The mystery stitch...REVEALED

My MIL started this piece...awhile ago. Last spring they sold their house, moved all they could into our basement and began building their dream home. While her "stash" was being moved into the basement, this project jumped out of her stitching and right into my stitching! So I've been working away on it for almost a year. I washed, ironed and stretched it for her, and gave it to her this past weekend with a card that it was both her "new home" present and her "retirement" present all in one. She was shocked and at first was talking about how she had a similiar one in her stitching but she hadn't seen it since moving into the new house. DH let her in on our little secret.

I hope you enjoy it in your new home Mom!

Lots of stitching....

So my weekend away was lovely...surprising Ann for her birthday was priceless and instead of boring you with the details I'll show you what I accomplished. First up are the three little ones that I started and finished over the course of the weekend... Upclose of the butterfly to show you the lovely colours in the varigated thread I used. This would have shown up better on white or black but I worked with what I had, the three little ones are all stitched on the same piece of fabric :-) "far out" shot of the butterfly... A Lizzie * Kate freebie from their website... And the three little spookies.... Since getting home I've been working on my Spirit of Christmas...the purple highlighter is where I was as of last night.

So life is busy, work is crazy and of course this weekend is Easter. Looks like I got voted as the host of Easter Sunday as the inlaws are coming over for church in the morning, Cameron will be getting his service cross and it is something they don't want to miss.

Stitching this week is on my Growth Rings and a little that is of tulips I picked up out of my stash last night so I should have more updates for you shortly.

A quiet day...

After all the crazy times around Christmas, the kids and I are home alone, enjoying some quiet time and time with the new toys! Christmas Eve was lovely, my inlaws were over and my MIL and I took the boys to the kids advent at church for 4pm and arrived home to a wonderful salmon supper prepared by FIL and DH. Then on to our tradition on new jammies and a new movie for the evening. Boys in jammies and we watched Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaur (well, they watched, I stitched). Then inlaws headed for home and the boys vibrated their way to their beds. Christmas morning started around 6:30am (not bad for a 7 and 3 year old in the house) with excitement that "SANTA CAME!!!!" and the gift opening that followed. Brunch on Christmas Day at the inlaws was lovely, gutbusting filling but very tasty and the rest of the day was spent just chatting and enjoying everyones company. The kids all received new movies so the DVD player was setup in the bedroom and the four kids (aged 13/9/7/3) took turns watching their movies and napping. For the first time since DH and I have been together we were able to come home on Christmas night, normally my Aunt or Mom have dinner on Christmas day but they changed the plans this year which we were fine with. So home to sleep and then up on Boxing Day and headed to my parents. Late lunch with my family and a sleepover. The morning of the 27th was just like Christmas all over again for my kids, with my parents and brother and sister-in-law in the morning. We opted to go out last night for Greek - which was FABULOUS and then home again. Today DH is playing in a couple of games of hockey with his workmates and then they are going out celebrating - he plans to stay in town at his friends so it is just the boys and I today. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and we are looking forward to ringing in the New Year with Dani and Todd again. All the best to your house from ours for 2010!

Nothing like a deadline to motivate!

DH and I have had plans to paint our livingroom for most of the summer, and yes, it is now October. On Thursday night we decided to do Thanksgiving dinner with his family at our house to change things up since losing GG Hicks. Friday, when I arrived home from work at 7pm, he informed me that we were painting this weekend!

Off to Napanee we went to get ceiling paint as well as the last of the food that I would need in order to put the meal on the table for Saturday evening.

Then the boys were put to bed and DH and I moved everything out of the livingroom. I then made two pumpkin pies and the cranberry sauce while DH painted the ceiling. Here are a couple of "before pictures" with everything moved out of the room (and sorry, the one is not very flattering of my DH) and ready to paint.

Saturday morning we were up at 8am and "my job" of the day was to keep two active boys and the dog out of the livingroom while DH painted the walls. No easy task while making a turkey feast for 12 people! But all in all, I think it turned out well! Both the walls and the feast! We finished putting the furniture back and re-hanging the pictures at around 4:30pm and everyone started arriving at 5pm! (These two pictures were taken on Sunday morning - notice a boy on the couch and the cartoons on the TV ...)

Nothing like a deadline to motivate!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A whole lot of pictures in this one

I've been saying that I would come back later and add in photos to posts but it never happens, so today will be photos that I want to share, either from past posts or ones I may develop more in the future.

The first one is HALLOWEEN! Here are the "players" from left to right. MacKenzie, Connor, Abby (in infant seat), Caleb, Lisa and Cameron. Lisa is my sitter when I'm working and the three kids are hers. Abby is 6 weeks younger than Caleb. Don't you love my little cheeky monkey and of course, Spiderman captures my heart every day.

This next one isn't very flattering of me (but makes me realise how much weight I really need to get off) and my oldest, dearest friend Tracy. She was married on the 14th of October and we have been friends our whole lives...the one next to it is the groom (Colin) and myself and I have the EXACT same one of Tracy kissing my husband on our wedding day so this one was done as a joke. Congratulations again to the both of you, we love you.

And last but not least, my Mother and Father-In-Law celebrated 40 years of marriage on the 29th of October and they wanted a quiet celebration with just the immediate family. Other than my husband, myself and our two boys, from left to right are: my sister-in-law Tina, brother-in-law Norman, nephew Andrew, FIL Earl, & MIL Beverly (holding Caleb). The only other person there that we didn't seem to get a picture of was our niece Emma.

CONGRATULATIONS ON 40 YEARS TOGETHER!

Hopefully I can start adding more in again but the boys are keeping me busy so I won't be able to promise anything.