Birthday party

Happy Birthday to Auntie Dee Dee (aka Megan) and Gramps!



We celebrated at the care center gramps is staying in. Just a few more weeks of antibiotics and he should be as good as new and ready to come home to his favorite big blue chair.









Auntie Dee-Dee was looking smashing for the day. She was spoiled with a blow out from her favorite stylist and a cutie sweater. She sure loves her sweaters. I still remember when Ry and I were dating, her announcing to me that it was sweater season when it was still 80+ degrees outside. We were on Weber State's campus by the institute. Funny what you remember.








Matt was happy to be there. Jake, well he was being Jake.























Sam was being silly. Mia thought that he was especially funny so she did it too.

The kids made Gramps a poster and they think it's the cat's meow to draw on it every time they go to the care center. And looky loo, I was there too.

Happy Birthday again!

Welcome Home (two weeks ago) Bren!

Looking through my pictures, I found that a few pictures of my happy nephew Brendan that got home from his mission to Chile a few weeks back.

Teryn and Cort went to pick him up and had a wonderful time. We gathered at the airport to greet him back. It was so fun to see him and how much he has grown.

Brendan is the most uplifting, happy, energetic kid that I know. He's always first in line to help with anything. And the way he helps is effortlessly charming. He doesn't force himself to help, he doesn't do it by habit, just genuinely and charmingly helpful. Oh, and he's pretty darn handsome too!

(Brendan and little bro Landon)

It's been great to listen to him and his stories. To hear his accent and funny to see him struggle to find the right English word to explain himself. We love him so much and we are so grateful to have him home and have him as an example to my boys. Welcome home!!

Memories of a typical Sunday evening

It's no secret that I love to play games. And I love to play games with my kids, especially Jake. He's old enough to play games that I like and because he's Mr. Smart-tay pants, he picks up fast. Also, he can rock a mean guitar on Guitar Hero.

Last night, at our weekly-ish gathering at the in-laws, Jacob, Mia, Sam, Gram and I played Mexican Train. Jake, a pretty good opponent while Mia chooses her team member according to who is doing best loving to match the tiles for you. Sammy making towers with the tiles while Gram and I laugh. All together, playing games and having fun.

I am imagine that years down the line that they will remember the good ol' days sitting around Grams' table playing Mexican Train. Chompin' on snacks imprinting their tiles with Dorito dusted fingers. And hopefully, just hopefully, still loving to play Mexican Train with their Gram and their Mama after all those years. This is just one of many memories made on a cold Sunday night with their Grandma that loves them to the moon and back.

Picture obviously not from a cold Sunday night in March.

{PS: Gram, I need pictures from you digital camera on my computer. :)}

Happy Birthday Kaylin!!

And a quick Happy Birthday shout out to my favorite hair dresser, niece extraordinaire, cutest little pregnant girl you have ever seen. Love you lots!

And why do I not have a picture of you?? I might have to steal on off your blog. :)

Happy Birthday Teryn!!

Happy Birthday to my favorite designing sister of mine! You are so much fun to be with and so much help and support to me. Your warmth and love radiates from you. I love your tender heart and genuine concern. Thank you for being such a great example to me and for being a fabulous sister!

Tonight, she had a the best surprise birthday party. Her husband had it all worked out and had Teryn completely surprised. They were on their way to dinner in Salt Lake when a worried "neighbor" called to tell them that the water was flooding basements in the neighborhood and that they better get back and check their basement fast. Teryn was so panicked about her basement that she didn't even notice us sitting in the dark. She was standing arms length out from Dan looking at the carpet. Finally, Dan said "Boo!" and it scared her right down to her knees. It was great!! We all laughed so hard we cried.

We enjoyed a catered dinner and cupcakes, a birthday game that Cort made for Teryn and lots of laughter. It was wonderful!!

So Happy 50th Birthday to my sweet sister Teryn! You don't look 50 and I say that 50 is the new 40.

Lots of hugs and kisses! Meg

Happy Birthday to my favorite Mama!

Happy birthday to my favorite Mama!! I hope that you had a wonderful day. It was so fun to get together with the family on Sunday to have dinner and celebrate.

Lots of hugs and kisses!

Megan and her clan.

Done!

Phew! Done. I was very happy with the outcome of Saturdays boutique. It was a lot of work, but completely worth it! Teryn was my number one helper in all of this. I wouldn't of pulled it off as smoothly without her. I quickly took a few snaps of my set up but we were already getting customers so they aren't that great. It was very pretty thanks to Teryn! Her husband put up a beautiful tree for us and we decorated the tables just in time. Teryn worked so hard and graciously for me while still recovering from her accident. I am sure that she won't love the picture of her in her brace, but it's the only one I have of the tree. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Teryn! I couldn't of done this without your support.

I was busy every minute doing everything tassel related. Ry says "It's tassel-mania here" and I agree. Just look at my spare room! Scary!

It felt fantastic to come home and know that I didn't have to do anything. And I didn't. I let Mia paint my fingernails to match hers (left hand red, right hand hot pink) and left them that way. (She's so proud!) I read books and snuggled and sat on the sofa. I put my kids to bed with lots of kisses and started to settle in myself and just as I was about to crawl in bed, the phone rang. I had forgotten to call Mom to let her know I was home so I could do her hair. So, at 10:15pm last night, I set and styled Mom's hair and trimmed Dad's and finally crawled into bed, way too late but content.

Today, I slept in and went to church and came home and played with the kids. Did you know it's hilarious to have me step on your tummy? The kept giggling and yelling "Me! Me!! I'm next!". The I snuggled my Sammy in for a nap and snuck one in too. It was so relaxing.

Be sure to check out my Etsy shop in the next few days. I will be updating with the rest of my inventory soon. For now, I am off to bed. Good night!

Oh Hai!

Wow, time really flies when you are avoiding the computer so you can't get some of your projects done. If you are expecting me to say that these said projects are actually finished, then you are sorely mistaken. I did finish of a few, but more about that later.

Most pressing news here is that my darling sister Teryn (shown her with her daughter) was involved in a terrible four wheeling accident this past weekend. They were in Moab for UEA weekend and had been out four-wheeling. They were riding back, just minutes away from camp, on a road going at least 40 mph when Teryn saw a dip in the road too late. When she hit it, she catapulted off hitting the ground first with her hands dislocating her elbow and then rolled several times breaking her back. Poor girl was completely aware of every second she was falling and rolling just praying for to stop knowing she was hurt. Her youngest, Landon saw the whole thing too. Not something you want your child to see.

She had to go alone in the ambulance from Moab to Salt Lake because her family needed to pack up the camp. I can't imagine how scary that would be for her and her family! So back to the same hospital that Papa just came out of, she was x-rayed and cleaned up and fortunately, she didn't need any surgery, but unfortunately, she is in a back brace for three months, the first month, being on 24-hours a day and complete bed rest. That has to be the worst part of it. If you know Teryn, she is so energetic and works hard and long. Just being bound to the bed now and the future pain she might have with her back will be so frustrating for her. Please keep her in your prayers for her recovery and sanity. She's home from the hospital tonight, happy to be in her own home and bed and have a chance to rest. I can't wait to go and see her to pat her head, hear her story and give her lots of good sympathy and love.

The Little Red Caboose Birdhouse

My sister Sharmyn is a creative soul. Recently, she and her husband traveled to Utah for Education Week and to spend time with her in-laws. We didn't get enough time with her. "We" meaning me. I briefly got her to myself on Monday night, where she showered us with gifts. Shouldn't it be the other way around? From her crowded luggage bag, she produced a Strawberry Shortcake book (I still very much love the original Strawberry Shortcake), a sweet little vase to match my decor, a handmade bag from India, few other little trinkets and fun things and this sweet little bird house that she made for Sam. I love this little birdhouse! It's made from an old book and just matches the boys room just so. I am looking for the perfect place to put it.




Thanks Sharm! I love it! Really I do! Wish that I could of had you all to myself because I am selfish like that. I am dying to come visit you at your home to see your stomping grounds.

Happy Birthday Grandma Sharon!

(I brilliantly remember that I have the camera sideways about halfway through. I am sooo smart!)

New and Improved!

Today is Sharmyn's official birthday! While she was visiting, we gave her a birthday present and a card that had 39 reasons why we love her. Today she is 40, so here is the list, new and improved! Now with 40 reasons! We could think of more!

1. You will “virtually” help decorate my front room.
2. You are the best cook evah!
3. You call me to talk just because.
4. You send me pictures of your wonderful front room.
5. You name your pets with fun “official” long names.
6. You sing me songs.
7. Like your birthday songs.
8. I really like your birthday songs.
9. And when you made me a birthday brunch even though you lived in NC.
10. You appreciate me for being me.
11. You are my #1 fan.
12. You are a great support and strength to me.
13. You have a strong testimony that is inspiring.
14. You wear cool jewelry and accessories.
15. Like when the wind blew that scarf around your neck just so. J
16. You love green - I love green.
17. You aren’t afraid to try.
18. You aren’t afraid to go to new countries and learn their customs.
19. You can speak Japanese fluently.
20. You have a great eye for unique and beautiful things.
21. You can see the beauty in everyone.
22. You are so helpful.
23. You give yourself fully in service.
24. You are beautiful.
25. You have your own floral business with a cool name.
26. You just adopted four new little kitties.
27. You work hard in your yard,
28. in your life,
29. on your spirituality
30. and everything that you do.
31. You are funny!!
32. I still remember going to your plays and dance concerts.
33. I thought that you were pretty cool! You STILL are pretty cool!
34. You love my babies.
35. When you made me Mother’s Day dinner on my first Mother’s Day. That really made my day!
36. You always have good music to listen to.
37. You are full of love.
38. You glow because you are so full of love and your spirit is so strong!
39. Because you are you and you are my sister!

and 40. You are the best person to joke with. You totally get it and keep playing along until I can't keep it up anymore and humbly bow down to your wittiness!

I LOVE YOU!! WE ALL LOVE YOU!!

Love,
Meg

A phone call

I got the best surprise today! Sharmyn, my sister that lives in North Carolina, called this morning. Nothing unusual for her to call me. She was just chatting about what I was doing that day when she asked if she could come over. "ARE YOU IN UTAH?" I screamed! "Not yet." she replied. "I am in Denver and will be over to play with you after 1pm." And played she did, but not long enough. I sure wish I didn't have to "share" her.

New Finds

For some reason, I have seem to be in some sort of funk this month. Usually, I love April because the flowers start to bloom, it's getting warmer, our wedding anniversary and my birthday. All good things but so far, I am not feeling it. So, in an effort to feel more anything but blah, I have been wanting to shop. Oh, what a good little shopper I am! Shop, shop, shop, shop, shop! Isn't it fun when you find the best little treasure or that perfect something?? I know you girls know what I am talking about.

This month, I found a few favorites while thrifting. (Thrifting sounds so much fancier than saying shopping at the DI. I just found this interesting article about how Desert Industries came to be.) I found lots of little things, but here are my favorites:

• This vintage material. It was in a bag that had some natural colored canvas and some really loud 70's floral for just $3. I really liked the colors and the design and it wasn't until I came home that I discovered the border. I think it is cute, but but doesn't the girls bonnets look a bit more like duck heads. Duck headed maidens or bonnet wearing maidens. What do you think?

• How can 50 cents make your life so much happier? When you buy this darling pattern! I love how it wraps and that it is reversible. How fun! I am excited to try it out for Mia. It's marked size 7 so it might be a while. I want to make one and see how it fits. It's marked "easy cut - easy sew" so it shouldn't be to tricky.

• This cute tin wall flower bucket. It still had the price tag on it from J&J Nursery, a fancy dancy garden shop. Originally $44.99 (though I really doubt any one would pay that much for it) mine for only $2. Added the greenery and it makes a very cute new spring door hanger.

Speaking of the front door, it's desperately in need of new paint. Ever since we bought the house, I thought that I would paint it black but now, I am leaning towards a pop of color. What if my door was say, springy green similar to the bucket there? Opinions?

And of course, today is my darling niece Lauren's birthday. She is so stinkin' adorable!! She is so fun to be around. Ryan and I got married the day after her birthday so of course, the day before the reception, my family decorated the church all day. It was beautiful and they did a lot of work and of course, were there late. Lauren was there with her parents and didn't complain even though it was her birthday. She is wonderful like that. Her big sister Kaylin wrote a nice post about her today found here. Kaylin is pretty cool too. Happy Birthday Laursy! We love you!!

Welcome Baby Abigail!

Meet baby Abigail.

First baby for my nephew Chris and his wife Angie. Born March 5th; 8 pounds :: 4 ounces :: 19 inches long.

She has Chris's mouth and Angie's nose and adorable round cheeks and wrinkly baby bird legs. Long baby fingers and long wrinkly baby toes and two sweet baby dimples. She's such a smart girl! She loves her binky (Angie's sister and I didn't have the heart to steal the binky from her while I snapped a few pictures). She has the sweetest little disposition and a soft, sweet newborn cry. She is so adorable!

The kids and were able to go and meet her the day after she was born. It was fun to see Chris as the proud papa that he is and Angie is doing wonderful especially since she was in labor for 26 hours!! Such a mama bear she is. She's great-grandbaby number four and it's funny that I realized that I was a great aunt when I was driving to their house. Chris and I have always been so close to each other in age (he's actually a month older then me) that I never really think of myself as "the aunt". Nevertheless, she is sweet and lovely and we are happy to have her in the family! Hopefully, she will think of me as the GREAT aunt that is fun and not great aunt that is old. Hee hee!

Bending the Rules Sewing

Last Saturday, I went to a double baby shower for my neice Brianne and neice-in-law Angie. Both were due to have baby girls within a few weeks of each other. Brianne's baby Aubri came three weeks early! Angie is due on February 29th. Many, many moons ago, I bought some sweet pink fabric to make the girls the scalloped blankets from Bend the Rules Sewing. There it sat and sat and sat waiting for me to start the project. Finally, the week before I got started.

I decided to use flannel for the back and Warm and Natural batting in the middle to make it nice and snuggly since it's so cold right now. I made the first one and it seemed so tiny. I followed the directions for cutting the top at 30x34 but must of not got the scollops on right because it was tiny. It's now a very warm, new blanket for Mia's babies. Second attempt I tried to make the size bigger, but only had 30 inches width for the batting. So it made kind of a oblong quilt, but it was okay. Until I put it in the wash and the flannel didn't wash that good and I didn't know that I was supposed to hand sew the scalloped edges that were open and well, they were a bit on the wonky side.


Okay, let's try it again! The day before the shower, right before work, I ran to the store with my fabric stashes in hand and found the cutest fabric and started it at 9pm when I got home from work. I found a much better size, using a yard of fabric for each and used flannel for the lining like the, uh, directions said to use. They turned out sooooooo darling!!! I only had two seconds to snap picture of each after then came out of the dryer before I headed to the shower.

Luckily, I found out that Angie didn't want pink for her baby so I changed quickly and matched some cute purple gingham fabric with the sweetest floral top. I was very excited about it! I made the diaper wipes container with some fabric from my stash.


Brianne's blanket took a whole new turn when I found the vintage looking rose print. Found the perfect dark rose for the backing and I was sold. I made her travel wipes container with the matching dark rose background and pink braid trim. I wish that I would of used red thread, but otherwise, it turned out great! It's hard for me to decide which one was my favorite!! Of course, they each got 9 billion blankets. I just really wanted to make them and I am glad that I did so I know how they go together.

(Wish Blogger would fix spell checker!!)

Miss Aubri

Meet sweet Miss Aubri.I couldn't wait any longer to meet her. On Sunday night, I drove down with Sam to visit. It's not a short drive since she lives almost 75 miles away but it was completely worth it. Miss Aubri is so sweet. She is so tiny and bunchy and smells so good. She has tons of soft dark hair and long fingers. Brianne looks like she is doing wonderful.

Sam was fascinated with Aubri. He kept saying "bah-bah!" and trying to poke her eyes and take out her binky. Not that he would of succeeded getting her binky. She has such a powerful suck that I had a hard time trying to take it out of her mouth.

It was great to see her and I wanted to stay for two weeks not two hours. Unfortunately, we had to cut the visit a bit short since Sam got sick and threw up on her kitchen floor. Visiting a newborn baby and having your son throw up isn't exactly ideal. I still feel really bad!I. I hope to visit them soon except this time, without the vomiting.

Congratulations!

Big congratulations to my niece Brianne and her husband Jake. They had their 2nd child this morning. A girl, 7 lbs 19 inches. We can't wait to meet her! I guess I better get started on that sewing that I was just talking about. I was hoping for another week at least. These girls that have their babies early is just not fair.

*Edited* They did name her Aubri which is something Brianne has wanted since she was young. I still can't wait to meet her!!

Maybe a few too many pictures

My family is so much stinkin' fun! I love it when there is a big family event not only because is getting together, but everyone is willing to pitch in and help. It's so amazing that everyone is ready and willing.

Sharmyn, she's the best!

She worked quickly all night making sure candles stayed lit (after my kids blew them out, ahem), helping the dessert table, bringing drinks to the bride and groom and family. I am soooo happy that she was able to fly in and come to the wedding. It was a big sacrifice for her and her husband. We were all so happy to see her and I kept following her around just to be with her. It's been two years since we have seen her last and it's just way too long.
It was great and not long enough!! It's been two years since we have seen her last and that's just too long. And, she brought prizes! Look at this way cool grocery bag that she made me. I wish that I could of gotten a good picture of the bag to show how cool it really is. It's very fun and I used it for a church bag yesterday. Thanks Sharmyn!

Lauren. Isn't she darling? She is a hoot! One of the official guest "bouncers" helping with presents, signing the book and the official line maker.

Handsome brother Bradey and Debra's brother Alan. Both so much fun! Alan and his wife eloped and have the best story about it.

Papa and Grandma with Mia.

See more on my flickr account.

Happy Birthday Sharon!

Yesterday was our Grandma Sharon's 60th birthday. We had a nice evening with her going out to dinner, opening presents, eating delicious cherry pie with ice cream and watching fireworks at the end of their driveway. Sharon is the best mother-in-law that a girl could ask for. She is very generous, loving, humble and fun to be with. She loves her grandchildren with all her heart! They truly make her happy to see them. She loves to do fun things with us like recently, she took us all to see Shrek the Third and snuck in Arby's sandwiches and drinks for everybody. She is funny like that!

She is very humble about her generosity and love. Always after she opens her presents, she thanks us and tells us how blessed she is to have us in her life. I think that it is the other way around for sure. She has a tender heart and she loves to tell stories and snuggle with the kids. Gramps says that she got extra "grandma genes".

Jacob says that he loves Grandma because "she does lots of crafts stuff with me, she is nice, she gives me nice presents, she is fun to build Lincoln Logs with, and to read books with, it's fun to jump on the trampoline and lots of other stuff!"

Mia says that she loves Grandma because "I love to watch shows with her, I love to play with Sammy on her lap, I love her to snuggle me in my blankie, and I love to play with Dee-Dee and Grandma making food."

We are so blessed to have her in our lives. I love her dearly and I am so lucky to have won the best mother-in-law lottery! Happy Birthday Sharon!

Jason McGrew Photography

Today is graduation day for Jason McGrew, my darling niece Kaylins' husband. He has been attending photography school back in Massachusetts for the past year. He has been working hard and it shows! He got some pretty amazing awards at his graduation! Check out his website and his blog. I am so proud of him and Kaylin and their little cuteness, Mr. Easton. They have worked hard and sacrificed a lot.
I am so excited to have them back in Utah and I will have to see if we can slip in and get our family photos taken by him. Hey, you should too!