The Handmade Dress

I miscarried my fourth child one year ago today. I try to keep my blog a happy place, so I want you all to know that I am happy. I just felt too guilty about letting the day pass with no mention of that precious gift. I miss my baby deeply. I've had a very emotional year but I feel stronger. I thank God for bringing TWO precious little nieces into my life, Lily and Iris. They have such a special place in my heart. The moment I found out my baby sister was having twins my heart just exploded! My first words were, "your going to need me!", and she did. God never closes a door without opening a window. I have learned so many things in the last year and the thing that stands out the most was this, God opens and closes the womb, he knows just what I need, just when I need it. I have never mentioned this baby on my blog before, but I want you all to know that you have helped me heal. All your sweet comments about my children and family are always so encouraging. There were day...

WOW these things are HUGE!! The kids and I just had to drive back out there today and see these things again. The owner was there and he told us that they are Brahma bulls and cows. They are the biggest cows I have ever seen! They have goat like ears, a hump like a camel, and a rear like a cow! The kids got to pet them and we found out that four of the cows are pregnant. One cow is due in the next month so I guess we will be visiting more often. We had such a good time today. Another unexpected adventure.

Yep. For what seems to be a second of my life, but was really two months, I was consumed by drawing. That's why I had to quit! I have never been soooo addicted to something in my life! It all started when I saw this man on the street (when we visited the mountains) drawing portraits for money. I asked a few questions and bought a book- of course! My drawing career lasted 12 drawings. I was way to obsessive about drawing, it had to be perfect or it would just eat at me (and not one was ever perfect). For those couple of months laundry, dishes, food(!), and even occasionally poor hubby took a back seat. I couldn't think of anything else! But I remembered these drawings today and I decided to share them with you. I can still look at these charcoals and see exactly what I hate about each one, but I am over it! These are all copies, I had to give the originals away or I would never stop working on them. LOL! This is my brother Simon, he was number 5. I am sure you know old A...

He was zooming across so fast! I thought these pics were so funny I just had to share. I finally got a picture of him still when he was hanging his Spiderman web on the glass. This is Tim on Christmas morning. I couldn't catch him! He was "pwayin with me wace car".

All the parties are over. Thank you Jesus! For the last couple of days I have been winding down, getting some things together for the book, crocheting a baby blanket and bonnet for my Aunt Kim, and I have ordered a few books from Amazon (when they get here I will let ya know what I think). I just started these yesterday so they are only works in progress, but I had to show you something crafty. I love these colors! The bonnet pattern is in this Japanese crochet book, I think I will line it with some soft white batiste mmmmm...... The blanket is just an old granny square and I will probably end up lining it with the pin tucked fabric in the background. Molly the professional seamstress. She saw a hole in Daddy's sweatshirt the other night and since she now has her own sewing machine she offered to fix it. Well she did! She pinched it together, added some green fabric, and sewed it up with some pink thread. Just beautiful. Daddy proudly wore it to the fire station the next day....

Molly got a sewing machine, Tim got a train table, and Maddie got a baby bed and a little kitchen. Then a lot more small stuff! I thought my house was so destroyed when I took this first picture! Then my mom and dad came and brought a VAN LOAD of gifts! Then I knew for sure it was destroyed! It took me half the day to my house to the point where it was tolerable! We were loving every minute of it! We had the best Christmas ever! Ben says I say that every year, but it seems to get better every year. The older the kids get the more they look forward to our little Christmas traditions. I love that, that it's the same every year and you know just what to look forward to. I will be back soon with all kinds of sewing and crochet projects, I promise! I am so busy right now with parties (yes, we are still partying!) and I am now working on book #2. I hope to have the book finished by March. Hope. The phase I am working on now is "the sewing phase", so for the ne...

Once again I wanted to thank all my sweet bloggy friends. I really have come to love your precious comments and emails. I wish you all a very merry Christmas! I hope it is full of memories. I can't wait to hear all about your holiday. I have had such a good week already. Friday we baked cookies in our PJ's at Nana's house (my mom). I took a few pictures of my little angels, they were so proud of their cookies. Maddie is such a ham! Every time I took a picture she gave me this same cute lil pose and said cheeeeeese. Molly and Tim love to help in the kitchen. Tim could not stay still for one picture! They all look like this! He is soooooo excited about Christmas, that's all he can talk about! A few days ago I showed him a picture of the train set he is getting for Christmas on the computer. I asked him if that was what he wanted and he said "yes!" I said "You will have to ask Santa." He immediately looked up and said " Jesus, pweese ...