Finally Home!

I'm home, but I've been busy! The kids went back to school yesterday, so I had to start getting them ready right when we got back on Saturday.

I don't really have any stitching to share. We were so busy while up in NY that I crashed every night instead of staying up for a bit to stitch. We had a lot of fun - I took a ton of pictures (most are in my flickr album). We're all so glad to be back though and back into our routine (and back in our beds)!! :)

Hopefully, I will have some stitching to share soon!

The Promised Pictures...

First, here is a picture of sweet Harrison, my new nephew. Oh, I ache to hold him in my arms! He's so precious! Thankfully, we are going to Florida in a few weeks and I'll be able to see him then!

And here is my Earth Sampler. I haven't stitched anything today. I have been running around doing errands. I was going to try to stitch a little tonight. I was up at 5 am, so I don't know how long I'll make it! :)

Well, my kids are out of control at the moment! I need to get them in the bath and then to bed! Write later! :)

Goodbye 2008

I made a little photo video of pictures I have taken of the boys over the past year. I have watched it myself about 10 times. I'm amazed that those three beautiful children are mine. It brings tears to my eyes. I'm getting way too mushy now. Here's the video...


Bradley, Jake and Matthew through 2008 from Nicole on Vimeo.

Happy New Year everyone!

15 Years Ago Today....

...I married my best friend.

The Quote on My Starbucks Cup

I never really look at the quotes on the cup, but decided to read it today...

The Way I See It #291

In a world where celebrity equals
talent, and where make-believe is
called reality, it is most important
to have real love, truth and stability
in your life

--Bernie Brillstein

I like that, a lot. :)

Test

I wanted my blog to be wider, so I can put bigger pictures in from flickr.

Not Much Stitching....

I love having my dh home, but he's really cutting into my stitching time! :) Matthew being sick hasn't really helped matters either. He's been waking up very early around 4 or 5 am crying and coughing. This morning he woke throwing up a little because of all the phlegm. The poor guy. Waking up so early has left me exhausted at night. I've been going to sleep around 9 pm. I do have some good news. My husband checked out my wish list on Amazon and he actually bought me something from it. I was so shocked, I never thought I would get it. It came yesterday and he let me open in early.

It's a Nikon D40. I just can't tell you how much I love this camera and how much I have to learn about it. I've been experimenting with all the different settings. Here are some pictures I took of the kids...

And some pictures of my stitching...

I'm still experimenting with what's the best setting for taking pictures of my stitching. I think good lighting is key. Some of you may notice the fob - I kept one for myself too! :)

Well, I've got to finish getting Bradley ready for school. Write later! Hopefully with some stitching progress to share! :)

I got one too!

I actually got it last week and was so surprised! Thank you whoever you are out there! :) You made my day!



I got a little bit more stitched on Poinsettias and Pines. Not much because I'm still recovering from moving. I've been going to bed around 9:30 every night!

Well, not much else going on here. Just listening to the kids playing (thankfully nicely). I took a cute picture of them today.

I couldn't get them all to look at me at the same time! Who knew I'd have three cute boys one day! :) Write later!

33!

Today I am 33. It's been a good day. The kids gave me a card and Jake picked out a couple things for me at Walgreens. I bought a Halloween cake for myself today. It was only $2.00! LOL! :) Sweet Vonna sent me an e-card this morning and said she was sending me a package. A few months ago I wrote that the LHN contest I won was the first stitched item I had ever received from someone else, so she said she would make me something for my birthday. I thought that was just too sweet of her and knowing Vonna I'm sure it will be fantastic! :)

Trick-or-Treating was fun last night. The kids has a blast and got a ton of candy! Here are a few pics...


Matthew - Buccaneer's Baby!


Bradley the Ninja


And Jake - the Sweaty Red Power Ranger! :)

I did get a little bit of stitching done last night and today on Curly Q.


I started on the sheep while waiting for my ds to get out school, so I'm hoping the kids go to bed early tonight, so I can get more done! Well, Jake is needing me. Write later! ;)

Halloween Came Early

We went to Guppyween at the Florida Aquarium today. The kids had so much fun. It was hard to get a picture of them because they were in constant motion!


Kids in costume got in free. Jake was wearing last years costume because he got marker all over the costume he was going to wear today! :) Oh well, he still looked cute! And thankfully, last years costume still fit - just barely! :)

I also got a some Halloween stash yesterday. I went Cummings Stitch and Frame in Port Richey, FL. It's the only shop somewhat close to me that carries Shepherd's Bush. I got Shepherd's Bush "Halloween Treat Bag" and "Fright," which I started, and an older Barrick Samplers "Her Sampler"


I also have another little progress pic of Curly Q to share. Still working on the green! :)


Well, the fourth game of the World Series is getting ready to start. I'm routing for the Under Dog Rockies to come back. I'm not sure it can happen though. Boston looks pretty strong. So this may be the last game of baseball this season! What will I do for five months? I'll be so lost! LOL! Write later! :)

P.S. I ended up not starting Frappuccino yet!

Almost Finished!

I'm almost finished with "Harvest Blessings." It's been a fun stitch! I was so tired last night, but I couldn't sleep, so I got back up and decided to stitch until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. It worked, I slept like a log after that!


Please excuse the wrinkles! :)
I looked over at Matthew who was in his crib last night and this is what I saw...



He had fallen asleep sitting up! Too funny! Of course I had to take a picture before I laid him down.


Ahh.. that's better
What a silly guy! Well, my brother has left for Idaho! That means vacation time for me, which means stitching time! I'm sure I'll get Harvest Blessing finished up today and then it's on to something else!

Birthday fun!

Matthew's birthday party went very well yesterday. Matthew was so cute. He had just woken up from a nap though, so he wasn't too interested in eating cake. He did have fun with his grandmas and aunts and uncles.


Matthew


Elmo Cake


Hmmm... I don't know about this!


Having fun riding on his new truck!
After everyone left I was just exhausted! I could have fallen right to sleep, but the boys had other ideas! After I got everyone to bed I managed to stitch a little bit on Queen Anne's Lace.


Queen Anne's Lace as of 7/15/07

It's looking a little less like a blob and starting to look more like a dress! :) I had a nice weekend with dh. We went out to eat Saturday night and then he left after the party on Sunday. The poor guy though - he was stuck in traffic for a couple hours and then got a flat tire. It just wasn't his night, but he made it back safe and will now most likely have to get new tires put on the car. Fun, fun! Well, not much else going on right now. Write later! :)

Baby Central!

It sure has been fun having my niece Halle around here. She's such a sweetie! We feel kind of guilty though because for the past two days she has slept - a lot! But my theory is to never wake a sleeping baby because I know for a fact they will not be happy about it!


Halle sound asleep
And while Halle was doing that, Matthew was doing this...


Eating Cheerios...


And being silly!
Definitely not much sleeping going on there! :) Well, I didn't stitch yesterday or today. I was thinking of stitching tonight for a half hour. I've just been feeling tired and lazy. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better stitching day! Write later!

Wow, it's so quiet...

Something must be wrong! I took the camera around the house to see what was going on... how could it be so quiet?? :)


Matthew fell asleep (my little half naked boy!).


Jake was playing his game.


And Bradley was watching his show.

Of course now Matthew just woke up! :) I just had to document this rare, peaceful moment!

I got out Winter Wind to work on and as I was stitching I realized I was off one stitch in the border, so I spent some time this afternoon ripping, and later I'll spend some time restitching...



Well, it's now back to normal around here, so I'll write later! :)

P.S. Thank you to everyone for your nice comments about Spring Violets!

She's Here!!

Halle Nicole

My niece (finally) arrived today! She is just gorgeous and so tiny! This was the best pic I could get (I had to crop out a lot). As you can see her middle name is the same as mine... isn't that so sweet! :) She was born at 11:59 am today and she weighs 5 lbs, 12 oz, and is 19 1/2 inches long. I saw her for just a little bit. I didn't want to stay too long. My SIL is learning how to nurse and I know from experience how hard that can be!

We are all just so excited... I can't wait until I get to spend more time with her... I can't wait to hold her! I went to my brother's house to feed his cat and realized they were not prepared at all to come home with the baby. They didn't have any diapers or wipes that I saw, the bassinet didn't have sheets, so I went out and got everything they'd need (and probably more) to get them through the first few days. This is really unfamiliar territory for them. I know they are going to be terrific parents though! :)

Well, what do you think of the new look? I was getting bored with my old template! Write later!

A little bit of stitching this week...

Thursday I went back down to the Golden Needle. I decided to give them one more chance. :) The shop is so cute - even if some people were a little rude. I stitched some on Village of Hawk Run Hollow while I was there...





I didn't get a lot done - just filled in some of the black background. While I was there I signed up for a class with Susan Greening Davis making little strawberry pin cushions. They're so cute!! :)


Sunday I dropped off the kids at my MIL's and went stitching at JoAnne Nantz Needlework. I got a little bit done on my Game Board Sampler...





I also got a pattern while I was there...



Moira Blackburn's Peaceful Garden


And because I don't have enough going on right now, I've decided to start this...



Drawn Thread's Sunflower Bellpull


And here's my little progress pic...





I'm enjoying it so far! :) Well, I think my life will slowly be getting back to normal. Dh went back to nights today - I can once again stay up late and stitch while watching whatever I want! :) Kinda selfish of me, huh? ;)


I have one last pic to share... I captured this shot early this morning while everyone was still in their p.j.s...



Bradley, Jake and Matthew (who turned 6 months on Friday!)


Well, not much else going on here. I'll write more later!

Matthew is here!!

He was born Wednesday night at 7:03 pm! 7 lbs. 9 oz., 20 inches. I'll write more later... he's crying to be held and fed!