Cutting and Sewing

I was going through some clothes and found some shirts that I hadn't worn in a long time. Instead of getting rid of them, I decided to try to use a couple Pinterest ideas I had seen and remake them!

For this one I had a Down East shirt with lace on the bottom, and another gray shirt that is too big so I never wear it. I cut the lace off the bottom and sewed ruffles on the front with the lace, and material from the other shirt. It also has a tie that goes around to the back, I thought it turned out all right!

I got this idea off of Pinterest as well. I had an old cami from Down East that I cut up to make the ruffles, along with some white lace. Then I sewed them onto another white Down East shirt I had. I like how it turned out!

I also learned how to make these flowers, out of the material from the gray shirt. I haven't figured out what I want to do with them yet, but I think they are so cute!

I have been wanting to make something like this for awhile, but didn't have a cursive font for my Cricut that I liked well enough. Every week the Cricut website has a free cut that is available for a week, and a couple weeks ago this font was it. I bought an old frame from Goodwill and stained it darker, and cut the vinyl out myself. I love how it turned out. It looks great above our bed!

Chris always said that if I didn't have to work, I would probably sew and make crafts all day, and he is probably right. I have really loved doing these kinds of things since I got married (and since I got a Cricut Cutter). I'm almost done with a quilt I have been working on for several months, and I am really proud of it! I feel blessed to know that I can make our house our home with this new found love. I am so thankful to my mom for teaching the basics of sewing, making crafts, cooking, etc. Because of the things she taught me I have been able to learn even more!

Happy New Year

As I mentioned in the previous post, I was supposed to work on the Friday after Christmas. But the census was low at work, so I was able to have Friday off since there was only enough work for one person. That meant that we got to leave Thursday afternoon to go home. We didn't tell my mom that we were leaving a day early, so it was fun to surprise her. We spent the first couple days at my mom and then my dad's houses. And the last couple days at Chris' dad and then mom's houses. It was crazy trying to fit it all in, but we were glad we got to come and see everyone.

As always, I love my mom's tree, and the rest of her house at Christmas time!

The next day we were able to go night skiing with my sister Tysi and brother Kelby and their families. (One reason why we really wanted to get home)! 

Um, my nieces are crazy.

 We are missing Taylor and Ian because they had already gone home for the night, and poor Luke who missed all the festivities because he had RSV. We saw him for about a total of 10 minutes.

When we were at my dad's the kids went out and played in the snow. I made Chris run out and take a few pictures. :)

 We were at Chris' dad's house on New Year's Eve. We introduced them to the Farming Game, so that was a good time. I think his Dad and Linda liked it.

Even Evelyn was awake at midnight!

New Year's Day we were at Chris' mom's. We also played the Farming Game with his mom and sister Courtney. I wish I had gotten pictures of us playing...but I think we have a couple more fans on our hands! I did get a pic of the boys playing though.

It was a fun trip home, and of course, not long enough. I did get to stop and see my friend Melissa and fellow dietitian and her new baby, and we stopped at the hospital on our way out of town and got to see most of my old coworkers. It was so good to get to see them-I miss them so much! 

I just had to add these pics of Halli-they were all taken within about 45 seconds. She just can't sit still. So funny.

Christmas in Spokane

Well I had to work this year on Christmas (and the day after that, and the day after that, and I was supposed to work the day after that, but ended up getting it off). So we spent a nice Christmas Eve at home together. (I didn't have to work that day). :) Christmas Day I went to work in the morning and was there about 3 or 3 1/2 hours. We opened presents when I got home. It was a little different being by ourselves on Christmas, bur it turned out to be a nice day. We were able to have dinner with Chris' Aunt and Uncle and cousin and their family later. 

Chris got me something I have wanted to do for a long time-Build A Bear! I know, it's silly, but don't judge me. I was super excited. Except I wasn't excited when he made me open all of these letters one by one and unscramble it to say Build A Bear. I had no idea what it was and was getting a little grumpy when I couldn't figure it out. With a few hints, I finally got it. 

I was like a little kid in the store. It was so fun. My bear Lucy has a strawberry scent and a voicebox that I put inside her. 

Chris also got what he wanted-a holster and a gun case for his gun.

 For 12 days before Christmas we read some scriptures about Christ from the church website to help us remember the true reason for Christmas. We did a couple little service projects too that we enjoyed. We had a wonderful Christmas!

New Year's Resolution

I just wanted to give a quick update on my health, more for my own records than anything. I have continued to get stronger and feel better. Although I feel like the last couple months I have reached a plateau. I have only been able to gain about 10 of the 23 or so pounds that I lost. I also haven't been trying as hard, but it is my New Year's resolution to gain wt! Chris has been making me smoothies everyday the last week to have in addition to my breakfast I normally eat (which will be super fun to make with our new BlendTec we got for Christmas from Chris' Grandparents)! I am going to have to just start eating more...tonight I actually ate TWO pieces of pizza and TWO pieces of crazy bread, which is really good for me. Chris was so proud.
 My rheumatoid arthritis has been bothering me a lot more than normal, so I am taking another medication for that. It won't start working for about a month so she also gave me a weeks worth of steroids to help. This morning my hands are very swollen and just throbbing, hence why I am awake and Chris is sound asleep next to me. (When I started writing this post, it was early in the morning). I have found an essential oil that does help, thanks to Chris' Aunt who told me which ones to try. The rheumatologist had me get some blood work done for a baseline because you have to have it checked regularly while taking the new medicine. My Vitamin D was low, which can cause muscle pain, so I will also be taking a very high dose of that for awhile. One of my liver enzymes was also slightly elevated, not sure why. I have to have that checked again this week.
My stomach is fine for the most part. Except for I just don't have a great appetite sometimes and I can't eat a lot at once.  Other than that, I would say I am doing so much better. I go to work everyday and don't feel exhausted like I used to. I used to count down the minutes until I could go home and crawl in bed, and now I can't believe it when it is already 5:00. A couple times a week I even end up working 9 or 10 hours and I'm tired, but I'm not dying like I was before.
Anyway, that's where things are at right now. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for my health everyday. It is something I definitely don't take for granted! (On a side note, we found out a couple weeks ago that my $120,000 bill from the University of Utah was paid 100% by the insurance, when we were originally told they would pay 60%)! Thankful for blessings everyday. :)

Getting ready for Christmas

I think that I am ready for Christmas! I just want it to be here. Here are just a few fun pics of what we have been doing this Christmas season.

We had fun decorating our tree.

Thanks again to my momma for loaning us her decorations.

I've been making some crafts, of course. I couldn't find anything I like for a good price to hang our stockings, so I made this. It will do for now I guess.

Chris' favorite movie is The Grinch. :)

We had a Relief Society Christmas dinner. I don't know why but I volunteered to decorate a table. I had to bring dishes and a centerpiece, and a salad for my table. This is what I came up with. I think it turned out pretty good. I just brought every snowman I have and put them in the middle. :)

The is the tree at River Park Square mall, downtown Spokane. We live pretty close to it. I was four stories up when I took this picture!

I talked to a pt one day who seemed so sad and kept saying he wanted to go home. So I made him this cute little tree and took it to him the next day.

Chris took me ice skating the other night at River Front Park. I had been wanting to go. I got home from work and Chris said, "Lets go!" It was so fun. I have been once before on a pond, but that was it. I was scared at first, but I think I was doing pretty good by the time we left. Nothing like Disney on Ice, but Chris had a hard time keeping up with me. :) Just kidding. 

We are so thankful for the Christmas season and the opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Savior. 

Thanksgiving 2012

Well I know it's late, (as always), but I though I would write a quick post about our Thanksgiving. I had Thanksgiving off of work, so we were able to go home for a few days. It was fun to see everyone. I was really missing my momma! We left at about 1:30 Wednesday afternoon and got to Burley Wednesday night at 11:00. We had 3 Thanksgiving dinners and one big Thanksgiving breakfast between our 4 parents. We spent time with our nieces and nephews. Chris got to see his best friends for a couple hours, and he got to shoot his new gun with his dad and brothers, which he has been DYING to do. :) He also made me shoot it when we went to my dad's. We went to Walmart on Black Friday around 10am just to see what was there and ended up buying a 32" TV for $97. Door buster deal and we didn't even have to get up early! :) We drove back early Monday so Chris could make it to class at 4:00. It was a fast trip and we basically saw our four parents in 4 days, but it was worth it. I have to work on Christmas, but we are planning on being home for New Year's. Another quick trip but we are excited to see everyone again!

Here are a few pics of our trip:

Chris and Damian

Me and Cooper

Kelsi and Halli fell asleep on the couch together

Evelyn found the perfect spot to sit and read a book.

Like Father like Son. Haha!

Chris really missed Howard

Taylee and Taylor

I found several of these pictures on my iPad. Silly boys.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are so thankful for all of our blessings!