Last Day of School and Jubilee Swap

Hello,
 Here we are at the beginning of summer vacation and I can't believe how quickly this last year has flown by. Last year at this time I was getting ready for knee replacement in June. This year my daughter has just finished Kindergarten and is ready for First grade.

This was the first day of Kindergarten.

Here she is on the last day of Kindergarten in the dress I made for her on Monday.

This was her teacher this year and I have to say that we LoVe Julia Woessner. We will dearly miss you!
 What a day it turned out to be, one of Autumn's best friends fell on the playground and broke her arm very badly and had to have surgery. She got out of the hospital this morning. Poor little baby. They only had school for three hours that day. Autumn and her friend were in preschool together too and we found out she will be in Autumn's class next year as well, yay. Get well soon Miss Ella.
 When things like that happen I think about how much I love this little town we live in. Autumn has known most of her friends since she was 2 or 3 and the whole town kind of watches over our little people and each other. When I had knee surgery last year and couldn't do much of anything, I felt so grateful for all the people who offered to take Autumn out to do things. We have only lived in this town for 6 1/2 years, but I don't think I want to live anywhere else. I feel that way about Iowa too. I moved here from a beach town in Southern California and everyone thought I had lost my mind when I suddenly packed up and moved here. No one could really understand why I was leaving California to come to the Mid-West. For me it is simple. People here are very kind, very friendly and very welcoming. I came here for vacation to visit some old friends and went back home, gave notice to my job, gave lots of things away, packed up my car and drove out here all by myself. I got here in mid October 2000, I was wearing shorts (I am from Cali where you can where shorts on Christmas) and it was snowing. Before I even went to my new home I had to stop at Walmart and buy a coat. Like I said, I was coming from California and didn't even own one. Lol. Was it an impulsive decision? Yes. Was it a mistake? No. It was the very best decision I have ever made. I met my husband here and had my baby here. I love it.
 I have been a bit sentimental this week. My stepfather's birthday was Monday, he passed last year. My daughter finished her first year of elementary school. We are packing to move in a few weeks time. I have been trying to sleep at night but can't shut my brain down. No worries. Just lots to think about.
 So that was personal life stuff. Now for crafty blogger stuff. I have been having the absolute worst time with the post this year. I have sent TWO packages to my friend, Tracy, in Somerset. She never got them. I got the one she sent to me weeks ago. Last week I had a slip from the post office saying I had a parcel but there was postage due. I went to collect it and they couldn't find it anywhere.  It showed up here on Saturday. That happened with some yarn I ordered months ago too. I still don't know where Tracy's packages are either.
 I have also been in a Jubilee swap and my partner on this hasn't gotten her parcel yet. So aggravating. I got the one she sent me on Saturday and it had been opened!?!? All parcels I send out from now on are going through a courier service.
 Long post, sorry, but here is what the wonderfully talented Sue from Crafts@Home sent to me.

Here is the whole package. I am really enjoying this and Autumn and I are going to have our own little Jubilee celebration this weekend while my husband is at work. I loved and treasure my time in England and have total respect and admiration for Queen Elizabeth.

We have bunting, a fabric square, an emery board, hot chocolate, some Union Jack cupcake toppers, a banner with the Queen and Prince Phillip and the last is a little vanity mirror that Sue made with a little bag for it. It is already in my purse. The swap was a lot of fun and I am hoping Sue gets her things tomorrow. The swap was hosted by Crafts@Home and Moonstruck Creations. Both are ladies make really nice things. Sue does crazy patchwork and it is some of the most beautiful work I have ever seen anywhere. She embroiders over patchwork squares and makes quilts, bags and other really pretty works of art with her needles and threads. Go check out her work and check out Moonstruck Creations, she was one of my first followers and Helen is also very talented in crochet, needlework, baking and, I am sure, many more things.
 Whew, this is my longest post and I hope I didn't lose anyone. I still have to post two more ta da's, but that can wait until tomorrow. Talk to everyone soon. :)