First Project

One of my favorite childhood items was a small quilt that Mom made for me while she was pregnant.  I loved that thing, and slept with it for years.  So, in thinking about my own little baby, I decided a quilt was in order.  The last quilt I pieced and actually finished was back in high school, so it's been awhile.  Here's what I came up with.

I really am happy with how it turned out, which is surprising.  Usually the longer I spend on a project, the less likely I am to like to finished product, and let me tell you, this one took a while.  Lot's of shopping for the perfect coordinating fabrics, lots of piecing, and a crazy amount of hand quilting.  It was worth it!

Besides working on a few projects, Joshua and I have been trying to slow down a little and relax about all of this house business.  The buyers we had lined up decided that maintaining an older home wasn't for them, so they backed out.  Very frustrating, but we're trying to stay optimistic.  We're excited that we have found a lovely home in Monticello to buy... keeping our fingers crossed that everything continues smoothly until we close the third week of June.  

This coming week is my last at Roosevelt Magnet School.  I'm sad to go; it really has been a good school year.  As always, change is hard for me, but I know contentment with the new will be along shortly.  I'm looking forward to it!

Rolling Right Along

Looking through the pictures on my phone reminded me that I never posted anything about Easter.  Sorry for the delay!  Joshua and I spent a lovely day at the farm with the family.  Everyone enjoyed delicious food, as always, and an afternoon in the sunshine flying kites.  How delightful!

 

Despite the strong winds and a broken kite or two, it was a beautiful day. 

In other news, house details keep trudging along.  After the initial whirlwind of finding buyers and accepting their offer, I am feeling bogged down by the slow details that now have to fall into place.  The last weeks have been spent completing inspections, and the further negotiations that happen after that.  We're also waiting on inspections for our hopeful new house in Monticello.  So much waiting for such big news!  

In the meantime, I have just under four weeks of school left, and things are going very well there.  I thought May would be extremely busy with last-minute IEP meetings, but the psychologist and social worker are so far behind that many meetings that should be held in May are being pushed back until the new school year.  I feel bad for my replacement, but it's making for an easy last month for me.  (Much appreciated given the house, move, and baby details I'm ironing out.)

As for Baby S, things are going very well; we're at 24 weeks.  I still look pretty good (small belly only, not all that noticeable), and I'm feeling great.  I've started working on a few baby-related projects, but not much.  I'd rather not buy a bunch of things just to have to move them.  So, here's to living a clutter-free life for a little longer!

Sold!

Life has been flying along at an incredible pace the past couple of weeks, I don't even know where to begin!

Last week I was on spring break, and Joshua took the week of as well. We went down to Monticello on Monday to look at houses. Our grand plan of *just looking* and *probably renting* quickly turned into, we want to buy! It's nice to have something to call your own. So, filled with that excitement, we came home and cancelled our trip to Chicago in favor of getting the house on the market a week early before Easter weekend.

I put the house on ForSalebyOwner.com, Craigslist, put an ad in the paper for the weekend, and signs in the yard on Wednesday around lunch. We had our first showing that evening around 5:30 (with a few more showings in the next few days), and tonight we signed the contract with the buyers, also the first people to look at the house! Oh my! I sold my house in nine days! We like the couple who are buying it, are happy with the price, and are thrilled to not have to worry about paying two mortgages! (Lots of exclamation points, I know!) The funny thing is, of all my expensive advertising, the couple found the house on Craigslist - completely free.

(Our sign at the corner of War Memorial)

We'll close on July 16, so here's hoping inspections and financing go smoothly between now and then. Also hoping Joshua and I can make a decision on where we're going to live :0)

That Makes Three

Joshua and I were very excited to see our sweet baby on Friday. Baby S will be arriving in late August. So much to do between now and then!

Really?

Not a single canopy bed in all of Good's Furniture. Quite disappointing.

Fun Week!

As I've mentioned before, birthdays in our family last for an entire week. Mom and Dad got my week started with a beautiful flower arrangement on Monday. Mom usually thinks of this, but for some reason I was completely surprised. Fun!

Wednesday was my actual birthday, so after work Mom, Dad, Shaun, Bill, Joshua, and I went to Mexican. What can I say, queso fundido is a guaranteed way to make sure I have a happy birthday. There also were some delightful gifts: Old Maid cards and an adorable birdie platter from Shaun (hoping this can find a spot on a wall wherever we live next), Gushers and car decals from Bill (I LOVE GUSHERS), a very pretty summer shirt from Dad and Mom (not sure how that was left out of the picture, sorry! I will have to model it another day.), and Downton Abbey and cherry lime gum from Joshua. (Downton Abbey is a British soap opera set during World War I that I'm into right now.) I have such thoughtful family members.I'm hoping to find my final birthday gift today. Shaun and Bill are coming to pick me up to go to Good's Furniture in Kewanee. Bill is looking for a couch, and I'm looking for the canopy bed of my dreams. Ever since I saw one in the JC Penney's catalog around 1993, I've wanted one. Well, I'm looking today, and hoping to find the perfect one to be delivered after we move. Crossing my fingers!

In other news, the house preparations continue. Mom and Grandma came last week to paint the man cave. After three coats of primer and one of neutral paint, the deep green is gone. A new furniture arrangement, and it's a totally different place. Joshua is very sad and has declared it a cave no more (he is calling it the rumpus room), but everyone else agrees that it looks fantastic.

All I can say to Mom and Grandma is THANK YOU!!! I have no idea how those ladies cranked this project out in one day and were still smiling at the end. I so appreciate it!

Ready for Spring!

Each year I look forward to the arrival of spring weather like no other season. While this year's mild winter weather has made me less... grouchy, I'm still excited for the sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Last weekend, we celebrated then end of February (my most-hated month) with a pizza party. Everyone was here, even Grandma Bev. We served Olive Garden salad, GF breadsticks, GF pizza, and deep dish pizza. Delicious! I forgot to take a few pictures during the party, but the party centerpiece has been making me smile all week.

In other news, Joshua and I had a date night on Wednesday to see South Pacific at the Civic Center. The tickets were purchased back in November as an anniversary gift, so I looked forward to it for months. We went out to dinner at Rizzi's before the show, and then went on the the theater. We had a good time, despite the late night and Joshua's tired state from being on service this month.

I think the last thing I have to report on is the status of the house. Dad made a professional flyer for me with financing options. It will be perfect to put along with a second page that describes the house in a bit more detail. Also, Mom and Grandma are coming on Thursday to paint the man cave a more neutral color. I know Joshua will be sad to see the Bond Lake green go. This morning at Wal Mart I bought two cans of Kilz primer and am crossing my fingers that it doesn't take more than that. Such a dark color, that Bond Lake green. Finally, after getting after Joshua to pack up some clutter, I decided to take some of my own advice today. I packed the first tote, ready for storage. It did make me sad to think of moving out of my beloved split level. You can see from the picture background that not much of a dent was made in the crafting supplies. Good thing felt doesn't weigh much!