2012 Jane’s Jubilee: Souhrada Women’s Retreat

What an amazing weekend.  I was up past midnight every night and believe I accomplished more in 3 days than I would have otherwise accomplished in 3 months at home.  I loved every minute of it!!  My projects were all complete: 1 walking rope, 1 pillowcase dress, 10 bibs, 2 Easter hats, displays for hair clips, and 130 pairs of PairFect Legs!  I came, I conquered!

This weekend has been a 5 year tradition at a few different locations.  I think this location took our sewing hearts!  Along for the ride was Jane’s shoe.  Not forgotten!

In attendance:

Fav Cuz Suzie a.k.a. Quilters Glove

Weapon of choice: Bernina 830 with embroidery and new cutting attachment

Projects: Cutting appliques, wall hanging for sister in law, curtains for Ericka, crocheting a hat, embroidery with Grandma, giggling with MJ

Sister CJ a.k.a. Proactive

Weapon of choice: Mom’s new 8 series embroidery machine

Projects: Hand towels (she started them last year)

Sister Kelly a.k.a. Yoga Master

Weapon of choice: Bernina

Project: Quilt made from fabric that was purchased over past several years at Lamon summer vacation in Hill City

Aunt M a.k.a 31 Lover

Weapon of choice: Bernina

Projects: A very beautiful and quite busy quilt

Cheryl a.k.a Spooner

Weapon of choice: Bernina

Projects: A few from past years and one very stylish and incredibly excited jacket.

Grandma Cookie a.k.a Honey Cream

Weapon of choice: Needle, thimble, and a lot of seam rippers

Projects: Embroidered wall hanging and fixing all of our mistakes.

We went to Lester Prairie this year.  It was incredibly beautiful and we had so much space.  Going back next year!  This year we were short some family and it ended up being all mother/daughter.  It was a special weekend full of tribute to Jane.  On Friday we had an indoor bonfire complete with a fabric ring.  We did in fact sing Kum ba yah.

Jane was definitely hanging around during the weekend…

Family Love

Look who is growing up

One day I realized that the little peanut in this family is starting to look older.  I know that sounds weird since we don’t really have a baby of the family, but considering the weight difference of Aaliyah and Jossie we have always considered Jocelyn to be our baby.  So one day I was just looking at her thinking holy moly she is starting to look more like a little girl.  She is pretty sweet.  Her words are so good and I did look twice when she said “want some milk please”.  Pretty sure that the boys were not putting that many words together prior to age 2.

Wipe Thief

A and J showed Jackson the joy of eating wipes!

Arts and Crafts

This started so peaceful and ended with crayon all over the floor.

Hiding

Love the grill cover!

Tucked In and Tuckered Out

Brett took the boys to a birthday party and for the first time in a long time Ethan fell asleep.  I couldn’t find him.  I had to dig him out under all the toys and blankets.  I guess Bennett decided to tuck him in after he fell asleep.

I pay attention, most of the time

Dora’s Backpack, Kind of

A new obsession.  Dora has taught them the love of a handy backpack.  Don’t tell the girls that their backpack doesn’t talk or possess magic to help them get to the top of star mountain.  An item that Swiper the Fox is sure to not have interest in.  I think it is pretty stinkin’ cute.

"Yum yum yum yum yum, ¡delicioso!"

Jackson is GROWING!

Just a little about Jackson…

He is still super sweet and way cute!  Wondering what he does most of the day?

And he can do this…

Jackson turned 9 months so we had a photo opp!  Yes, those are my leggings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing that I got anything when I had this going on in the background.

55 and Sunny

Today was our first day outside.  I couldn’t get them to come in.  I had to lure them inside by telling them that we would take baths.  They had a blast and for the first time when they threw their truck and I didn’t have to yell, “no throwing toys.”  Outside play time has been missed.

Grandma Cheryl, Bennett insisted on wearing his “vest jacket”. 

Little Diva

2012 Presidents Day Weekend–Go Souhrada!

Probably the best family gathering of the year!!  EVERYONE was there!

Grandma Cookie and her 18 great grandchildren

 

Want to know what it takes to get this picture….

This year grandma turned 23.  Gotta love leap year birthdays.  She is younger then all of her grandchildren!  You might want to sit down for this tid bit of information…..we did NOT bring our sewing machines this year.  Well one person forgot the new rule (not going to mention names) and Marcia said it was a trial run.  Brett commented on how it was a good thing no one was bringing their sewing machines because even if I wanted to bring mine it would not fit in the car.  The room was only filled with children screaming rather than the whirling of Bernina’s.     

Activities included swimming, the huge play land, a gym, family time, and 500.  Cards caused late nights and tired parents, but it was totally worth it! I love spending time with my cousins!  I hope that my children will be as close to their cousins.  Look forward to women’s retreat!

Grandma and her grandchildren!

Add in the significants (and a few children that could not separate)!

Big boys get a queen bed

So potty training didn’t go so well, but this transition was pretty much a cinch.  Over a week ago we took down the cribs.  The girls cried a lot the first night.  I think they didn’t understand why there was no longer 2 extra cribs in their room.  The first nights they actually slept on their crib mattresses on the floor.  I had to go in each night because they feel asleep in the funniest positions. 

Night #1 – heads at the opposite end of the pillow

Night #2 – Bennett’s head in Ethan’s butt

Night #3 – was in their queen bed, we gave them projector flashlights.  After the first melt down because one didn’t work right Brett put them up high and they haven’t seen them since.

We have been fortunate that this process hasn’t been difficult especially considering how much we were encouraged to keep them in cribs as long as you can.  We ask them to go to bed and jump right in.  Before they would scream when we put them in their cribs and yell to get down.  Now they don’t cry.  I think it is because they know that they are not “locked” in.  They can get out of the bed if they want.  Yes, they have snuck out a few times, but go right back to their room when we tell them to.  They love their bed.  Often times when I can’t find Bennett he is up in his room up in bed trying to burrow under the soft blankets. 

Boys are still not napping, but still do fine with rest time.  I get an hour in the afternoon so I am ok with that.

My Little Readers

The girls have discovered the activity of reading.  By no surprise their favorite book is Please Baby Please (Thanks JC!).  We are going to have to replace this one because it is on its way to pieces.

Reading time is always interesting around here.  You never get only one kid in your lap, but at least 3 find you with the open book and when the 4th one wants in it gets pretty tricky.  I have started to read on my stomach from the floor so that they can lay around me and ALL see the book.  It is weird how no matter what they have to be touching me or it doesn’t feel like they are part of the activity.  I am not complaining.  I love their love for books.  I am pretty sure that sometimes 50% of our day the nose is in a book.

Ethan is a sweet reader!

And then silly!

Master Toyroom

Our room is making a really nice toyroom, but I will admit I am anxious to get the call from Slumberland that our bed is in!  I hope that Jackson doesn’t miss his luxury play space too much!

The house is still in disarray.  Toys are in 3 rooms, in the hallways, and basement.  I am really looking forward to getting things put back together.  It is an organizational freaks nightmare right now.  By next week things should be on the up and up.

My Little Miss Chris Farley

I swear that when she puts her chin on her chest she looks just like Chris Farley.  She is kind of funny like him too!