Waiting

Our realtor held an Open House this past weekend. Two people came to view the house. She said that was normal. I guess Open Houses don't really do a whole lot. But the people who came really responded well to all the updating in the house and she said it was presented well. All we have to do is get people to come through the front door to appreciate the beauty of the home. After all, its what's on the inside that counts, right?

So at this point, all we need to move is for our house to sell. It is really hard to just sit and wait. Especially when no one is looking at our house. But we are hanging in here knowing it will happen eventually. There is just so much up in the air right now. Will we have the baby here? Will I have enough time to find a doctor down there if we move before he is born? Will we need our winter clothes in our closets or can I keep them packed? Will the stress never end?
Jeff and I have both felt that things would work out from the beginning when they first announced the move, so that is comforting. When they first announced it, the CEO said they would be dividing up between Las Vegas and Portland. When Jeff heard "Las Vegas" he got all excited! And then when he realized he was on the Portland team he was upset. Neither he nor myself are fans of Portland. Every time we have been up there we just aren't impressed. I don't know if I just see all the wrong areas, but it seems the options are to live in an ugly city or a long commute. So when he told me the two places (without saying which one he was supposed to go to) I was hoping for sunny Las Vegas. I definitely am not a fan of all the rain, so sunshine really seals the deal for me! So when the CEO was asking for their decisions on whether they would stay with the company or not Jeff told him he would prefer to go to Las Vegas (plus, Las Vegas is the side of company that will be focusing on the games which is what Jeff really wants to do anyway). The CEO wrote him back and said he needed some QA guys there in Vegas and would love to have him there. So Jeff and two of his team mates are headed to Las Vegas. When Jeff told me that he had requested Las Vegas I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't know he was going to do that. I didn't realize how much he really wanted to go to Las Vegas. I think its really all about having a pool! He loves to swim, and really, really wants his very own swimming pool.

So here we sit in our finally finished house, with it clean and organized for the first time, waiting for it to sell. How I wish I had spent the last three years living in this house and not a house in the process of being remodeled. It is really hard to make a house exactly what you want and then have to walk away without really getting a chance to enjoy it. I am so grateful to Jeff's family and my dad for helping make my vision a reality. I am really going to miss my beautiful kitchen with a stand mixer drawer and pull out shelves for my pots and pans, my built in refrigerator and beautiful white cabinets, the awesome wainscot and my tiled shower, as well as the gorgeous crown moulding! I wonder if I will ever love another house the way I finally am able to love this one.

Last night I was reading a relocation book (about relocating to Las Vegas) that the company sent home to all of the people who are moving. It had a timeline for moving. I got to the 2 weeks before your move section. It suggested planning a small gathering with friends to help get things ready and says it is not only a way to get stuff done, but is a great last gathering in your home with friends and family. I started to cry, thinking of leaving everyone I have grown to love so much. I have really tried to put off thinking of that part of all of this. But as we get closer to actually leaving, it is getting harder and harder to be in denial. So I am planning girls nights every month till I go and hoping we can spend time with family as much as possible before we go.

Ashley is ready to go- last night she had dance so Jeff picked her up on his way home from work. He had the relocation book with him. She picked it up and started looking at it. I guess it got her all excited (maybe it was the pictures of all the pools) and she told him she can't wait to move there! I am worried about how moving will affect Ashley and Alona. Starting in a new school in the middle of the year could be a difficult transition for them. I think they will do well, but I know the uncertainty is especially difficult for Alona. I hope that we are able to find a good neighborhood with lots of children for them to befriend!

A Second Slipcover

I finished the second slipcover today! I had to cut it out, so I didn't finish until about 11:15 tonight! But I did it. And I can hardly believe it. It was so much easier than the slipcover for my couch. Maybe because they came with slipcovers and I used that as a pattern? That's what I'm thinking. So now I have completely finished all of the decor in the house. I am hoping that means that our house will sell! I know the room is a total mess, but I was working on the slipcover all afternoon and evening and Jeff was painting doors. Plus, Alona was home sick today so it got even more messy than usual with two kids at home. Tomorrow will be the cleaning frenzy to get ready for the Open House on Sunday! Hope someone will make an offer!

Slipcovers for the chairs

I bought these chairs back in July of 2008! I had to wait to order the fabric to make new slipcovers for quite a while. I think I finally got the fabric in February this year. I planned to make them and even cut out the pieces for one chair. I was trying to get a good start before morning sickness struck, but it just didn't happen. So now, with an open house looming this Sunday, I figured I should get on it. So I cut out the bias strips for the cording on Tuesday night. Wednesday was rather busy, so I didn't get any time to sew. Thursday- totally different story. I have been sewing up a storm!

First I started by sewing all of the bias strips together. Then I sewed the strips with the cording:


I only had a few inches of fabric left when I ran out of cording. I was so surprised. I just cut strips until I didn't want to anymore and it worked out about as perfectly as I could imagine! I usually have yards of bias strip left- either that or I am yards short. This picture shows the ends of the bias strip and the cording:

And just in case you were wondering, I have a special cording foot that I use. Some people use a zipper foot, but this is just so much easier when you are doing a lot of cording!

I then moved on to the actual slipcover. I started with the front side. I got the inside pieces put together:


I sewed the the back and sides together. Then I added the cording. Then I put it all together:


The skirt is the next part I worked on. I sewed the cording to the bottom of the main slipcover and then sewed the hemmed skirt pieces on. I am done! Oh, wait- I still have the cushion to sew. Oh well. Maybe I'll finish it tonight!!!!!


I put together all of the edge pieces for the cushion first. Then I sewed the cording to both sides of it. I sewed the top and bottom of the cushion on after that. And here it is- completed in one day! An amazing feat for me.

Chili Cookoff

This is the pot at the end of the evening:

Tonight was the annual church Chili/Chowder Cook-off (and Corn Feed). They combined two events into one this year. Usually, the Chili/Chowder Cook-off is around Halloween and we combine it with a Trunk-or-Treat. I have always taken mild chili. I always use the same recipe. It is the chili I grew up eating and I love it. Jeff was really hoping that there would be a really hot chili this year. The hot chilis at church are usually more medium than hot. Of course, the only hot chili had pork (to which Jeff is allergic) so he had to stick to medium and our mild chili. It is Jeff's favorite event of the year- he looks forward to all the chili he can eat! I have promised to find a way to make my chili hotter- and will make the mild version for the kids and the hot version for him. The biggest surprise of the night was winning first place!!!! I was quite shocked. Thanks to everyone who voted for my chili! Hope it makes my mom proud (since the recipe came from her)!
Can you guess what the prize was?

School's In Session

Ashley and Alona started school yesterday. This year Alona is in first grade and Ashley is in third grade. They were both so excited to go back. I have to admit, for the first time, I was excited for them to go to school, too! It has been a long, stressful summer and I was ready for a break. The girls had a hard time getting up so early the first day. Needless to say, they fell asleep right away last night! So far this afternoon is looking much better- no whining as soon as they entered the house.

Natalie and I are trying to keep busy. Today we went on a 3 mile walk. What was I thinking? Three miles is a long way when you haven't walked more than a few feet in 27 weeks. I am finding it really difficult to move right now! But it was so nice to get out and move. I am hoping that with just Natalie at home I can get some sewing projects done.

I hope this school year is a good one and the girls learn new and exciting things!

Diaper Bags

I have made a couple diaper bags for friends as gifts. I used the two diaper bag patterns from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones. I made The Everything Bag and the Modern Diaper Bag.

The Everything Bag was a nightmare to put together at the end. Sewing the lining to the outside of the bag was really difficult due to the divider in it. I did, however find a website with a tutorial for an extremely similar bag where they hand stitch the divider in at the end. I am thinking this is a better option. But I am still not sold on this diaper bag. It doesn't close and you can't wear it over your shoulder.

The Modern Diaper Bag was HUGE! I am not just talking a little on the large size. I made it for a friend who is maybe a size zero. She is tiny. The poor bag will probably knock her over. :( I absolutely love the look of the bag, though. I did find two blogs where they made the bag smaller. I was considering this option, but not sure how it would turn out. Here is the first one and here is the second one.

The other option I have is to make up my own bag. I am not that creative when it comes to sewing. I can come up with great fabrics but I am not good at coming up with ideas for changing the patterns or even creating my own designs. I am sure I could do it if I tried, but I am too lazy? So I have been looking around the internet for inspiration. I have fabric already picked out. What should I do???????


The darker fabric is for the main part of the bag. The lighter fabric would be for lining and trim. I can also get more coordinating fabric if I need to.

Meeting the Teachers

Last night we went to the school to meet the teachers and eat watermelon. School starts on the 9th, so we are waiting impatiently! The girls' teachers seem very nice. Alona has one of the 2 male teachers at the school. I know several people who have been in his class and they loved him! Ashley's teacher seems very nice as well. I don't know anyone who has been in her class, but I am sure she will be great. Besides, we are only going to be here for a few months. It is kind of bittersweet to be meeting the teachers. I like to get to know them and volunteer, but being pregnant and getting ready to move makes it difficult. And then we will just have to start all over in Las Vegas. Moving during the school year is not my idea of fun, but I am hoping we can work through it. The kids are grateful that they get to return to school and spend a little time with their friends before we leave!
Here's to another great year of learning and growing!

An Awesome New Crafting Blog

I found an awesome new crafting (mostly sewing) blog! Leigh Ann is the creator and is The Object Project.
She has great ideas and tutorials. It appears that she started blogging back in April of this year, and so far she has some great projects. If you love sewing, you should check out her blog and get inspiration from her.