Will U B Mine 4-ever?

I know it's totally CRAZY to think that my baby could actually be on the cusp of doing something so grown up and so adult-ish and responsible as getting married but crazy or not and ready or not Chase asked Lauren to marry him this last Thursday (during a record breaking Arizona rain storm) and he was lucky enough to have her say, well at least nod "yes!"

I know I have said this at least three times before (with Todd, Tyler and Justin) but she is perfect for him. She is so good and sweet and thoughtful. We absolutely love Lauren and we look forward to having her in our family. They are a perfect match and such a fun couple to be around. They are two lucky, happy people!

They are planning an April 23, 2010 wedding date in the Mesa, Arizona Temple!

Service with a Flair for Apron Fashion

Ever since I was called to serve in the Stake Relief Society for our Church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) I have noticed we do a LOT of cooking for "events". It's fun to do that kind of thing when you work with people you love, which I DO, and when you look good doing it. I decided we needed to have matching aprons for the events we will be serving at and I wanted them to be really special. I wanted them to show who we are...hence the heart on the front. We love to serve and we love the people we serve. I also wanted them to be versatile so there is an "at home" side and a "church side". Both sides are flanked with ruffles and flowers and bows and ric rac and lots of fun stuff. They were so fun to make (at least looking back, you see I could have enjoyed it more if I would have had that idea in July instead of December 10th and with a December 18th deadline, but I love the adrenaline rush of getting an idea at the last minute!) At any rate you can see for yourself how totally together we look and that picture was taken at the END of the event we served at. I really wish I would have gone for a hair-do other than the famous pony tail! Oh well.

Back Strap detail

This little flower goes on back strap and is hooked there with velcro!

The at home side! This side has a row of pockets and a special little cell phone pocket!

The Relief Society side...hearts knit together in Unity and LOVE! (and ruffles)

The Relief Society Presidency. After seeing this picture I sure am glad Sarah gave me a little more color in my hair this time! Thanks Miss Sarah, sure is great having a hair color expert for a daughter!

Sew What?

I LOVE TO SEW! "Sew What?" you might say and I would probably say "anything and everything." If it's made of fabric I love to try to sew it. I have always wanted a daughter I could share this love with. Laurie and I used to love sewing together when we were at BYU and then later when we had little munchkins but then we moved and that spoiled everything. Same thing with my sister Darlene, although we still sew together long distance, on the phone. That is all good but none of that was the same as having a daughter that you could teach to sew and enjoy sharing that with. A few weeks ago Bekah came to me and asked me what I thought of a cute shower curtain she really liked that was in a really great store here. I like, like... LOVED it but it was quite pricey and I wasn't crazy about the fabric and I thought it could be a much cuter if we did this and added that. Long story short, we were on our way to the beautiful fabric store and got some darling fabric with which to make a shower curtain.

Bekah came over last Saturday and spent a few hours sewing. She was amazing and did a fabulous job of surging and doing the rolled hem on the surger and she also cut out all of her stuff and then the most fun thing RUFFLES! She was amazing and more amazing than that was that I actually did let her do it all herself. I was just milling around organizing my sewing room while she hummed away on the sewing maching just a few feet away. She still has a few hours ahead of her but I promise pictures when it's done.

I was so excited by that experience that I asked the other girls if they wanted to learn to sew. Sarah said she wanted to make Lyvi an apron. Perfect! I knew she had made Lyvi pajama pants before Christmas so an apron would be a great progression. I asked her if she had any thoughts on what it should look like and she didn't. GOOD! So I made it have as many little "learning" things on it as I could think of. Similar to the shower curtain, she got to surge, and do the rolled hem and ruffle like CRAZY. When she was done it was so cute.

Lyvi was a big help. We planned on her napping but for once (Nikki you are gonna love this) she would not go to sleep. She cried! Yes Miss Lyvi cried when we put her down. She wanted to sew with the big girls. Well I prefer them a little older but we made do with what we had. When it was all done Lyvi did NOT want to try on that apron. Sarah is so smart though, she told her, "if you put the apron on Grandma might have a treat for you." On it went. I found some M&M's and we were all happy. Below is the amazing little apron Sarah made for Miss L.

Don't even try to take that candy away from her. What's next Sarah?

Let it Go, Let it Go, Let it Goooo!

I love Christmas, I love the shopping, the lights, the tinsel and even the rush and commercialism. I love the true meaning of Christmas and having family around a lot more, I just love Christmas BUT once it's over I'm done, I want it outta here on the first train. I want the tree down and the decorations put away. I want the house clean and the Christmas ham in the trash. I'm just done. This year was awesome because although I have my wierd Christmas-be- gone attitude it was awesome to have Jerry here with her yarn and knitting needles. We had lots of fun knitting. My sister Darlene made a pattern for these darling headwarmers and off we went!

The above pictures has Lyvi in her Headwarmer Grandma Jerry made her AND holding the little doll with the dress that Grandma Jerry crocheted her. Lyvi was most impressed that the baby had a bow!

A few things about Christmas! The kids had a blast. Christmas with little ones around is THE BEST way to celebrate Christmas. We have some traditions that bit the dust this year like bowling on Christmas Eve, we have done that for so many years I can't remember. It's a fun memory but this year we just decided we had too many little ones to make them wait while we had fun on Christmas Eve. So we stayed home and ate and the boys played bowling on the WII while the babies slept and the girls made jewelry. We are trying to come up with something that will be as memorable as bowling but it may take a few years?

Christmas Day was very fun, we went to Todd and Nikki's and watched the boys open gifts. They were so cute. Nathan would climb right on top of a gift and attack it like he knew what he was doing. I have never seen a 10 month old baby enjoy unwrapping like he did. Lyvi got new high heels and man was she proud of those. The Todd Danielson's got a trampoline and Lyvi got a new kitchen so everyone was in their happy Christmas place. Here are a few pictures of the festivities.

The Todd Danielson'sMiss Lauren -Chases Girl

Lyvi and high heels!

Chase

Hope you are all having a Great 2010!