Howling at the Moon

I want to remember this amazing moon shot that I took last night.  It brings me comfort that my hubby was looking at the same moon in Hawaii.

Hawaiian Stockings

I was so excited to see the Hawaiian quilts on Polka Dot Chair from her vacation that I decided to pull out my stockings that I started last November.  I haven't worked on them at all.  I am making them for my grand babies and now, I need to add two more.  One for a great niece and another grand daughter coming in November. 

I bought a huge fat quarter pack, so they all coordinate.  I only need to use half of a fat quarter to make the actual design.  Each pattern was picked for each child's name or birth order.  I, now, have the problem of having two babies with the same middle name and two with the same middle and first name.  Of course, those two were the two hardest patterns to find.  Lucky for me, my friends in Hawaii are searching for double patterns and I will be there in a couple of weeks.

The stocking order (also birth order) from left to right is:

Siouxsie, Kayleigh, Morrigan, Caleb, Keahi,

Remie, Bowie, Elizabeth and Lily

Pattern is Lily - picked this pattern because that is her middle name.

Pattern is Plumeria - picked because this is my favorite Hawaiian flower and this grand child is named after me.

Pattern is Hibiscus - this grand child loves to pull the flowers off my plant every time she comes over.

Pattern is Kahili - picked this pattern because there is a joke about his dad being the Japanese prince, so that would make him one too.

Pattern is Maile - maile is a vine that grows in Hawaii that smells wonderful.  This grand child's middle name is Ivy.

The other patterns I picked and need to applique are:

Breadfruit - for my first born grand son, it is a traditional pattern

Rose - for the grandchild and great niece with the middle name of Rose

Lily - for my last born grandchild coming in November, it will be her first name

I can't wait to get them finished, so excited.  I was able to work on quilting the Kahili, a little today.

Finally...

I, finally, got internet back so I am able to blog the right way, woo hoo.  The last 6 weeks have been so busy, especially since I started teaching my new grade level.  The hardest part was not having a month off in July, like I normally do - but September is 3 weeks a way.  The thought of not seeing my hubby for 5 months was killing me, but he came to me for 4 weeks.  Insert happy dance.  The grandbabies were really excited to see him.

We flew to Colorado for a quick weekend trip to meet our new great niece. 

 She has the biggest eyes and round face, just like her mommy did.  I don't like being so far away from her.  I need to get some bows made for her.

This has been a very busy year for us.  It started with a new grandson in October, twin grand daughters in April, grand niece in July and a new grand daughter due in November.  Every baby was due on my old school schedule, meaning I had those months off - it was crazy.  I wonder if they planned it that way.  Haha, I have enjoyed every minute of it. 

This is a picture of the twins at two weeks old - they are now 4 months.  I, really, should start their photo albums, giggle.  I took some pictures this weekend, hope to get them finished up soon.

I need to get some serious crafting done, but with the new position - I am putting in a lot of hours making curriculum.  I did make this cute composition cover, which holds every to do item and things I need to check out.  I call it my brain.

I have made three other covers this weekend, because I think I am going to break down the books for different things.  One for my school, one for my to do list, one for blogging and one for craft ideas.  I have 5 books with notes and they are all jumbled, then I can't find what I am looking for.

Three more weeks, then I will be in Hawaii with my hubby - spending the day quilting and doing feathers with some amazing friends.  I need to finish the babes' Christmas stockings.  It is a good thing that I bought enough material to make extra ones - didn't plan on the great niece or the baby due in November.

Changes

It has been a long time since I have blogged - life has been busy. I still can't access the Internet from my laptop, making it hard to blog   So I decided to try it with my iPad. I am hoping that it works out

There are a lot of changes in my life right now that involve my job and me personally. At the beginning of May, I decided to get healthy - for me. I have a low self-esteem and needed to do something for me. I felt very selfish but I needed to take care of me. I suffer from fibromyalgia and this time of the year I crash. But, right now I am doing pretty good. 

I started walking every morning, early. I just walked around the block.  Now, I am up to a mile or two every morning, depending  on time. 

This is a picture I took from my walk a couple of days ago.

I started eating healthier giving up red meat and eating more fruits and veggies. I gave up Starbucks except for once a week -it was easier than I thought. In the process of this. I have lost 16 pounds and one dress size. I feel so much better and have tons of energy. This week has been tough since I am winding down my school year. But, with these changes I will make it and it is for me.

Today is the day

Today is the day for the planned Csection, we are all excited to meet these two darlings. My daughter in law made it to 38 weeks with twins, she is amazing. I have so many emotions, at the moment. I am excited, scared, nervous and anxious. I can't wait to hold them. To count their fingers and toes. To shower them with kisses. To hug my son.

Today is the day.

Decision

The decision has been made, now we need to see if the pieces of the puzzle will fit together.  I hope so, because I need this change.  My heart and soul needs this change.  But, more importantly my body needs this change.  We should know by mid-May,  please say a little prayer for me.

Head Spinning

My head is spinning with trying to work out the details of retirement.  I, really, want to retire this year, but I am scared about the loss of the money.  The economy is not in great shape.  I was able to stay home with the kids when they were growing up and sell my crafts.  But it scares me about doing that again.  I have no regrets about going to school and getting my degrees. 

I love teaching, but it is changing and that scares me.  I am worried that they are not looking at the child, but looking at tests scores.  This year, I had 5 more kids in my class.  It is hard to take care of all of their individual needs.  I want to so badly, but there isn't enough time.  I feel guilty.  I started teaching because I didn't want a child to fall through the cracks.  I don't feel like I can meet the needs of 29 kids, but I want to - I am making myself sick trying too.

I am sick more and I am having more issues with my fibro.  I have a co-worker that thinks differently than most people, that makes it hard.  I am excited to see my kids and then as soon as I get to school, there are issues with her. 

We took a big cut when hubby retired to go back to Hawaii to take care of his mom.  It has taken, almost 2 years for me to figure it out.  I will be taking the exact same pay cut he did, but his retirement is more than mine - since I haven't been teaching as long.  My boys, really, want me to retire.  One of them has had to put me in bed some nights because I can't walk up the stairs - I hurt so much.  They want me around for my grand kids.

I am on break this month and I have meal planned every week - even cooked.  I was shocked at the amount that we have been spending at the grocery store, but I know it is less that I would have spent eating out every night, because I was too tired too cook or didn't have anything in the house to cook.

I think I am just scared, because once I make this decision - I can't go back.