Banquet & Mom's weekend

Last weekend was Cait's end of season banquet and also "mom's weekend" on campus. The banquet was on Friday night. Caitlin looked just BEAUTIFUL in her new dress. All the girls looked so pretty.....but Cait was the prettiest. ;)

Saturday morning we all went to breakfast together and then Brian and Conner headed home. Caitlin and I enjoyed a very, very nice weekend together. Saturday we went to the huge craft show they have at the Union. Then she had to get another study hour in so I took her laundry and washed it for her. (which she was happy). When I was done I picker her up and we headed to the mall. We did a little girl shopping and headed back to her apartment. The sophomore girls and their moms (and a few dads that were there) had dinner plans for "cook on the table" Japanese food at 8:30. We headed over there for a great dinner with great folks. It was a fun night. I got the pleasure of spending the night in Caitlin's apartment with her. There was music, banging, yelling, laughing and just a party going on alllllll night outside. I made it out alive. We enjoyed a nice breakfast together Sunday morning....and then off I went back home. It was a VERY enjoyable time and I had a TON of fun with her.

Hi there fellow mom bloggers! My name is Denise and I live in Indiana with my wonderful family. My husband and I have been married for (OMG) 22 years! We have a beautiful 19 year old daughter that is a sophomore in college and a funny, funny 15 year old son that is a sophomore in high school. They are both competitive swimmers and keep us running between swim meets. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! We also have a chocolate lab named Barcleigh and a black lab named Waffle. Waffle was supposed to be a yellow lab, however,we ended up rescuing her.... but we liked the name, she's in therapy 3 days a week.
I work full time at a credit union in commercial lending....but in my spare time I love to craft. My passions are sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, painting things.....I have a little shop on Etsy called SandBoxStudio. I spend as much time as I can creating things....it's my therapy.
My best friend Diana is the ying to my yang. She is my sister from another mother. And my mother is the most perfect thing that God ever created. :) That's about it....that is my life. I love every single thing about it! (Welllllll...almost)

Etsy shop update!

I've updated my Etsy shop and I LOVE it. I've added some new items....farmers market bags and wine bottle bags. I love farmers market season and I wanted a nice, deep, CUTE bag to take with me so I made one. Then I made another one for my mom and another one for Diana....and then I couldn't stop! Here are some of the bags I've made.

I just love coming home and going into the guest room with my new "crafty crap" (as my family calls it) desk that Brian and I made. It's the perfect size and sits right in front of the window. The dogs just love to hang in there with me.

My new "Crafty Crap" desk

I have a new "crafty crap" (as Brian and Conner call my crafting) desk. I've been using a little alcove corner in the basement that I've outgrown and I had a great "idea" for a new working area. I found some bookshelves on sale at Wally-world for $27.00 each.....a piece of MDF for the top and a piece of trim....and VIOLA, a new desk!

Cheap shelves

Cheap help.

Putting it together.

Starting to look like something.

This is where Brian came in.

Wooo hoooo, getting closer.

A little primer.

I can't wait for it to be done.

All done....I LOVE IT~~~!!!

I had to rearrange the room to make it all fit, but I like the new arrangement a lot better. :)

Finished product.

This is what 44 "ugly dolls" look like.

Caitlin had a great idea for ME to make "ugly dolls" for the Big 10 Conference goodie bags for this year. So last July she and I started on them. She designed the doll shapes and helped me cut them out. We hand sewed the faces and the University of Illinois "I" on their butts. They turned out pretty cute. :)

So the tradition begins.....

This week bleach.

Next week dye.

Following week shave.

Little update for ya!!

Brian:

Brian has had the go ahead from the doctor to stop wearing the boot. He's been hobbling around on it "free" the past week or so. For the first time in over 2 months I've had him grocery shopping with me and his excuse for not being able to pick up the dog poop is O V E R!!

Caitlin:

Caitlin has been feeling GREAT! We went for a visit on the 23rd for her last home swim meet. She looks the best I've seen her since the Crohn's diagnosis. Brian's nephew John and his brother-in-law John Sr. came for a college visit. After the swim meet Caitlin showed them aoround the campus and we had dinner with her before we left. She traveled to Wisconsin this past weekend for a swim meet and swam GREAT! She is excited to be on the travel team for the Big 10 Conference meet in a few weeks. :)

Conner:

Conner just swam in his H.S Conference swim meet this past Saturday. He swam life time best swims in the 100 fly (5th place with 57.06), 200 free (5 place with 152.85) the 200 med. relay (4th palce with his fly 26) and the 400 free relay (2nd place with his 100 free a 51.61). All of the boys on the team did an excellent job, we are proud of them all. They were seeded to come in 4th in the Conference, and they came in 2nd. I don't think there was a boy that didn't score. We are excited to see how he does with a taper. :)

Me:

I'm glad Brian can pick up the dog poop now. I'm THRILLED Caitlin is feeling so much better and is swimming well. And I'm excited to see how Conner finishes up his season.

That is all....goodbye. :)