Sigh, another year older...

Last night we had a family dinner at Massimo's. I was so mad at Vienna Bakery. I was suppose to pick up Jeff's birthday cake and drop it off at the restaurant at noon. I went to the bakery at 2 p.m. and it still wasn't there. (I ordered a guava cake from Aki's Bakery. Vienna bought Aki's a few years ago...and yes, you can special order Aki's butterscotch cookies! They didn't have any, so Neil and I ended up with the Aki sugar cookies...still yummy!) Luckily, Vienna came through and they delivered the cake to Massimo's. Unfortunately, Jeff ordered the Friday night special which included dessert....tiramisu...which I am eating tonight!

Today we met my family for a family birthday celebration for Jeff (June 12), Sage (June 19) and me (July 2)...it was a nice get-together in San Jose J-Town. Here is everyone...thanks to Preston for his wonderful camera/lens...we all got in without having to stitch anything together!

THREE more days...

To be more accurate, it is really 3 short days....so, let the parties begin!!!!

Yesterday, the boys and I attended Mrs. Fread's retirement party. It was a nice, albeit short, visit...the boys had swimming lessons. Mrs. Fread was their kindergarten teacher....and she knows Jeff's mom from a prior "school" life. Okay, when the boys went home to change for swimming, I opened the mail...check this out...I know my birthday is coming up...but, really? A SENIOR CITIZEN OFFER? SHEESH!

So, have you been wondering what my sewing project has been? I made a duffle bag...I am not happy with how the top zipper turned out...but, I think I can find a way to fix/hide it. Isn't it pretty? It's purple of course!

Today is Jeff's birthday...and guess what Nick and Jazel gave him....bragging rights! Their son, Isaac was born today at 1:11 am....good thing I got the blanket done this week!

sigh...it's Thursday?

Ok...so, I am really slacking on the BLOG..but, it will get better. I have been a little sidetracked with a sewing project...hopefully, I will finish it tonight and I will post something tonight, or tomorrow....

I did finish one project! Nick and Jazel's baby blanket....I am so happy that I finished because, Jazel is at the hospital at this moment....they started inducing on Tuesday. Jeff is hoping the baby is born on Friday...his birthday...and Jazel's brother, Jemar, is hoping for today...since it is his birthday.

With only 5 days left in school...I need to find a schedule....when do I update my BLOG? It worked well when I did it at night...but, I have been so tired lately. I didn't go to Pilates today because a certain cat kept me up all night....he was not feeling well... Tuesdays in June are busy...the boys have swimming AND golf....and starting the last week of June, Jordan will also have his writing and cartooning class. I can't believe that this schedule is freaking me out....wasn't I the one who had 16-22 hours of meetings a week? sigh....

Chess Club Awards...

Today was the last day of Success Chess School. There was a little party and AWARDS!
In the picture above, Coach Henry is presenting Jordan with the SECOND place trophy. The place standings are based on the "point gain" for the year. You get points for each match, wins/loses, computer homework etc. Jordan's friend Leo received the first place trophy. Leo participated in a tournament, you get a lot of points for tournaments. This was fantastic, since it was Leo's first year in SCS.

Here is Neil (in a very blurry picture...sigh, at least I remembered my camera...) with Coaches Henry and David.

Here are the boys with their loot. Jordan has three trophies because his "team" won a contest last week...and he got to bring home the trophy because he was team captain. Neil said it wasn't fair because Jordan didn't answer any of the questions.

Here is the whole group!

Kumihimo Garden Necklace

Here is the necklace that I made for the SACBC BAZAAR Silent Auction. Since this is our first Silent Auction, I decided to donate a bead that I bought from DACS.

The description for the necklace is below:

Necklace featuring a handmade lampwork bead by from Hawaii bead artist Alethia Donathan; embellished with assorted Swarovski Crystals, German and Czech glass and seed beads.

Kumihimo is a method of braiding silk threads developed in Japan which is traditionally performed on special wooden stands called Maru Dai and Takadai. The literal translation of kumihimo means the "coming together (kumi) of threads (himo)". Kumihimo braids were originally used as ties, cording and belts for clothing, and closures for Samurai armor. This method had been applied to modern jewelry making and is used in the “rope” of this necklace.

Lunch Buddies....like the old days...

...but only better because I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK! Yesterday, I had lunch with Danny, David and Edwin! We used to work together at EMCDocumentum....David and I worked the longest together...about 8 years or so...his first day was my first day after my maternity leave from Jordan...

I see Danny regularly during basketball since HE made the mistake of telling me that he was bored after work...so, I asked him to help with Jordan's basketball practice....that was quite a few years ago....

Edwin is my other buddy...he is the proud Grandpa of Jordan, aka JoJo....who started ballet this week, sigh, I remember when she was born...I can't believe JoJo is 2 1/2 years old already....but, once again, Grandpa flunks...no new pictures....

Edwin isn't the only one who flunks, I forgot to update my BLOG last night, because I was watching the Laker/Magic NBA finals...and working on the necklace for the Bazaar's Silent Auction. Hopefully, I can finish the necklace tonight and I can post TWO, yes, TWO entries today...that's if I finish by midnight....

Yippee!!! Venti and a Zipper!!!!

Hello! Those of you who see me going to the boys' school...know that I love my Starbuck's insulated cup...it doesn't always have coffee in it...actually, it is usually iced tea...but, I love this cup because it has a lid that screws on...and I can't spill! Unless I don't have the lid on straight...which sometimes happens...anyways...after searching and searching I found a VENTI sized cup! I went to the little Starbuck's kiosk at Safeway...and when I walked up....I SAW IT! As soon as I picked it up, the sweetest little old lady behind me said..."ah...you took the last one"....no, I wasn't mean....turns out the Starbuck's manager had one in the back...I think it was hers...and she sold it to the lady...good thing, I would have felt guilty walking out with mine...

One of my goals was to learn how to sew a zipper....yeah! I did it. I bought the pattern for the above purse...and I realized that I didn't like the pattern....it didn't have lining or fusible interfacing...so, I had to adjust the pattern....but, it did have a REALLY EASY zipper....I love it!

Back when the boys shared a room, I was going to make curtains for the boys...I never got around to it...lucky for Sage, my nephew! I made him a quillow with some red fleece...above it the "pillow" and below is the quilt. It's much easier and I think warmer to use fleece than to use batting...I love them! I have two more quillows to do for Christmas.