Little Boys in Little League

I've heard so many horror stories of parents trash talking at little league games that when I happened across this poem I thought it was such a nice reminder to all parents about the "kids" who are playing the game. I decided that it would make a GREAT hand out to parents on your little league team. Here is a FREE PDF Printable I created... http://freepdfhosting.com/c6a13b7b02.pdf ... Think about printing some to hand out at your next game.

Graduation 2012



Dad Receiving his award (Photo Taken by BigA)



The Family there to cheer on Dad

 We all attended commencement at the University of Utah this year. We are so proud of Big A, recieving his Doctora.... wait it's still a little early for that maybe in 2032???, but we did attend graduation because Jeff's Dad was receiving an award and we all wanted to be there to cheer him on. Congrats Dad!!

Dad on Stage

 

After 1 1/2 hours of commencement



At Hires after commencement





At the after party at Dean Irelands house























The Dentist

The first trip to the dentist. Big A is old enough now to be going to the dentist. I checked into it and found a well respected pediatric dentist. I made an appointment. I told Big A how "awesome" it was going to be and what a big boy he is! Then I fretted. Being the queen of cavities (not from lack of brushing mind you) I have always dreaded the dentist, even just cleanings so I was feeling like a big hypocrite trying to build it up for the little guy but then I didn't want him nervous. I also promised a fun surprise after if he was a good boy (Bribery? really...I know but this was the dentist!) So we went to his appointment and ... everything went great. The assistant was so nice, the Dentist kind and thorough, the waiting room had a slide! What was I worried about?? After the "fun surprise" a trip to the merry-o-round at the mall, Big A asked "So Mom, now can we go back to the Dentist's?"...and I was worried?!?! 

In the chair

Ready for X-Rays

Mr laid back..what was I worried about?

With Dr. Stewart

Getting X-Rays

Getting his first cleaning

Showing off those pearly whites

At the Merry-Go-Round

Bathroom Decorating

It is finally done!! We have had the basement bathroom finished for over a year but it had no style, no pizzaz. I have searched and searched for art that really worked, I was especially drawn to vintage bath pics of kids.  Then I looked in my own bathtub. I got some cute shots of A and A and had them printed in black and white. I got some fun thrift store frames and spray painted them glossy white (The oval frame was an old gold one that my mom actually found in storage right after I told her I was looking for an oval frame! score!) I think it turned out nice and classic looking with a personalized touch. Here are the results...

Fun at City Creek

A new shopping center opened up in Downtown Salt Lake City Called City Creek. It's a really impressive space that is two stories of shopping and dining that has several water features and a retractible roof for inclimate weather. We had a GREAT time there. Me and the kids went with my Mom. It was wonderful. The new Disney store was a big hit with the kids (well with Big A, Little A was just happy with everything), lunched at Kneaders (So yummy!) and we braved Tiffany's with the kids (both behaved very well). Plan on spending lots of time there in the future, possibly a new favorite shopping center.



In front of the water show





Making wishes with "Ma"
(What Big A calls Grandma)



T-Shirt Flower...just in time for spring!!

Spring has sprung and with all the flowers are starting to bloom...fabric flowers that is! I love the look of these puffy flowers but don't love the $15-$20 that anthropologie and Downeast want for them. So I started digging in my craft "garden" to see what I could "grow." I was able to make a pretty good replica for the grand total of $0!!!
Below is a step by step if you want to do some fabric flower "gardening" too!

Start with an unwanted T-shirt, This lovely yellow number was in our bin to be given to goodwill

Create your templates. One 3" Circle and one 5 "petal" flower approximately 3 1/2" wide
(You can really free hand it, it doesn't have to be perfect)

Cut one circle out of coordinating felt and 9 flowers out of the T-shirt
(I found that you really needed to pin the template to the material when you cut, made it much easier!)

Fold one of the flowers in half

Then fold it in half again

Repeat with 3 more (You will need a total 8 folded flowers for the whole thing)

Glue four folded flowers to the felt circle.
 (I used liquid stitch glue but I am sure hot glue or even tcky glue would work too)

Now glue your folded flowers to themselves
(so the are glued to the felt then unfold that second fold and glue there)



Now add a second layer of petals perpendicular to the first
(Glue second layer to the first layer and again glue your flowers to themselves as you did with the first layer)



Next you'll create your center "bud." Fold your petal in half but instead of folding again this time roll it up. 

Your bud should look like this



Next trim the bottom third off of the bud



Use a LOT of glue and glue your bud in the center of your folded flowers.
(really push it into the center hard and hold it for a few minutes to let the glue set a bit)

Now to pull it all together. Glue the sides of your folded flowers to the bud in the middle
 (place glue were shown)



Glue your pin on the back. I used E-6000 glue here for a stronger hold



Fluff it up a little and here is your flower

Voila!! The finished product!!

She's Moving....

The girl is Mobile!!! Little A is all about moving and grooving now. Crawling, Rolling, Standing, Pulling herself up, she is a PRO! I think she will be walking really soon. How fast the "baby" time flies!

Sitting...Old Hat!

Crawling!

She now can follow Big A all around!

Walking Instruction!

A little help?? Big A is ready for Little A to walk!