Whirlwind of a Weekend

This weekend just flew by!  Perhaps it was everything that kept me busy which made it seem to fly by and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.  I can't believe tomorrow is the 1st of July.  This means that I will be able to say that I go back to work next month.  I don't want my summer to end!  I am trying to savor every moment!  To assist funding all the fun stuff we have in store in the near future (anniversary, circus, beach trip, Fiesta Texas, and NJ/Maryland/Philadelphia trip) I have been working nonstop (every Saturday) at my 2nd job.  It is just super hot outside!  I am just thankful that I am able to have that available, although I do give up some valuable time with my hubby and kiddos.  Also people have been so thankful for the services we have provided them with for their animals that it's very rewarding.  Plus I get to snuggle on the cutest puppies and kittens every time! 
Today I had plans to go to play Bingo with my grandmother.  This is an activity that I used to do weekly before having kiddos.  I have formed some really good friendships with some of my grandmother's friends and other people that go to Bingo.  We play at Randolph AFB.  Of course we have to get there 2 hours early to get a "good table."   It's amusing to see all the drama that goes into the Bingo scene....arguments over tables, superstitions, people being haters when others win...someone could make a reality show and have a hit!  Tonight I got to see some people that I haven't seen in a while.  Some of them are getting pretty old and fragile.   Many of them watched me go through my 1st pregnancy and then I would pop in every once in a while after that, so they all ask about the boys.  They saw me graduate and become a teacher, so they ask about teaching.  It was just nice to touch base and visit with them.  I was anticipating it to be just my Oma and I going together, however my brother and sister went too.  It was nice to spend time with them.  We all like to laugh, so we had a great time.  My favorite thing to get there is a Bloody Mary.  I would like to say that I am a connoisseur of Bloody Marys, and the mix on this one is really good!  I also ended up winning $75.  I split a double bingo with someone so I only got 1/2.....something is better than nothing!  My brother was the big winner tonight though!  I was hoping to catch the $10,000 jackpot....maybe next time.  A good time was had by all.  I am so thankful that my husband stayed with the kids so I could spend time with my grandma and go to Bingo which I haven't gotten to go to in over a year.  He is so good to me :)

Holy Moly What a Day

Well we tried to begin potty training with Carter today since he has shown an interest in the toilet and says things like "poo poo."  This morning I bought him a potty (which is actually a $25 piece of junk that I want to exchange for a better one. ), and the first thing he did was this...

 Yep grabbed some reading material to help get the job done!  He is too funny!  During naptime I continued to work on my t-shirt quilt.  When I left off I had all of the squares cut out.  
Second 1/2 steps:
1.  Starch quilt squares

2.  Then I pinned all the 4 squares that go in one column together.

3.  Then I stitched each column together 

4.  Then I pressed open the seams with an iron.

5.  Then I pinned each column together.  I wanted to make sure that the squares that were going to be in the same row matched seams.  I then pinned each column together starting with each seam and then the material in between them.  

This is where I stopped for 2 reasons: 1st-Carter woke up 2nd- As I finished the last seam of the column connection my sewing machine need broke on a pin!  It was my last one, so I am awaiting my trip to Hobby Lobby tomorrow for new needles, batting, and fabric for the border and back of quilt.  

Then we had a doctor appointment for Gwen, and had the pleasure of waiting for almost 1 hour.  The boys were a pain to deal with in the waiting room...after about 45 mins of trying to corral their behavior....I just let them do whatever in hopes they would want to rid the office of us!

Then Logan had a birthday party for his friend from school at Peter Piper Pizza.  After the long wait at the doctor, we just stopped to use restroom and grab the gift, then headed to Peter Piper.  The kids weren't bad, but it was just a lot to chase 3 different ages and keep up with it.  They did have  a blast though!

Happy Pancake Day....

My morning started out with one of my favorite things when I wake up.....this happy face!

He is awake extra early today (before 7:00) thanks to this culprit!

His door for some reason isn't latching and she just pushes it open...pretty much every day and between the stuff she finds to play with and the bell on her collar, Carter is up and ready for the day!  I do however have a problem because she is preventing the 8-8:30 wake ups that I am used to.  
Today is a special day today, because a friend of mine's kiddos came over for some playtime.  We ate pancakes.  When they were served Logan declared it Pancake Day and that we needed to say "Happy Pancake Day."  So we did and even did a rendition of the Birthday Song, "Happy Pancake Day to You."

 Fun times for all!  I tried to do surprise shots.
Around naptime, I decided that I was going to embark on a Pinterest project!  I started making my t-shirt quilt!  I have TONS of old t-shirts that are literally spilling out of the 3 dresser drawers they are "contained" in.  I decided to gather all my shirts from working at Olmos Elementary and make a quilt out of them.  I ended up with 10 shirts out of my hoard that qualify as Olmos shirts (if they were bought and worn for that school-they qualified!).  I also used the backs of two of them.  This is the process to making my t-shirt quilt:
1.  I decided on how I was going to arrange my shirt designs

 2.  Then I measured the length and width of the t-shirt graphics and decided that I would cut all the shirts to be 14" x 14".  Then I drew a sketch of where I want the designs, length and width measurements, plus adding a border and the measurements for that.

3.  Then I started to cut all the sleeves off and cut the shoulder seams and sides.  These resemble something my husband likes to wear! ;) 

I am now going to be trying to be more green and use less paper towels since I have an abundance of wonderful rags!!!

4.  So then I need to cut out the graphic of the shirt into a 14" x 14" square....I would suggest using a rotary cutter and mat....I on the other hand only had a rotary cutter, so I used that and a piece of cardboard that I measured to be the size of the square I need.  Then, I placed the cardboard on the shirt where I wanted it and used the rotary cutter to cut the shirt.  I attempted to cut on a piece of cardboard on my dining room floor, but it was unsuccessful.  I then went upstairs to my crafting table made of plastic and used that and it worked like a charm.....of course I don't care about the 12 newly carved squares on the table top.....I mean that's what it's for right?!

And that is where I leave you in the process for today!  I am going to buy starch to spray them with before I start pinning and sewing.  I read a few different posts about making these, so I have picked through the tips I thought would be handy.  It makes sense that starch would be good to stiffen up the jersey fabric since it can be tricky to sew on.  

   If this isn't enough for one day, I made the mistake decision to open the door to a salesman in the middle of my quilt-making.  He was trying to sell me a Kirby vacuum.  He convinced me that he would clean my carpet for me and that he would get paid $25 from his boss if he cleaned my carpet....I told him to come back around 6 or 7....Little did I know it would be right as dinner is almost ready at 5:45 and that it would last until 9!!!!!  However, I now have a ridiculously clean living room carpet and the need for a new vacuum!  How could I ever go back to my dirt devil after that demo!  Don't even get me started on what the sweeper attachment picked up on a floor that had been swept minutes before his arrival.....

This was what was attached to the filter after vacuuming my bedroom immediately following the vacuum job my dirt devil did!  Now this gem they call a Kirby can be mine for the low price of $2792!  WTF?!?!  I can make payments of $59 a month for 36 months....his "teacher appreciation package" lol, bring the cost down to a low $1700.  Wow!  Would I be buying a car?!?  Then again I am thinking....maybe this is why Logan and Carter have so many medical issues.  The amount of dust and allergens being left behind from my crappy Dirt Devil!!!  I don't know what to do!  The $1100 a month daycare bills don't leave much room to play with when you want to take on an extra payment....I think I need to sleep on it. 

New Blog!!

I am really excited in the fact that I have decided to start a blog!!  There are so many things that happen daily in my life that I feel are worth chronicling!  As a busy mom of 2 toddlers and a stepdaughter, in addition to trying to be an awesome wife and a superb teacher, I do a lot of random things that go without ever being shared.  I am going to try and make it a point to post often and journal my years.  

I have been on summer break for 2 1/2 weeks and it has been nothing but GLORIOUS! It has been quite hot, so I lack the motivation to really venture outdoors.  I have also learned that summer vacation can be extremely expensive!  My days are spent chasing after kids, cleaning up after them, and cooking them lunch.  I regain sanity during nap and bed time. We have gone to the zoo once and that has been the extent of getting out and about.  I have purchased some Groupons which will be getting cashed in VERY soon!  Today nothing is exciting. Laundry is commencing and the children are all actually behaving pretty well, which is enabling me to set up this blog and post right now!

Carter was up to a little bit of mischief today after emptying out my entire bookshelf!  But who can get mad at this face?!?