Stitchin' Along

My internet was done for several days last week so I didn't get to post any Stitchin' Along pictures. I don't know if this is a flower or a snowflake or what.

A winter house.

A little red bird in a tree!

The Wedding Singer

I took my kids on a trip back to the eighties last night. As a child of the 80's I really enjoyed our local high school's production of The Wedding Singer. They always do such a great job. It was a little surreal sitting there with my kids watching kids that were just the age I was in the late 80's looking just the way I did then. The hair and clothes were perfect, they must have hit the local thrift stores hard. They brought back the mullet in a big way. Even the 80's wedding dresses were pretty familiar. I came home very nostalgic for my youth. I can't believe I am this woman now, I remember the adults telling me back then to enjoy things, it would go so fast. They were so right. At least I have a lovely youth to look back on and I am lucky that the people I cared about then, for the most part are still part of my life. I realized that as much as I loved my teens I really love my life more now. I have so many amazing blessings in my life and even more people to love. I do however really miss the waist I had back then. Don't miss the hair though!

Let's look past the fact that they are brother and sister and just enjoy the cuteness okay?

Happy Spring!

I had my girlfriends for lunch the other day. My very most favorite day of the week! It was a good excuse to get the chandelier ready for Spring. I love having lunch with "my girls" as they are known around here. I still can't believe we have managed to do this all winter. One of the kids asked her mom when they were going to "that women's shelter". Her mom couldn't figure out what she was talking about until she finally pieced together that she was referring to our lunch group! I have to admit to calling it that in my head now, it is so appropriate because these women save my very sanity some weeks.

My friend Tiffany brought cupcakes from Cutsie Cakes in Layton to help us celebrate St. Patrick's Day. They were amazing! If you or anyone you know needs a treat this is the place to go! They also are part gift boutique to!

Liberty of England at Target!

My girlfriends are coming for lunch tomorrow (Yippee!). But do you think I spent my morning cleaning house and getting ready like I should have? Nope. I went to Target and had such a party with Josh looking at all of the Liberty of London goods done for Target. They are so much fun!

I wish I could wear this dress I got for Brittany. Look at the matching headband!

I got this scarf for me! Three Liberty fabrics all in one!

If you want to see more you can look online here. It was fun looking all over the store for the pretty pink butterfly too, even if you aren't a fabric geek like me. Now I better clean my house!

Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup

This is my new favorite soup! I only wish it looked as good as it tastes. I think that is the problem I have with trying to get my kids to eat soup, really it doesn't look so great sometimes. I loved this one so much I will probably be serving it at lunch for my girlfriends this week. So if you are one of my lunch girls, consider this a preview and let me know if anyone hates mushrooms.

1 6 oz box of Uncle Ben's Long grain and wild rice mix
1 T Olive Oil
1 C chopped red onion
1 C celery (I left this out)
1 C carrot chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 pkg mushrooms quartered(I added more because I love mushrooms)
1/4 C flour
1/4 Thyme
2 C water
2 T cooking sherry
2 C chicken broth
1 can evaporated milk
2 C chopped chicken (optional-I like it with and without the chicken)
Prepare rice according to package directions; set aside. Saute the vegetables in the olive oil for 6 minutes. Add flour and thyme, cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Add water, sherry, broth and milk. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in rice and chicken if desired. Cook until heated through.

A Square A Day

I don't know how many of you remember but I got all inspired last summer by Amy's Square a Day Sampler. It has been a lot of fun but still isn't finished. So when I saw she had started a new one to celebrate her 39th birthday I had to join in hopes of finally finishing mine. It has been a really great project, it has come to represent the different characters and interests in our family.

This is where I am at now.

I have added these new squares since I joined. Good progress, there might just be a chance of me finishing!

Just finished this one too.

You can join up of just look around at all the pretty samplers on the blog that Amy started just for this project. There may be periodic square postings for a little while now until I finish!

A Boy and His Puppy take on The Magic Kingdom

Remember the story of the Velveteen Rabbit? Well we experienced the same sort of thing on our Florida trip. Poor Joshua was attacked the day before our trip by the Croup Monster. Worse case of croup any of my kids have ever had. Well thanks to the wonders of modern medicine he still made it but it was a couple of day before he really felt good. Josh has always liked stuffed animals but in his sad, sickly state he really became attached to the puppy he took on our trip.

Meet Joe, named by Grandma and also called "Puppy" frequently.

Joe the puppy went all over Disneyworld, he even liked the fireworks.

He learned about Winnie the Pooh.
Saw the Bug's Life movie in 3-D because Josh refused to wear the glasses.

Was almost abducted by a statue of Goofy.

Had the very best view of Cinderella Castle

Helped rescue Brittany from a shark.

Even when Josh tried to pretend he was scared on the big, fast rides Puppy was there for him. Not once did they tell Josh that Joe had to stay behind. Good thing too. So now, even though there are many puppies at our house Joe the puppy will always be super-special!

Note: Just for the record Joe enjoyed a really hot soapy bath in my washing machine as soon as we got home!

In Love With Alice

We are really excited for the new Alice in Wonderland movie around here. Brittany painted this painting for me last weekend. I love it!

I also joined a Alice swap. Thought I would post it, I really hated to send this one off. Course that means it is a good one. I made this Alice necklace with a print from Lewis Carroll's book.

An Alice doll. I used the same pattern as the painted quilt.

I put the Alice jewelry in this box. I had fun painting tiny Alice.

All of the parts before I sent it off. Hope my partner liked it!

Folks We met DisneyWorld Part 2

Everyone knows you meet all sorts of amazing folks when you visit the Disney parks. This is Woody coming right for Josh at the parade. You would think any three year old boy would be thrilled. You would think wrong. Joshua wanted nothing to do with any of the Disney folk. His mother was so disappointed. This is the closest we got to a picture with him and a character in it. That is the back of his head.

Flat Stanley accompanied us on our trip as part of Matthew's homework. He was so excited when Matthew found a real jelly fish on the beach and he could have his picture taken with it. Luckily we were smart enough not to touch Mr. Jelly.

I tried to get Mary Poppins to come home with us and be their nanny but this was as close as we got.

I take it back, Josh would get in the big shark as long as Grandma went too. Sad, my family eaten at Epcot isn't it?

The ultimate meeting if you are a seven year old boy is a storm trooper.

Brittany was unimpressed with Stinky Pete.

Much more excited to meet Ariel. When she was little we would ask her if she was a princess and she would tell us she was a mermaid.

A ugly old pirate for Matthew

Every girl needs a fairy godmother right?

Heroes made of Legos, it doesn't get better than that!

Bluebird Necklace

This little bluebird is in the shop.

Leap Year

I went to this movie this week with some of my girlfriends. It was perfect. Light and funny, cute clothes and Amy Adams. Love her. So if you are looking for a movie to make you smile this is the one.

Disney World Part I

Guess where we have been? All of those posts last week? They were just scheduled to post while I was with my fun little family in Florida! William and I decided it was time we finally delivered on our promise (way back when we moved to California) and took the kids to a Disney park. For some reason Florida was much more appealing to the father figure at our house so that is were we went. It was such a blast! Unfortunately Joshua got incredibly sick with croup the day before we left. I am still feeling a little guilty for putting him on a plane in the state he was in. But we made it there and he got better with each day and still had a ball. So prepare yourself for several Disneyworld posts in the near future, I gotta document the whole thing for posterity. So this post is going to be about some of the places we went. Obviously, Magic Kingdom which we loved.

Dinosaurland in Animal Kingdom.

The many countries of Epcot. That is the Eiffel Tower down there.

Under the Sea. We saw an amazing Nemo stage production in Animal Kingdom.

One of the very best parts was that my parents went with us. Everything is more fun with Grandma and Grandpa. One day when Josh was still recovering Grandma stayed home at the condo with him so he could take a nap. Matthew asked why she had to stay because "you are the fun one."

Mother's Day Project

This is my new favorite piece of jewelry I have made myself. I made one for a friend for her birthday and she liked it so much she wanted try making them for Mother's Day. I thought that was such a great idea I would post it so I wouldn't forget. This way she can see the product I used. So Marci, this post is for you!

This is one side of the necklace, the side I usually have facing the world. I bought both charms and the chain at Hobby Lobby. They frequently put this line on sale for 50% off.

This is the other side. The only trick is finding a picture small enough. My solution is to take a picture of a picture I like with the flash turned off my camera. I don't fill the frame with the picture either. Then I order it from somewhere like Walmart or Sam's as a wallet size photo. Usually works.

So then I cut the picture to fit. Modge Podge it to the back. Then cover it in glaze. I like Diamond Glaze the best but have had a hard time finding it in Utah. Aleene's paper glaze works just about as well. I found it at Hobby Lobby too. I tried not to get it too thick or it takes days to dry. Slip it on the chain and add a charm and there you go!

Painted Quilt

I have been working on this painted quilt made from the pattern I won from Jo for a lot longer than I would like to admit. But when William went out of town last week I finished it. I am really happy with it, may have to try another someday soon. Thanks so much Jo!

Pear Pie

Would you believe we actually do eat things besides desserts? You wouldn't really know it to read this blog. I guess it is just that the desserts are more fun. This is a favorite, my mom makes it for Thanksgiving. It is fun to make in the winter when the winter pears are available. So I adapted it to make it gluten-free. I guess it is really more of ta tart since it is missing a top crust.

First make the crust.

1 C rice flower

1 C powdered sugar

1/2 C melted butter

Press into a pie plate.

Cover it with sliced and peeled pears. Then mix the following together.

1/2 C sugar

2 T corn starch

1/2 C cream

2T of frozen orange juice concentrate

1 T lemon juice

Pour this over the top. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top. Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes

Precious Faces

These are the little faces I love. My biggest fear has always been that something might happen to them or their dad and they would be taken from me. This week I was reminded that there are worse things.

Remember these little booties that were so fun to make? I made them for a much anticipated baby named Max. Max is my sister's nephew. His mom and dad waited a long time for him. The day after his due date, at a routine appointment the ultrasound showed a large heart defect. He was delivered early the next morning and although so many prayers were said and heroic efforts were made he went back to live with his Heavenly Father instead of his earthly one. We have a very vital doctrine in our church that we come to this earth to get bodies and face challenges. Then after we have learned all we can we return to our Heavenly Father. We believe that families that are sealed in holy temples can live together forever. It is so hard to accept that this much beloved baby only needed his body for a brief moment. Hard too to understand how any place, even with our Heavenly Father, could be a better place than in his Mommy's arms.

I don't often write like this on my blog, my religion is really a very private thing for me. But after this experience of watching my sister and her in-laws try desperately to be there for these shattered parents I have really felt like I needed to remind myself of these things. I am so grateful to be a Mom everyday. Grateful that I get to have my kids everyday. So I even though my kids are probably tired of my kissing on them so much lately I will keep doing it. I will also pray that I will never be tested as Max's parents have although they have done it with such grace and strength.

Sweets

This is the yummy breakfast my nice husband made me for Valentine's Day. See the new measuring cups and spoons? Clever isn't he?

This is the treat I made him. Flourless Chocolate Torte. Or Death by Chocolate because I am pretty sure if you eat too much it could wipe you out. It is gluten-free. Here is the recipe.

Combine in a sauce pan:

1 pkg. Semi-sweet Chocolate chips

1 1/2 C butter

1 C sugar

1/2 C light cream

Beat 6 large eggs until frothy. Slowly whisk chocolate mixture into the eggs. Pour the whole thing into a 9" spring-form pan which has been lined with foil. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes until toothpick inserted 1" from edge comes out clean. Cool completely. I topped with whipped cream and fruit but you can also make a glaze:

Combine in sauce pan:

1 C semi sweet chocolate chips

2 T butter

Add:

3 T light cream

2 T karo syrup