Sewing Clothes

My big sister Jennifer is AHMAZING!  Yes I know I spelled that wrong.  It's supposed to emphasize how cool she is.  I have never sewn clothes.  I utterly refuse because the few times I've tried it's turned out less than stellar.  When Jenn suggested sewing I was a little worried.  How was I going to tell her how pathetic I was at clothing.  We started cutting things out and before I knew it I was sewing clothes.  Yes, me.  I loved it.  Maybe it was the fact that I was with Jenn and that doesn't happen very often, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't.  I think I'm going to start making Audrey's clothes.  I like it that much.  Don't be surprised if you see Audrey in the future with clothes fashioned by muah!  Thank you big sister for sharing your time, material, house, and daughter.  I want to be like you.  

Looky how cute she's going to be!

My little boyfriend

My little brother came into town for the weekend right before I left.  I got to see all of my siblings this trip.  It was a pleasant surprise!  

 Ryder buddy....I miss your guts!!! I love your little boy voice, and the way you eyes light up when we talk.  I love you!  Please tell the big man upstairs that I want one exactly like you.  Or your parents could come and live here and I could be your babysitter.  

I had the best weekend ever with these littles.  I got to hold a hold tiny little Hazel.  We went to the castle park and throughly enjoyed ourselves and then we went out for ice cream.  I accidentally ordered the bigger cone instead of the little ones.  The kids didn't complain.  If you could only see Phillip's eyes widen as I handed his kids their cones. Lol.  It was priceless.  My bad.  

 We had breakfast together and went to church together.  Audrey surprised me by going to her class without knowing anyone.  I was happy because I got to go to class with my Mom and hear my grandma give the lesson.  Who can say that they've had that experience.  It truly was amazing.  My grandmother is pretty amazing.  She touched my heart and taught by the spirit.  Her words were exactly what I needed to her.  I'd like to think she prepared it for me.  :)

 After church I got to take picture of this little beauty.  She was so easy to take pictures of, probably because she's just so pretty.  

 The little one is Audrey's age.  They started to actually play with each other.  I think a cousin friendship is blossoming and I love it!  I also love these photos.  She makes me laugh.  

We did it AGAIN!

We did it again!  We had another cook off.  If y'all haven't already started this tradition you should start now.  I look forward to the rivalry, banter, and endless amazingly delicious food. We should start a restaurant. I think we made ourselves sick.  Next time we'll have to invite more judges. We found ourselves desperate in the end to find people to put in their vote.  This time we were small in number, but we still had a really good time.  I think the jury is still out on the verdict, but I guess that depends on who you ask.  

I don't know what kind of weird softening tool I accidentally used on this picture.  It looks like a glamour shot from the 90's.  We're lookin good Mom!

 Kimberly, I bet you didn't think you would see this one on here.  LOL.  This face haunts my nightmares.  I think you have been practicing.  

Sisters

I love it when Audrey gets to spend time with her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  I almost feel like I'm inviting her to get to know this other side of me.  I want her to love them the way that I do.  I want her to know how much they mean to me.  Being far away makes it hard.  This trip she started to let her guard down and enjoy my family.  I breathed a sigh of relief and maybe shed a few tears because it made me so happy.  She referred to several of her cousins as her sisters and I suppose they're the closest thing she has to a sister so it's only right. I thought it was sweet of her to think of them that way.

 My sister Michelle is pretty awesome at furniture.  She was showing me her skills while she was in town for the baby blessing.  She just started her own company  (http://www.mjhooks.com/) selling these gorgeous knobs.  I'm just a little jealous of her awesomness!  I wish I had of snapped a shot of the finished product.  It was beautiful.  

 Aunt Karalee and Uncle Benje have the fun house.  They often have movies running or wii games going.  The nieces and nephews can't get enough of them.  As you can tell Audrey feels the same way.  She asked me just today.  Can we go to Aunt Karalee's house and watch a movie.  Be ready for the next trip Karalee.  I think you have a little buddy!

Baby Blessing

I was so lucky, while in town for Grant's wedding my sister came into town to have her baby blessed at church.  I've only had the pleasure of seeing little Ashton, so being able to hold him was priceless.  I might be bias but my family makes beautiful babies.  I was telling my sister that I'm going to miss being away from my family and all the little babies and toddlers.  Audrey's getting so big and I'm starting to miss the littleness.  Don't get me wrong...three year olds are pretty awesome too.  Especially because they say the sweetest and the most hilarious things but I do miss me some baby lovin.  

I loved being there for a special event.  I don't get to to have that very often.  Baby Ashton you are beautiful!  Welcome to this great big world. 

I had to steal this picture from my sister....I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the baby on his special day.  I'm a loser  PC: Lisa Mcknight

Post Marriage

I was asked to sing for the luncheon.  The only word that comes to mind is, FEAR!  Why does it plague me so.  I wish I could sing the way I do at home in front of my piano.  Oddly it went way better than most of my performances.  I actually kind of enjoyed it.  I sang, "Fly Me to the Moon".  

I actually think it's getting better. Hallelujah!  I'll have to update on that later. 

Back to the wedding festivities.  Audrey has been looking forward to this day for I don't know how long.  I told her she could wear her princess dress and dance and she was all over that.  She couldn't have been happier.  At the reception she danced until she couldn't dance anymore, at one point she even started conducting them.  I smile just thinking about it.  The guys playing Jazz in the band kept smiling and talking about her.  They were amazing, and she has enough of a refined taste in music to know a good thing when she hears it.  I'd like to think that I taught her well :).  I've never seen her more in her element.  I think she might be a musician.  

Marriage

Something about weddings makes me feel old.  It was only 8 years ago for me, but it feels like it's longer, probably because I've know Paul for 16 years now.  Wow!  Saying it out loud makes it feel like a huge number.  Weddings also make me really happy.  One, because I love taking pictures and who doesn't want to take a few shots at a wedding.  Yes please!  Pick me!  Two, it reminds of that particularly fabulous day 8 years ago.  I love him now even more than I did then.  He's the Ying to my Yang....lol. Love you Babe!

We gave away Grant today.  He was the last of my brothers.  I don't even consider him a brother-in-law because we're that close.  I watched him grow up, I've been there through the dating years for sisterly counsel, and I was there at his wedding.  I feel like I deserve the title of sister. 

I found myself tearing up after the ceremony.  I looked over as we were walking out a Paul had tears in his eyes too. Cute! Happy tears.  

It was a beautiful (unseasonably warm for Utah) March Day!  I think the pictures pretty much say it all.  Look at all those smiles!