What I love about Iowa

Hmmmmmm....what do I love about Iowa???  The constant snow this winter that is driving me stir crazy?  No, that's definitely not it.  Being away from my family and missing them in Arizona?  No, that's not it either.  I L.O.V.E. the people, and I have the best story to back me up.
So, I'm needing to finish Shea's quilt.  I needed a walking foot to be able to quilt it.  So what do I do?  I go to my favorite quilting store to see if they can help me figure out what I need.  They needed more info about my sewing machine, so I called them back when I got home.  I spoke to the nicest lady named Pat.  She told me what she thought I needed and that they didn't have one in the store.  Pat told me she had one at home that she doesn't use anymore that she would lend me to see if it worked on my machine.  I kind of hated for her to do that for me, but you would have totally said yes too while talking to Pat.  She was so nice, it was like we were already friends. I said okay and thank you before I even realized that I didn't know her and she didn't know me.  Yet here she was letting me borrow her walking foot.  How freakin' nice is that!!!!!!  It totally saved me from having to order one online and hope it worked.
I called her back yesterday to let her know I had picked it up and it works wonderfully.  Since she no longer used it, I was going to see if she wanted to sell it to me.  It helps me and it helps her, right???  Before I could offer to buy it from her, she said, "Great.  I'm so glad it worked.  It's yours."  WHA?????  I told her no, no, no.  I would love to buy it from her if she didn't need it anymore, but she couldn't just give it to me.  She insisted, and so I now it's mine.  She did tell me that I needed to pass it on and do something nice for someone else.  Damn, I knew there'd be a catch!!  
Believe it or not, that's the short version of the story.  How super nice of her was that?!?!?!?!?!
So, I think this calls for a chalk plate to be made for Pat in appreciation of being so awesome.

Here's the kids in Drew's new Sesame Street jumping castle thingy he got for Christmas.  The kids just love it. Shea thinks it hysterical how staticky (it's the right spelling.  I looked it up) her hair gets.  Yes, Drew still uses his pacifier.  He's got them stashed all over the house.  That is going to be my big battle with him.  I'm mentally preparing myself for the battle of a lifetime with him over his pacifier.  It's not going to be pretty.  One of us might not make it out alive.  Shea was easy to break of hers, but Drew NEEDS it.

Hope everyone's having a great day.

Chalk plates anyone?????

I know the people back East are not enjoying this weather, but I totally am.  Since 99% of my work is for the Federal Government in Washington, 100% of my work for them has been cancelled....oh, yeah, and I still get paid for it.  Get paid for not working, now that is my dream job!!!!!  Not bad. 
It's been a pain in the butt for the kids and school.  Shea's not complaining.  She got out at 1p yesterday and had the afternoon with me.  What did we do?  Well, of course, we challenged each other to Super Marios Brothers.  My thumb is seriously hurting today from pushing the buttons on the Wii remote.  Dumb, I know, but we had a lot of fun.
Assuming it doesn't get cancelled tonight, Shea has her dance performance at the boy's basketball game in Van Meter.  She's so excited.

I have to admit that I'm totally getting addicted to the chalkboard paint.  I chalked up a few more plates and a couple coffee mugs.  I totally love how the coffee mugs came out.  Here's the problem though, I don't drink my coffee very fast.  Who has time with two little kids running around in the morning?  I'm thinking the mugs wouldn't do too well in the microwave, kind of like putting tin foil in the microwave.  I might just have to try it out to see if anything explodes.

I'm loving the chalkboard paint so much that I'm thinking of doing the whole outside of the house in it.  I mean, come on, what's better a chalkboard house or the baby blue paint the crazy people we bought the house from painted it??? 

Here's the cute snowman Shea and Jake made, hula skirt and all.  Shea's not too crazy about the snowman though.  She doesn't like that the mouth is straight.  Can't say I blame her.

Have a great day, everyone!!!!!!

Photo Wreath

Here is a super-stinkin' cute wreath that I made.  Totally cute, huh!!!!  It was sooo stinkin' easy, too.  The picture totally doesn't do it justice.  I've been going upstairs and staring at it ever since I finished it.

I saw it HERE and had just the perfect spot to put it.  Shea's going to be kind of ticked though.  I did have to take down one of her Care Bear pictures she had colored and has A.L.L. O.V.E.R. the place to put this up.

Shea has been giddy the past week or so.  She gets to practice with the Van Meter Dance Team for a few days and then perform a routine with them at one of the Van Meter Boys' Basketball games next week.  She has been so excited she can hardly stand it.  This is totally up Shea's alley.  Any of you that know her know that's she's not shy at all.  If any of my pictures turn out good, I'll post a few.

We're supposed to get another storm this Thursday/Friday.  That ruins my day off on Friday.  I was planning on meeting up with my friend, Beth.  But, noooo, I'm a sissy and can't handle the fun Iowa winter weather. 

Have a good rest of the week everyone!!