lots and lots of pictures from the weekend.
three of the girls flew to kansas…two from california…one from alabama.
two of the girls drove from oklahoma.
the rest of the girls were local within 30 minutes.
three of us went to the airport to pick them all up…there were even some tears of joy upon meeting in real life.
craig is a super star and took all of our kids to his mom's for the weekend…with the stomach flu.
all the blogger girls stayed at my house.
i have lots of beds….a little known fact apparently.
everyone had their own mattress.
we must be mattress hoarders.
my dining room that turned into a game room decided to become a craft retreat lodge this weekend.
we fit in there so well!
all the sewing machines were on the pool table!
it was like the room was made for it.
on friday night we made our first craft led by julie.
we used this tutorial by little miss momma.
they turned out so cute.
almost everyone chose a different color.
you need to make this!
kimberlee didn't have on lipstick so we had her use her necklace for lipstick.
lots and lots of chit chat while we were crafty.
and i see waffle's paw at the bottom left corner of this picture.
he was by our sides every minute….loving the the attention from the ladies.
there was so much good food.
cindy made breakfast on saturday.
we got to sleep in….a requirement made by me.
don't you hate going places for a "retreat" and then have to be at breakfast by 7:30 am??
there was even a sweet little baby in attendance!
after cindy filled us with crepes with fresh fruit and quiche we loaded into a 15 passenger van to go antiquing.
we debated about decorating the van with bunting……
so fun.
we are any stores DREAM.
a van pulling up with 10 women to shop???
we were met with big smiles.
9 out of 10 ladies left with new found treasures.
cole with his mama picking out all the best doilies.
i took them to my favorite antique store…Bearly Makin It.
so much to choose from.
if you are in kansas….you should go.
heather found silverware for her party planning business.
a total score!
anyone need a milk jug???
loving the sunshine!
all the ladies took turns holding sweet baby cole.
it was our pleasure.
he hardly made a peep the whole weekend.
and everyone had envy of julie's gorgeous hair….it is soooo pretty.
on saturday in kansas we had a really odd extremely warm day.
we were so grateful for it.
can you guess what i bought from all these goodies? ha ha ha
after a sonic happy hour run we made it back to my house for more crafts.
the ruffle pillow tutorial heather taught us with is here.
3 women had never sewn on a machine before.
they ended up being ruffle making rock stars!
they did fantastic.
ashley's machine made the best ruffles…we all waitied for our turn on her machine.
no one knew what the secret was….but it worked….no gathering required.
i love being around people who love technology as much as i do….
threading a needle….
the third craft was embroidery hoop art.
we were given lots of examples that we could make or we could make our own design.
amy's was amazing.
we stayed up crafting and listening to frank sinatra on pandora and eating tiramisu until 2 in the morning.
kimberlee made breakfast on sunday.
there was frosting involved.
YUM.
another great thing about crafty girls weekends….women clean up.
always.
there were cameras everywhere.
and fabric everywhere.
dreamy.
and my brass lamps from the thrift shop. :)
there is a peek at amy jupin's ruffle pillow.
i am in love with the ruffle pillows…i want to make a hundred of them.
and her turquoise flower necklace is also in the picture.
these were all of our hoops together…not all finished but all together.
mine is the one right
here under these
letters.
trying to set up our cameras for a group shot….caught kimberlee being silly.
jana (no blog….yet) and amy jupin.
jess and julie.
ashley and cindy (also no blog….YET).
cindy came with ashley so she didn't have to drive alone and show up to a house full of women she had never met and be trapped with us if she didn't like us…
turns out we LOVED them both!
very much.
heather, cole and me.
amy (my neighbor) and kimberlee (my cleaning partner)
and that was that.
they went home with their suitcases full of new crafts, antiques, julie's messy flowers and full tummies.
and i haven't stopped smiling since.
God gave me blogging.
He gave me a gift that i get to continue opening when i meet new friends from all over.
God is so awesome.
my mind feels full of creativity.
my heart feels full of love and friendship.
my body feels too full of cinnamon rolls and cheesecake.
the retirement center has been missing me.
my bloggy friends left just in time….we are snowed in here and it's FREEZING.
my house has never been this cold.
i am bundled up in a blanket with many layers and hot coffee and i am still frozen.
http://project320.blogspot.com/ 
salt lake insurance - It’s not wrong to do the things that you want.
Sarah - Baby, baby, baby, OH.
I love that song.
I told my daughter I was going to be a Justin poster and put it in my room.
She said, “That is wrong on so many different levels.”
Dani - I found a pair of skates last summer at a yard sale. They were my sons size. I got them home and realized they fit me too! I skated all over our house and my kids loved it as much as I did!
ROLLER SKATING ROCKS! just saying.
Kim Barlow - Smiling…totally smiling…
Courtney - Obsessed with that green suitcase and those roller skates were a little sign from God! Small story about kismet, fate, whathaveyou…My husband rode a unicycle as a kid, he is 50 now and last week on the way home from a birthday party we saw a lady riding a unicycle. Odd, huh? We drove to the only bike shop in town, which was closed, but the owner was still there, he opened the door and sold my husband a 24″ unicycle…it was meant to be…gave me goosebumps when I watched him wobble down the drive on it the first time! God at work!
amy S - Love the vintage skates and suitcase! I was a skater girl growing up too! Loved Tootie on Facts of Life because all she did was skate. I wanted to go to that school so I could skate around the halls like she did. I feel your pain on your baby growing up. My 7th child and baby is about to be fully potty trained and I am sad about that! I know, weird but I can’t help it. No more going to the baby section at the stores to buy supplies. I have been going there since 1995.
cathy - I remember the days when the boys started to read in English they already read Hebrew but it was not the same I wish I had a video recorder then. Nice rollerblades good luck on the roller derby.
Jen - Loved hearing your lovely voice! It’s not what I imagined, but not sure what that actually was 🙂
Annie is just wonderful. Great book choice 🙂
Alicia - As a soon-to-be primary (elementary) school teacher (I graduate in June), I’m so glad to see you
1. Reading with Annie!
and
2. Not just giving her the word, but asking her “What rhymes with ____?”
That is the best way to teach your child to read! Making them think about the context of the words and the story- as opposed to jthe old “sound it out” philosophy.
You are such a good mum! This little video just warmed my heart! I think you should post more videos of your kiddos on here… so sweet.
krys - That is serendipity. Love the case, love the skates. Wonderful blog you have here. I am glad I stumbled and rumbled into it. Happy Weekend.
roller derby champion of 1989 - maybe when we get together to drink that wine you were talking about…we could hit the roller derby.
I’ve been known to wear some short shorts with my knee highs.
Terrie Galle - BriNg …briNg your skates…stupid new laptop small keyboard
Terrie Galle - Brig your skates on over to Hutch tomorrow! We are headed to the skating rink to celebrate my nephew’s 9th birthday! This will bring back some good old memories!!! 🙂
Holly - Brian just came home a couple of weeks ago with a book that he could read and he was so stinking proud! He is my baby. He does love Justin Beiber, but the other kids think he is just okay. Love going antiquing with a good friend!
Biz - Loved listening to Annie’s read!
So adorable.
I used the book Old Hat New Hat a Berenstain Bears book to teach my brother to read.
Rhyming books make it a little easier 😉
Biz
angela - Mentioned you on my blog post today.
Heather R. - Go, Annie, Go! I just flashed back on my skates. Blue pom poms bell in the middle of them. Rainbow on the side, with knee highs. So COOL!!! I love your find. 🙂
Ali - Bless her little reading self! It’s such a massive step – the beginning of the whole world opening up to her and she is doing so well.
My skates were blue and red and oh how much I loved them. I took my boys to the rink near my parents place and blew them away with my skills. Nice to know that even boring old Mum still has some surprises up her sleeve!
Lorie - How awesome! Don’t worry, I’m 36, and on the fence about Justin too. The kids at the elem. school where I work are all bout the Bieber Fever!
I’m meeting my best friend who lives 3 hours away at an antique mall this weekend. Maybe I’ll find my own roller skating suitcase too! My parents took my sister and I to a roller rink every Sunday after church. It was GREAT!
Jaimie - OOOOOOH, Love!!! I’m in love with the suitcase! What a perfect color! And what a score with the skates! You go!
Holly Cox - Those skates and that case are ABSOLUTELY awesome! Love it!
Lisa - Love that you were listening to Justin Bieber by yourself! And I LOVE old suitcases and I LOVED skating up into my adult years. Wish I still had my skates. Lost them at some point. I am also so close to my youngest of 4 being out of diapers. That one I am looking forward too! 🙂 Annie sounds so sweet reading. Love those moments!
Staci - I sooooooooooo wanted those pom pom thingies too!!!!!! Sweeeeeeeeeet Annie 😉
Suzanne - annie is the sweetest.
Jennifer O'Steen - that video is so cute! i love watching little kids learn how to read 🙂 i totally wish we had antique stores like yours around here.. a girl can dream
Rach - And you are going to be so awesome skating around your neighborhood!!!
Janie Fox - Dang girl, I will fight you for those skates and that case!
betsy - Listening to Annie read warms my heart. As a 4th grade teacher, I rarely get to see or hear this sounding-out-every-syllable-reading-and-then-being-confused-by-words-like-of-and-know.
She did SUCH a great job!
Tell her that I say,
she’s on her way,
keep reading every day,
and soon it will be May!
karen - Really nice video…couldn’t help but smile.
Annie sounds so grown up…i wouldn’t have thought! And this may sound weird…but i love your voice! We need to see more of you on a video. Craft Thursday Video Tutorial!!
Elizabeth - I bought a Justin bieber song on iTunes today. And I LOVE Annie! So proud of her!
Ashley - she is so precious! I love her little voice! Kind of bittersweet, huh? how cool that you videoed it! I am so doing that when my girl starts reading…sniff!
Kristin S - 1. You’ll treasure that video of Annie forever!
2. Love the toe shot.
3. Fun to hear your voice. For reals.
4. Video brought back memories of when I taught 2nd grade. The days the late bloomers learned to read were my absolute favorite.
5. You pushing her hair behind her ear is a total mom move. My mom still does it! “I want to see your face” she says.
6. A few weeks ago Bieber annoyed me. Now I’m a closet fan. Is that creepy?
Amy Lynne - Congrats on your new reader! That is such a special thing to learn to do in this life!
Kelly - Oh my! It was so fun to listen to Annie read and you talk to her. So sweet. I loved the way she looked around the page hoping to see “a-s-k” somewhere else on that page to remind her. Lovely! Kelly
Krista - It was so nice to hear your voices, they were totally different than the ones I hear in my head when I read your blog! Go Annie! She’s awesome!
I downloaded JB on my ipod… but I say it’s for my girls. Like you said, the tunes are catchy!
Jenny B. - Oh, how fun!!! Congrats to Annie on learning how to read! Oh, and you should check out Cathy Zielske’s blog. She was a champion figure roller skater back in the day. 🙂 Cathy Zielske: Glory Days
Heather - Oh yes, you have to have the pom-poms! This may be completely gross, but I still remember how the inside of my roller skate case smelled, like leather, paste and old socks. My skates had lavender wheels, the case was lavendar to match and there was always a tube of (nasty) grape-flavored lip gloss inside.
Jessica Johnson - sweet, little reading girl. and love the biebs. but it’s a secret, too.
Southern Gal - Actually it’s “I’ve GOT a brand new pair…”
That was bugging me when I read it back. Sorry.
Southern Gal - Oh, the pom-poms! I had a few different colors that my mom and I made for mine. I would change them out as my mood changed! Loved seeing your find. I’ll show my age and tell you I started out in the adjustable skates you wore over your shoes and had a key to change the size…you know, “I have a brand new pair of roller skates, you’ve got a brand new key.”
Sandy - I love listening to Annie read. I miss those days. “K – now”…words like that can drive a young reader crazy but she never got frustrated. Way to go, big girl!!
Alisa - I love how she looks around the page at the picture to figure the words out that she gets stumped on. My girls both did that (I’m sure it is universal) as they were learning to read. I am a third grade teacher, so watching this happen just warms my heart. Oh, and we have those same bed sheets…. just in case you wanted to know that.
Heather - Oh how I miss my skates. I rocked those skates and the pink fuzzy dice I had on them.
Keri ~ Forever Folding Laundry - Oh, that sweet girl sounding out her words. Love it!!
{and the green suitcase? SCORE.}
Shayne - Great job Annie! May your life be filled to the brim with books you love.
Love the roller skates—and the fact that they are your size is just perfect!
georgia - Meg if them skates are your size you totally need to take them for a test ride! Obviously don’t go hurting yourself, but go do it, it will be so much fun!!
I love the video of annie so cute! You have a really soothing voice 🙂
Have you thought of doing a video where we all ask questions, you pick the best ones and answer them by video? Would be fun 🙂 xx
crystal beutler - I am so jealous of that green suitcase and the SKATES!!!! Do you know how much I loved skating as a kid. I had the metal kind you attached to your shoe with a skate key. So cool, and yet so lame. They always fell off.
Let go to the roller rink next time we meet up. 🙂 Just kidding. I would probably kill myself.
Your little daughter melted my heart. So cute.
candace - As a kindergarten teacher, Annie totally trumped this post in my opinion. And I LOVE how she didn’t even flinch when you tucked her hair behind her ear. Good choice for independent reading too.
Kari - Very cute! Roller skates were a huge part of my childhood as well … the roller rink which had a forest scene in CARPET on one of the walls … like a giant latch hook rug. What a big day for Annie (and you!) Can I ask how you edit your videos? I have tried a few different methods but then I can’t upload them to blogger.
P.S. Is it weird that I was shocked when I heard your voice? All this time I was “hearing” your voice in my head, but then realized I’d never actually heard it until today. Oh blogland, how you tease me. 🙂
Tina - Oh Meg! Now I KNOW for sure that we were meant to be friends! Seriously….I was a “three times a week” at the rollerskating rink girl with my best friend Kathleen. We’d beg for rides there all the time and did all kinds of chores to earn money to go skating. Boy did we have fun. But I thought it was cool to purchase the boys black speed skates and so that’s what I sported all around Skateworld rink in Vandalia, OH. I purchased them used from another regular skater, and even though they were about 2 sizes too big I’d wear really thick socks. My husband and I both became roller bladers, but I still have those black speed skates tucked away in a box somewhere in my basement. I think I’ll go look for them! 🙂
sara's art house - LOVE the suitcase! Love the roller skates!!! I lived in roller skates too…we would go to my friend’s basement and skate for hours. Good memories!
Jill - I check your blog while I am at work. I have never commented before (besides telling you to host a craft weekend) 🙂 But I just have to tell you that I started watching the video of Annie and here I am crying. At work.
My first baby is only one year old. I’ve never taught a child to read, but I so look forward to reaching these milestones. Thank you so much for sharing!
Courtney Walsh - I listen to Laurie Berkner by myself in the car. Which one of us needs to be more embarrassed? lol
LOVE the roller skates!! How fun are those? And the suitcase is awesome. I’ve been thinking about cool suitcases…but I gotta say, I love that you didn’t go for brown and boring! The color is awesome!
PS. Annie = adorable.
Nichole - I love how when she’s reading, if there’s a word she can’t pronounce, she’ll look at the other words on the page to find something that looks similar! She’s so smart!
shauna reed - she is precious. her hair. her toes. her sounding out. your voices. you are a sweet momma.
a SWEET MOMMA with rollerskates in a green case…
Ali @ HuYoung Heaven - Love the color of that suitcase! And the roller skates are awesome. I never got into rollerblading, but roller skating….that I can do.
Mindy Harris - antiquing with a friend sounds like the perfect day. love those skates/suitcase. great color.
Jessica - Oh my goodness! The memories of skating in our basement & driveway! I forgot all about that! Thanks for the reminder!
jennifer - I may or may not listen to Justin while alone in the car. Just don’t tell my teenage sons. I’m pretty sure they would disown me.
Shann - Do you remember how to “Shoot The Duck?” Oh…what fun and wonderful memories. Thanks for taking me back today. 🙂
tara - i heard justin bieber for the first time this weekend at a college womens retreat…..they couldn’t believe that i hadn’t heard his music.
so, when the music came on, i said, “who’s this girl singing?” to which they replied, “GIRL!!!! IT’S JUSTIN BIEBER!!!!!”
it was catchy and i did like it…but what in the world will happen when his voice changes?
love the great find….lived in roller skates, too, growing up…..used to “slow skate” every saturday night at the toccoa skating rink. no joke. i think i feel a family night coming on……
Shannon - Please take a picture of yourself wearing these, it would be great 🙂
Sarah - Love listening to little ones learn to read! So exciting for your baby. Ps she’ll always be your baby (Im the youngest in my family and love it when my mom says I’m her baby)
Amy G - That is AWESOME thanks for the smile!!!
Pamela Gordon - Love the suitcase and the surprise roller skates inside! I roller skated as a kid on the really old fashioned kind that fastened on your shoes and had a key to adjust them! I rolled along the paved sidewalks on them. We live in a rural area and in the 70’s there was a roller rink down the road that used to be a pig barn. They rented the ‘modern’ ones as in your pictures. It was a lot of fun! And guess what?? Justin Beiber is Canadian like me. 😀 I don’t listen to him but his songs are catchy tunes. Have a great weekend!
Laura Phelps - and I anxiously await the video of YOU roller skating!
sarah - i’m imagining you hopping onto a train for an adventure, your stylish, vintage suitcase tossed casually over your shoulder. darling.
Courtney Henson - Love your roller skates! I once found old ice skates in an old case with socks! I fondly remember roller skating in circles around my garage as a kid! And going to the roller skating rink for parties and even for school field trips. They always had the most awesome sticker machines there….good to fill your sticker books up with!
Leah - Okay, first of all, LOVE the suitcase and rollerskates. What a find! Second, congrats on such a milestone with Annie! I know how I feel when I see Sophie learn something brand new that I take for granted that I already know. What an exciting moment for you! And third (going with your blog title today), we recently made birdhouses with kids. Here is the post if you need a Craft Thursday idea: http://leahsthoughts.com/2011/03/03/lets-make-a-birdhouse/
Hannah - awesome find!! the old roller skates like that TRUMP roller blades….can you skate backwards??? love love love the color of that suitcase! 🙂
Erica - Ok, I think you are the coolest. Reading your blog and seeing all of the COLOR that you post about makes me so happy. Today I thought I’d leave a message because as I was flipping through my Pottery Barn Kids catalog I saw this room and thought, Pottery Barn has been getting inspiration from Meg’s Blog! Just look: http://www.potterybarnkids.com/room/rom/romply/romplycga/ In their catalog it looks even more like you with a globe on top of the bookshelf and it shows more of the room.
Erin Ward - I can’t believe the skates were your size and everything! Crazy! I totally love the case.
And don’t feel bad. I’ve been known to enjoy a JB song now and again. 🙂
Kimberlee J. - Let’s rent out the roller rink…maybe Amy knows someone. 🙂
Tam - Annie reading is adorable! oh I miss my boys reading like that. My youngest loves Justin Beiber, it’s music I can car dance to, too. Amazing find with the skates and green suitcase. I’m antique’ing/thrifting tomorrow…I hope to find good stuff!
happygirl - Oh BOY!!! The saddest day in my town was when they closed the roller rink. And I remember taking roller skating lessons when I was in 3rd grade. My mom made me wear a dress. It buttoned all the way up the front. I fell. ALL the buttons came undone. Humiliated. Seriously. Still feel the shame. Ha ha. Btw, rent the movie Whip It. Quite entertaining.
Amber - lil bit obsessed w/green (that exact shade!) and that suitcase is AWESOME!
cathieb - where’s the love button for this?
:o)
so awesome – can’t what to see you in action ;o)
Michelle - MEG! You seriously have to post a video of the roller skating action. I’m guessing you’ve still got it in you to be the grand champion roller skater. No doubt. And you could skate to Justin Bieber. Just throwing it out there.
Heidi - My dad just recently found his mom’s old skates in a VERY vintage old suitcase and gave them to my daughter (who is 9) and they FIT! I remember wearing those exact same skates when I was younger (not 9!). Love the fact that they have been passed along and will continue their journey. 🙂 They look just like the ones in your picture, except I think their wheels are orange.
Annie is a doll. We have a split household on Justin too- but I do notice everyone singing along in the car. 😉
Maeva - Annie sounds so grown up!
julia - Dear M. Please join my roller derby team. No pushing is allowed. Yours. J.
sara @ it's good to be queen - annie is so adorable!!
Carrie - Please let us see a video of you roller skating.
We had a roller rink near us that all of the kids would go to on Friday nights. It was called Starlite Triple T (funny) and I think I spent every Friday night from 5th through 8th grade there. It was so much fun. Now, at 34, I am pretty sure I would be terrified to roller skate.
PS – It’s totally ok to like Justin Beiber.