tap, tap, is this thing on? anyone there?

Hey friends!! Sorry I have been so MIA. Remember how I told you I had some exciting news? Well here it is: 

YES! He's home! We're all back together again!

I didn't really talk about it much here, even though I know a lot of you knew he was deployed.  I took a security class shortly after he left and then got paranoid about how much information I put online about him and his work.  I figured it was safer to err on the side of caution.  So it was a long 7 months and I am so glad he's back.  I'm starting to feel more normal again due mostly to the fact that I am getting some sleep now!

So I have been sewing.  Quite a bit actually. I'm going to try and get some more posts up here soon.

I've seriously slacked on sew & tell.  I'm not sure I have it in me to do it anymore.  I'm trying to reinvent it a little to make it fun for me again.  Maybe less often.  Maybe more constest driven? I don't know, I'm mulling it over.

How are you?  Anyone still there? Thanks for always being awesome and so supportive!  Blogging friends rock!!

a look back

We've been a little busy around here celebrating stuff this week.

7 years ago, we were doing this.

And even though I don't feel like 7 years is that long, we've done a lot.  Moves, deployments, vacations...

But mostly this.

#1

#2

and #3

Who just happened to turn one last week.

Didn't I just give birth??

And, these three are the reason I sort of had a day off yesterday.

But I don't want you to think things are idyllic around here.  They are most certainly not.

This is a more realistic representation of every day.

Hey #2, I'm totally with you.

in honor of the grinch, a birthday and my grandma - but not necessarily in that order

I'm sure you've seen this guy:

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?
 -----Dr. Seuss




I love the book, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  I guess I've always loved it.  When I was 'no more than two' we spent Christmas at my grandma's house.  I really was no more than, well, two!

and we celebrated my birthday while we were there. 

I don't really remember that Christmas, but I do remember the story that I loved to hear my grandmother tell. 

My grandma at my wedding - I love her smile! - images Justin Hackworth

She would always tell me that I would pester her to read me that story EVERY day.  And the good grandma that she was, obliged me.  And then she gave me a nickname.  Can you guess what it is? That's right! Amylouwho! 

The way she told it, our conversations would go something like this:
Gma: Hello, amylouwho!
Me: Grandma, it's plain Amy.
Gma: Okay, plain Amy.
Me: NO, grandma, just. plain. Amy!!!
Gma:  Okay, just plain Amy.
Me: Grandmaaaaaa.

and the circle would go on and on....  I'm sure my whiny 2 year old voice made my responses THAT much cuter (or not.) And my protestations made it that much easier for it to stick.  I guess it didn't help that my mom is 2nd oldest of 11 siblings and they thought it was so fun to call me that EVERY time we came to visit.  They still call me that.  But I don't mind so much anymore.

Yay for 4 generation shots! May 2006

I started using it for screen names, log-ins, emails, etc. when I started using a computer so much.  And when I switched the name of my blog a few months ago, it only seemed fitting.  And now that I think about it, a great tribute to my grandmother who was an avid quilter (she made a baby quilt for each of her 46!!! grandchildren) and one of my favorite people.  Today is my birthday and later this week it's been 3 years since she passed away after a very long, productive good life.  She sure touched many lives, mine included.  She is definitely missed.

I had hoped to put a little PDF tutorial together to give to you to celebrate my birthday - but you know how this month goes - so much to do and so little time!  So I thought I'd just share a little bit about me instead.  Is that lame?  I hope you enjoyed it!  In return, tell me a little bit about you - where you are from and maybe your very favorite thing you've ever created. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!