365 days of girl

Well it has happened. Elaine has turned one. I'm only a week or two behind posting about it but I'm just happy I had the chance to do it at all! We have loved the change of dynamics our little Miss has brought to our home. We love you girlie!

Elaine right now you...

Love to do ANYTHING with Daddy (he's your favorite)
Have three teeth
Want to eat anything with sugar in it (especially cake or ice cream)
Can say 6 words (Mama, Dada, night night, Hi, yeah, and dog)
Adore your brothers
Love to "read books" by yourself
Want dinner at 5pm every night (on the dot!)
Can blow kisses
Add sweetness to our lives :)

Love you baby girl, we don't know what we would do without you!

Posing in her birthday hat. There's some serious attitude in those lips :)

looky what she can do...........

Who couldn't love this face...

                                    

Really, isn't he darling? I love the odd and silly tradition. In elementary school any holiday written on a calendar is always acknowledged, but this my friends was always my favorite. How strange you might say. I think it is wonderful. A charming community event, silly and frivolous and yet, so homey. I can picture the die hard fans (around 40,000 of them) with their warm drinks, bundled up, shouting hello to friends they may not have seen in a year. Hoping, chanting even, for an early spring. This little guy only prognosticates correctly about 39% of the time. Which is not very reliable, but I still love him!

I have another reason to love this usually chilly day in February. This is the day, six years ago, that I met my Jimmy.

I was on vacation, we ended up in the same institute class during the week and, in my naturally forward manner, invited him out to pizza with a few other friends. We talked the night away, were engaged a little more then a week later and the rest is history. So I guess this whole coming week is significant! How I love my Mr. And just like the movie, I get to repeat that feeling everyday for all eternity. *Happiness*

So Happy Groundhog day! Happy early spring! Do something wonderful today and hope it repeats all year long!


Catch you later!

Do you ever feel....

Overwhelmed? Tired? Sad? Misunderstood? Stressed out? Overworked and Underpaid?

Lemme tell ya, This has been a week! BAH! This week involved basically all of the above mentioned emotions plus some. I am so done with this week. But I've been thinking, I get alot of comfort knowing I am not alone. When I call up my girlfriends, or say a prayer, I remember that I am not unique in these feelings. Others have been there, done that. And the best part is, they want to help! What a wonderful thing to have available! Imagine, a world FULL of women who understand each other. Amazing. I so appreciate all the beautiful ladies in my life. What a gift. Miss Sarah S. and her party, dancing her way into her 30th year, Miss Heather watching my crazy (yet wonderful) children, Miss Sarah R. taking me out to lunch, are all a testament to me of the power of women. These ladies were there when I needed it. They understand. I love them.

Speaking of...This week at JEllen's there will be a very special gathering of women (and some men I'm sure) to muster strength, pool talents and resources and do something AMAZING! We are a force to be reckoned with. (Mmmwaha) This is one reason I feel so passionately about the Relief Society of the church. We are women, garnering strength to change the world. So if you want to change the world, or just support another woman doing a good thing, I'd love to see you there! I have three seats open if you want a ride!

Roz and I are in sewing heaven....

This my friends is a sight of pure joy! My favorite fabric store had their year end sale this last week, and I got a gift card for Christmas....basically it was meant to be (Thanks Dad and Sue!). I went to visit Ms. Joyce TWICE this week. The first time I went alone (a rare occasion) However, I got in trouble by a certain 4 year old, who thinks Joyce is his best friend.

 We simply had to go back! Ammon is hilarious in her store. I think he would stay there forever if I let him.  Joyce kinda likes Ammon too. He's famous now, you should check it out! I had a blast thumbing through her beautiful selection and came home with these lovelies and a mind full of crafty ideas. Roz and I are going to be busy.

I was so pumped after my visit with Joyce that I made this! I worked on it after the kids went to bed until midnight. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Ahhhh fandango, you will make a beautiful baby quilt.

What would you do with a pile of beautiful fabric?

Three is a magic number...

Since when did THREE MONTHS happen? Holy moly. Well Elaine has reached that magical milestone where babies get really fun! She is smiling, half giggling, sleeping mostly through the night and rolling over. I can't believe it. It has been a magical three months so far. I think we'll keep her :). Happy Birthday little girl! To celebrate we will:

Fold laundry
Shower for me
Bath for Elaine
Maybe a date with Daddy-o?
Crochet some gifts
Make visiting teaching appointments
and
Snuggle a super cute baby girl

Catch you later!

My new pal...

I'd like you to meet someone...

This is Roz (Rozalin) Isn't she pretty? I think we're going to get along great!

She has really great attributes such as; a drop in bobbin loader (awesome!)

And 25 stitch functions including a one step button hole maker!

I am so excited that she has come to live with me. Jimmy stuck gold this year on the birthday present giving (Love you!!!)

Oh the fabric we will see together.......

I'll be sure to share what creations result from this friendship :)

Hello, you look yummy....

Today we met dinner...

His name is Tom and he is Bob's turkey. Well, now he is our turkey! And he will be delicious.

If you would like your own heritage breed turkey You can call Bob and get one of your own!


Happy Thanksgiving week!!!

um....wow

So I just took 35 pictures of my daughter in about ohhh....5 minutes. Yeah, I know, crazy right? But she was SMILING for goodness sakes! What could I do? All I have to say is, thank goodness for digital cameras! What did people use to do when their newborns were being super cute? Ugh, I would die! Here are a few to keep you up at night. She really is that cute...

I told you. Good luck sleeping now...

Little Boo's and a blessing...

This weekend was exciting! Actually the whole week was exciting, but I don't have enough time to blog about everything we did while the Grandparents were in town. Suffice it to say...it was totally awesome. Any who, back to the weekend. We decided to go to the Shaker Wards trunk or treat Saturday night for our Halloween fun...the boys looked amazing!

Here they are! Luke starring as BUZZ LIGHTYEAR! And Ammon as a Giant Yellow Lego! Grandpa made the Lego all possible. It turned out so cute. Nothing like a few cold stone cups, spray paint and cardboard boxes to brighten the life of a little boy! The Elders were totally drooling over it. (I think they must have been wondering why they weren't as cool as a four year old.)

Sunday was a special day around here. Elaine was named and blessed during sacrament meeting. My parents were both there with their respective spouses, which was really nice. Dad got to be in the circle, Jim was emotional and the long awaited dress that my mother in-law made had finally come in the mail. It was perfect.

Aren't they adorable?

So sweet!

The dress was so pretty, I loved the little details and the fact that it was made by her Nana. The bonnet was made out of a hanky that belonged to my Great Grandmother on my Mom's side and she was snuggled in my blessing blanket that was made by my Great Grandmother on my Dad's side. It made the day very special to me. Having a little girl has been such a dream come true. The way the blessing made it sound, this is one very special little girl.

We were all very sad later that afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa had to get back on the plane heading west this time. We were all pretty choked up after they left. It was a wonderful visit. Ammon is still saying that they need to come back to "..be here with me in Cleveland." Hopefully soon. Then we'll party again!

To console ourselves, we carved pumpkins!

Jim has mad skills with a pumpkin!

Happy Halloween!!!

The Grandparents are coming!!!

I just had to share my total excitement in the fact that I will have not one but TWO very special helpers with me for the next WEEK!!! My Dad and Step Mom are flyin in tonight! Watch out Ohio, those two know how to party (and wash dishes, change diapers, and read books to insistent toddlers) I love it! Life is good.

Aren't they darling?

A Visual Feast of Cuteness