We Are Okay

We are under a Tsunami Advisory.  We have not heard of any waves reaching us.  We have been told to stay away from the ocean.

We just wanted to make sure everyone knows that we are okay.  We are off to bed and will have more to say in the morning (or your evening).

Trying to Catch Up

I have decided that I need to finish up some unfinished projects.  I need to decrease my fabric stash and others. 

I finished up 2 bibs that I started when Charlotte was pretty little.  I had used an iron on vinyl to waterproof Amy Butler fabric.  I wanted to test the vinyl before I finished the other 2.  The vinyl is too thick for the project, so where the bib regularly bends the vinyl cracked.  I need thinner vinyl.  However, I finished these two because they still work even after I rip off the vinyl when it cracks.

Also on the done list is a lamp redo for Charlotte.  It is to match her new quilt - It looks okay, I might have to redo the pinwheel part.

BEFORE                                                                                  AFTER

Road Trip to the Tip

Saturday afternoon we loaded up in the car to check out some beaches and eat some food.  We headed north. 

For lunch we stopped at a small restaurant, there were no pictures and nothing in English.  I was tempted to just order the first 4 things on the menu.  When the cook came over we offered some English - "chicken"   - he went and asked another table if he could borrow their meal.  He showed us the dish and I ordered 3.  Jason was not about to eat chicken.  So we grilled the boys about how to say beef or cow, since the Chef did not understand.  Jayce told us how to say Pig.  Jason used his new found Japanese vocabulary and the waitress said "curry?"  Jason was able to enjoy Pork Curry.  Grahm and Charlotte chose to sit at the Japanese dining tables (I prefer to sit at the American tables when I have Tennyson on my lap).  Their boosters seats have toy squeakers in them.  Not a good idea if you want my kids to sit quietly.

We stopped at a couple of beaches to collect shells.  At one beach my boys decided to "make sea glass."  They had to get back in the car and didn't seem to think that it was a big deal.  Charlotte missed her nap so at on point she ran her nose right into a guard rail, I think she fell 100 times and in general was teary.  She really likes the beach and enjoyed every minute of it. 

At Cape Hedo there was several plaques and the only English that I saw had to do with peace.  It is too bad we can't read, I am sure we would have gotten more out of our trip had we understood the significance of the monuments.

Jason always takes pictures of the area and things. 

 
We saw a whale and Jason tried to catch it on film.

There is an endangered bird on the island called Yanbaru Kuina .  They have a building at Cape Hedo that is this bird.  We wound our way up a steep little road to get to it.  Then climbed stairs.

As we drove around we ended up in some very small villages tucked on the side of a "mountain."  We drove through several tunnels, 1 was 1km long.

We finally IDed a Pineapple growing wild.

Vintage

I guess this post is going to qualify me as "vintage".
This is me in a dress my Grandma Jones gave me.  I am around 1-2 months old and being held up by someones hand beneath a shag rug (thus the extra round face).  My mom saved this dress and it was used on dolls and such, but is now mine.  So...

Tennyson thought it would be fun to model a funny ruffly vintage dress.  She totally rocks it.  I hope it gets warm enough that we can wear it to church.

I need to get the picure of my Mom with the curl on top, I think Tennyson looks like her in that picture.

The Quilt - aka The Beast

It is finally all pieced together.  I hope to never do it again (but I will).  I hate it, I hope a little absence will make the heart grow fonder.  It is in the mail to get machine quilted and maybe when it gets back I will like it.  It is just too busy for me.  Maybe if I put some solid pillows on the bed and a solid aqua throw or something...  (share your solutions please).

All folded up because 63 squares is too much to take in.

Friday Night Football

Grahm was lucky enough to have one evening game on a Friday.  Like most of their games the weather was wonderful....ly awful.  I know it is not "cold", but I have adjusted - and it is too cold for a baby.  Talking about Tennyson, not me.  Then you throw in some rain and it is miserable to be sitting on the metal benches that stay cold and keep a river of water running into you. 

But, it was the most fun I had watching a game.  Grahm was on fire.  He scored a couple touchdowns and grabbed some flags. 

The dedicated Cheerleaders 

My Valentine gave me these, so I am hoping for rain tomorrow morning (I have 2 games to cheer at).

My Baby

Some Yummy Baby Pics

Last Minute Valentines

Here on the Island if you are not shopping 1 month in advance you can forgot being able to find anything you need.  We finished shopping for Christmas before Thanksgiving.  Anyone who knows me knows I function best last minute and in a crunch - I think because I am forced to focus.  I don't like to slowly work on anything.  Projects get all of my attention until they are done.

Currently my project is a quilt (oh, and taking care of a baby and 3 kids and a husband - you know - laundry and stuff).  So, I have not been thinking about Valentines day, until it was time to make them.  I didn't want a project.  So first, I avoided looking at any blogs for ideas (so glad I did).  Second, we will just buy the goofy ones from the store - none to be seen.  I couldn't even find a conversation heart.  Third, come up with a quick  - make the kids - happy idea.

They couldn't be too girly.  Origami Envelopes with Tokyo Tape and Chocolate Hearts.

Face Painting

At the Dental kids Christmas Party they offered face painting.  This is what my kiddos chose to have painted on their faces.

 Nothing says Christmas like blood - Maybe he got run over by the sleigh?

A skull, cross bones and a snake - super Christmassy (is that even a word?).

Sorry - these pics were forgotten on the cell phone until this week.

The Nursery Rocking Chair

I have been really slow to post the finished pictures of the rocking chair we refinished.  I wish I had before pictures.  It started out in  pieces in a 5 gallon bucket.  I snagged the pieces from my Grandma's basement, it was an unfinished project of my Grandpa's.  Jason figured out the puzzle, replaced a piece or two and then it waited for me to get around to doing something with it.  So I brought it here to finish up and to use. This is the first time I have had a rocking chair that I have used for rocking a baby to sleep.  Tennyson just needs a little more snuggling to get to sleep than the others did.  We have loved it.  The re-upholstery job is not perfect - we don't have many tools here.  The next time it gets a face life I will have my Mom and my Grandma handy to help me make it look even better.

Any ideas of what to do with a bunch of tacks?