The Cat

Yesterday I got the go-ahead from Amanda to let the cat partially out of the bag and share some of the super-secret news. Are you sitting down? Do you have a Diet Coke ready? Is your phone nearby? I only ask that last part because two weeks ago I dropped my phone in my Diet Coke. It wasn't pretty. Or cheap. So move your phone away from your beverage.

Drum roll please.

We are releasing a book at Market. Yes. A book. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Which is probably why I do things like drop my phone in my drink.

I can't show you pictures of the projects now. You'll just have to wait until Market, which I leave on May 16 to attend for the very first time. We'll debut the book there, and then come home to share on our blogs. All of the projects in the books use Apple of My Eye. You'll want to stock up now so when the book comes out, you can get right too work. Mine takes 2 Rolie Polies, just in case you want to be ready to go to make my project.

Keepin' On

I have an announcement: We are all better! How great is that? The only one to escape unscathed was Mini-me. She's a trooper.

This morning I uploaded the pictures on my camera to my computer. I hadn't done that since before Easter. Yikes! So here are the kids in their Easter finery:

 I didn't make a thing for them to wear. It was nice and made the few days leading up to Easter less stressful. Flower spent the holiday with her mom. We missed her.

Patch started soccer. He spends a lot of time pulling up his shin guards. He also spends a lot of time trying to draw the foul by flopping on the ground.

 We have had delightfully warm weather. Curly's aunt and family came to visit, and we walked downtown for lunch at Lunchbox. It was delicious.

 I've had some good hair days, too.

 I also finished two quilts. Two! I'll show them to you a little closer to Market, which is in just 3 weeks. They are super secret for now. I am in love with them, though, and hope you are too. In fact, the whole team has been up to something. You're going to love it!!

A Few Thoughts

We are sick here. So very sick. Fevers, coughs, aches, and pains. And tonight, I feel like I have a scratch in the back of my throat. I've even coughed a few times today. I am worried. When mama goes down, the whole world falls apart. I've taken an airborne today, but I think it might have been a little too late. So as I've been administering chewable medication to the school-age and younger set around here, my mind has been wandering.

I've thought about my two study abroad trips to England. How lucky was I? I'd like to go back. Someday.

I've thought about how much I love to read. I just finished Death Comes to Pemberley. You must check it out. And when you do, make sure you picture Colonel Fitzwilliam from the BBC version, and not from the more recent Hollywood film. He was not so handsome in the latter.

Sewing on a deadline is very stressful, especially when you have sick kids. Heck, doing anything on a deadline is stressful with illness in the home.

New Girl is the funniest show on TV. It's even funnier than Modern Family.

Kids wait to throw up until you're on your own. It's true. As soon as Curly leaves the house, we've got barf everywhere. When he comes home, they're fine. I don't know.

A Diet Coke and  a cookie at the end of a rough day is like the food of the gods.

Anyone have a cookie?

Look What Came!

Amanda has done it again. This fabric is lush I say. Lush! Really, you have to see to believe. Now, I am off to do some super-secret Market prep. How awesome is my Monday?

PS -- the mini-cake stand I got from Target is darling, no? It was a bit of an impulse buy, and totally worth the looks I got from Curly. Clearly, I did indeed need it.

It Runs in the Family

We're a little dramatic around here. And I don't just mean we enjoy acting on the stage. For example, when Mini-me gets in trouble, she starts shouting "Fine! Take away my toys and lock me in a closet forever! I don't care!" It's a little much.

On Tuesday, we were hanging with Curly's family at his brothers house. They have really fun toys there, including a trampoline. Ginger was happily jumping with a cousin when he stole her bounce. She landed on a hard surface, buckling her leg. For the rest of the evening, she whimpered and grabbed at her knee. The next morning, she wouldn't walk on it. She crawled if she really needed something, but mostly demanded that I carry her. I got her in to see the doctor, where, as soon as he entered the room, Ginger ran around the room. Ran. When earlier she wouldn't put any weight on the leg.

Ran.

The doctor diagnosed her with dramatics.