Dear Mya and Aiden,

Of all

the

pumpkins

in the

patch

we'd

choose

YOU!!

Love, Mom and Dad

By the way this bull was VERY mean, he tried to swipe me with his giant horns while I tried to take his picture, and then I swear he was fixin' to charge...I saw my life flash before my eyes.

Spaghetti + Chocolate Pudding + a BYU fan = ??

One Happy Baby!!!!!




Chocolate pudding period = One Happy Mya!



and One Happy Baby + One Happy Mya = ONE HAPPY MAMA!!!!!



MATH LESSON OVER.

Celebrating September the Right Way!

while everyone else was thinking that September is a time for first days of school, and the beginning of football season, I was celebrating September for a reason even more special than those...National Sewing Month!!! Woohoo! ...here's how I celebrated! (by the way did I mention I am a hundred years old??)

*a child's apron...mya likes to cook without pants, this way she'll be a little more modest, and maybe a little more sanitary


* a diaper bag for my friend and visiting teaching sister



* more onesies! This one for a Texas obsessed grandmother-to-be!




* a party banner for an event that we also celebrated this month, McKinzie's baby shower. The theme was "Helping McKinzie build her nest", we had a lot of fun!




Sidenote: Aiden had a friend over at the shower...as you can see he's not so sure about cute little sophia...he eventually warmed up to her I think.
*Also, while my mom and dad were visiting my mom and I started on my very first quilt top! Anyway, a lot of these things I've given away so I wanted to post them so I can have record of some of the things I've done, and hopefully to see some improvement as I continue to "celebrate"...even if its no longer September ;o)

BIG news!

This post has lived in my head for awhile...but now that we've ironed out the details with my parents while they were here for a visit (more on that later), I felt it was time to tell our friends and loved ones we've decided to move to Utah in December.
Question #1 Doesn't Kimball have to go to school?
Answer: Kimball can technically do rotations with any Doctor, they just have to be approved with the school. Besides a 2 week E.R. rotation that is required in Fort Worth he can still do what he needs to in any area, and with a family full of medical professionals it shouldn't be hard to find a rotation (hopefully)
Question #2 Why?
Answer: a few reasons..With the fiasco last year and having to move, our new 12 month lease ends in Dec. So instead of trying to sign another 6 month lease we've decided to move in with my parents for the few interim months before we find out where we've matched for residency (March!). Also, our hope is to try and buy a home wherever that may be and living with my parents and not paying rent on a place will help us save up for a down payment on a loan. And lastly, traveling is soon going to be the name of the game not only to go to interviews across the country (already one in El Paso, and one in Virginia!) but also Kimball's away rotations, and I will want to travel with him to wherever we match to try and find a home. All of that adds up quickly monetarily so we can use all of the lee-way we can get financially.
....with that being said....
This has been an enormously hard decision. We WANT to finish out our med school days here in our home where we've built a comfortable place for our children, where we have a wonderful ward family, and very dear friends. We are aware that it will be even more difficult to say goodbye to those that have seen us through these last few years. There are those that think we haven't put a lot of thought into this, but we have and we both feel strongly that this is the path Heavenly Father would have us travel at this time. It will be bittersweet as we leave our family and friends here, but we're also excited to spend more time with my family and Kimball's little brother and his wife that live in Provo, and our friends down there.
So that's that. Until the time comes to start saying goodbye we will cherish these last few months we have to stay here in Texas which I've even grown to love (who'd'of thunk?) and save the farewell's for another day.

Few things in life are better..

Than when Grandma comes to stay!

Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, Ring the Bell!

(for maximum enjoyability listen to "We are Gonna Be Friends" on my playlist while reading this post =o)
Fall IS here, even though it's still in the nineties for us. Even so, here are a few of the things that fall has already brought that we have enjoyed lately!

- A New school year!
-New Confidence!


-New friends...apparently friends who are shocked to get their picture taken.
-A countdown chain for when grandparents come to visit..Happy Grandparents Day on Sept. 14th!..ours are coming the 17th and staying a WHOLE week!!!!!







-Pumpkin cookies! These NEVER fail to bring the fall spirit that I crave!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies
Cream together:
1 stick butter 2 eggs
1/4 c. white sugar 1 c. brown sugar
1 c. pumpkin 1 tsp. lemon juice
In separate bowl combine:
2 c. flour 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. ginger 2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda

Combine dry ingredients with creamed mixture and add chocolate chips. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Drink with milk!


These don't have anything to do with Fall necessarily but I wanted to share some card inspiration!


...yes fall is upon us...lovely, lovely fall. I can taste the hot chocolate already!

I could write a blog...I have thoughts!

so I'm toying with the idea of doing a creative blog...along with every other mother and their dog. ...What do you think? Sewing, scrapping, crafting, painting...hopefully some original stuff, also stuff from friends... hmmmm, just maybe.

If all else fails...put them in the bath.

Well when you put it that way...

I am thankful for the taxes I pay,
Because it means I am employed.

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party,
Because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

I am thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug,
Because it means I have enough to eat.

I am thankful for my shadow that watches me work,
Because it means I am out in the sunshine.

I am thankful for a lawn to mow, windows to clean and gutters to fix,
Because it means I have a home.

I am thankful for the complaining I hear about the government,
Because it means we have freedom of speech.

I am thankful for the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot,
Because it means I am able to walk and I have been blessed with transportation.

I am thankful for my huge heating bill,
Because it means I am warm.

I am thankful for the pile of laundry and ironing,
Because it means I have clothes to wear.

I am thankful for weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,
Because it means I have been able to work.

I am thankful for the alarm that rings early in the morning hours,
Because it means I am alive.

Stop What You're Doing!

...and listen to my two new Ingrid Michaelson additions to my playlist. Ingrid is quickly becoming an artist who I heart the most! So turn the sound up on your computer and Just do it!

Hooter Hiders and other things...

So we went to spend an evening with some of our friends the other night,friends that had just happened to have a brand new baby girl. My husband warned me not to touch her, he even told me not to sit too close, so that I wouldn't get a whiff of the baby smell. Well I couldn't resist and I walked away with a nasty case of "the babies". Even though it seems to be incurable, I've been trying lately to fill the void by making things for other babies, mostly so I'd have an excuse to go and hold them again...so far it's not working but I've made some pretty cute things at the very least. Time to share..and if you want any of the links for the tutorials just leave a comment!The hooter hider, otherwise known as a nursing shield, way easy, way cute, I'd use one myself if I wasn't such a milk dud. Are the circles to suggestive of whats hiding underneath?


These crinkle toys are really cute! What is with babies and their obsession with plastic bags? These toys have crinkle cellphane sewn inside, so now babies can have their plastic bags and eat them too!



These appliqued t-shirts were a gift for my trainer who is getting ready to have a baby in November. He's a huge Chicago bears fan and he has a band thus the shapes. I had my friend Katy make me some of her darling bows to match. For her etsy store click here
I also sewed a rag quilt for baby Alex that I posted a couple weeks ago. Anyway since none of these have really done anything to cure the baby hunger, I've decided to start quilting (with the help of my mother who is coming soon!) and I'm hoping this will do the trick...




here's hopin...

Adventures with Cake Boy

This little boy will never be the same after how much cake he ate in the span of a couple days. On his actual birthday, we invited some friends to celebrate with us at Chili's, and we gave him the best cake in the world, a chocolate molten. He didn't get very dirty for the sheer fact he made sure to get every morsel in his mouth!

I dont know...I think he might like it...




The second cake experience was at our little pool party with friends the next day where we had Elmo cupcakes. This time he did get quite messy, and we were very thankful for the hose and outdoor shower at the pool.
as you can see Elmo got a nose transplant right away




Then afterward we waited for Dad to get home from the hospital to open his presents, which turned into more of a learning opportunity for Miss Mya, up until this point she was under the impression, if its wrapped..it's hers.



This last year with him has definitely had its ups and downs, but we're so glad he is with us. Here's to many many many more!




P.S. I couldn't resist a "shout out" for my husband who received his Board exam scores, a couple days ago! He got an absolutely amazing score! I am so proud of him. He works extremely hard, to do well on these tests, while still giving up time to be with his family and needy wife. Way to go, honey!