PICTURES

Jeremy has been complaining about my lack of pictures, so here they are, in reverse chronological order (since that's the way blogger likes to do things) I usually don't have the corresponding pictures when I post something or the patience to download them..
But here's our recent pics:

Me holding baby Reagan!

Jack had so much fun bringing his cousin up to spend the night at the cabin!

Jack always asks to take my picture, but I usually have to bend down to get into the picture frame..

Tate enjoying some powdered donuts..

Halloween '09: Jeremy went as Tiger Woods

I went as octomom, Tara was Amy Winehouse, too funny! She was even drunk just for the effect! (Just Kidding)

Jack was Optimus Prime..

Tate was an adorable little dragon. We went to baby Elle's birthday/Halloween party. It was so much fun!!

Jack LOVES to hunt for Sprouse Grouse. (Or, as he calls them, "Moose Grouse")

That time of year again...

So I have been horrible at blogging.
What has been happening?
The boys got pinkeye, then colds.
I got their cold.
Drank 4 gallons of orange juice, collectively. (Tropicana only in this household)
Stayed the night at the cabin.
Had a niece born.
Booked my Mexico tickets.
Looked at about 2,000 condo rental options in Cancun.
Made a christmas present.
Designed a CD cover (for church, don't get too excited)
Got a bedroom set and it finally forced me to organize my room.
Went to a beautiful wedding in Whittier.
Found creative ways to not go crazy while avoiding the below zero temperatures outside.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving. (I'm making cranberry salad and sweet potato souffle, my two faves!)

Love November already!

My niece was born via C-Section yesterday, what a great day! Welcome to the world baby Reagan!! She is SO precious!! Check out pics on Heidi's blog.:)

BUSY week!!

So my sisters baby shower is this weekend and I have been so busy getting ready. Sewing presents, planning menus, figuring out and shopping for decorations etc. Jeremy said "You know you re psycho with this baby shower right?" to which I replied "Yep". We are hosting a luncheon for probably 30+ women so we have a lot of cooking to do as well! We are making soups and MAKING bread bowls so hopefully it all turns out!!?
Will post pics in a couple of days!! My little niece is due in 2 1/2 weeks!! SO excited for you Heidi!!

Project: Dining Room

So in our townhouse, things are a little cramped. Not like we were when we were trying to fit everything in 2 bedrooms, but still. So, storage is always an issue, and what else do I need to store, but sewing stuff?? Fabric, patterns, threads, embroidery supplies, scissors and so on..

We have had these 2 wall cabinets in storage since we first moved out of our house. They were from a home that I worked on, and were ordered the wrong height. They are gorgeous cherry, high-end cabinets that were missing one thing. Glass in the doors. So I decided I really wanted to do antique-looking glass. I called several different places to get a quote on "seeded glass", and guess what price I was given?? Over $500 dollars! Ouch.
So Jeremy suggested (what else?) fabric.
The result??







Not too shabby!!

Tate..

Isn't he so cute?!

Hellooo, winter.

It turned cold here. Yesterday was literally in the forties. 2 weeks ago, I said I was ready for fall. But NOT winter, good grief! Jeremy has the day off and took Jack down to the Kenai for a good ol day of fishing in the frigid cold. I'm SO glad I'm not going!;) Tate and I are keeping the fort down.

This morning I woke up and had to sew something that I thought of while lying in bed last night. I am in love with all the applique that my embroidery machine does, like it waay more than embroidery even! And I didn't even know my machine could do that when I bought it!
Tate has had a little rash around his mouth for like a month now and I FINALLY took him in to the pediatrician yesterday. He was diagnosed with "rash around his mouth". Helpful. But we also got an appt. with an allergist because the kid is always scratching at his sides and tummy like he itches. Soo, he may be allergic to something in the laundry detergent, but I've used several and they all seem to cause itchiness. Once we get it narrowed down, hopefully he'll feel a little better. He may be a 40 year old someday who's still using Dreft detergent? (Which by the way, I'm switching to starting today. Hopefully it helps!)

Another onesie project!

LOVE, LOVE these big buttons made by Dill. This button is 1 3/4" wide- HUGE!! So fun and easy!! I just cut out 3 circles, 2 leaves, used a fabric spray adhesive to attach them and then sewed a swirl on top to secure. (Love the shabby, frayed look- and it's so easy!) Lastly, hand-stitched on this BIG button for such a fun look!
Jeremy's going moose hunting again this weekend, and I'm decorating for fall, I think!! The leaves are changing here and it's looking gorgeous out! Have a great weekend everyone!

It's cooooming...

For some reason I really like Halloween even though the day itself really is not that fun?! I swear, it's not even that fun for kids anymore is it? At least, it doesn't seem to be the same as when I was growing up. Course that could be because I'm 29, instead of 5. Hmm. Anyways, made this little shirt for Tate today to kick off the season for me. I got my wonderful shipment in from Kidsblanks.com- wholesale onesie site that has thick, high quality onesies. Got some gorgeous chocolate browns and white. I've tried embroidering on the cheap Gerber ones and they jus't can't take it. Anyways, the minimum order was $100 so you better believe I've got myself a stash now!!
Looks like the housework is going to be suffering.
We took family pictures last night, can't wait to see how they turn out!!
Also: A while ago I changed my blog and somehow lost my links on the side. If you used to be on there and are now not, it's because I don't have it! Please give me the link again!;)

More stuff that occupies too much time..

My SIL Stephanie had a baby on Wednesday, 09-09-09. (One of the pluses of C-Section baby- you can pick the day!)
Welcome Jason Mathews Bowen. No pics of the little guy yet, hopefully I'll get some today! We're on our way to the hospital to drop off these burp cloths, receiving blanket and little hat I made! I seriously just LOVE to sew when I can be creative!

Wrapping up summer 2009

Due to our recent move, I am behind at blogging and well, everything. We moved into a townhouse that is across the highway from our new home (hopefully) to be built THIS spring.
Jack started pre-school at the end of August. It is a preforming arts academy so on Tuesdays he goes to a tumbling class and on Thursdays they do either jazz dance or tap. Can't believe how big he's getting, but I'm not gonna lie- I LOVE the 3 hours I get to run errands or relax with just 1 kid.;) I made him his pre-school bag.. just kind of made up the pattern as I went along, and of course embroidered his name and a little monster on it;) He feels so grown-up to be going to "school".
We also recently took the boys to the Alaska State Fair where we spent about $60 on food and ate ourselves into a coma. Jack LOVED the rides, but not so much the pony ride. He had a frown on the whole time. I looked over at Jeremy and said "what kind of kid doesn't like a pony ride?" Jeremy said "Well, it just goes around in a circle. It IS pretty boring.." Oh, OK.. information you could have told me before I threw away $7.00.








This past weekend, we went to the cabin. We had 2 other couples up there with us and each couple had 2 young boys. We had 6 4-wheelers up there so we took them all on a long ride, did small rafting trips on the river, had great food, GORGEOUS weather, and so much fun!! Hope everyone had a great long weekend! What a wonderful way to end summer!

I'm married to an old man

30: Age my husband turned
100: percent chance of rain for the day
0: number of rain drops we actually got
1: number of brown bears we saw

Click to enlarge and see our stalker friend swimming in the background

3: number of fishing sites the bear followed us to
10: number of tourists on raft that floated down directly behind us and were frightened to death by said bear when he barreled into the river and charged them.

6: hours that all the men on the trip fished
30: minutes that I fished total ALL day- and caught more fish than anyone

"Look, mom.. don't I look boota-full?"

This is never a good thing to hear from a 3 year old. Ever. I left my mascara in the backseat of the car a couple of weekends ago. It is literally a 3 minute drive from our house to church but on the way home Jack managed to do this. :)

Summer Joys

We've had such a great summer. So many sunny days (excluding this week!) and WARM. I've been loving it, every day in the 70s or over 80. We've gone to the cabin every Thursday for the last few weekends because everyone at Jeremy's work was cut to 32 hours so every Friday off! Bad for finances, but FUN for us!
We are still homeless gypsies, it's a long story but let's just say that life is not always exactly how you plan, right!? We've been rolling with the punches. Life is still good despite the constant change of plans due to circumstances beyond our control.
Tate is still not walking but keeps up with the best of them. He's about half the length of me and as adorable as ever.
Jack is Jack. So much fun, such a handful. Here's an exchange that happened tonight:
Jack:"Dad, will you get me a spoon?"
Jeremy: "Why don't you get it yourself?"
Jack: "Huh! That's a funny joke, Dad."
He's dead serious. Yep, I'm in for it.
I've also been busy sewing like crazy. I've posted a few projects for a baby shower I went to recently! If you look close at the quilt and the towel you'll see a little applique that my embroidery machine did.
More pictures to post soon!

4th!!

We had such a great time this year up at the cabin with the family. Jeremy's parents came up as well and we ate, fished, 4 wheeled and relaxed. The weather was beautiful (4th of July tradition) and everything around us was even more beautiful.
I woke up the morning of the 4th to get started on the boys shirts (slave to the machine). Someday they will not let me dress them at all (let alone in matching shirts) so I'm taking full advantage while I can. Plus, I'm hoping that someday they will be grateful when I make them a quilt with all of these commemorative shirts I've made throughout the years.
I felt especially grateful for the men and women who fight everyday to make this country what it is. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have been born in such a great country and to a great family.
Hope everyone had a great 4th! Isn't America the best!!?

Enjoying Summer: Tate's birthday party, first haircut, a day at the cabin and Father's Day Float!

Jeremy floated down Willow Creek on Saturday with my dad and caught this rainbow.

Tate "before" :)

Tate in the sink with Grandma giving him a haircut!

The cabin in the summertime!

Jack and mom relaxin on a rock chair down by the creek.
We've been enjoying summer! Will blog more later, have more photos to add to this post but they're not on this computer yet. Oh and by the way, the Chinese Lunar calendar does not lie, my sister is having a GIRL! Congrats Heidi!!!

Can't believe he's ONE!!!

Elle helping Tate with his gift..

Gymboree gifts from best friend Elle! (He'll pay her back with dinner and a movie in about 18 years.. or 30 if you ask Bryce, right Tara!?)

Tate's birthday onesie!

Tate turned one years old today! I can't believe that I no longer have a tiny baby, sometimes I swear I still feel like I have a newborn until I see someone else with an actual newborn and it snaps me back to reality!
Tate is the funnest little guy. He says "mama" (constantly), "dada" and "buh-buh" (bye). He is all smiles and is the wiggliest kid on the face of the planet. I still look around at other kids at church that are his age and they are just sitting on their mom's laps!? Will. never. happen.
Another sunny Alaska day- so we went swimming!! I spent the morning making a birthday onesie for Tate (still having fun with the embroidery machine) and made some cupcakes so he can devour his very own after dinner. Tara brought over his best friend, Elle, and they had so much fun together!
Not much else has been going on. I ran another 12k after much prodding from my little sister, last Friday. I got sick to my stomach and had to walk between mile 4 and 5. Sad. Guess I can't take a month off from running after all? Not to mention the big dinner I had a couple of hours before... whoops. (What was I supposed to do, my husband took me to the best Italian restaurant?!)
We also have decided to rent instead of build this season. I know, we are crazy and change our minds everyday!! But we are moving into the townhouse July 1st, we have finally made up our mind for sure. We just don't feel good about building right now. So, that's that.
Anyways, Happy Birthday little guy, we love you!!!

Machine in Action

Did this little outfit for Tate tonight! Turned out cute, love it!!
I downloaded the design from Urbanthreads.com, changed the colors and the wording, used PE-Design to input a true-Type font from off my computer and pressed "start". So easy!

Memorable Memorial Day

Another Holiday!
We had a great day up at the cabin with our friends Tara and Bryce and their darling little girl, Elle. We headed up after church on Sunday and bbqed some tri-tip, did a little fishing(well, the boys did), and hung out on our own little sandy spot of the shore.
We ended the night with a little Arrested Development (we are all about electricity when we're roughing it!) .
The next morning we were delighted to see that we were going to get some serious sun, and we were actually hot sitting in it! The boys did some 4wheeling while we hung out with the kids.
Such a fun weekend!

Busy May!

In our family we make boys by the wagon load!

Last week, I went in to work a couple of days, had a birthday, and took a shopping trip to Anchorage for furniture. Jeremy got me a Brother 750D embroidery machine for my birthday along with a couple cases of embroidery thread, some gingher curved handle scissors and all kinds of extra accessories. I was so excited! I've been wanting one for a long time so that I can do custom gifts- towels, onesies, and names/monograms on quilts etc.
It has been ridiculous gorgeous here every day for weeks now. Perfect sunny, beautiful weather! Maybe we won't move afterall (we've been threatening to since last summer's horrible trick)
Sooo excited for this weekend, we are going to my parent's cabin tomorrow after church and staying the night to 4wheel all day Monday. Have a great Memorial Day everyone and don't forget to remember the brave who make this the land of the free.