New Plants!

I'm so excited. We have some new plants in the backyard. In our last two houses, we had beautiful Japanese magnolia trees which bloom right around Morgan's birthday. When we had this house built, we failed to get another tree so FINALLY I bought one and the kiddos planted it for me. I love it.
The other tree was purchased is a hybrid that Morgan really wanted. It's a combo of a peach, apricot and plum. Hopefully, we'll have fruit in a year or two but it's just a baby for now. James was outside without his shirt so Thomas decided to forego his shirt as well. Notice the muscles on the four-year-old. He's growing fast.

I am so looking forward to having these trees thrive in the backyard. The blooms on the Japanese Magnolia are incredible and even more stunning in real life. Next year it should put on even more of a show. Now for the rest of the yard work. Obviously, I have quite a bit more to do as we get the yard in shape for spring and summer activities.

Knitting

So, I recently started taking a knitting class. We meet a couple times a month at the local quilt shop. It's been so much fun that I can't wait to get started on the next project. The first completed item was this quick and easy "showstopper scarf". It is knit with a turquoise yarn with little bits of shiny silver throughout. Neat little pattern, knit two rows, then knit a row with YO, then knit back releasing the YO. It's so fun, fast and I think it came out great.

The other project took me a little bit longer but it's a really sweet baby sweater. I did this one in a newborn size and when I looked at the finished project, I laughed. None of my babies would have ever fit into something this small. Perhaps the 10-11 lb birth weight had something to do without that. However, the little sweater and hat are super cute. I'll stash them away for a gift when someone has a little baby.

Overall, I'm delighted to be learning some new skills. Each project pushes me just a little bit to try something new, a new stitch, a new combination, a new yarn type. Now, I'm working on my first pair of socks. Not sure how they will come out but I'm really looking forward to having a nice, comfortable pair of socks to wear.

Happy Knitting!

Family Photo

Finally, we have a family photo! The group gathered up for Thanksgiving and we spent a long day taking photographs compliments of our friend, Sara Risvold. She did a great job and worked tirelessly with lots of different personalities and poses. I'm delighted with the results!

Post Crossing-my very first postcard!

Most of my friends and family know that I love postcards so I was so excited to find this website www.postcrossing.com It's a random postcard exchange with people all over the world. This is my very first postcard to receive through postcrossing and I'm delighted. It's a fun and interesting way to get a glimpse of the world outside your neighborhood. Check it out!

Happy 6th Birthday Andrew!

Andrew turned six years old and wanted a Pokemon birthday party. So, I mixed up some cake mix and some frosting with lots of red food coloring and this is the cake we came up with. James contributed the Pokemon figures and Andrew was delighted.


He received lots and lots of Pokemon cards and spent quite a bit of time putting them into a collector's album.



Then as a special added surprise, Cinderella stopped by the party with balloon animals and face paints. Andrew got in on the hugs from Cinderella and was thrilled to see her.


Even Uncle Jimmy was happy to take a photo op with the beautiful Cinderella!Happy Birthday, Andrew!

Red Rock

The boy scouts went on another fabulous trip, this time out to the desert where they set up a huge shooting range and practiced their newly learned shooting skills.
Those boys can cook. Car camping allows for packing in some pretty nice meals which they prepare themselves. Great life skills for these boys.
Surprise! There was a natural spring stocked with goldfish. Apparently someone released some goldfish in the 1940's and they have continued to thrive and reproduce in a natual spring in the middle of the desert. Crazy stuff!
Seems like a walk in the park until you realize that they were climbing like little mountain goats all over these rocks. Nothing like a long week-end camping trip to get your exercise done.
Beautiful scenery, good friends, fabulous food and shooting sports! Great trip!

Lego Contest for February

Andrew really wants to enter the contest for Legos again. This month the theme is flying creatures so this is his idea of a great flying dragon!