so far so good.

we just got back from the School Halloween parade. Annie Kate looked great and was all smiles. Caroline wore the dress without a fight. She was rolling down the grassy hill until it started and was having a great time. I think it made her slippery.

Happy Halloween!

Holiday's do something to my system. I love them. I couldn't sleep last night I was so excited. It is not even noon but I feel I have so much I could write about.
Annie Kate's hair turned out awesome for her Pipi Longstocking costume. She will have a parade at school so she got to wear her hair like this this morning. She was so excited! It was our first test with the wire and it worked just like she said it would.
Last night we got invited to an awesome family party from some people from church. (I am still so thrilled they invited us) The family has 8 kids. The mother had a baby the same year as her oldest daughter and she looks younger then me! It was something out of Martha Stewart with pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin choc. chip cookies, pumpkin carving, apples and yummy caramel dip, family and friends everywhere. I didn't take a lot of photos because I didn't know these people and didn't want to be too buggy. Yet I wanted to take photos of everything. We carved our pumpkin and had a great time.I was proud of myself for asking the lady at the gym today to put another movie in. As I walked in the Power Ranger movie was starting. My purpose was two fold one because of not wanting Caroline to get any ideas that she is not wearing her Sleeping Beauty costume, but mainly because I think it way too old for her age! Seriously there are young kids in there. The lady was a little mad, and I said it is rated PG! For crying out loud am I over reacting. Ok if I am I don't care I am sticking to my guns on that one!
I took the girls to McDonalds. For some reason I take the kids every year. I think it started because they used to have Halloween toys that we would get. But I could not break tradition. We got there when they were still serving breakfast, which my kids love those pancakes more than anything.

I packed Annie Kate's lunch today with everything orange. I was running so late I didn't' get a photo. cheetos, orange slices, cheese... and then with this cute photo of pipi longstocking. Saying,
"Happy Halloween Pipi we love you! Mom and Dad!"

It is going to be a great day. Have a wonderful Halloween and I will be excited to write about the rest of our day.

Get to know me.

Yesterday my day at church was awesome. Jeff not so much. He took the girls out during Sacrament meeting and they were crazy! He seriously came in exhausted. All I could say is, "I know exactly how you feel"
This girl at church gave the most incredible talk. She is really amazing. Her talk was the reason Jeff was outside, because I looked at him and hinted that I didn't want to miss the rest of it. She talked about adversity and how in her life it has made her stronger. She talked about trials she has gone through... it was just a real, heartfelt talk. I ran home and wrote her a note because I knew if I walked up to her I would start crying.
The choir sang and it was wonderful. I just had tears dripping down my cheeks. The song was Abide with Me. You can listen to the song here if you have never heard it. But the last line
"through cloud and sunshine Lord, Abide with me" just was so touching to me.
Sunday school is always a treat now that Sally Jane is in the nursery. Jeff and I sat in the back row and tried to name as many people as we could. We did ok, almost half the room. It is tough to move that is all I can say. I also wore my new bracelet my sister in law sent me, even though it did not remotely match my dress, I have not been able to take it off. I will be posting my good mail soon for all to see.
The Relief Society newsletter has a "Sister Spotlight" every week. I had received a phone call for the gal who writes it a few weeks ago but didn't' know when it would be in.
It amazed me she was able to get so much out of me in one phone call. I thought I would type it up so I can remember it and let others get to know me better.

This amazingly brave and trusting gal moved into her new home here sight unseen. Not only that, she barely knew the Kentlands Ward member she asked to find it for her! Turns out she also did this when her family moved to New Orleans ten years ago. Born in Bozeman, Montana, she grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico - the second child out of six. When she was fourteen she had her first real job. She was the Easter Bunny at the mall. She reports that she "stalked" her future husband, beginning in the freshman public speaking class they shared. He left to serve a mission in Argentina. Later, she served a mission in South Dakota. No, they never wrote each other! About a month after she returned home she looked him up and the rest "is history". After the wedding plans were all in place she was informed that she had been selected to be an EFY (Especially For Youth) counselor. Knowing hoe much she had dreamed of doing this, her future husband agreed to the postponement. If she could select her college major over again she would study graphic design or photography. This year she is finally taking photography classes and claims this is her major passion - along with sewing. This mother of three girls writes in her journal every day. Our mystery sister gave me permission to tell you that, as a non-nurse, she once had a job assisting in an operating room. That was until she fainted! Can you guess who this is?

Kind of funny to read what someone else writes after to talking to you. I give up way to much information.
We had a meet and greet after church. Annie Kate loves them, I am not sure why but she get so excited each time we have them, but I love seeing the look on her face when they announce it.

While we were hanging around a girl came up to me and asked me if Christine had talked to me yet. She seemed so serious. I thought oh great what have I done. She then whispers out of one ear, "would you like to join our card making group?" Her eyes were shifting from side to side the whole time she was talking to me. We talked for a minute and then I said as politely as I could, No Thanks. I said, "honestly I have done these things in the past and because I tend to put way too much time and energy into things, then I am sorely disappointed when I get see what everyone else has done and wish I had just spent all that energy for something I would keep, not throw in the trash" I could not believe I had said that, but was so proud I did. She then giggles and explains to me that this is not a crafty card making group and that if I join I can't really tell anyone because they only have 5 people in it, one girl just moved away and there are some other people trying to join. They had seen some stuff I had done for Enrichment and thought I might have good taste. So I said ok, I started to feel kind of lucky to be asked. The group of 4 are really neat people and if anything it would be fun to get to know them. What they do is once a month you get together at one of the girls homes and bring everything for 20 cards and then we all construct them together. Which was way more appealing to me then doing them at home in my creative dungeon. We will see how it goes.
We had a yummy roast and I got to make the gravy. First time in my married life did Jeff let me make the gravy. He is a total gravy snob! I found this new recipe and it turned out great. I was pretty proud and will have to post it sometime, along with the Halloween burritos and jumbalya.
I just came home from church loving my family. I feel like the luckiest girl alive!

Since you have an extra hour today you will have time to see...

Tasha's great idea for the new mom
Cristin's darling witch costume
Michelle's kids awesome halloween program
Mindy is going to be on Oprah on monday!!!
what Liz's daughter did to her $5.00 .. this is so funny
Spencer caught a big fish!

a first for us

This weekend is the first daylight savings (fall back) that my husband will not be spending the night at the hospital in about 6 years. Even though he is on call this weekend he sleeps at home and (knock on wood) rarely gets called at that.
But can you imagine how hard it would be to be at work and working a 24 shift but it is really 25 hours. You look at your watch at 12:00 am you work a whole hour and then you have to turn your clock back and work it again. I have always laughed about this weekend but this year for the first time, in a while, my husband will finally to sleep that extra hour instead of work it.

Stacy this is for you!

6 years ago I met my friend Stacy S. She is an incredible graphic designer and has eyes that sees things that most people would just walk by and pay no notice. I think since knowing her she as taught me a little big of this skill. So last weekend on our big commissary shopping trip I was like a crazed woman looking at all the German imported treats that had for super cheap. I saw this bag of peril covered chocolate with a scalloped edge and said, "Stacy would love these!"
Stacy I wish had not opened them and started eating them, because they would have been fun to send to you.. but we did. But I did think of you.
Can you imagine how cute these will be on a gingerbread house this year!! I am glad a have a photo so when I send Jeff to the commissary next he will know what to look for.

does anyone else go crazy over stuff like this?

visiting teaching

I don't know why I am constantly surprised at what a powerful program visiting teaching is. It is a program in my church where two women are assigned to visit another woman every month. Through this you have the possibility of really getting to know someone beyond the weekly hello at church. I have said before the power of one visiting teacher. My friend Fran was my visiting teacher in Nashville and changed my whole view on this program.
Yesterday I went to take something to two of the girls I visit teach. It was one's birthday and the other one is redoing her incredible home and they finally finished the living room. ( I have dreams of getting the guts to photograph this ins and outs of this home someday it is amazing)

The birthday girl is an incredible Gardner. I drove up her driveway to find her transplanting bulbs for the spring. It was dinner time and her husband was not coming home until real late and she feeling a little lonely. She ended up giving me a grounds tour around her home of all her plants and tips and tricks. It was a great evening. I missed my photography class, but it was so worth it. I am so grateful I stopped by and that it was her birthday so it helped me to have a reason.
I just dropped off the other bottle of grape juice to the remodel home. I also took her the copy of the new Mignon Faget catalog. It is the first since Katrina. (see catalogs on the sidebar if you want one) It is awesome and I knew she would appreciate seeing something different. Her husband and 4 sons just spent the past year in Spain and she has great taste.
Visiting teaching is awesome!
I even started a smugmug gallery of things I have done so I can remember them for years to come.

pippi almost done

1:33 am. Headed to bed. Exhausted. Exicted to see the look on Caroline's face when she sees her almost done dress. Almost done with Pippi costume. found orange polka dot piping in my scrap stash to use on the pockets, back on a sewing high!

my kids are never watching T.V. again!
{ok before you freak out by that statement read on..}

Ok remember what I said about wanting to sew my daughter's wedding dresses, unless they can all fit into a size 3, pink, Sleeping Beauty dress they will be hitting the streets to buy one off the rack. I am in Halloween Hades!

....especially when Caroline announces at the dinner table tonight, that she wants to be a pink Power Ranger for Halloween. Are you kidding me? That is what I get for taking her to the gym nursery today where they had Power Rangers playing on the T.V. the whole time. Oh ya, the gym is getting a letter from me!

and please don't comment with any "I told you so" and that means you too Jeff!

It is so rare that my husband ever asks me to buy anything or ever asks for anything. But the other day our oil burner fell and broke and Jeff's first words were, "go buy another one!"
I was so happy to make a trip to Bath and Body.
So today the girls and I made a little drive by. I just love that store. All of their pumpkin items are disappearing so if you want pumpkin oil get it now.
While I was there I picked up a new scent, "The Perfect Christmas" is a cranberry spice scent. Oh it is so good. Annie Kate came in the door from school and said, "This house smells so good!"

The Sewing Fairy

tonight I have been working on the incredibly hard Sleeping Beauty costume. What was I thinking? Because I have this secret dream, which is no longer secret, to sew my daughters wedding gowns; I feel sewing costumes gives such great training for the crazy dream I have.
This woman (Anne B.) who goes to church with me had heard I was making this costume and actually bought the pattern for me. She and I studied it on Sunday and she taught me what horsehair was, which I need 8 yards, who has ever heard of horsehair. What is so funny is when I was at Joann's to buy it, 2 employees told me "We don't have that" of course I was not going to trust the 16 year old girl who is butchering my fabric as she cuts it. So I went and found it myself.

Anyway, I had bought this fabric for the skirt that goes from light to dark thinking it would look so different. Well, I figured out tonight I didn't have enough and had bought the rest of the bolt so there was no going back to the store. I sat in basement tonight and cried. I then went upstairs and sat and the couch and cried to my husband. My husband then went on the internet and found a costume and got ready to buy it online. Then Anne called me to see how I was doing (I had left her a desperate message on the phone) she came right over helped me cut out every last piece, found a way to make the fabric work. She is having me come over once I am ready to put the invisible zipper in for me. She is truly the sewing fairy!
It is 10:48pm and she just left. I can not begin to know how to thank her! She talked me off the cliff tonight for sure. I am amazed at her willingness to help me. I am unbelievably grateful tonight.
As she left my home she loved seeing and touching all my ribbon. I was making special note of the ones she loved the most, because they will make a perfect thank you for her willingness to help.
Service is such a good thing!

Pink Christmas

I don't have much time to blog today, but I could not go one more day without talking about the "Pink Christmas" project. Who would have ever thought what a wonderful joy this would have brought into my life this year.
Everyday is like Christmas for me when I open my email, getting photos of everyone's projects. I know this sounds so cheesy but girls I am so proud of you. I am amazed at the insight that has gone into these projects, the sacrifice, the love, the creativity, the time, the research...
I loved one of the comments that I received with one of the projects,

"I am also grateful for the early deadline that motivated me to get this done and get to work on some of my other holiday projects that need to be done EARLY this year! I feel like my creative juices have been flowing as a result "

I know I will have so much more to say on the subject when the webpage with all projects will be revealed on Christmas day, but for now I just have to say you girls are amazing!

If you would like to be included in future emails about fun projects like "Pink Christmas" email me your email and I will hang on to it for future dates. (You can click email me on my sidebar)

Such a busy weekend.

We had a great, busy, fun, exciting, exhausting weekend. I finally wrote about our Friday in the city. (AK had no school and Jeff only had two patients to see) We went bowling in Chinatown, the Smithsonian Portrait gallery, Iwo Jima memorial and to Ft. Myer. You can read about all our adventures here.
I am loving having my new camera and was thrilled to see two ads for it in Family Fun magazine which helped me confirm my decision. I was so stressed.. Nikon/Cannon. It is a fun place to learn about photography with some many things to take photos of.

Since we did our D.C. thing on Friday, Saturday truly became a special day! (listen to song here) We got a lot of cleaning done, cleaned the car inside and out, organized closets. I made Mindy's granola, Las Cruces Halloween burritos and Pumpkin muffins.I Finally finished my ribbon holder. A month or so ago I found this white shelf outside a store with the word "Free" on it. Can you imagine what this does to me? We were walking with our strollers so could not take the huge shelf. We took the pieces that we could and made Annie Kate hold them and then Jeff went back for it later.
I drilled holes along the side and bought some wooden dowels to hold the ribbon. I can't decide if I am happy I now have them organized or sad that Jeff can see my ribbon sickness.

Sunday was a great day. It felt good to have the house so clean.Jeff taught the lesson, which is always great because it causes great discussions for us. We had a roast cooking in the oven during church (always a good thing) Carrot souffle, spaghetti squash and riced potatoes.

Jeff went hometeaching to his family that just had twins. Henry and Isabelle. They are so cute. I monogrammed these blankets for them.
While my machine was running I did this blanket for one of Jeff's attending from Vanderbilt. A little different for me using a picture on a monogram, but I loved this bird and wanted to figure out how to use it. Also the letter Z, L and T were hard to put together, so I opted for the two letters on the left. *** bird is from Bunnycup kids mini designs.
We took a Halloween walk around our neighborhood with light sticks on Sunday night. This neighborhood really goes all out for Halloween. Caroline got made on the way home and lit up the neighborhood with her best scream for the whole way home! Man that girl has got some lungs.

I have high hopes for a great week. I am getting so excited for the holiday!

Halloween Dresses.
click here to see photo in color

I made these dresses for the girls (at the time I only had two girls) 3 years ago. My mother in law was in town and she helped me come up with the idea of the tied top so I didn't have to do a button hole.
I made them in a size 6 and size 1. Annie Kate was more than thrilled that it didn't fit her today and that it was getting passed down to Caroline. It was too big on Caroline but still worked. I came up with the idea to sew a big purple ribbon on the back and tie it so it didn't look so big. (which I was doing 10 minutes before I left for church) Sally Jane's was too small so I put a white petticoat dress underneath.
Today was just one of those days that I was so happy I knew how to sew and love making dresses for my girls. I was able to find a photo of them wearing them the year I made them but could not find one for 2005. I hope they have fond memories of wearing these as much as I do making them.
we had such a busy weekend, I can't wait to find the time to write about our sites in the city as well as projects at home, but for now I must get some sleep for my big Sleeping Beauty sewing week...

*** for sewers it is the Lucy pattern, monogrammed on the outside with a boo design in purple, I downloaded for free off the internet. Then the lining of the dress is monogrammed with the girls names in lime green. The dress is totally reversible and is piped with lime green ric rack.

Pumpkin Bread

You know fall is here when we have this yummy bread in our house. I made this today and I think is my 4th batch of the season. It became a tradition to always make this after one of girls was born, as my mom brought me some in the hospital after AK was born.
I made it today with dark chocolate and am excited to see how it turned out. (still in the oven, smells soooo good!) EDIT*** the mini chips remain the best!****
We took the above loaves and muffins to our hometeaching and visiting teaching families the morning of general conference to give them something to snack on.

Enjoy the recipe it is one of our family favorites!

Pumpkin Bread

3 cups of sugar

1 cup of salad oil

4 eggs, beaten

1 (16oz) can of pumpkin

3 ½ cup of flour

2 tsp. Baking soda

2 tsp. Salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp cloves

2/3 cup of water

cream sugar and oil together. Add eggs and pumpkin; mix well. Sift together dry ingreditents. Add dry ingredients alternately with water. Pour into 2 well greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees. 1 ½ hourso our until knife comes out clean.

I always make these in cupcakes. Mini and normal size. I never make the loaves because it seems hard to get it to cook all the way through.I always add mini choc. Chips about a cup. Mix the choc chips with 1 Tsp of flour so they don’t sink in the batter.

If you do make loaves of bread mix cinnamon and sugar in the pan before you bake it and it makes a nice sugar coating for the outside of the bread. the photo shows mini ceramic loaf pans that I got at Micheals for $1.00.

It's not too late...

to send Halloween cards. I was at a girl's house in the neighborhood that had the cutest Halloween cards on her fridge that she had gotten over the years and it totally inspired me to send some cards to our family members. (I didn't make many)
I thought it would be a cute way to tell everyone what the girls were going to be for Halloween. So I signed the card "from Pipi Longstocking, Sleeping Beauty & Cindy Lou Who"
These are so easy to make and could be used for a Christmas card as well.
Here it is...
The Back of Card


Here are all the pictures and notes coming out of the Xyron machine.

I made the card in my totally cheesy Scrapbook Program (remember my Valentines cards)
It is called Scrapbook Factory Deluxe and you can find it at Costco for like $20. It looks so cheesy when you open it, you just have to ignore all the templates. It is so easy to use!

so what I did is imported my three photos in the program, added just a black border and then exported it as a jpg file. Then I emailed that file to Costco.com and had them printed in 5x7 prints. You can add all these cool borders on your prints. So the pumpkins and large black border are the Costco prints. You can do it all from home and then pick them up in an hour.

Then I printed the little love note and cut them out with the paper cutter. I ran the photos and love notes through my xryon machine with the adhesive cartridge. I love this feature! It makes everything super sticky!

I then cut chipboard ( you can find this at your local printer suppliers. I bought 500 sheets for $20.00 and use it all the time) to 5.25" x 7.25". put the photo on one side and the love note on the other.
Because of the weight of the chipboard it is too heavy for a postcard stamp. I used the awesome quilt stamps to send it. have you seen these. I am so picky about what stamps I buy. You may have to buy these online my postoffice is always out.

then after I sent most of them, I came up with the idea to put it in a clear plastic envelope with Halloween confetti. So only a few went out that way.
This was so fast!
I will post in a few weeks about some great places to order your Christmas cards if you don't want to make them. There are so many great places these day to do fast, hip Christmas cards.
Let me know if you have any questions, my instructions make sense to me but may not to anyone else.

Almost 8!

Annie Kate brought home this paper from school the other day with these questions and answers.

Ten words that best describe me!

1. Freckles
2. athletic
3. nice
4. look like mom
5. smart
6. blue eyes
7. love crafts
   
8. love math
9. love reading
10. love writing

Favorite Foods

1. Tacos
2. Ling Lings (poststickers from Costco)
3. Fruit

my favorite things to do.

1. basketball
2. crafts
3. read
4. T.V.
5. Write

Something Special about me

1. I have the best teacher

Three things I hope to learn this year

1. To write better
2. To learn multipication
3. to read better

Five things I 'm most proud of

1. I have the best teacher
2. I have freckles
3. I love math
4. I have a dimple
   
5. I love basketball

Thanks jill for having me start a blog. Otherwise I would never have taken the time to write these down. Your Whitney post inspired me!
I love my Annie Kate!

unlikely friends

I have become friends with a lady who lives a few doors down from me and goes to my church. She is in her 60's, her husband was in the Navy and just passed away last summer. He was a pilot in the Vietnam War. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Last night we drove together to the Visiting Teaching Open House last night which was awesome and we had this yummy cake. (Her daughter in law also lives down the street and is good friends with my friend Cara W.)
She drove me back to her house because she wanted to show me the photos of her husbands funeral at Arlington.
I didn't leave her house until 12:15 am. She told me some awesome stories about her husband. He was in the Vietnam war and his plane was shot down. The story is amazing and I felt like it was better than watching a movie hearing her tell the story.
I know she misses her husband so much and loves him so much. She showed me photos of him as a pilot and clippings from the paper the day he came home hugging his family in front of the plane. I wanted so bad to ask her if I could borrow it to put on my blog to show everyone, but didn't really want to go there.
We talked about what it was like to raise 4 kids on your own when your husband is gone. We have a few people in our ward. I cried with her when she talked about tying her Christmas tree to the wall because she couldn't find the Christmas tree stand to make it stand up, while he was gone over Christmas.
I am constantly amazed at the family sacrifices that happen while we are at war. My husband as seen many OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) patients. His training at Vanderbilt has been a lifesaver for him as many of these cases are one of kind and so unique. I always how was the mother or wife after the surgery, "don't forget to give her a big hug" .. then he laughs at me.
But back to my new friend. I gave her a big hug and told her how grateful I was to her for sharing her stories with me and how sorry I am about her losing her husband. She said, "I will walk you to the corner" (our houses are 75 yards away from each other) It reminded me of my best friend from High School who we lived 7 houses away and we would always walk each other half way home.
I walked my way home to my wonderful family just beginning our adventures and so grateful I had Jeff to come home to. She walked home to her wonderful family who don't live in the walls of her home any more but are still so much of her life but just in a different way.
We may have seemed so much like "unlikely friends" but after last night we seem so much the same.

If you only have a minute don't miss...

Laurie gave a great tribute to her Dad, I think a must read for any husband.

Hannah has a great recipe blog that I was talking about here is the link.

Mipper posted some great recipes that are easy to take to people.

Mindy has some exciting news. I don't know anyone more deserving!

Cristin has a darling cleaning fairy idea.

Jill read one of my favorite books. She is such a great note taker when reading.

Crystalyn made the jump and started a blog.

Pink Giraffe's ohh so cute and on sale.

our fun day at the library of congress and yummy mexican.

cute clock from Rosenberry Rooms.

Why I love Netflix

... because I can get a newly released movie in my mailbox the day it comes out. Life is too good.

The Good Mail Skinny

So here is the scoop on good mail. I can hear you through your computers saying, "why does she take pictures of her mail and think we want to see it?"
My friend Jill (who is the mastermind behind "good mail") has helped me appreciate the little things in my life by something as simple as recording my goodness that comes in my mailbox. It has spread over into much of my life this year. I notice the little things more, I am more appreciative of what have, not things but gifts, talents, people, smells, leaves etc. Something as simple as "documenting my life through photos" (another Jill thing) has helped me to see how great my life is.
If you and I were to go to the same small event on a farm and then come home to talk about it you might catch yourself saying, "did you we go to the same place?" I would come home with 50 photos of little things, make a big deal about a popsicle under a tree, and ant trail up the barn and pumpkins in a box. It is not that my life is anymore exciting than anyone else's I just treasure the little things,(and why I do this, is a post which is yet to come) which has happened from appreciating good mail. In return I have started to send good mail (which is also part of Jill's good mail system) I just wrote letters today to women who commented in my lesson on Sunday, something I would have maybe not done in the past.
So If you don't like seeing what comes in my mailbox then look away. If you feel like no one sends you any good mail you can do two things today. 1, send out 5 things of good mail and 2, send me an email with your address and I will send you a card. (seriously I will)

this I got from Amy W. Some incredible treasures! Vintage buttons, Scottie Dog (have I ever said how much I love scottie dogs and if I ever get a dog, that is what I am getting) paper and buttons, darling vintage shirt (which I hope to turn into a dress) Lilly Pulitzer fabric. Amy I love it all and happy to be the "Fabric Orphanage" for any homeless or unwanted fabric.
Amy is truly one of a kind. I will never forget going to Amy's house one day and she had painted three little animals on canvas. I said, "I didn't know you knew how to paint". I don't, I thought I would just try it. They were incredible and I admire anyone who will just try it! She also looks great in yellow, runs and has real blonde hair. They also have the best Christmas card every year without a doubt. (no pressure Amy)

This was a wonderful surprise from another Amy in my life. Amy H. I met her last summer at the annual blog party (no pressure Jill) as she was getting ready to have her first little boy. She sent these gift bags to my girls, with this ever so clever note. My girls have loved the Chinese yoyo's and bubbles. We gobbled the chocolate instantly. Thank you so much for your ever kind gesture and creativity.
Amy is a reader! And has such a passion for books. She has a wonderful blog that you might want to check out. and is the first to make the jump to typepad. You go techno girl.

My brother Spencer and his wife Kari sent us all these photos from the reunion and their trip in large 8x10's. He is a great photographer and it was fun to get these great photos. Spencer is my third brother. I will never forget one time when I came home as an adult and he was still at home and we went to church. We were walking up to the door and a older lady fell. Spencer, the teenager, ran up to pick her up and help her. He has always been the one who wants to help and will jump in and do so. His wife is even nicer than him and she is a wonderful mother.

I got this invite to a bridal shower and seriously started crying. It is to a shower that there would be no way I could attend but the fact they thought about inviting me made me feel so good. It is for Jeff's cousin in California. They are doing a recipe book for the bride and having people email recipes ahead of time to make a book. I love that idea. Sometimes when you live so far way from family the littlest things make you feel so good.

Grammy sent these darling socks for Halloween. I love these beaded socks and Annie kate used to wear these up until the first grade. I have tried 3 times to learn how to make them and just can not get it! But grammy we love these socks so much!
Grammy can make almost anything, did you see the cute knitted dress she made Caroline.

I got this darling birth announcement for Elle Brooke. My little niece. The card was so cute with about 8 different parts to the card. The photo was awesome taken by my brother Spencer and what a darling monogrammed blanket in the photo... hmmm. I love my sister-in-law and she is so good to my brother. He gots it good!

I got my quilt squares for my Christmas block exchange from the Nashville girls. They all are awesome, I hope I get it someday put together and quilted. Thanks girls for including me!


I just got this very unexpected (well, kind of she asked for my address) package from the owner of Poshribbons.com This darling keyfob and headband. I love the headband and what a brilliant idea! The polkadot one is called the Kristi, hmmm.. Thank you so much for your generosity. She is soon to be the mother of three girls and her husband is currently serving our country. take a peek into her store.

I am one lucky girl!

Birthdays

growing up for me birthdays were a BIG deal. It was almost like our own personal Christmas. Not that we got a lot of gifts by any means, but it was one of those days I remember not being able to fall asleep the night before. My mom made it a special day. I remember having a lot of parties. But we did simple things like playing balloon volleyball in the family room. We woke up to the dining room table being just for us. Our current framed photo was on the table with our cake and present and cards from family and sometimes balloons. We always got to have what we wanted for dinner on our birthday. I always picked Tacos! During dinner my dad would say now lets talk about how cold it was on the day Kristi Brooke was born (Bozeman, MT in January burrr) So it was fun to talk about the day were we born and what happened. They always told the story of how the flowers my mom brought home from the hospital froze in the car.
It is funny, we didn't have a lot of money growing up and my mom had 6 kids but everyone's birthday was a really big deal. In fact my husband says my mom us ruined it for the spouses of her kids because we all have such high expectations of what that day will be like and we seem to have a hard time transitioning to the child/adult birthday. I still want the decorated table. Even last night as we went to bed Jeff said you know you are just punishing your future son-in-laws right now don't you, that can't live up and these poor girls. I guess that means I will just have to come and visit! Funny huh.
I loved that Carolines birthday was on a Sunday and it will become our new tradition to celebrate the families birthday to the closest Sunday. I had made Annie Kate birthday overalls, but thought a monogrammed dress would perfect for her to wear to church.It was so great because we were all home, we spent the day together, ate together. It was just great. ( I think the Winfields do this ) I had made Annie Kate birthday overalls, but thought a monogrammed dress would perfect for her to wear to church. I don't need the dress until end of May, so if anyone wants to borrow it for photos let me know. It would fit size 2-4.
Caroline woke up to a fun pink table (thanks to the ribbon outlet who sold me 50 yards of ribbon for $.89) Large photos thanks to Spencer who had just enlarged a bunch. Pink donuts. She had presents from her grandparents (which is so amazing to me with as many grandkids as both of them have to remember her is awesome) presents from the girls and a little crib and high chair from mom and dad. She was giddy!
Three is such a great age for a birthday! She opened her gifts and loved the sleeping beauty shoes AK gave her and tried to convince us to let her wear them to church. We said no, so she carried them in her bag which she held on to for the whole 3 hours!
She got a fun camera and book from Mimi. The camera came to church too. She was excited to find some money in the card from Mimi and it already telling me we are going to Target tonight.

she received a hand knit dress from Jeff's mom/ Grammy. It is AMAZING! The yarn is variegated and so the dress is striped. When she put it on Jeff says she looks like the little girl in the Lion, Witch & Wardrobe movie. It is fabulous. I just need to find some brown tights for her to wear it with. I can't imagine how much time this must have been to make this.
My other new tradition is taking a photo of me with my girls on their birthdays. I am never in any photos and know that I will be in at least 3 photos a year.
Jeff and Caroline. Of note Jeff wearing his Vanderbilt tie in honor of the win over Georgia the night before. She had a big pink cake that we lit over and over to blow out the candles. We forget to have her make a wish... growing up as a kid my birthday wish every year was a puppy! Seriously every year. We never got one and now as a parent I know why! Good move mom and dad.
One of the highlights of the day was a after church visit from our home teacher to bring a gift for Caroline. We seriously have the best hometeacher of all time. This past week he came in his uniform and talked about his year in Iraq and made us homemade pretzels. He and his wife brought her a giant number 3 made out of rice crispies. totally amazing to me. What a great way to show your love to those you home and visit teach but by remembering their kids birthdays even if it is a call or a card!

I had to take a photo of Caroline going to bed. She could not stop smiling! She slept with her camera from mimi, dress in the bag from grammy and said in her prayers "help mom find my sleeping beauty shoes" (we could not find them last night) It is days like this I am reminded what a gift it is to be a mother and helping put this smile on this little girls face!

for you monogrammers out there! I used Birthday designs from Amazing designs, applique cupcakes from Bunnycup ( I used wool felt and it turned out so great) and even monogrammed the back of the dress.

What did you used to wish for on your birthday when you were a kid?
And as always any fun birthday traditions that you would love to share please do!!
you can see her fun day here.