Blackbird Designs

I know! I know! I should be sewing on Lexie's blankie, but I just could not help myself...I received this from Elegant Stitch this past week and I was itching to get it started...and finished! I really enjoyed the whole project from start to finish. Now...right this minute...I am sending myself to my sewing machine to put together the baby quilt. Miss Lexie will be arriving by C-section on Tuesday morning, September 2, 2008. You can be sure I'll be posting some pictures! Scott and Kim and the kids are coming for Sunday dinner in just a few hours, but I still have time to do a few blocks before they get here. See you soon!

Thirty-Three Years!

Yes....33 years today! And yes..we were VERY young! Hey, though, we beat the odds and we're still married! And yes....it has not always been perfect...but whose marriage is?? Still love the man in spite of his love for BIG houseplants, BIG ugly fish in a fish aquarium, and lots of toys in his garage! Oh and did I mention the way he clears his throat in the morning?? On the flip side, how about the way he likes to cuddle, his nice brown hair (still brown naturally), his nice big hands to hold, his good work ethic, his perfectionalism, his genuine love for mankind, his kindness and love to me, the kids and grandkids...and on and on....

The day we were married I still remember vividly him pulling our 1974 Plymouth Duster over on the side of the freeway so I could throw up on the way to the Salt Lake Temple. Yes...I was sick on my wedding day! I threw up in a plastic bag in the car just before we got to the parking lot, and yes, in the temple, I threw up while I was in my wedding dress. So memorable...and we're still married 33 years later! It's a miracle Wayne didn't turn the car around and drop me off back at my parent's house that morning! He's put up with my incessant need for stitching stash, vacations with my sisters, whining about how HOT I am...and any other thing that irritates him. He's a gem and I'm so thankful for him in my life!

Here's to another 33!

Edited to add:
This is a picture of me and my bridesmaids...you might know the two on the far left....My sisters, Carolyn (Cari) from Florida, and Miss Smarty, (Joan) from here in Utah! Next is Wayne's sister, Sherrie, and all the others are friends from high school, Kay, Annette, Colleen, and Nedra.



PS...I'm a little challenged in the photo scanning department...sorry! You can click on the picture, I believe, and see it in a larger format. :)

My Baby!

Today is Christy's 23rd Birthday! Here's a picture when I think she was about 5 months old. I was having de ja vu when I took treats and balloons to her classroom today! But wait! This time she's the teacher and not the student! I got to meet all her students. What cute kids they are! Some of them brought her presents and made her cards. The cards were hilarious and very cute. Tonight we went out to eat at Olive Garden with Grandma and Grandpa Lloyd and Scott, a very pregnant Kim w/Baby Lexie, McKenzie, and Brayden. We came back to the house for homemade cheesecake. A very good day!

A blankie for Lexie...

I finally spent some time last night doing all the cutting on Baby Lexie's quilt. I haven't pieced one since Brayden was a bun in the oven. I've had the fabric since June but I'm just now getting around to putting it together. I'm ready now to start sewing. Wahoo! I'll keep you posted.

First Day of School, Miss Lloyd

Yesterday, at her request, I went early with Christy to help her do some very last minute stuff in the classroom, I took her picture standing in front of the door to her room, and then I left before the bell rang. I knew I had to leave (although I didn't really want to). I knew she didn't need me after that..and she didn't. A couple of parents brought their kids in before the bell to meet their new teacher, and Christy introduced me as "mom." The Dad asked me, "how long has Miss Lloyd been teaching?" "aaa...this is her first year," I said. "She'll be fine," said The Dad. And so she was....and today, off she went again to her new job and new life... :) Can't get any better than that!

Okay...the pity party is over!

Yup...that's right! No more pity party.. I'm done feeling sorry for myself! Last night we met with the builders of the new house. We talked about some things we wanted changed, etc. They gave us a key to the house so we can visit whenever we need to. They are going to crunch some numbers and come up with some information for us by the end of next week. I took a picture this morning with the Red Race Car in the driveway. Hummm...do you like the landscaping?

We have so many exciting things happening in our family right now. Miss Lloyd starts her first day of teaching on Monday. I spent the afternoon helping her set up her new classroom. She had me cleaning! Can you imagine? I guess it was payback for all the job lists I gave her while she was growing up! And I was wondering myself if I was doing a good enough job! LOL!

Scott and Kim are due soon to have their third little darling in about 2 weeks. Kim is pretty miserable at this point. I've yet to start the baby quilt...but I think Monday might be the day for that. I have started the Christmas stocking but have very little done on that, but then again...she won't need that until after Thanksgiving.

Sunday is Miss McKenzie's 4th birthday! Where has the time gone? I had fun shopping for her today. She wanted a WALL-E toy...what the heck?? I haven't seen the movie but she has, and LOVES him! I found what I hope she wants...I hope to take her on a little "gramma date" sometime next week. Should be fun!

I can't wait until it gets cooler...I'm looking forward to more stitching time, but something tells me that stitching is going to be on the backburner for a time...

SAY IT AIN'T SO!

Eminent domain...the words don't mean much unless they've been spoken to you concerning some piece of God's earth you happen to own and love. Utah Department of Transportation is after our house and property here in South Jordan, Utah, so they can build a highway through our family room! I suppose we're going through quite a process right now. This week we've had a home inspector come and wind his way through the doors and hallways of our beloved home, taking pictures with his infrared camera seeing whatever he can find, good or bad. Today it was the appraiser's turn. With his camera, clipboard, and tape measure, he looked in every nook and cranny of our private life. It has been interesting how we've dealt with this over the past weeks and days. Wayne comes home and pulls weeds, cleans up his garage, paints, etc. I just curl up on the couch and watch TV...in between doing some specifics that he tells me must be done {windows, window wells (spiders and icky stuff), dusting, vacuuming, scouring}. Just before each of these men come, we've had little shouting matches that don't normally happen in our house. I must say it's been interesting to see the dynamics between us come out, and the way we both are dealing with it all. We've got some great friends, neighbors and family that are helping us cope.

Tonight, we meet with the builder of a new house we are looking at to purchase. I suppose a new journey in life is on it's way...

San Diego Wedding

Last week Wayne and me and my dad went to San Diego to my nephew's wedding. What a beautiful place to visit. We enjoyed ourselves, especially since the weather in Salt Lake City was 100+ and San Diego was in the 70s with a light breeze blowing off the ocean. We stayed at the LaJolla Marriott for 2 nights. The whole trip was grand! They were married at the San Diego LDS Temple. Here's a picture of them arriving before the ceremony:



Here's a kissy picture of them after the ceremony:


Here are my nieces...L to R: Deseret, Katelyn, Stephanie, and Deanna.




Here's a very cute close-up of Katelyn:



Here's a photo of the beautiful temple where they were married:



Here's a picture of them at the reception later that evening held at the home of the bride's parentsl. My brother, Craig, is on the far right and my SIL, Elizabeth, is on the far left. Keith, the groom, is my nephew, and Tricia, his bride. They met going to college at BYU in Provo, Utah. They are just the cutest couple!

CONGRATULATIONS MR. AND MRS. CRANDALL!