I have become a crocheting Queen!

Ever since I made the crocheted headbands for Sarah at Christmas... I have just been crocheting every night!!!
I had gotten my girls in Young Women's all excited about learning to crochet and making headbands, and then I got released. I felt soooo bad that we didn't get to do that before I was released that I've been making them all headbands. I did have a few girls come over on Wednesday nights to learn to crochet, but then Volleyball started, so that has ended. I've still got a few more headbands to make for them.
Then, at work, the girls I work with found out I made them, and they don't crochet either... is that a thing of the past??
Anyway, I made about 8 for them, and still got 3 more plus 1 baby hat to do. I've made all colors, black, pink, cranberry, gray, brown, blue, white, and some mulicolored.
Here are a few pics of the ones I've made....

These are the ones I made for Sarah.....


I've made different colors of these same patterns. Usually either all of one color like I did for Sarah, or I made a bright pink one that I outlined the flower in black for one lady's young daughter at work.
Then another girl wanted two for her neice... she picked out the mulicolored skeins of yarn, so I outlined the flower in a solid color so it would stand out better... they turned out way cute!


And there you have it.... I have become a crocheting queen!!

Happy 22nd Birthday Andrew!!

I just realized that I hadn't posted about Andy's birthday!
He turned 22 on Jan. 20th. Can't believe he's that old!! He had school on that day, but we had a party for him afterwards. He picked Shrimp Po'Boys again for his birthday dinner with potatoe wedge fries.
Sarah and Dave came to dinner, and we all had a great time visiting.


Then he opened his presents. I had ordered him a Disney animated drawing book, he loves getting books about art or anything to do with art and drawing. It didn't make it on time, but he got it the day after. Jim got him an electric shaver, thought it might make shaving easier and more fun!!!


Sarah and Dave got him a Spiderman lunch box filled with candy bars and an I-tunes gift card.

And he got some money from Grandparents and me. It was a good Birthday!!
Ever since Andy was about 10 he hasn't really liked birthday cake. I think he got sick one birthday and that cured him of ever eating birthday cake again. So I always have fun experimenting with a different kind of birthday "cake" for him. I've made brownies with ice cream, ice cream pie, cheesecake, and an ice cream cake. So this year I tried out blondies with ice cream and caramel sauce. YUM!!!


Happy Birthday Andy. And I couldn't resist... I had to put a pic or two of his 1st birthday, I made him a little cake and let him have at it, he was so happy and excited,


but by the time he had eaten quite a bit he got this little sick look in his eye (makes me laugh every time I look at these little pics)...maybe this is why he doesn't like birthday cake....:o) LOVE YOU ANDY!

The search for the perfect wedding dress.....

Well! Sarah and I have been searching for the perfect wedding dress since her and Dave decided to get married in April, especially for the last two weeks. We kind of got thrown in to panic mode when everyone at the Bridal fairs we went to said it was too late to order anything, and since wedding season is coming up quick, things would get grabbed up FAST. On Martin Luther King Day, we went to Hart's Tux and Gowns together. It's hard having a daughter like Sarah, EVERYTHING she tried on looked good, and that's hard when you are making an important decision like what wedding dress you're going to buy. She found two that were absolutely stunning on her. We couldn't make up our minds, so she had Dave come to help, he loved both, and I will never forget his reaction when he saw her in the first one. Sarah kept going back and forth till she was almost in tears!!!
This is the one we were leaning more towards...

This one was stunning too, but too princessy as Sarah said...

I guess that should have been a sign to keep looking, like Dave said, when they found the ring, they just knew it was hers, and they didn't even want to keep looking. The girl at Harts did find the one dress we were leaning towards in a size 4 but we had to order then and there and pay half up front. I thought I had better do it, because what if we didn't find another?? The worst case scenario was that if we did find another, I would be out a hundred or two dollars, and the rest would go to store credit. When will I ever buy another dress from Hart's? But they do have Groom's rings and Tux's. So we did it, and Sarah was happy, but she kept feeling like 'what if' about it.
We looked at Treasure's with Emily in Rexburg! Thanks Em... that was fun and Lincoln is sooooo cute!

We found one she kind of liked...

but just wasn't 'it'... Sarah was still iffy...so we planned a little getaway to Salt Lake City with Dave's sister Katherine.
I got off work early on Friday, Sarah had made an appointment for 4:30 for a Bridal store at the Gateway.
We were packing, when Katherine noticed she had locked all her stuff and HER KEYS in her car. OH no!!

I felt like this isn't a good sign or a good way to start a trip to search for the perfect wedding dress. We called a locksmith who quickly came out to out house and had Katherine's car unlocked within 5 minutes. So we were off!!! And we made it in plenty of time for our appointment.
BUT.....we didn't find anything. The dresses were all just hanging out of bags and one smelled of B.O soooo bad, it made Sarah stink the rest of the evening!! ewwwwww... some were pretty with lots of beads..

but we were NOT impressed with that Bridal Shop.
Then.... Sarah got a call from Fantasy Bride who she had tried to get in with but couldn't earlier, and they had a cancellation for 10 am on Saturday, which was perfect because we had other appointments at 1 pm and 5 pm.
We ate at Spaghetti Factory, and had an enjoyable time. What is it about girls, mom's and future sister's in law, that make spending time together sooo fun? We got the giggles at dinner and laughed till we cried. Then we checked into our motel, and after having to switch rooms and laughing sooo hard in the elevator we about peed our pants, we settled in to our room and donned our sweats, then looked up directions for our appointments the next day.
I couldn't believe it, we all got up and showered and were ready by 9:30 (yes, even Sarah!) and found the Bridal shop, and even had time to grab a quick sausage biscuit for breakfast from Mickey D's!!
I loved Fantasy Bride, the dresses were all clean in bags and they asked tons of questions about what we were looking for, and what Sarah liked and didn't like.... then off to try them on. Sarah liked the first which was alot like the one we had ordered.

And tried on 4 or 5 more.
This one was a Grace Kelly one, and was cute... but just not Sarah....


Katherine and I were sitting out on couches and then out she came in the ONE!! It took our breath away, and yes I cried... it was soooo Sarah and soooo her and Dave and everything we had planned for her wedding!!!! I got tears in my eyes, then Katherine did, and then Sarah did. And if you have ever watched "say yes to the dress" if a dress makes you cry, that's the one. It was way affordable too and within our budget, but they couldn't get her size in time, so we had to get some alterations done, but those will be done except for the hem by Feb. 4th. Then we will have to make a quick trip back to SLC with her wedding shoes (darn), for one more fitting and a hem making, but it will be done that day, and it will be Sarahs. It was awesome! and Sarah didn't want to keep looking! So the lady at that Bridal shop called Sarah's other appointments and canceled. We were free to shop and have fun! First stop was the Cheesecake Factory. YUM!! We took cheesecake back to the motel for later, I highly recommend the Lemon Raspberry cream cheesecake, and the Key Lime Cheesecake. Even the Red Velvet Cheesecake was to die for.
We looked and looked for shoes, but no luck. Maybe today.
We stayed up rather late, so we decided not to go to Music and the Spoken word at the Conference center like we had thought we would.
But today, we got up and looked for shoes just a bit at the Gateway, no luck. Sarah might have to order some online... she wants a dusty rose colored shoe, so it's part of her wedding colors. We ate at Thaiphoons at the Gateway mall, and got Calimari and lots of yummy food!!!






then we had to head for home to Idaho. It's way hard to think of going to work tomorrow and going back to the old routine after such a fun weekend.
I am not going to post a pic of THE dress, that is saved for the wedding day.
You know....I highly reccommend a girls getaway to SLC once in a while... even if you aren't wedding dress shopping. Laughter is great for the soul, even if once in a while you about pee your pants.......

I've just been thinking

I've been thinking a lot lately. I realized the other day, that with the upcoming birthdays this year, Andrew is turning the age I was when I had Sarah, and Sarah is turning the age I was when I had Andrew. And I feel old. I've been happy with my life and love my family but lately I've just been feeling old.
But I realized in 3 years I will turn 50! Eeek! Then I think am I where I want to be? Yes mostly. But a little part of me would love to take cake decorating classess and sugar classes so I could decorate cakes like the lady from Sugarbakers. I guess I've thought this since planning Sarah's wedding. But then I really think about and think, no way could I do that and know how to manage a catering business. But I would love too! I taste cupcakes from businesses and cake balls, and I know I could make them just as good if not better. Especially when I find out the prices of things!!
I can't believe we're planning a wedding. I was showing Dave and Sarah our wedding phottos the other night.
Didn't we look young?

And looking at the kids pictures when they were little.
This first picture of Sarah was when Jim's parents came to see Andrew when he was born, and they brought Sarah these pj's and broom and purse. Didn't she look so happy?
The second was taken outside in Bremerton, Sarah was just two! She was such a tiny little thing! She was a fun little girl, she has always loved girly things!

These pictures of Andrew were taken in Bremerton. He was such a fun baby!! I loved his curly hair after I'd shampoo it in the tub!!


Sometimes do you ever want to go back and live that part of life over again? I wonder would I do things differently?
I get to help Sarah find a dress this week! It will be soooo fun! I can't wait. I hope we can find what she'd hoping for.
This is just one of many that she has liked off the internet...


Things will come together and everything will be beautiful for her wedding day. I just need to exercise and get in shape! Do you ever look in the mirror and not recognize the person looking back? I look and wonder where did all these wrinkles come from, and when did that huge roll around my middle get there. I love watching my children grow up and live life, but after I turned 40 I'm not sure what happened to me.
Just random thoughts I had this morning in this gloomy January weather....
But..... I feel spring in the air this morning and Aunt Jeanne actually saw a robin the other day!!

Exciting News!!

Well..... Sarah and Dave are getting married April 9th! I'm soooo excited, and overwhelmed hoping that I can help her make her wedding day turn out to all she's been dreaming of!

I know she's found the man that she's been dreaming of. Dave is a great guy and I just feel good about thinking of them together. When he first came to our house a whole year ago at Christmas time, I felt comfortable around him and just felt he's a part of our family. And I just don't worry about Sarah when she's with him, I know she's safe.

I can't believe it!! My daughter's getting married!! I cry and am happy at the same time!!
Jim and I went to the Bridal fair yesterday, it was fun, but soooo overwhelming. But I think we have the place, PBG's here in town and they've booked the temple, and a photographer, Harmony Jones. Now we just need to do the rest! oh my goodness, I think about it and get stressed. But we will just take one thing at a time, and I'm sure things will all come together.
I knew this year was going to be exciting!!!

Happy 2011!

I can't believe it's the new year!!
We had a lot of fun on New Year's Eve. Mom and Dad ordered Chinese Food from the Hong Kong. It's tradition to get together and have Chinese food in our family. We usually do it on New Year's day, but since Brian had to work, we had our Chinese new year on new Year's Eve. Fun!!!


Then we watched T.V. and some of us played games.

I had eaten too much, Chinese food makes me feel bloated afterwards, I guess cuz it's so salty you drink a lot of water or something... Anyway, I didn't play games. All I could do was lay on the floor in misery....






Then Brian and most of his family left for home and Jim went home to relax. I stayed to ring in the new year with Dad, Mom, Sarah, and Kylie and Jordan.


I slept through the movie "Houseboat" but I woke myself up snoring REALLY loud at 10 minutes to midnight! (wish I'd get over this stupid cold I've had since the middle of December!)


It was a good thing though, we got ready to ring in the new year... and just about 3 minutes to midnight, Andy came pulling in from work, he'd had to work at Walgreen's till 11:30, but he brought party popper's ! woo hoo! And thanks to Sarah we had hats and blowers!



Dad had to give mom a little kiss at midnight! Cute!!






It was a fun evening!
I wonder what changes 2011 will bring in our house... a wedding maybe?? I do know of one change. I'm being released as the YW's second councelor in our ward, not sure how I feel about it. I cried when I first found out! I had plans to teach my girls how to crochet those cute headbands everyone has been wearing, and we were going to decorate cakes! I'd been saving all my enchilada sauce cans to make little cakes in.. those are the perfect size! Oh I cried off an on until I read the article in the Ensign this month called "Make Yours a Great Life" and I realized things were going to be okay. I have had soooo many neat spiritual experiences in my life the last few years since I was set apart for my calling, both in my personal life, and in YW's with lesson helps, and knowing what activities to do, and just having the courage to do what I needed to do, whether it was teach or give a talk in Sacrament meeting. I don't want that to go away! I woke up sobbing Tuesday morning, I was dreaming I was bearing my testimony to my girls, and I sobbed, I even woke Jim up and had bull frog eyes for work. But you know, I think I will still have that personal help in my life... I have come too far to lose it, I think it will be different, but as long as I read the scriptures and Ensign, and say my prayers, Heavenly Father will be there because he cares about each of us.
I know I will get a new calling soon, but for now, I will enjoy being in Relief Society, something I haven't gotten to do for 7 years now? I was in the primary before YW's... so maybe this change is a good thing...
Welcome 2011, and all I ask is that we are all healthy, happy, and prosperous.. :o)