Somersaults and Cartwheels

Last night I was watching my kids try to do the ever famous, ba-ba-buh-ba!!! (drumrollllll)Somersault!!! I know, doesn't seem real hard, right? And they made great efforts. I coached them enthusiastically (aka-bossily) from my overstuffed, comfy chair. Finally after watching them do head stand and flop, after head stand and flop, I say -

"Oh. Look out. I'll show you myself!"

I confindently get to floor, move them all out of the way, hunch on my knees, put my hands next to me and...."ooof." I sit up,

"There's no way I'm doin' one of those. I'll hurt my neck." I say.

Nice. I'm a good mom. I know.

But really, it was strange. I was watching them, and it seemed so natural that I could almost feel myself doing one. But then, onto the floor; and I chickened out. What? I think last time I did them so freely, I was about this size:

Check out Minks and her "beauty queen" pose.

Do we have to grow up? Really? It's such a bummer. I know that within the last five years I've done a cart wheel, and I find it totally pathetic that I know this.

Shouldn't I be doing cart wheels regularly? Of course I should!

So; New Years Res. number one:
More somersaults and cart wheels.

I think one of each this year would constitute more, right? And I am challening all of you to at least one of each as well. SO - get movin'!

Before and After

If you're wondering why all the nostalgia of the Nativity Show; here's why:

Only difference here? I'm the butter-ball Baby Jesus, and those are my siblings playing all the other roles. Don't you just love family? What would we do without them?

The Nativity

Headline: Baby Jesus Escapes from Manger!!

Here is the wise man being a "wise acre."

And Joseph being some sort of knight. (I'm sure he was Mary's knight in shinning armor)

And Mary, adjusting her veil. Heaven forbid she look a little our of place after traveling for so many days and giving birth to the 25 pound turkey.

And as you can see, a very large Baby Jesus is on the loose with the wise mans frankincense.

Samuel the Lamanite made it into the first half of the show this year. We're not sure where he came from, but he was a great addition. (who know's what they'll find in the Christmas Costume Box.)

Aaaannd - he's off!

I'm pretty sure I never want to have a Nativity show without a real baby. They make it so fun and sweet. Even when they are giant and so terribly cute and chubby. I like to think that Baby Jesus actually held still. He is perfect you know. And thank heaven for that, what would we ever do without Him?

I am so very thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I see these sweet faces above and know that they have come from his loving arms, and that my job is to help them return. I know there is nothing more important than this. I know that He and my Father in Heaven love me. I know that the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth, and that we have a living prophet on the earth today. I am so thankful for this knowledge and cannot imagine my life, for one moment, without it. I hope and pray that, you too, have the knowledge and peace that you have a loving Savior and Father in Heaven who hear and answer you. If only you will ask.

A, belated, very Merry Christmas to all of you.

Questions? Click here to find out more about of what I believe.

Eve of Gluttony

(who knew that's how you spelled gluttony? Not me.)

Christmas Eve at our house brings yummy food and fun, as I'm sure it does for you as well. We usually have Chinese food; as we did this year. But this year we decided to add a little "flavor." We had foods from several different places around the world. Just for fun.


We ate pomegranate's from India.

Of course, Chinese food, from..uh, China? Do they have sweet and sour there? (oh the agony, I can still feel the huge amount of delicious fried food and goo stuck to my in-erds.)

A "real life" coconut, from, uh...anywhere sunny and warm. Okay, we'll go with Hawaii. (the kids have been begging to open and eat a real coconut. what better time than Christmas Eve?)

And the crown jewel, (and was it delicious!!!) - The Bouche de Noel. A.K.A. Yule Log. From France. This was a fun new addition that I think we will be having each year.

All over Europe for the last several hundred years, people have been having some sort of Yule Log or another. I had to do a little research behind the history. But apparently, around what we now celebrate as Christmas, families would bring in the biggest log they could find. They would salt it, pour wine on it and what not. Then they would throw it on the fire. It would sparkle and shine, and burn for days. The bigger the better; you see, there was to be no working until that log had totally burned. Did you know this? I didn't. But now I do. And so do you.

They started making ones you could eat when, in parts of Europe, houses didn't have big (if any) fire places any more. Thank you, whoever thought of this. I like the eating part. Shocker.

Mmmm.

"She said she wasn't hungry and this is what she ate."

Quoted from my mother.

"Thank you, thank you very much." Someone hasn't taken off her ballet clothes since Thursday. Here she is giving you a bow.


Can't you just taste his chubby cheeks? Mm!

Who doesn't love Fancy Nancy?! I really need a pair of these in my size. They are the cutest. Of course, the one and only Aunt Minky delivered - as usual. She always knows just what her genetic clone would LOVE!

Why aren't my chubby legs this cute?

Quiltin' Maniac

Ta-Da!













































Now, somebody give me some tylenol and I don't want to see my machine for about a month!

Grounded

I've grounded myself from my blog until I get my work done. You know, my quilts. Oh, I love to hate my quilts. The fabric was purchased 12 mos ago this week. I have one left to get in the mail, one more for a local gift, and little ol' mine to finish. Waaahhh!

I'll just post a couple things. But don't tell my mom; I'm grounded you know.

First; My new food groups: Pie, mashed potatoes, more pie, chocolate, nachos and whip cream. What do you think?

Next; The Wii: Eeek. Can people get divorced over the Wii? Can you strangle loved one's with the Wii cords? Can you throw your arm out while boxing? And last, but not least, I don't really need the Wii Fit lady to tell me I'm a hefer, now do I?

More to come on the recap of Christmas. Please send happy quilting thoughts my way, that I may survive my last final push to a quilt free life. At least for a while...

Is this what your Christmas break is looking like?

Children's decorations brought home from school? I LOVE these stars!

Snuggling over the heaters,with blankets, to stay warm.

No winter warming without hot cocoa and popcorn, of course!

This kind of activity, mind you, is before all of the inside warming. Look at that awesome snow fort growing into walls of joy!

Is your break filled with bundling bags of neighbor gifts?

And rushed Christmas cards?

Me too.

Isn't having your family home wonderful? I love having everyone I love right here, snug and sound, with me.

What's that? I think I hear Santa's bells; and can see Rudolph's nose!

Yes, it's getting closer...

Farewell, dear cell phone of mine.

SO, I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. I know, classy. It’s true.


Last Thursday I was running out the door, had to rush Simon along so I could go, before we were late for pick up. As I stood to flush – phone in the toilet. Again in my life though, – not my fault. I swear.


My mother keeps everything, and I do mean, EVERYTHING in her bra. I have been calling it her bra-ket (like a bra pocket) since I was about 15. She, in fact, loses things in there. One time my cousin had to break into our parked car in downtown Seattle, because my mom had “lost” her keys. Yeah, come to find out, lost them in her BRA!


Why do I refer to bra-ket stories, mid toilet-in-phone stories? Uh, well. Mmm. OKAY!!! I admit it! I’ve adopted a bra-ket of my own. There. It’s out. Fine. (ONLY for my cell phone though.)


It was while in my bra-ket that the phone slipped from the snug grip of my bosom, into the vast abyss of toilet waste. (numero uno – luckily) Maybe all this working out is paying off, and in fact my greatly endowed size is in fact melting away?!


Oh, who am I kidding. I wish.


But to tell the end of the sad story, well that is the end of the cell phone. I stood looking into the toilet, waffling – “Uh. Umm. Uh. Okay – just stick your hand in and grab itttt….NOW!” I grabbed, rinsed, and Lysol wiped all in one fail swoop.


But. It’s dead. I think the rinse under running water may have been the true demise, but one can never tell. And really, can I risk unmentionables drying on my phone? (ie; potty) And then talking on it? Well of course I can’t. So now, it’s sanitary AND dead.


Dear Santa,

Please bring me a water, toilet, sink, sanitary wipe proof phone.

Love,

The Germ-a-phobe

World Travel in Happy Valley

Sometimes living in ‘the middle of no where America’ gets a little dull. I know, shocking – isn’t it? And once in a while you just have to get out of the bubble. And sometimes, time and money just don’t allow. What’s a girl to do?

Answer: Go out to eat!

This weekend I had a little “culture” right here in Happy Valley. You see, this being Happy Valley, means that people want to move here. They are drawn here for religious reasons, thinking that Happy Valley is the place to be. Then they come, realize “this isn’t Happy Valley.” But are now here, and make the best of it. Luckily, this brings a lot of international folk here. And that brings a lot of international food, too. (thank heaven)

So I went to Elaine’s French Bakery Saturday afternoon, and was greeted with a lovely, “Bon jour. I’ll be right with you.” In a REAL French accent. (or a Hispanic man with a great French impersonation. It’s hard to tell.) He did have a whole conversation in French with another customer, so I’m pretty sure he was the real thing. But, who’s Elaine?

Oh the pastries were delish! Took some home for after the evening meal. They really are so good. Why are flour, butter, whip cream and sugar SOOO good, anyway?

That night Peter and I took a little trip across the big ocean, to The Bombay House. I love their food, too. Mmm. You walk in to dim lights, exotic aromas, strange murals, and dark men asking if” they can help you” in their thick accents. (Who knew there were so many Indian’s right here in Utah? Not me.)

The curry was fantastic, the nan (sp?) my favorite and the mango ice cream to die for. Yes, can you tell? I like food.

The whole “trip” out of Happy Valley, hit the spot. In more ways than one. You see, every now and then, I have to be reminded that there is life on other “planets.”

Beware! Pirates ahead!

In our church, we have the oldest (still functioning) women's organization in the world, called the Relief Society. We look after each other, our families, and help those in need.



Last Sunday, after church, I was leaving to take a meal into a family. Simon and Samuel came to me looking for "bandanas." Thanks to girls camp, a few years back, I had some. Simon asked, as I was rushing out the door, "can you paint some pirate face paint on me?" I told him it would have to wait.


The last thing I saw was Roo with a bandana on her head, tied graciously by her brothers. And the boys scavenging through the dress-up bin. You can imagine my surprise when later that evening, I returned to these fantastic photos taken by their father. *Thanks to a creative husband, I "pirated" all of his photo quotes


(As a side note: We have called Ruby the Pirate Queen for a long time now. She still had her church clothes on, and it was PERFECT. Cute dress, huh? I love it, and it makes the whole Pirate band look great. By the way, what did they learn in Primary this week making them rush home for this? AND, should we really give them the Wii we bought, when they can come up with this sort of entertainment on their own? Makes me think.)

"Tis' a motley crue indeed we have amidships on our galleon. Me better haste to cover for' the lootin' starts in the gally - all snacks beware! Rice krispy treats avast!"

"A fine pirate pose, for memories sake,
in case Davey Jones comes us callin' before tubby time."




"Thats a mighty fierce pirate smile, matey!"




"You yellow-bellied landlubbers can't handle just how piratey we is!"




"Aarrrggghhh!" (that's what she's saying out of the corner of her mouth)

*This one is my favorite. Thats the vacuum on "top" of her head.

Birthday Blog: Meet Simon

Simon is my second child, and he is one of a kind. I told him he was turning five, again, this year. That way, he can't get any older and I can enjoy all of his five-ness. Bummer, I guess is doesn't work that way. I think six will be lots of fun, too, though.

Si is...well. Si just is. He beats to his own drum, (a great quality - he really doesn't care what others think) while trying to be just like his older brother. He’s quirky. He has more allergies than I can think of, he is left handed, he has double “crowns” on the back of his head, and he is so skinny and wirey – I’m not really sure he’s mine. (until he starts acting just like me) Confusing, I know. But he's hard to describe. He's one of those kids that's too smart for his own good. We haven't been able to s-p-e-l-l things out loud, not wanting the kids to understand, since he was three. And he picks up on everything. My recent favorite story? (glad you asked!)



Do you know the spoof of Carol of the Bells? The McDonalds (?) song? Goes like this:

“Ding, fries are done. Ding, fries are done. Ding, fries are done.
Would you like an apple pie with th-at? Would you like an apple pie with th-at?”

Si, and the others, love this song. The other day we heard the real Carol of the Bells and he says,

“Hey mom, this sounds like ding fries are done.”

Very matter of fact like. It made me laugh that he was even listening, picked it out, and connected the two. He’s in kindergarten, for crying out loud.




Besides being incredibly funny, SOO smart and bright, looking just like Curious George and a great big brother – Simon is very sensitive. He doesn’t like to feel sad, he LOVES to be happy. He LOVES to snuggle, LOVES his dad and brothers, LOVES his big grandpa (and all the treats that go along with him) and loves candy. I mean LOVES candy. Since his food items are quite limited, he has chosen candy as his food of choice.

I love him so much. He was born on a night just like this. Cold, dark and snowy.

He was truly the best Christmas present I ever had.

Happy Birthday Si, I love you!

Craft of the Week: Quick Quilts

I love these kind of quilts. They are totally simple, easy to make, lap blankets. They will brighten any room, add decor to blah, and keep you warm during these frosty winter nights. I bought a bunch of these "charm packs" last Christmas, on sale. I finished piecing four by the end of January, and am now sewing like a mad woman to get them done!

You buy them in pack like this. They are five by five (inch) squares, of a "line" of fabric. I love Moda, they make some of my favorite patterns. You could select any of your favorite fabrics though, cut them into five inch squares, and follow the rest of the instructions.

I use 88 squares, 8 by 11. Lay the pieces out randomly, just pay a little attention to what color is where. There is not rhyme or reason to these. That's one of the things that makes them so cool. The fabric patterns themselves "make" the quilt. I love to see them all come together.

Label your pieces with small stickers. Label row and number, like a1, a2, a3... I just caught onto this trick and it's making my life SO much easier. (I'm making eight quilts! I know, I'm a crazy woman. And I might be dead before they finished.)

I stack the pieces, numbered, on top of each other. All the same direction, then start sewing them out of my lap; a1 to a2. Then grab a3 and a4. You will be chain sewing these together in twos, all the way through k7 and k8. Then grab your sewn pieces a1/a2 and sew a3/a4 together. See? It's a little math like, eeek - sorry. You sew 2 together, then four, then eight; then you take all 11 of your strips of 8 and sew them together. Ta-daaaaa!

Cute huh? Now you need to sew on your borders. You will have a "stop" border, then a larger border. Finish up with your binding.

Buy three fabrics that you really like in the quilt. I chose my favorites.

For a complete quilt you will need:

8x11 0r 88 squares (5")

Stop border: 3/8 yards of fabric, cut into 2 1/2 inch strips, the length of the fabric.

Outer border: 7/8 yards of fabric, cut into 5 1/2 inch strips, the length of the fabric.

Backing and cotton batting: 3 yards each

Binding: 1/2 yard (or 3/4 yard if cutting on a bias), cut into 2 1/2 inch strips, the length of the fabric.

Total quilt size: 51X65

You can make these any size. They are totally adorable and easy. Make one soon, and tell me all about it!