Welcome

I have entered the world of blogging! My purpose? To stay connected to friends and family and invite you into my world. A world filled with fun, tears, laughter, excitement, elation, disappointment and all the blessings of being a mother and wife.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Paper Crafting Wednesday



Saturday I got to go scrapbooking with Heidi from Blue Eyed Blessings and Kim from Caldwell Cuties. I thought for my first ever post for Paper Crafting Wednesday, I would share my favorite layouts from our day of scrapping! :-)



Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Family Day in the Mountains

We didn't have any plans for the long weekend but when the sun hit Jeremy was itching to go to the mountains. So we packed up the kids, our four-wheeler, fishing rods, lunch and headed to the Trask Mountain Range for a day of fun in God's beautiful creation.


The water where Jeremy and Grace fished, while
Jilian and I cuddled with our faces in the sun.



Jilian and I by the water


Jilian sitting in her little chair watching the water go by.


Grace resting while Jeremy was casting the fishing line.


We set up "camp" in the back of our trailer and eat lunch.


Grace eager to get the four wheeler off our trailer!


Grace and I ready for a ride on the four wheeler!


Grace trying to find her way through the trees


Our beautiful Grace


This is what happens when there is a camera and a scrapbooker,
no matter where you are!


I am SO blessed!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A special ride to school

At Grace's school carnival we won her a ride to school with a police officer. This morning, Officer Gwyn, came and picked-up Grace at 8am (she was actually early to school!). Grace was nervous but very excited too! She got to turn on the lights, see all the gadgets on the inside and rode in the back :-) of the car. I got to follow them to school. Of course lots of heads were turning as we pulled in! I'm happy this was a FUN experience and hope that it stays that way in the future!!


Grace getting in the back of the car



Turning on the lights



Grace with Officer Gwyn



Grace in front of the police car, I wonder what the neighbors were thinking?!



At school



I always knew I was a bad mom!



I couldn't get out until Grace opened the door!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Dinosaur blanket and matching pillow

My nephew turned 5 last week. He loves dinosaurs but I wasn't about to buy him another toy dinosaur (he must have at least 100 by now!) so I made him a dinosaur blanket and matching pillow. I thought it would be fun to share the process with you.

First I prewashed the fabric, green fleece and dinosaur fabric. I put the two fabrics together and cut them to size, leaving enough to make a matching pillow. Then I drew a large "A" (for Ashton) on a piece of paper to monogram the blanket. I used my template to cut out an "A" from the green fleece, next I stitched the "A" to the dinosaur fabric.

I then sewed the two fabric pieces, right-sides together, leaving an opening so I could turn it right-side out.

Next, I turned it right-side out and closed the opening by machine sewing and continued to sew along all four sides to finish off the blanket.

For the pillow, I took a piece of each fabric, right-sides together and sewed on all four sides, leaving an opening to turn it right-side out. Then I stuff it with pillow stuffing and hand-stitched the opening.

Finished blanket and pillow

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Just curious...

A few months ago I was noticing the growing stack of books on my nightstand and I began to wonder, what do other people have on their nightstands? So, I am posing the question, what do you have on your nightstand? Books, alarm clock, magazines, a glass, etc. I'm just curious. In case you are wondering, at present I have my Bible, Bible study book, a notebook, a pen, a scrapbooking magazine, an antique jewlery box my sister gave me for being her Maid of Honor, a small framed picture of Grace and a lamp. And that is just the top! Underneath, there is a stack of books, some I have started reading, others I haven't openned yet. A few titles I can remember, My Seven Year Old, The Host, The Excellent Wife...I kind of read what I am in the mood for.

Ribbon...ribbon...

craft challenge

You would almost think I only have this blog to make postings about Heidi's Craft Challenges! I really do intend on blogging more! Anyway...


Heidi's monthly craft challenges do inspire me to be crafty. This month's challenge was ribbon. I LOVE ribbon and use it often on my scrapbook pages and in Grace's hair. However, I am going to show you some simple ways I have used it in the girl's bedroom decor. AND you get a little sneak peak at the changes going on in Jilian's room. I'm almost done and am excited to share! Until then, here are my crafts...


Grace's curtain in her room. I made a simple white linen curtain and then tied it up with wide pink satin ribbon.

Jilian's new curtain in her room. Similar to Grace's however I made the curtain from cotton fabric with little pink and brown birdies and used wide brown satin ribbon. I was low on ribbon so I didn't make bows, even though I didn't plan it that way, I like how it came out.

Lastly, for Jilian's room I made this sweet little bird (birdies are my new phase!)which I will be hanging over her crib, with thin brown satin ribbon. I've made two so far and will be making a few others.

Please excuse the poor photo quality. My camera is at the camera doctor, I had to use Grace's to take these pictures! :-)

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Ok, I'm a bad blogger!

I can't believe it has been SO long, AGAIN, that I have posted! I pledge to do better. I am making this post from our new, much faster computer, perhaps now I will be more motivated to blog because it won't take SO long! :-)