First Day of School

And...........we're back!  What a fantastic summer we had but as busy as it is it's good to be back into a schedule.  Here are some photos of the handsome boys on their first day back to school!

Handsome aren't they?  Look out world... here they come! :)

Disapearing 9 Patch

Well I finally did it.  I made my first quilt... and can I just say that I really enjoyed it!  For years I thought my sister Jana was crazy for liking quilting so much but now I see just how wrong I was!  When I was in Utah over the winter break I found some great charm packs that were selling for cheap-o.  They were a Christmas theme and it was the week before Christmas so the price was right!  I had nothing in particular in mind when I purchased them but after I got them home I knew I wanted to make a twin size quilt and I wanted it to have a lot of white in it, I just love that look for some reason.  Anyway, long story short... this is what the final product looks like.

And I'll just apologize right now for the picture overload.  As you can see, I'm pretty proud of myself. :)

I'm proud to say that I did this quilt all by my lonesome from start to finish (well, with the exception of Jana helping pick back and binding fabric to match and my awesome friend Lesley who machine quilted the whole thing).  The binding was a intimidating experience but I pulled through and have a few ideas to make it a little easier on myself next time.

I learned a lot during this process and I'm excited to get going on my next project... a new blanket for Luke.  He has a long list of demands so I'd better get cracking!

Soccer!

It's that time of year again!  Shin guards are strapped on... cleats are shined and ready to go... smiles are plentiful... and the weather is getting warmer!  It's a whopping 11*C today.  Still pretty darn cold but warm enough to start soccer season!

It's Luke's first year and he's pretty sure he know everything about the sport already.  I guess he's watched his older brothers play for a few seasons and he very familiar with the Real Salt Lake games, thanks to his dad.  He did great at his first practice!

 

Walker might just know too much.  He spent his practice telling the other kids what they were doing wrong.  We are going to have to work on that.  But he's super excited to start up again too.

Porter is playing again this year as well.  Mike is his coach and I think they are going to have a great season.  I didn't get any photos of Porter at his first practice though.  He decided to attend the bike rodeo at Cubs instead.  It was the last day of cubs until next fall so he chose that over soccer.  I'll try to get some photos on Thursday at his first game.

I'm hoping the weather stays warm for us.  Soccer season usually means cold, windy practices and games and miserable fans getting soaked.  Maybe this year will be different!  hahahah....  I crack myself up! :)

Silhouette Bags

One thing I hate about most camera bags is that while they are very functional they really lack style.  And if they are stylish... well I spent a lot of money on my camera gear and I want to keep it safe! 

 I've been frustrated with this for sometime now but LOOKY!  LOOKY!  LOOKY!!!

What's this?!?!  Function and Style?!?!  Be still my beating heart.

I love this bag from Silhouette Bags.  It's stylish, fun, hip and best of all it protects the crap out of my camera gear!  

I'm in love with the fact that I can even throw a diaper and wipes in there with my cell phone, keys, lipstick... you name it!  It's got so much room and eliminates the need for carrying my purse, camera bag, diaper bag.... (I could go on.   Can I get a "Woop, Woop" from all you mothers of young children?"

 It comes in black too!  Check it...

Anywho...

Best.  Bag.  Ever.

So go check them out and pick one up for yourself!  Just click on the Silhouette Bags logo below.  You can thank me later. :)

(It doesn't hurt that the company was founded by my hubby and his super hip sister Diana.  Hey, they saw a need and they filled it!  And boy am I grateful!)

Playing Outside

We had a great Saturday at home the other day.  Just playing around outside at the house.  

Porter had a chance to try out his birthday present.

 

While Walker and Luke rode around on the snowmobile with Mike.  What do you think?  Do they look like they enjoy it or what?

Of course they had to show me the jump.

 

Even Chewy decided to join in on the fun!

 

Good times!

Cub Car Rally Numero Uno...

Only something like 11 more cars to go!

Porter took part in his first Cub Car Rally the other day.  When they were getting ready to design the car Mike asked Porter what he wanted to do and they came up with a carrot.  You read that right... a carrot.  A typical Cub Car design?  No.  Unique?  Most definitely!

And get this...

His car was fast!

I mean, like really fast!

He didn't lose a single race in his first bracket and only ended up losing two races the entire day!

It was a very successful first year and we are looking forward to many more to come.

Congratulations Porter!

Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole.... REAL.... Salt Lake!

This family is ready for Real's soccer season!

 

Did you catch their season opener?!?!

Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy....

3-1

Woot!  Woot!!!! 

Living With Boys...

I sort of think I'm the luckiest mom in the world.  Seriously!  I love being a mom of boys... Love it!  We get to do a lot of fun things and while we mostly do things that boys enjoy, I still get the time to craft and do a few 'girly' things. 

For example...


When I want to make a beautiful pie I do it!  I just a have to make a few alterations...

... like using a "Yoda Using the Force" design.  :)

And since EVERY SINGLE PAIR OF JEANS (I swear!!!!) end up with holes in them I've been patching up a storm.  I've actually enjoyed it!  I consider it my 'sewing' time.  :)  And since flowers on a pair of little boy jeans just won't do, this is what we've come up with...

We've got Green Lantern

 

The Flash and Captain America

The Punisher

The Union Jack

Porter's favorite NFL team, the Chicago Bears

And of course Superman!

Not that I'm wishing for more holes in their jeans, but I had a lot of fun coming up with these ideas and creating these patches.  All I've done is look up a logo of what I want on Google, print it out in black and white in the size I need and then start cutting layers of fabric in the shapes I need and then sewing them together.  I sew a denim patch on the inside of the jeans to really patch them well and then add the patch on top and VOILA!!!!  

The boys think they're cool and I get my sewing habits taken care of. :)

Porter Gets Baptized

Porter turned 8 in December and was soooo excited to get baptized!  Since we were in Utah when he turned 8 and he wanted his cousins to be at his baptism, we decided to wait until January to have the baptism.  Grandma Hurren was able to come up for the occasion and it was a really great day.  We are so proud of Porter!  He is such a good boy.  He is gentle, soft-hearted and we love him so much.  Congratulations Porter.  We are proud of you for making the choice to be baptized!