Halloween

Here are our cowboys ready to trick-or-treat. They loved every moment of it! It was pretty cute to see both of them quite excited about getting candy from people.



That night we finally carved our pumpkin. Jaxon drew a happy face on one side and a scary face on the other.

Recent Projects March- October

For the Stake Relief Society Meeting this month, I headed up a group of talented women to make 100 hot pads. These would be the take home gift for the women who attended the event. The theme was "Christ's Hands, My hands, Our Hands." Sis. Waldron gave me an idea of what she wanted: hand in heart in sage greens and lilacs. After calling up friends, finding decent fabrics within 30 minutes of here, writing sewing directions, delivering materials, a sewing exchange party, testing the functionality, and sewing them all together, we did it! 100 individually unique hot pads for the women who spent their Saturday enriching their lives.


Quilt for my dear Cristina's baby girl.
One of my best friends from childhood and college had her first baby last month. My mom was going to her baby shower and informed me about it 5 days before. I quickly whipped this quilt out for her and sent it UPS to Utah so she could open it during the shower. It all worked out and I personally thought it was one of my favorite baby quilts I've ever done. Cristina named her beautiful girl Hannah, which means flower in Japanese, hence the inspiration for this quilt.
front and back:


Also, here are some of the baby quilts I've worked on with the talented women here in Mo-town.

These first two quilts, I designed, appliqued, and quilted. Katie J. helped cut out the flower petals, while Amy and Liz cut the front and back squares and Melanie and Michelle helped cut out the palm tree.
Quilt for Michelle's baby.
front and back:


Quilt for Katie W.'s baby.


Quilt for Julie's baby. I guess you could say I designed the bug quilt, we all cut it out, Melanie appliqued it, Mary did the border and binding, and then Katie did the best quilting on it with adorable quilted bugs. (this pic is just the front before it was quilted...I'll try to get a finished pic.)


Quilt for Andrea's baby. This one was us four again (Mary, Katie, Melanie, and I). We each did a block, Mel sewed the blocks together along with the borders, and I did the binding and quilting.


Quilt for Liz's baby. Britta designed this quilt but 9 of us made an original square block following Britta's guidelines of contemporary squares and rectangles. Left to right, top to bottom it goes: Mary, Julia, Amy, Yolanda, Melanie, Amber, Abby, Katie, and Sharleen. Britta then sewed the blocks together, quilted the entire thing, then bound it. Wish you could see her darling quilt patterns, they were fabulous!


I was in charge of the food for Liz's shower and since this pregnancy I've been craving baked goods, I made some of my favorites. We enjoyed Apple Cinnamon Carmel Pecan pull aparts (Monkey Bread), Peach Cobbler, Banana Bread, Pecan Carmel Cheesecake, and Pralines and Cream Ice cream. It was so much fun getting together with friends to celebrate the new baby that will bless their lives soon.

Forgotten Pumpkin Farm Pics

I forgot to post our fun filled day at the Pumpkin Farm last fall.  It was the most perfect day with beautiful weather and I took a million pictures.  I posted a bunch on my photography blog.  Click here if you want to see more. 

Forgotten Family Fall Pictures

and I realized I never posted the pictures we took as a family in fall.  The first pic was used as our Christmas Card photo. 

Ode to Amber...

So this past week I had a big national board test. So for the last few weeks I've been stressed out of my head and trying to study, schedule patients, cure headaches and not fail this test. And throughout the whole thing Amber has been awesome!!! She works so hard (even though she's on restricted activity) and did everything she could to support me in the process. One night she came home from the store with all my comfort foods; sushi, bacon and eggs (I know they don't go together), and cinnamon bread for French toast. Then she made it for me over the next two days while I went through notes and study cards for the third time! She rocks!!!
So I just wanted to let everyone know that MY AMBER is the best wife ever and I love her soooooo much!!! Amber, thanks for being my wife/friend/support/lover/confidant/ and constant motivation! I love you!

General Conference

If I could put a theme to this weekend's conference I would say it was all about LOVE. Love God, love your neighbor, love your spouse, love your children. Show your love by serving others and obeying God's commandments. I also felt there was a great deal of discussion about receiving personal inspiration whether it's to know it the church is true or in making life decisions or for me personally, to receive the daily inspiration needed to lead and teach my children. The talks that stood out to me were:

1. Elder Scott's on personal inspiration and letting the spirit guide and guard you from Satan's temptations.
   
2. Elder Bednar's on "being more diligent and concerned in our homes." We need to express love and show it. Bear testimony to your spouse and children and live what we believe. And being consistent in Family Home Evening, prayer, scripture study.
   
3. Elder Uchtdorf's about being a true disciple of Christ, prioritizing our life's actions, and that love should be at the center of all we do.
   
4. Elder Oaks on God's love and God's commandments.
   
5. President Monson's on serving and easing others burdens.
   
6. Elder Holland's powerful testimony of knowing the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

It seems like every year I get more and more excited to hear what our Prophet and Apostles have to say to us. Maybe it's because I know I need to hear what the Lord wants me to be doing with my life more now than I felt when I was younger. And for sure being a mother, I feel a great sense of responsibility to my children that they learn how to be righteous children of God and become the men that God wants them to be. I feel I've got to do all I can as their mother in teaching them truth and love.


Jaxon, Talon, and Colton,

I love you dearly and know that the Lord loves you. I know that he sent us to earth to be challenged and tempted so that we can overcome trials and temptations. I know that He speaks through latter-day prophets to teach us how we can draw closer to Him and prepare ourselves to return to live with Him someday. I know that our current Prophet, President Monson is a man called of God and that he lives his life in accordance to God's will for him. I know that the Holy Ghost can manifest truth to our hearts and minds and that he is one of the greatest gift's God could give us while here on earth. The Holy Ghost can protect us from Satan's grasp and can provide inspiration on making good choices so we can be happy in this life. You boys are special to Dad and I and I know Heavenly Father has a plan for you here on this earth. I pray you will learn to live your lives in accordance to His will always.

I love you- Mom