They're Coming!

This week I've been preparing for the return of my sweet son!    I've cleaned up his storage room bedroom so that he can trash sleep in it, unpack, and repack.  He'll be here for about three weeks.

The BONUS is that sweet Britt is coming with him.  Ok, well sort of - when Hubby booked the flights he accidentally booked them on two DIFFERENT flights (thanks to frequent flyer miles, and old age....).  She arrives tomorrow around 4ish, and he arrives later at night.  So, I will get some wonderful one-on-one time with my future daughter-in-law!  I'm excited.  It will  a good opportunity as well for her and Les to bond before Brian gets here.  Britt will be here for a week.

Les has been busy making a few gifts for her future sister.  I will post about that later -- wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!  This week is important for Leslie - I pray she adjusts well.  I've been busy cleaning and cooking.  My fridge hasn't been this full since.... last summer. 

This will be the last time Brian is home as a single man.  It will be a busy three weeks with doctor appointments, wedding plans, cleaning out and packing stuff up, addressing invitations,  and hopefully lots of time together as a family.  I have mixed emotions, but the joy of the upcoming occasion is overtaking any sadness I might have as I "lose" my son.  He will always be my son.  I am truly thrilled to have a new daughter to love and to spoil when I can.  I've enjoyed my many phone calls and texts with her over the past few weeks as wedding plans march on.   Now we'll aid her in meshing in to our family.  I feel blessed.  I hope I don't sound naive.

If I do, just let me be for a little while.

PS - for those who don't know, the wedding is Sept 10!  9-10-11.  Whew - coming so very fast.

Happy Dance, Happy News

I have neglected my blog for some time.... sorry.  For today, I'm back -with a BIG announcement!

I must officially announce that my Brian is engaged! 

When I went out west for BYU Women's Conference and for other reasons, I met this sweet girl, Brittney.The minute I opened my hotel room door in Rexburg and saw these two together, I knew.  I knew she was my future daughter-in-law.  I knew she loved my son.  I knew he would move Heaven and Earth for her.  He's already trying to do so.  I am blessed.

Brian was her home teacher - a testimony to that program right there, don't you think? 

No official wedding date has been set.  They're working on that.

Guess I'll have to wait a little while....!

A Mom Adventure

Whew - I haven't posted in forever.  Does anyone still read this?  I think Facebook has ruined blogging.  Just sayin'...

I am off on an 11 day trip - by myself.  I haven't done that in forever, and certainly not for that many days.  I am going to BYU Women's Conference with two HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS!  Yes, seriously.  I knew Miki and Debbie in high school, and we later became BYU roommates.  Debbie and I both served missions at the same time.  We have stayed connected, but haven't truly spent time together in a million years.  I refuse to count how many years because that would prove how old I am.  And then Emily will scold me, so I won't go there. 

I used to make fun of my mother for going out with her "old friends".  I never "got" it.  I get it now.

I am then driving to Y-daho to visit my son in Rexburg.  He has a new girlfriend.... the timing works out great.  I will get to meet her.  He isn't coming home for the summer, so this will be a needed visit to see my boy while he is still MY boy.  Those days are numbered.

And, then, I am flying to Arizona to see my family.   I can't wait.  A new little one will be born soon  - my niece's first baby.  I am so excited.  And, I'll get to see the new baby of another niece.  Can't wait for that as well.   I may see a few more OLD friends and OLD cousins while I"m there.  WOOT!

I'm leaving Les and Rich home.  Alone.  Together.  I hope they both survive.  Actually, everyone is in a "good place" right now, and I am certain they will do well.  It is a parent pay-off moment when you can leave your college-aged daughter at home and know she will be an asset to our home and to her father.  And, hopefully they will have some FUN, too! 

So, if I can get my act together, I will take good photos and blog about my adventures.  I need this trip.   I am ready to FLY!

Guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow morning, though......

The Queston you Live For?

Related to my last post:

daughter - Can I shampoo all the furniture?

me - um.... sure!

daughter - yay!  I'll get started right away.

me - Are you ok???

Gotta love this, too!!

The Text You Live For

son - I love you guys!

me - Thanks, son - we love you, too!

wondering, waiting......

me - Are you ok????

Gotta love it. 

T-Shirts, Memories, and Quilting

When Brian was a missionary, I wanted to make several things for him as a surpirse when he returned.  One was to have his missionary blog all done into a Blurb book.  The other was to have a t-shirt quilt completed.  There were other smaller things I wanted to complete....   Well, I got Year One done of the blog book, and that's it.  I finally finished his missionary quilt the day before he flew back for school on January 2nd. - yes, of THIS year.  WOOT!  Yea, that's me - the amazing goal setter and keeper.....sigh.

My dear friend Carrie once again assisted me in this adventure, as she did when I made my first quilt for L, which I blogged about here.   I had saved t-shirts for my son from when he was a little boy and played on his very first basketball team.  I had no idea what I would do with them, but I saved them anyway.  I am so glad that I did!  What a wonderful treasure this turned out to be!

So, first I laid out all the shirts.  The design areas have to be measured and ironed on to some heavy duty pelon so they won't stretch anymore (NOTE - this is not in chronological order, so don't try this at home!).

This is quite a complicated process - and I am not good at Math.  I had to create my own pattern using graph paper and teeny bits of paper.  Once I got the hang of it, it was actually pretty fun and I enjoyed making a design!  This is not the final copy, but an example of how it works.

After the design was complete and all the strips were sewn together....

...it was time to go to Carrie's house to use her amazing Long-Arm machine.

 

 We had a few challenges with the machine.... it can be a bit stubborn...

but never fear, it all worked out.

And in the end, it was GORGEOUS!! Yes, I am bragging just a little.

 

Some day, I hope my wonderful son truly appreciates the hours and hours of measuring, cutting, reminiscing, adding and subtracting, rearranging, crying, trying again, driving, sewing, and picking out mistakes.  I also hope his future wife (whereEVER she is....) will let him use it and will also love it and appreciate it.  

Guess we will just have to WAIT a little while to see......

OK, So There was ONE Christmas Project

So I thought I needed to do at least one new Christmasy, crafty thing this past Christmas season. The ONE project I did do this year was to make these cookies.  I love OUR BEST BITES.  I have used many of their recipes.  I was asked to make fancy cookies for a ward party.  While these may not be "fancy", they were time-consuming and turned out kinda pretty.   I used my own sugar cookie recipe. I used this recipe and tutorial.

I gotta say I didn't love the way the glaze tasted at all, but the affect was lovely. 

The Colors!

The practice ones.  I really wanted to make snowflakes, but I could not get it to work right.

The final looks - what I took to the party.  Eh - they're ok.... :-)