where does the time go?!

i think i might have used that post title before, but it seems to be a theme this year - the time she is a flyin'! we have bunches to catch up on and i'm going to try to actually be more organized since tuesday marks the start of another school year and all three kiddos will be heading off to school this fall! woohoo!!! (kawelo's preschool is two mornings a week, but it still counts! free time - guilt-free-ish!!!!) so, no more excuses! this rear is getting in gear! look out, world! (but not till tuesday, since we're switching our internet providers and it won't be set up till monday. but, after monday, look out!!! you've been warned!)

p.s. can you feel the strength of my feelings in this post? the exclamation points are a good indicator!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

spring sports review

it's been an excitingly active spring for us!

kalei and koa finished tae kwon do and decided to try a few new sports.

kalei played volleyball and loved it! she had an amazing coach, and it was fun to watch her learn new skills. (and she is totally rocking those sports glasses - work it, girl!)

koa tried soccer and found he is super fast! like lightning! (seriously - he's a tiny turbo.) he had lots of fun and is excited to try basketball and baseball next (but not at the same time).

james ran the "music city half-marathon" again this spring. he finished in exactly the time he estimated for himself. (well, he was one minute over - but still the best guesstimate ever!)

kawelo honed his cheerleader skillz. he so can't wait to be able to do everything his siblings can do - we had to watch him for spontaneous streaks onto any nearby playing field. your time is coming soon, little man!

can't wait to crazy up our schedules with another round of sports in the fall!

winner(s)!

as promised, i have selected a winner!

i accidentally clicked away from the random number thingy, so you'll just have to trust me when i say the winner of the assortment of goodies is leigh, who said:

What crafty person doesn't love a hodge podge? Thanks for the chance!

congratulations, leigh!

and, because of the crazy high number of commentors, i decided to pick another winner! (winner of what, i'm not sure, yet, but it'll be fun.) :)

the second winner is jen, who said:

hahaha, I just gasped and said: "A checkbook cover?!" I guess that is really what I wanted, and just didn't know it! lol, that's too funny.

Happy Birthday!!! Have a great day, and a great hop!

and, because i can't resist, my personal comment pick is from lizbeth brown, who said:

Hey birthday buddy! You know, I've been sewing for 8 years and I've never used a pin cushion? I don't even own one.

happy birthday, lizbeth!! you don't have a pincushion?! shocking!! i just happen to have a few extra pincushions, and one will be making its way to you very soon.

thanks to all who entered!!!

(if, for whatever weirdo reason, i don't hear from any of these winner, another winner will be selected from the comments.)

have a super day!! (on this, the best day of the year - happy birthday to me!)

giveaway day!!

it's that time of year again - time for sew mama sew's giveaway day!

(seriously, one of the most exciting days of the year - go check out all the giveaways here!)

since i've been lucky to win a few goodies in prior giveaway days and it's my birthday week, it's time to share the love, right?

i'll randomly select one winner on the morning of may 26th (my birthday!) to win the following:

contents:

one dessert stand

two pincushions

three princess magnets

one ruffled zippered pouch

one checkbook cover

four assorted blue fabrics

and the box isn't full, yet, so maybe a few more assorted goodies

(i know it looks like a hodge-podge - i was more going for a "something for everyone" theme.) :)

to be entered, just leave a comment - it's that easy!

i will not ship internationally, but i will ship this package by may 30th.

good luck!!

Quick Brazil Trip - James

Went to Brazil for a quick couple of days this week (gave a talk at a conference), and thoroughly enjoyed my time (flew into Sao Paulo - what traffic!, spent a day in Sao Carlos - enjoyed some great food [Brazilian fruits, cheese balls, Brazilian pizza], and the conference was in Sao Pedro - very quaint). Sad to say that I was not diligent in taking out the camera to record the sights, but here are a few videos of the trip.

Morning view from the hotel room.


Sorry for the bumpy quality of this video (most of my videos are from the ride back to the airport when I figured I should probably try to get some footage to show I was actually there). Going back watching it, I realized that I almost recorded a fatality ... watch the motorcycle (tons of them all over, and they all pretty much drive like this one)!

Kentucky Derby and Pie - James

We decided to start a tradition (since we are living in Kentucky), and honor the Kentucky Derby by making Derby Pie. Kalei found the recipe on-line and made it herself. The kids loved it (and so did I ... sorry Bess, I don't think there will still be any left by the time you get home). Way to go Animal Kingdom! (that was the winner, for all of you who did not decide to watch - you are invited to our house for the running of the 2012 Kentucky Derby).

note to self - bess

saw this yesterday:

hmmm....

are we thinking that this is:

a) a gentle nudge

b) a firm poke in the arm

c) a smack upside the head

d) all of the above

well... i think it's (d), actually.

this was exactly what i needed at exactly the right moment.

it's inspired a letter to myself - here it is:

dear bess,

put on your big girl panties and get over it.

to quote mr. magorium: "your life is an occasion - rise to it."

you (we) can do it!

love, bess