Historic Williamsburg

Today was our first day visiting Historic Williamsburg. After picking up our tickets at the visitor center, we rode the shuttle downtown and enjoyed a nice lunch together - the highlight of which was freshly made mixed berry sorbet, blood orange sorbet and burnt sugar ice cream.

We watched this woman spin wool - and listened to her talk about how life was in Colonial times. Interesting times they must have been! On our journey to Virginia we began listening to a lecture from the Teaching Company on the Revolutionary War. I am excited to learn more about this period of history - especially since it is part of what Elise will be studying next year in school.

We were able to tour the home of the local silversmith, visit the shoe shop, see the church that Patrick Henry, George Washington and other men of influence attended so many, many years ago.

The kids are plumb tuckered out and I am heading that way after I gather the laundry from the 24 hour laundry room here at the American Heritage RV Park.

Summer Plans

Today was the last day of school for the oldest two kiddos! We left Austin in the coach around 5 p.m. - not the best time - that is how it worked. We passed through Carl's Corner, TX  pop. 134,  Milford, TX Bardwell, TX, Italy, TX (saw the coolest little complex of  Dome houses), Ennis, TX (serious Friday Night Lights football it appears happens here). Each of these towns had a busy Wednesday night church service going on. We even saw a tent meeting of sorts - at a church called Living Faith something  . . .

Tonight we did something different - instead of staying at a Walmart - which we usually do on our way out of town - we found a nice RV park and even though it was late - we found a spot and can sleep well, with power and water for the coach. We are watching the American Idol finale - and the kids are in the back watching Chicken Little.
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Tomorrow we'll get on down the road - making it to Williamsburg, VA by Friday-ish.

First time for everything

Last night Greg and I had a date planned - to see the free Shakespeare in Zilker Park - "Dream: A Midsummer Night's Dream" set to 60's music with a live band on stage. Hmmmmm, sounded interesting.

However in our planning we assumed (bad) that we could do what we always do at Shakespeare - have in fact done since before our engagement at "Taming of the Shrew" in 2000, drink wine!

Well, come to find out you may not drink alcohol in Zilker Park. Who knew?

The plans had to be changed and now there was another couple involved. One of our employees and his girlfriend. . . We ended up having a lovely dinner with Dan and Kristi at Trulucks downtown Austin.

Tonight we will have the meal that was prepared for our Shakespeare picnic before we dash off to Elise and Caleb's first piano recital. Ever.

The meal is Basil Dressing Vinegrette over pasta with cold shrimp, french bread, salad and wine of course. I splurged and bought some nice cheeses to go with our bread last night. The kids have already eaten the bread and Greg has agreed to buy another loaf on the way home.

Looking forward to our dinner tonight - it is actually almost the same meal Greg prepare the night he proposed almost 11 years ago. God is so good to us - I can barely take it in!

Field Trip to CiCi's pizza and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Listening intently to instructions on field trip to CiCi's pizza. . .

Working on Pizza fractions while waiting for his turn to make his own pizza, onto which he didn't want to put anything other than pepperoni.

Finished pizza!

This one snuck into the quilt lineup!

After years of promising Caleb a quilt - he somehow never got one from me as a baby?
I have finished the top of the John Deere/Denim quilt for the contest mentioned in a previous post.
I used old jeans and pieces of inherited John Deere fabric.
It has several pockets . . .  the one below is the center piece.

Now the trick will be to see if I can finish it before vacation. The deadline for the contest is the 7th of June. . .

Music That Encourages Me

This morning Greg encouraged me by sharing the following artists with me:

The Quebe Sisters Band  http://www.quebesistersband.com/index.php a Texas band!

Dailey & Vincent http://daileyvincent.musiccitynetworks.com/index.htm?id=16243&sid=16230

If you have Rhapsody take a listen!

My Favorite Quilt Shop in the world

My Mom sent me the most recent issue Quilt Sampler Spring/Summer 2010 which features my favorite Quilt Shop in the world  In Between Stitches in Livermore, California.

It was a special treat to find this in the mailbox.

Only my Mom would know how much I would love to read this magazine.

I am actually going to attempt the quarterly challenge put on by the magazine. If I finish it in time I will post pictures here.

Thanks Mom!

Becoming a Baseball Mom (what has happened to me?)

Today was the final game of the regular season for the Grasshoppers!

It was an early game and a little chilly - considering it was in the 90's yesterday.

Caleb played a few different positions through this game. He played well in the pitcher position and was diligent in getting to ball thrown to third and then covering home base.

I don't understand what has overtaken me. . . I care about baseball.

Ok, just when my son is playing. Aaggghhhhhh.

                  

                       Playing pitcher for a couple of innings.
 
 

 

Calvin and Elise at the game today . . .

 

A Mother's Day Tea

Wednesday I was invited to a tea in Caleb's first grade classroom. It was humbling to read what he had written about me.
Caleb's words encouraged me to be a better mom and to be the mom he believes me to be.

Here is an example of what I learned about myself as Caleb's mom. First we had to pick the picture of ourselves out from the artwork displayed on the wall . . . the other mom's were enjoying looking at all the pictures when I arrived and were teasing me - saying that it was going to be tough for me to find myself.

Short red hair, earrings and an orange shirt. It's me alright!

Heh, Heh, Heh -

Next all the children read the back of the above picture to their mom. It was titled:

My Mother!

My mother is the most wonderful mom in the world.
She is as pretty as the Erthe.
She weighs about 40 pounds and she is about 40 feet tall.
Her favorite food is tokos.
In the good old days when Mom was little, she used to robd sigres.
I think Mom looks funny when when she opin her moth!
I know she is really angry when she gos cwit!
I wish Mom would play with me everyday.
I wouldn't trade my mother for one theng.

Happy Mother's Day!

That was the silly part. . . next they presented the following:

I about lost it at that point. Each of us were given a picture of our child in a painted black frame. Caleb is holding a paper heart. All but the heart were black and white or sepia.

During the tea the children served punch and goodies. We enjoyed our time togther!

Early Mother's Day Dinner

Tonight we had an early Mother's Day dinner . . . at one of our favorite places. The Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas. If you ever come for a visit, we'll take you. http://www.saltlickbbq.com/locations_driftwood.html

We don't even look at the menu, we just order family style. Which includes meat (sausage, brisket and ribs), amazing potato salad, wonderful coleslaw, beans, pickles, onions and bread. You may add pickled jalapenos.  This can be refilled and refilled (see me smile). The best is the burnt end brisket. Trust me.

The people watching at the Salt Lick is better than an airport.  It could potentially give you stories to tell for some time.

Next Quilting Project

This is the material I will be working with. Greg has requested "vintage" fabric. Some of which I found at the International Quilt Festival in Houston last October. I went to the Festival with my Mom and my sister in law Kristen. We had a great time looking at all the quilts and the many, many, many vendors. Several pieces are old feed sacks. A few are old textile pieces from who knows when and several are from this modern day and age and will work nicely. I do look forward to cutting it out and then putting it together. I haven't done a nine patch in quite some time. It will also be the first "big" quilt I plan to free motion quilt myself.                           

This is the goal. The Texas 9-Patch!

First Swim of 2010

The water does look tempting . . .

Don't you think these goggles will work?

I couldn't find my other ones. . .

It      is     really     cold    mom. 

Ainsley's Quilt

Almost done with the baby quilt for my newest grand-niece Ainsley. She was born on the 8th of January - so I am not that far behind. . .  I keep telling myself that anyway. This will be the second one delivered to grandnieces in less than two months. Pretty good for Great Aunt Kami!

How Time Flies . . .

Can't believe that it is Saturday night already. Friday flew by with the kids attending classes to accomodate Friends and Family Day. They both did some verbal presentations while we visited their classrooms. Bravo to each for a job well done. Elise's class was producing some phenomenal math problems. Aagghhhh. I am thankful that Greg teaches math. I can't believe that things that they are beginning to work on in second grade.

We went straight from a long day at school to the baseball field for Caleb's game. It was hot and all of the players were dragging. We kept them hydrated, but we lost. Bummer. After the game we grabbed some dinner and then visited with Coleman who was here for a minute (ok two days) to pick up his bride and daughter. We said hi and then hit the road for baths and bed.

Saturday morning was a tad relaxing for the kiddos. Some reading, some playing, some breakfast. A baseball game in the middle of the day. Haircut for Caleb and new pants - because he has outgrown the ones we bought in January for church/school, can't have pants that are too short. . .

Came home to more baths, dinner a movie and shortly bed.

Then I can hopefully continue to clean the office/schoolroom - so that when Greg returns it looks improved upon . . .

We are looking forward to the Lords' Day and some rest.

Blessings to you,

Kami