Halloween's a comin'...

I am babysitting the grandbabies this morning. Aunt Amanda is off today, so she took them to JoAnn's (40% off coupon) and bought this fancy Halloween Haunted House. They had a good time decorating it, Shaun mostly just drooled black candy drool all over, but Amanda and Austin stuck with the task at hand - it looks great and since Amanda lives here, it will be decorating MY house for this next month! Thanks, guys!

Mini Quilt

This is a pic of the "Mini Quilt" I made and donated to the Utah Valley Quilt Guild, where they auction off tickets to win the 50 or so mini quilts that are donated each year. I made it out of scraps, so it was "free", although I did spend a few hours on it - it measures about 12 x 18 inches. When I showed it to Stacy, he said, "Is it a placemat?". When I told him it was a mini quilt, he couldn't understand what it was for - really, I don't know either, except that some quilters collect them and it is for a good cause and it was REALLY fun to make!

Just Back...

Just got back from my fabulous Utah Quilt Guild's Quilt Festival! It was held up in Ogden this year, at the beautiful Eccles Center. I had a super great time with my quilting buddies! Learned fun stuff in my classes and got started on, what else?, but a couple more quilts! The "dot" one is something I've been wanting to make for a long time, I'm going to name it "M & Ms" on account of while I was working on it, I was eating M & Ms and they looked fab spilled over the fabric! The bright "Dresden Plate" is for a table topper I'm making for my kitchen table for summer. My super sister in law, Michele, came by for a fun visit and to check out all the quilts too, she is going to be one of my new quilting buddies! It is good to be home, though, I hadn't quite gotten enough of my Doug Bug to leave again so soon, I'm glad I won't be heading to another retreat until November!

Tagged...By Megan

Okay, here goes;

20 years ago...

1. Just had my 5th baby.

2. Didn't think I'd survive.

3. Turned 25.

10 years ago...

1. Lived "way out", about 20 minutes from church, the grocery store, the kids' schools, etc. Lots of driving in those years!

2. All of my kids were in school all day!!! (A true miracle)

3. Lived without airconditioning (Boo hoo hoo)

5 years ago...

1. Moved to Utah.

2. Fabulous Birthday Trip to Vegas to see Mamma Mia and stay at Mandalay Bay.

3. None of my kids were married yet.

1 year ago...

1. Almost died from some weird calcium thing.

2. Spent a week in the hospital.

3. 2 more of my kids got married.

This year so far...

1. Completed my 36th quilt in 3 years.

2. Found out my 3rd grandchild is coming!

3. Doug Bug I love came home!

Yesterday...

1. Big welcome home party for Doug Bug.

2. Enjoyed visiting with everyone, including my sisters and mom who came up from California.

3. Fell into bed exhausted!

Today...

1. Baked cookies for Stacy's work party tomorrow. (and some to take on my quilt retreat)

2. Saw Hancock at the $1.50 movie for family night (way too violent!!)

3. Actually walked, even though Megan didn't this morning!

Tomorrow...

1. Going to my fabulous Quilt Festival Retreat in Ogden for a few days!!!

2. Facilitating the noon 12 step meeting before I go out of town.

3. Going walking with Doug Bug.

I tag... Holly D., Danielle D., Kathy P., Judie O., Denise A., Brooke H., Nikki M, etc.

He's Back!!!!

Finally, after a sleepless night (way too excited!), we went to the airport this morning for the big greet! Amanda and Austin brought their sign. Brooke had made the paper plate welcome and Stacy got balloons for the front yard, we were ready! It was so exciting to see that boy again! As you can see, he is as handsome as ever and still my sweet Doug. Welcome home Doug Bug I love!

What could be better?

What could be better than these two gorgeous, sweet, funny, happy, smart, terrific grandchildren? Another one on the way... (Brooke and Ben are "back to production" as my father-in-law used to always say, as in "Brenda, when are you going to get "back to production"?)

Guess What Happens on Friday???

It's finally here, the week that Doug Bug, I love comes home!!! He arrives on Friday at the Salt Lake City Airport at 10:07 a.m. Hooray! Amanda and Austin got his welcome sign ready, Brooke is in charge of the "yard art". We just have to do the final shuffle of the bedrooms, since we're a little "full up" here at the Sommers' place.

The Quilting Continues

I have actually finished several quilts this summer, I haven't posted all of them yet because they are gifts and I don't want the recipients to "peek" before the gifting ceremony. Here is one for my niece, Danica, who is having a baby shower today.

A Shower A Day...

Babygirl got this fab shower cap in the mail from her great-grandma (Mamal) in California. She loves how the water sounds on her head when she wears it in the shower. As soon as she opened the package, she wanted to take a shower. The "pumpkin soap" is part of my birthday present from her mom - she loves it - so it went into the shower too! (Sorry, I can't figure out how to flip this pic-I thought I had - oh well)

The Spoils...

I enjoyed a wonderful birthday yesterday! Megan took me to lunch, Stacy took me out to several quilt stores, a book store and dinner at Outback Steakhouse - yummy! Here is a photo of some of my wonderful cards and sweet gifts from everyone! I also received some really nice emails...Thank you everyone for making my day great!

Just a few of the blessings in my life...

It's my birthday - pretty much my favorite day of the year. Here are a few of the blessings that I'm so grateful for that make my life great...
1. My family - my husband, children, parents, sisters, GRANDCHILDREN, in-laws and all of my extended family, they have been and continue to be a huge blessing in my life.
2. Friends - my patriarchal blessing says that I will have friends thoughout my life, for which I am so grateful! I love them all so much, old friends, new friends, friends I have met through working together at church, quilting, visiting teaching, my Creative Memories Business, through our children, at 12 step, etc.
3. Quilting - I know, I'm crazy addicted, but I LOVE it, it's bringing out a creative side to me that I never knew I had, I've always been "organized", not creative, and it is so fun!!
4. My Home - I am so grateful for my home, it's cool in the summer and snug in the winter, my sweetie plants delicious tomatoes, raspberries and more for our family to enjoy. I have many happy (we're ignoring the crazy parts) memories of my homes through the years, and I realize that not everyone has that blessing.
5. My Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so incredibly grateful to have the gospel in my life, to have a kind, loving Heavenly Father, that I can turn to for anything - to complain, to thank, to ask and to just receive love from Him and His son.
Etc.... The mountains, cool weather, gas in my car, having the church 2 doors down, delicious food to eat, my flowers, walking in the mornings, my comfy bed, Doug is coming home in 2 weeks!!!, being able to travel, good books, Amanda cleaning my house, etc. etc.