I'm Sew Happy!

I finally finished them... I have been working on a quilt for Dorothy's bed as well as for our family room for months (literally I have been procrastinating since September) and I finally finished them!! I ordered a bunch of fabric (new projects) yesterday and promised myself that I would finish those two quilts before the new fabric arrives. I 'humbly' want to admit that I am actually really impressed with my handi-work! I made Dorothy's quilt from my favorite fabric designer Amy Butler and the family room quilt from Moda's new line: Shangri-La 3 sisters. Hopefully I can finish my new projects a little sooner???!!!!

Family room quilt!! (I should mention James helped me design this)

From blocks to strips....

to this!! Ta Da!!

Hair cuts and Car seats!!

Dorothy and I decided that we needed a little change so we both got our haircut! Dorothy hardly cut her hair at all it was merely a trim. I on the other hand cut my hair SHORT... not "married hair" short (hopefully) but I just went into the salon and told the lady to do whatever! She cut it like Katie Holmes-Cruise minus the Anna Wintour's bangs! So far I like it!

The "special" hairstyle with glitter spray from Lollilocks!!!

Two new do's!

Little (and I mean little) is in the one percentile for weight and fifteenth for height. Preston finally got a new car seat! I was going to wait until he was twenty pounds but after realizing it could take another six months for that to happen we got one. He got the "Cowmooflage" car seat from Britax and I love it!!!

So happy in his new comfortable-as-a-couch-car-seat!!

Up Up and Away!!!!

The other day James was playing with Dorothy when he decided to throw her up in the air. Well, if you know Dorothy, then you know her life motto is "the crazier the better!" She loved it and each time he would set her down she would say "again again!" You could barely understand because she was laughing sooooo hard! The funniest part was when he would throw her up she would get this look of absolute terror on her face which would instantly turn to laughter upon landing!

These are a few of my favorite things!!!!

One morning, both kids ended up in my bed... When I woke up and started getting ready I looked at the bed and saw them sleeping like this! It was one of those moments where you are overwhelmed by how much you love your children and how grateful you are for the blessing they are!!! I immediately grabbed the camera and snapped a few shots! This was just too cute to not have forever!!

Just what I needed to hear....

My Mom emailed this to me and I have read it over and over again (and cried every time) it is a beautiful message to all Mothers who sacrifice so much... enjoy!!!!


Kathy Vest - mother of triplet, six year old, boys! said...

I'm invisible. It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be
taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To my friend, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my child to tell friends that they bring home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Under the sea with Dorothy!!

Dorothy had her birthday party. It was themed around her favorite mermaid (of the week) Ariel! She originally wanted it at Chuck E. Cheese's (why do kids love that rat?), but I persuaded her to have it here where we would decorate the house to make it look like we were under the sea! She had lots of her friends there and as usual I went all out and made way too much food!! I love to throw parties so I ended up having as much fun as Dorothy did!!!! Dorothy's comment to me this morning was "Mama next week can I have a Sleeping Beauty party?" She has already started planning next year's party!!!!

Pinata fun!!

Dorothy's Ariel cake

Blowing out the candles....
After which Dorothy asked if she could eat a piece of Ariel's "Shells!"

After getting into everyone's food, Grabby Fingers spent
the rest of the party here!!

Opening presents!

Playing with the presents

Sebastian and Flounder: my balloon creations!

Pictures of the decorations!!

Playhouse Disney!

For Dorothy's birthday, we decided to use the money my parents gave her and take her to Playhouse Disney! It was live on stage where we saw the Little Einsteins, Tigger and Pooh, Handy Manny, and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang! It was really cute and, surprisingly, Preston was really into it!! Dorothy of course LOVED it!! We were not permitted to take pictures of the show but I was sneaky and snapped a few shots!!!

He He!! Vintage Tricia snaps a shot!!:)

Outside the theater

The cast!

I can't believe she's already four!!

Today, January 10th, is Dorothy's fourth birthday! Last night James and I put together her pink kitchen so that when she woke up, her present would be all ready for her!! She loved it!! She also got a Hannah Montana CD and promptly asked me if I got her a radio to listen to it! Dorothy and Preston played with the pink kitchen until they realized that Mommy was in the real kitchen making cupcakes for Dorothy to take to preschool. Dorothy and Preston "helped" me finish. Then we had a dance-a-thon to Hannah Montana (which is still playing with Dorothy dancing and loudly singing, on key, I might add!!)! Time really flies... I guess that means we're having fun!!!! Happy birthday Dorothy! You have brought so much joy and happiness to your parents! You are the BEST surprise I've ever gotten!!! We love you!!!

"Mommy, a Hannah Montana CD!"

Enjoying the new toy together!

For her "special day!"

I made the flowers and leaves out of gum sticks.... I had to improvise!!!

"Daddy can I pleeease get my ears pierced?"

Finally!!!! James told me when Dorothy was born that I could not pierce her ears until she asked for it. Well Kyra (her cousin) got hers pierced for Christmas and ever since Dorothy has been asking if she could get her ears peered (that's how she says it) and so James (with a little pressure from Tricia) finally agreed that Dorothy could get her ears pierced!!! We went last week so it was an early birthday present!!!

Before things went South...

At this point she was not too sure about getting her ears "peered"

"don't they look beautiful?" All Dorothy could think was "Mommy you tricked me!!!"

She still could not smile... she was betrayed

Attacking "little buddy"... Looks like she's back to her old self again!!!

"Now we both have our ears peered Mommy!"

Welcome 2008!!!

Alright this is the last of my Utah blogs!! We celebrated New Years in style!! We had a huge party with sushi, pot stickers, Mongolian beef, egg rolls, Asian salad--all the good stuff!! The guys spent the night playing and designing a rock band that now has a jet and a bus!! The girls sat upstairs, played the Wii for a while, and then devised a girl's trip to LA which includes seeing Wicked!!! We watched the ball drop and toasted with Martinelli's!!! The best part of the evening was laughing to tears when we saw "the naked band" Fungus that all started with Gene!! There is nothing better than spending the holidays with those you love most!!! Happy New Years!!!!

Happy Birthday James!!

We celebrated James turning 31!!! He is really getting old:):) We had a family party where Preston (my brother) and I made homemade ravioli. It was delicious but A LOT of work!!!! James got his present early (a snowboard, boots, bindings...you get the idea) so that he could use it!! The most important present he received was a cowbell (I could use a little more cowbell!!!) We had fun!! Happy birthday James. I love you!

Six... Super Spectacular, Spiritual, Silly, Spendid, Satisfying, Student, Sighseeing, Sunny, See (C)-section years... and Sixty more to come!

We celebrated our six year anniversary on December 29th. We had a very romantic dinner at the Melting Pot. For dessert they brought the chocolate fondue and a little blue box (you know what they say a diamond is a girls best friend)!! It was fun to talk about all the wonderful years we have had as well as the many to come!!! I love you James!!!!!