Grady's Quilt

About a week before Grady was born I finished his quilt.  This is my first real quilt and I'm pretty proud of how it turned out.  There's definetly lots of flaws, lots of things I should have done better.  However, I love the homemade look that is has because of all of those flaws.  I did most of it without any help - just using books and online tutorials.  I learned so much.  I really enjoyed doing it and can't wait to have the time to start on another!

Here's a couple more photos:

Grady's room is almost done.  I still have a few more things to do and then I'll post pics. 

 I can't wait to share because it's looking really cute.

Also, Mr G is smiling!  Melts my heart.

Photo Collage

I've been planning a photo collage for a living room for sometime now and we finally got it up.  There's still a few twicks to make to it but for the most part I'm so happy with it.  It really brings something to that wall which just had a puny little shelf on it before and it's nice to finally have some of my favorite photos of all of us up on the wall.  It took a lof of planning and  most of the afternoon, but it was well worth it.  Take a look at our process.

Cutting out papers the size of the frames and then arranging them on the wall helped so much.  It really elimated a lot of measuring and frustration.

Actually getting some of the frames up. 

Leon is helping Kyle who is making sure the measurements are just right.

And the final product:

We actually had plans for another row but we quickly realized we were not going to have enough space.  This is what we orginally had planned:

The living room is really starting to look like I've wanted it to.  It's so nice.  I just have to make a few pillows and finish decoring the fireplace mantle it will be pretty much done! 

journal jar

I think keeping a journal is really important.  However, I'm not always the best about it.  I have times when I'm really good and times when I'm really not so good.  I've been trying to be good about it lately, but sometimes I find myself just writing about the everyday, what-we-did-today type of things.  I want my journal to be a real reflection of myself.  I want my kids and/or grandkids to really get a sense of who I am as they read my journals. 

I found this idea for a journal jar on a blog and thought it was wonderful.  It gives you ideas about what to write about.  It is a great to jump start a journal or, for me, to give my journaling the thing it really needs.   This is so wonderful and it really makes me motivated to keep up my journaling!

this is my journal jar.

If you haven't ever kept a journal, you should start.  It's a great way to reflect your thoughts and to record about you and your family's life.