cozy

I interrupt this basketball season for a bit of cozy.  We've been playing ball, coaching ball games, taking pictures of ball game, keeping score during ball games and driving to and from ball games.  It's been non-stop basketball and we've still got about a month left!  

Enough.  I found myself hankering to take some pictures of still objects and pretty things. (not that my kids in their basketball uniforms aren't pretty...but they definitely aren't still and there is a lot of sweat involved....)  So today with my little guy down with a fever I found a bit of time to take pictures of my newly made candle cozy. 

 I got this idea from Pinterest.  Instead of covering a can, I covered a candle with a seasonal decal on it.  I wanted to burn the candle, but my kids kept commenting on the fact that it wasn't Christmas anymore.  So I fixed that. 

 It was fun to make, used up some scraps and silenced my picky picky kids all at the same time.  Yeah! I made it to fit around a Yankee Jar Candle and found that it actually fits around several different brands (Target, Walmart and Bath and Body Works)  that I had on hand.  That elastic and button make it pretty adjustable.  I used insul-brite as my batting and so far...no fires!   

  Anyways, I hope you find some time to break away from the every day stuff to do something that makes you smile. Even if all that means is taking pictures of candles on a rainy afternoon!  

7 days

I've been home a mere seven days this month....that's not much time for getting things done, so I've got some catching up to do around here.  My reason for being so absent around these parts is that first, Maggie and I went to Penn State for a basketball tournament and then the entire family went to Myrtle Beach for a much needed vacation.  Here are some photos that highlight our recent trips:

 I have some knitting started and some stitching done....and as a family we finished 5 books (collectively) making a new family record and in addition (or maybe because of)  we came home relaxed and rested.  In the meantime, I'll get some grocery shopping done, laundry attempted and I'll be back soon to share some projects with you.  Hope your summer is full of all the things you love.  Have a wonderful week!

settling back in

Settling back into a regular routine has been delightful. There's just something good about being back in your own bed and being able to make your own breakfast.  I can only endure continental 'eggs' for so many days. 

The basketball trip was a huge success....everyone who went (60+ parents, coaches and athletes) seemed to have a great time.  It's always fun to get to know the other parents in such a unique setting....you learn a lot about other people when you're schlepping from court to court and cheering your brains out until 11:30 at night.  It's quite the bonding time. 

 Both Varsity teams competed hard in their brackets.  The girls took second place and the boys placed third.  It was a week of perservering and learning to dig down deep. (for the adults as well as the athletes)  I'm so proud of all the kids, they displayed such character and handled the grueling days and nights extremely well. 

 Thanks for all the well wishes on my thumb ...I survived the week without knitting a stitch.  It's probably a good thing I didn't take any knitting, considering the lack of sleep that occurred, knitting may have proved quite dangerous.   My thumb is feeling better and now that it's baseball season, I'll have plenty of knitting time at the ball field!  

I've got the laundry almost caught up and we haven't eaten our meals off of a tray in three days... It's so true - there's no place like home! 

my boys couldn't get it done..

My beloved Mountaineers couldn't pull out the win over Marquette in the Big East conference tournament.  It was a heart breaker.   

 photo from Big East.org

Even  though my team is one and done....I'm sure not.  I started knitting dishcloths at the beginning of the tournament and I've been knocking them off almost as quickly as the Mountaineers left the big Apple.  Three down and two more rounds of action to go....

I had an hour and a half to myself the other night.  Nobody was home except Molly the dog and me.  I was talking to my mom and she asked me what I was planning to do.  "Watch basketball and knit" was my reply. 

 I love this time of year and it doesn't even really matter to me who is playing. (Although I'd prefer for it to be WVU) I love all the action.  I've been watching the wins and losses and counting the dishcloths as they pile up. 

Even though my boys couldn't get it done...it won't stop me from getting the dishcloths done.  Let the March madness continue!  (although I may need to make a run for more cotton yarn....in between games of course!)

Gotta go...it's tip off time! 

undefeated

I tried to come up with a clever title....

The Middle School girl's team that Mckenzie plays on and that John coaches finished their season with a conference record of 17-0 and a banner for winning playoffs.  It was a great season.  Not just because they had a winning record, but because they made new friends, worked together as a team through good and bad times and they shared the good news everywhere they went. 

They really were a FORCE this year.  Mckenzie was named to the all-tournament team and I think she was as surprised as anyone when they called her name.  She played great this year and I couldn't be more proud of her than I was when I saw her reach down and help another player from another team up off the floor.  She's got guts of steel and a heart of gold. 

 And my vote goes to Coach Quick for Coach of the Year!  I figured out that he's coached 36 middle school games this season.  That's a lot of jump balls!  Anyways, I'm so proud of both of them.  They are both winners in my book! 

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing FORCE  is from God

and not from us."

 2 Corinthians 4:7

champions and adventures on the river

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes on our trip to Lynchburg, VA.  Everyone had a wonderful time.  There were tons of memories made and many special friendships formed.  And we came home victorious!  The girls played their hearts out and took the championship title of Division 2a.  They got to play their final game in the Vines Arena at Liberty University.  Playing in a Division 1 gym was overwhelming and exciting all at once.  They trailed the entire game and managed to take the lead in the last three minutes.  It was a nail biter to say the least!  We're so proud of all of them!

On our way home from the tournament, we had ourselves quite an adventure.  We came home through Virginia and decided to cross into Maryland via White's Ferry.  When we were about 1/3 of the way across the Potomac River on the ferry, the cable holding the ferry broke!  Aparently a huge tree had floated down the river and bumped into the ferry getting tangled up in the cable.  The tension caused the cable to snap and it was then that we were floating freely down the Potomac River.  It was the most surreal experience.  We were in the front of the ferry and so we saw everything clearly. 

 As we drifted down the river, we went askew and hit the river bank on the Maryland side.  The captain told everyone to get into their vehicles and we all quickly complied.  Our family began gathering our laptops and cameras and essential stuff in case we needed to pile into life boats. (just so you know...my knitting bag was in that essential stuff pile!)

That however, proved unnecessary as they were able to slow the ferry down enough to hook it to a tug boat.  That little tug boat pulled the entire ferry back to the dock and after some manuevering with a big bucket tractor, we were straightened out and able to drive off.  It was some kind of adventure.  (that's our van in the front there with Johan Samuel and John in the front seat getting a great view of all the action)

I called my mom and mother in law and asked them to pray for everyone on the ferry.  God was so gracious to answer the prayers that were lifted up for all of us.  We felt calm and peaceful throughout the entire experience....well, except for Kenzie.  She had to go to the bathroom so badly and when she realized we were off cable, she had a bit of a moment.  But she and I jumped ferry when they got us close enough to the dock.  They had left the gate open as they were securing cables and she, Maggie and I quickly slipped out and jumped to dry land to get her to the port o potty. 

Whew!  (good lesson:  go to the bathroom before getting on the ferry!)  As we were leaving the ferry, after the hour + long ordeal,  the ticket collector gave us two round trip fares and told us to, "Come back and see them again!"  Needless to say, we're so grateful to be home.   We're praising the Lord for His protection...I'll even relish doing the piles of laundry this week....those piles that could have ended up on the bottom of the Potomac River! 

the madness begins

March....brings spring rains and peeping flowers.  It brings the end to winter for many...and it brings the madness of basketball tourney time!  I just love March Madness.  During March (actually all season) you'll be able to find me sitting in front of the tv watching basketball or at a game cheering on my favorite team.  Heck, the entire family is into basketball. We've got our brackets filled out and we're ready. 

Maggie's basketball team is competing in the East Coast Basketball Tournament this week in Lynchburg, VA.  Teams from all along the east coast, Texas, Tennessee and Iowa will be there grinding it out.  John is one of the assitant coaches, John Samuel is one of the ball boys, Kenzie is a middle school groupy and I'm one of the chaperones. We're taking down 15 girls and our Varsity boys team is going as well.   

If it's anything like last year's tournament, we'll come home loaded down with memories and in need of some serious sleep.  So in between cheering for the Warriors, I'm be checking scores and marking off my NCAA brackets.  I'll be blogging about the Warrior's games here.  And maybe, just maybe I'll get in a bit of knitting.  The gatorade is packed....see you next week! 

home sweet home

We're back from our trip....THANK YOU ALL for all the wonderful wishes. The girls did extremely well. They didn't pull out a championship upset like they all dreamed of, but they played their hardest and represented themselves with dignity. We slept little, laughed much and cheered our hearts out. It was a great experience for all of the girls. They're already making plans for next year's trip! But, it is good to be home. I'm unloading bags of clothes that need to be washed and making grocery lists. I'm also tending to my middle one who brought home a fever. But, I wanted to pop in and say thanks for all the love you sent our way, it really was so much appreciated. If you want to read more from the trip and see additional pictures, you can find them here.

oh baby! we're outta here!

I've been working on some baby gifts. We have some friends that are expecting and I love any excuse to make sweet baby stuff. I've been wanting to try my hand at crocheting some trim on a receiving blanket, so my friend Mary, crocheter extraordinaire, came over and between my sewing skills and her crocheting skills we each got started. Each blanket is just a yard of flannel, pre-washed and then hemmed. I love these tiny Swiss dots. After you put the hem in, you simply go around the edge of the blanket poking and crocheting. This trim is just a simple single crochet done three times in each poke. (I'm sure there is a more official term...but I'm just a beginner crocheter). Mary called it a shell stitch...I think. I used cotton crochet thread (the label read size 10) and a size 8 steel crochet hook. I've finished the pink blanket and I'm working on the green. The flannel is so soft and the trim adds just enough extra to make the blanket special. I'll be doing more of these. I'll take the green one with me today to finish in the van.

So, baby - We're outta here! We're heading south for a basketball trip. We'll be going to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The varsity basketball team that Maggie plays on and that John helps to coach, the Warriors, is playing in the HSPN tournament. 12 girls...4 nights....lots of memories I'm sure. I've got my knitting packed. I'll be back sometime next week. Have a great one!