Thankful

As we were in primary yesterday, we were learning about prayer....and how we should offer a prayer.  When we got to the part about being Thankful, we went around the room and heard all the children's ideas of what to be thankful for.  So, they call on little sunbeam Liz, and she said..."we're thankful we didn't get bit."  I think the teacher had no idea what she was talking about, but I did.  My sweet baby.  She talks about her rattlesnake bite all the time, but always with a positive twist...like, I am grateful I didn't get bit by a rattlesnake today.  As we were at the park today rollerblading (yes, she is learning to rollerblade...she's so fun)...she was talking to me about life.   Out of the blue, she says, "I don't stick my hands in bushes anymore, cuz I don't want to get bit by a rattlesnake (pronounced rattle la snake)."    Ahh, this incident has shaped her life, yet she is not afraid of snakes (she wanted to chase after a snake she saw the other night while at the same location she was bit).  She is a joy.  I absolutely love my four year old, and I am grateful she didn't get bit today. 

I was right!

In my last post, I imagined I might come home well rested from my quilt fest, but thought maybe I would come home exhausted. I was right. I am not well rested. I fell asleep at some unknown hour last night (was it 8:30 or 9). After Mitchell's birthday party (hip hip hooray, he turned 7 yesterday), I sat down on the couch to wait for my hubby to finish up some stuff for his calling. The next thing I remember is Bj telling me it is time to go to bed. Then, I woke up at about 8:30 this morning, and I am still not that well rested. I am wondering if I am feeling this crazy because I quilted instead of slept in UT, or because I took a Zyrtec. Who knows!

I need to go out of town more often when I get rewarded so well for it.  When my sugarplum of a daughter handed me these beautiful flowers when she and her dad came to get me from the airport, I knew I needed to do this more often.  The flowers are smelling up the house (in a good way), and it is fun to see so much color.  
Happy Birthday!  It's the stitch's 7th birthday.  I can't believe how old he is.  He is such a fun boy.  He is a crack up.  He wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner (only after I steered him away from Cracker Barrel with the idea of the "peanut place").  As we were waiting for our food, he kept eating all those peanuts and drinking his chocolate milk.  Then, all of a sudden, he let out this HUGE man burp.  Hello!!!! We are in a restaurant.  He laughed so hard, and worked hard to reproduce a couple more man burps while we were there.  He is all boy, all fun, and full of love. 
Ahhhh, Bj.  I love Bj.  He and I are opposites in so many ways.  This cake is a great example.  He went BIG.  Since I was out of town, he was in charge of making the cake.  Mitch asked for an ice cream cake (he really wanted a cold stone cake, but at $40 I said, how 'bout we make our own).  So, after much deliberation, we decided instead of cake, we would use brownies.  So, leave it to the Beej to make a three layer cake, and go all out.  Bj used 3 boxes of brownies, and 2+ gallons of ice cream to make this tower of love.  It was seriously yummy, and I think we need to invite the whole ward over tomorrow to help us finish it off.

I am feeling very grateful for the opportunity I have to go to UT, and quilt my heart out.  Okay, I should really say, quilt and shop my heart out.  Thanks to a very special lady (you know who you are, MOM!)...I have come home with more fabulous fabrics to add to my stash.  My mom is so kind to me.  She encourages me to become the best I  can be, and she does her part to give me the supplies I need/want to do it.

Check it out!

My super great husband has a blog.   You should go there....baldguyblogging.blogspot.com.  He puts the "cool" things our family does on there.  

Tomorrow, bright and early, I make my way to my homeland to enjoy some time with my mom, fabric, and chocolate.  I am excited to go, and I am planning on getting two quilt tops done while I am there.  Wish me luck.  I am anticipating a relaxing time.  No meals to prepare, no meals to clean up, no laundry to do, no kids to get off to school.  I will miss my family....but I won't miss my job.  I am hoping I will come home with a renewed sense of energy.  But, more likely, I will come home exhausted from staying up too late having fun.  

Where?

I have been feeling like I need to blog, but haven't been up to it.  I have been super busy, just like everyone else in the world.  What have I been doing?  I might like to say redecorating, but that would insinuate I decorated my game room in the first place.  So, I decorated a small corner of my game room, all pieces coming from Target (love you).

Of course, I have been also enjoying my children.  We have been spending time together getting ready for the pinewood derby (can I say we, when I just watch my husband work)?  But, while watching him work, I found this beautiful spiders web in our backyard.  I thought it was amazing, and had to snap a picture of it.  I am so amazed at God's creations, how can such a tiny little creature make something so beautiful, so quick?
Next, but not least.  I have been quilting.  I have had a lot of adventures in quilting recently.  Mostly, with the quilt you see below.  Don't you love adventures?  Since I am writing these patterns, I think it unwise to show you the whole quilt...but a little peak is good, right?  With this quilt, I developed a new way to mark the quilt lines.  Ummmm, it worked, but I think I may leave this one out of the book.  After finding 85000 tiny pieces of tissue paper all over our house, I think I will keep this a little secret to myself.  Ahhh, but at least I am gaining experience.

Now, I must get back to piles of laundry, piano practicing, homework....(luckily, no more talks in church), cleaning up, soccer practice, and on and on and on.  Ahhh, the shining moments of joy that are ahead of me.  

Ode to Creepy Wal-Mart Guy

This is an Ode to YOU, creepy Wal-mart guys. 

 Thank you for making me appreciate my four year old.  While I was at Wal-Mart you kept looking at me, and I felt inclined to make eye contact with you, so as to make sure you didn't attack me.  In the past, when I met with creepy guys.... I have always felt comfortable turning to my four year old, to make conversation and have fun.  Now that I have moments of free time during preschool, I am forced to confront strangers.  I have never missed my children when they have gone to school before.  So, here's to you creepy Wal-mart guys...thanks for helping me realize how much I love my little ones and how much they really do add to my enjoyment.