Hurry spring....please...

Well, most of our snow had melted and we did enjoy some milder temperatures over the weekend, but this morning we woke to this...

Okay, winter...you brought us cold temps and snow early in December...spring is two days away.  Can you please pack up and go away...I'll be happy to see you again next season, but now I am ready to get digging in my gardens and watching my boys participate in baseball and triathlons.

 

Other than what seemed like endless cold, snow and snow~days home from school, there has been little excitement around here.  I am getting the paperwork routine down at work and have finished 12 more hours of training.  Only twelve more to reach 43hours and then I will be done with the training! 

 

I received a sweet surprise from Priscilla.  I had loaned her a chart to use and in return, she sent me this wonderful scarf.

Perfect for the cold winter days and for my purple sweater!! 

Then I had an idea.  The early spring and late fall ball games can sometimes be quite chilly.  I asked if it would be possible to make a scarf with a baseball instead of the flower.  And bingo ~ look what she came up with!  I ordered a couple to give as gifts to other baseball moms.

Thanks so much, Priscilla ~ I hope you don't mind, I borrowed the picture you sent me.  The first tournament is this weekend and provided the fields are ready to play, I will be sporting my new scarf!

 

There hasn't been much stitching.  This is my most recent project..I have more done than is shown here and really need to get back to it.  There is not to much more to do ~ and it is my stress relief...

 

In other news, my older two boys both made their school baseball teams.

  The little guy has been working on his swimming in prep for the triathlons he wants to do ~ looking forward to seeing how he does with those!!

 

I asked for a new toilet for our powder room...my husband never does anything small...before I knew it, we were picking out paint colors and new fixtures..

It is hard to get a good picture of the paint color.  It is a really pretty grey/green.  Love it!  Now if I can only keep the boys out of there! 

 

The biggest news is that Panzer turned two!!  Hard to believe!!

We are so blessed to have him in our lives...

“When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new."

 ― A.A. Milne, Now We Are Six

Shocked!?!

So, were you shocked to finally see a post!  It's been way to long ~ the hardest part will be figuring out where to start.  The boys and their schedules, mainly the baseball one, have been keeping us running. 

The school team for my oldest, finished with a 9 win, 2 loss record ~ and he's already looking forward to next year!  He has some more tournaments ahead with his travel team.  The most recent being this past weekend, where they placed second.  That's my little guy down front ~ when not playing for his own teams, he likes to be the batman for his brother's teams.  Yes, batman, not batboy, that's what the older boys call him!  My older guy is back row, third from the right. 

My middle guy is enjoying his little league team and has finished his spring season with his travel team.  The first tournament took place at the end of March in Ocean City, MD and wowzers, was it cold and windy!

This year was the first year for the little guy to be on a travel team.  During their first tournament, they had the lead in every game, but lost.  On to the second tournament....their confidence was boosted when one of the dads generously purchased custom helmets for each of the boys.

They won their first game, lost the second...then on day two.  They had to replay the team that beat them on day one...tables turned and we won!  On to the championship game against the undefeated team.  I'll let the pictures explain what happened!

Stealing home to tie the game....

A few plays later... 

Champions...

The parents couldn't have been more proud of these boys.  Taking the championship in their second outing together is a huge accomplishment!

 

Outside of baseball, we had another birthday or two...

the little guy's

mine....

and finally my dad's...

Celebrated Easter... 

and spring...

 

There have been school field trips, concerts, art shows, etc.  And more to come as the year winds down....

Middle guy's school band performing the Star Bangled Banner for the BlueRocks game...

Spring band concert...

My husband and I took a few days by ourselves to get away in celebration of our upcoming 20th anniversary.  We had a lovely time in Williamsburg, VA.  Strange, as it was our first time ever going away by ourselves since we've had the boys, but a lot of fun!!

We took a behind the scenes archeology tour and attended the Cry Witch performance, a recreation of an actual witch trial that took place in Williamsburg.  Amazing performance!  I highly recommend it if you are ever in Williamsburg.

 

Panzer has been with us almost a year and has filled our home with his heart.

Playing with his friends...

Hanging with his boy...

Posing with some of his pics from Instagram that appeared in Life and Dog magazine... 

Sadly, his best friend, Joker, will be moving in a couple of weeks.  They have grown up together and will miss each other a lot.

 

Phew.....are you still with me!?!  So, I guess you can imagine with all of this going on that not a lot of stitching has been going on at all.  By the time we get home at night, I am so tired I just crash.  I do have to give some over due thanks to some of you that have brightened my days with your surprises and generosity.

Dawn, from In Stitches, sent me this most adorable scissors fob.  She apologized for not having a Panzer colored dog ~ no worries, I had Panzer colored scissors to attach it to! 

Grace, from Needles Pins and Dragonflies, sent me the chart from Lizzie Kate ~ Dog Lessons for People along with the floss and needles to stitch it with ~ the saying on this is so true!  Sorry, I thought I had a picture, but can't find it.

Valerie, from Fog City Dweller, sent me some goodies from a giveaway that she had a while back.

Love all these goodies!

Such a cute floss tag!

And look at this one ~ love!!

Pretty pins...

Myra, from Gr8dame's Place, surprised me with this adorable piece...

The chocolate didn't last long...

And look how she decorated the envelope..

her signature cardinal!

From across the pond, this package arrived from Lainey, at Lainey's Stitching Hoose.  As you can tell, I opened the package at the ball fields...

A cute button box...

Cute fabric...

And filled with adorable buttons...

Another package from across the pond came from June of Butterfly Wings.

Love this!!

Sweet cards!

And this wonderful pin pillow...love!!

Isn't this tiny key adorable!?!

And finally, from Catherine at I Love to Stitch, a surprise package!  A great piece of fabric, such a pretty shade of pale pink, floss, some trim, a magnetic button and a flashlight!  You may be wondering, "Why a flashlight?"  Well, move on to the next picture!

This is no ordinary flashlight!  In the middle of the light, there is a hidden magnetic wand.  What better way to find a dropped needle!!  Very clever, I love it!

 

I can't believe how blessed I have been with all of these gifts over the last couple of months.  Thank you to each and every one of you.  Everything is wonderful and will be treasured!

 

Since it has been so long since I have posted, I have missed a tusal or two.  There haven't been any real additions to the jar, but there is a new jar.  I found these great solar lids for mason jars and was able to get my hands on some of the Ball 100th anniversary jars.  The jar in the pic is not the blue one, but that has since been changed.  Combine the two and wah-la!

And before I go, I want to show you the frog my mom found for me this year.  I have never seen one that is part of a dish.  That's right....one piece, attached...

The design on the side alternates between the flowers and the geometric design...

Thanks, Mom ~ I love it!!!

 

And if you made it all the way through my whirlwind catch-up post, you deserve a medal!  Or some chocolate and wine if you prefer!

I'll try to be back sooner than later!!  If not....

“I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh~