Quilty Things I Love

In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd highlight a few quilty things I love. Valentine's Day isn't just about flowers, chocolate, and conversation hearts.

• I LOVE PINK FABRIC

This might not seem like a big deal, but to me it is. I think I was the only little girl who hated pink. HATED! As in a burning hate of a million fiery suns. Might sound extreme, but it's true--just ask my mother. You would never catch me wearing pink. 

I think this stemmed from being the third daughter. I had two older sisters who would use me as their living doll to dress up. I got sick of it. Then, my loving grandmother would send me homemade outfits all pink with ruffles and lace. Think of Ralph in "A Christmas Story." I didn't get the whole pink bunny outfit, but to my little girl self it was just as bad. 

My daughter, MK, came out of the womb loving pink (trust me--I didn't encourage this) and has helped me get over my prejudice. Most days, she is wearing head to toe pink she picks out herself.

MK LOVES Pink

Now my stash is full of pink. And I'm so glad it is, or I wouldn't be making this lovely in pink:

Wheel of Fortune Quilt

(The weather has been too gloomy to get a new updated pic)

I have these lovely fabrics waiting to make a beautiful pink, red, and aqua heart quilt. Love it!

Valentine Quilt Fabric

(Quilt found in the Jan/Feb 2012 Quiltmaker Magazine)

Valentine Quilt

• I LOVE WATERBLOCKER BY THE HONEY GUY

Have dry hands, but don't want to put on lotion because it gets all over the fabric or you can't hold your needle anymore? Not with this stuff.

(photo from his website)

The Honey Guy

My mom, aka The Quilting Guru, was raving about this lotion. Me? I was skeptical. Isn't honey sticky? Plus, I work for a personal care company and am very particular about all lotions.

Then I went to HMQS where The Honey Guy had a booth. I tried it at the booth and bought a sampler kit to take home. Oh, how I wished I had bought a big jug! I ordered a big jar online because this stuff is amazing! 

This lotion keeps your hands moisturized (and I live in the dry Utah desert) without residue. I can touch fabric to my hearts content and not transfer any chemicals. Within minutes of application, I can hand sew and not lose my grip on my needle. Plus, you only need to use it once and it lasts all day long. AMAZING I tell you.

You can buy it here. 

• I LOVE MY TABLE HANGING SEWING BASKET

The Quilting Guru, aka my mom, made this for me. It is a hanging pocket for all my sewing goodies I need like my little scissors, my seam ripper (wish I didn't need it so much), my stiletto, etc. The top part is a pin cushion weighted with sand.

Hanging Sewing Bag

When I sew, it hangs to my right to keep all my little goodies at hand. The sand in the pincushion keeps it weighted to the table so it doesn't fall off.

(This is my small sewing space I commandeered)

Sewing Area

There is a lot to love about quilting and all our fabric, gadgets, and tools. What are some of your quilty loves?

Linked up with Sew Can She here.

Mother's Day

Saturday night, C told me very sternly to make sure I slept in since it was Mother's Day the next day. Then, at 8:20 Sunday morning I was poked awake by C. He led me out to the dinning table where the kids had prepared me breakfast. They had made me a large bowl of oatmeal, a super-sized bowl of mixed fruit, and 2 slices of banana bread. There was so much food I told them they had to help me eat it. We had a fun time eating breakfast all together. They gave me my presents they made for me. Although MK gave me mine on Thursday on the way home from preschool. (She came out to the car very excited about my surprise. Then she proceeded to tell me all about it and then opened my present for me so I could see it.) 

Later, the kids and I did a craft project for the grandmothers. 

I forgot to get a picture of it, but my mom took this picture where she hung it on her refrigerator. 

 

C, S, and MK traced their hands, cut them out for the "plant" and then pasted on flowers they cut out. The pots have each of their names and says "Happy Mother's Day."

We had a great time putting it together.

Easter Day

Easter Day was a fun filled day. 

We started off our day by visiting Grandma Great. We bought a Spring Cactus for Grandma Great on behalf of Mimi. I saw this and immediately thought of Grandma Great. It has beautiful hot pink flowers (she loves fushia) and it's a cactus (she grew up in Arizona.)

The kids and Grandma Great

And one picture with bunny ears for Easter

We then drove to my parents house and went to church with them. 

While there, the Easter Bunny visited us. 

C and S were running too fast for me to get a picture, but I did get one of MK collecting Easter Eggs.

MK hunting eggs

S, C, & MK with their Easter buckets

The kids received sidewalk chalk for Easter.

They spent a couple hours drawing a mural.

S drawing the Easter Bunny

And of course, going to grandma and boppi's house means a trip to the park.

This time, MK was too busy and fast for me to get a picture of her.

S crawled into the monkey bars. He is part monkey.

S

C on top of a slide

We spent the night at my parents house. The kids were VERY upset that we were only staying one night. We've already decided to have another sleepover the following weekend. 

Easter Egg Hunt

My work does an annual Easter Egg Hunt. C, S, & MK always love it.

There are a ton of eggs and treasures to find. And it's over in a mad dash. It's crazy and fun.

The areas are sectioned off by age groups. The boys went together to the older kids area. In fact, C was actually too old for it this year (which I told him) and he still brought his Easter Basket and hunted. Oops.

MK during the hung

Immediately after the hunt. The kids happy with their haul.

C, MK, S

Group picture

 After the hunt, the kids always like to watch the ducks in the nearby stream.

MK, C, S

The Boy's Christmas

For Christmas, the boys each got an iPod Touch.

Here is S and C on the couch playing their iPods.

S & C 

The Advent Calendar

So, one project I've had in my WIPs is an advent calendar I wanted to complete before Christmas 2012. Well, I DID get it all together in time, but we didn't actually use it. 

Advent Calendar

I like the overall LOOK of it, but I need to fix some things. 

First, the magnets I used on the tins aren't strong enough to hold the tins in place once the advent calendar is placed up. Can you see how all the tins have slipped and slid down. They are all resting on top of each other instead of staying firmly in place.

Secondy, two tins didn't survive any vigorous handling by the kids. With the slightest pressure, the plastic lid broke off and is now tucked tightly inside the tin and won't come out.

Here, I am holding numbers 13 and 19. 

 

I put my fingers in the tins so you can see that the "top" is now resting snuggly at the bottom.

It's kinda hard to have something in a tin without a lid.

We weren't without an advent calendar. MK came home with a Santa's beard advent calendar. Each day we'd glue on a cotton ball onto Santa's beard. Once it was full, it was Christmas.

MK's Advent Calendar

Building a Chimney for Santa

MK has been VERY worried about how Santa is going to get into our house as we do not have a fireplace/chimney for Santa to use. She has asked about a "ceiling" several times. It took me several days to realize she meant "chimney" and not "ceiling."

Today, the kids and I built a fireplace for Santa to use.

Now, Santa doesn't have to break any windows or doors. 

Christmas Music

While we put up the Christmas Tree we had to have some Christmas music.

I found this CD while out shopping.

Phineas and Ferb Christmas CD

We (as in the entire family) are big fans of this show.

Phineas and Ferb is a HILARIOUS cartoon on Disney Channel we all get into.  If you've never seen this, look it up. You'll love it. 

Oh Christmas Tree!

We finally got our Christmas tree up. So, it's really starting to feel like Christmas.

Once we put it up, S asked R if he could put up his train around the tree.

S has an extensive amount of GeoTrax, which he quickly assembled around the tree.

S building his train track around the Christmas tree

The train on its maiden voyage around the Christmas tree.

 

The three kiddos in front of the tree.

S, MK, and C

Thanksgiving Pie Feast

On Tuesday, I was able to help out in C's 2nd Grade Class with their Thanksgiving Pie Feast. I basically helped cut and serve pie to C and his classmates. The boys had made pilgrim hats and the girls made pilgrim collars. The teachers laid out a long piece of red paper in the hallway for a "table" for all the 2nd graders to sit at. They sang Thanksgiving songs and ate pie.

Here is C's class. He's in the middle wearing the red long-sleeved shirt and the cool pilgrim hat.

Thanksgiving Pie Feast

After their pie feast, his teacher turned on a Thanksgiving Cartoon for them to watch before they went home. It gave us parents and teachers a chance to clean-up. MK pulled out a chair to sit next to her big brother.

C & MK

S came along with me as well. One of his Kindergarten friends was there with his mom, so they sat at a table in the back to play with each other.

T and S

It was a fun afternoon and I was glad I was able to go help out. Because of my weird work schedule and the abundance of helpers, I haven't had a lot of opportunities to help inside the classroom. C was very glad to have me there and show off his little sisters to his friends. I should take advantage of this while I can before he realizes he should be embarrassed by me.

Halloween

I know this is late in the making, but the only pictures I got of the kids in their Halloween costumes were on my phone, and I was having trouble getting them off. It turned out to be some data problem that R had to call our service provider about and they fixed it right away. So, now I'm able to get to those photos. Now that I'm looking at this funny picture, I can see that they are all squinting in the sunlight. But it was like nailing down a shadow trying to get these three kids to stand still long enough to get a picture, so I'll just be glad with what I have.

Superman, Bumblebee, Pizza

S is Superman. He will even flex his muscles for you. MK was a bumblebee. She loved to show off her stinger. She'd push her bum out and point to the stinger there. C was a slice of pizza. He said his classmates chased him around the playground wanting to eat him. They all loved their costumes and practiced a lot during the month in preparation for the big day, which was a marathon of sorts. C & S celebrated Halloween at school on Thursday, Oct 28th since they had no school on the 29th. Then, on Friday I took the kids by my work briefly to show them off before heading to the big bash at R's work. That was a party! Each department transformed their work areas into fun....I don't know what to call it....places to tour. There was a traditional haunted "house", Shrek, a winter wonderland complete with slide (That was R's team), disco, mario kart, Sesame Street, Nintendo, etc. It was crazy. We all had so much fun. We took the kids trick-or-treating on Saturday (living in a religious area, everyone celebrates on Saturday instead of Sunday.) Sunday, we went to visit Boppi for his birthday.

I love this picture of MK. It was taken at R's work party while we were waiting to enter one of the buildings.

MK the Bumblebee

I've always loved Halloween. It's fun to dress up and play. As a kid, I loved the candy and spending time with my dad as he took us trick-or-treating on his birthday.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Last night we drove up to Salt Lake City to take the kids to Temple Square and see all the lights and nativities throughout the grounds. It was cold, so we had to bundle up. We had such a fun time walking throughout the grounds and looking at all the colored lights, cool nativities, reflection ponds, and tabernacle. Later, we stopped in the visitors center to warm up and watched Luke II.
C & S kept testing their "sliding" skills in all the snow. We had to keep S away from all the water--he kept trying to get up close and personal with the reflection pond and water fountains.

When we left for home, I asked the kids what their favorite part was.
C: The orange and red lights in the trees.
S: The movie and the Christus.
MK: Probably being pushed around in the stroller in cozy comfort.

Our First New Year's Eve

10 years ago tonight marks the first time R and I went out. Our history together is quite funny, looking back. When I got back from France, an old roommate asked me if I wanted to share an apartment again. R lived in an apartment on the same floor just kitty-corner to mine. I had acquired a stalker who I couldn't seem to shake and who claimed R and him were great friends. So thinking that R was in the same vein as this guy, I avoided him. The first time we spoke to each other, I walked away mid-conversation once R brought up that other guy. So for a few weeks/months I tried not to be ambushed and forced into talking to R again. I was more embarrassed than anything around him--because of the whole walking away from him while he's talking and because I thought he was like that stalker-guy and because I thought he thought that I LIKED that stalker-guy. Then came New Year's Eve.

I got back to my apartment on New Year's Eve Day. Originally, I had plans to go out with some friends from home.....but they abruptly changed their plans to go some where I didn't really care to go to. My roommie was there and we were hanging out in our living room wondering what we would do when a guy from downstairs came along saying that he's trying to get a group together to go up to SLC for New Year's Eve. His 2 sisters were visiting and he was trying to find others to come along. My roommate and I agreed, then I found out R was going to be part of the group. Yikes....and I had done so good on avoiding him.

So, the 6 of us drive up to SLC through all the fog. I remember it was hard to see the road as we drove up. They had fireworks that no one could see because of the fog: Instead, the fog just changed colors. We took some pictures, and EVERYONE of them R would put his finger in my ear! Weird-o!

 

 

So both pictures we have from that night I'm making a crazy face because who would think that a guy you barely know would stick his finger in your ear? During a group picture? Apparently, R would. (He still does that to our boys. Hilarious to me since it's not me this time around.)

We all had so much fun that we all kept getting together every night after that until classes started up again. Then, a couple days later R called me up and asked me out.

10 years later, we've been married 9-1/2 years, have 3 kids, and a mortgage. Oh, and I still have the coat.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas all! We have had a great morning and a smooth drive to R's dad's house in So. Nevada. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Christmas possible. The kids have had a great time....R and I, too.

Halloween Pre-Show

We finally pulled out the Halloween Costumes. Both C and S had Halloween parties at school today. While we were making sure we had everything for C's Batman costume, MK tried on the mask. She sure makes a pretty cute Batgirl, don't you think?

Bat-MK

MK and I went to S's preschool Trunk-or-Treat. S was so excited to be Buzz Lightyear (thanks Mimi!) I just love this picture--his smile just shows how much he is loving this.

S as Buzz Lightyear

It was VERY cold out today, so I bundled MK up in her costume. She makes a pretty ferocious lion with her pink binkie.

MK as a Lion

R and S went to C's Halloween Parade at his school. I'll have to get pictures from R later.

1st Easter Egg Hunt

Easter is almost here! Every year my work hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for the employee's kids. We've gone every year since C was a baby, and yesterday was MK's first time. It's always lots of fun. They do a great job in breaking up the age groups and making sure there are plenty of eggs for all. The boys found lots of eggs. Here is MK getting prepped for her big debut.

MK's first Easter

S let her borrow his bunny ears for the picture. And here are the kids after the hunt.

C, MK, S

I had to show this one because they are so funny. There's C making sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to (see him glancing sideways at the others.) Then there's MK looking at her brothers who are much more exciting than mom and dad telling her to say 'cheese.' Then there's S--what can I say? He's such a hoot!

The weather has been so crazy lately! They had to bundle up in jackets or sweaters. One day it's sunny, and it almost looks like Spring. The next, it snows! Yesterday (and today), it rained in the valley and snowed in the mountains. I wasn't sure if they'd have to cancel the hunt--but the rain held while the kids ran around hunting for eggs. Just after the hunt when I had the kids sit together for this picture, it started to rain again. We usually hang around for a while and feed the ducks there, but this year we had to just run back to the car and head home.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

We are visiting R's dad in southern Nevada. Now that might sound warm as you think Las Vegas or something, but no--it's just as cold as it was in Utah with snow and all. We slept in their moterhome, which C thinks is just like a hotel. C was up at the butt-crack of dawn trying to get us all up so we could come inside the house and see what Santa left us. We did manage to get him to lay back down and let everyone sleep until a more reasonable time.

We've had a fun morning opening presents and playing with new toys. Santa brought us a Wii. R is setting it up with his brothers and dad--who knows when the boys or I will get a turn to play it. MK made off with quite the haul--lucky little girl. The boys didn't do so bad either.

We've enjoyed spending time with family. I wish I could see my family as well, but can't really be in 2 places at once.

Halloween Fun

We had such a fun Halloween! I haven't dressed up for Halloween since I was in college and really wanted to dress up this year. I bought a long wig and hat and went as a witch. It was fun to dress up and really get in to the fun this year. I even bought 2 wigs for R to choose from--a black 'fro wig and a blond mullet wig.

The boys wanted to try on the wigs, too. Here is C with a mullet.

C

And this is S with a fro.

S

Both boys had Halloween parties at school and came home with tons of candy and toys. The boys and I (ok, mainly me) carved pumpkins during the afternoon.

S and C

And then I got to hear C ask every 5 minutes (I'm not kidding, seriously every 5 minutes) if it was time to go trick-or-treating. After dinner, we loaded up the kids and drove over to our church's parking lot where the neighborhood was holding a trunk-or-treat. It was fun to walk around and see all our neighbors and friends and all the fun costumes and decorations. R stayed at the truck with the candy and MK to pass out treats.

How did MK like her first Halloween? Well, hard to tell since she slept through the whole thing! She fell asleep about an hour before it was time to go. She slept as I changed her into her costume. She slept as I put her in her car seat. She slept as R passed out candy and kids screamed "Trick-or-Treat!" She slept as we came home. She slept as I took her out of her car seat to take a family picture. And she slept.

Lion MK

She was so cute as a little bear cub. She definitely has the cheeks for it, don't you think?
And here is the family. R looks great with his fro. S is a dragon. There I am as a witch holding a sleeping bear. And, C is there as batman on the end.

Babcock Family

And yes, once the kids came home with their candy, R was sure to look over the candy to make sure it was all ok.....and to take his "dad tax." Yum. Best tasting tax there is.

4th of July at Mimi's Cabin

The Menfolk getting ready to fish

C with Papa and his catch

S and R fishing

S is excited about his catch. He clapped and laughed and kept
trying to touch it while still on the hook. I think he enjoyed himself.

S, Little K, Big K, and C at the S, Little K, Big K, and C at the Arts Festival at Brian Head showing off their pinwheels.

We got to go to Mimi's Cabin down by Cedar Breaks in So. Utah for the 4th. It was a great time. We got to spend time with Mimi, Papa, and R's brother and family. On the 4th, we all went down to Brian Head to their Arts & Crafts Festival. That night, we went back to Brian Head to watch the fireworks from the back of R's new Truck. The next day, the kids and dads went fishing with Papa. Both C and S caught fish, watched Papa gut them, and ate them with their dinner that night. We love going to the cabin. Always a good time. I have to admit--the trip was so much smoother in R's new truck.