Where were you on Black Friday? I was in line at Target at 2:50 in the morning to catch some great deals on our Christmas shopping. Standing in line with Amy and my cousin Lauren made the time go by much faster- and we even had a little fun heckling people who were trying to get in line. (Yes, I did say heckling- while no fights started- boy, did people get upset!). We shopped until 11 in the morning. To say the least- I was exhausted. After cooking for Thanksgiving (and before you ask-no-I didn't host Thanksgiving dinner, but I still made my Sweet Potato Crunch and a Turtle Cheesecake) then having some fun on Thanksgiving afternoon with my sister and cousin- I was a little tired. I actually decided that my best course of action was to take my shower, get dressed, and then go to sleep-so I would be ready to roll!

Anyways, I digress. There was much shopping and then a nap planned for Friday afternoon. The girls and I were watching a movie and I was drifting in and out. Then suddenly- screaming and crying woke me up. Let me go ahead and say that whatever rest I might have gained in that thirty minutes was totally used up in the two seconds it took me to sit up and look around. Then, I focused on where the sound was emanating from- Sophie standing in the middle of the floor, holding her nose. Screaming, "It HURTS". Needless to say- she had stuck a hard, plastic bead up her nose. Please do not ask where the bead came from, I feel that is unimportant.

I think our conversation went something like this:
"WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO THAT???" and I think that she replied, "I was just pwaying!" (she says her "r" sound like a "w").

Fast forward past the nose blowing and the tweezer-attempts to free the bead. We'll hop right to the part where we were driving to the Emergency Room. The part where Sophie was screaming, "It hurts!" and where I was screaming back, "If you hadn't stuck a bead up your nose you wouldn't have to worry about it!"

Poor Lauren (my cousin). Poor, poor Lauren. Well, I would like to think of this as great birth control for her.

Two hours later we emerge from the Emergency Room with the bead successfully extracted. And Lauren and I were more worn out than ever. But Sophie's nose was a-okay. Thankfully.

P.S. I really am glad she was okay-but Lord, she scared me!
P.P.S- My sister and I opened an Etsy store- wanna see what we have created? Go here- http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassysisters4331

Veteran's Day...

I would like to say, "Happy Veteran's Day" but somehow that just seems a little too casual for the heaviness of the day. This morning, at school, the kids watched a video that talked about sacrifice, and I was reminded of this post that I wrote last year. My father is a Vietnam Veteran, and I am always reminded of his enormous sacrifice, as he left a wife and two young children at home to go around the world and serve his country. Sophie's grandfather served in WWII and was a participant in The Battle of the Bulge. He personally me Gen. George Patton and is a recipient of the Bronze Star.

These people, so important to our livelihood as Americans, surround us in our daily lives. Whether you agree with foreign policy, or war strategies- that doesn't matter. The fact that these people, ordinary in their daily lives, but extraordinary soldiers, have risked their lives so that we may have our freedom warrants our respect. Be sure to thank the veterans that you know today! :)

Sitting here....

I am sitting here, at school, with nothing to do. Why do I have nothing to do? Well, to be honest, I have plenty to do. I have some things I could be putting on the walls, papers to grade, lesson plans to write....but the truth is- I just don't want to. I know that it is hard for you to believe, that I am just not doing something. But I am thinking of all the things that I would rather be doing.
I would rather be with my children.
I would rather be with my friends.
I would rather be sewing or crafting.

But I sit here in my classroom. *Sigh* (On a side note- I would like to say that I have only $199 to go to pay off my new sewing machine! I am SEW excited!!! - sorry- I couldn't help the ridiculous pun!).

Halloween 2009

Halloween always seems to catch me off guard. I try to plan for it, I try to think about it beforehand- but then WHAM! The month of October finds me with no costumes in mind, no idea of any sort what six kids can dress up as for Halloween. This year was no exception. Two weeks before Halloween Savannah decided to be Dorothy, Caitlin decided to be a cat, Sophie a fairy, and Abby a witch. Devin said he wanted to be a vampire, and after much begging, he decided to dress up as Edward, instead of Count Dracula. I practically killed myself sewing Savannah's costume....but it did end up looking precious. These pictures are not so great, because by the time to go trick or treating- I was exhausted. And I must say- I painted Caitlin's face- and it looked really great. I am trying to convince the kids to go as animals next year!

What's happening in our world....

Once upon a beautiful autumn day, four women set off in search of wool roving and knowledge about rug hooking. Up through the mountains they traveled, searching for the fount of wisdom on the animal fiber arts.
As they made their way to Asheville they happened upon the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair at the North Carolina Agricultural Center. Behold the sight that we laid eyes upon when we walked into the first exhibition center.

I am not going to lie and say that all that animal hair lying there didn't freak me out a little. It did. But it was pretty neat, also.

Speaking of founts of wisdom, Carmie got to meet her hero there. Now this photo is a little blurred, and I will make all sorts of excuses- like that the lighting wasn't really that great, or that we were giddy with newfound knowledge- but Carmie says that she prefers it blurry. So I will post it anyway. The woman on the left, Joan Berner, hand-dyes her own wool roving and makes her own yarn. It is absolutely gorgeous. You can find out more about Joan and her operation at http://www.cloverleaffarms.com/. (If you are in the market for any roving or yarn- she is located in Hendersonville, NC- I love buying local!)

There were classes teaching how to spin your own yarn. You can't help but feel, when you walk around, that you are seeing something that is a lost art. We stood and just watched the rhythmic spinning of the wheel and these women making their own yarn- it was fascinating.

On a side note, this is my mom (in the denim jacket) and her friend Carol. They wanted to learn more about rug hooking (which really is a lost art). But they told all their friends they were going to a HOOKING convention- which of course, made my sister and I think of HOOKERS. So Carmie and I giggled like schoolgirls anytime we mentioned the "Hooking Convention".

Silent Sunday.....Hiking @ Table Rock State Park

I'm Sew Excited....And I Just Can't Hide It!

First off, you are probably looking at the title and wondering if I misspelled the word so.....and I didn't! I just wanted to share some good news with you! I placed my order today for a new sewing machine! While I am thankful for the hand-me -down machine that I had- I am extremely excited about getting a brand new machine. My new machine is going to be a Husqvarna Emerald 183. I know you probably don't care, but I am going to share a picture with you.....

I'm in love. But, it is pretty expensive. So, I traded the machine that I have (that was needing repairs) and am making payments to get my new machine. I am using my mom's Singer Sewing School machine until I get this one. So, if anyone wonders on what to get me for Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine's, Labor Day....etc, you can now go by the Viking Store on Woodruff Rd. in Greenville and put some bucks down for me! HAHA!
I made these pants today for Sophie. My poor other children. I try out the patterns first for Sophie because tracing the smaller patterns seems easier to me....Like I said- poor things...Hope your rainy Saturday was as productive as mine!