My trip to Chelle's!

**SewCrafty** · 10-16-2004, 11:20 AM

Chelle is a sweetheart! We were both a little apprehensive about meeting someone from the net. She has done it once before with a girl from another site with not so good results and I had never done it. We hit it off right away, you couldn't shut us up!

I got there about 1pm on Tuesday and we were still jabbering away when Dave got home at 8pm!

Didn't do a thing that first day except gab.

The next day I woke up with a full blown cold. But Chelle didn't care if I infected her family, well she cared, but you know what I mean. So we got a bit of sewing done. I showed her how to put elastic on with the serger. Then we had to make Kathryn a top out of Sponge Bob fabric for her school pictures the next day. So I showed her how to adjust patterns so she doesn't waste so much fabric. Her girls are tiny little things. Kathyrn isn't much bigger than Lauren. Maybe only 4" taller but skinnier.

We picked up Lauren from school and I got to see her school, very nice place. Then we went to lunch at her favorite place, a local diner, kids get ice cream with thier lunch!

Then back home to sew some more. Mind you our mouths didn't stop flapping the whole time.

Then Thursday I woke up late. I stopped at the store the day before and bought NyQuil, knocked me right out! Best sleep I have had in months! Jack woke me up by calling at 8:30 am, good thing too or I would have been even later getting to Chelle's.

That day I finished off the pj's I was making Lauren and made a nightgown for Kathyrn. Then I made them each a camo hoodie, (hooded sweatshirt out of fleece) They loved them! Even though they were sweating, they wore them to school the next day.

I showed Chelle some tricks of how to put on neck bandings, sleeves and that fleece doesn't ravel so you can hem it so much easier.

She didn't do any sewing that day. Mostly kept me company as I sewed, took care of the girls and Joey, made dinner, and kept me informed of what was going on in the village. :

She had her camera out a lot, but mostly taking pics of the girls and Joey. Forgot to get many of us. I have a couple but I have to have her permission before I post them as I promised I would. I look awful in them and she looks fine, but a promise is a promise.

Friday morning before I left, I went back over and showed her how to crochet while she didn't have any distractions. Lauren was in school. She did pretty good, but I think she may still only be chaining.

I didn't get to show her all the neat things her serger can do, but even though we have different brands they are similar enough that I can walk her through it in a pm.

Dave is a very nice man, you can see how much he loves his family.

Kind of quiet and I asked Chelle about that, I sort of felt like I was intruding, and she said no that he was thrilled she found a friend and had so much in common with. He was trying to stay out of our way so we could sew and gab. He took to Joey right away and vice versa!

The girls are just dolls! Lauren is 4 (almost 5 you know!) and is a cutie pie! She looooooves Joey! I showed her how to carry him and she followed my instructions to the letter, it was so cute. 

Kathyrn is 7 and wow is she smart! Every day after school she did her homework and then Chelle checked it and helped her with the questions she didn't know. I can't believe that 2nd graders are doing multiplications and division!!!

Chelle and Dave are great parents! They constantly hug and play with the girls and correct them when needed in a very helpful way. They even explain why they are doing it.

Dave gives the girls thier bath every night and combs out thier hair afterwards which I thought was wonderful. He plays xbox with them too.

All in all I had a wonderful trip and hope to go back sooner than next summer! Next time without getting lost every day though.

**KKCondrey** · 10-16-2004, 11:32 AM

Sounds like you two had a wonderful visit.

And it also sounds like Joey has a nice new family to live with.

**SewCrafty** · 10-16-2004, 11:43 AM

Yes Joey has a wonderful family! Bennington didn't stay in much, mostly just came back to check and see if that 'intruder' left yet!

He is a nice boy, so in time I know he will take to Joey. Oh and Joey loooooves Bennington's canned food! Didn't get that here and you couldn't keep him out of it!

The last morning I was there, he finally went upstairs. The girls were so disapointed that he wouldn't sleep with them, but I think within the next couple of days you won't be able to separate them.

**Dixie** · 10-16-2004, 12:07 PM

Sounds like you had a wonderful visit.

**QuilterMom** · 10-16-2004, 12:37 PM

Sounds like everyone had a fabulous time!

**lucy979** · 10-16-2004, 12:42 PM

I'm so glad you guys had a good visit!

**gkp1031** · 10-16-2004, 03:25 PM

Glad to hear you had a great visit.

**Ellise** · 10-16-2004, 03:32 PM

Sounds like a great visit.

**Darlene** · 10-16-2004, 03:36 PM

I knew you would have a blast and so glad you squeezed as much as you could into your visit. I knew Chelles family was going to be as sweet as she is.

Can't wait to see some pics!

**Mom23boys** · 10-16-2004, 03:37 PM

Sounds like you and Chelle had a great time. I am sure she loved how you showed her all your tricks with sewing.

Chelle and Dave seem to have a wonderful family, which I figured they did. Chelle seems so sweet and always caring about her girls and family on the boards, so I knew she would probably be wonderful in person too.