Maddie goes to the library

The Los Angeles County Public Library system was an integral part of my family when I was young.  I remember my Mom having to organize who was checking out which books based on what was currently still on our cards at home so as not to max out the fifty book lending limit per card.  As homeschoolers the library was really more an extended classroom  than just a fun place to go (although it was fun!).  We had a great children's librarian, and she actually ended up at the library closer to us after we moved (not really sure if we followed her or she followed us), so we had the same librarian for over a decade.  I volunteered (for the same librarian) for years, got a county library award (ahem, nerd alert) for it, spoke to a group of librarians about homeschooling, and worked at a library in my late teens.  I  know the Dewey decimal system like the back of my hand.  Once while playing Taboo with friends, another friend who worked at a LA County Library was able to get me to guess words by telling me where books on that subject were located in said Dewey decimal system (I am realizing more and more what a geek I really am as I type this).  I hated finding books at my university library because they didn't use Dewey and it messed with my head.  I digress . . .

Getting a library card is a rite of passage in our family.  Yesterday, Maddie, James, and I walked down to our little local branch on Alondra and got Maddie a card.  She was very excited by the library, and being able to take home books.  I had to sign her full name on the back of the card which was kind of odd, I only think I've written it out once or twice.  She even got a canvas book bag for opening an account, although next time I think she will use her My Friends Tigger and Pooh backpack because she loves it and can actually carry it.  Because she was (relatively) well behaved at the library we got mini donuts on the way home.

(Please excuse the quality of the pictures, they were taken on my phone . . . 

also, who knew that Yum Yum Donuts on Alondra and Pioneer is really, really nice inside?  Like, nicer than Starbucks . . .  they have granite!)

We read three of her books last night, several times each.  It cracks me up that she puts her finger to her mouth and says "shhhhh!" every time she asks for the Goodnight Sleepyhead book.

I am so proud of my little bookworm!

This lovely little story is called Maisy Goes to the Library, we have read it four times

Submission

Well, I have submitted Fitz and Lizzie to a publisher. I probably should have done it a year ago, but at least it is done now . . . another January goal down. We should know one way or the other in three months. I will strive to just forget about it for those three months . . .

Homeschool goodness

Brenda has a great blog called The Tie That Binds Us, she just moved it to a Wordpress blog and is giving away a bunch of yummy homeschool curriculum support materials.  Check out her new blog and enter her giveaway! 

Valentine's Give Away Alert!

Pat at Quilting Can Be Fun is having a Valentine's Giveaway!  Hurry over to sign up.  How cute is that monkey and yeah for Valentine fabric - I've been looking for some to use for outfits for the kiddos:

Cuteness overload

Two January goals down so far!  I had a garage sale this weekend before our huge week long rain storms hit.  I got rid of some stuff and managed to make a little money.  Still have a ton of stuff to get rid of, so we might have a second sale this weekend if the rain lets up.  Today we went to Target and got some official pictures of the babies!  They wore their Christmas outfits from Uncle Andy and we did some winter theme pictures as we didn't get any professional Christmas shots.  We also got some baby style pictures taken of James, and let me tell you - he is a ham!  Every picture was great, which makes it so hard to choose.  Every time the photographer called him handsome he would pose and smile!  I think I have a future entertainer on my hands!

Winter Pictures

My sweet Maddie princess, I honestly don't think she could be cuter

Look at this grin!  The gorgeous white blanket was made by my Mom.

Mommy is not going to fixate on the random piece of hair falling onto Maddie's forehead, really, I am not . . .

I love this picture because it looks like Maddie is sharing with her brother, and she often does, it just might not be quite true in this particular case

Jamie's Six Month Pictures

This blue blanket was also made by my Mom.  

You gotta love the chub!

I feel very accomplished that I have crossed two things off my list!  I have a few more in progress as well, so yay me!

It pays to play

When I worked at KayBee Toys (way, way back in the day, like over a decade ago now), I had a manager and some co-workers who always went in on lottery tickets.  They would always ask me to purchase one and my response was usually "Realistically, what are my odds of winning the lottery?"  My manager, Mac, would always reply "Better if you buy a ticket."  

Well, I "bought a ticket," so to speak, when I entered a bunch of online giveaways in November and December and I had some amazing luck.   I won several holiday items, as well this amazing book from a contest on Sew Mama Sew.  

My absolutely biggest score, however, was a $15 gift certificate to Jane's Fabrics ebay store (which I won through a giveaway on Sew Fantastic).  With my gift certificate I purchased three half yard cuts of the gorgeous Meadow Sweet line by Sani Henderson for Michael Miller.  When the package arrived I was floored to find out that Jane has included two more half yard cuts so I have all of these fabrics:

I am so jazzed!  I keep looking at them lovingly, but haven't decided yet what I am making with them.  Jane was so sweet . . . I encourage you to visit her blog and her shops on Etsy and ebay.

So, I suppose in the end, Mac was right, your odds are better if you buy a ticket!

2010 goals . . .

Well, now that I have actually completed my 2009 in review post I suppose it is time to think about 2010. . . yes, I know we are already two weeks into the new year, I am just a bit slow.

Here's the deal - my life is super unsettled at the moment, I can't even tell you where I will be living next month so I am going to make my goals for the year pretty short and then kind of do month by month goals.  That will allow me to modify my goals when we move, etc.  So here are my big goals for 2010:

1.  Submit my children's book manuscript to a publisher.

2.  The Catalina Marathon, I honestly don't see how this is going to happen, seeing as it's in 7 weeks and Liz and I have been off our training schedule for a few months.  But there it is.

3.  Read through the Bible - I have this goal every year, I have read Genesis so many times ;)  

4.  Start and Finish three quilts. 

5.  Christmas stockings for Maddie and James.

I will start my monthly goal list here - we are already halfway through January so it will be kind of short.

1.  Finish Maddie's coca-cola skirt.

2.  Get some official pictures of the babies.

3.  Add some length to the Zaney quilt to bring it closer to a twin size so he can grow with it.

4.  Submit F&L to a publisher.

5.  Have a garage sale and get rid of lots of stuff!

Here is to a great 2010!