Quilting, Outdoor Play, and Other Stuff

This past week we worked on one section of the front yard..............namely the little area on the side of the driveway. It was looking pretty shabby. All the kids pitched in pulling weeds, hoeing, sifting through the rocks, planting flowers and putting the rocks back down. It looks a lot better than it did, and I'm hoping we can keep it that way.

We've had some warm weather bordering on hot. I know 85/86 might seem mild to some, but here it feels like it could be 100 to me. The kids have loved it though. They've been out gallivanting around outside starting in the wee hours of the morning. It's so quiet in our neighborhood, but you can hear lots of laughing and loud squeels of delight coming from our yard. I got Meg some water shoes so she could go outside, and I wouldn't have to worry if she gets them all wet and muddy.

A bee landed on Myles and just hung out there for quite some time. We ended up moving the little bee to our remembrance tree.

I've been working on three quilts. They are all in various stages at the moment, but I should have the tops done this week and then next week I hope to go use a long arm and then bind them. I think the first of the donations should be coming this week. Ah, it is so bittersweet. Such a wonderful thing, but at the same time it's for a sad event in a mother's life. I hope that these quilts will be a sweet memento for those that end up receiving them.
After these three are done, I have four more to work on. I think I will be able to have enough materiel to make seven more quilts throughout the year. I went to another craft store where a lot of quilters go, and I think they are going to see if they can help with my project. I've learned not to be afraid to at least ask and let as many as I can know about my project.

I really love the calm blue colors in this. Myles loved the blue stripes..............I let him have the other part of it (sheets) on his bed. 

I had not started sewing this yet when I took the picture, but when I did start putting it together I made sure all the tear drops faced the same direction. This was the first one I bought material for. I love these colors!

I really love the way this one is turning out. My best friend said she wishes she could know who this ends up going to and if it "fits" them. She said it looked so cheery and happy to her, and I said that is exactly how it made me feel when I was picking out the fabric.

Ben came down to go to a bug show with Chris. I think they had a good time, but it never seems like Ben's time here is long enough. We missed having Stacey here too. The kids were happy to play some soccer with Ben before he left to go home. Even Meg, at the end, was wanting him to pick her up and hold her.

We celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary this week. Goodness I can't believe we've been married that long. I don't feel like we are old enough for that. Super glad that I married that guy. When I think about all our ups and downs, good times and not so good times, I'm sure glad I have him by my side. My anniversary present to Chris was the bug show and a few gadgets he picked up there for his project bug. This was my anniversary present from Chris. I've already started reading it, and I love it! He knows me so well.

 

 Just a few pictures of Meg to end on.

She loves wearing this hat.

Rhaevyn made her a  cape. She ran around the house with it flowing behind her.

 

 
 And we got Meg's picture from the dentist this week. 

 

Snuggle time with Aeva :)

June is arriving tomorrow. This means: the end of seminary, EFY, Rhevyn helping with Activity Girls Day camp for two days, doctor appointments, orthodontic appointments, and no more chemistry class!

Not Much This Week

I don't have much in the way of pictures this week.
It was somewhat of a busy week.
The girls had Monday and Tuesday off from Seminary. It was nice to sleep in a bit.
Wednesday was dentist day for all of the kids. Meg did an excellent job with her very first dentist appointment. They were so surprised at how calm she was for being so young and it being her first time. She got her picture taken with the dentist too.
On Friday Chris and I went out to dinner with another couple. We had a really good time and although the husband was sure we wouldn't want to tag along to Craft Warehouse, I proved him wrong. I never get over in that direction, so I was not about to turn down that opportunity. Chris was a good sport to roam the store with me :) Rhaevyn and Aeva had a birthday party that same night. Since I had already asked Rhaevyn to babysit she didn't end up going, but they saved a goodie bag for her. Yesterday was youth temple day if you had family names to bring. I got to go with Rhaevyn. That was a lot of fun. We made it home just in time for the girls to grab a bite to eat and head out the door for the youth dance at church.
Today was Meg's first day in the Nursery. She did great; she didn't even cry. So bittersweet...........I'm excited for her because I know Relief society is not all that exciting for a toddler, but it means my baby is growing up.

My two favorite things about this week?

my birthday present arrived........

and Myles surprised me with this on Friday morning. I had to close my eyes with Meg in my arms as he led me down the hall and into his room. It is his rendition of the Celestial Kingdom, or heaven. He was worried that I might be upset that he wrote with a pencil on a few of the blocks. I assured him that I was not. This totally melted my heart. Love my Myles and his loving heart.

First Pinewood Derby

Myles had his very first Pinewood Derby this year.
He thought long and hard about his car. He wanted to do a Pikachu car.
Aeva drew it out for him, Chris cut it, and Myles painted it.
A guy that Chris works with brought in some tools and "secrets" to make the car go fast.
We had a great time watching the cars race.
I think all the boys liked Myles's car because it was the only one
that didn't just look like a regular car. I could hear them all cheering on Pikachu :)

 Aeva has been doing some oragami this week.
She's been making lots of boxes and made this one with an origami Pikachu.

Saturday we spent most of the morning doing yard work. We cleared off the back patio so that
it only has our remebrance tree. A friend stopped by to drop off the next size up scout shirt for Myles and took away our barrels that we were going to get rid of. That worked out well ..............a win win.
I thinned out the day lillies and planted the parts I had divided next to the others. The little flower garden looks a bit more filled in now. I cut back the lavendar too, and we replanted Toby Jr, the little oak tree that Rhaevyn planted from a seed.
Our little garden is coming a long. We are trying out potatoes this year.
The kids loved giving Meg a ride in the wagon and swinging her on the swings. They were having such a great time that the noise was driving the little dog nuts that lives in back of us.

Myles was busy trying to fix the wagon. I guess the screws were a bit loose, and he noticed one was missing. He tried to find one that would work as a replacement in Chris's big bucket of nuts and bolts. It just cracked me up how he just seemed to know what to do, like a natural.

 

 Meg decided to hang out with Chris while he put together one of the free shelving units he got from work. I think that is our project for tonight..............putting them in place and filling them up.

 Elsa is learning to roller blade.

 

 Meg found a helmet.

 Chris and his two little girls all ready for bed.

Night-night, Elsa :)

More Pictures Than Words

It's been a week of celebrations with my birthday and Mother's Day.
My mother's day present and birthday present have not arrived yet that Chris ordered. That just means that my celebrations last longer. I can't wait for them to be here.
Chris was very sweet to surprise me with a cake from Larson's Bakery on my birthday. I came around the corner to the kitchen and the kids yelled "surprise" and sang to me. He also took me to pick out a new journal, which is my gift while I wait for my Mother's Day present to get here. With all the writing I've done in the past several months I used up the rest of my journal. I think I've written more in it since February than I have in a couple years before that put together. Now I can start my journal keeping again :)

I brought this desk home from our friend's house. Since we don't do Wednesday school days over there anymore I decided to move it back home for Elsa. I think she really likes doing her writing there rather than the table. Aeva likes to sit and draw there, and Meg likes to sit at the desk too.

I'm interested to see what she winds up as because right now it appears we may have another lefty.

We've had some blustery days this week. Myles was really worried about Baby's Tree as he calls it. I assured him that it would not bend or break. It is really looking so pretty with it's green leaves. We really love looking out our window and being reminded daily of our sweet little one. It makes the hard days a little less hard.

We went and had dinner with some friend this past week. I brought fruit salad made with coolwhip. Meg got a hold of the lid and was licking it.

All wrapped up after a bath.


The girls have been busy with the local high school play this week. They went out last night with everyone involved with the play for frozen yogurt. Although it's been a lot of late nights and them feeling like it's a lot of hurry up and wait, I think it's been really good for them.

Rhaevyn was able to do some work on Saturday for a family in our old ward. It's always nice when she finds an opportunity to earn money. There just aren't a lot of babysitting jobs around. Although maybe that will change with our new ward.

Project Mother of an Angel Baby has been accepted on JustServe.org. I was just notified yesterday. I'm super excited about that.

I'll end here with two pictures we took this morning. I love being a mom to these lovelies. Although life can be crazy, they sure make being a mom so worth it!

I had to laugh... in all four pictures that Chris took, Myles has his eyes closed.