I PASSED!!

About 3 years ago, I was sent to Santa Barbara, CA, for work, to attend a Lactation Educator Conference. I decided then that I wanted to be an IBCLC, or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I knew it'd take me years to get enough hours to complete the hours needed.

Well, this summer, after a lot of money and a lot of studying, I took the test in Michigan, while I was at home.(Thank you again, Mom and Kristen for watching the boys). I knew it'd be THREE months before I got the results. Boy, have I been sweating bullets. The test is only given once a year, in July, and of course you have to pay more money. Well--today is the day to find out, and I PASSED!! What a huge relief off of my shoulders. The IBCLCs are the ones in the hospital who come to your room after you have a baby. They are the only registering body in the world in Lactation. The best news....I don't have to retake it for 5-10 years! I have to get education hours in the meantime, but I am an IBCLC!! Wahoo!! I am doing a dance over here!

Kyle, the Artist

Need I say more.

  

Homemade Gifts—part 1

I’m sure everyone wants to have a bed frame, not just the metal frame that comes with your mattress. I’ve look online for used ones and just didn’t want to pay a whole lot for a bed frame. So I went online and found this pattern—loved it. So, while Kevin was home on his last R&R, he made it for me! I love that man. He can make anything, just by looking at a picture.We improvised, greatly and tweaked it to how we wanted it. I love it. He says it’s my turn now, to make the KING SIZE quilt. I don’t know if I am ready for that endeavor!
PS...it only cost $225.00

 

Homemade Gifts—part 2

So I’ve discovered a new obsession, as Kevin calls it. Quilting. Why didn’t I discover my love for it long ago? Oh well, nothing like the present to begin. I have 3 more in the works as we speak. I just finished James’ blanket last night and I was very proud of it.

I let him pick out a bunch of material (and may I say, for the record, it is hard to find material for an older boy that doesn’t have flowers on it) and I already  had a pretty basic pattern. I was a little nervous at first with his choice in material, wasn’t sure how it would all go together, but I think it turned out great. I used a brown sheet for the back. I’m excited for him to see it this weekend!

  

I had to get a picture of the corners, for my sis in law, Aimee. I did it!! I did binding! I made it all myself and 3 of the corners turned out perfect. One is so so. I’m getting better!

 

I even bought a darning foot and did free motion meandering in it. I’ve been practicing on placemats, but I know I still have a lot to learn. Nothing like the present to learn, eh?

 

This is Justin’s quilt I made for him. I had made the top almost a year ago and then was just afraid to do anything else. I was afraid to quilt it, to bind it, etc. Aimee, again, gave me a 5 min tutorial on binding and so I gave it a try. This is officially my first hand binding quilt I’ve ever done. I really liked it. I even quilted it. I did it in red—forgetting how much the mistakes would show on the back. oh well, don’t look too closely. I’m just glad he has a blanket that covers him all at once. It took some convincing to get him to put away his favorite animal blanket (thank you Aunt Nellie). At least I know he’ll have a blanket that covers him all at the same time!

 

At the Fire Station with the Preschool

Justin (and Mommy and Kyle) was able to go to the Fire Station with his preschool, last week. He was in heaven. They both even got to SIT in one. Oh, Kyle had died and gone to heaven.

   

The whole preschool with Teacher.

  

Justin with his best buddy, Maddy.

 

Such a cheesy smile.

Garden Party

I seriously wasn’t sure how my garden would do while we were gone for a month to Michigan. I came back and it had been a bit overwatered and I had squash bugs. Ugh. My carrots were fine, but the peas had died and most of my tomatoes and green peppers. Well, we dug up said carrots and WOW. The biggest harvest out of 6 square feet from my garden boxes. These pics don’t do the big carrots justice. They were about 2 inches in diameter! HUGE..BIG.

 

So we did get some fat cucumbers and green beans. So there will be lots of carrots for the winter. Chicken noodle soup here we come.

Labor Day 2010

For Labor Day, we decided to hike Stewart Falls with the boys and some good family friends, the Pursers. The boys all love each other and get alone great.

Kyle had it easy, riding the whole way! It’s a short 2 mile hike there – and the boys loved it. Justin did really well, I was very proud of him. I think everyone else in the valley had the same idea we had, because it was a very busy trail. We ended up a BIT dirty, I wish I had taken a pic of how dirty Justin was. It’s a dusty trail and he would just wipe his face, with more dirt. It was a good 

  

I have no idea why Justin can’t just look straight at the camera and smile. I highly recommend this easy hike for families.