Sewing Classes

Okay - Julie and I decided to take sewing classes from Niler. We thought this would be a great time to learn how to use our machines and read a pattern so maybe we can sew somethings on our own. Julie and I are both fortunate enough to have gotten sewing machines from family. Julie got Mema's sewing machine and I got Matt's mom's sewing machine. We knew they were old but Niler called them antique. So..... our first class was quite an experience. To start the class off, Niler asks us to turn our machines on. Well, Julie and I couldn't find our on/off switch so Niler came over and said "You don't have one - your machines are just on when you plug them in." Okay. So then she showed everyone where their light switch was on the machine. Once again, our machines' lights were already on. Oh...... we don't have a switch - the light comes on automatically when we plug the machine on. As she does an introduction to the machines, everyone is finding the different parts on their machine. At SEVERAL points she just looked at Julie and I and said - don't worry about looking, your machine doesn't have one! Julie and I just kept laughing. Finally it was time to thread the machine. As everyone is following Niler's instructions - Julie and I got more and more lost bc our machines of course were not like everyone else's. Finally Niler pulled up a chair between us and started trying to read our manuals (that were decaying :). Good news, Niler got both our machines up and working. So Julie and I sat back and just sighed a relief. (the $75 dollars for the class was not refundable) Anyway, Julie and I would look at each other and just laugh as we were practicing our sewing on scrap pieces of material. Julie's pedal to her sewing machine is like a button so we kept getting tickeled because she was having a hard time keeping it pressed. Her whole foot had to come off the ground to push it. Luckily mine was a typical sewing pedal. We then learned how to reverse to finish a stitch. My reverse button is not a lever like everyone else but a button. I have to push it in and hold it in to reverse. This button takes both hands to press so I am sewing without guiding the material. Julie, on the other hand, was given a homework assignment - read her manual and FIND her reverse button (not even Niler could find it). At this point Julie and I are about to wet our pants with laughter. So as we try to keep composed, Niler tells us that instead of picking out a pattern on our own (Julie and I had already gotten excited over picking a pattern but not any more) she was going to give us a pattern and the whole class was going to do the same thing. As Julie and I are listening, she then goes on about how we are making vests. VESTS????? Did I hear that right? Why would I make a vest? When would I wear it? Trying to keep from laughing out loud - she goes on to say that it will be reversible and that one side should be nice so we can wear it to church! Church???? We would be lucky if it even looks like a vest when we finish - much less would I wear a vest to church. At this point, I am praying Julie doesn't look at me. We are both laughing quietly and I can see her shoulders shaking with laughter. If she had turned and looked at me we would have both lost it! I am sure I would have wet my pants! I am laughing so hard right now thinking about it that I am crying. Matt just asked me what I was doing that was so funny. Oh you just had to be there. So on our way out, Niler said she enjoyed a challenge and was looking forward to working with our antique machines. She also gave us extra scraps of material for extra practice. Whew.... we made it through our first class.





So with great excitement, Julie and I went and got our fabric on Tuesday. We went straight for the sale rack and we will never wear these vests again. We definitely found some material that we thought would be funny (tacky) but decided to go with something not so bad so we don't offend Niler.





We go back on Monday and start on our vests. I will be sure to take a picture of us wearing our $75 vests when we finish. I can't wait to Monday and the joy it will bring me.

Other people's machines - Aren't they nice?

Julie's machine on the left and mine on the right - don't they look nice?

My machine!

William and his Command Center

We put together William's "Command Center" this week. He loves it. Thanks Chelsea for the great gift!

William laughing!

There is just nothing like hearing your baby laugh! Don't ask about what Matt is doing - we are willing to do anything stupid and crazy to get William to laugh!

Soon to come: Julie and I started sewing classes on Monday. It was the funniest thing ever - I am going to post about it but keep putting it off bc I know I can't do it justice. I can definitely talk about it with Julie and we would have y'all all laughing but to write it in words - ohhhh.... that is tough for someone like me. So maybe I will take the challenge and write about it tonight or tomorrow. Definitely an event for the Terry Twins.

Pulling Late Night Duty

So for those of you that are parents, you will understand this:


Matt and I have very little time between work and taking care of William so our yard has gotten a little messy. It is definitely not first priority for us. Anyway, Matt mowed yesterday while I was watching William. However, mowing was just one of the many things that needed to be done. Our gardens had been over taken by weeds. It was terrible and embarrassing. But when would we have time to go out there and pull weeds when William has to be watched? Before William, our garden was always looking good bc we had time. I tell you, once you have a child - you have NO time to get things done since someone always has to be with your child. Anyway, William went down at 8:15 yesterday and Matt and I decided it was time to pull weeds. So we started with the sun setting but by the time the sun had gone down, we were not near done. This was a good excuse to quit, but I am one of those that needs to finish what I start. Plus, when would I be able to get back out there and finish it? So, with flashlights, we continued pulling weeds. There we were, kneeling with flashlights trying to pull weeds in the dark. I am sure it was quite a sight. We thought it was pretty smart, no gnats, no heat, and no one having to entertain William. Our neighbors thought it was amusing. Two of them came out of their house to make a point in telling us that when it got dark, you stop working outside. We reminded them that their children were grown and that this was the only time we had to get it done. We did finish at 9:30 last night and all the weeds were pulled. However, as the pictures below show, some of our mondo grass got pulled too. Oops! And yes, I realize you can see some of the tarp - we also need to get more pinestraw!
(I don't know why the pictures turned vertically - they are horizontal on my computer - anyone know how to fix this?)

Now this one was already small - not near as big as the ones around it but it still got pulled a little more than it should! Since it was smaller - it was overlooked by our flashlights! Stupid darkness!
Yes, that is mondo grass at the top - just a little thing! Oh and yes, this is a different mondo grass than the one above. :)

Next time maybe we won't pull weeds in the dark - Luckily we do have some extra mondo grass that we can put there to hide our mistakes!

Relaxed

William has learned not to only put his hands behind his head when sleeping but also when just watching what is going on around him.

Is it the Michelin tire boy?

So we were at Julie's house ALL weekend having our biannual cookoff. It is absolutely miserable but worth it in the end. Julie and I cook ALL weekend long. We cook anything that we can think of that will freeze and that will take too long to make one night or makes too much for just the family. This is a time when you do NOT want to be near the kitchen bc things are flying. For those of you that know us well, know the Julie and I mean business when we start a project and can't stand to be interrupted or put on hold for anything. So it was great the William behaved. As you can see, William was not at all interested in the craziness going on in the kitchen. He was the ONLY one relaxed!

For those curious, here is a list of what was made:

10 bags of Gumbo

9 bags of Bean and Ham soup

16 bags of Taco Soup

12 bags of Speghetti sauce

6 lasagnes

8 Chicken Tetrazinis



4 meatloafs



So after all that was done - William needed a bath! Actually with all the sweating that Julie and I were doing, we needed a bath more but William's bedtime was soon so we had to bath him. When Julie saw the rolls on William she HAD to take a picture of him. Just so you know, he does NOT have that many rolls it was how Matt was holding him. Anyway, I thought they were funny pics so I am including them. What a big boy! I think he may out weigh Davis! Nothing like two healthy boys - right Lauren?

Mom's Birthday

Here are just some more pics from Mom's birthday!

AC singing Happy B'day to Shug!

So Anna Claire sang Happy Birthday to Shug ALL day on mom's birthday. It was so cute. She even sang it SEVERAL times in Belks so that everyone knew it was mom's birthday. She was so cute singing it that I HAD to get it on tape and share it with all of you. Enjoy and happy birthday Shug!

William LOVES his high chair

Here is William loving his high chair - or maybe he just knows that the rice cereal was being made at this time and he was excited about eating!

Pick Me - I want rice cereal!!!!!

William chilling in his High Chair

As Matt and I eat dinner, William sits back, relaxes, and enjoys the conversation! This is the way he is EVERYTIME we sit down for dinner.