Flu

I did get the flu. Today. Let's hope it doesn't last as long as Graham's.

Signs of the Season

We finally hung this frame on the wall! This little beauty has been a neglected project of mine for months. With the help of Andrea, my illustrator teacher and sister in law, we designed this poster for my kitchen. The quote came from my mother in law, Tayva, who got it from Shakespeare. It all came together so nicely and printed so cheaply and just sat. It sat for a long time until I decided to make it our Family Home Evening lesson (which by the way we have now done 4 weeks in a row! Wahoo!) So Marty and Graham got a hammer and nail and the frame was up in minutes! I'm really happy with how it turned out! And how apropo, just in time for the grand feast where we will do, "nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!"

Graham has had the stomach flu (total nightmare!) so I've been praying all week that I wouldn't get it so I could enjoy Thanksgiving. Tayva's turkey is so, so, so good and it has been on my mind for months. Call me crazy, but so many things make me so nauseated, that the thought of the turkey can help me get through the day!

So let's just pray that the flu doesn't hit in the middle of the night tonight, because I think I would cry! No, I know I would cry.
I hope you have a nice holiday with family and friends.
Many happy eats!

Love

Here is my little three year old baby. I know he isn't a baby anymore, especially with another baby on the way, but he melts my heart just the same. We have been having so much home time together the last few months that I am just cherishing. He is so full of love and happiness. Every time I am sick and need to run to the bathroom he follows close behind. He puts his hand on my shoulder and follows the escapade with something that makes me smile. For example, "Good job Mom! You did it!" or "I help you Mom!" or "You okay Mom?... Yes I'm okay... Okay, let's play!" or my favorite "I help you Mom. Let me flush."

I just love Graham and Marty so much. And I'm excited to love another baby soon. I was recently reminded of something a great woman said about love. My dear friend Jane Ann lost her husband last week after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. It was very hard and very painful. When I went to the viewing on Friday night and hugged her I remembered something that has crossed my mind at different times over the last few years. To start can I say, Jane Ann is full of love. One Sunday several years ago she bore a heartfelt testimony about love. She is the mother to many boys and the grandmother to even more grandchildren. She talked about the beauty of love. She said these profound words.
Love doesn't divide. Love multiplies.

With all the people in this world I love, Jane Ann included, I am so grateful that my love for them doesn't need to divide. It can multiply exponentially if necessary.

So here is to you! My family, friends and good people everywhere;
I love you!

Mustachio

Thanks Nicole for the photos!

Halloween

We had such a wonderful Halloween this year! We made time to do some fun things like carve pumpkins, make an apple pie and dress up our home and ourselves!

Marty made me take these photos myself so let's pretend they are really good:)

Just a few shots of the Halloween decor...

A few photos of some recent additions to the place! A new mirror, pillows, photo wall and tv cabinet!

An accomplishment worth recording! I learned to use my sewing machine! I made two pillows (the skull and owl are one pillow) and the black and white stripe pillow and runner for year round use. Thanks to Randi for helping me sew and for Nicole and the other DIY girls for the screen printing night! I loved how they turned out.

Our last minute Halloween Costumes that turned out so fun! This is a not so flattering photo of us both but I had to document that our PEZ boxes held up even after the rainy trick or treating! Graham had already taken his dinosaur off, but he had a blast saying "trick or treat" at each door!

And as a grand finale to a great week here is my pie! Marty's mom makes the most delicious apple pie and I've always been intimidated to make it! But this year I did it! Marty did the final touches and added a heart. I'm not sure if it is for his love for the pie or for me! Let's say both! We enjoyed it for days!

Hope your holiday was fun too!

Loves!

It was a Partay!!

Enjoy some of the pics from Graham's Party in reverse. There were so many photos and I wish I was more of an editor, but I'm happy to have the photos. I love how many cute shots Marty got of the kids. They look great in their Halloween costumes and I'm glad Graham left his dino costume on even for a bit.

It was such a fun party to plan and carry out! I loved how the cake turned out and also the meringue dino bones. They were just as easy as my sis in law said they would be :) Thanks to all my family for helping pull it off! (Randi, Andrea, my patient Mama, and my dear mother in law who has been recovering from shingles). And thanks to everyone who came! It was a blast.

It was such a fun day and a special memory for my little boyfriend. He is still talking about his dinosaur party! I can't believe how far we've come together in the last three years. Somehow amongst the chaos of life's struggles he manages to still love me. And I must say that he pretty much worships Marty. Tonight when putting him to sleep, Graham said to me in his tiniest voice, "I just really miss my Daddy!" (tear!) Daddy has been working quite a bit the last while and I know he and Graham would love to spend more time together. Hopefully that will happen soon enough!

Night, night friends and fam! I'm off to take my anti-nausea for a good nights rest! For those that wonder, the nausea is getting a hair better (knock on wood). I haven't thrown up in two days:) I'm 16 1/2 weeks. Heart looks good and baby looks good. Almost to half way, hooray!