We miss you, Matthew!

When I asked Matthew a few weeks ago if he needed any help getting ready for college, he said, "Well, I am a little worried about my t-shirt quilt."

Matthew helped with all stages of this project, from choosing, cutting, and placing the t-shirts, to choosing the batting and back. The only thing he didn't do was sew, but he did spend a lot of time playing with my kids.


I love this cool globe print on the back.


Matthew was two years old when I graduated high school and left home for college. He couldn't even talk, and I was worried he wouldn't know who I was when I came home to visit. I distinctly remember telling my mom to show him my picture and tell him my name every day.

That was 16 years ago. We've both come a long way. Matthew can say my name. He just graduated from high school. And I am sure glad I was able to work on this project for him to help him get ready for college.

Thanks to Mary and Rebecca for your help and letting me impose on you considerably. And thank you, Sarah for being understanding about your quilt. It is not just a myth, I promise.

How to make a t-shirt quilt

Find some t-shirts. Find some helpers.

Cut the sleeves off the t-shirts and put them on your head.

Hide like bandits.

Spend hours cutting.

To be continued. . .

Legacy

Dad, 10 children, 8 spouses, 18 grandchildren

Not pictured: Mark, serving a mission in Chile, Rancagua

8 July 2011

A whole lot of living going on and going forward.

Patriotic

I am a firm believer in dressing up on the Fourth of July. If only for the cute pictures of the kids during the community parade that goes right in front of my parents' house. And the candy thrown per child ratio is unbelievable.

And I just realized that those shirts Ellen and Jack are wearing have gotten a lot of mileage. And they still fit. My children either grow really slowly, or I over estimated their clothing size by oh, several years. Check out their debut here.

Dress like an Egyptian

Our local museum has hosted several activities for kids in connection with their traveling exhibit about Egypt. We've ridden a camel, constructed a pyramid, colored over sand paper, made pots, watched Scooby Doo, Inspector Gadget, and Bill Nye in Egypt, but our favorite so far has been "dress like an Egyptian" day.

We colored collars and wristbands, visited makeup, and dressed up in headdresses for our photo opportunity.

Rose insisted on helping with her own makeup. Of course. We went with friends, which made it twice as fun.

Elijah wasn't sure about the cobra headdress, but the museum photographer thought he looked so great, he snapped a shot and asked me to sign a limited use waiver.

Rose's mask, complete with purple highlights in her hair and a purple scribble tattoo on her face.

Since this picture, Rose has begun telling me every morning that she wants to wear her purple dress. She has three. When they are all in the laundry, she sometimes settles for purple shorts with a purple shirt. Usually she tells me she'll just go naked, and I tell her she'll get dressed because we're going somewhere, and Armageddon begins, right in her bedroom.

Ellen was excited to take a picture with the "real" Egyptian princess.

Happy Birthday Nana!

Baby, it's hot outside.

We try to spend as little time outside as possible, unless it involves swimming suits and water.

I can't believe she's going to be six in a couple of months!

This is what Rose did when Jack tried to get a picture of her with water droplets on her face.

Typical. Always on the run.

Nine months!

Elijah is nine months old. He weighs more, he is longer, and his head is bigger. I do have those details written down somewhere, but the important thing is that he is growing.

I was recently accused of curling his eyelashes every morning.

He loves the water, loves bath time, and loves playing in the pool.

He loves to eat, and has tried lots of new foods, but there's nothing that excites him more than drinking out of a cup. He loves water.

He sits up, he rolls, he plays with toys, and he really loves playing with his brother and sisters. He can't quite keep up yet, but he loves when they play rough when mom isn't paying attention include him. The arm in the picture is Jack Jack going in for a tickle. See how happy little brother is?