Way Past Due

Here are some pictures of Sally Sharp and Harris from the last time we were home.  They are both growing and growing.  I know they have already changed from these pictures!

Sally Sharp and Uncle Joel

Sally Sharp and Aunt Abbi

Harris and Grandma

Big Smiles

Swing Bag

Joel and I had a nice lazy Saturday today.  I chose to use part of my afternoon to make Amy Butler's Swing Bag - http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=18. 

I am pleased with how it turned out, and it was a really easy pattern to follow.  The other nice thing is that it is very roomy! 

This light is not true to color, but you get the idea.

The bag is completely reversible.  I think the patterned side can pass as a purse that can be worn with black, and the other side is brown.  So hopefully I will be able to get a lot of use out of this :)

Introducing...

Sally Sharp Anthony

Born: 9:06 a.m.
Weight: 8 lbs. 1 oz, 19" long

Joel and I are very excited to have a new niece. We can't wait to meet her in person, but for now these pictures will have to do.

Everyone is doing well. Thanks for all the prayers!  I can't wait to see how Avi Grace likes having a little sister!  Should be fun and interesting!  :)

GA Aquarium...Fun, fun, fun!

Joel and I took a trip to the Georgia Aquarium this past weekend.  We had SO much fun.  This was my early birthday present....one exhibit (Ocean Voyager) was worth the price of admission alone.  

We got to enjoy the experience with some friends, Clay and Marie.  We all had a good time.  Take a look at the pictures to see what all we enjoyed.

We got to see four whale sharks varying in size (this is the only place in North America that you can see a whale shark!).  The manta rays were amazing too...they are huge!  

As you can see, we got to see a lot.  The manta rays and whale sharks were probably my favorite.  The beluga whales were definitely Marie's favorite.  Take a second and enjoy the video/song below.  This became our theme song while getting geared up for the trip and while there!

Elder's Mill Covered Bridge

Joel and I are both enjoying this new season of summer.  I finished up my spring quarter class on Thursday.  So, I am officially off for one week, then I start a summer class for a month.  Joel started classes on the 5th, but his schedule is MUCH less hectic than during the semester.  Yesterday we took advantage of our new schedules and took some time to galavant around Oconee county - specifically Watkinsville.

The main thing we went to find was Elder's Mill Covered Bridge.  It is one of the few covered bridges still standing in Georgia.  It is also unique because it still carries traffic...yes I said people still drive over it!!  I must say that Joel and I were not comfortable with that idea...so we parked a little before we got to the bridge and walked down to see it!  We were much happier with that decision.  :)

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy:

 Proof that people still drive over it!  (Just not us :))

The view underneath the bridge.

Wooden pegs holding it together

Vote! Free Credit Report Contest

Hey Y'all,

Please go vote for this group that is trying out to be the Free Credit Report.com band.  These guys are from Starkville, and are a great group of guys that are very musically talented.  You can vote once a day from now until June 21st!  Click on the video to watch and vote, or click on the Go Vote below to go to the page where you can cast your vote!

Go Vote!

Pleated Purse

This afternoon I set out to work on a project.  In the middle of working on a cute pleated purse, I made supper and stopped to make Joel some spice tea.  Unfortunately, Joel is not feeling well...he is coughing his head off and very congested.  Hopefully he will get better soon!

Anyway, back to the project.  Tonight I finished up the purse.  It is a really cute pattern that is free here.  It was a great easy pattern.  It took me a couple of hours to complete - including the distractions mentioned earlier.  I had never done pleats on anything...so easy and I think they make something ordinary a little unique!  Also, I had never put on a magnetic snap.  Overall, the magnetic snap was easy to work with.  The instructions on the back of the box called for you to add a small piece of cardboard to help reinforce the snap.  At first I was unsure of what to use, but then I went to the pantry and looked around.  I ended up using a flap from a nutri grain bar box...but any cereal box material would work nicely I think.

The fabric that I used for the outer part of the purse is an Amy Butler piece that I got for free at the local quilt shop on the shop birthday.  I really like the pattern and think it looks nice as a purse.

So...enough talk.  Here are a few pictures:

Brayden's Quilt

So, I should have posted these pictures a LONG time ago...but better late than never.  In March, Joel and I got to visit with my friend Brooke and meet little Brayden.  He is so adorable, and I was so excited to get to hold him.

I wanted to make him something special, so I made him a small baby quilt.  This was the second quilt I have made doing machine quilting.  I used a walking foot (first time using one of those), which worked out really well.

Close up of Brayden's Quilt

I used these - Micron Pigma pens that allowed me to write directly on the fabric for the quilt label.

Here is a picture of the front of the quilt.  The back is a polka dot blue flannel...I hoped it would be nice and soft for little Brayden.

Family Weekend

Joel and I traveled to MS this weekend to spend some time with family. My sister and her family moved into a new house about a month ago, and we had not gotten to see it yet.

Also, we needed to meet two new babies. My friend Brooke had her baby boy a month ago Saturday, and Aunt Abbi couldn't wait to meet little Brayden! And, of course, we needed to meet little Harris, our new nephew. Overall, it was a great weekend and nice to spend some time with the family.

New living room

Mom & Dad enjoying the day on the porch.

We played cards all morning while enjoying the porch and the nice weather.

JM, Maddi, and I played on the trampoline for a while too.

Precious Brayden

Brayden and his little protector, Belle!

Beautiful little Harris

Rebekah, the big sister

Sanders, the older brother

Wynn, the older brother

Uncle Joel and Harris

Rebekah got a big girl haircut. It looks very cute!