My 38 lb. 7 year old...

this little, petite, pigeon-toed munchkin turned 7 ! 
too crazy! and yet very believable by the way she is talking and attituding:) 
Here she is in her overnight sock curls or these- which I LOVE...(thanks Lindsie* for telling me about them)

birthday breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries and yogurt, mandarin oranges, cinnamon toast and hot chocolate.

the sock curls...

such personality...wow.

really, i want to make a cool looking cake...but not this year:)  it was yummy though! {blueberry cake with lemon icing} 

the birthday invitation...whooooooo. I think Ruby's favorite part of the whole deal was delivering these!~

Ruby painted this picture of 'toothlis' (Toothless, from How to Train your Dragon)

real dragon eggs to hunt for in the yard (the kids were quite disappointed when it was only side walk chalk...they wanted real dragons babies!)  and dragon masks to fight and play in..

{searching for eggs...went a lot faster than i thought}

the whole crazy crew....  yep 15 of them,  one was missing from this pic.

all kinds of weird dying dragons games...

and more games...

and dragon food (muddy buddy's, only because its a favorite in my house and i didn't want to make another cake), we had to eat like a dragon, no hands...

frozen dragon-fire ice cubes...that melted in their drink

and even though i said 'no presents please' on the invitation...everyone cheated and brought a card or gift...the cards were way cute, and my point was to not make people feel obligated to bring something, so it all worked out i guess:)

one of Ruby's favorite gifts was this lego set from grandpa lee!

amongst all the craziness this week, ruby's real and friend birthday, me working two full days in a row and other 'stuff', my aunt and uncle took us out to eat while they were in town ...it was so yummy and fun.  we ate at the anasazi  grill. got to cook our own meet right in front of us at the table.  and topped it off with chocolate fondu...  thanks for the night-out you guys!..it was so fun seeing and talking with you!  we love nights out....with adult conversation:)

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.

It's Official...

This will be what I call HOME. We are moving to ST. GEORGE...ahhh?! I'm so excited! 

My kids (probably only my kids) will miss THIS though.  We can drive to Cedar City for it, right? And our visits up to my parents in the winter....that's plenty of snow for me.

Ruby and Liam LOVE the snow!  They will go out in freezing degrees and play for hours in this wet wonderland. 

Still smiling after two hours!

So, we are moving by June, as long as nothing earth shattering happens in the mean time.  We found renters for our home (moving in by May 1st)(we will live at my parents for a month).  We are blessed to pretty much come out even on our mortgage payment -rent income.  At least were not LOSING money each month...that's the best we could do!  This real estate economy is not so fun.  This picture depicts what our WHOLE house looks like! aghh.  HOW the heck do you move?!  I hate it.  We haven't done it for 4 years-ish and it's completely draining and maddening and ridiculous.  I dream about boxes and duct tape and the smell of a sharpie.  We better get LOTS of visitors...who doesn't travel thru or TO St. George at least once a year!?  We can be your new stopping grounds...yeah.!

(Jami/Brett, so I figured you won't like it at the office or things won't be what you thought and you can buy a practice from an old retire-y in George and we could be neighbors! You like the heat and sun Jame I know you do!)

In other news....my MIL made this skirt for Rubes.  LOVE it.  Don't mind that her eyes are almost squinted shut! ha! Poor girl...(it was a bright day for once!) It's called a market skirt and the FREE tutorial can be found HERE.  It really swirls when she spins around, she loves wearing it.



Another note: my beautiful cousin got married last weekend and not only did she look amazing! (as did her hubby)...her reception was so chic and clever and unique.... 

It was held indoors at the Hardware Bldg. in Salt Lake.  Here is the Gift Table.

And the Sweets Table.  Jars of candy and chocolates with baggies to fill at your own discretion and sweet toothness.  Can you spell HEAVEN for the kids.?!

Lemon/lime and strawberry/cucumber water with cheese and crackers, crepes with chocolate/banana or cream and berries...to die for!

The guest book...each guest or group of guests got to take their picture in this little photo booth...one copy for them to keep and the other...

...was put into the log book along with a note of advice and an autograph from their well-wishers.  So cute.

K and K for Katie and Kyle.  The colors...were perfect!

And ya can't have a reception without dancing!  These two could work it!

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.