what was I thinking?

I signed up with a group of friends to do an alphabet quilt. I took the letter Z for Zach, (E and L were already taken) and am in the process of paper piecing 26 letter Z's. I am glad to be able to mass produce them as I can get on a roll. but not having paper pieced before I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. Needless to say it will be great to have a quilt with all the letters on, but it will be one I keep because of the time it took..!!

balls & boys

They just go together like hand in glove. Zach had a great time at the Discovery Museum in New York.

nack time....

Its (s)nack time for Zach and best buddy Ben. Big boys get to sit at the counter.

why???

Zach went through/is still going through a season of pulling (clean) diapers/dabas from his drawer and opening the tabs and then tossing them aside. He is standing in his toy drawer having diaper destruction time. What does it matter if they can still be used right?

cutest reindeer in Sun Valley Idaho

Christmas morning Jodie and Jeff woke to a foot of snow and a little reindeer out shoveling...... thanks Tia (Amanda) for my suit.

Grammys sous-chef.!

what better way to spend a Friday morning that squishing rotten bananas and filling the kitchen with the aroma of freshly baked banana bread? There was a fair bit of tasting going on and the mixture did end up in interesting places, but there was still plenty left to put in the oven.

TV, favorite drink and snuggly quilts....

this year I made Zach his Christmas quilt which will last him for many years to come. He does know he will have to share it as its so yummy and soft. Flannel on the top and minky on the back. It was ezee pezee, made out of 10" squares (layers cakes) and a cute pattern from Threaded_Pear. called 'I'll Tumble for You"

Grammy has eyes in the back of her head....

Grammy, if you arent watching I will go into your sewing room.....



pull out your thread and floss my teeth....

then find your freezer paper you use to applique, unroll it and drag it through the house.....you should watch me Grammy.

wow wrapping

When Zach had his first birthday in May, I took photos of some of the wrapping.
Bryn Mathison created this one.....simple but eye catching

Ah-ma and Zach in Time Square..

Ah-ma (Uncle Sam) flew from London this week to meet up with Jo Jeff and Zach in New York. Making the most of opportunities for family to be together. ...wish we could have all been with you.

go green..and white

Rogers Gardens in Newport Beach, always have simple but breathtaking floral displays. This month they remind us that white flowers capture our attention in a winter garden. Quick shots taken while keeping Zach from tripping over the pumpkins, falling in the fountains and pulling the $$$ornaments off the freshly decorated Christmas trees.

Zach

....he does everything with great gusto. Having mastered the straw, he squeezes his little cheeks, flares his nostrils, crosses his eyes and goes for it. Concentration ++++

Karen, lets do this again next year..!!

My friend Karen holding her grandson Jacksen. I am holding her granddaughter Baylee and my grandson Zach. This was taken a year ago, and is a favorite picture. But wait we will be doing it again in 2009. Zach and Jacksen will have baby brothers and Baylee will have to wait and see. The births will happen within 5 weeks of each other....!! These babies were within 8 weeks.

the mccollums...

Jeff, Jodie and wee Zach were in Sun Valley, Idaho recently, to celebrate Jeffs mums 70th birthday. It was the perfect time for family photos. Jodie was still feeling pregnancy blahs but she looks great to me...

Happy Happy Joy Joy to Jodie and Jeff

Magazine Cover already...!

Pop and Zach

Saturday was 'Serve Day' for several Orange County churches. Our family (Jeff, Jodie, Zach, Amanda, Nev and me) volunteered for the carwash to raise funds for the Senior Citizen Center in Newport Beach. Nev did his shift with the signs (he was the senior citizen) and so did Zach (exploiting young children). Jeff added the fine touch with sparkling rims. $1000 was raised over a six hour period...our shift was only 2 hours, but with Amanda and Jodie doing the can can, with signs, out on the street, I'm sure we had the most cars come through. Lots of whistles and horm honking for sure.