I'mout!

I have let this "little blog that couldn't" go by the way side. I have decided to just keep up with our family blog. So if any of you (if there are any of you) would like to be invited to my very exclusive family blog just email me at projectqueen143@hotmail.com and I will send you an invite.
Love to all, Devron

Soon

I have been a little overwhelmed lately. Why is it that as the day of delivery approaches you feel the need to organize and clean out every nook and cranny of your house. Why at this particular time is that the driving force behind everything you do. Heaven forbid you have the same drive and desire when you are not huge and uncomfortable. Oh, well I guess I should just be grateful that I have it all and that there are places in my house that are organized that every time I think about them I get this really happy feeling. Funny how a clean front closet or a scrubbed down cabinets can do that to a girl. I kept hoping that all of this craziness would put me into labor, but no such luck.
I also know that my cute little baby widget only says two more days, but my very adorable doctor ( I am not being fasicious, he is adorable so it makes it hard to stay really mad), didn't get my delivery scheduled early enough and the hospital was booked for the 20th, so I am lucky enough to have to get to spend one more VERY long night pregnant and we will have our baby on the 21st. I know all of you who just have to wait for your babies to come when they want are not feeling very sorry for me, but that is just one of the "benefits" of having a c-section. You know when you are having it. And you have a daily count down and you cry like a big fat baby when your doctor nonchalantly tells you, you have to go ONE MORE NIGHT.
O.k. I won't complain anymore. Our whole house is very excited for the new arrival, and we are just anxious to have our beautiful little baby in our arms. We are blessed!

GRATITUDE

Right now with so much heartache surrounding us, with the economy and personal suffering of loved ones in so many different ways, it has really made Mike and I take personal inventory of how very much we are blessed.
So many people are struggling financially and just recently two families we know have lost little ones. Hard times, whether they are yours or someone else's, always seem to make you stop and count your blessings.
1. I am so blessed to have a job that helps support my family, and the fact that I truly enjoy what I do is a huge bonus.
2. We have a warm house.
3. We have a fridge and freezer with food in it.
4. We have vehicles that run great.
5. I have a husband who loves me.
6. I have two very smart, funny, full of mischief little boys.
7. And another one on the way.
8. I have the gospel , which right now is the biggest blessing, because it the thing that helps me realize that no matter how hard it seems, I know there is someone who is always watching out for me and my family and rooting for us. Someone who wants the very best for my family. Unfortunately that doesn't mean that everything always work out the easiest way, but it does work out (eventually, and maybe not the way we would like).
I could go on and on, but these are the main things.
Sorry I am so, whatever I am. Maybe it is the extra emotions from being pregnant, but whatever IT is, I am grateful for it. I really think that for me and my family this time is a blessing. I am not saying that that it is easy, I am just saying that I have A LOT to be grateful for.

I have a computer again!!!

I finally have my computer back. I didn't think it would be so hard to be without a computer. I still have a lot of kinks to work ouy and one folder with all of my files in it to sort out, and I am using someone's unsecured internet to do this entry, but sooner or later I will get it all worked out.
In the last 5 weeks have been crazy busy and I think I keep forgeting that I am as far along as I am, until I try squatting over to scrub something or caulk something. I really want to get my tree out and decorate it, but unfortunetly, ths year I can not do it all by myself. I am so excited to be this close to the end, but it sure is making it difficult to get things done. But for those of you who know me, you know that I am doing my darndest to do as much as possible. I will try and upload a few pictures to show you that a big and awkward pregnant woman may be forced to slow down, but if there is a will there is a way, and I will find it.

This is the sampler that I made in my quilting class. That was seriously the most enjoyable thing I have done in a vey long time. I was able to leave my house and go to something without having to be in charge of anything and I just got to learn and create and only worry about myself for two whole hours, once a week for three weeks.

My youngest's christmas quilt. He helped me pick out the fabric, unbeknownst to him that it was for his christmas present. He thought it was fabric for the baby.

My oldest loves cowboys and he is going to freak out over this quilt. You can't tell in this picture, but one of the prints is all guns. His favorite thing ever.

I painted my entry way, because it was a deep red and it did't look so great opening up in to my turquoise kitchen. Although I was quite irritated, because as the paint was drying I realized the ding a ling who mixed it for me, mixed flat paint which I hate (and I had purchased the paint 2 or 3 months ago). So I guess someday soon I will have to do one more coat.

I have a few other things I would love to post pictures of, but they will have to wait, because right now I have to get started on singlr handedly peeling 20 pounds of potatoes.

By the way

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Quilts, quilts and more quilts!

Man how time flies! I would love to say, when you are having fun, but it doesn't really matter if you are having fun or not. And even though our life has been a little crazy, a lot of stressful and and very busy, there has been some fun had.

I have already shared my new obsession with you all, and I am happy to say it has not lost my interest yet. And amidst the many trips to and from the hospital to see my niece and all the other things that my life is so full of, I have continued to steal snippets of time to sit my butt at the sewing machine.

I finished this,

And then finished this,

I finished anther quilt top that is at this moment at the quilt shop being machine quilted, and I will hopefully have it back son so that I can get the binding done, and have my first project completed for our attempt at a homemade Christmas ( I'll explain later).

I then started a class at the quilt shop and actually learned how to piece something more than squares,

I was telling Mike about my class later that night, and I got kind of emotional telling him about my class. It was 2 hours of of pure enjoyment. I can't remember the last time I left my house just to do something for me and only me. I wasn't in charge of anything, or anyone. I didn't have to hurry home or worry about anybody but myself. I loved every minute of it. Who knew a class could be so much fun.

O.K. about the homemade Christmas. I don't know where I get these crazy ideas, but I thought it would be fun to have a totally homemade Christmas. I talked to Mike and we both thought this sounded like a fun idea. Although when I really started to think about it and try and plan a few things out, I realized I am crazy. But I made a decision and I am going to stick by it. I love to create and make things, so this will give me a good excuse to go crazy.

Wednesday

A few of you in the comments have said, "How do you find time?" Well if you saw my house and knew how much T.V. my kids have watched in the last week, you would know. Oh well, at least I am staying some what sane. Although if you asked my husband he might beg to differ.
My niece Tami is hanging in there (somewhere). They are still keeping her so medicated that she is not aware, but hopefully that is helping heal her. Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts and words, and especially for your prayers.
P.S. I am binding the baby quilt from the earlier blog and I will have pictures very soon.

My new obsession!

I think when I am stressed about something, I cope with it by taking on a project.

As you all know last Saturday I pieced my first quilt. So on Sunday when I found out about my niece, I found squares that I had purchased a long time ago, and I decided to make Tami a lap quilt. Over the next few days I was able to piece it all together.When I told my mother-in-law that I needed to get it machine quilted, but that I didn't want to wait the 2 weeks that it takes the quilt shop, she said she had a lady in her ward that could do it quickly. I took the quilt to get machine stitched on Friday.

Saturday morning I got up and didn't have Tami's quilt back yet so I decided to design and cut out another quilt that Ialready had the material for, for the baby. I got almost all the pieces cut out and a few of the big sections sewn, and my mother-in-law called about 12:30 and said the quilt was done. I LOVE the sweet women who did that for me in one day.

I got the quilt back and it looks so beautiful. I had spent quite a bit of time searching on the internet for instructions on binding and finishing a quilt. So I felt ready to tackle the binding. I had to improvise with the binding fabric, because I didn't have quite enough . But I am so proud, because you would never know. After about 2 hours, last night, hand stitching the back side of the binding, the lap quilt is complete. And I can't wait to give it to Tami.

I have decided to take a class at the local quilt shop, because I have taught myself or figured it out step by step on my own, and I know it would be easier if I learned the correct and effecient way to make the perfect quilt.

Here are a few pictures...