My new toy

OK so it isn't really new. I got it Mothers Day weekend, but I have finally successfully used it. It is my sewing machine. After Cinderellas Easter dress, I decided to do something that I have wanted to do ever since I first tried sewing on the machine I had. Get rid of it, and get a better one.
After some research, I decided on a Baby Lock. My mom has a Baby Lock, and I have enjoyed using hers. The only catch was that I didn't want to spend that much on a machine. I called our local retailer, and was told that they don't sell the machine I was thinking of in their store, because it is the one they sell to schools. But she recommended that I come in and take a look at the machine that most people are interested in. The Crafters Choice. So after some more research, I decided it was worth paying more to get more features, because personally I don't want to get another sewing machine for at least the next 10-15 years. So I wanted something that would last and I could grow with.
Well we went to the store, I had to wait until a Saturday, because I wanted to try out the machine before buying it, and I wasn't going to try sewing in a sewing machine store with my two kids there, and no husband. Anyway, we got to the store on a Saturday afternoon. As soon as I walked in the owner of the store asked me what I wanted. I told him I wanted to take a look at the Crafter's Choice. He told me he couldn't. They had just sold the last one.
He then showed me the store model of the next machine up. The Decorators Choice. . This machine had more decorative stitches than I thought I would ever use. Plus a lot of silly functions for some one who is just going to make children's clothes. At least that was my first impression. And then I saw the price. $799.99 This was half the suggested retail price, but still $200 more than the Crafter's Choice, and $300 more than the machine that I thought I really wanted, which he claimed he wouldn't sale me, because it is the machine they only sale to schools. Well I was pretty frustrated. And he must have seen my frustration, because he told me this was the last one of this machine that he had in stock and he would sell me that machine, the floor model, for $650. I'm still thinking there is no way that my husband will go for that, when he pipes up that, he thinks that is a great deal, and I should look at it and see if if it would work for me.
So I tried it out. Wow, that is a really nice machine. So I gave them my old machine, and bought their floor model. I have been dying to try it out ever since.
I bought some fabric to make a skirt and top for me, and a dress for Cinderella. I have been trying to make my skirt, and finally got it mostly done, and decided to turn my efforts to Cinderella's dress.
Yesterday morning at 8, I started cutting out her dress, and then with a few long breaks in between, finished it by 11:30 last night. Which for me, having very little practice of late, is really good. Even for a child's size dress. And I'm sure a big part of it is in thanks to my new machine.
So yes even $650 is a lot to pay for a sewing machine, but if you like it, I guess it is worth it.

A reunion

So this last weekend we went to the other side of the state to visit my husbands family. One of his sisters lives in Alaska and we hadn't seen her since last September, and we hadn't seen her husband since Cinderella was Guy's age. They had flown down for the weekend so we headed over. We stayed at one of my sister-in-law's house, and since she attends a singles ward (a congregation of our church made up of single adults from 18-30) we really didn't want to take our kids there for church.
However I have a roommate from my college days, Brandi, who lives in that same town with her husband Adam. So I called her up and asked if we could go to church with them. I haven't seen Brandi since college so it was fun to get together with her again.
They invited us over for lunch afterward which was a real treat. They have two Pomeranians, Piper and Bowser. They let Piper into the house and my kids just went crazy. Wow they loved playing with that dog. Guy was having the time of his life. They chased Piper all over. Guy did get frightened once when Adam had Piper growling, and barking at the reflection from his watch. But I quickly showed him that the dog was nice and he was right back into the action of chasing again.



Cinderella loved interacting with Adam. He was very responsive and interactive with her. In fact I was looking at their blog earlier today and Cinderella said to me, "It's Adam and Eve." I thought it was funny. She definitely remembered Adams name, and Eve is the name she hears associated with Adam the most. Brandi and Adam are currently working on becoming adoptive parents. I hope it works out for them soon. I think they will be great parents.
I am grateful they let us come and visit. It is always fun to get together with old friends.

15 months

So Guy is 15 months old. He turned 15 months on the 20th, but I didn't get him in for his checkup until this week. So I've actually taken a few pictures since then. So I thought I'd give y'all a brief look at 15 month old Guy.
By the way His stats are 19 lbs. 12.8 oz and 29.5 in. So yeah he is still a little guy. But we love him.

He's talking!!!

Here is a video of Guy talking. Here is a brief synopsis in case you can't figure it out.

In the first segment Guy is making car noises then says car.
#2 Guy roaring like a lion, even though it is the lamb that he keeps pointing to in the book.
#3 Guy saying duck and quack
#4 Singing If All the Raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops
#5 Shoes
#6 He isn't saying anything, just his nodding and clucking. It is classic Guy communication, so I thought I'd include it.
#7 Singing the clean up song.

An idea

Imagine something happened that hampered your ability to leave your home, or buy food. Loss of job, natural disaster, health issues, etc. What do you do? How do you make sure your family has enough to eat?
The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints have given the council to the members of that church to have a rotating 3 month supply of food, plus a non-rotating 1 year supply.

My family has been working to build up our storage, but one of the complication I have been having is variety. We have some meals we eat regularly that we could make completely or almost completely out of non-perishable food, but I'd like to have more. And I'm guessing I'm not alone.

So I had an idea. What if we start a blog. A team blog. Anyone can contribute that is interested. Those who contribute can list recipes for meals, deserts, etc. that are made mostly or completely out of non-perishable items, or items that you include in your food storage. Or you could even contribute recipes you use when building your food storage, IE a salsa recipe you make every year and can. You can contribute one time with one recipe, or many times with many recipes what ever floats your boat.

So I need to know who would be interested in doing a blog like this. Or if anyone knows of a blog that already does this, that is accepting new contributors that would work to. I can create a blog if everyone wants and then you can contribute at your leisure. So what do you think?