A derby and a musical

Tyler turned 8 in November, and joined the ranking of the Cub Scouts. He and Michael were both excited to make the car, but as I mentioned in a previous post, Michael had Tyler do all the work and make all the decisions. A week ago was the big day, and mamma had a whole lotta nerves. Just one win, thats all I need...ok, maybe 2 or 3, but just let my boy feel good. It was just too much for me to bear.

Check out the totally forced smile... (this was just after I asked him to turn the car a little and he got bumped and it fell to the ground--all intact though).

He put a lego Indiana Jones on there, and a heavy bolt steering wheel. Upon weighing the night before, they stuck on a few sticky magnets to get as close to the ounce limit as possible. Click on images to see larger.



Everyone getting ready to roll
Tyler carried the flag for the first time.
Such boring things in the past, are brought to a new life when my sweet boy does them.
Getting ready for the first race--see the white tag on his leg, thats how they kept tally of who won/lost each round.

(In my thoughts, "please let my boy win.")
Yay, he did!!! Cute cute smile.
Now thats a genuine smile.
Sittin' happy.

He did lose about half of his rounds, but recognized that others had it worse off, so he was happy. It heartwrenching to see the label with red and green dots, too much labeling, I thought. He won a few, then he lost a few, then Michael noticed it was wobbling a bit. After checking it out, it appeared one of the wheel axles slightly came out, so he popped it back in and it ran much better. They gave out trophies for 1-3 place, and Tyler left estimating he thinks he got 4th. I'm not going to argue that math.
Cute treats made by someone at the end.
Overall it was fun, but its just one of those things that I will probably dread every year, in hopes that my boys will feel pleased with themselves and their efforts. I can breath easy for a while. I aslo didn't care for the way some men are competative with each other--lame, lame.


The next night, we went to Matthew's Kindergarten Winter musical. I thought my zoom lens would provide enough light, but its not that great here. He had some cute smiles, and we got him waving at us on video.








what a cute boy:)

Check out our Self Reliance

For Family Home Evening last Monday, I decided we needed to practice grinding our wheat and making bread. My dear friend Stacy, who is now the food storage specialist at church, provided us a white/wheat bread recipe and I thought I'd try it out. Getting the kids involved was fun. My mom gave us a grinder years ago that just sat pretty in a box, I wanted to FEEL self reliant, that should I ever need to use it, I would know that I could.
The grinding was loud...
It feels just like real flour!
I probably didn't kneed enough (did I mention that this was pretty much my first time even making bread?) but it still tasted great.
Even the kids thought so and requested some for their after school snack on Tuesday. Tyler had a friend over and Matthew said to him, "we MADE this bread last night--all by ourselves." It was really cute.

Houston after Christmas

Rewinding a bit....
After our cabin trip, we spent the weekend in Houston. My parents live there, its where I went to high school. My kids love grandma and grandpa's house...so many fun things to do. We played a fun game with my parents, just Michael and I for a while, then the boys came and wanted to join. Matthew loves to read, and Tyler looks over his shoulder to help him with words when he needs it.

2 of my dearest friends were also in town for the same weekend. Emily from Connecticut and Natalie from Dallas. These are the girls that I had my trip with last September. With the timing of everything crazy, we met up at Emily's brother in laws reception at the old stake center where I attended lots of dances growing up.
We decided that my two boys can be betrothed to her 2 oldest girls: Tyler and Haley are the same age.
Matthew and Abby, the same age.

We'll just settle for Mia and Alyssa to be great friends--maybe college roommates.
Nat, Em, and I sat around chatting for a while....
Em's husband, Clark, also went to high school with us.


Sunday morning, I went to Natalie's parents house. We used to walk to each others houses in high school. Back in the day....Her parents were on a 3 year mission in Mexico and this was the first chance I had to see them. It was just like old times:) They were a big part of my growing up. Too bad I didn't get a picture of them. But I did get Natalie and my kids together.

The dress

Many of you know that I took on the project of dress making. It isn't too foreign of a concept to me, because my mom made all my formal dresses when I was in high school (about 7 total) and my wedding dress. She is a seamstress and I can sew a decent straight line. However, I did ask for help in the whole cutting/assembling process. I wanted a dress similar to the 4 I already had. I got them all last summer before I was pregnant--knowing that I wanted to be pregnant at some point and that they would work because they are high waisted and long/flowy.

So I thought it would be simple, but Joann fabric doesn't carry any material similar to those dresses (96% cotton, 4% rayon), so I got 100% cotton. It was all tricky to find a pattern, so I got something that looked like it would for for basics, but planned to change it up.

For anyone that things sewing is cheaper, think again. I bought my other dresses for about $20, and it cost me about $40 for fabric, zipper, thread, needles, etc.

I enlisted my friend Debra to help b/c she is capable in such things. She got excited about the idea and when I brought the pattern to our park play group, she opened it up and practicially salivated at the idea of working on it. This made me very happy because it is those types of things (studying a pattern) that overwhelms me when it comes to projects like this.

I wanted the dress to be for the wedding that we attended (previous post) but in the end, I felt too bold, colorful, a bit more casual and wanted to just fit in with my big bump among his co-workers and went for black and simple.

I was in San Antonio with my mom the weekend before and she helped me cut it out and make the plans. When I went to Debra's on Monday, we began and I was so grateful for her knowledge on the subject and confidence in assembly. I could not have done it without her.

Because of all the changes I had made, we decided that it is pretty much nothing like the pattern. This is our first try on, and I think both Debra and I had to keep a straight face at first b/c I was concerned she would feel bad and she was concerned I would feel bad. But eventually it came out and we busted up laughing, that it looked pretty much like a moo-moo that possibly a menonite woman would wear.

So we made a few alterations--one of which was to put a band around the waist to bring it all in and tie in the back. Here is cute Debra--she really did not want her picture taken, but I said it was imperative for proper documentation.

We also added this fun floral element which I love. Debra's crafty idea.
Matthew took this of me last night, I wore it to church on Sunday and even those that didn't know I made it (lots had heard about it and did know) gave me compliments. And Crazy Debra took a vacay from church and didn't even see the dress in all its glory!
Total time spent=12 hours together, a total of approx. 24 "man hours."

She said she started an etsy shop, I'll get the link later.

joy in motherhood

My friend Liz teaches Young Women and asked if I'd share my thoughts on Joy (since its my middle name), particular to the current stage in my life. This is what I said:


I've heard from a lot of women that having small children is one of the toughest and most difficult times in life. Having to take care of so many of their physical needs such as making meals that won't be complained about, potty training, constant messes, mounds of laundry, fighting with siblings, learning their boundaries and often pushing those boundaries. Many seem to get overwhelmed, I feel fortunate that I am able to see past those obstacles and truly find joy in the now of their lives, as well as mine. In fact, I adore this stage of my life so much, I worry that that all the other stages just won't compare. I'll hear older women say to "cherish this time" and to "soak it all in." I recognize that this time in my life is fleeting. In fact, I wish I could bottle up this time and keep it with me always. I suppose I will, with the memories, but I know that eventually they won't want to run to me with their arms outstretched just to give me a hug and tell me they love me. They will be too embarresed to blow me a kiss at school because their friends will laugh, or won't want to sing with such passion because they'll feel somewhat inhibated. I'm sure that time will come. I mourn it, but I expect it. If it turns out that doesn't happen, I will be doubly blessed.

It is so fun for me to watch them progress as the stumbly learn how to read, and receive encouragement from an older sibling. I love to see them hug and support each other, and I love to see their thirst for knowledge about things for the world, as well as gospel principles. I am constantly trying to teach them to be kind and loving to others, to reach out to those that are lonely or who need a friend. And that most of all, we, as a familiy, should be each others best friends, our biggest supporters. I think kindness is one of lifes most important lessons. If I lose my temper, I make sure they get my apologies as I expect them to do the same. I try to teach by example, but in doing so, I am constantly finding ways I need to better myself. This is the golden time. The time when they will listen, soon enough, that time may pass.

I think the word "joy" is just so descriptive, and one we should incorporate into our lives. It's not just being happy, or getting by, but joy is the ultimate happiness. It is contentness. There is joy in each stage of life. So much to be discovered, to learn, to experience. I had the time of my life when I was single. I had adventures, I traveled, I lived life to the fullest. But there is no other joy that compares to that of motherhood. The blessing that my Father in Heaven has given me, has entrusted me with His children. I try my hardest, sometimes I cry tears in prayer as I seek direction in being the mother that they need, that they deserve. I don't take it personally when they get frustrated with me, or don't do as I've asked them to do, because I know they are just learning. I'm so grateful that I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and grateful that I have the opportunity to teach my small children that gospel. Truly, they teach me every day how to love as the Savior does.

A wedding

Michael and I got to go out to his co-worker, Cullen's wedding on Sat. the 17th. Russ and Kim KINDLY came from San Antonio to watch the kids for the day for us. I was SO grateful. The wedding was at 2pm at St. Mary's Cathedral in downtown Austin.

Neither Michael nor I had attended a Catholic wedding ceremony before and we are always interested in how different denominations do things. This, in contrast to other faiths weddings we had attended, was more ritualistic with some kneeling by the audience at times, and many mumbled phrases spoken by those attending after the priest would say this or that. The priest also sang various things to his own tune. The couple kneeled quite a bit out in front of us, and though we were back quite a few rows, I could see that on the bottom of her left foot in sparkly green glitter was "I" and on the other foot "do." Then Michael said to his boss behind us, "Is he wearing Air Jordans?" To which I thought was crazy, but come to find out--he WAS. Because he is a collector of all Air Jordan shoes (I guess he has them all) so he wore all black ones on his wedding day.

After the hour long ceremony, we walked a block to the Austin Club. I was very excited about the dinner and dancing part. We sat at a table with Michael's co-workers and it was really fun to hear stories and get to know the people (and their wives) that Michael spends his days with. I surprisingly felt comfortable, as I'd just purchased a new maternity dress the night before. I've been intimidated by mainly his boss and wife as he's an "Orthopedic Surgeon" and she is...well, his wife. They've got plenty of $$$ and I don't know why this should intimidate me, but it does/did. Also the fact that it was only the 2nd time meeting them, and the first was quite brief. We heard stories of their yearly trips to Telluride (where once their daughters' tongue got stuck to the frozen railing and her twin sister yanked it off leaving part of her tongue stuck on that railing), they are very down to earth, easy people to talk to. His wife even said she had just looked at my website and wanted me to do their portraits. We'll see--that would REALLY intimidate me, but I told Michael I'm up for the challenge. I like a good challenge.
(notice the Air Jordan Grooms Cake)
There was a buffet of food and even though the dinner plates were salad plates, we took a few of them and filled 'em up. I enjoyed the jalepenio bacon wrapped poppers and heard the story of another co-worker (from another) that he had eaten one a few years ago and accidentally swalled the toothpick--and later had to have it surgically removed.

Michael and I sipped on our waters while everyone else had wine, etc. But they already know Michael enough to know he doesn't drink, so no questions were asked. They even asked how a Mormon wedding was different than the one we saw today and he got to explain just a little (over loud dance music). We ended up not even dancing because at first, no one was on the dance floor...then it was just fast songs (which Michael doesn't dance to, and I didn't have any girlfriends to dance with) then my legs were just killing me, so we didn't. Oh well.

I liked to watch the photographer throughout the night... Since I used to photograph local weddings in various churches and halls around town, it was fun to relax and watch another work it. I smiled to myself as I had a lot of the same gear...even down to the lightsphere diffuser on top by Gary Fong. I even mentioned to him that I had the same one and we exchanged quick pleasantries as he shot pictures of the cake. He knows Cullen from when they bothed worked on UT's sports staff, he as the photgrapher for the teams, and Cullen as an Athletic Trainer. His name is Steve Moakley for anyone who cares. The Asian singing Catholic virgin (he told us during the ceremony) priest is just to his left here.

Here are Michael and I all gussied up on our date...his hair looks extra short b/c he just buzzed it that day. He usually does it once a week.

Here is a bit of a belly shot of me, taken by Michael. Tall boots to hide the bulging veins underneath them. Oh, my legs hurt by the end of this evening.
We got home in time to chat with Russy and Kim and the kids before the kids went to bed and R&K drove back to SA.