Exhaustion

We are nearing the home stretch of getting our house on the market, and exhaustion has set in. I just cannot pack one. more. box. Luckily we don't have to pack everything, just the nonessential things. You know, like fabric and sewing machines. But we really are almost done. And the house looks fantastic. The exterior has been painted, all the dings and cracks inside are gone, and the lights all have new bright bulbs.

What am I most looking forward to in the new house? Well I am pleased you asked! Mainly I cannot wait to unpack my sewing and finish my Swoon quilt. And really I just can't wait to be done with moving.

Have a great weekend!

Bucket List

When Curly dropped the bomb that we were moving, he suggested we each write a Frederick Bucket List. The kids wrote things like, "Have my friends over for a play date" or "Go to Baker Park." We told them we might not be able to do everything on their lists, but we would try our best. My list included a lot of restaurants. We've crossed a couple off the list already. It also included the fair. Specifically, entering a quilt (or two) and taking our kids out of school early to ride as many rides as we could.

Check and check.

I am pleased to announce that one of my quilts got a 4th place ribbon. Yay me! In the photo, it's the one on the top in the middle. I am pleased as punch. It was made from my pattern in the book. I had entered the quilt in the "Original Pattern" category, so if you make one, please be sure to tell people you made it from an Award Winning Pattern (capital letters are necessary). However, I am not pleased that I was wearing the most unflattering sweatshirt available. And my bra could be a little more supportive. Honestly. I'll be using this photo in my Biggest Loser audition. I'm sure Bob will ask if the funnel cake was worth it.

 I picked the kids up from school at about 1:45, and we got to the fair a little after 2 for the carload special. With that, the entire car gets in for one price and gets unlimited rides. By going early, we avoided long lines. The kids got to do all their favorites several times before the crowds arrived. And by kids, I'm including Curly in that. He did one ride that had him upside down and spinning in all directions called The Stinger. Even looking at it made me queasy. Ginger loved all the rides, especially those that spun really fast. Look at her face. Such happiness!

 In fact, she was really ticked she couldn't go on all the bigger rides. It's all she wanted. I, on the other hand, was more than happy to watch from the ground. I really don't like the rides. Curly took Mini-me and Patch on really fast and scary things. I really couldn't think too hard about the fact that these rides took mere hours to put together. Mini-me is 4th from the left, with Curly and Patch sitting right next to her. Patch's face on this one was priceless. He looked like Ron Weasley when he jinxed himself with slugs in the second Harry Potter movie. It was quite funny.

I love my Bucket List. I wish I could write: "Stay in Frederick until all my kids have graduated," but it's time to move on. Pittsburgh needs me and my Award Winning Pattern.

And Then

As if moving wasn't stressful enough, today I had the choice experience of delousing one of my children. What is it about the mention of "lice" that makes you compulsively need to scratch your head? I am willing to bet about $2 that you are now scratching your head, or trying hard not to. Lice are gross. Here's hoping I got them all today.

Checking In

Here are the bullet points of the last couple of weeks: 

• Found out Curly needed to be in Pittsburgh early October. 
• Went house hunting in The Burgh.
• Found out I hate house hunting.
• Put an offer on a house we love. Still waiting.
• Came home to get our house ready to put on the market.

And there you have it. My last few weeks in a nutshell. Want to know a really sad part? My sewing machine needs to be put away until after the move. I am very sad. But, in the end, it will be worth it to make this house look its best. She's 99, you know. A gem of a lady.

The Potty

I decided that Saturday was the BEST day to potty train. We had nothing on our schedules and Ginger seemed ready. In case you're wondering, "nothing on our schedules" means "big kids were totally bored" and "Ginger seemed ready" means "more accidents and staying within 2 feet of the potty than I had anticipated." On Day 2 we had success, and were able to venture out from the kitchen into the living room for a bit. It's hard work to go pee pee in the potty. It's also hard work to be the mom. My quads are killing me from all the squatting.

But, I did manage to get the binding put on a mini table runner. I got the American Jane mini charm pack from Quilt Market in May. Well, I say "I," but I really mean Candice's mom Robbie got it for me. She was the queen of Market Swag. I thought the little 2.5" squares were perfect as they were, and just added some white squares in between. I bound it in a the gold print from DS Quilts last line at Joann's. It's a favorite and I will be sad when I use the last of it.

It measures about 24x14, which is why I call it "mini." I put it on my buffet with my other seasonal decor. I just need to find my Muffy, which is a whole other post.

And today, I am reveling in the fact that all my kids are diaper free. It feels oh so good. Better than a ribbon at the county fair.