Watermelon Skirt

We've had a busy week! Bill's parents were in town and we had a great time with them! We miss them already! We went up to Mississippi to visit with Big Bill's family and down to New Orleans for a crawfish boil with Melanie's family. Big Bill and I had a good time on the shooting range, and Melanie and I went shopping just about everywhere. They were in town for a wedding an dwe had a wonderful visit! On one rare quiet night during their visit (during the rehearsal dinner when I couldn't get a babysitter), I threw together this little skirt. I think it is adorable! I saw a baby bib like this and I figured I could make a cute watermelon skirt. I LOVE IT! It is so perfectly summery! I have a candle from Gold Canyon that smells like watermelon jolly ranchers and it helped inspire this skirt.

We are so excited for this coming week too because my grandparents are coming out from Arizona for a visit! I can't wait to see Nana and Bopy for a few days! We'll probably be doing a lot of driving...my grandpa wants to go see just about every plantation and antebellum home within 75 miles! We're excited to play tourguide and eat yummy food!

Jaci Turned 2!!!

I can't believe that my little baby turned 2 today! It doesn't seem possible that it was two years ago that they put that sweet little baby girl in my arms for the first time! We have had so many good, sweet times since then. Her favorite place to be is still in her mommy's arms! Everyday I look at her and can't believe how "grown up" she is. She isn't a baby anymore, but a little girl. I love her so much and I am so lucky because she loves me so much too! I just hope that lasts forever! I love getting to spend my days playing with her and watching her grow. She is so smart and it is so fun hearing her talk and tell me all sorts of stories. She loves to sing, and that is my favorite sound in the world.

Bill's parents came in town last night so they could celebrate Jaci's birthday with us. Jaci had a great birthday! We started out the day at the park for a ward picnic. Then tonight, we had a little party for her and Bill. (Bill's birthday was 3 days ago.) She LOVED her presents! Bill and I gave her a sandbox (along with a few other things). Bill's parents gave her a little picnic table and umbrella for the backyard and some sand toys, and my parents gave her a little dolly and a baby bed and stroller for the doll. My sister-in-law made her some beautiful necklaces (including the one she's wearing in the top picture), and my "little" brother gave her some "treasure". She also got some great presents from Bill's cousins, including: dress up shoes, coloring books, crayons, and tinker bell dishes. Thank you everyone!!!



For the party, I spent all day yesterday baking. I made a Red Velvet Cake for Bill, a giant cupcake cake for Jaci, a pan of my brother's favorite Chocolate Dessert, and homemade Strawberry Ice Cream!!!

More Sewing and Baking

Okay, here is another one of my latest creations. I saw this little skirt on a couple of blogs and I decided I had to try it. I have stuff to try it in some other colors too, and I'm going to make it a little shorter next time, but I think it turned out pretty cute! I'm having so much fun sewing! I'm going a little crazy with patterns and fabric and everything and my guest room is a disaster with all my stuff spread out everywhere, but oh well! It will all have to be cleaned up by next weekend when Bill's parents come.

She didn't like that I took one of her chairs outside, so she promptly took it back inside "where it goes"...lined up with the other 3 right in front of the TV.

I've also been doing some baking. I'm putting together a cookbook of my favorite recipes and I'm trying to take pictures of them to put in the book as well. These are two that I tried out on some of my friends and they LOVED them! Above are Peanut Butter Polka Dot Bars and below are German Chocolate Bars! Yummy!

Mommy's Sewing Again!!!

I have recently really gotten back in to sewing. I have been looking up all these different sewing blogs to find ideas. I have so many ideas right now...now I just have to find time to do them! Although, with Bill done with his first year of law school (finally!), I have someone to watch the little miss, so I can get some stuff done! A few people had said they liked the book "Weekend Sewing" by Heather Ross, so I decided to try it out. In it, there was this little smocked dress and I couldn't wait to try it. It was really quick, I made this one last night while I was watching "One Tree Hill". I think it turned out pretty good! If only I could get Jaci to pose for a picture!

I'm trying to use up all my scrap fabric that I have taking up a bunch of space in my guest closet. I've got to get all my burp rags and baby blankets and changing pads made soon! If anybody wants to order anything, just leave me a comment and let me know! I'm also trying out a bunch of other cute ideas! I'll definitely have more pictures to come!

On another note, we had a great time with my mom in town last week! I miss her already! Jaci doesn't know what to do without her here to wake up in the mornings! Bill's parents are coming soon for a visit and we're excited to see them too! Bring on the Dominos! I'll have to think of a good prize for the running winner for the week!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I know it's been a while since I posted anything. We've done a lot though. Jaci and I spent 3 weeks in Arizona and had a wonderful time! While we were there we celebrated 3 birthdays (including mine)!

Today we did an Easter Egg hunt and Jaci LOVED it! She got so excited everytime she found an egg! She'd yell "EGG!" and run over to it really fast.

I also baked a bunch of cookies to take around to some neighbors and friends...these are some of the cutest ones!

Pitty Flowie

Okay, not much going on here. Bill's time is pretty much all taken up with school. I get through the week thanks to mutual on Tuesday nights and our playgroup on Wednesdays. We were at the store the other day and I was really excited to see tulips! Yay! I bought some and Jaci was completely fascinated. She kept begging me for a pitty flowie (pretty flower). I gave her one and got some pretty cute pictures. Today she wanted another one and she said, "want flowie", so she's starting to put words together more. That's the first time I've heard her say "want". I can't believe how big my little girl is getting and how long her hair is! She is such a sweetie! She loves to try and count things. Anything she finds that there is a bunch of she counts "1,2,3,5,8,9,8,9,8,9...10" She gets stuck like a broken record on "8,9", it's pretty funny!

I taught my first lesson today in Young Womens and I think it went pretty well. I was nervous until I actually started teaching and then I was calm and it went great. It didn't hurt that I made cinnamon rolls for the girls. What can I say? If I have to buy their love with yummy things then I will!

We are headed down to the New Orleans area in a couple of days for Mardi Gras. We're going to see some family friendly parades. I don't understand why it's so exciting, but Bill gets 2 days off school for it, so that's good I guess.

Things are going well down here in Louisiana! We still miss our family, but things are definitely improving!

January Happenings

Okay, okay...I know it's been a while since I updated this thing. Truthfully, not much has been going on. Bill has been back in school for a little while and Jaci and I basically just play all day. I have started making a few friends from the ward and that's been great. I was called to be the Beehive advisor in my ward and it's been fun so far. Jaci is definitely getting bigger. She says "thank you" and "welcome" and "bless you". She is s little sweetheart most of the time. She's also improved her tantrums. She fully lays on the floor and bangs her fists and feet. It's actually kind of entertaining. She loves books. The only way she willing goes to bed is if Bill or I read her a book first.
Honestly, not much has really happened lately. Just boring every day stuff. We're doing well and I really am getting used to living here a little. A couple of Bill's cousins have asked me to go with them for some girls night out stuff and that has helped me a lot. Friends make all the difference. I still miss my family so much, but I'm learning to live with it!