...state bball day #3...

On Friday night, the Lady Eagles took on Granger for the third time this season.

You can tell by the pictures this game was played with heart,

intensity,

total committment,

using everything they've been taught.

It was obviously a very physical game.

And in the end, we just couldn't do it.

They lost to Granger, 64-35.

Bummer.

BUT! They're playing today for 3rd or 6th place.

Not bad for the little team that could!

Way to go Eagles!

(This picture cracks me up! It's classic Maci....)

...State Bball...Day #2...

They did it again! Came from behind to beat Okanogan 44-40.

They play tonight at 6pm against Granger.

...go Eags!...

The Lady Eagles are at Basketball state this week - and they are making quite a name for themselves!

Yesterday, they played the reigning 1A state champs - Seattle Christian - and beat them 33-27. On Tri-City Herald.com it said that the Connell Eagles pulled off one of the biggest upsets in 1A state tournament history. Pretty cool!

Here's some pictures, courtesy of the TC Herald:

Check out those cheerios in purple and gold!

Take it to the hoop, SaraH!

Love the facial expressions!

This is an awesome photo - true emotion!

The Eags came from 1-19 deficit in the 1st quarter to beat Okanogan tonight. They're playing against Granger tomorrow for a chance at the championship game!

The Tri-City Herald also called the Eagles "the little team that could."
Keep it going girls!!

...pinwheel blocks 1 & 2...

So, here are my first two weeks of pinwheel quilt along blocks (2 out of 8).

I thought I was smart and decided to make two quilts at a time so I'd have one for me and one to give away. Real smart when I'm trying to keep up the tutorials during the busiest Jr Miss time!! I have about 1.5 hours to quilt a day right now, which for many of you seems like a lot. For me - I wish I had 4 or 5. :)

The quilt for me is using Ginger Blossoms by Sandi Henderson fabric. Love.

The quilt to give away (possibly family Christmas gift exchange?!) is using Make Life...by Sweetwater.

Whew! So glad to be caught up and ready for Week #3!!

...all things baby...

Jessica has been making lots of things for baby gifts and has inspired me to try some of them! Thanks for the ideas and for letting me steal them Jess!

I'm accumulating quite the baby gift stash. I kinda like it. That way, I'm never against a deadline - I can just pull something suitable out of my drawer. I have several items in the drawer now and more on their way!

This is a diaper holder/changing pad. It's flannel on both sides and oh-so-soft.

I made one for Kate and another one to have on hand for a gift.

This is what it looks like folded up. So cute!

Burp cloths - I've made about 13 of these in the last week. They're easy and a great gift.

I bought a 4-pack of flannel receiving blankets on sale at Target and it made 8 burp cloths.

I love the zebra print!!

Ok - who's having a baby around here? :)

...Rayce's Wheels...

Remember this quilt that I loved?

I saw it on a website, contacted the quilter who did not have a pattern for it, but gave me the basic measurements of the blocks.

I borrowed some graph paper from the calculus teacher at CHS and after a few tries,

came up with this:

I worked on it at the Craft Retreat - it came together very easily after Melissa Kelly suggested I sew them in 9-patches rather than strips. Genius!

I am in love with the finished product. In Love. Seriously. I'm totally making another one. It's definitely a boy quilt pattern though, don't you think?

It was hard for me to send it away.

But, I love Lyndsay too much to be selfish, so I packaged it up, tied it with a bow, and sent it to Anchorage, Alaska.

This is for Rayce Jones - he's the newborn baby of my dear friend Lyndsay. Lyndsay and I met at Twinlow when we were in elementary school and attended church camp there together until high school. In my opinion, we have one of those relationships where we know that we're always there for one another and we'll always be friends even if we don't talk on the phone ever or see each other often. It's just a connection that's unexplainable. I respect her so much and am so happy for the addition of Rayce into her life and their family.

Here's a picture Lyndsay sent me of Rayce on his quilt. He's so tiny!

Fabric: Wheels by My Minds Eye for Riley Blake Designs

Pattern: Marcie sorta-original
Quilted by: Marcie (stitch in the ditch)

...crafty cuteness...

I spent some much needed time in the craft room last night working on some projects. As usual, I have a lot of ideas in my head, but never enough time to get them done.

Last week when Kate was here, we were talking about hair bows for Baby J. I found a tutorial online and got to work last night. I think they turned out so cute.

They were perfect for her baby shower today!

I got a little out of control....

They were so fun! I realized I forgot to make a Cougar Crimson one, so I'll have to do that. So many options - and only so many days of the week to wear them! :)

I also spent some time last night making this super hero cape for a little friend of mine that is turning 4 this week! I've had this idea for a while and even bought the fabric a while ago. I've been scared to start it, but I finally buckled down and went for it. I had a pattern that I kinda-sorta used, but used some skills that I've learned doing other projects (bags and self-binding receiving blankets) to make it my own.

It turned out more rectangled than A-lined, which kinda stinks. Now I know. :)

...deer valley...

I am finally posting the finished project of my Deer Valley Disappearing Nine Patch quilt! I quilted it (in the ditch) at the Crafters Getaway a few weeks ago and hand sewed the binding on once I got home. I've been snuggling under it while watching the Olympics. :)

The border and backing fabric I bought in Chelan when we were there over New Years. Fun memory.

I love this quilt. I decided to make one for myself after I made this one for the Heider Family Christmas Exchange. I used that one so much, I definitely needed one of my own!

Fabric: Deer Valley by Joel Dewberry

Pattern: Disappearing Nine Patch by Marcie & Jessica

Quilted by: Marcie (Stitch in the Ditch)

...celebrating birthdays...

It was fun to help celebrate Kate's birthday today, first with lunch with David, Karen, and Gavin, then with Beta tonight! Kate & I had the program for Beta, which we've had the plans for what to do for almost a year! We were excited to get to sign up for Kate's birthday and decided to throw a birhday party!

We decorated the living room

{This picture is hard to see - but it's a table cloth with confetti on it and a basket with party favors.}

We had frost-your-own cupcakes for dessert...with sprinkles!!

We made my Grandma's delicious punch...my favorite!

Here's the birthday girl!

and her birthday buddy, Martha.

Kate and I researched online today about birthdays. She had some interesting information about the origination of birthday celebrations and how birthdays are celebrated around the world. I found print outs of each Beta member's "On the Day You Were Born" and had a little quiz and shared everyone's information.

I think everyone had fun - Kate & I sure did!!