My new bedding

Well speaking of talent, I have a sister that decided one day that she wanted to take up quilting.  And mind you, this was only earlier this year.  I saw what she was up to and the finished projects and oh my, I was in love.  So I asked if she would make me new bedding and after a couple of months, she finished it.  Along with one for my family room wall, but I need Darrin's help to hang it.  I still am waiting for 3 Euros for the pillows, but this is unbelievable.  I love it, I love it, I love it.  And anyone that knows me, I love color, bright colors too.  So this is absolutely perfect for me.  I call it "My Gay Pride Parade" quilt.  (No, I don't swing left...)

Thank you Marion!!  You truly are the best!!!

 

Megan's Birthday Aprons

For those that know me well, know that I don't sew.  I tried once and it was a nightmare of a Laurel Project in my California Ward.  Well, that experience was so frightening, I have never touched a sewing maching since.  When my parents came out in September, I finally made the investment and bought a sewing machine for my mom to use when we would visit.  (We were using so many friends that I thought it was time that I at least I had my own for my mom to use.)

 

Well, it was decided that Megan wanted a cooking birthday party.  My good friend, Anne, made some fun suggestions.  One of which would be for each girl to have her own apron.  We went shopping to get all the good stuff.  Well, time is drawing near and I was/am getting a little nervous.  So I pulled out the fabric, cut each piece out while Darrin read the instructions of how to use the sewing machine.  And sure enough, Darrin learned how to sew.  No, no, no not me, Darrin!  Darrin sewed 12 aprons this weekend.  We still need to sew on the pockets and ribbon, but hey, I am quite impressed with my hubby!

 

 

Sleeping Surrey

So our little girl really wanted to sleep in our bedroom last night in her sleeping bag that her Nanny bought for her last Spring.  So we rolled it out, layed her pillow down...but nope, not ready.  She said that she needed to sleep with her dolls too, which Nanny also handmade.  So all three slept peacefully on my floor.  OK, even the Dora blanket is compliments of Nanny.  Thank you Nanny, I slept well.  Love you, Surrey

 

**Sorry, I don't know how to rotate the pics...Darrin, help me!

 

Passionate About Politics

This is the time of year where discussions get heated, opinions stated, and for me, my passionate about politics resonates.  Yesterday, while watching my beloved Megyn Kelly on Fox news, show a clip from a new youtube video paid for by a couple well known Hollywood actresses.  Their opinions, their statements were really offensive, condescending, and completely disrespectful regarding my beliefs, my standards, and morals.  Their ideas of being "opend minded" were definitely not of that nature.  They stated that if you disagreed with them you were ignorant, "stupid," and other choice words.  I was really bothered by the video.  In fact, I couldn't get it out of my mind for the rest of the day.

The topic of the video went against everything I believe.  I have always viewed life as sacred.  Now being a mother and surrounded by women of my age-mother or not-my thoughts and feelings have even grown.  I have seen children come into families with gratitude, love, and thanksgiving.  I have seen children depart at too early of an age, and watched the heartache as a new mother's arm were left empty.  I have seen friends ache to be a mother and the opportunity never arising.  Children are a blessing from our Father in Heaven, they are not a choice, not an after thought.  They are so innocent, so pure, it baffles me that people could think otherwise.  I understand more and more why the Savior always surrounded himself with children.  They are so quick to forgive, so easily to love and give love.  Their lives are so sweet.  I love it when my children want so suggle with me, lay with me, just to be close. What a wonderful blessing that is, that they want to surround their lives in mine!

I contemplated on the words by President Monson in the April 2012 GC Conference. He declares: "The tenor of our times is permissiveness. Magazines and television shows portray the stars of the movie screen, the heroes of the athletic field—those whom many young people long to emulate—as disregarding the laws of God and flaunting sinful practices, seemingly with no ill effect. Don’t you believe it! There is a time of reckoning—even a balancing of the ledger. Every Cinderella has her midnight—if not in this life, then in the next. Judgment Day will come for all."
http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2012/03/believe-obey-and-endure?lang=eng

Last night our family read in Mosiah 16 which talks about Abinadi preaching the purpose of the Fall and the Savior Redeeming us from our sins. The first four verses state: "And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: "The time shall come when all shall see the ^asalvation of the Lord; when ^bevery nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall ^cconfess before God that his ^djudgments are just.

2 And then shall the ^awicked be ^bcast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and ^cweep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not ^dhearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.

3 For they are ^acarnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did ^bbeguile our first parents, which was the ^ccause of their fall; which was the cause of ^dall mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, ^eknowing evil from good, ^fsubjecting themselves to the devil.

4 Thus all mankind were ^alost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state."

 

The more I jump into the scriptures, the more they speak louder to me, my life.  With the elections just days away, I feel honored, maybe even relieved, that I have the opportunity not only to vote, but that possibly have an elected leader who believes as I do.  Who embrasses the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who holds to those standards that I have lived by, whether through my upbringing or now in my adulthood.  But not just that, but that a leader who could lead our country for the better. See people restore financial stability with employment, the ability to afford gas and groceries again, to see peace and prosperity in a country that I know I was blessed to be born into.  I guess November 6th will only tell...

We Won! Jack's team won!

We signed both our kids up for Fall Rec Soccer and anyone knows, soccer is a HUGE deal out here!  So Jack and Megan are officially playing with the Gunners Rec Teams.  Megan has been having much for fun than Jack...at least until Saturday.  Jack's team finally won their first game of the season: 4 to 2!  The players, parents, and coach couldn't have been more thrilled.  These boys played hard and worked together as a team.  It was amazing.  What a great day for these cute boys.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

 

 

Spring Pictures

Jenny Fairbanks took Spring pictures of our children.  With various conflicts with vacations, we finally got the pictures back. Here are some samples.  These pictures were taken in our neighborhood late May-absolutely gorgeous walking path.  We quickly learned, however, that Jack is severely allergic to these "weeds!"  His allergies broke out in full swing within minutes that Darrin had to rush him home for a bath and multiple doses of medicine.  The pictures with him below were taken the next day.  (Yes, Jenny was kind enough to retake pictures of Jack the next day.  So those are his semi swollen eyes after multiple and heavy doses of Clariton and Zyrtec 16 hours later-poor kid!)

Alki Beach-Seattle

We're coming to our last couple of days with Kate.  We have been wanting to take her to Alki Beach.  Alki Beach is West Seattle off Elliott Bay.  It's one of the closest things to a normal pacific coast beach for us with rolling waves, salt water, and real soft sand.  We were a little concerned this morning when the fog rolled, bringing it cold and damp weather.  But fortunately, by 10:30am the warm sunshine burst through!  So we took adventage of it and headed to Alki Beach.  The kids played, got wet, searched for sea glass (mom's favorite), dug holes, got sandy, got more wet, collected more sand... It was a really good day, a much needed incredible day, in fact.

The tide was really low when we first arrived.  But within a couple of hours, the waves rolled in, covering most low beach.  Still left plenty of room to run, splash, and play for the kids.

It wouldn't be a Seattle day without watching the ferries go back and forth.