Crafty!

For the past few weeks I have been looking at online patterns/tutorials on how to make fabric pumpkins. I have a bunch of fabric from years ago that I thought would be just perfect. I finally got around to trying out my 1st one. Awww...isn't it CUTE! It's cuter in person, but I'm so excited that I was actually able to follow the directions and it worked out!

I got the instructions here

Above all...Love Yourself

One thing my daughter will not learn from me is how to be a fashionista, but rather...be comfortable enough with yourself that you don't even give a second thought about a run to the grocery store wearing too small Dora jammies and cousin Cooper's cowboy boots complimented by a pink jacket. Look how proud she is =)

Visit to Utah

I was so lucky and got to down to Utah to visit my best friend Sharon and her brand new baby, Parker. He is so tiny and as sweet as can be. Look at all that hair!


While we were there we took it upon ourselves to do a little photo shoot of our own...seeing as how we are both very knowledgeable and skilled in photography. Not to mention, our fabulous equipment. Here are just a few samples of our amazing work:


This is the classic baby on a stack of books. Well, we only had one book handy. Plus, I guess it works better if the baby is actually asleep.


It takes great patience and just the right timing to capture a face as precious as this. Poor Parker, we tortured him.



This isn't too bad. I like this picture actually.


Always looking for the next bite to eat.


We're considering starting our very own photography business. Let us know if you'd like to do a session.


OK. All joking aside, I had the BEST time. I haven't got to hang out with Sharon forEVER! and it was so nice to be able to just sit around in our jammies most of the time and talk. We also had fun playing some piano/violin duets, watching lots of movies, eating good food and taking NAPS!


I miss this little guy already. He's such a sweet, sweet adorable little guy.


I calculated how long Sharon and I have known each other and it has been about 25 years! And not much has changed between us. This goes beyond friendship. I love ya girl! Thanks for the laughs, the tears, and all the amazing memories!

1st Field Trip

Last week was Katelyn's very 1st field trip and we all got to go. It was at a place just outside of town called the Country Mercantile. They have fresh produce and lots of yummy salsas, dips, homemade tortilla chips, gift shop, oh! and lots of chocolate! It's a fun place to go.

Justin and Alaina


There was a corn maze for the kids.


Alaina and Katelyn


A hay bale pyramid to climb on-this is her whole class up there.


A tractor pulled hay ride out to the pumpkin patch.


Found the perfect pumpkin!

Katelyn and her cute friend Morgan


Afterward we enjoyed some delicious ice cream and stopped for a picture on this cool red tractor.
There was also a little petting zoo which included a real reindeer!

quilting time!

on a lighter note...

We celebrated my 33rd (that is very weird) birthday last week! I had a really wonderful day with my little family. And I was showered with love from my friends. So, thank you to everyone, even YOU! for making my day special.


These pictures just make me smile. We went out to dinner at Applebees. (Kids eat for 99 cents on Wednesdays!) They also have face painting for the kids and this time Katelyn was all over it. She was so cute after she got her face painted. She hopped off the chair and then suddenly turned around and let out a big "ROAR" to the gal who painted her face. It was pretty funny and everyone in the restaurant loved her. What made it more fun was to see how Alaina's face lit up when Katelyn sat down at the table. She thought it was great and they took turns roaring at each other all night. I love my sweet little girls.


She insists that she wants to be a tiger for Halloween now. Guess I better invest in some face paint. Soon!

life's perplexities

sometimes it feels like the sky is falling....right on top of me. or that the weight of the world is going to crush me.

In an effort to make myself more informed about what is going on in the world, I started listening to talk radio several months ago. I don't want to be ignorant. I want to have a clue. I want to know about issues so I can make informed decisions.

I'm not sure if this has been particularly "healthy" for me (my thoughts are really scattered and my sinuses feel like they have been pumped full of lead)

I want to be informed. I want to know what's going on, even though I don't understand a lot of it. I don't want to be naive. or oblivious.

You know that personality test, the "color code"? well. I am (or at least used to be, but I'm pretty sure I still am) WHITE. almost an exact even white/blue. with a difference of one number or so. WHITE=PEACE.

The more I listen to what is going on in the world, the more I think...there will never really be true PEACE in the world. "there must needs be opposition in all things". I get that. It's part of God's law...or plan, right?

But it still bothers me. People, will NEVER ever come to an agreement upon things.

Democratic, Republican, Independent, Conservative, Liberal, Gay, Straight, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Atheist....people will always disagree about something. Even little things. Take your kids to preschool? Not take your kids to preschool? Do you can peaches this way or that way? I bet you think YOUR way is right, huh?

There are so many voices out there. I feel overwhelmed. I need clarity. Everyone thinks they are right.

You can show two people the same exact picture and they will both see something completely different. I don't really know what the answer is.

What do you see?

Visiting Friends

About three weeks ago Justin got a call from his Seargent that was very scary. He was told that one of his fellow squad members was badly burned in an accident and was being life flighted to Seattle. We were very worried.

Though the burns were very serious, he was extremely lucky and is healing quite well. We took a drive out to their place yesterday to pay him a visit. They are a great family. Katelyn loved playing with their six kids and seeing all the animals. Chickens, a cow, dogs, a cat and 2 donkeys.


This is a Mammoth Donkey. That's for sure! More like a small horse, but they are super friendly. Katelyn got to have a little ride and loved it. She even went bare-back








Here is a little video. There's a quick shot of Dale and you can see his right ear which has the worst burn damage of anything.

My not so little baby girl

This little outfit is so cute. Alaina is growing up! And I can't believe how fast. She walks (started at about 11 months), she is climbing, and now she is talking!!! I am not kidding. At first I thought it was fluke, but she is actually repeating words. Just a couple. She says "hi" and she repeated "no" after Katelyn said it to her a few times. It sounded more like "naw".


big cheesy grin =)


Climbing onto and sitting on this chair like a big girl. She is so much fun!

Parade of Homes

This is the first time I have ever gone to a Parade of Homes. I really enjoyed it.

I liked this cute little mud room closet/locker system. Although it's too cute to call it a mud room.


This is about the size tub Justin needs to be able to fit in. There is a fireplace at the end by his feet that you can also see from the Master Bedroom. Pretty cozy!


Someday when we build a house, I want trim like this.

Or like this:


So, I listen to Dave Ramsey on the radio all the time! Love him! He is always advertising for a company called Adair Homes. They build homes with your participation, meaning that you do some "sweat equity" so building a home can be more affordable and result in an average of $20-25K in equity as soon as you turn the key and walk through the door. Anyway, I saw that there was an Adair Home in the Parade so I wanted to check it out and find out more about the company. The last picture here (above) is that home. I was actually quite impressed with the home and Justin and I both thought it was very nicely done. It was a home we could see ourselves affording and actually living in, as opposed to some of the other amazing homes we looked at. If you are thinking of building a home I highly recommend you at least check out Adair Homes. I think they just build in the Northwest...WA, ID, OR. go to: www.adairhomes.com