Monday, November 16, 2009

Sewing Frenzy

You might think the above to be an odd title when you take into consideration ...well, me! I don't sew. Other than the simple aprons my mom taught me to do for YW back in the day I've never really sewn anything. But somthing revolutionary has happened within the year and I've really starting taking an interest in the hobby. I finally have a desire to learn and am very anxious to learn how to do all these cute things I see - beacause I look at them and think "that doesn't look too difficult - I think I could pull that off". So I've taken upon myself a few projects: sewing some curtains for Vanna's room (with the help of my mom) and sewing some curtains for my dining room and family room (with the help of my wonderful neighbor). But just recently (again with the help of a very dear and talented friend - ANN) I accomplished the following:

New hooded towels for the kids.And my very first quilt! It turned out SOOO cute too. I made it for my ex-sister-in-law (I guess that's how I can identify her but she's still a great friend) and her new baby girl - Brooklynn. I liked it so much it was actually hard to part with. I guess I'll just have to make one for Vanna now too. The front was all different styles of flannel and the back was that super soft minky kind of stuff (I don't even know the name of it). Anyway, I'm so glad I started out with a baby quilt because I saw a finished product much sooner than if I had taken on a full fledged queen quilt. I was just happy I didn't ruin it and that it turned out. Thanks again to my great friend for all her teaching and help!

So I know what to ask Santa for Christmas next year - a sewing machine of my own (that sounds like a long ways off I know but we already got our Christmas this year-darn it). I can't wait to get started on more fun projects.

Friday, November 6, 2009

hApPy hAlLoWeEn!

What a fun weekend we had over Halloween. It was full of excitement as we all waited with great anticipation for Grandma and Grandpa to come. They arrived Friday evening, just in time for us to go to the ward Trunk or Treat. The weather was perfect and we had such a good turn out at the Trunk or Treat - it was so fun to see our friends and their kids' costumes. Here were my little characters - as pirates:


The kids saw their costumes come in the mail a couple weeks ago and got to put them on then. Since then they have been so excited to wear them. Cash kept saying, " I real pirate," and "argh!"



Do you see the mustache and chest hair. Loved those little touches, although you couldn't see them once we got the kids all dressed up for a little cooler weather.

Vanna was a pir-ette. Her little tu-tu and headband had little white skulls on it. She didn't quite know what to think about the outfit - and she definitely hated me doing her hair in lots of little ponies but doesn't she look adorable?!



These were Ty and Cash's pumpkins. I opted out this year - I know - party pooper. But these turned out cute and Cash loved doing the project with his Dad.

Saturday we got some projects done around the house that my mom helped me with (making a FHE plaque to hang on the wall and caulking between our countertops and travertine backsplashes). We also enjoyed a local pizza joint with the grandparents and then went Trick or Treating around the neighborhood. Most of our neighbors are older and adore the kids as if they were their own grandkids so that's fun. We even had some neighbors bring each of them over a bag of candy because they were just leaving their house and were afraid they'd miss their peak at the kids and their plea for more candy :). That neat we were treated to our Stake's Adult Session of Stake Conference while our parents watched the kids. This was a special occasion because our stake leadership was being reorganized and we were blessed with the opportunity to hear from Elder L. Tom Perry (of the Quorem of the Twelve Apostles) and Elder Chambers (of the Seventy) as they were on assignment to take care of the reorganization. How neat! Of course, we got more out of the Saturday night session than we did on Sunday with our little tikes keeping us busy. It was a great experience though.

My step-dad took my mom fishing Monday morning while I got a few things done around the house and then we chowed on Wingers that night. Grandma and Grandpa had to go home on Tuesday - much to the dissappointment of the kids (and I can't lie, me too). We had such a good visit with them and got such a kick out of Cash's facsination with everything Grandpa. Everywhere Grandpa went/did, Cash asked, "What doin' Grandpa?!" We hate to see our visitors go but now we can look forward to seeing the family on Thanksgiving. Yeah!