Our Home

I don't know that I have shared on my blog that we are building onto our home. So here's the story: We have lived in this house for a little over 12 yrs. We moved in when Sam was one month old. This is the house that David grew up in. When we moved in here, we traded houses with David's parents. I remember thinking how empty the house looked when Bob and Gladys moved their stuff out and it was just our things in here.

Since the boys were little, we put them into a bedroom together and then they had a playroom as well. We had a huge spacious bedroom.

Fast forward 12 yrs, add 2 more kids and GOBS more STUFF. Our two-three bedroom, ONE BATHROOM house seemed to almost burst at the seams. We had talked for several years about adding onto our house. We finally drew it up, tweaked it and took the plunge. Crowded-ness was factor then, so was 'old house' the south wall of our basement had started cracking and the cracked area had began to bulge, which of course concerned us that some day we would find ourselves in the basement......YIKES!

Last summer, we started the process of adding onto our home. We are adding about 25 feet onto the entire south side of our house and extending the basement, adding 1500 square feet to our home. When done, each child will have their own room. We will go from 1 to 2.5 bathrooms and just generally have some elbow space. :)

Currently we are waiting to get the dry wall taped, mudded, sanded, etc....... then the finish work is about all that is left. I am not a huge fan of painting and I have figured out that basically 2/3 of our house will end up getting painting, something I am not excited about, but am looking forward to as it means the project will be closer to complete. So if you like to paint, LMK, I can put you to work!

Awaiting the 'promised' snow storm and hoping the weatherman is wrong,

From Tulip~

KH

:)

Pillowcases

The pictured project this week is a pair of coordinating pillowcases I made for a friend. She one of the people who have reaped the benefit of my PIF (pay it forward) campaign. They went to Alicia Hancock. I have known her since she was a small child. Her family lives at the corner of Hwy EE and 151 (Mom, they live in the 3 dormered roof house, you and Dad love!) I first met her mom Bonnie when I had crafts in the 'Gingerbread House' which a craft co-op shop in the 'old Kinkead's bldg, which is currently the home of 'In Full Bloom' flowershop. Alicia grew up and is now the 8th grade language teacher at CBMS. We have gotten to be friends with our mutual love of the 'Material Girl Quilt Shop' and sewing. I posted a 'shout out' to friends whom I had completed some gifts for the other night on Facebook and she called me on it. So to do her one better, I added her to my list. A little facebook stalking helped me to discover what colors and fabrics would go with items already in her house and darn if my favorite fabric, a piece I have been keeping for a few months now, was the one that went the best with it. She mentioned she'd like pillowcases and of course I didn't have enough to make two identical pillowcases, but made two that coordinated with each other instead. So happened that the green and cream pieces were both in my stash as well. With that thought in mind, I am thinking that I will try to make as many of my PIF gifts as possible from my fabric stash, what a great way to use those pieces I like but didn't have specific projects in mind for and then when the stash is getting low, HA! What a great excuse to work on replenishing it! :)

The pattern I used for the pillowcases came from http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/freepatterns/index.html This is a website that I think I have mentioned before. It is sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens, the goal is to create 1 million pillowcases to be donated to charities throughout the country. Pillowcases go to sick children, older folks in nursing homes and peopl in crisis throughout this country. I have made a few and donated them, hope to make a few more. Our local charitable group that makes items for local kids has decided that Christmas 2011 will be pillow year, we are going to make pretty pillowcases with a new pillow inside and the usual other goodies.

If you are interested in participating at any level, go check out this website, there is much information to learn, PLUS it has a gob of FREE PATTERNS for many variations of the basic pillowcase.

It's been a busy weekend and the week ahead promises more of the same~

From Tulip,

KH

:)

I love a NEW year

Why is it that we are all always so fired up about a New Year? We make resolutions, start diets, etc........with such reckless abandon, its really kinda entertaining. I don't always necessarily make specific resolutions, but have had the same goal for years, organize and simplify my life and keep it maintained, sounds simple, but not always attainable. I remember very distinctly ten years ago, the year I turned 30 was such a year for change in my life. I finally felt like I had my head above water, Cody was 6, Sam was 2. I was ready for something. At the time I had no idea what (mostly that two more blessings were yet to arrive, but that's a whole other blog in and of itself, love my Jenny Kamper and Seffy Kamps!) I can remember having this feeling of I am finally 'old enough' I felt so comfortable in my own skin, satisfaction or contentment maybe, I don't know. It was a year of change in that I started doing daycare, on a very small scale, I started taking care of Nicklaus, as he was born that spring. We bought our first home computer.
9/11 happened. Wow. Doesn't that seem like yesterday? I know our parents said the same thing about Kennedy assassination, and Grandparents about Pearl Harbor. Always interesting to me to think about where we were in our own lives when those moments of history occured.
Fast forward 10 yrs. We have added 3 'in laws' almost 4 nephews/nieces (2nd niece will make her appearance in March) My parents are business owners. David parents have declining health. Our immediate family is MUCH bigger. Our home is in the process of 'growing' to accommodate that. It's been a 'year of change' already for me. All of my kids are in school. I am working not one, not two, but THREE part-time jobs. Ten years ago, we were 'barely' involved in activities, now 4H, FFA, football, wrestling and SO much more are a part of our daily lives.
As I enter this new decade, I feel that urgency of 'change' again. I embraced it ten years ago, and happily do so again today. I am glad its gradual and easy to slide right into. I certainly haven't simplified my life, but I am making great strides on the organizing and maintaining aspects of that goal mentioned above and you know I kinda love the chaos.
In this New Year and 'dawn of a new decade' for me (we have till July before its official) I am doing things now that I never thought I had time for in my simpler life of fewer kids, fewer activities that make my heart so happy. I have started exercising again (WOW have I ever NEEDED to do that!?!?!) and doing things for others, just because I want to (that one makes my heart really happy!) I am kinda making a few resolutions, but shhh, don't tell. Some things I have been adding lately are: when I get on facebook, I look at the friends that happen to pop up along the left hand side of my profile page and say a PRAYER for them, no I don't always know what their particular trials are, but that's okay, God knows. The few times I enter a drive-through lane to get something convenient for our day, I buy the person behind me's meal. Have done that about 5 times in the last two months! I have to say, I love that 'honk' I have I gotten! :) On facebook just yesterday, there was a pay it forward post, and I who NEVER participate in those, DID. I have a list of about 6 friends who commented and I am aleady thinking of fun things that I can make them. I picked up two free patterns for a couple of friends at a fabric store yesterday that feature items each have mentioned wanting to make, YAY! Have been very excited thinking of all the 'pay it forward' things I am GOING to do this year. I have already logged 15 miles of exercise this year! and its only 5th!
I am looking forward to this NEW YEAR, and even more excited about the new decade that is coming soon. Heck I have BLOGGED twice this year, yeah its gonna so rock in 2011.
Listening to the contractors climbing around on my roof and smiling thinking of the finished project~
From Tulip,
KH
:)

Happy New Year! Welcome 2011

Having not been a regular blogger as of late I have no excuse, but will offer a few, we are remodelling our home, adding 1400 sq ft, I have started 3!!! parttime jobs (sewing instructor, substitute teacher and working at Dad's pool hall) to my already crazy life and taken back up a hobby that I have had off on since I was a kid, I have been sewing. Alot.

I decided that a New Years Resolution might be to blog once a week about a project that I have completed, hopefully that will get me back in the 'blogging groove' and I can start boring you with all the stuff that I find interesting. Cross your fingers.

The picture I am sharing today is of the the Tote Bag I made for Seth to give his teacher. We have been blessed this year to get Laura Warbritton as his Kindergarten teacher. While I believe that all of the options on the Kindergarten team are great, I was thrilled to end like we started (Cody had her as well!) Laura and I have kinda gotten to be friends, between the 10 yrs since she had Cody, her son Alex (aka to the kids Bob) and Cody both play football, we follow the boys to many a game. Laura has started sewing, so we have been known to hang out with the 'cool kids' at Material Girl Quilt Shop. And of course my many years of being a room mom or various other volunteer at Chance Elementary has offered us occasion to get to know each other. I feel blessed that this woman is in my sons life, she's not only his teacher, but one of his biggest fans (she gets his humor! YIKES!) I know that she really loves her little students and makes the beginning of their school career a special one. Thank you so much Laura!

Now a little about the bag. I have become a big fan of Moda Fabrics thanks to the influence of my good friend Meredith, owner of the local quilt shop, Material Girl Quilt Shop (another plug for you sister!) Moda has a wonderful blog called Moda Bake Shop. (go check it out sometime, its WONDERFUL!!! GOBS of FREE PATTERNS!!) I have been visiting the Bake Shop for quite some time and last summer I found a great tutorial for the 'Charming Tote' its based off of one of Moda's precut fabric packs, the 'Charm Pack' The size of your tote is based on the amount of charms you use on a side. Very basic construction and goes together in a snap. The first one I made was more of a purse size with 9 charms on a side, I have made them with 12, 16 and even 20 on a side. This is a simple purse that I have made over and over. It looks cute everytime. I have discovered magnetic snaps that can be purchased at Jo-Ann fabrics. The brand name is Everything Mary. They are available in many sizes and colors. The company also makes other purse accessories and findings from 'feet' for the bottoms of purses to lanyard hooks. They are reasonably priced as well. The fabric series from Moda is called 'Punctuation' by American Jane Patterns, Sandy Klop designer, most of her fabrics have a home-y feel to me, she had a cute camping series a few years ago, just something about the fabrics remind me of growing up.

I taught my version as a basic tote at my Beginners Sewing Class last week. Had one student make hers into a diaper bag for her niece. For anyone interested, I teach these classes at least once a month and am open to doing private classes for groups of three or more. I am planning our January class right now, which is tenatively scheduled for Jan 16th, 2pm to 5pm and the project will be placemats or a table runner. Please feel free to contact me on here, via facebook or email or of course you can give me a call if you are interested.

Again I say Happy 2011 enjoying the warmth of our home while looking out at the sunny, but cold New Years Day outside,

From Tulip~

KH

:)

Locks of Love AKA Jenna Loves Grandpa Bob

Many of you know that my family has been struggling for quite some time with David's dad, Bob's struggle with cancer. We know that chances are this won't be happy ending for us. For him, he will go and see his heavenly Father and await the rest to join him someday. We struggle with our selfish thoughts of how much we will miss and can't imagine him no longer in our daily lives, it's hard to even type these words much less consider that we will unfortunately be living them some day. While we struggle with our own personal thoughts and feelings about this, as parents, we don't want this process to be any tougher than it has to for our kids. Although the loss of a Grandparent regardless of your age isn't an easy one for anyone, we are trying to explain this process to our kids slowly to hopefully help ease their pain and maybe help us focus on something besides our personal pain as well. For the big boys, Cody and Sam, we've been pretty upfront with them and I think that they have a pretty decent understanding of what's ahead. But for the shorties, it's a different deal. I have tried to explain things on their terms along the way so they have some understanding. But I am many times at a loss for what to say. So I have tried to educate the kids on things that they could do to help.

Jenna has been 'growing out bangs' for a year now. What used to be her bangs are now quite long and have for sometime been long enough to tuck behind her ears. We have talked off and on for the last year, what she might do once they are grown out. Well the talk has evolved recently into possibly donating the hair that got cut off to Locks of Love. So we had to wait until there was enough to donate and still have some on her own head.........finally today was the day.

While I think that she understands now, throughout our conversations she's had cute questions, things like, 'Do you really think Grandpa Bob will like my yellow hair'? She's so cute, I love it. Well today while we were cutting and asking many times over, are you sure, I watched my little girls generous heart bulge with pride over what was her first act charity, one that she did without hesitation. Oh sure she loved the compliments and such. But I think that she grew today, and probably so did I.

Wiping a tear and wishing all five pictures would upload so you could see the whole process,

From Tulip~

KH

:)

The Boys of Fall (and a girl too!)

When I feel that chill and smell that wet cut grass

I'm back in my helmet cleats and shoulder pads

Standin in the huddle listenin to the call

Fans going crazy for the boys of fall

They didn't let just anybody in that club

Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood

To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall

Kings of the school man we're the boys of fall

Well it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes

It's fighting back them butterflies

It's call it in the air alright, yes sir we want the ball

And it's knockin heads and talkin trash

It's slinging mud and dirt and grass

It's I got your number, I got your back

When your backs against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The Boys of Fall

In little towns like mine it's all they got

Newspapers clippings fill the coffee shops

The old men will always think they know it all

Young girls will dream of The Boys of Fall

Well it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes

It's fighting back them butterflies

It's call it in the air alright, yes sir we want the ball

And it's knockin heads and talkin trash

It's slinging mud and dirt and grass

It's I got your number, I got your back

When your backs against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The Boys of Fall

Well it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes

It's fighting back them butterflies

It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball

And it's knockin heads and talkin trash

It's slinging mud and dirt and grass

It's I got your number, I got your back

When your backs against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The Boys of Fall

The boys of fall

(The boys of fall, the boys of fall..)

We're the boys of fall

That Kenny Chesney song brings goosebumps to me EVERY time I hear it! As long as I can remember, I have ALWAYS loved fall. I will admit that I was one of those goofy kids who looked forward to school starting. I have also always loved jumping in leaves, still rake 'em with the kids and jump in at least once, and have great memories of doing that with my brother and my cousins, Eric and Chad, who lived across the road when we were little.

As I got older, I started appreciating other great things of fall, like trees changing color, mums and pumpkins, and craft shows. After I married the farmer, I look forward to the Harvest! All of their hard work comes to a finale. I love memories of riding in the combine when we were younger, SKINNIER and dating! I rode with DH alot in the combine. Mom and I did Craft Shows in the fall, the crisp cool air, friends and fun.

Then in 1994, I had a whole new reason to love fall, my first baby was born. Cody Garrett was born on the last 'unofficial' day of summer, yes, you guessed it, Labor Day. I could write a thousand blogs about how kids have changed my life, but I am trying to focus on my love of fall. Seeing my favorite season in the eyes of my child, made me fall in love with it all over again. That 'first fall' was kind of a blur, sleep deprived and adjusting to the new stage in my life, that fall moved in to winter before I even realized what happened. By the next fall, I had this lil fella who couldn't wait to ride in the 'bines' with Daddy and Grandpa. We spent many of the next years discovering new traditions like painting pumpkins. Fours years after my first fall harvest of a baby, we did it again, Sam is my October baby, four years later, Jenna and two years after that Seth finished up our run on fall babies.

As the kids have grown, fall has taken on many more new meanings and fun activities. Trick or treating and what was my one sewing project a year for many years, homemade Halloween costumes. The first one I made was Bugs Bunny when Cody was 2. In years since, we have had pirates, Batman and Robin, a knight, a muskateer, several versions of Princesses, Elvis, the Disney character Stitch, cowboys, Darth Vader, baseball players, a witch...........this year so far Seth is going to be a 'bowl of rac-n-roni' (macaroni, if you don't speak Seth-ese) I kinda get sad when I think about that two of my boys of fall are too big to dress up anymore, thankfully Seth and Jenna still enjoy the 'magic' and the nephews and niece are still willing participants in my sewing craziness!

Also as the kids have grown we've added a family activity that at some times of year, all but dominates our lives, first 4H and now FFA. Being farm kids, our kids love their animals and 4H has been the first vehicle for getting the opportunity to show their animals and promote our way of life. Now we don't generally 'show' animals in the fall, but the new 4H year begins in fall, we celebrate 4H week, which by the way is the first week in Ocotober (Sam's birthday week!) and now with having a highschooler, we are part of another farm family tradition in rural America, FFA. Fall is busy in FFA as the kids have their first BIG fundraiser, fruit sales, in which the kids really work hard at since their sales help to pay for their trip to Nat'l convention ALSO in fall (end of October, if you are keeping track).

We love all of these fun great events, its a challenge to juggle it all at a time when harvest at home is in full swing, but after 20 years of marriage, I have found that there is not one part of the 'year' that's not busy with something on this farm, and that's okay, that means we are doing our job, hopefully doing it well! :)

If you are keeping track, harvest, birthdays, 4-H and FFA............think that we are busy? Nope apparently not busy enough...........we participate in one more great 'fall tradition' especially in Centralia, our boys play football! If you had told me several years ago, that I would write about football with love and passion and exclamation points, I would have laughed in your face.............hahahaha, well times change. I LOVE football! I don't know that I will ever get real into college or NFL, but I love me some youth football, so far Cody has played since 7th grade and this year Sam is playing on the 'little league' 6th grade team. I love love LOVE it!!! Yeah I complain with the rest of them the long drives to games, the kids getting home late from practice and I won't even start to describe how much I wish someone would invent something that gets the stink off of shoulder pads! But I can't get enough of Panther football! I am a very proud parent and thrilled that my boys are part of a long standing tradition in our mid Missouri rural town.

When I first heard Kenny's song, it gave me chills, he did a great job of capturing the feelings and emotions of football season and our much loved 'Boys of Fall'

Looking forward to the fourth night of Friday night football while watching the sileage wagons drive by outside my office window this morning,

From Tulip~

KH

:)

Panther Bag

Panther Bag
Originally uploaded by tulipfarmmom

Since I have started sewing like a mad woman, I have given home made gifts to several friends on their birthdays. This particular tote was made for my friend, Tonya. She and I have gotten to know each other over the years through our kids activities. We sit togther at school concerts, football games and of course wrestling tournaments. I thought this would be a fun tote for her to carry to these events. The squares are 5 inch 'charm squares' I quilted the bag with a lightwweight batting and added extra firm interfacing to the interior to add stiffness. I thought that the Yo-Yo paw print was a fun touch, since our school mascot is the Panthers. It also features a magnetic snap closure and interior pockets. The finished size is approximately 18"x18" so roomy enough for a camera and a book for those long wrestling tournament days or a small umbrella and or mittens and a hat for football games, plus all the usual purse items.
I am sewing alot lately, have many small projects to complete, this one was actually made and given back in March.
Tying up the loose ends of summer,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Girls Night Out!

Can Coolies!
Originally uploaded by tulipfarmmom

I love my husband and I love my kids, even if they all drive me crazy from time to time. But I also love my girlfriends and we are having a Girls Night Out this weekend. Billy Currington is a favorite singer of ours and in honor of his new song, 'Pretty Good at Drinking Beer' we decided we needed our beer to look pretty, hence the cute coolie cups. This was a fun quick project, literally took less than 5 minutes a piece to make. I really didn't have a pattern, just used a coolie cup that I had. I flattened it out and placed it on the fabric fold, cut two pieces of fabric and one piece of quilt batting. Then I zigzagged the edges (along what will be the top and the bottom) picked a 'wrong side and sewed up the sides. Cute quick project and I certainly see myself making many more, b/c I know several ppl who are 'Pretty Good at Drinking Beer'
See you tomorrow night Billy,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest

Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest
Originally uploaded by Missouri Agriculture

Since I bought my new camera in June, I simply can't take enough pictures, and of course with it being summer, most of the those pictures are kids and cows. I know that this red calf is something new for regular viewers of our kids with their calves. So here's the story of Rose. Since Jenna has yet to turn 8 and actually officially be in 4H, which by the way, she's getting very tired of waiting on. We have let her have a bottle calf for the last SEVERAL years, I think this might be her 4th one! We've had Lilly, Barbie and Sparkles. This spring we were lucky enough not to have a bucket calf, although Jenna didn't think that was a good thing! So a plea was sent out amongst our cattle friends and a calf was found. Our friends, the Nelsons, had just the thing. No she wasn't a black calf, but Jenna didn't care. All the usual frustrations of trying to get a calf to take the bottle seemed amplified this year, but finally, FINALLY Rose caught on, thanks to much time and patience from our daughter. That will be such a blessing if she continues to have that much patience later in life! Once Rose and Jenna got feeding down, Jenna started training her to wear the halter, and be led. Once those weren't a big deal, they started their daily routine, which generally includes a bath (some days, more than one!) brushing Rose's red coat, applying conditioner and walks around our yard and love LOTS of love. A good friend said some little girls play with dolls, some little girls play with calves and she was right. Our little girl loves Rose with deep true love that is truly beautiful to watch.
Learning how to blog via Flickr this morning,
From Tulip~
KH
:)
PS-- I submitted this photo in the Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest, hence the title of this entry!

Unanswered Prayers

Everyone who knows us, knows that Seth was the prayer answered that we never knew we were praying for. What would life be like without our littlest ray of sunshine? I have no idea and nor do I ever want to. This summer is a special one for me. I learned at least a kid or two ago to quite wishing my life away and savor the moments, as they seem to be running past us faster and faster. I try to appreciate the fact that he still likes to come to our room about 2:30 most mornings and spend the rest of the night with us. Although as this mornings crook in my neck would lead one to believe, its not his most enduring quality.

Seth or Seffy Kamps as he has nicknamed himself is a young man with many, many things that just make you fall in love with him over and over! His funny personality, and the man of million faces just screams of that mind blowing sense of humor and fun that will take him so far in this world. He's certainly a 'youngest' child. He is more street smart than any of our other kids. Has 'friends' many years older than he. He has a confidence about him that will take him places that most would only dream to go.
I have been blessed with a special privilege in this life and that is one of a stay at home mom. I have been at home with kids for 16 yrs. I know that many moms don't get this opportunity. While it has its wonderful qualities, its not been all wine and roses. I have gotten my share of criticisms. I didn't do everything exactly like it ought to have been done, but it was me who paid the price, I didn't hire the raising of my kids out to whomever was cheapest and most convenient. Please don't take that as an insult, I am just trying to demonstrate the nasty sorts of comments that I got from time to time. There have been many things that David and I would have love to have done through the years, that we weren't able to do. But there's been one thing that we have done that I am certain without a doubt that we both realize how blessed we've been to be able to do and that was raising our kids and putting them before ourselves always.
Several weeks agao, Seth, Jenna and I were laying on our bed reading and I was lamenting the fact that the two of them no longer would fit in my lap because they were getting so big. Without hestitation my littlest blessed ray of sunshine said, 'I will stay little for you forever' OMG, does that little boy melt your heart?!?! Love you Seffy Kamps and your brothers and your sister.
Not looking forward to the swollen eyes of the first day of school,
From Tulip~
KH
:)