Anniversary/Birthday/Recital ~

There were so many fun things to celebrate yesterday and we were able to fit it all in. Rod and I celebrated our 28th Anniversary. We had so much fun spending the day together, going to lunch and even a few home repairs, (The water heater needed a new heating element which really couldn't be put off. Those cold showers are no fun.). We are planning a little getaway in a week or so, but there were too many things to celebrate this weekend so we stayed home. After lunch and a quick trip to pick up Dora party supplies I made a pasta salad. That is a sure sign that Spring is here and with the snow on the ground we needed any sign of spring we could find, or make. After Kristine got home from school, her and I headed out to see the little girls. Rod and Brad were close behind. We had to take both cars so there was room for Kymber's birthday surprise. After a little birthday dinner and presents we all headed over to the dance recital. Kymber did a great job, and loved having so many family members there cheering for her. She might have been a little distracted but she was so cute. Here she is a showing off her card from Great-Grandma and sitting on her big birthday surprise box. We got Kymber and Sydni a new swing set now that they have a yard to play in. I'm sure they will enjoy it as much as my sisters and I enjoyed the swing set we got from our grandparents many years ago. After the recital we all went back to their house for Dora cupcakes and more birthday party fun. So here are a few random shots from the evening. Can't think of a better way to celebrate than spending time with family.

New Pattern Release ~

I just returned from the post office this morning after mailing out my newest cross stitch charts to my Distributor and Suppliers. So to celebrate I want to give you a peek at the new designs. 

Spring Break ~

It came and went way too fast, but we enjoyed every little warm minute of it. 

Rod, Kristine and I got away for a few days last week to try and find the sun. We started off with a visit to Shepherd's Bush in Ogden.  Well, I stopped in to shop and they both stayed in the car. It was so much fun to see things in real life and not just pictures on a website. I did do a little shopping too, and added to my list of things to stitch. Next was a stop at the Gateway Mall in SLC. We stopped for lunch first and were surprised to see Kristine's friend and her family walking by outside the restaurant. It is either a small world, or everyone else is trying to find the sun this week too. Then Kristine and I headed off shopping while Rod went to find the nearest bookstore. Luckily there is a Barnes & Noble there. We found the Lucky Brand store, Anthropologie, the Boheme Boutique, PacSun, Build a Bear and then we found Rod at the bookstore. Here is Kristine with proof that we found all of the stores.

Then we drove on down to Fairview to visit Rod's Mom. It was fun to spend the night and get to visit with her. We watched the Young Women's Broadcast with Kristine too. It's fun to have a young woman in our family and fun to share this with her.

 

Jenene had this picture of her and Max, which I loved and had to get a copy of.  Rod's Dad passed away in November 2009 so we are all missing him.

 The next morning of our Spring Break we woke up to snow. Which is typical for spring trips to Fairview, About an hour down the road, the snow was gone and we got to see the sun. We stopped in Cedar City and took a little tour of old homes, and schools and showed Kristine just how far I used to have to walk to school. It was kind of fun to stop and eat at the Burger King that was built where our old house used to be. That afternoon we found St. George, Utah, and capri's and sandals that we haven't seen in months.

 

The next morning we took the bike and headed to find the Mountain Bike Trails. This is what we found. Evidently this spot is popular with the Biggest Loser Resort hikers too.

Rod takes my iPhone on the trails because I have this neat trail app, so he was taking pictures with it and Kristine and I had my new camera to take pictures while we hiked. 

The trail we found the next day was one of Rod's favorites, but I don't have pictures, because it was a drop him off and try and find the trailhead at the end of the trail. Remember that he takes my iPhone and its neat app so I am doing this without my GPS. I did have a good navigator and we found it just fine. The last part of this trail was like a roller coaster for bikes, so Rod had to go ride the last part again. He had a blast, but it sounds a little scary for me who is lucky to make it around the block on a bike.

Now it wouldn't be spring break without pool pictures. And we have plenty of those.

 

We lounged, read, took pictures, stitched and texted but mostly we enjoyed being warm. If you were wondering about Gus, he got to spend the week in the kennel with the nice people at the Sunnyside Vet people.

Celebrating with a Giveway ~

I am celebrating the launch of my new cross stitch design business with a giveaway on my From the Heart Needleart Blog. Click on the link to go there and get the details. 

Happy Birthday Kristine!

 Today my little girl turns 16. Yikes, where has the time gone! I am home baking and cooking for a family party tonight. I hope she is has a great day.  The poor girl has about 5 tests today so not everyone is helping her celebrate, but once school is out, we will start the party.

We love you Kristine!

Learning New Things ~

One of the great things about starting my designing business again is the opportunity to learn new things. Today I learned how to make a pdf file, and put a link up on my Needleart Blog so anyone who wants the little freebie chart can download and print their own copy. Here is the picture, and you can click on the link in the right column to go to the From the Heart Needleart Blog and get a copy of the pdf file for your very own. Now you are all set to grab a needle and floss and go learn something new.

 Look at this cute picture I found on my camera. See, I told you he was a sweet boy.

My New Adventure ~

I haven't really talked about it much on my blog, and maybe some of you have figured it out, but here is the big announcement. I have started my cross stitch design business again. I was a designer back in 2000 to 2005 and then started my own business in the fall of 2005. But life got busy and From the Heart Needleart got put on the back burner for a few years. Well, the timing is right and I am back at it. I have several new charts ready to take to the printers and submit to my distributor. It has been lots of fun. There is a link in the right sidebar to my design blog, so you will have to stop on over and see what is going on.

Blog Friends ~

One of the fun things about blogging is getting to "know" other bloggers from around the country. And sometimes there are "Blog Candy" giveaways, which are always fun, especially if you  win.  I just got an email that I was a winner on the At Willow Tree Pond blog. Which makes me think it might be time for a blog giveaway here too.

Future Dog Trainers ~

Yesterday I had a visit from two sweet little girls, and their parents too. Kymber had a dentist visit so Sydni and her dad played at our house awhile. They were so excited to get to see Gus too. These tiny little girls can get him to do whatever they want. He obediently goes to the kennel, or the backyard when they want him to. It is really fun to watch them wrap their little arms around his middle or his big neck and try to get him to move. And the funny thing is, it works! Of course they know where his treats are and he gets double treats when both of them are here. He really is a sweet dog and is so patient with them. Yes, he it totally spoiled, but look at that face. You'd have him spoiled rotten too.

 Look at these cute little pictures of Kaden that Jen took the other night. He is such a happy little boy!

Jen and Kaden ~

 These two looked so cute this morning before they headed off for their day. I just had to get some pictures.  Kaden is almost 9 months old. He just learned patty-cake this weekend and is always smiling, except when you are trying to take is picture or when Gus steals his crackers.

It's all about Family ~

I've realized that my life pretty much revolves around my family. My mornings are spent helping get Kristine off to school, sometimes I'll get her breakfast, and some days I just visit with her while she gets ready. Most days she drives herself to school, (which is wonderful on these super cold days when I would really rather stay inside where it is warm) sometimes I will take her and we enjoy talking together all the way to school. Then I come home and get to be Grandma and enjoy playing with Kaden for a bit while Jennifer is getting ready for work. Then it is time to help bundle him up and get him and his gear ready for the day. Then I have the rest of the day to myself, well, me, the laundry and the dishes. So I have time to clean up after the morning rush and get ready for the afternoon. Sometimes Rod or Jen will stop in on their lunch hours, but they are pretty self sufficient and can get their own lunch, so it is just fun to have them here for a short visit. Then it is time to get Kristine or even better, to wait for her to get home. Her afternoons are pretty fun, movies and snacks until dinner time. I either have dinner doing by now, or work on it then. Dinnertime at our house has really become a ritual. It is always ready about 10 minutes after Rod gets home from work. The older kids knew that if they weren't here, there would be leftovers waiting for them. Brad has moved into an apartment in town and is starting his new job, new ward etc., and we have really missed him being here and coming home for leftovers. But that has it's upside too. Yesterday, since he just moved about 4 miles away, he was able to come over for Sunday Dinner. Don't you think that sounds like a great new tradition. To add to this fun routine, Michelle and Alex and their little girls live just an hour away and are usually in town a couple of times a month, so I am always ready to drop whatever I am doing (which you can see isn't hard to do) and play with little girls. I love to hear those sweet little voices when they open the front door and say "hello"!  After dinner it is homework time up on our bed. I don't know how that ended up being the favored spot, but it works, and we enjoy the family time. In the middle of all of this, I have Gus, my sweet Basset Hound to keep me company. He loves sleeping in his bed by the fire and when it warms up to 10 degrees he likes to play outside. If you are wondering what I do in the big empty time in the middle of the day, well, that varies, lately I have been doing some Mixed Media Art pieces. Kymber saw some that I'd done and was ready to take them home, so I made one for her last week. Can't wait for her to see it and finally be able say yes, you can take it home. Hers is the one with the flowers. Yep, I am pretty lucky to be able to be here and take care of my family. They are all self sufficient and could really get by, but I love being able to be home and do what I do. You see it really is all about family!