Guest Blogging at Welcome to the Mouse House

I am guest blogging over at the amazing and wonderful Hayleys,  Welcome to the Mouse House, today. Head over there to get the pattern and tutorial for these adorable Tutu swim bottoms! 

Thank you so much Hayley for having me!!

Rat Fink 2013

Over the weekend we decided to head down to Rat Fink. It's a huge biker/car show and Gavin just loves it. I wont do much talking and just show pictures. The cars were just awesome and funny, so enjoy a bit of our weekend! 

Our love Story

13 years ago to the day I met my husband. We were both 16. My family had just moved us all into a new house in a new town while I was away at EFY camp, and on the day I returned I answered the door to 3 kids coming to meet the new neighbors. I know for a fact that Corey did not expect ME to answer the door. His first impression of me was:
1- astonishment that I was his age
 and
2- I was tall. Like, almost look him in the eye tall. (he's correcting me and telling me that since he was a step down from my door, I actually seemed taller than him.)

I was thrilled. In the town we moved from, I really didn't have any friends and I was so excited that 2 kids my age lived on the same street and wanted to be my friends.
We got to be really good friends and had a great summer. Then 2 weeks into our senior year his family moved "up north" (into the city and away from small hick life) and for a little while we didn't really talk.
I love to sing and had joined the school choir and for one of our performances we got to go up to Salt Lake City and sing in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. We were up there for a couple of days and during that time, Corey came to hang out with me and all of his friends from hick-ville. This is where "friendship" started to turn more into "romance". We had such a fun time and when he dropped us off at the house we were staying at and went to leave, I kissed him on the cheek. He had the STRANGEST look on his face. I'm pretty sure I panicked and shut the door a little harder then I meant to. Then I sat in shock wondering if indeed I had just kissed him, and what on earth had possessed me to do it. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to kiss him, I just couldn't believe I had been brave enough to actually do it! I went home thinking I'd never hear from him again.

How wrong was I.

After that the letters and calls picked up. We would spend every minute we could together. One night after we had gone for a walk, we were sitting on the curb in front of my house, my back against his stomach. I asked him what he was thinking and looked up at him and that's when he kissed me. On the lips! A cop passed us almost immediately following that kiss. Is that a good omen? Must be since we're still together. lol
 As soon as I got in the house I found that my whole family had been sitting at the window spying on us. They didn't see us kiss, but my little sister yelled out, "You kissed Corey!" and when I turned beet-red and responded with a, "So!" They all stood in disbelief. I think my mother thought Corey was gay (I can't blame her cause that thought had crossed my mind before, sadly) and then they all just burst out laughing. Yes, thank you family! I love you too!
Around graduation (May 2001) one of our mutual friends parents (did you follow that?) told Corey that he could use their little camper and stay in it for a while. We were together every day and I still remember how embarrassingly loud his Jimmy was. I could seriously hear him coming from half-way across town.
Just as I was gun-ho about kissing him first (does a kiss on the cheek really count as the first kiss?), I was the first to say "I love you" too. We were sitting in the trailer talking one day and I was pretty confident that he loved me. We were listening to music and I know I was putting on songs dealing with "I love you" to try and give subtle hints and make him say it first. It's incredibly sad what a nerd I was. I finally got annoyed that my attempts weren't working and just came out with it. There was a horribly long moment of silence. Then finally his response was, "Is that it?" Jaw drop and WHAT????
The only thing I really remember after that was how embarrassed and pissed off I was at his response. I mean, what kind of a response is, "Is that it?" anyways?

When I say I was angry, I mean that I was REALLY angry. I didn't see him before he went back up north and then after a couple of weeks not hearing from him, I figured that was it.
A guy at work had been bugging me to go on a date with him, so being hurt and just plain stupid, I said yes. I  dated that guy for a couple of months before ending it, and sometime during that time Corey had come down and seen us holding hands, so he thought I had moved on and it was over.

Corey did come back down here for college (fall 2001) but, things were awkward and we were trying the whole "lets just be friends" approach. That lasted until December when we finally, officially became a couple.
I went to England with my mother and sister for the whole month of March. I missed him so much. When I got back we talked a little about summer plans. Neither of us liked bringing it up though, cause we didn't like the thought of being apart again.
Then at the beginning of May 2002 Corey proposed. The story I love to tell is that we were on a walk by the Manti Temple when he asked me. Truthfully though, I was a brat and I made him do that months before I even went to England cause I just wanted to see how it would look to have him propose. And yes, "I" do that. lol
The real proposal did give me goosebumps (in the good way) and made me feel all giddy and happy but my semi-forced proposal makes a better story. :D
So that's our love story. And yes, we did get married 3 weeks after getting engaged. I have no patience when my mind is set on something. :D

Happy 11 years together to my wonderful husband and I hope a lifetime more to come!

Summer Vacation is officially Here!

This was the last week of school and because we had 4 kids going at 3 different times and days, I'm going to break this down by Day. 

Monday: Gavin had regular school, Aevarie only had Mayday practice and this was Zoe and Paisley's last day of preschool. I WISH WISH WISH I knew they had a little program going on, but I didn't and it didn't really matter cause Zoe refused to be a part of it and sat on my lap the whole time. They did have a fun time though and got to go to McDonalds. 

Tuesday: Gavin had regular school and Aevarie only had Mayday practice again. 

Wednesday: Mayday Performance. 

I get to post a cool awesome picture like Crys, where you have to play "Where's Waldo" to find my kids. I made bright green arrows to make it easier. 

Aevarie danced to the "Gummy Bear Song" (which they've been singing non-stop). I really wish I could post the video. She's such a cute little dancer! 

I'm not sure what song Gavin danced to, but he was really getting into it too. 

Thursday: Junior Olympics Day

This was the first year I got to see Gavin at Jumior Olympics. Gavin is a really good little athlete, something to do with all that energy..... Here's some pics from that day. 

Balloon catapult

Red Rover

Victory!

3-legged race.

Tug-o-war

The girls got in on the tug-o-war too. 

They had a booth set up with water and banana's for all of the kids, and they told my girls to take as much as they wanted......I don't think they realized how many banana's these girls can eat! 

Paisley decided to use the back of the stroller as a chair.

Zoe getting yet ANOTHER banana

And of course Zoe telling all of her tiredness woes to her banana friend before eating him. 

This was Aevaries last day of  Kindergarten. :(

Friday: Gavins official last day of school. They only went for 1 hour and 45 minutes. When Gavin got home, he promptly got into his comfy pajamas and declared that since he had woken up too early (7:45am) that he needed more sleep. lol

After lunch we went out to the park. All of the kids rode something and it took FOR - EV - ER to walk the 3 blocks up to the park. I was honestly ready to go back home and take a nap as soon as we got there!

I did let the kids play though. Gavin gave Jude a ride in his go-kart:

The kids had races down the grass hill:

We got to swing, which despite the picture, he really doesn't enjoy.

Aevarie helped Paisley cross the monkey bars:

Zoe spent her time doing some very serious riding and smashing bugs:

And when Gavin wasn't in his go-kart, Jude kept climbing in. 

Gavin is already giving him driving tips.....

So that was our lovely last week of school. 

Tomorrow our town has a festival so we'll take the kids down and walk around all of the booths. 

You can look forward to my guest blog coming up soon and hopefully I will get into a better blogging schedule! 

Have a lovely day and YAY FOR SUMMER!

Peek-a-boo Patterns Paradise Bay Tankini

I was so excited to be able to test the Paradise Bay Tankini by Peek-a-boo Pattern shop. I seriously LOVE Amy's patterns. This was the first swimsuit I have ever made and truth be told, I was pretty intimidated about it. The swimsuit really was a breeze to put together though and now I can't wait to get more swim fabric to make all of my kids bathing suits!

I made the size 3t and it fit Paisley perfectly, which was amazing! Usually when we buy swimsuits at the store I have to size down 1 or 2 sizes for this little girl.

I love the little ruffle at the top and the length of the bodice. So nice that it covers her little tummy. :D 

Paisley had a lot of fun with her photoshoot and I seriously can't say enough good things about Amy's patterns!

I couldn't resist showing a picture of her cute little bum.

 I can't wait to try Amy's Hang Ten Rash Guard and Surfs Up Board Shorts.

And if you're intimidated by swimsuits, don't be and dive right in! They really are a lot easier then they look!

A Day for Making Dolls

I have been so excited to share this post and just got all the pictures for it! During Spring break we decided to have a "kid sewing day". I had so much fun and really want to do a kids sewing course over the summer. Or at least just have a few days for kids sewing projects. We used The Girl Inspired's doll pattern  and let the girls choose their own fabrics and buttons for the eyes. 

My friend Becky came over with 2 of her girls and her niece. She was awesome enough to take pictures and I am so glad she did! 

So this is really how I do things. On the floor. Our basement is still a work in progress and one day I will get a sewing room with TONS of space and counter tops, but for the last 9 years, this is how it's been. 

My kids have learned to just play around me. lol

The girls did such a great job of sewing on the buttons all by themselves. 

And yes, those are red "zombie" eyes for Zoe. Don't ask. 

I adore this little stack of dolls ready to be sewn!

All of the girls were so good and patient waiting for me to finish so they could stuff them. 

And I know I didn't have them actually use the sewing machine, but I thought using a thread and needle made a great first lesson. 

Aevarie decided that the heads made some pretty fun hand puppets. 

The girls sewed up the bottoms by themselves and I believe they passed hand sewing with flying colors!

Afterwards we went outside to let the girls play with their new friends and get some pictures. 

I love this picture of them throwing their dolls up in the air!

And here's the girls video of playing Ring around the Rosie. 

I know they love their dolls. I hope it will be a memory that they will cherish forever. Thank you Becky for coming over and being part of our fun day!