quilterific

Remember THIS SURPRISE last year? Well, I recently got another surprise, this:

For those of you who are confused, I got the table that goes to the machine. It was missing the piece to attach it, and my DH finally found one for a reasonable price on Ebay and put in on for me! Yay!

It enabled me to more easily machine quilt, which resulted in a few finished projects this weekend!

Cowboys for sweet little baby boy H.


And a finished circle quilt that I am KEEPING!

How my 5 year old is exercising his agency (and fists)

So, I feel bad ratting out my 5 year old on a public blog, but I just need to feel that I'm not alone, so commiserate with me, please!

Yesterday E cried most of the day, usually throwing himself on the floor in the kitchen and dramatically exclaiming that "you needa do what I want you to do, Mom!" He was VERY tired, and I understood this and mostly ignored him or offered hugs and books when I could. I also understood that he was going to bed EARLY to try and remedy the problem.

So we finished dinner by 5:20, FHE by 5:50, PJ's, books, laundry away, etc... (I must admit I fell asleep somewhere after 6 on accident and DH did the bedtime routine) So they're in bed, music playing by around 7:05. They went about their usual talking and giggling, while we threatened to remove night lights and other such horrors (that never work, but we don't know what else to do) E finally falls asleep, because he is SO TIRED.

Pretty soon we hear M (who this whole time is making weird noises, he can't possibly be quiet until the moment of sleep) saying something to E. E is crying and we find that he has been punched in the face while he slept in his bed.

The only defense M could think of was that he was "lonely," and that the "only way (he) could think to wake up E was punching him."

SERIOUSLY!?

It took another hour or more for M to finally fall asleep, and that was on the floor in Nolan's old room with a pillow and blanket. We felt bad banishing him from his bed, but really? Who deserves to have their "bunkbed fort" (he drapes blankets over the opening to feel safe at night) invaded while they sleep and be subjected to being punched in their sleep?

Wedded bliss

I really hate this time of year- and I rarely get my camera out or do anything noteworthy. So here's an episode of flashback Monday for ya:

We were married 8 1/2 years ago, in the Bountiful temple, and had a reception in a neighbor's backyard.

Here we are in a somewhat artistic but strange pose where DH appears to be a stalker in the background, and me, the bride, just innocently here to get solo pictures in her fancy uncomfortable dress.

This is my favorite. I'm thinking he's supposed to be proposing? I will have a hard time saying no seeing as I am already there, at the temple, in my dress, having ordered flowers and everything. "Ok, babe, I guess we may as well."


Knowing my nieces at this age, I can only assume that it really did take all 8 of these adults to talk them into posing for a cute photo in front of the flowers.

I haven't seen Pops in a monkey suit like this one since then- he's looks very nice!

Have some yellow.


Why don't you wink like that anymore, Ann? Why? And Sam- LOVE the orange.


Do you wonder where we went after leaving the reception? Well, first straight to the car wash, then to Chevron to grab something to eat, as we were STARVING!
Should have had some of the cake- we never did get a piece of any of these babies.

This is one of two pictures (exactly alike) taken at the reception we had in Boise the next day. I really regret that happened- it was beautiful, and that night we DID get to eat some of the food. I guess it's a good one to have- the little cuties!

Ye Haw!

On Saturday we went to Park City for the express purpose of breathing air. (of course, some shopping was accomplished along the way)

This was the obvious highlight for E:

Awesome

Check out who's been left to protect the ship................. And I'm glad she brought her fan, because man- it gets hot in that giant skirt!

13 Weeks

I can't believe it was 13 weeks ago I had Nolan. It seems like forever ago and yesterday all at once. I got an e-mail today reminding me to make an appointment for his 3 month pictures. I had set it up a while ago so I wouldn't forget. That wasn't fun to see, and I wish I wasn't such a plan-ahead person!

Anyway, I thought today I'd share a few more things about my son that I find interesting:

He had his daddy's feet to be SURE. DH and I both have wide feet with stubby toes, but DH's curl under and have different toenails. It is a fact that all 3 boys got daddy's feet.


He had 2 different ears. I can't really find a picture of his other ear, but here is one:


All the boys got DH's lobes (the kind that hang down) but the tops of Nolan AND M's ears are different from one another. On the right ear of each boy the top folds over, but the top of the left ear doesn't. They get that from me, except I have it on both sides.

We're creating..........

Bitter cold+"red" air quality+2 people w/asthma= staying inside a lot.

Of course, there is always school, but the novelty of having me as a teacher is wearing off and the boys don't get as excited about vowels and fire safety as they would for someone else. And who wants to cook and clean more than is necessary, really?

So......... to jazz it up, we always have the projects, right?

There are now funky knobs in our kitchen

A cat glows in the office (this is the only type of cat allowed in our home)


My glasses now have a much cozier, woolier place to hang out

Our fridge is a brighter place with E's paintings

M and I worked together to build the Lego set I got for Christmas from DH- What? Did I say I got a Lego set for Christmas? Yes, I did. A camper.

We are never wanting for "kewl knight set-ups"

And a new quilt will soon grace our house for no practical reason.
(and much more sewing has been done-for other people)

I can say that I am thoroughly enjoying not having to weed or mow!

Countdown to 12:00 noon

The boys and I attended a New Years Eve party that I think may have to become a tradition for a while. The Treehouse Museum in Ogden (which we are new members of!) had a children's party for New Years, only it started at 11am and we counted down to 12:00 noon. It had all the traditional things associated with New Year's parties, plus a few more. When you arrived, there was a ticket booth set up inside where you lined up to get your "kit" and, if you wanted, tickets to one of the two magic shows.


We got there in time to get tickets to the first show, and got our kits which included noisemakers, a package of m&m's, and a magic pencil (heat sensitive) When it was about to turn 12:00, we gathered in a few designated areas, where they shot down confetti. Then, a spanish tradition, we ate 1 m&m per stroke of 12. The kids blew their noisemakers, followed by the singing of Auld Lang Syne and the "ball drop." They dropped 10 squishy balls which the lucky kids with tall dads got to keep.

After that frenzy, we participated in a few more traditions. We toasted to the new year with Sprite in the party room, and the boys made their own festive party hats.


The kids were SO excited to attend the magic show, and it didn't disappoint. My friend Sum, who along with her 2 kiddos attended with us, remarked that it was worth going to the show just to hear the giggles of the kids.


And of course, when they needed a volunteer, my lucky little M got picked (he always does!) It pretty much made his week being up there with the magician (who was the original court jester in Disneyland's Fantasyland) and has been trying to do several of the magic tricks unsuccessfully ever since.

So let us know if you want to come next year- I'm sure we'll go again!

My Anchor for 2010

Remember this post from last year? I feel like it is very telling, especially the part about becoming liberated from our fears. When I hold myself up to the ruler, I think I succeeded at doing at least that part.

There have been a number of things this year that I (and we- DH and I) have felt prompted to do- and have done them despite fear. We have become intimately acquainted with some of our worst fears and have had to choose to either stand together and face them or shrink back and give in to the darkness that could most certainly become our reality.

Do I wish I would have whined less? Yes. Do I wish I had enjoyed some things a little more instead of stressing? Sure. But in many ways, with the help of others, we have chosen to do what we have been prompted to do.

Although there have been bumps (or giant craters) in the road this year, there have been many joys. The day we found we were going to be blessed with another child, the day we moved into our new home, the day we found DH would keep his job, the 4 days of our vacation to Disneyland, the day we got to spend with our newborn baby, and all the days we were showered with thoughts & prayers from those who love us.

We have all grown in many ways- M grew several inches taller, E went up a shoe size, and DH and I have remarked to one another that we "feel like grownups" where we didn't so much before.

We come into 2010 sporting new insights and an increasing faith and trust in God. And now for my traditional "anchor" for the year. It comes from here: (Henry B. Eyring, “Home for Christmas,” Ensign, Dec 2009, 4–9)

“And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

“That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

“And … I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you” (D&C 50:23–25).

In a world that is being darkened by evil images and dishonest messages, you have been blessed to recognize more easily the flashes of light and truth. You have learned for yourself that light grows brighter as you receive it gladly. It will become brighter and brighter until the perfect day when we will be in the presence of the Source of the light………….. The trials of mortality may increase in intensity, yet for us, darkness need not increase if we focus our eyes more singly on the light that streams down on us as we follow the Master. He will lead us and help us along the path that leads upward to the home for which we yearn.