One More Project

I bought the pattern for this Sunbonnet Sue Cowgirl at Quilt Rush when I was pregnant with Taylor. Obviously I didn't know that I was having a boy at that time. Anyway, the pattern and fabric have been patiently waiting for me to put them together. Yesterday I had a ton of nervous, pre-surgery energy. I got the box out and Wa-La! Lylee now has a cute wall hanging in her room. Her favorite part is the Yee Haw (horse), which is why I made it for her.

Grandpa Bob Gets a Special Award

Grandpa Bob is in Las Vegas to get his special safety award today. This is in the article that was in the paper. We're so proud of him!


RailAmerica Inc.’s Robert Jones has attained the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) highest individual safety honor. The association recently named the vice president of RailAmerica's West Region the 2008 "Safety Person of the Year."ASLRRA recognized Jones for his “tireless dedication to safety and innovative leadership, not only in his region, but across all of RailAmerica,” according to a prepared statement.



Last year, all eight railroads in his region were injury-free.In addition, as head of RailAmerica's Cross-Regional Safety Team, Jones led the company to its safest-ever year in 2008, when the company posted a record 1.64 FRA frequency index (injuries per 200,000 manhours), representing a 35 percent year-over-year improvement.



In 2007, Jones customized a safety program based on David Sarkus’ book "The Safety Coach: Unleash the 7Cs for World-Class Safety Performance.” Jones ingrained the 7Cs — caring, coaching, correcting, confirming, collaborating, clarifying and conciliating — into the region's safety culture and helped implement the book’s concepts at all RailAmerica properties, ASLRRA said."Due to Bob's leadership and vision, we have established an affirmative safety culture throughout RailAmerica that emphasizes positive reinforcement and compassion for the individuals who work at our railroads," said RailAmerica Chief Executive Officer John Giles.



ASLRRA will recognize Jones on April 27 at the association’s annual convention in Las Vegas.

Sewing Projects

This nightgown was the first in my little project streak. It is based on a pillowcase (or sackcloth) dress.

One of two more nightgowns, and a super cute picture with Daddy!

Pink garden fairy pillowcase-style dress. It's a little big, she'll love it this summer!

What better accessory could a girl ask for than a handsome guy? The only part of this dress that I didn't enjoy making was the zipper. I'm sure if I worked with zippers more often they wouldn't frustrate me so.

Okay, a handsome boy with a guitar is better than just a handsome boy. Both kids love the big pockets on this dress.

There is one more striped nightgown and a green tea party dress that I am putting an applique on. Lots of fun! Next I'm going to tackle making ties for Taylor. That will probably have to wait until after surgery though.

Big Dip 2009

Yesterday we actually went swimming for the first time this year. Taylor and Lylee had completely different experiences.

Lylee wasn't sure that she even wanted to get near the water, let alone in it. When she finally got in the water, she screamed. Then she clung to me like a baby koala until I peeled her off and onto Grandpa. She was thrilled when she got out and got to cuddle with everyone by the side of the pool.

Now Taylor gave everyone a big show. When we got in the back yard, Jacci was diving in. Taylor saw this and ran, literally ran, right down to the spot where Jacci had just been standing... and then he jumped in. That's right, my 4 1/2 year old just jumped right in the deep end of the pool! Jacci and Grandpa started swimming to save him (Jac even sacrificed a contact lens), but by the time they got there Taylor had already swum to the edge. He then informed me that he still needed his wings because "I still sink". It was all a bit surreal and miraculous.

Good - bye Steph

We're getting ready to take Aunt Stephanie to the airport so she can fly back to Denver. We have had a great time with her visiting us. She has been a great help around the house. Both kids love her so much. Taylor will miss her sleeping in his room and playing video games with him. Lylee will miss Steph helping her get dressed and taking her for fun little walks. We will miss her company and her help around the house.

Thanks for visiting Steph! Come back soon!!

My Hero

Last week when I took Taylor in for his 6 month check up the dentist found four sugar bugs (or cavities)! Yikes!!! How is this kid gonna sit still through four fillings??? He has to be on my lap for a regular cleaning. Well, a very wise Dr. Heather thought that a child's dose of valium might do the trick and her husband, Dr. Jason, agreed.

So this morning at 10:00 I gave Taylor his valium. I was so anxious that I just about needed one myself. There was no need. Taylor was amazing!

Taylor brought his favorite "pets", Turkilis the turtle and Cosmo the cougar. He also wore his Thomas sunglasses to keep the bright light out of his eyes. These were very helpful tips from Aunt Stephanie who is visiting and is a dental assistant.

We are a bit spoiled and get to watch TV at the dentist. Two of T's favorite shows were on. Ni Hao Kai Lin and Olivia! How lucky! The valium worked so well and the cavities were so small that Taylor did not even need any anesthetic at all!!! I'm still in shock and awe at how smooth everything went!


Taylor got to pick two treats from the toy box and a sugar free sucker. He picked a camo bouncy ball and some crayons.

Daddy had a super special treat waiting at home that he's been saving for a super special occasion. Well, today was definately the day. When we got home, Daddy gave Taylor Lego Indiana Jones for the Wii. (Taylor has really, really been wanting this game. He even asked me yesterday if he could use the money that he got from the Easter Bunny at Grandma's to buy it!)

What a great ending to a very long and hectic Spring Break!!!

Happy Easter 2009!

Happy Easter everyone!

Nighty - Night

My jammer babies.

My little poser.

This is the new nighty that I made for Lylee. I crafted it after the "pillow case" or "potato sack" dresses. I altered it to make it simpler the the directions that I found online, but also safer that the original pattern. Lylee loves that it's pink.

I'm planning on making a couple more nighties and also a few dresses. I'll post them as I finish them. It's so fun to be able to sew clothes!

Has anyone seen a cute, or simple tie pattern? I want to make a couple for Taylor!

One Long Week

Last weekend was our biggest General Conference ever. The kids wanted nothing to do with conference or the various activities that I had planned as diversions. Chris has been working his tail off for weeks, so the kids have been a bit of a mess.

On Monday, Taylor went to the dentist. He HAS to sit on my lap for his cleaning, but he's usually very mellow. He was a complete and total disaster from the minute that the hygienist started polishing his teeth. He had total meltdown at the dentist's office and again when I had to stop at the grocery store on the way home. I never knew that a Hershey Bar could cause such trauma. When we got home he started beating his sister on the back and screamed and yelled at all of us. (This is NOT NORMAL) Silly mom that I am, never thought to talk to the dentist about products that they use and food allergies! Thankfully, Grandma Vicki thought about it. I called the dentist's office and... yep! red dye in the polish, and... yep! strawberry flavoring in the fluffy white flouride. Benadryl! Benadryl! and more Benadryl! The poor kid still had hives this morning! Oh, and he also has 4 cavities, so we get to go back next Monday. Don't worry, they printed 20 pages worth of products and their ingredients so that we can avoid a repeat performance.

Tuesday, Chris's sister Stephanie flew in and when we got home from the airport everyone (kids included) joined in and started cleaning the garden out for Spring. We still have plants that are doing very well from our fall planting. We also got ready to plant our new little seeds for the summer!

Wednesday, we took Lylee to school. Then Steph and I took Taylor and Hyrum out to Folsom to get our allergy shots. Taylor got his shot, but the doc wanted to see me. Steph took the kids to play while I waited for the doc. She gave me all kinds of new allergy meds and told me that I had to wait for my shot until I was doing better (I've been so preoccupied with other things that I didn't even know how bad my allergies were). That afternoon I took Lylee to have a follow up visit with the pediatrician. She's still sick from how long ago? The doctor was a total jerk and actually physically seperated my two children who were just playing while he yammered on about things. Finally I just said, "Look, Lylee is still having breathing and coughing issues and I can't borrow my nephew's nebulizer forever. Can you please just get me a nebulizer and a RX for the medication to use in it?" He didn't even write the RX correctly. He didn't even know how to use it in the machine. They gave me a box with the machine, a stack of papers and sent me on my way. I came home and called Jac and asked her for the number of her pediatrician and made an appointment for the following day. (Did I mention that Lylee has been waking up coughing uncontrollably in the middle of every night?) I also made a double batch of banana bread and 50/50 Wheat Bread and got a visit from one of my Ogden friends, Tyra and her sister Rae Ann and their kids! ( My kids were in Heaven to have so many kids to play with!)

Thursday started with me at the dentist and a small filling (I have to be premedicated so I was a little loopy, a whole other story). Next, both kids got to go to their brand new pediatrician... paperwork... This doc is amazing! She checked out both kids very thoroughly and gave all kinds of good prescriptions. Preventative, maintenance and emergency meds. Allergy and excema meds for Taylor and asthma meds for Lylee. Yep, now we're on the asthma train too. I brought the kids and Miss Stephanie home (thanks Steph!), dropped off $80 worth of prescriptions at Target and ran to my other doc appt. that takes a minimum of 3 hours every time. I went back to Target to get the meds, but they weren't ready, so I hunted through the One Spot while I waited. By the time that I got home, both kids had been fed and put to bed. (Thanks again Steph!) Oh yeah, Chris is sick too. He had to go to the doctor before work and came home with his own arsenal of medications and remedies.

Today, Lylee went to school, I paid bills and Chris took the rest of crew to get the rest of the meds he needed and eggs to boil for Easter. After school, Lylee came home for a little nap before we all got to go back to school for Lylee's class Easter party. The kids had a blast at the party, Lylee loved hunting for eggs and she also got invited to a big kid birthday party. We brought the kids home and Steph watched them for us so that we could go out for our 11th Wedding anniversary. Chris and I went to Johnny Garlic's for dinner. It was really yummy. The waitress was awesome. She brought us a bag of bread to bring home and gave us a free Mint Pie since it was our anniversary. We will definately be going back!!! We also saw Fast and Furious. It was non-stop action. At least as good as the original. I also got the garden planted!

Tomorrow is breakfast with Greenpa and Taylor, workshop at Lowe's with Daddy, a baptism of one of our dear friends' son, and who knows what else!

This week was full of ups and downs. I guess I really was built to be a 2 kid mom. I had just enough in me to make it through the week. We really are given exactly what we can handle in life. Life is crazy, but it is also good. And look at my beautiful flowers!!!!

New Pictures of the Kids

This is Taylor's school picture. He is 4 1/2 now.

Taylor and Lylee. I wish I knew what he is telling her. Siblings need their little secrets though, right?

Lylee Bug at 2. This really captures her sweet side!

Guess who loves fairies and PINK?

Workshop Fun

Yesterday was Home Depot's workshop day. The kids and Dad had lots of fun. The coolest part of these little houses is that the back is plexi glass and the houses have suction cups so that you can hang the house on a window and see inside! How cool!

If you're wondering about the kids funny faces, Taylor is watching Lylee try to touch her tongue to her nose like her daddy. I think Taylor's trying it too. Silly kids.