Cub Fans

Back in the day the Cubs were the only team to watch on TV during the day - Nation Wide! All the games were shown on WGN. My Dad, who is a full blown White Sox fan, sometimes watched the Cubs too. He loved to watch baseball and the Cubs were the only game on. So I get the wide appeal for the Cubs.

Mike has been a Cub fan his whole life. Watching the games on WGN summer afternoons with his Father and brothers. Enjoying a game with them at Wrigley Field. True Blue Cub Fan.Yup, married him anyway.

I am not watching the games. I am certainly not a Cub basher either. I don't know their players, though I am slowly learning their names from the jerseys I see around and watching sports on the news.
I don't suddenly love the Cubs because thy are winning.
BUT I do love these guys.

I bought them all Locker room souvenir hats 

Saturday night Mike got to watch a Cubs playoff game with his son and grandson. Not to many people can say that.
Logan asked if he could come over. He wanted to watch a playoff game with his Papa. He wanted to share another Cub experience. Mike took him to his first game at Wrigley.
Brian has always been a Cub fan.

I hope the Cubs win. Being a Cubs fan as long as Mike has, he knows what losing feels like. I want him to know what it feels like to back a winner. I want him to feel like I did in 2005 when my White Sox won it.
Yeah, I want this for him....

SO Grateful

So my sewing machine is slowing (literally) dying. I bought the thing on Overstock for $100. Totally got my moneys worth.

I told Mike for my birthday this year I wanted a new one.
I have been shopping at a new quilting shop in Geneva that I found that is a Baby Lock distributor. Yay... No more mean people in Bensenville.
My big long arm machine is a Baby Lock and you can not buy online from this company you have to go through a distributor. While I was in there ordering new tracks for my long arm I checked out their machines. I found one. I sat down, tried it out, checked out the price and thought Yup this will do. I grabbed a brochure and brought it home to Mike.

He wanted me to go with him to get it. Fine...
We enter the store and my eyes go to a new model. Sales lady said they just came in 2 days ago.
This baby is the Cadillac of sewing machines. I sit down at it and Mike can tell I wanted it. Really Bad...
He told me to get it.
I showed him the price and he said so what? He Said SO WHAT....I am worth it!

My new Baby Lock

I am now sewing on a new "Presto" Baby Lock sewing machine. This thing has it all, including a on/off switch for continuous stitching. No foot pedal.
I tell Mike how much I love it every time I sit down at it. Sometimes he;s around to hear me sometimes not, but I am going to say it every time I sit down to sew.
Just like I tell Mom how my big long arm makes me think of her and how happy I get every time I use it.

latest project

And just like I tell Sharen (she MAY be tired of my texts) Thank You every time I use my design wall she got me 4 years ago.
 And just like I thank Bryan and Mary for supplying me with new Pantographs.
This stuff makes me happy and grateful and sure makes my quilting life more easier and enjoyable.

My family reassures me that my quilts will be cherished and not sold at garage sales, so I will keep on quilting and enjoying my treasures.

Everything Pumpkin

That time of year again when Pumpkin flavors are everywhere.
I always tell the grandkids to try it first before you tell me you don't like something. So that is what I am doing this year. Trying new pumpkin products I see.

As much as I love pumpkin there are some things that do not need to be pumpkin. Potato chips really - No.
I have had my fill of pumpkin beer and wine too. Oh yeah and pumpkin salsa. Gonna pass on them this year.
I can stand pumpkin air freshener for about 2 days - then I put it away. I have about 5 pumpkin candles (Gifts from people) that I still burn.

I thought everything pumpkin doesn't have to be sweets, right?  Changed my mind when I tried pumpkin Ravioli and pumpkin soup. Yuck... Though they may be better homemade. Not eating it.

Breakfast is where I get my main pumpkin fix.
Bread, English muffins, bagels along with pumpkin cream cheese and waffles, are all stocked up in the freezer. And it goes without saying that I love me some pumpkin coffee.
This year I found cereal, so I  of course I had to try them. Thumbs up on the mini-wheats, Our basement looks like a episode of extreme couponing I bought me some extra. I was disappointed on the Special K and Life. I'll have to use the rest of these to make crusts for my pumpkin cheesecake.
Pumpkin Oatmeal - people, just put some pumpkin puree in your oatmeal and save the money on the flavored ready made stuff. Taste better too.
Bryan found some Pumpkin butter for me that is super good on toast.
I do like a pumpkin donut once in awhile, but I am not sorry to see them go at the end of the season.

I pass right by the pumpkin cakes. My sister Vicki has the best recipe anywhere. I make my own pumpkin cookies and muffin and cheesecake.  I do have to stock up on canned pumpkin.
I do prefer store bought pumpkin pie though.

I also tried a few new ice creams. Pumpkin Pie ice cream is better than just pumpkin flavor (I didn't finish the carton). And I don't usually eat ice cream. Ha.

I do eat pumpkin yogurt and pudding - add a little pecans and some whip cream Yummy...

So I will continue to try new pumpkin flavored products when I find them.

Grandparents Day

Mike and I went to visit with Roger and his class for Grandparents Day.

It started with breakfast and a ceremony put on by the 8th grade class. Then we headed to the church for a "Guardian Angel" mass.
Each kindergartner is assigned to an 8th grader through the school year to help guide them through the mass. Roger got a cute 8th grade girl. After mass the 8th graders pinned an angel to the shirt of their assigned student and then walked them back to their classroom.

 There are only 17 students in Roger's class. Here is his teacher Mrs. Brewster. Roger is assigned to #5 (for everything) - His seat on the rug is right smack dap in the corner, by the door. Check out the uniform. No arguing in the morning about what to where to school.

Doing the calendar for the day

He then showed us his desk and the things he was learning.

We couldn't leave without a tour of the classroom (which is small). There is learning tools and student artwork everywhere around the room, including hanging from the ceiling.
Again his backpack and coat and all things personal are stored in #5 cubbyhole.

Roger was so excited to see us and show us around. Mike and I were more excited to be there.

Pumpkin Farms

I love all the changing seasons.

In the fall I love the colors, the crisp air, the falling leaves, football games, and pumpkin farms.

We got to spend a Saturday night with the older grandkids traveling through a corn maze. Mike was the keeper of the map and even though it took us an hour - we made it thru the whole thing.

That really is us coming out of the last trail. There was 2 and we did them both We are not just posing for this picture at the exit.

There was a young boy who had gotten separated from his family and so he joined our group. Turns out he saw Mike's USMC t-shirt. He told Mike that his sister is in the Marines now. She is stationed at Cherry Point. Mike walked out and met his Mother and Aunt and told them he was at Cherry Point too.

Then we got to spend a Sunday with the younger grandkids at Goebberts. This place just keeps getting bigger . It;s been a few years since we have visited.

First stop had to be the pumpkin eating dinosaur. Last time we were here Luke was just a baby and Roger was timid. Not this time... Not sure if they wanted to get closer or just climb the fence.

We spent a few dollars on feed for the animals in the petting tents and then decided to break for lunch before heading over to the Play area. Mary had packed sandwiches and snacks.

Mike can not pass up a roasted ear of corn. Ever!
Owen wanted a taste and then another and then another. Pretty sure he just wanted the butter. He loves his butter.

Sharing with Owen

After lunch we head on over to where all the action is.
They have so much for kids to do here and so many kids running around. Crazy!!
We didn't have to worry about spending more money on camel rides or horse rides. The boys were happy just running around from playground to climbing haystack to hay tunnels.

Owen running to Daddy

When we left (after 2 1/2 hours) there was still more people coming in. Cops were out directing traffic. Guys were pushing out cars that were stuck in the mud in the fields. I was just glad we were on our way out.

2 great Autumn days spent with the grandkids.