It has been done for a few days but I'm just getting time to post it.

Completed quilt:


Quilt Back:


Standard folded up shots:

I'm so happy to have this done! It is the biggest quilted project I've made so far! I've only made 2.5 table runners previously. (I've yet to finish my Easter one.) Baby girl and I used the quilt yesterday for napping together on the living room floor. It fits nicely over my arms and around her little body.

I learned a lot while making this quilt. I learned for small projects like this I can sandwich & baste (spray or pins) on the wall. That I should plan out the desired quilting method BEFORE I actually start quilting. That I should take into account what the quilting will look like on the back. That having contrasting thread on the back isn't horrible after all. That I need to try a different method of binding- I'm not all that pleased with the final pass of stitching.

All in all, however, I love it! From the front it looks really nice, I must say. The back would be just as nice if only I'd done a different method of tacking the binding on. No biggie though. The quilt is utilitarian for sure; it wasn't made for storing away as an heirloom.

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Hubby had Friday off so we took a day off of schooling to enjoy a day together. The fact that it was raining like crazy (and continued to all day long) didn't stop us. We were a family on a mission. LOL

First stop was to return some books to a library, then the post office for me to mail out some fat quarters(a swap)  for a quilting list I'm on and DD12 got some library books from the library in that small town (closer to us than the other library.) By this time we were all getting hungry so thought to go get some lunch somewhere.

Well-- anyone who lives in my area KNOWS that every Friday is graduation day at the Navy Base (bootcamp) thus making lunch out on Friday a huge headache-- way too many sailors AND their families out and about, long lines, long waits, etc. This was definitely not something we wanted to deal with.

We had thought we'd go to Sweet Tomato (a favorite) but,yep-- lines. Chili's next door, same thing. So I mentioned trying a Chinese restaurant instead just down the way. So we pulled into there ... lot not too full- good sign! But before going in I had to nurse the baby (4 months old next week!) so she's be happy & content. And by the time that was done... well the parking lot was FULL!!!  Definitely not wanting to deal with that crowd!

Off we went again. By this time we were all rather famished (except the baby, of course!) and really would have eaten anywhere. But unbeknownst to me hubby had a grand plan and surprised us by driving to the next town over and taking us to a Japanese steakhouse. I'd known he had been wanting to go- but didn't think it was "lunchtime material" ... I was wrong.

They offered a simple menu (various entrees in hibachi or teriyaki flavor), not too pricey, and we enjoyed ourselves a lot! It was the first time any of us had experienced such a thing and we can't wait to go back! (Mom, I told you we'll have to go there next time you come to visit!)

This was our chef.
(A group of senior citizens were just being seated around the grill behind him.)

DD12 ordered Chicken Teriyaki, I ordered Sirloin Teriyaki, and hubby had a bit of both in a combo plate. Our meals were accompanied by a small salad for each of us. Baby girl just watched with interest...

Notice the smoking onion in the center. Our chef made "train noises" as
he pushed it around the grill-- assuming it was to entertain the baby. LOL

DD12 waiting patiently for the food to be done cooking.

Hubby chatting with us while we watch the culinary spectacle.

Notice the little dishes at the bottom of the photo.
We each had our own dipping sauces to try out:
Ginger, Yum-Yum, Teriyaki (and hubby had a spicy one as well.)

Ignore the mountain of hair at the back/top of my head and the fact that my bangs are
all askew, AND that I have no makeup on.... like I said, it was a rainy day.
I had thought I would ONLY be popping into post office that day, not
ending up someplace in sitting public getting my photo taken.
Note the sling behind me on my chair-- taken inside just
in case baby girl got restless in her seat. Suffice it to say
the culinary show kept her entertained for the most part, sling was not used.

This was DD12's plate of Chicken Teriyaki

My Sirloin Teriyaki.

No photo for hubby's plate- I was too busy eating my own to remember
to take a photo of his!LOL

Lunch was super tasty! The total check WITH tip was what we would have paid had we gone to Chili's for lunch and just a few dollars more than had we eaten at Sweet Tomato. We all commented that the fare wasn't heavy and didn't leave us overly full. In fact, hubby and I both said we'd have liked MORE vegetables- and will inquire about adding more veggies to our meal next time we go.

Local folks, the restaurant was:

Hanakana Japanese Steakhouse

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This meme was started by Shannon of The Peer Review.  Here's the "basics" according to her website:

Loving My Husband Friday is for taking the time to focus on the positives of marriage. A time to build up your marriage and your spouse. Focus on something you love about your husband, something he did to encourage you this week, or just a tip on how to keep your marriage strong. Let your husband know you're bragging on him...everyone loves praise and accolades. Try to spend the rest of your week focusing on all the great traits of your spouse...especially when you're tempted to focus on the bad! And don't forget to pray for your husband and marriage as you write your post.

Has it really been three weeks since my last "Loving My Husband Friday"?!  So much has happened, and my hubby has been so helpful in the midst of it all!  Thank you, Sugar Pie! 

• My aunt & uncle passed away.
• I flew to DFW to be w/ my 'extended' family for a few days.
• My hubby stayed behind to care for our children and to work while I was gone.

I love my husband for being willing to send me to DFW to be w/ my 'extended' family and for being willing to put up with  take care of our children for several days (including a weekend) in my absence.  Thanks again, Sweetie!

You can read all of my Loving My Husband Friday posts by clicking here.

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Don't forget about the Homeschool Blog Awards for this year! 

Spread the news!



(Click on the button for more info!)

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Not so long ago my three favorite words were "You are right!" ... I LOVED hearing it. At first, it was just funny ... It was a sickness that turned into a joke among my friends and family ... that wasn't very funny at all after a while.

But in the past year, I've watched countless friendships end and hearts break over some who believed they were right ... 

and I realized that right ain't all it's cracked up to be. Being right put people in the middle, put people on the defensive and put people in their place. But never did it do anything to speak to the need in the lives of the ones who were wrong. And frankly, from the not-so-outside looking in,  it's done little to improve the lives of the ones who were right either.

And so I decided to do a little searching ... do you know that the scripture never really talks about how highly we are esteemed by our Heavenly Father when we are right ... it talks about humility ...  it talks about teaching others ... it talks about confession ... it talks about loving others ... it talks a  ton in Proverbs about wisdom and the dangers of the tongue (Hmmm ... primary method of proving how right we are?? I'm just sayin' ...)  ... but I can't find anywhere that anyone is given great accolades for being right?? There are however warnings to avoid controversial conversations(see Titus 3), not loan money, not covet what another has, not to provoke to anger, not to fall prey to Pride and oh yeah, to love your neighbor as yourself.  

Seems to me that if one is going to follow the teachings of Christ, one would first have to lay down the need to be right ...

just thinkin' outloud here ...

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For as long as I can remember my mom has sung me this song. And all these years I never knew exactly what the song was nor who originally performed it. (So I ask, "Mom... why didn't you tell me????)

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It was a topic on the parenting forums I frequent, which I replied to, so I thought I'd share here...

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I know I'm goofy.  I can't help it!  (Don't tell my parents, but I come by it honestly!  )

I blogged over at one of my other blogs today.  Please come check it out!!!  (And, please leave me a comment -- or two or three.)

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Don't FORGET!!!  --  Barefoot Mommies is giving away...

a Karito Kids doll (9/27)






DVD Reviews is giving away these DVDs...

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure (10/17)

Mickey's Christmas Carol and Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (9/29)

a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble  (10/1)

a monogrammed Cosmetic Travel Bag  (9/30)

a monogrammed Jewelry Pouch (9/30)

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We've been primarily a homeschool family for the past 13 years - but we've also had kids in private and public schools.  We are not militant homeschoolers, and we believe that each of the education options has its pros and cons.  The poll results below caught my eye so I thought I would share it.  It's not as frightening as the adults who try to answer the basic questions Jay Leno asks them, but it's still a pretty bleak assessment.  Keep in mind that these were high school students ....

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