A Little More Life Left

I have mentioned this week that I am working hard making a big move in the basement. It is such a disaster that I have not taken pictures of progress because it doesn't seem like too much when I think of all I have left to do.  But thanks to my mom's help yesterday I was able to get the rugs and all of the shelves and tables moved over to their new place.

Now, it is determining lighting and placement of machines, cutting table, and counter top that will serve as a place to organize and work on future projects (like card making and photo books, quilts and other fun handmade gifts). I do have to say that I am a little excited. BUT, I am a lot excited about a little project that has come out of the first big move day.

You can see the particle board on the
front where the fake strip had fallen off.

I have had this little shelving piece since my mom and her siblings were cleaning out my grandpas house. I remember where it sat in their house in the hall way to the bathroom. Every so often a new or different knick knack would be sitting on one of the shelves. It has been in my basement in the last two houses I have lived in and held more practical things like pen cups or paper and other things I used in my crafting. When I did the last rearrange of the furniture in my sewing area I found that my scrapbooks fit like a glove on the shelves and so it has been down there holding on to our family memories. Seems fitting...except for one thing. They never get seen or looked at in my sewing area.

Fast forward to this afternoon. As we were emptying the contents of the shelves so we could move it, I was pretty sure I didn't want the family albums to be moved into a deeper corner of the basement more out of the way than they were before. So, I brought it upstairs, moved around some little pieces of furniture and found a place for it to sit.

It is no priceless antique but instead mostly particle board and 70's spindles but I thought that maybe I could spruce it up a bit. We are in no place of late to purchase brand new furniture and well, it is a memory that could actually be functional. The little strips of fake "wood" had fallen off of a few of the levels but because of the little door on the bottom every time one strip would fall off, I would stash it inside the cabinet part. So, I had every little strip to glue back on once I found a place for it.

Before

After

Excited when I realized it would work!

Then there was the hardware. It also dated the piece and so after remembering some things I have in our "junk" drawer I measured and figured that the pull I had left over from our whirlwind "flip the house" month we had getting our old house ready to sell would work perfectly! It was a little tricky getting the holes drilled on a door that was already mounted but I found some longer screws and think it turned out pretty great considering I haven't bought a single thing for it. All of the strips of fake wood were re-glued on and I turned the little top do hickey another half turn and hid the crack on the wall side.
After I got it all glued I was able to sort through the books and put them in order by year. Zach is having a ball going through these books that he never knew were downstairs! They had a blast looking at the books and trying to figure out where their story started as part of our family. Lots of talk about grandmas and grandpas and great this and great that. If nothing else, the time I have spent on this project has already been worth it!

Ta-da!

 As Zach opened up book after book he was so excited to see how he smiled when he was a baby, showing me his favorite pictures with his siblings and even excited about the heritage albums. Opening one of the albums he said "these are like a key to the past!"

Those who know me know that that is music to this moms ears! It was also a big of a kick in the pants to get the books I have in progress finished and on a shelf too! I really think that me spending the time to purge and organize the things I do downstairs will be the "key to our future!" Meanwhile, it looks like this memory piece has a little more life left in it after all. I giggle as I have typed "piece" throughout this blog talking about this particle board unit as if it was some priceless addition to our living room! We all have our own definition of "priceless".

Now I just have to decide what to stash in the little cabinet at the bottom! I love a good place to stash stuff!

A Few Projects

We are gearing up for some big changes at our house. There is pandemonium in our basement as we map out rooms and where things will be happening. One of things that I will be responsible for in all of this will be to move all of my sewing/crafting to the back of the basement. I started by cleaning out the unused toys and mess that had accumulated back there one day last week when we were home on break. Now I don't want to just MOVE it all into the space, I need to plan and figure where things will be best placed, lighting needs, etc.

When we first moved in back in 2013 I just set things up as I needed them for projects. I have moved things around a little here and there to make it somewhat more efficient. Now however, I would like to put some thought into what I do most and where cutting table/machine table, and the other crafting stuff table. There is also the problem now of how awful I am at picking up and putting back things after each project I work on. SO, that said, my cutting table is full of piles, the table the girls' machines are on is piled high with quilt magazine ideas and fabric too. Yes, time to REEL IT IN!

All this to say, that since Christmas I have been able to get a few things done in my "spare" time! I thought I would share since it might make me feel better about myself to think of what has gotten accomplished despite my mess and thoughts of transition.

So, here is my show and tell if you will! First, I have a friend whose daughter has a birthday at the end of January. So, my first completed project of the year is this mermaid tail. She likes pink and purple and wanted some teal in with it. It is hard for me to see the end when I am standing in the store picking out yarn and I do love how it turned out but I think I may have gone for a little more pink, or a brighter pink. I was told she loved it so I am happy with that! (oh, and it probably would showcase better if I had not taken the picture on the ugly mauve carpet!)


Next we have a project I started back in October when I spent the weekend at my aunt's house. It was fun to get away and hang out with some of my favorite people. I can't wait for the next time! I wasn't really prepared for working on anything when I was packing and preparing but I did have LOTS of denim circles. I had also been to Tuesday Morning that week and had snagged some fat quarter packs for four bucks each in batiks! When I saw the fabric I remembered the denim quilt I made for the benefit last year. My sister had told me she bid on my quilt but my aunt (same one I was quilting with and found at Jo's Country Junction) had won. What a great idea to make another denim quilt like the one I made for the benefit! I had PLENTY of denim. So that is what I started there while I was there.

The picture is the completed quilt before I wash it. I was able to make one for my sister in law for Christmas in between before my sister's February birthday. We usually exchange cards and gift cards for our birthdays which is fine, but I was excited to give this. She liked it too!

Unfortunately, my Marion Indians quilt didn't get an "after" picture. But, here it is before I quilted it to the back. I used a inner square and stitched inside each square and it turned out nice. I had a deadline of first week in February for that to be auctioned at the All American Concert which is our school's fundraiser each year to support the music directors and the music programs at the high school. I was happy to be able to help bring in $100 for the music program. This fleece blanket/quilt will be great for football season! It was a fun kinda make it up as I go pattern. I was happy with how it turned out.


And last on my show and tell today is this fun banner I made for the front door. I admit, it was half way through March before I got it on the door, but it was still "in like a Lion" where the weather was concerned so I still feel good about how it turned out! In fact, my kids blame me for the snowfall we got in the early part of the month because I still had my snowman "Snowday" up on the door. Not any longer.

I saw this pattern in quite a different form in a Quiltmaker magazine. It was a horizontal banner and that just wouldn't work for the door. Although it asked for 2" squares, I had all of the 1 1/2" squares left over from the Mario quilts I made for the boys. I putzed around with the colors until it all worked. A little bit of redesign and we have March in like a lion/out like a lamb for spring.

I would love to have a new banner on the door every month but I still have some missing. I have a couple of very fun ones in pattern stages right now but look forward to some new summer doors this year. We are all in a topsy tervy point in the basement and today I will be working on moving my sewing "room". I am telling you, there is a lot of stuff to move! I will have to give a report when some organization comes out of my current chaos!

State Basketball Fun

Both halves of the game on Thursday
against CPU showed very uneven calling
by the refs. (see the foul board)

It is always fun when state basketball rolls around. The years we have been in Marion and that Stacey has played basketball have been exciting. The Marion girls are good. Stacey played on the Fresh/Soph team and JV. She has grown a lot by the experience and is excited for the next few years. She just told me this afternoon "I wish that basketball was a year round sport" (as we were out buying new soccer cleats!)

We traveled to Des Moines to watch them play. My dad loves going to the games and so he drove his van. We jumped in and drove the two hours to cheer the girls on. Not knowing how the week would turn out, but hoping pretty confidently that the girls could win the championship, we were there to watch as they beat Fairfield on Monday.

Because of the bracket, the second game on Thursday was CPU. We play CPU twice during our regular season and it is a real rivalry when we do. The worst thing that could happen would be for CPU to beat us at state. Some were worried. We knew they could do it, we beat them both games there and home but both games were close. The game started with terrible reffing and I think that even CPU fans would agree. It was pretty close for awhile until they took the lead to 10 before all was said and done. We like to think that the girls beat CPU AND the refs during that game! It was a very mental game the whole time.

The girls played hard and beat CPU for the
third time this season.

Grandpa and Stacey heading to the game

I was so torn for the championship game! We were up against Grinnell who were known to be good. Zach had his last middle school show choir competition on Friday night right as the girls started the game. I stayed in town and sat just as Zach's group went up to sing with the tip off on my phone in one of my ears and the other ear and eyes watching his performance. If Stacey was playing I certainly would have gone, but I knew there were plenty of people cheering them to victory so I stayed behind for Zach.

Matt got to come on Thursday. "This is so
cool!" he says.

Stacey and Dawn rode to the game with Grandpa and Grandma and cheered in person. It was such a good game and a great way to end the season! Each one of our girls did what they do best and were on, every one of them. It made for a great game of basketball for those of us who have watched all through the season as they made their way to the championship game. That is what a team does, each contributing their strengths.

It is a sad end always when Stacey thinks about it being so long til they play again in the fall. But the training through the summer months preparing for next year makes it go fast and we will find us at the beginning of a new season once again. (At least it goes plenty fast enough for me who would like time to slow down just a bit).

Tonight officially ends the season with the basketball banquet. I am proud of Stacey during her first year of high school ball. If there is one person who loves basketball it is our Stacey!

Spring Break

We got back on Wednesday from Wisconsin Dells. We spent four days and three nights there with my brother and his family. We attempted this a couple years ago and had a great time so we thought we would do it again. This time we tried a different water park The Great Wolf Lodge. It was nice. The rooms weren't the greatest but we got a Groupon deal so we took it. I think when we go back next time, we will split a condo that has a full kitchen and lots of sleeping space.

As much as I would have liked to have a bunch of pictures at the water park, I ended up leaving my phone up in the room for the most part so I didn't lose it or have it stolen when I wasn't as the table with our stuff. The kids would definitely recommend the park. There were two big slides that you go down in inner tubes, A couple that the kids would call "like at the swimming pool" where you just go up and slide down. There was a very fun body slide where you go down on a mat head first on your belly. I got to do some relaxing pool side with my current read "Team of Rivals".

Mille Bourne madness!

The favorite of all was the tornado. Jonah was still just at the line and so he was the only one who didn't get to go down. I will tell you at first, I was a little scared as I waited in line and heard the screams as people would go down. It is a four person tube and it drops what feels pretty straight down right at the start. My first time down I ended up being the one going backwards so that was a little unnerving. But, it was VERY fun. You get shot out into the huge drum going back and forth until you get to the bottom. If it wasn't for the heavy tube to carry up the stairs I would have gone on it more. With Syler and Ryan it was nice since they were able to carry it.

We did make it out to dinner once at MACS

We all got good arm workouts carrying the tubes! The wave pool was a favorite too along with the hot tub. There really was a very wide range of choices and there were very few times that it was crowded. We ate our meals in the room with a mini fridge and (mini) microwave. Walking tacos, sloppy joes, veggies and fruit along with the typical chips and cracker kind of snacks. It was a nice get away!

We couldn't go to the Dells without a trip to the arcade and I did get some pictures there!

Ryan, Syler and Zach find their way out
of the escape room

Matt wins a Pikachu first try on the
claw machine!

Life size Space Invaders

The girls give it a try

Look out for this gang!

It was good to get out of town for a few days. It wasn't too busy this spring break and there were rarely long lines. It was even pretty relaxing. (Most of the time!)

Winter Craziness

Show choir season has come and gone, basketball too. It has been very crazy in my house! As you can see from that date, there is barely time to sit down! It is bad that I haven't at least sat down and shared some fun pictures from basketball season (the varsity girls WON STATE), show choir season or really anything else that has kept us busy lately.

Busy...it is good to be busy. I thought that in way of summary, I would share the craziest (now that it is more than a month past) night that culminated in the two weeks of yuck at the Sloan house this winter!

Is it awful that I found myself in the doctors office with my son praying that he had walking pneumonia? It is the understatement of the year that the week was rough in our house. One of my show choir kids was found in the living room on the couch Tuesday morning as I came out ready for a sub job. He was supposed to be at 6 a.m. basketball practice. "Mom, I have a fever of 100.3"! My head shouted "NOOOOOO!!!!!!" He has a show choir trip to Nebraska on Friday! (and I have to go to work - EVERY DAY THIS WEEK!)

Yes, you read that right. I took jobs for five straight days that week. Thankfully David can work from home and does often. He was able to be around to help but I knew that we needed to get this boy into the doctor before the day was done. While I waited for the kindergarten teacher to run off a copy of the plans for me that Tuesday, I made a quick call to the docs to get him in at 4:30. That would get me in and out of there before I needed to be with Matthew at a school thing he had at 6. Phew...on with the day.


That brought us to the doctor's office after work. The doc said we had three possibilities. One, it could be the flu and he would miss the trip. Or, it could be viral and you could miss the trip, or maybe you could be fever free for 24 hours by the time Friday came. Last, it could be walking pneumonia and we could get him on antibiotics and most likely he will be ready to go by Friday.

I have not worked a 40 hour week outside of my home for 17+ years but this week I had a sub job every day. I don't usually do this because well, there are five young people living in my house and so I already have a full time job. But, some teachers needed help and I have a hard time saying "no'. So, pray for walking pneumonia! I actually had to leave Ryan at the doctor waiting for a finger prick because they were terribly behind (of course) and I had to get Matthew to his school thing. Thankfully, David was taking Zach to piano not far from the docs so I called him and asked him to come pick Ryan up after his test was done.

Phew! Did you follow all of that? Rushing into the school, Matt and I made it just in time to start the "Specials night". We moved around from room to room hearing from the music teacher, the PE teacher, guidance, and the rest. We were in the library listening to the librarian when my leg vibrated (my phone was in my purse at my feet). Sure enough, I didn't get to it fast enough and it was the DOCTOR'S office with our answer for Ryan. UGH! It was 6:10 and they closed at 6 so of course I couldn't get through to return the call! Now I won't know til tomorrow!

Stacey making a free throw (it went in)

The bell rang and we got up and moved to music, then again and on to guidance in the art room. We played a little game together at the table and in came a text from David "walking pneumonia...can you pick up meds on the way home?" YES! YES! YES! Phew again...they tried calling home too! He should be able to leave on the show choir trip by Friday! (our prayers were answered...weird, but they were) I thought it was over and I could get back to the game with Matt (I mean, I didn't want to look like the parent who wasn't engaged but instead more interested in my phone!)

Not a minute later my phone vibrated again showing a number from Manly, IA. I know where Manly, IA is but I have no idea who would be calling me from there! But my gut told me to answer. Very hard to hear the person on the other end of the line but I DID hear "Ashley (who is the team trainer)...Stacey...CONCUSSION!" What?!?!?!?!?!?!? Are you KIDDING ME? I may have missed two whole basketball games of Stacey's all year and I miss the one where she gets a concussion?! Yes, its true.

Number 30!!

So, I texted may dad (who goes to every game) and asked for details. Then I texted David. In true David fashion I get a text "SERIOUSLY?" Yes. Dad answered not long after that saying he didn't know the details but that they would take good care of her and get her home safely. That is all I will say about that since Stacey doesn't want to make a big deal about it. (She is better now and was able to finish out the season strong).

All this to say...in one night the stress of the whole season...basketball...show choir. But really, under it all the ground stayed in place and the earth did not quake. Ryan boarded the bus at 1:30 on that Friday afternoon after being fever free for 28 hours and made it to the show in Nebraska. AND...I survived a 40 hour week of subbing making the decision to not do that again until we are empty nesters!

But wait...the story would not be complete without the mention of a text that came to me while I was watching a movie Friday night, snuggled with crochet in my favorite chair in the bedroom. "Mom...I think I have a fever." Dawn, from Nebraska is texting me. What can I say other than find someone who has some ibuprofen, take some every six hours. Do your best during the performance and then find a corner where you can snuggle and wait it out til the bus ride home.

Sure enough, she arrived home at 6 a.m. Sunday morning (The varsity show choir for the first time made it into finals so they had to stay to perform and the bus didn't leave until about midnight) she had a fever of 101.5. Doctor confirmed it on Monday that she had both walking pneumonia AND influenza B! So, she was home sick the next week. And, that was our winter sick weeks, although the show choir kids still made it to Nebraska. One was getting over and the other coming down with their illnesses. And although Matthew took his temperature every morning both weeks in hopes that he would get to stay home too, he didn't miss a day!

Life is good!