the September retreat, and tonight blackout vampire shades whipped up in the last hour for our bedroom. Hopefully they do the job and Mike can get some better quality sleep.

As usual, I think of several things to blog about throughout the day and then forget most of them once I have a few minutes to actually blog. It's been a trying week for me and the kiddos. Mostly due to having a cold again, Maemae has a small snotty nose, and Peanut is working on 2 year molars. The second one finally cut through a few nights ago, but they are huge so take him many days to get all the way up and out of his gums. So we're all sleeping crappily and it makes for a pretty bitchy, exhausted Mama who doesn't have any patience and a Peanut who watches 2 or 3 movies a day so we can rest.

Peanut is very active, always wanting to play and seldom sitting quietly so I can build up my energy. I've heard this is the beginning of the terrible twos, but my child is not terrible (so don't say that, it makes me snarly). He's a healthy, beautiful 2 year old who is exploring his world and has unlimited energy. He behaves (mostly) and listens well (again, mostly) and that's not terrible. It's terrific! I am reminded again and again to view the world through his eyes and to slow down and enjoy what God has given us. I no longer worry about what a mess my house is and how desperately it needs to be dusted and vacuumed. I think it's a good day when I get the laundry washed and dried. Folding that mountain of clean clothes is always last on my to-do list and usually it's pawed through until they are gone.

Peanut springs new words on us every day or so. Latest is doctor, airplane, donkey, and tonights was "now drink" at dinner. Just when I start to worry about his speech and start thinking about speech therapists, he whips out a few new words and makes us clap like maniacs while we try to entice him with praise and whooping it up to say it over and over. He then just looks at us, calmly drinking his sippy while thinking Mama and Daddy are crazy and if they weren't listening the first time, I'm not saying it again.

Maemae is growing perfectly and is getting more beautiful every day. She had her 4 month appointment today and it went very well. First thing her doctor said was that I have great breastmilk (Yes, I know, look how well Peanut did on it) because shes a whopping 13 lbs. 1 oz and 25 inches tall. Her 6 month one-piece outfits fit her with little room left over in the height so I think it's going to be tops and pants until it's warm and then dresses for her. I picked up a few patterns last week for adorable little girl spring and summer outfits that I can't wait to start sewing up for her. I'm so excited and can't wait to get a few done so I can play dress up.

Maemae has a very distinct belly laugh that is pretty easy to get out of her. She still gets the super surprised look on her face once she gets going and then she busts out with it again. And she's a rolly over girl. She can go from her back to her tummy and then kinda shuffles herself around in a circle so she can watch someone. Sometimes to amuse myself once Mike goes to work I move out of her vision just to watch her shuffle...at least until she cries in frustration and Mama has to swoop her up for snuggles.

That's about all. It's only 10pm and I'm going to sew for a little bit on another project then go to bed. Lately 4:30 - 6am has been party time at our house so it makes for a tired Mama. And tomorrow we're off to Sonic for dinner. Woo hoo! Strawberry lime-aid how I have missed you. Sonic is on our short list of what we miss about Arizona and there is 1 in Hillsboro. Mike timed a job out there around dinner time and the fam is going with him for a treat.

Here's a picture from last month of our precious kiddos. I have tons more pictures waiting to be uploaded to photobucket, but you'll have to make do with just one in this post.

TTFN ~Crys

Long time no blog!

I haven't sat down and done a blog entry since I started back to work at 911, and everyone else in the house is asleep...I should be too, but I tried one of those new Pepsi Maxx drinks today...you know, the "invigorating" soda. It's a "diet" soda, cause it has no sugar in it, but it does have a good amount of caffeine and some other stimulant, but the name escapes me right now. It escapes me, or my head is spinning so fast I just can slow it down long enough to read it off the old hard drive.

Anyway. Today I had a repair job down in Bend, Oregon
View Larger Map. I've never been there (that I could remember) and Crystal had never been there, so, last night we went out to Crystals Mom and Dad's and asked if they would mind keeping Elliot over night so we could get up at 5 am and drive down to Bend. Being the awesome people that they are, they agreed. After getting an "ok" nights sleep (I woke up at 1:30 am with my left arm pinned under my body and alseep...not just numb, but totally dead, after 30 minutes of the "needles" poking me while my arm came alive again, I was back to sleep) we got up at 5 am, showered, feed Clella, got her loaded in the truck and were on the road. 4 hours later, we arrived in Bend. What a long drive. We went down thru the Santiam pass on the way down, and came back up and over Mt. Hood after seeing how clear the roads were. I got my repairs done and was out of the shippers house by 1. While I was working, Crystal and Clella went off and checked out a local quilt shop in town and looked around. After they came back to pick me up, Crystal said "go this way, we are going to lunch". Being the best wife ever, she managed to find a restaurant that has long ago gone out of business here in the Portland area that we both loved....Skippers! We sat down with childhood giddiness on our faces and hunger in our bellies, and were not disappointed. DELICIOUS!!!! They have the best clam chowder ever! We talked to the manager while we were there and got the low down on why they all closed up here. Turns out Greed made its way into one of the corporate leaders of the company and they embezled millions of dollars from the company, then left the country. Good times. The company has now been purchased by a man who used to work for the company many years ago and is slowly making a comeback. 29 stores are due to re-open this year alone, please let one of them be opened with in an hour of our house!!!! PLEASE!

So, after we ate, Clella ate one more time, got a dry diaper and we were off for home. 4 hours later, we pulled into the driveway, ran in the house, used the bathroom, switched Clella's car seat back into the mommy missle and were off to Crystals folks house to pick up Elliot.

It was a really great day, the weather was awesome, and I had the best time hanging out w/ Crystal and just talking. We both did alot of laughing, some of which we owe to the great Adam Carolla, his morning show is the best! "I once had some yeasty on the peckaroo" was used over and over thru the day, and applied to all situations. We had a great time. Clella was an absolute storm trooper in her chair, only fussed a few times and that was mostly cause she was hungry. We made 2 stops on the way home to feed and change her and otherwise she slept the whole time.

I can't thank Judy and Ernie enough, well, Judy anyway, Ernie got Elliot out of bed at 0545 then left for work. The time "alone" we had today was something we both needed to re-charge our batteries and have some us time. I miss that...sometimes I wish I'd had kept my "peckaroo" in my pants...but then I wouldnt have 2 of the best looking, acting and fun to be with kids. I gotta go try and sleep, I have the next 2 days off and plan on spending every second with the family!

Here is a couple pics snapped from the passenger side window thanks to Crystal and her speedy fingers. Taken at 60+ mph, so sorry if they are a bit blurry, but I think they turned out pretty good. As you might notice, none of the tree's have any tops to them. There was a good sized forest fire down there last year (we think it was last year anyway, not sure) that destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of trees and forest floor vegetation. Having the snow on the ground helped make what I'm sure is a bleak landscape look rather peaceful and pretty.