Results of our Laboring on Labor Day

Labor day weekend was extremely productive for us. We ran tons of errands on Saturday and felt really good about what we got done. So good, that we decided to spend Monday painting. I've had paint samples taped to my craft room wall for about a year now. About a week ago Michael's had a sale on their scrapbooking storage, so I took advantage of that sale and organized all my scrapbook and quilting paraphernalia. The last step was painting. I love the blue/gray color.(Although it is kinda hard to see in the picture.) It looks great with the white trim, blinds and light. It was an inexpensive project and one I'm glad to have crossed off the list. Unfortunately it doesn't look like one of those beautiful craft rooms you see in magazines. The thing that makes mine different is, I actually use it, so I want it functional rather than pretty.

Let’s add “Rat-sitter” to the resume

Cassidy quickly volunteered to watch Cinnamon and Gracie for our friends, the Wrights, while they were out of town.  Cinnamon and Gracie are rats.  My first thought was "Ewww".  Cassidy and I had a long talk about how SHE would be caring for the rats.  They would need to stay in Her room, and I was NOT responsible. 

Cassidy was so excited to get the rats that she made a paper chain to count down the days until she would take over guardianship.  She made a book called Rat Care in which she wrote all the instructions she had learned about caring for rats.  In the meantime I talked to Mama Wright and she told me with a cringe than the rats are kinda messy and was I sure I was up for this.  SERIOUSLY!!! NO!!! I am not up for this!!! But my darling daughter has her heart set on it.  And I have to pick my battles.....so we picked up the rats.  

I quickly discovered what makes them so disgusting.  It's the tails.  If they had cute little bunny rabbit tails I think I would like them, but those long ropey tails are just gross.  Ropey tails didn't bother the kids at all.  As soon as we got them home and set up in Cassidy's room she had them out of the cage. (oh, I forgot to mention she cleaned her room without being asked, to prepare for the rats arrival.) Ryan was holding one and Cassidy was holding one. *Shutter*

For the next several days I LOVED the rats.  Yes, LOVED them.  My children would go up to Cassidy's room several times a day for 30 - 40 minutes at a time, close the door and play with the rats.  I could hear them giggling and laughing.  They got out the Fisher Price Little People Castle and House and let the rats run all over them.  They tried to make a maze for the rats but they just crawled over it.  I can't remember the last time they played together without it ending in an argument.

The rats have brought my children together. So here is a big Thank you to the rats and the Wrights.

College for Kids

I didn’t want to over schedule the kids this summer but I didn’t want them sitting home doing nothing either. We heard about a program at

Tarrant County College where the kids take four classes of their choice, for three weeks, four days a week. We decided to try this program and the kids have loved it!!

Ryan chose to take Debate, Computer Animation, Stock Market and At your Service (a class where they make up a business and go through the steps of starting it.) Cassidy chose to take Spanish, Ceramics, Basketball and Speed Reading.

They both seem to be learning and everyday they change which class is their favorite. They were pretty proud to have their own college IDs. It kind of freaks me out to realize how old they are becoming. They are both so independent. I am really proud of them.

I’m sure you are thinking….Wow Karen!!….What are you doing with all your free time?

Well, I’ve been quilting, quilting, quilting. A friend turned me onto Quilts for Kids. It is a program through Downey Fabric Softener. You can request a quilt kit for free. They mail it to you for free. In return they request you make a second quilt and send it back with your free quilt. The fabric is pre cut for you when you receive the quilt and they send the directions as well. They are super easy and fast to piece together. I’ve used these quilts to practice my machine quilting skills. The best part is that the quilts go to sick kids in hospitals all over.

Here are the six quilts I have completed.

Fourth Bi-Annual Shelley Family Reunion

Every other year The Gene and Theora Shelley families get together for a family reunion. Our family lives all over the country so each reunion we meet in a new location. We have met in California, Utah, and Hawaii. This year we met in Kansas. What is there possibly to do in Kansas? you ask?? Well, we found plenty of things and to do and lots of things we didn't even get to do because we ran out of time. We went to a farmstead called Deanna Rose. They had animals in cages, and animals for petting. They had a fishing pond and pony rides. They had an old school house and bank. They had several playgrounds and lots of log swings. I thought my kids might be too old for this but they had a great time.

We ate at a restaurant called Fritz's in the Crown Center. What makes Fritz's special is that you order your food on a telephone from your table (a la training table) then a train brings you your food.The train runs along a track hanging from the ceiling. The train drops your food on a tray above your table that then lowers down to the table. I think that the adults enjoyed watching the train deliver the food as much as the kids did.

Off to Mimi and Papa's House

Ryan and Cassidy got to spend the week in Utah with Mimi and Papa. They were really excited to go and I was really excited to send them. My sister, Leslie (who lives in Dallas) was flying to Utah to visit a friend so, they flew with her. I thought I might be a little sad after they left but I had so many things I wanted to do I didn't have time to be sad. While they were gone, I cleaned my carpets, repainted my kitchen, saw a movie, and took in my sewing machine to be serviced. Together Nathan and I decorated Ryan's room.
























Here are the before and after pictures. We decided on a "Movie/Hollywood" theme. He had seen some of the decorations but before he left we hadn't chosen a color or any bedding. His bed was a mattress and a box spring on the floor, so he is truly moving up in the world.