LEARNING EVERY DAY

I have done it! Ok, well sort of.... I officially finished my first pair of shorts for Rye (with a TON of help from my mom) and now I am almost done with a second pair that I have done ALL by myself!!! My mom brought me over an ironing board for the table because I have never had one. I haven't even used the iron much before except to melt crayons between wax paper and such. So now I know sorta how to use it, and I am getting better at running the sewing machine too!

I am really glad I decided to take this up. For one thing it keeps me busy, and eases the depression. For another, I am going to be able to make school clothes for the kids for about $1 per piece. (Fabric on clearance YAY!) And another plus is that all those clothes that couldn't be sold at the garage sale are going to be recycled into either new clothes, or a quilt. Last but not least, mom and I are spending time together, laughing and talking about life, without all the drama. I like that.

RELIEF FROM DEPRESSION

My two little superstar fishers!! All entered and ready for the fishing tournament!

My son - who can now cast all by himself - and is pretty good at it I might add!

Daddy and daughter - discussing the proper way to cast and reel. Such a sweet photo of them together. I have one similar to this of myself and my own Daddy.

At the end of the tournament, neither one of the kids had caught a thing, but as a family we had a great time together. Riley won a new fishing reel, and Shane won a fishing stool to take with him on all his future fishing trips. Both kids got a big ol' pack of gooky ick worm lures as well. From there we headed down to Main Street for the big concert and grabbed some yummy carnival food - you know - the brats and smoked beef, and then of course we got conned into buying the kids those silly light up lei's made out of silk flowers! The concert was awesome of course, then it was off in search of the staple of cotton candy. We got to the stand just as they were packing it up for the night, and all the kids were happy campers! I can't tell you how good it felt to just escape all the garbage that seems to have come down on us lately. As far as PPHead and I go, it's always the same. Things are fine until we get home and are alone in the same room.....

FEELING BEAT DOWN TODAY...

First we lost the pool - our biggest source of cooling off around here in the hot Kansas heat.....

Then last night we had a batch of horrible storms move through that had wind gusting at 100 miles an hour. My garden is pretty much destroyed this morning, though most of my tomato plants seem like they will be ok. I am just feeling like no matter what I do, I can't win. All I wanted to do this summer was have fun with my kids in the pool and work on a good garden. I just want to cry thinking about all the hard work that has been put in to making our house a home, only to have it torn down again. Not to mention the money we spent to get it there.

Why can't we ever get there? When will it be our turn to have things just go well?

OH YES I AM!

All of the past months boredom has brought on a new bright idea from the stupid center of my brain. I decided in one second that I - am going to learn how to sew. I picked up some cheap fabric and a pattern to make Rye a new little summer outfit. I figured it couldn't possibly be all that difficult - I mean I passed algebra for shits sake! But sewing it seems, has a math all its own. So I called my momma....

She told me not to touch anything until she can get over here. Don't cut patterns and by all means don't touch the fabric. She told me to find an old shirt and practice ripping out stitches. She asked me just how I intended to sew without a machine. I said with a needle and thread. She started laughing hysterically, told me to REALLY practice using the stitch ripper, and that she would see me bright and early on Monday morning - she was still giggling at me when she hung up the phone!! Maybe I should have gotten an easier pattern??

I just figured with the way things are going in this world, that I should probably learn how to sew. Plus I think I have some really cute ideas for clothes for Rye, and I want to dress her up while she still likes it! At this point she is a VERY girly girl, and I doubt that will last much past third grade, so I want to enjoy doing girly things for her while I can.

It can't be THAT hard can it???

SICK OF INSIDE THE HOUSE

BLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!

I am taking my children and getting the hell out of here for the day!! Goin to the park, goin to the store, going wherever the wind blows me.

Byyyeee you stuffy house!!

COTTONWOOD TREES SUCK

It is so utterly boring here, I spent half the morning sticking Dymo labels to everything in my house. Why not get organized right? There is still not enough room in here for anything, it's just a matter of rearranging things to look like there is. Fun Fun.
I think I am going to roam around town this evening and try to get some photographing going on. There are a few cool things I have seen lately but didn't have the time to stop and snap the pic. I have just got to get out of the freakin house before I chew my arm off.
Halie got her first paycheck of the summer yesterday, but can't cash it anywhere cuz her ID expired. She's not in a great mood either.
The pool is full of cotton, and I could stand out there all day long skimming it out, but would never be finished. I have a hugemongo cottonwood tree in my yard and it's just blowing away. It looks light it snowed here. *sigh*

HO HUM DAY BLEH...

Yes the rain is good, but seriously already. The farmers aren't able to harvest the wheat crops, and we aren't able to enjoy the pool! Halie and I even got new swimwear for the season and for the first time in a hundred years I kinda like my suit. Go figure. It's pretty dull and cloudy here today, not real hot, not cold by any means - just windy. As usual.
I'm feeling very restless, but I don't feel like doing the same old laundry and dishes and vacuuming either. Which by the way - we just purchased a brand new freaking washing machine like 3 weeks ago and it already broke!! Unbelievable. It was still in the dang box when we got it home too. I don't know why we have so much bad luck with washers but it seems like we can not win no matter what we do. Luckily it has an in home warranty thing on it, so a repair guy came out and had to put a new pump in it yesterday. He was even surprised at that being busted. I guess that was supposed to be my excitement for the week. Yay.

FATHERS DAY FUN

My Daddy and my brother. We made nice.

Daddy has a little monkey on his back!

I started tin-foiling the house. I ran out of tin-foil. There's my brother again.

We had a good meal together, Halie and I did all the cookin except the grilling part. PPHead had to do that. The kids were all pretty good and it was really nice to spend some time together with my family. Oh the stories you hear at family get-togethers! Something about Mexico and a pack of wild Chihuahuas......