It's time for Easter sewing.

I thought this was the big 100th post, but I had a few drafts saved that I didn't know about so it's really 98 or 99. That gives me a little more time to get my act together! We have been fighting this nasty bug that has been going around. Yuck! I'm taking my boy to the dentist today for what looks like it could be an abscess. My poor baby boy.

I have been sewing, but I don't have anything finished yet. You will be the first to see! I promise! I wanted to leave you with something that would (hopefully) inspire you to start your spring sewing, so I have dug up some pictures from the last few years.

To see more pictures you can click on "gallery" at the top of the page.

This was Molly's dress coat from when she was four. Maddie will be wearing it before I know it!

UPDATE: Timothy's tooth is not abscessed (thank you Jesus!), but he is still feeling pretty icky. The flu is everywhere! I'm praying that we don't have it. I went to the doctor, after I took Tim to the dentist, and I have another kidney infection. That makes two in three weeks. This time I got two shots in the..... well...... never-mind, maybe I will feel better by tomorrow.

Breastfeeding buddies.

Hey mamas. I have a very sweet friend Kayla, who has just had her first baby- identical twin boys! She is such a trooper, breastfeeding from the very beginning with no encouragement, even from the doctor! Well the boys are now around six weeks old and she has hit a rocky spot. She has also just started a blog about her breastfeeding adventure in hopes of finding some much needed encouragement and support. Please, I am begging you, overwhelm her with support! It's up to us to help, teach, and encourage the younger women. I am so proud of her amazing efforts, let's help this mama push through! Kayla, I love you! Just click on her name to get to her blog.

I have included a picture of me nursing Tim and holding Molly. Can you tell I was worn out? LOL!

My next post will be my 100th post! I am planning something big, so stay tuned!

Thanks

Thanks everyone for your sweet comments yesterday. I think I just needed a break. When Ben got home I went to Walmart and walked around eating Dove chocolate and drinking a diet Sunkist, it really worked wonders! Doesn't take much to make a hillbilly happy! Today has been a wonderful day! - xoxox, Samantha

My aunt had her baby, isn't this beautiful!

Everyone look at the tutorial list or scroll down a few posts, I finally got the single crochet tutorial posted.

Blue.

I'm a little blue today. I'm feeling overwhelmed with just my everyday chores. Things are really going great, there is no reason to feel this way. But I can't help it. I know I will feel better tomorrow, but I just had to say it. Do you ever feel this way? Sorry for such a depressing post.

Just another day at the Caffee's.

Two pigs on a couch. Rae (my sister) and her babies Lily and Iris have been staying with us for the weekend. The kids and I were doing the footie pajama slide yesterday morning and Rae said that I needed to video this for the blog. I guess I just don't think about all these silly things we do, they seem so everyday that I think people won't find them interesting; well after watching this video I have decided that it is pretty funny. So here is the footie pajama slide, filmed just this morning!

(This is a video. To watch click the play symbol)

I'm sorry! Please forgive me.

I have been trying to upload your 2nd crochet tutorial everyday for the last four days! I finally realized last night that the video file was a little too big; so I will have to redo the whole stinkin thing! Well....your worth it.

I couldn't leave you with no pictures, and my sweet friend Sheila has asked for a funny kid story, so here ya go. The other day I peeked outside to check on the kids and this is what I saw. They were canoeing. In the yard. I wasn't allowed in the boat.....cause it might sink. They later rode the canoe down the hill in our front yard. Crazy kids! Later that day Tim told me, while patting my belly, "mama yoow fat, yoow eat too much". Well he's honest I'll give him that! LOL!

Well if I'm fat it's from giving birth to these three little angels, so I think it's well worth it. Just look what I get to see when I wake up in the morning. She sleeps in her own bed at night, but after daddy leaves in the mornings, she sneaks in. I absolutely love it. I wouldn't trade this for a flat belly any day!

Isn't she lovely!

How to Crochet Tutorial # 2, Single Crochet

(This is a video, to watch click on the play symbol)

If you haven't watched the first video please do. This video is on how to do a single crochet (in patterns it will be abbreviated to sc). First you will make a beginning chain, just like in the first video, as long as you want (I recommend at least 15 chain). Then you insert the hook in the second ch from the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and go through both loops on the hook- this is a single crochet. Do this to the end of each row - end, meaning very last stitch - then ch 1 and turn to begin the next row. WOW! I never realized how hard it is to crochet that slow, with a tripod and camera between your legs and arms! Did I mention that I couldn't see what I was doing because the camera was in the way? I had to look through the screen on the camera. It was a bit challenging, so I am sorry if it's a little rocky at times! Oh, and you may want to turn your volume down because my phone started ringing towards the end. LOL!

Please let me know if you find this video useful.

Footie Pajamas

The other night while I was hard at work on my website, I told Molly to go put some footie pajamas on Maddie. She came back and said that she couldn't find any. I was so in my own little world, that I just told her to go back and look again. She didn't come back for about fifteen minutes, but I didn't notice because I was so 'locked in' to the computer (bad mama!). When she finally came back she said, "Mom, I couldn't find those footie pajamas that you were talkin about; so I just made her some." Well THIS got mamas attention! I turned and looked at this.......

Molly had found a sweat suit, put the top on Maddie, got the pants, and sewn a sock onto the leg. Footie pajamas. Just like I said. She couldn't find what I was talking about, but she had to obey, so she just worked it out. I laughed so hard! I told Molly that she was absolutely the coolest kid on earth. Can you believe how inventive? I was just so proud! She did a pretty good job too, not bad at all for a six year old. I'm so glad I got this girl a sewing machine early!

I will try to have the single crochet tutorial up this week, so stay tuned.

How to Crochet Tutorial # 1

I suggest you use a size G hook and a sport weight yarn, the reason for this is: If you learn on a medium sized yarn and hook, it will be easier to move up or down a size if you need to. When people learn on the bigger yarns and hooks, they find it hard to hold and handle the small crochet thread.

(This is a video, to watch click on the play symbol.)

First you will need to tie a slip knot and fit it to your hook.

This is the best way for a beginner to hold the yarn and hook. The yarn is threaded through my fingers over the pointer and pinkie, and under the middle and ring finger. I hold the hook underhanded the way you would hold a knife.

Then you will start your first chain by bringing the thread over the back of the hook, and up toward you. This is called yarning over. When you have yarned over, pull the hook through the first loop (as shown in video).

In most patterns "chain" is abbreviated to "ch".

This may take some practice so don't get frustrated! Just take your time, watch the video a few times, if you get frustrated walk away and come back later.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I will answer all questions in the comment section of this post so that others ,who may have the same question, will benefit. Please leave a comment if you enjoy this tutorial, these take a good bit of energy to put together and I don't mind doing it if I know people enjoy it!

Sorry about the background noise on the video. LOL! It's never quiet around here. If it is distracting you can turn the volume all the way down.

The next tutorial will be how to work a single crochet.

My new shop.

It's still under construction so excuse the mess, but I love it! I have a couple of very smart guys helping out, so it probably won't be long before people can make purchases. I hope you will all check it out and tell me what you think! Tell me this: Is it simple to use? Does anything need to be added? I have not even begun to work on the wording for my pattern or book listings, but if you have any suggestions please tell me! I need your feedback. Thanks mamas.

You can get there by clicking on "Home" at the top of the blog, or by clicking HERE.

I know it is still a little confusing that you can't make purchases there, but if you see something you like you can visit my current shop HERE. All the listings are the same.

Thanks Guys!

I woke to Ben's alarm clock going off this morning. I rolled over to his side of the bed and cut it off. I was surprised that he wasn't in the bed. I got up and looked through the house for him, but he wasn't there. I called his phone, but it rang in his office. I went to the window to look for his truck, and it was gone. The only thing that came to my mind was that he might be on a call with our neighborhood volunteer fire dept. He works full time at a neighboring city's fire department, but when he's home he runs calls with the volunteer dept. I looked for his dispatch pager and it was gone so then I was pretty sure that's where he was. I laid back down and prayed that God would keep him safe wherever he was. Then I heard the lifesaver helicopter fly over the house. I hate to know when he is out on call, it drives me mad! About an hour later I heard his truck pull up. Ahhhhhh..........relief! While everyone was sleeping cozy in their beds, My husband was wading through freezing water to rescue a coal miner who had been trapped. When Ben and the other firefighters got to him he was injured and hypothermic. They had to climb a steep, slippery, muddy bank, carrying the miner on a back board, to get him up to a place where lifesaver could land. He then came home, cooked breakfast, helped me get the kids ready for church, taught Sunday school, played lead guitar in church, and took the kids home while I went to a bridal tea. Sometimes we take for granted the guys that are up all night saving lives and property while we sleep. So I wanted to give a shout out to all the guys at Ben's full time fire dept. They're great guys! This is Ben's shift. Alan is on the far left, he likes my bread. Alan, I am sending you a loaf, I hope you like it. Then Joe, the crazy one. By the way, Joe has been mad at me because he hasn't been on the blog yet. Joe you can quit whining now sweetie. Then there's Ben, he is so stinkin HOT in that uniform! Will you wear that home sometime hunny? Next up is Nate, AKA the best Guitar Hero at the station. I got to see this for myself when I went to visit the other night, I have some pretty good pictures that I am saving for later. This is Jason who has just been added to Ben's shift, but he's not a rookie he has been fighting fire for a few years now.

This is another shift. Mike (third from the right) was in the firefighter calendar. Kieth (far right) reads my blog, and that just makes me happy! Sorry to out you like that Kieth, but that's just too cool to not mention!

You guys are amazing, thanks for all your hard work!

Come on girls, leave these guys a nice thank you, I'll make sure they read it. I know Keith will anyway, LOL!