Lil Miss Homemaker

So yesterday I felt inspired to do something I have never attempted before...I made pickles.

It probably had something to do with the fact we had a full drawer full in the fridge and more on the vine ready to be picked. They sure are pretty huh? I can't wait to eat some...in at least 8 weeks from now. I took a recipe I found online and tweeked it. It called for garlic cloves, I used minced garlic. They said to use fresh dill, I couldn't find any and we looked at 3 different stores, so I used dried dill. I also added a bit of onion since we had one in the fridge that needed to be used. Hope they turn out good.

I think I may borrow my sis-in-law's idea and pickle some zucchini, her's turned out really good.

Also I made yet another baby quilt top. I don't like it as much as the girl one I made, but I still think it's cute.

You can't tell in the picture but there are two different patterns on the white. There is white with blue polka dots and the other is white with a white pattern in it. I may change the pattern a bit and try it with other material. 

I think my next project though will be a patchwork quilt...kinda. I'm still working it out in my head. But it will for sure be more simple than the last two.

We did get our pictures back finally. The only problem is, not very many at all turned out. The header is a couple of them. But instead of waiting for ones that we are completely happy with we went ahead and made some pass-along cards for adoption. I'll have to scan one in when we get them so you can see them. I think we did excellent though, for what we had to work with. We ordered enough we can hand them out like candy, so hopefully it will be a very useful tool in finding the birth mother who will bring our baby from God's Arms, To Her Arms, To Ours. (I love Michael McLean)

Lagoon

I really should've taken the camera, but didn't. Allen and I went to Lagoon with Allen's life long best friend, or as a girl would put it his BFF. We hadn't seen them or spent time with them for months. I would say almost a year. They are so fun! They have two little girls one is 9 and the other 7.
I usually don't like Lagoon because you go for a couple hours get the rides all done then it's like...now what? But this time we had a ball! Watching the girls giggling and playing made it really fun.
I still didn't go on the Rocket, the one time I did I cried like a little girl and had to sit down because my knees were shaking and were so weak. Allen, Shawn and Cat all went while I took the girls on Tilt a Whirl and the Scrambler. We got our cart spinning so fast on the Tilt a Whirl I couldn't pull my head off the back. When we got off they were both giggling and saying, "Let's do it again!" But it was time to go watch their parents on the Rocket. Did I mention Shawn is about as afraid of heights as I am? Haha! He was so freaked out! The girls I think screamed with delight as loud as the people on the ride. I laughed so hard!
I wouldn't mind going with them again. But probably not for a couple or more years.

We Are Back On The Market

Well, apparently we have not been chosen. Our profile is republished and we are now looking for a birthmother. If anyone hears about someone thinking about placing a baby for adoption, please send them our way!

Just In Case

I have had the fabric for a while. Actually, I've had it since we thought we were going to be adopting a baby girl in November (it wasn't due until June or July). I gathered it up, okay actually it was all given to me by random people except I did buy 1/2 yard of pink, because I wanted to make my first girl baby quilt. Well, if you have been following our blog you know she decided to get an abortion. When I found that out...well...we'll just say I put the fabric away.

But now...now I feel the desire to do a baby girl quilt...just in case. *fingers and toes crossed* I'm hoping and praying she will chose us. I would love for Allen to have a daddy's girl. Only problem is, I'm afraid he might spoil the crap out of her. lol But I guess daddy's are allowed.

Anywho, it's not completed yet because I can't quite decide how to tie or quilt it. So this is just a picture of the top finished. It's going to have a yellow back so that's the color edge it will have.

Allen thought I was bit nutty when I had pink with white polka dot, green with white flowers, white with white design and plain yellow fabric and said so proudly, "I'm gonna make our baby girl a quilt out of these."

I almost didn't do it because I thought it would turn out a little weird.

It turned out awesome though! I am so proud of myself. Being a beginner with a sewing machine it was pretty dang hard to figure out how to put it together because it wasn't like patchwork; sew a row together then sew the rows together. I think it might have been easier if it was a spiral even (which it's not). Okay, someone who is better at sewing than me it wouldn't have been hard but dang! this took a lot of brain power for me. lol

My oldest brother showed up just as I was finishing the outer round and I showed him. He says, "It's loud."

This picture doesn't do the shades justice...it is pretty loud. I just hadn't noticed until he said something.

I also got ambitious the other day and decided to use up a bunch of extra yarn I had left over from the last little afghan I did. I ran out of purple so it's not finished yet. I need to buy another skeen...grrr. But here is an unfinished picture of it.

Now all I have to do with this is hook them together and put an edge on it.

I feel so homemakey right now...what is going on??? lol

I know it's not a bad thing but it's kind of strange that I opt to do this type of thing rather than go outside and weed or something. I would've laughed in your face had you told me a few years ago I would be crocheting and making baby quilts. Ahhh, how things change.

Remember the expectant mother in your prayers people, please. Right now she is working on making the hardest decision she may make in her entire life. She's gotta be a strong person. I hope she chooses us, but if she doesn't she still needs the blessing of being able to make her choice and know that it is the best one for her baby.

Wogging

A week or so ago Allen and I decided we really need to get in better shape by eating more healthy and getting more exercise. We decided we better start a little slow and work up. There is a trail just up the road that goes past some fields and through trees, it's really a nice trail. So we went walking a couple days. The third day we could feel a difference from just walking a couple times so we decided to jog a little bit.
Allen doesn't like to jog or run, whatever you prefer to call it, but I love to jog. In jr. high and high school I used to love to run. I haven't really done it much since I haven't been in school. The little bit I did with Allen brought the love of jogging back. I feel so free when I am jogging. A little weird, I know. But that's just me.
Now when Allen gets home at night we go wogging. Right now we walk more than we jog, but hopefully that will be changing soon. In the week that we have been wogging I have lost 2 lbs. Yay! I'm sure Allen has lost more than that just for the simple fact he has the male metabolism but that's okay. I am loving wogging with him! Any time I get spend with my sweetheart is good. Love and respect that man so much!

Calling All Family and Friends!

Asking for prayers that the dream of being "mommy" and "daddy" will finally be realized. Found out today that we are on soft hold (after almost 3 yrs)! It's nothing really promising but it does mean that we have the possibility of adopting...YAY!!! So please send up a prayer or two in our behalf. Love you all and thank you for all of your love and support!
P.S. I wouldn't mind you keeping your fingers and toes crossed until we find out. lol

What Is Wrong???

I don't know what the heck is going on with our garden this year! The squash are doing awesome (most of them volunteers) the potatoes seem to be doing awesome and the peas. But the tomatoes...ugh!!! They were doing good then they started to die back, then they did good for a bit grew some tomatoes but now they are dying back and the tomatoes are not growing, or ripening...
The beans are doing okay but they haven't started to blossom or anything yet. And the peppers...oh boy...they won't grow. The pumpkin plants look beautiful and huge but not one pumpkin yet. The onions did okay for a bit too but then they all tipped over and died. What am I supposed to do with such a retarded garden???
I've eaten quite a bit of squash already and it's very yummy with a bit of onion, cilantro, and sausage, topped with a touch of cheese. That's actually what I had for lunch, YUM! (Dangit, should've put some salsa on there)
We are getting very frustrated with our garden.

Life

Over the hills and through the valleys we trudge
Looking for that which will bring us joy
Giving obvious trouble a wide birth
And walking blindly into an ambush or two

There are many we pass on our journey
Some that offer help
Others that offer heartache
Some who just walk with us for a time

Sometimes we imagine the end is in sight
Then reality returns to our mind
There is no end
Only rest stops then we must continue

Remember, o remember
There is one who will walk with us
One who will carry us if needed
All we must do is believe and ask

No matter the trouble at hand
If we are struggling for right and truth
He is there, with His help truth will prevail
He is our friend, our brother

Not only in times of tribulation
In the still peaceful moments He is there
He wants to help us on our journey
To make is more meaningful, more productive

Though we may lose faith and quit believing
He will never lose faith in us
If we let it, life can be full of His love
That is the way the Master planned it

Be still and listen to your heart
He is speaking to you
Guiding you back to Him
Be still and feel his arms around you

Pictures

Tuesday we went to Manti to have pictures taken to update our profile for LDSFS. Allen's best-friends' sister is trying to start a photography business so this is who we had take them. I haven't seen any of them yet and won't for like a week since she was going out of town. I'm a little nervous but kind of excited to see them.
She was a lot of fun! So personable! As soon as we get the pictures I'll have to post some. We had some taken with the dogs too...I hope at least one of them worked out. But trying to get 3 little dogs to pose and hold still and have us looking at the right spot...that's tough.
I hate having my picture taken! I'm supposed to be behind the camera, not in front of it! Oh, well...I guess if it helps us build a family the discomfort, embarrassment and self-conciousness will be worth it.
I love our caseworker! She is the best one ever. She keeps us up to date on what we need to do to stay published and she has spent tons of time helping us with our profile. Funny thing is the caseworkers we have met and others in the office we have met say our profile doesn't do us justice...I wish I could fix that. I wish I knew better how to sell ourselves, it's hard though because we are just ordinary people... Maybe if I hire someone else to put it together...hmmm

Cute Little Stinker

We did a no-no. We spent money on a swimming pool for the short person who is living with us at present. Any of you who shop at WalMart know it was only $15 but when you're strapped for cash...really shouldn't be spending money on a pool. 

Anywho! He LOVES it! We emptied it the day after and he was so upset. Now anytime we go out and he sees it he points to it and says, "Waters". 

Allen helped him in.

The water was cold we had just barely filled it. He didn't know quite what to think.

He seemed a bit upset because the dogs were drinking his swimming water...heaven forbid.

 

I helped him get moving in the water instead of just standing there.

 After a few times around the pool...

He loved jumping and splashing. I just don't know for sure if he liked the splashing from jumping, or the adrenalin rush when he would fall down more.

After he started getting cold he thought it was pretty cool for me to hold him and just let him kick his feet.

Not real easy on the back...after all he weighs almost 40 lbs.

After his lips had turned purple we told him enough (he got real ticked about that) then we showed him how to lay on the warm concrete to dry off and warm up. We wrapped him up in a dark green towel so it would absorb as much heat as possible he liked the part where Allen laid on one side of him and me on the other the best though.