I have missed my sewing machine!

With the near completion of my craft room and the birth of three babies, I decided it was time to pull out the old sewing machine again. I had forgotten how much I enjoy sewing and making gifts for people. I woke up yesterday feeling like I had been run over by a train but refused to let that stop me. I am still not feeling the greatest tonight but oh well...no time to be sick. Here are a few pictures of the burp cloths I made today.

I made these three for my Nephew Karl that was just born on Monday.

These are for my Sister's neighbor who had a little girl just 5 days before Karl.

These are for a fellow ISU Fraternity friend of Chris's that had a little boy this past week.

Karl Augustine Bachmann

New Album 7/22/09 3:46 PM

We just returned from a great trip to Cincinnati. Mallory and I flew out on Sunday to be there for the birth of my Sister's baby. We had a cancelled flight in Chicago on he way there and finally landed in Cincinnati at 12:30am. We were a little tired but happy to be there. Laura and Sebo got up and headed to the hospital on Monday morning around 5:15, got checked in and we figured we had the morning and at least part of the afternoon to get ready but baby Karl had other plans. He arrived at 8:40am, 8lbs. 5ozs., and 21 1/4 inches long and lots of dark hair. I think he looks a lot like Walter. It was such a treat to be there with everyone to welcome Karl into this world.

Tuesday they came home around noon, we had the house all decorated in blue. Tuesday afternoon got out and did a little shopping to give them a break, came back and had dinner and then it was time for us to pack up again. We got up around 6am this morning and had to rather bumpy flight back to Wichita but we arrived safely, just a little tired. I love being an Aunt and am so happy that my Sister and I get along so well, we are all sooo lucky. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Lots of Art

Today was a super busy day at our house! It started out with Mick going to his Playdate at church, today was stuffed animal day (Mick brought his large Mickey Mouse) and they had a special visit from a few animals from Tanganika. This time around he did cry when I left him but I didn't get called to pick him up early. When we went to pick him up at 1:00 they said he did great and went all day without his paci!!! Amazing.

This is the lion that Mick made at school today.

Mallory's day started in the afternoon with another great art class. I was able to drop her off but Janette once again so kindly brought her home. I am so impressed with the ability of the teacher that teaches these classes, well worth the $15.00. After class the Dillon's stayed and swam for a little while before Mallory had dinner with Joel.

Logan, Mallory, and Katie with their final projects.

Up close picture of Mallory's art.

Diving was the theme at the pool today, or should I say attempting to dive! I will let you guess by the pictures if it was a dive or belly buster! This is Mallory.

Logan giving it a try.

Caleb, luckily he wasn't hurting after this "dive."

Art Class

We have some great new art in our house compliments of Miss Mallory. I enrolled her in a class offered through the Maize Rec center and I never would of guessed how great her artwork would turn out. Not only was Mommy in love with her art, but she was quite proud as well. We went for a quick visit to Grandma's house this morning and I tried to get a picture of the two together, very hard to do right now! Mallory has another art class tomorrow afernoon. Stay tooned for more awesome artwork!

Mick and Mallory at Grandma's house!

Mallory, Logan, and Alex with their masterpieces. (Thanks for the picture Janette!)

Up close picture of her painting on canvas.

The other picture she painted on paper.

Iowa Wedding

New Album 7/12/09 8:57 PM

We just returned this evening from a fun wedding in Iowa. We left Friday morning around 9 and headed to KC. Once we got there we stopped for lunch and visited a great toy store that both our children enjoy. We got back in the car and drove to Des Moines and stopped at a very nice mall knowing we were headed to small town Iowa with not much to offer. We had dinner at Cheesecake Factory, shopped, found a great play place for Mick. After all of our mall fun we got back in the car and headed to Tama, Iowa. Let me tell you all that there isn't much in this town. I hate hotels so Chris picked the nicest he could find which was at a Casino. I thought that was a little weird at first taking our children to a casino but after talking with the other couples staying at the only two other hotel and listening to the descriptions of how they smelled I was quite happy with my plastic sheeted bed at the casino.

Saturday we got up and knew the Mick needed to get out and run around since he had to take an earlier nap due to the time of the wedding. The weather was beautiful while we were there, nothing over 80 degrees. We spent the morning at a great park, grabbed lunch and then back to put Mick down. We all showered and got ready for the 4pm wedding.

The wedding was in another very, very small town in a church without a/c! The ceremony was short but the dismissal took almost twice as long as the wedding. Guess where we sat?? We were on the back row so we could easily exit if Mick acted up. After the wedding we headed to another small town for the reception. The had a nice dinner for everyone and cheese fountain. Mallory thought the wedding was sooo much fun. She is my little social girl. She caught the bouquet and was thrilled until she found out she had to dance with the man that caught the garter belt. I got a good chuckle out of this. Oh, she also loved the Daddy/Daughter dance with Chris, so cute to watch them together. Around 10:30 I finally took Mick back to the hotel, Mallory didn't want to go with me, she had made friends and wanted to dance. Chris and Mallory finally got back around 12:15.

Sunday morning we got up and headed home, all very tired. It was a pretty uneventful drive. Once again Mick didn't nap:( I got to entertain him the whole way, that goodness for DVD players in the car. That was our super short weekend and I am exhausted, but laundry is done, car is washed, everything put away and I am headed to bed!!

Fourth of July

New Album 7/5/09 11:01 AM

This year we had a wonderful day and evening! On Thursday night we did a few fireworks with Mallory and our neighbors not knowing if we would get any time with her on the Fourth since it is her Dad's birthday. We had a great time and Mick never woke up, he is such a good sleeper at night!

On Saturday we (Chris, Mick, and I) took it easy most of the day just enjoying our time together. We got Mallory back around 5 and got ready to head out to Andover for a big 4th party hosted by my friends the Gee's. We arrived around 7 and there were 5 or 6 tables full of yummy food and the fireworks had already begun. It was great fun catching up with friends that I hadn't seen in several years as well as tons of fun for the kids (beads, glow sticks, flags, hats), Mallory was running all around screaming with the kids and having a great time. The fireworks continued until 11:15 and boy were they good ones, I have never seen such great neighborhood fireworks. The night ended with the official burning of the Christmas tree, I guess a tradition that was started years ago with Mitch and Teri's actual Christmas tree saved just for this big event, and everyone singing jingle bells. We got in the car around 11:20 and Mick was tired and Mallory kept saying it was the best party she had ever been to. Hope everyone else had as fun of a Fourth of July as we did.