Some of you already know this but at the risk of repeating myself, I am at my niece's babysitting her four kids (under the age of eight). My niece's one friend took care of them the first week and now it is my turn while my niece and her husband vacation in Italy.
I wanted to show you the plans I had for my time here, in my free time, spare time, my sewing time (those of you with kids....no laughing).
Some of you may remember this quilt from Samoa? I am blanket stitching around the flowers, I was hoping to finish this while here.
Guess What....
AIN'T HAPPENING!!!
AIN'T HAPPENING!!!
GUESS WHAT!!!!
AIN'T HAPPENING EITHER!!!!
NOPE!!!!
GUESS WHAT???
AIN'T STINKING HAPPENING!!!!
My niece's friend laughed when I showed her all the things I had planned to get done. I could have saved myself a lot of prep time before I came.
Oh...I am not complaining. These kids are adorable and can make you laugh and hugs that melt your heart...but....
My niece has stairs. I climbed those stairs so much yesterday that my calves hurt. When it came to bedtime, I read to them, let two stay up and read. Her son came to me and said, can you come and tuck me in. Those stairs looked like mountains by that time. So....I sucked in the "No..can you just go to bed" and climbed them. Then the last one to go to bed.....oh my gosh....must I really climb those stairs... I did.
When the last child was in bed, this gal crashed. WE all know I am a night person.....
My eyes flew open at five this morning. I ain't no spring chicken but it looks like I am crowing when the sun comes up.
Will be crowing tomorrow with the Reindeer Games quilt, so please join us then.
oh Barb, your projects are all so fabulous. I know you will get them done once you are home.
ReplyDeleteHang in there Barb...how lucky your niece is! And just think - all those stairs = gym for a week!
ReplyDeleteThink how great your legs will look after a few days of that! ehehehe small comfort when those calves are on fire, I know.
ReplyDeleteHard work keeping up with kids at our age, isn't it? I know you are enjoying the kids and things might calm down after you have been there a day or two.
ReplyDeleteOh Barb, you entered the children watching marathon without knowing it. You are in mile 23 and the finish is in sight. You can do it! Your projects are all beautiful, btw.
ReplyDeleteThey look lovely. I only have two children but holidays when they are at home 24 hours a day sewing time is far and few between. Hope you get some rest today.
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh Barb....I thought I was reading about myself. Hang in there and you will get all your sewing done when you return home...lucky niece to have such a wonderful Aunt. Looking forward to Reindeer Games, posted your button on my side bar and blogged about the GAMES yesterday.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the kiddos!!
great projects, work those calves!! by day 3 you should be good and ready to RUN up those stairs :-) this morning or tomorrow you may be hurting though
ReplyDeleteClimbing the stairs = FREE gym for a week! You will need a week to get back on schedule once you are home. :) Love your projects.
ReplyDeleteGargalhadas para você e EU.Estou a 15 meses ficando com meu neto,e não é fácil nem glamouroso mas,todas as manhãs acontece o milagre do amor,assim como você.Ensine os mais velhos a fabricação de iôiô...Um enorme beijo para você.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh!! hehehe!!! You need a hot bath to relax those calves. I bet the kids are really excited to have you there!!
ReplyDeleteTHIS is why we have children when we are young!!!! Enjoy your time with the little ones. As you well know, they will be grown before you know it.
ReplyDeleteOh Barb..... I hear you and feel you. Grandkids plus stairs multiplied by bedtime equals grandma's worn completely out. I'm sending warm thoughts your way!!
ReplyDeleteI can so relate, Barb. The best laid plans, as they always say. We just need to be able to function on no sleep so we can keep going while they are asleep.
ReplyDeleteYour projects are each darling.
hahaha...what a fun post to read! You sure do have a buncha fun stuff in the works that just need a bit of blanket stitching...now you're prepared when you get back home and are reclining eer, resting up. It's never a waste of prep...it needed to be prepared at some point no matter where you would "make it happen". Thanks for this morning's chuckle, Barb!
ReplyDeleteOh Barb - I know how tired I have been taking care of just 2 grandchildren. Bless you!
ReplyDeleteAt least you have all the prep work done for when you get home.
Oh Barb, you are such a wonderful Auntie...........and, yes, I think we all remember those days of raising kids.......and not much of anything else was there any time for.........thanks for posting all your projects...they are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAnd that is why God gives children to the young. I will be visiting my daughter who has 4 children soon. And, she too has stairs. Think I'll leave my sewing at home. I know you are having fun!
ReplyDeleteyour projects are all great, especially love the moon purse.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to get a lot done with 4 underfoot. You must be tired!
Ha ha ha funny story. Yeah under 8, they are fun but what were you thinkin, getting any free time. And you know what those stairs are good for you...keep it up when you go home. LOL!!
ReplyDeleteYou'll be exhausted when you get home, can't wait for Reindeer games.
Love your projects even though they are unfinished. Like Gene said, think of how great your legs are gonna look after all that climbing. Enjoy those kids. It will soon be time to go home and you will miss them.
ReplyDeleteSuch colorful and cheerful projects. You'll get back to them. I'm tired just imagining keeping up with all those kids!
ReplyDeleteBarb!! You are a breath of fresh air today! I wonder DAILY how quilters get all their quilting done - all these many, many FINISHED projects I see each day. Sometimes I wonder what I do with all my time! But, I remember now!! Thank you for this great post! Feeling SO much better about all these unfinished projects!!lol ;)
ReplyDeleteCute story and I am not even the least bit surprised that nothing will be happening with the stitching this week but you will be greatly rewarded by all those hugs and time spent with your new family :-)Enjoy . By the way your work is beautiful .
ReplyDeleteSounds like when your week is done you will need all that sewing therapy.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Barb! You crack me up! You're going to have "buns of steel" by the time you go back home. You are a most excellent auntie for sure!
ReplyDeletexx
There's a reason we don't have children as we get older. =) The projects look great, and you'll probably adjust by the time you're done. Just think of the muscle power and the exercise you are getting!
ReplyDeleteI sure know what you mean,since I have taken on babysitting my grandson I certainly don't get done what I use to get done and I have stairs too. I just decided to enjoy Jonah and I will eventually get back too my life. have fun and enjoy the little ones you will have so many funny stories to tell at the end of your time. I have the next three days off (which I haven't had in a long time) but I know I will be glad when he comes on Monday morning. Blessings Sandra
ReplyDeletesweetie, 4 under 8?! No chance of getting anything done!! Sounds like fun anyway though and the projects will wait :)
ReplyDeleteYour projects are all so sweet...don't worry, another day will come when you'll have the time to get them all finished!
ReplyDeleteYour projects are lovely Barb, sorry you won't be getting them done. Thanks again for the tip on Tuesday Morning, I found some great buys and some lovely Westminster fabrics. Oh, how I love a bargain. :^).
ReplyDeleteLol!! I have 4 boys, some weeks here are like that too. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLove your "ain't happening" list. All beautiful. And, I'm confident they will happen (get completed) someday. Probably sooner than my ain't happening stack.
ReplyDeleteYou are a wonderful aunt and those kids will surely remember you always taking such loving care of them. Ok, you may not want to hear this, but it is good prep for you for when the Gkids come (someday).
Hope you are sleeping well. I think it is 5am your time, but I still hope you are still sleeping.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
We just spent 1 week with our DIL & 2 grandsons - I barely got any sewing done with just 2 kids and the Mom was home! Then we spent 1 week with DS, DIL & GD. This was a little better because we stayed in our camper and I could sew during nap time, etc. God knew what he was doing when he gave children to young people! I was done having my kids when I was 29.
ReplyDeleteI was grinning the whole time I read this Barb! Did the same thing a couple weeks ago and now I'm getting the 3 grand kids for the weekend. 2, 5 and 13 years old. We have stairs and they never bother me but the ones at my daughter's house almost did me in. I never stayed up past 9:30 either. Enjoy and you'll be home sewing soon!!
ReplyDeleteI love your post. I took 4projects on vacation. Didn't get to pick up any of those. But had a blast. I love your blog and have missed it so. Hoping to get back to a regular routine.
ReplyDeleteYou'll probably sleep for two days when you get home! I know you're loving every minute you spend with them. It's just rotten to be reminded that we're not 20 (or 30) anymore!
ReplyDeleteKids are so much fun and so tiring also. When our guys were little the only thing I could do was hand work. Even now whenever I go down the hall to get in a little sewing I have Hubby, the dog and at least one kid following me lol.
ReplyDeleteHA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Read a couple of your post on fb, between the stairs and the kids you should be EXHAUSTED!! Good thing we had kids when we were young!! Makes you wonder how we really did it!! the reindeer are cute...
ReplyDeleteOmigosh, yes, you've been very busy! Sorry there has been no time for stitching :) Hope your calves have recovered by now, lol! I climb stairs all the time in my two story house but know what you mean about them looking like a mountain!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the smiles! Loved reading your post...enjoy every chaotic moment!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you are saying.....haha....
ReplyDeleteI don't know how Old you are but when our family went to branson last year all Stephen wanted to do is climb stairs. One day my knee had it and gave out. I couldn't walk for two months. Its just not the same after 40!
ReplyDeleteSending all the Strength I can through cyberspace
ReplyDeletesounds like it couldn't hurt.
I know you're enjoying every minute and will bring wonderful memories while sitting at your sewing machine or even while doing dishes
hugs