We must Really love Grace!!

Tonight was assembly line night!

We cut, glued, assembled, stuffed, and sealed almost FOUR HUNDRED wedding announcements!

Kristin came to help us and she was a lifesaver! I can't believe we got it done in one night!
And the countdown has begun! My new nephew is going to join us in TWELVE days!!!

I think she's ready! :)

Life, as we know it...

IS OVER!

She doesn't have the common sense to know that she shouldn't just climb up and sit down!

She is so stinkin' proud of herself that she spent all evening climbing up and screaming when I would put her down!

Bearing Gifts

Every time we visit the Colorado clan, M's little cousins give her a gift. So I thought I'd beat them to the quick this time! We brought M and LG's sweet friend Bev and Lola a little handbag filled with skirts and flower bows. We also threw in baby gift for W's cousin whose wife is having a baby this winter (got that?) and a hostess thank you for Em.

Have you met Emily? If you haven't, you should. She does fun things and makes yummy things on her blog. She's W's sweet cousin who invited us to stay in her cute house while we were in town for the funeral.

I tried to think of a good thank you to our sweet hostess (next time I'll have to try harder to get something Mr. B would also like!) But I think I did pretty well. It may be some of my cutest work yet!

another immaculate conception!

a little chat with M, Hazie and very pregnant aunt T

M:I have a baby brother in my tummy too!

Hazie: no you don't!

M: yes I do!

T: What's his name?

M: (thinking hard) Jesus!

Happy Friday to me!!!!!

Anyone remember how I lost all the pictures of LG's birth??

I have begged my sister in law and cousin for pictures and finally, finally, finally, my sister in law sent them!

Sarah, you made my day!!

So, enjoy my beautiful little ones, one fresh from heaven, and the other pretending she is! :)

butterfly seek

wanna play a game? it's called find the butterflies in these pictures!

we spent a crisp, Colorado morning at The Butterfly Pavilion

it's one of those places with a big, humid room where butterflies fly everywhere!

this one (pic above) is my favorite. it's not that exciting at rest but when it opens its wings, you see its brilliant blue wings! (couldn't catch it on camera)

we loved it!

the part I enjoyed most was that LG was watching the butteflies. she was pointing to them and kicking and loved it almost more than miss M!

Rest

The funeral in Colorado was lovely. You can learn a bit about him here, but I learned the most by the sheer amount of friends that came to the funeral and reception lunch. Grandpa Bob will be missed by many more than just our family.

Seething

the TV is not on

the music is not on

we're not running the washer, dryer, dishwasher or disposal

it is 6 in the evening, not 3am, not 6am, not midnight

the neighbors have just angrily banged on their ceiling for us to shut up

why, you ask?

because my happy light hearted three year old skipped from the kitchen to the living room

I AM AN ANGRY MOTHER BEAR RIGHT NOW!

last week, they actually complained to management when my daughter had a tantrum

what am i supposed to do???????

do we complain when they play loud, booming rap music on Sunday mornings?

or at ten at night when my babies are sleeping?

no! precisely for the reason that I know i would be a hypocrite because my children are not always quiet but THEY ARE CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!

the sad things that brighten my day

Am I the only one who gets a kick out of the word verification when you're commenting on a blog?

It is truly sad that I get excited when it's a real word.

I just had two in a row.

lizesto

laysod

I guess I should clarify my definition of a real word.

But really, I think I should start going by lizesto now!

Serenity

There are times when I'm good at reading scriptures.

I sleep better.

There is less contention in our home.

These times are not often enough.

You'd think I'd get it by now.

A few verses in particular have struck me. I think especially as we leave today for Grandpa Bob's memorial service.

And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.

-Alma 28: 6

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

-Alma 26: 12

Nostalgic

This is my sewing machine. (or her exact replica because I don't have a picture handy) Say hello.

She's heavy, she's complicated and she smells funny.

And I love it!

I inherited her from my grandmother when she passed away. I was so excited to have my own machine. And an honest-to-goodness Bernina at twenty one! Too good to be true.

She smells like an old lady. My grandmother to be exact. It's a lovely, warm, comfortable smell that makes me tear up as I'm sewing.

She has been locked away for over a year because I couldn't find her manual. Now, THAT is something I need to take a picture of! It tells me where all the very-un-automatic knobs are supposed to be for each stitch, complete with Grandma's chicken scratch notes and sample fabrics of each stitch. It's lovely and priceless.

And this week, I found the manual, broke out the Bernina and started to sew in the comfort of my own home.

It was a busy, productive and thoroughly lovely week.

My dining room table has been overtaken. I've almost finished five dresses. Two made their debut at church today! Two more are hoping to be done for the trip to Denver.

With my Bernina smoothly sewing after forty years, I did a lot of pondering and remembering this week.

I thought of my husband's grandpa who we are going to Denver to honor this week.

I thought of his goodness and continual sweet approval of his grandson.

I thought of my own grandfathers.

My Grandpa Tobler who passed away so painfully and slowly that we were excited for him to be in a place where he would be comfortable and at peace.

My Grandpa Manwaring, who has been gone for fifteen years, who went so suddenly that I was insulted. I have thought of him often as I have mourned for my husband's cousins who had no warning that Grandpa Bob wouldn't make it home from his vacation.

I thought of my sweet babies.

I thought of the sweet blessings they are in my life.

I remembered the purpose that I have to protect and teach them.

And I promised to do better.

yoga

I have always been intimidated by yoga.

I have never considered myself athletic or flexible and therefore thought it wasn't for me.

My friend is learning to be an instructor and had a class at her house tonight.

It was perfect for me.

She is totally not intimidating.

She is warm and friendly and sweet.

There were only three of us learners and two of us were first-timers.

One was a stranger and the other was a good friend.

Perfect for me.

My friend did a wonderful job of encouraging and prompting and helping us to focus and meditate.

I have turned into a worrier of late. I desperately needed the solitude, the relaxation, the stress relief.

And I loved it. I'm a little nervous about how sore my hips are and how it will feel in the morning :) but I still loved it.

Mourning

I explained death to my daughter today.

She wanted to know what happened to her grandpa in Minnesota.

I'm not sure how much she got but she's still young.

My husband's Grandpa Bob passed yesterday.

We are very sad. We've all been a bit emotional today.

At the same time, we are grateful for the excuse to visit family. Thankful for the excuse to gather, mourn and love.

I am thankful for eternal families.

I am thankful that I know that I can be with my husband and children forever and I want that for everyone.

When my own grandpa died last year, I was saddened but so grateful to have that knowledge.

That we can be with our loved ones again.

poor little hand

This morning we played at Hazie's house for a bit.

M was in a state. EVERYthing made her fuss and cry!

This time, she came to me sobbing, cradling her fingers.

I asked what had happened, trying not to roll my eyes.

M: my little hand is broken.

Me: what happened to your hand?

M: Hazel broke mine little hand.

Me: what happened to it?

M: It got stuck.

Me: where did it get stuck?

M: in her butt.

Me: what?!?!? How?

M: she wouldn't get off.

Me: Oh!!!! You mean she sat on your hand?

M: yeah, she broke my little hand.

bit of whimsy

Remember when I gushed about these cute dolls????

The patterns are 50% off this weekend! Thought I'd share the good news!

I know what I'm making for Christmas!!!!

I was supposed to be ORGANIZING my fabric tonight...

It was a rainy night. W had class so I told my Mom I wanted to organize my fabric at her house. I guess I need to come back later and organize! :) But I still think I was very productive!!

I've been attempting to modify a short-sleeved peasant top into a long-sleeved dress.

The prototype turned out well, I think! I want the sleeves a bit longer and the dress a bit longer (not planning on the ruffle but needed more length)

The posing is somewhat necessary (as evidenced by the goofy grin in the first photo)
I try to let my wonderful babysitters know how much I love and appreciate the care they give to my girls.

This is for my Mom. Everyone needs a fall bag, right??? :)
And this is a free pattern I got online. My first attempt. I love the fabrics and I'm hoping my other babysitter does too!!

ps-I hemmed the dress, made the ruffle and hemmed the sleeves tonight. I attached the handles and sewed closed the seams on the pumpkin bag and made the bottom purse by scratch tonight. I just didn't want you thinking I did all of this from scratch tonight. I'm not superhuman.