our Spring Break...

Sadly we didn't go anywhere spectacular for Spring Break...we went up north! ha ha! {so ordinary and lame}...but we love to see our family and Ruby adores her cousins and would rather see and play with them then visit Disney Land or something. (maybe not rather but it's close:)  Ruby got to celebrate her early birthday with her cousins Sunday night when we arrived.  For her spotlight she played the guitar.  Just some random, cute, strumming. 

I worked a full day on Monday at a dentist office in Ogden (thanks Jami), and my parents got in a lot of lovey time with the kids.  Probably too much.:) 
 Tuesday I had a Dr. appt. at the Huntsman Cancer Institute to address this problem...moles are all still clear though!-nothing needing to be removed or biopsed!  yay!

Charlie was obsessed with this book!!  It was around when I was litle and I remember my Mom reading it to me.  He wanted this read CONSTANTLY to him.  I had to hide it a couple of times because it was getting annoying...{.in a sort of cute way}

I was able to meet up with some friends while in town...
yes, we are standing in front of a Chik-Fil-A playground...its sad, the places you eat out when kids are in-tow.!  ha!  I love this dear girl Nichole and her amazing husband Jake and their cuter-than-ever baby Isaac.

Wednesday we got together at my sister-Tiffanys, for a 'playdate' in the morning for a couple hours.  It was great.  I love getting with my sis's.  We missed Jaimilyn though!

Thursday Marty came up on the shuttle from George and we picked him up in Salt Lake and then met Ryan and Becca {Marty's bro} for lunch.  Such sweet hugs from cousins that don't see each other often enough anymore!  :( 
Crossing our fingers that we get to meet up with you guys in Cali in May! 

We had some good 'Grandma Sugar' time as well.  We did another little candle blowing ceremony for Ruby's birthday that hadn't really happened yet.~

Thursday night we went to the temple and out to eat at Paradise Bakery for my Mom's birthday.  It was real special.  Michelle and her husband Jared couldn't come because of sick kids but everyone else with spouse in tow was there....I love it! 
 I have a wonderful family. 

We did sealings together...Marty and I got married here in the Bountiful Temple and haven't been back much to this Temple, so it was pretty neat. 

And once again....Ruby got a pre-birthday- birthday.  Needless to say she will get two more celebrations the following week!!.  sheesh!  Those pics {of her real birthday and the-friend (too many of them) Dragon Party} to be posted soon! 
 Grandma and Grandpa made Ruby waffles on Friday morning and gave her some gifts.  Thanks Mom and Dad...for spoiling your grandkids so we don't have to as much! ha!
 Saturday we headed home after a baby shower for my sweet cousin, Katie.  I didn't take a picture of it but I made a hooded towel for her baby boy...from a great blog tutorial.  I like this pattern more than any I've tested...the hood is softer and has a more professional look to it.   We played a game that I loved- you buy a bunch of candy bars of all kinds and split the group of guests into 4 or 5. Then give each group 5 candy bars and a piece of cardstock and marker.  Each group comes up with baby advice using those candy bars.  It was hilarious and fun; and the mom-to-be takes home all the candy to eat or take to the hospital.  Such a great idea! 
It was a full and lovely week.

A Shower + tutorials and MORE...




Two of my friends and I threw a shower for my dear friend Nichole who is having a baby in 3 weeks!  Love her.  And I love the way this shower came together. Thanks to Az for her gorgeous (I wish I had you) home to host (not in a stephenie meyer sort of way) the Bloomin' Shower!  It was a smashin' hit!   

 


The decor all blended so well. (click photo to enlarge) I love the vibrant yellow, blue, greens and a touch of silver.   Such a perfect time of year to have a baby!!  OHHH I love babies.  The pom pom's are a martha stewart project ....found HERE.  The felt streamers (made by Tasha) are different size circles cut out in coordinating colors of felt and sewn together (so creative!).  The napkins, cups and straws come from IKEA.  The candles (Tasha)(all lit) were beautiful for color/decor and gave off a wonderful fragrance.  Lemons and limes fit right in on the color scheme and made delish citris water, so refreshing!





The food included chocolate covered strawberries (yum) , mini cinnamon rolls (double yum) (made by Az- Rhodes rolls thawed, stretched out, cut in half and sprinkled with cinnamon/butter/sugar and rolled back up...after baking top w/cream-cheese-divine- gooiness-frosting), chocolate/butterscotch bird nests (found HERE) and bowls of candy and nuts. 

 

My gifts were a car seat cover...gotta love those.  Just patterned after one I had given to me for my baby.  VERY simple to make actually.   And with so many cute fabrics/patterns; it's fun to create your own.  Nichole has very refined taste so I didn't want to do anything with bright colors or animals and such.  Turns out she liked it !  yeah! 



And one of these little tie/suspender onesies.  Designed by Trisha (my friend), and attempted by Me.  The blue and yellow one I kept for Charlie...he sort of looks like a clown in it, but baby clowns are cute , right?  The suspenders are just a length of 'double fold bias tape-quilt binding' sewn down on both ends and again under the buckle.  The buckles are sold at Hancock for 1.49 (pack of two) in silver or gold. (they were out of silver when I went-dang it)  On the right onesie, the tie is only sewn down on the top portion and the the bottom half is loose-hanging...gives it a different- more playful look.

 


And here is the guest of HONOR, beautiful Nichole.  And the 3 three hostess's...Az on the left, Tash on the right.

 

The party favors (made by Tasha) -what a great idea! And I love, love the name tags. (not sure where she got the pots, name tags were homemade)



The wonderful friends that make getting together worth while.!  It's so good for my heart to see everyone and be able to relate with them on so many levels.  Love all these gals.  (we missed those of you that live far away, sniff)

 
 

Speaking of spring; check out this tutorial  for ruffle pants found HERE.   I think I want to attempt this get-up for Ruby,...and maybe Charlie too.  Kidding!  Clown shirt is enough for now.  Babies can only pull off so many things.! ha!

 

One more idea someone gave me.  I made this apron for my cousin, Katie, (who is to be married this weekend!) for her shower.   I love the line at hancock called - top drawer fabrics- this is one of the patterns. I wanted to add a splash of color  (her kitchen color is red) so I spent ALL this time looking at JoAnn's and Hancock for a sew-on applique in red, (a flower made out of fabric that can be washed).  I know I've seen them before on bags, shirts, aprons etc.  But I could not find what I was looking for anywhere.  A lady at JoAnn's told me to just get a flower that clips or safety pins on and they can remove it before washing...duh~ what a grand idea, never thought of that.  Once I switched my brain to that avenue...there were TONS of options and cheap too!  I found this tulle flower, that is pin -on- ready, for 2 bucks. SCORE. 
Happy Day Everyone.

Spring Checklist...

So I'm really quite sick of looking at this type of weather...although Frosty is sort of cute...scary lookin -but cute because my kids designed him.  So I was thinking of some must do's for spring -hoping that might egg it on to come!



#1.  Something springy for the kitchen.  This is for my Mom's birthday (Jami if your viewing this-DON'T let her see).  This was such fun-easy pattern, and I DO NOT DO PATTERNS.  I like tutorials online that give pictures w/step by step instructions!



This is the pattern-at Walmart.

#2.  A new and improved haircut.  Ruby has thin, wispy hair that seems to get a lot of static in the winter.  I haven't wanted to cut it since it grows at the rate of a snail race.  But we went out on a 'girls night' and decided to DO IT;  The stylist at Great Clips (which btw is having a 6.99$ haircut deal for anyone...think it ended today though) told me to make sure she is taking her multi-vitamin-to help it grow better/faster. 

She was SO excited for the end result AND a little scared it would be too short like a boys' ...ewww cooties!

TA -DA!  She has a little natural curl and cutting it in a stacked A-line, like this, really brought it out and makes it MUCH more manageable and fun.

So go out yourself and TRY it.  Something new, something vibrant.

#3.  This stuff is the bomb.  My Mom bought it for me 3 years ago for my birthday, since I'd become an anti-sun fanatic (except for the healthy Vit-D amount of course)(because of my two melanoma moles I had surgically removed- I need to do a post on just that whole ordeal and show..... The Scars).  I LOVE it.  I use it on my face and arms most days(even in the winter)...it only takes a LITTLE bit.  And in the summer it gets caked on my legs too.  I don't know if its because of my freckles or what but it seems to blend in really well.  LOVE IT.

#4.  Babies!  So many babies -showers, births, gifts, making babies, etc.  We are throwin' a shower for my friend in a month.  I need some cute favor ideas...anyone?  I've seen some WAY cute decorating ideas and food ideas on some other fellow bloggers.  In this pic MY baby is taking is very first step(at my grandma's house)...yep, hasn't done it again since but he took it, I saw him.

#5. PLEASE...like spring can be spring w/out....da ta ta ta......MINI EGGS.  Marty has always had an incessant NEED for these guys and I've figured out why....they are to die for.  Not literally , but close.

#6.  And last but not least....toddler boy tie shirts...tutorial HERE. (this blog site has amazing FREE tutorials)  

complete with some linen trousers and a scally hat ...

I was going to make one for Liam in this matching fabric but I am thinking polka dots are a little too baby-ish for my
3 & 1/2  year old...ya think?  totally.

oh yeah.  gotta love that- biting tongue with those 4 tiny teeth-action.

keep pray'in for that sunshine!

Sweater Vests

An old sweater from savers...

transforms into two sweater vests!

not nearly as cute as what she did here (I LOVE this blog)...but fun just the same.  charlie wasn't too happy about it...

a bit better...

oh, we're out, we're done!

if you want to be incredible...eat incredible...

 or just dress like them! 

I swore...

...i wouldn't attempt another shirt-dress for a while , but, i couldn't help it. it did go faster the second time around and....i didn't ignore my kids this time! yeah!again for this GREAT website and the free tutorial for this dress go here

speaking of swearing ...here are some other things i swear by lately...

A. old and dear friends to brighten up my birthday . thanks girls and everyone else that came. ( and to my thoughtful husband who planned the party)B. my beautiful little guy that makes me smile every time i look at him...

C. cousin sleepovers- tiring- but fun to watch the kids thoroughly enjoy every minute (plus, then we trade with their parents and take an overnighter ourselves)...Liam HAD to sleep next to Willa on the floor even though his bed was right next to her. then he ended up taking over the mat and shoving his poor cousin off. signs of the time...watch out future wife!

D. letting my husband go on a mountain-biking excursion with some buddies...talk about coming home a new man! i didn't recognize him with all the dirt- and - he was so totally enthused!

E. having Liam on silverware duty. i HATE unloading the dishwasher...just like my Mom does...and i always think Liam is too little to help but found out he does a great job! F. i don't swear by this... the midnight showing of eclipse. i think the movies and books are entertaining- but i definitely don't need to stay up till 2 or 3 am to watch it the first night. i had fun with these girls - though i don't know how i got talked into it by Ingrid!- i was so so tired waiting for it to start. don't know if i'd do it again. i guess there is always a first and last time for everything. !