goodbye 2007

I must say I think every year gets better and better. That's not to say more and more crazy busy too. I'll just try and keep up. We just found fabulous cross country trails up Hobble Creek Canyon today and a wonderful sledding hill. This is what winter is all about.


The ladies, getting ready to catch some air.


Sledding kids

So, tonight we party, and think about resolutions tomorrow. Happy New Year!

the dog (and cat) days of 2007

ahhh, the days after Christmas, playing with Christmas toys, napping, watching movies, playing games, hanging around in pajamas, and of course big snow fun. We've gotten some skiing, snowboarding and sledding in so far, hopefully some more snow will fall here soon and increase the outdoor fun and excitement factor. But, beware of scary snow crevasses, and places where kitties wear parkas but baby polar bears do not.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas. I didn't mean for it to be so long since I last posted, but things sure got hectic here that week before Christmas. I tried really hard to get it all done and keep all the balls up in the air, so to speak- but, I'm afraid the blog ball got dropped, then kicked under the table and forgotten about.
Anyway, we had a great Christmas. It was just about right, not too much or too little. Everyone worked hard on their handmade gifts, and they were well appreciated. My 11 year old made hats for everyone (wow!), original collage art by M, and school projects by all the kids were some of my favorite gifts. I love seeing their faces light up when you open what they have made for you.
I made quite a few gifts myself, and had load of fun working at it. Here are some of the things I gifted out to all my people.

I finished this quilt for my Mom. I really liked the way it turned out, I hope she likes it too. It will hang on the wall in the Hole-in-the-Rock room in her bed and breakfast, Slot Canyons Inn in Escalante Utah.

A gal named Shantel at Corn Wagon Quilt Co. in Springville did the machine quilting. She does such a good job. She comes up with all the quilting designs herself. I request her every time and have never been disappointed with the finished product.

The big wool reveal...I made numerous little trees for lots of my ladies. Here are just a few. I will put the rest up on my flickr page. I got the pattern from some blogging ladies out there.
I even managed to bust out some flannel pajama pants for all the kids, sorry no picture, they have been wearing them virtually non-stop since they got them Christmas Eve. I guess that's a pretty good sign they like them.

party time

On Saturday night we went to the Liechty's house for a open house/party. Their house looked so fabulous I found myself snapping a million pictures. I am always inspired by Hailey and Christopher, every time I see them they are up to something super clever and creative. Here are some of my favorite bits about their house. Here is the top of their extremely beautiful Christmas tree.


I never new vintage wallpaper could look so good actually hung on the wall.


Snazzy mantle, Hailey where do you find all of these fun Christmas things?


The evening was perfect when Stephanie arrived with one of her scrumptious cake creations. You know I would probably crawl over broken glass for a piece. Just looking at this picture is making my mouth water- chocolate with butter cream frosting...yum. Girlfriend, you got it goin' on!
Hailey and Christoper thank you so much for opening up your home to all of us gawkers, it looks amazing. It is always such fun to visit with you guys, your family and friends.

wool

I just picked up some wool for some Christmas presents I'm making. I love this stuff, it feels so good and the colors are amazing. The final product is, of course, top secret for now; but I will share it later when it won't spoil the surprise.

my stoop

Here is my new wreath. Christmasy? some may say no, but I really like it, especially with the new green door. I love the new green, before it was this burgundy color- mostly because it matched the brick- (for like 8 years...) but the outside of our casa really needed an update. I also painted the shutters and aluminum garage doors the same color of green. The change is so drastic it's been hard to get used to. I still might paint the garage doors a shade darker... in the spring. But I do so love my front door.
This is Pedro. Steve O gave him to me for Christmas a few years ago. I think his sculpture type is supposed to be adorning my garden, but I just can't bring myself to take him off the front porch. He is about the height of a 9 year old and occasionally startles visitors- even me from time to time, especially when he's dressed up as a mummy at Halloween. He needed some holiday cheer so I made this silly little collar for him last year- a truly crafty project.

snow

...and the rain finally changes to snow. This picture doesn't do it justice, it is breathtakingly beautiful.

gallery stroll

Ahh, gallery stroll in downtown Provo. I got to stop by for but a moment between swim team drop off, then pickup. But what I saw I loved. Mode boutique featured the art of Molly and Duane Call, an extremely talented duo and good friends. Way to go dudes. Here are a few more pictures...


some of Duane's groovy artwork


my favorite painting by Mrs Molly Call

Trimming the tree

We finally got the tree up and decorated, and all of the other Christmas decor in it's place. This is quite a job, 2-3 days of pulling out tubs of Christmas goods, putting it all up, rearranging furniture, cleaning, and then putting back away all tubs and other stuff before it makes you crazy.
Being the Mom at Christmastime is a special job, very busy indeed.
So, here she is this year... the tree. We couldn't cut our own this year. Oh no, we got to find out first hand that the last of the cut-your-own Christmas tree farms (that I know about) just turned into a subdivision. Bummer.
The lot where we got this tree swore up and down this one was just cut a week ago- so far she's holding up nicely, smells great, drinks tons. So today on this rainy Friday (please change to snow, please!)I spotlight just a few of my favorite ornaments I've collected over the years.


I think I've blogged this one before. I love it so much, I leave it up all year. I got it at Felt Club last year.


Reminding us the reason for the season, from Blue Cockatoo.


Nancy Drew, original artwork by my friend Edie, from the Beehive Bazaar last Christmas.


Voodoo dolly ornament made by my friend Molly, from the Beehive Bazaar a few years back.

Well, it's back to the sewing room. I took the handmade pledge, and I've got work to do.

workin' out

This is crazy- but, before October I had never done yoga, ever. I am not a gym girl. I have never had a gym pass, I don't do classes, not to mention I live 20 minute drive to the nearest gym so I would rather just run, bike or swim- leaving straight from my house and cherish that extra 40 minutes of sleep. Then when a friend mentioned that a tiny dance studio just minutes from my house was offering yoga a few morning a week- I decided to give it a try. Well...I LOVE YOGA SO MUCH. I feel fabulous, I wish it was every day for 2 hours. (I suppose I could do yoga at home with a DVD, but that sounds even worst than going to the gym) It's the whole mind- body- spirit thing that feels so good.
Steve O has even taken a few mornings off from swimming to yoga. The winter workout routine gets so boring so fast- we needed to mix it up. After so many years of just running, cycling etc. I am so happy to have added yoga. And, who would have guessed a non-class going gal like me would love my yoga teacher, but I do. Thanks Val.

We have had this book for a few years, the kids love it. Every time we read it the kids have to do all the poses as we go. Now, I finally know the poses personally, but I still feel like an elephant on some days.

while you were out

This is what happened while I was absent this weekend, working the Beehive Bazaar- which, by the way, was fantastic, better than ever.
Here is perhaps just a taste of how things roll on daddy's watch, a bit more 'freestyle' than when mommy is present and bossing everyone around.
When I saw it yesterday on Steve O's blog I laughed 'til I cried.
Here is the text that accompanies the picture:

I thought he was taking a nap or something.
I rounded the corner and there he was.
It appears that someone has figured out how to use PhotoBooth on the Mac.
We just found the evidence, 10 Jillion self-portraits.
(The photo: "The Doctor" 3 years old, December 2007)

Steve O you are such a fabulous daddy and husband. Thank you for supporting me in everything I strive to accomplish. I love you!