30.3.07

19.3.07

Happy St. Patrick's Day...sorta

These pictures are a little late. Busy little bees are we, with the move and all. I'm going to try my best to put these in order, but I make no promises.A week (or so) ago we went to Saltillo. It's a smallish city west of Monterrey with a very old cathedral among other things. They're famous for their serapes. We picked one up at the local government-run market. On our way there we noticed a military checkpoint across the hwy headed back toward Monterrey (across the state lines). We got nervous thinking they might be checking visas. Thankfully--since we'd forgotten ours--the checkpoint was closed (or open, depending on how you look at it, anyway they weren't 'checking' anymore) by the time we headed back.What would St. Patrick's Day be without an entire coordinating wardrobe for the entire day? Yeah, right. I wish I had things that together. As a complete coincidence, I finished all these projects earlier in the week and just happened to have Mack wear them for St. Patrick's. Everything except the shorts, which are way too big and just for Sundays. I made them out of a pair of Tyler's old slacks. Pretty thrifty if I do say so myself.

It's the little man himself! A willing model as usual. Oh gosh, he's cute!
I don't really know what to say about this picture, it seems fairly obvious. Baseball shoes. I made them to test out a new pattern before I made some leather ones with it. You can find the link to the pattern in the sidebar. What I like most about this pattern is that it comes in different sizes, from 0 all the way up to a children's 13.
This picture is from earlier this evening. Tyler put Mack in his old bouncy seat for kicks and Mack LOVED it. Silly guy. He would grab the bar and bounce himself around.For the past two days he's been sticking his tongue out more than usual. I think he probably means he's a genius. He thinks looking out the window is the greatest thing ever. Frankly, I get a little nervous that someone might see him and try to kidnap our gorgeous little blond baby.Last one I swear. Remember when Tyler was gone and I said I was going to make Mack some sandals? Well, I did it. They're the brown ones. I still get frustrated just looking at them. They're absolutely perfect in every way, but they're too big. I'm selling them for $20 if anyone is interested. I make things too big all the time and it doesn't bug me at all, but for some reason these shoes are driving me nuts. I made the khaki/green ones tonight after Mack went to sleep. I tried them on him and they fit! Hooray!

17.3.07

How totally awesome is this! Free Land! If today were two years from now Tyler and I would do this in a heart beat. That's the kind of spontaneous, crazy people we are (although I don't think anything involving real estate should have those adjectives attached to it. No matter how impulsive it is, land just doesn't seem crazy now does it. Maybe the fact that I think it's crazy shows how unspontaneous I'm becoming?? tangent done). I would fly out tomorrow, no joke! Stand in line all night and maybe even purchase a "baked good" or two from the "student government students". But sadly, the timing couldn't be worse. We're still in Mexico and in the midst of a yet another transition, ie: move and becoming legitimate tax paying citizens. Grr. There is an article about it on CNN.com (sorry no link: too lazy), and ever since we read it we've been thinking about the many ways we would/could take advantage of this situation. But don't you worry, I'm going to keep my eye on this little town just in case they decide to do anything like this in the future.

13.3.07

MTY to SFO

Well the system actually works...you go to school and you get a job. That is my past 5 years in a nutshell. I was offered a position in San Francisco with a company called Sageworks Inc. Of all the jobs I sought recently, this was definitely at the top of the list. The company is based in Raleigh, NC so I will be traveling back and forth as I go through the training period. Last week the company flew me out to SF to see the office and have an in-person interview. Apparently they liked what they saw and offered me the position the next day. As the countdown indicates below, I graduate in two weeks . I begin work on April 16th. Until then Fern and I will be looking for a place to live. We have set up various criteria for the location and apartment features we desire. We'll keep you posted. I think Fern deserves a lot a credit for putting up with my crazy ideas, like moving to Mexico with a newborn baby. Thanks Ferny, I luv ya. Well enough of that..............As the wise Notorious B.I.G. once declared, "we're goin back to Cali!"

Oh yeah.....CONGRATS to Kyle (Fern's brother)----he's going to Pittsburgh, PA on his mission! Atta kid.

6.3.07

deep breath

I don't know where to start, so forgive me if this is a bit choppy. Tyler's birthday was wonderful on Friday. Thanks for all the text messages (you know who you are). It's the thought that counts, right? Just so no one gets confused, we can't get texts in south of the border. The next day, I came down with Mack's stomach virus. Not fun. Yesterday, I was officially stamped "healthy"...just in time for poor Ty to get sick. He was in a bad way last night, poor guy, and is on the road right now headed for Laredo. He left about 2 hours ago and Mack and I are still here. We decided to stick in out in Monterrey this time. Ty will fly to San Francisco early tomorrow morning, have an interview in the afternoon, and fly back Thursday. So he should be back sometime around 7 slash 8ish.

BIG NEWS: Kerin is engaged! Corey popped the question a weekish ago. The date is set for August 3rd (changed from July 13 because the reception venue was booked! sad.). I'm very, very excited for her to begin this new chapter in her life! Husbands rock (I miss Tyler)!

BAD NEWS: Last Tuesday we were on our way to Saltillo and we got in a car accident. Living in Monterrey this long I'm frankly surprised we didn't get in one earlier. No one was hurt and now our bumper is tied onto the car with zipper ties. bummer. I don't want to say anything else about it.

My mom sent me some pictures today from when we went to Disneyland back in January. Pictures of all three of us together are so rare! And I had to include a pic of mack with his mouse ears on over his hat in front of It's a Small World.


ON A DIFFERENT NOTE:

I've got sewing on the brain. I even dream about it. I can't wait to start my next project, but at the same time I get so overwhelmed thinking about where to begin. I want to do it all! But I'm going to say it right here so it has to come true: Tomorrow I'm going to make Mack some sandals. Really. I am so excited about the things I've already made. It's so satisfying to make practical things. Things we're actually using, and save us tangible money. Maybe it sounds boring, but that's only because I'm not good at writing about what it is I do. It is not boring. My poor mother as to listen to me toot my horn every time I finish something. Thanks for putting up with all my calls! Here's are pictures of a few of the things I've called about. Now you can finally put a "face" with my projects.


*In case you can't tell, the middle pictures are of a bib with sleeves. I made it using a PJ pattern and an old hand towel. But my favorite part was using up all those bright scraps of ribbon and rick rack. You don't get to use much trim when you're sewing for a little boy. The last one is a pair of bear shoes. And since I'm explaining the others--The first ones are Mack's "Monster Outfit". Gotta love the turned up cuffs (Ty's idea) and perfect pocket placement. I have a bit of an obsession with cute monsters. I blame my parents for raising me (thankfully) on Sesame Street. *

2.3.07

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER

Talk about one year older and wiser too! 27 years old and soon he will be graduating with his second mater's degree. Way to go Tyler! Last year was amazing, but this year will be great too. Happy Birthday!
Love, Mack and Fern