happy days

Hiya!  Thanks for all the nice words about my home.  And no, it's not always that decluttered.  I just lucked out the day I took the pictures.  We do like to pick up and keep the house clean, but with 4 kids, it's not always possible.  Most of their toys are upstairs in the playroom and in their bedrooms and those rooms are never clean!

Boston was fantastic!  So hot, so sunny, so fun!  It's my favorite city, after Seattle.  We were joking around about all the really great Boston knitters we can stalk run into and what do you know?  We ran into Casey and Jess, uber rockstars of Ravelry!  That was a surprise!  Matt even deemed it photo worthy so here's a terrible iPh*ne picture of them.  Oohh... a full on picture of Matt:

I think I blabbered to Casey and Jess like an idiot but they were the nicest people.  I did get a chance to go yarn shopping with Matt and my friend, Sholeen, while in Boston.  Matt was the first to buy some yarn so you'll be getting pictures of Matt's newest project soon.  Me?  I swear I knitted a lot during my travels but I haven't finished a project to show you - yet. 

How about other fun pictures instead?  My kids are back in school - yippee!!!  Oops, I mean, darn it, summer's over.  :)  Here's a photo Matt took, trying to be all stealth-like, while spying on our middle schooler - yikes!!!  A middle schooler!!!:

Here's my other daughter twirling around in her new school dress.  She's so happy to be going back to school:

Here's my son, and his friend, showing each other how they've made their new school shoes dirty already.  Apparently, it's not cool to look like you've got new shoes on:

Here is a picture I love.  All the moms taking first-day-of-school pictures of their kids:

My youngest doesn't start school until Monday and then I'll have all my kids in school, all day, everyday!  Then I can get some time to do this:

I've forgotten how much I like planning, designing, and figuring out the math of quilting.  Then there's the cutting of strips to get them ready to put it all back together:

My days are mine again. Yay!  Back to days of knitting, quilting, blogging...ahem, I mean cleaning the house (if you are reading this Matt.)  My poor sister on the other hand, is dealing with a teacher's strike in her school district.  So her kids are driving her batty and they are all anxious to know when they get to go back to school.  Our teachers were able to come to an agreement over a new contract last week so school started on time for us.  Happy days to you all!!

Comments

[Nonnahs]

Cute post- yay for back to school time! :) And yes, Jess and Casey are the sweetest, aren't they? I can't wait to see your quilt come together! :)

[cactusneedles]

I've had a month of back to school! I love when they're home in the summer, but they both needed to get back into the school thing! And, yes, you can get more things done -- funny how that happens isn't it? Take care:)

[theresa/t does wool]

sound as though you have everything planned out-I'm anxious to see the quilt!

[schrodinger]

Jess and Casey are lovely aren't they? Glad you had a great trip. Enjoy your kids being back at school - all that crafting time.

[Amy]

I can't believe you just ran into them in Boston! Lucky duck!

[Stacee]

Love the pictures and I'm so glad you'll be able to enjoy your 'you' time to the fullest!

[Stacey_CrimsonPurl]

Great update!! Hope your Matt guest blogs again soon so we can see his projects! Those are fun surprises!!

Luv that last pic of the mom's snapping away! And brand spanking new shoes are SO not cool! Haha! ;op

Please tell me you have your own private pic with the Power Rav Team too!! ;op

Gotta love the iPhone...hoping to get me one soon...just don't want that high bill!

[Heather]

Middle Schooler, I have one of those as well! But around here it's referred to as junior high, which makes it sound much more terrifying...

[kim]

Wow, what are the odds of meeting real celebrities? Love all the pictures, but your little on in her dress is just adorable!

[sue]

Oh you lucky thing you bumping into ravelry royalty. Love all the back to school pics. Mine finish next week so it will 2 weeks of hopefully some late nights knitting and some sleep ins too.

[leslie]

so glad you had a great trip!!!
love back to school days. :)

[MrPuffy]

Wonderful capture of the first day of school. I can almost remember how it felt.

How fun to run into fellow knitters and famous ravelers! What a great time.

BTW, your quilt will be amazing!

[Kirsten]

Wow! A full on photo of the handsom Matt!! Now when do we get to see a pic of you?

[irishgirlieknits]

Happy days indeed!! Yay for kiddos being back in school!

[yaiAnn]

Yes! Crafty time has been waiting for you!

[mary]

I have a first time middle schooler too and sent him off yesteray. Sigh! I'm hoping to actually get to do some knitting again soon. Hope you do too!

[gilraen]

The first day back is such a special day!! My 'baby' started Pre-school this year!!! Good luck with the quilting! It looks lovely :)

[Marimi]

It is the beginning of a new years, you will have plenty of things to show us, it is a good thing that summer is over, because that means that christmas is closer and more family time (and crafty time of course)

[Kathy]

Enjoy your time!! And you've have to let me know the next time you are coming to Boston!

[marjorie]

I had only one son, and I was ecstatic when school started. I can only imagine how deafening the quiet must be for you with four away for school hours.

Please show us the progress on your quilt and not just the FO. I'd love to follow your planning process and each assembly step.

[whitney]

Enjoy your time to yourself! I can't wait to see more of your quilting...even the little peek you gave in this post looks exciting!

[Angelika]

Oh no, she quilts too. What program is that you are using? Can't wait to see what you came up with.

[Pat]

I love that you've reconnected with quilting! (Me too)

[lolly]

Can't wait to see the back-to-school crafts :) looks like you had fun in Beantown!

[maryse]

that's great that you ran into casey and jess and that you enjoyed your time in boston.

[Kim]

I love having my girls home from school for the summer, but I have to admit, I am always very happy when September and the school bus roll around :)

I can't wait to see your quilt!

[Loveleelara]

Ahhhh, some semblance of sanity comes back to our worlds! I can't wait to see the progress on your quilt, you do such beautiful work! Now that AMt has revealed himself, the cyberphyles won't leave him alone :-)

[Heidi]

How lucky for you that your kids are all in school! Hoorah! I can't believe you met the gods of ravelry. How cool! Have a great (quiet) day.

[lucy]

I take pictures on the first day of school too. Sadly, I was the only one doing it this time and the other moms must have thought am weird!
Looking forward to seeing your crafty endevours with all the free time you'll have!

[merete]

i am sure your house is always immaculate without you even thinking of it. looks lovely but even lovelier is that picture of your daughter loving to go back to school in her new dress. that is the way it should be.

i am sure i'd love boston and bumping in to that couple too. i have a cousin there btw. and seattle too. i went to vancouver and loved every bit of it. so why wouldn't i love seattle and maybe bumping into frasier. hopefully next year.

[Debby]

You have such amazing energy! You did such a great job with your remodeling while your kids were home, and now you're planning a quilt too? Wow!

[katie]

love your pictures! happy first day of school.
that quilt is going to be great! I can't wait to see it. so much fun!

[Brenda]

Great back to school photos! I love the one of the Moms taking pictures.

Looking forward to seeing the quilt!

[monica]

Gee I can really tell that you're sad about the kids being back in school. I wonder what you'll do with all that alone time you'll have while they are in school. :-)

[Opal]

I'm so glad you can take back your alone time. I can't wait to see your quilt!

[Karen]

I love planning quilts too. They should make quilt coloring books!
Do you have time for a beginner knitting question?: Do you have to do sweater blocking every time you wash it, or just the first?
Karen

[Mandy]

Back to school pics are so fun! Your quilt looks so good, even in these early planning stages! Have fun playing with fiber, ahem, I mean cleaning the house!

[Kelley]

It's great that your kids are so excited!

I can't wait to see your quilt!

[Nicole]

Love those back to school photos. Your daughter reminds me of me at that age. So cute in her pleated dress!

Enjoy your new found "freedom". Looking forward to seeing that quilt!

[Julie]

Love the twirling photo. :o) I wonder if Casey and Jess ever thought they'd be recognized in public? lol I'm going to be a total dork if they come to Stitches South next year.

[rhoda]

i love the pic of the moms getting shots of their kids on the school bus on the first day! too cute. the part about your son and his friend showing off their dirty new shoes was funny. i remember those days! i'm sure it's nice to have some time to yourself again. :)

[stacey]

Yay for school:) Enjoy your time to craft and create! And Rockstars indeed - I was at a sheep and wool today and Ravelers are smitten with the site and each other, it's pretty awesome!

[jennygirl]

Happy days for everyone indeed! I'm a nerd so I always liked the first day of school.
Glad your trip to Boston was fun.
Great pics!

enjoy your free time after "cleaning" :)

[domesticshorthair]

Casey and Jess do look a bit startled by your apparent babbling enthusiasm, but then, I'd have done the same.

Congrats on getting your days back! My son starts his preschool on Monday, so I'll gain a couple of hours a day for three days a week; it'll be nice. I look forward to your schedule though.

Enjoy!

[Sue]

Your quilt looks like it'll be gorgeous. I totally remember my brother and me scuffing up our brand new shoes on purpose. :-) Yay for more crafty time!

[Lin]

As much as I love summer, theback to school time is always like a fresh start to me! I like it! Looking forward to your next creation.

[KeanaLee]

They grow up so fast!

[Marianne]

seems like you've been so busy! Your house looks immaculate, and so tasteful. Love it. Enjoy your time without the children, it goes in a flash but it is soooo nice!

[aquaknits]

Great pics!! I don't think boys think anything clean is cool, lol. Great to see you've got some quilting planned, I'm looking forward to seeing your beautiful work!

[amisha]

that photo of all the moms snapping photos was too funny! and hurrah for good times at the start of the school year. i can't wait to see your quilting project!!
xo