a whole lot of Halloween going on

In the last couple of weeks

we've had a lot of Halloween activities going on!

It's been great fun. I love Autumn. It's easily my favorite season.

Here are some of the highlights-

Eating fresh tomato soup on the front porch.

heading off to the last scout camp out before winter sets in.

I made two large batches of pumpkin cupcakes.

One for a friend's wedding shower- one for our congregation's Halloween party.

Brian & Spencer

just before the left for a Halloween party.

scary for sure!

hailey & her date for the harvest dance.

they went as Chimney Sweeps!

so cute

carving jack o lanterns

back home seriously soaking wet... from a rainy Halloween night.

Not too much candy...

Chloe ready to go to a Halloween party too!

What we gave to the many trick or treaters this year.

Tiff & Hailey all decked out.

Trent's set up waiting for the trick or treaters.

He decided handing out the candy was more fun that going out to get it.

and last of all-

Homemade donuts

Instead of making them for the neighborhood- I've started a new tradition.

Just one batch- one- for the family!

It's been a great Halloween season

my missionary jack... an update

Monday this photo was in my inbox.

It was like a little slice of heaven... seeing a picture of my missionary jack!

He has been out nearly 7 months now. YES- you read that right- it's been 205 days sent we said good bye & he got on an airplane to Brazil.

I miss him terribly.

I think about him constantly... always.

I don't write much about it because frankly, I don't like to get super personal on this blog. My feelings about having a missionary are so personal, so overwhelmingly personal & sacred... I just don't want to trivialize any part of the experience. Anyhow- he is doing well. He has lost some weight, but then he walks at least 10 miles most days. He loves it. Absolutely loves it! I know- not because of the many letters saying he loves it- but because of pictures like this one. I know my son, and I can see it in his eyes.

Tonight I want to share a bit of this week & last week's email.

(last week)

He is writing about a family they are teaching, "They are a really humble family, that doesn't have much. It was hard going to their house for the first time & seeing how little they have. Their house is only a little bit bigger than my bedroom back home & they are a family of 13- 11 kids! But they are so happy & so excited about the gospel. The blessings of the gospel are so much it doesn't matter how little we have, if we have the gospel we are rich with blessings."

(this week)

"this week was GREAT!! We went to visit a family & one boys had a surprise for us. He had named two of his roosters after my companion & I. Little Elder Messer is a white rooster with a red head, ha ha. Now many of you may be recalling the Seinfeld episode where Kramer buys a rooster & names it little Jerry Seinfeld. So it probably won't surprise you when I inform you that, yes, Little Elder Messer got in a fight against Little Elder Alves. We were all sitting in this little tiny room (it's really little especially with 11 people in it!) when these two roosters just went at it. They were fighting in between my lets, on my lap, it was craziness. Don't worry though, Little Elder Messer was quicker than Rocky from rocky III."

It's good to know he still has his sense of humor.

I know you are not reading this...

but someday you will-

I love you Jack. I know you are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you want to do & I am proud of you. Proud to be your mother. Proud you are doing good in this world & loving your fellow man. Proud of the man you have become. Proud that you are not afraid to teach & testify of what you know is true. Proud that you know how to work hard. I miss you but wouldn't bring you home- mostly because you would never speak to me again- for anything. I dream of the day you will come home & walk down the ramp at the airport. I love you so much.

love, mom

Meeting Bakerella

On the 14th of this month there was No School.

I was thrilled that I didn't have to take my girls out of school to meet her...

the One & Only

Bakerella!

We were absolutely delighted when she announced here that she would be coming to Salt Lake City on her book signing tour. I had pre-ordered her book... you know on that day... and YES it is worth it!

It's an amazing book- even if you don't bake- it's worth buying just for the photos.

Here is a copy of the photo of the four of us.

It's the photo of us that she put up on her blog post about Salt Lake City.

I was stunned that she chose our photo to go up- the girls & I have been walking on cloud nine ever since.

We got to Williams Sonoma an hour early.

Ready with our book- we would have bought three... but then- no job = one book.
We picked up our number- #36 then looked around the shop for a bit.

I realized just after we arrived- that my camera card was in the computer at home. Oh my gosh, I nearly had a heart attack. These photos are all taken with my IPhone.

Bakerella - or Angie- her real name, was absolutely delightful.

She was darling & sweet & has a bit of a southern accent. Her mom came with her & she is the one who took that great shot of us all.

I asked her if she has been able to quit her day job. She said- no. I am so thrilled to see such a talented blogger go big, even if she hasn't been able to quit her full time job yet. She is so talented she absolutely deserves the book deal & every bit of recognition she is getting & more.

I found her blog just after I started mine over three years ago & it's a family favorite.

It was an absolute thrill to get see her success- buy her book- meet her in person & have her sign it!

After the book signing we topped off our special day with lunch here at Elizabeth's bakery & tea shop just north of Trolley Square in the big city.

It's a delightful little bakery/tea shop with true English originals.

A friend of mine- who seved a mission in England says it's the real deal.

Authentic as it gets here in Utah.

We had a (top left to right) a bacon cheese puff, cheese & onion pie, cucumber sandwich & blueberry tart.

We sat among these lovely pillows & just as we were being served the owner came over & told the girls they were so lovely that the looked like they belonged in the tea shop!

We finished off lunch with scones, English butter & jam.

It was such a GREAt day.

I still can't believe our picture is on her blog!

Thank you to all of you who left messages here yesterday to tell me about the photo- I was so thrilled to see you recognized us.

two quilts finished

Last week was very productive!

I finished two darling quilts & I am so thrilled to introduce you to them both.

First up is this one for my friend Krystal who is having a baby girl next month.

A couple of posts down is the matching doll quilt for her 3 year old daughter to carry a doll around. It was so fun to make this- I love to make baby quilts! It's bright & has a bright pink minky back. SO Soft!

This one is for my niece's son Cole.

It's already packed an off at the post office.

Here it is all washed up & wrinkly.
I love a fresh made quilt out of the dryer.
I'm sure it's hard to tell- but they come out so soft & finished after washing. I couldn't resist putting another photo up after the wash.
I'm on a quilting roll with several Christmas projects going on...
I wish I could show them all!

Can it be... 17!?

Last week was Hailey's birthday

(I'm seriously behind in the blogging world I know, I know)

Can you believe it?

She is seventeen....

oh boy- how did that happen?

Brian was spending the night, the night before & wanted to see her open presents... so we all decided to get up early with her & have a special breakfast party!

We ate donuts & opened presents at 6:45 AM- before she left for school at 7:00 AM.

wow- that was early!

but fun

No one agreed to have their photo taken

- except her-

the rest of us were still sleepy & in our pj's.

Isn't she cute!? Even at 6:45 in the morning!!!

She got some jewelry, a really cool make-up mirror, a skirt & new shirt.

fun, fun, fun- almost as fun as dinner!

For her birthday dinner

she chose to invite two friends- tiffany & lizzie- to join us at the newly opened

In & Out Burger!!!!

It has been opened for over a week.

Finally, for Hailey's birthday we braved the lines.

It was totally worth it & really pretty quick.

Cheeseburgers, fries, cokes...

is there a better way to celebrate a birthday?

Hailey is truly an angel.

She sings like an angel, acts like an angel.

She's an absolutely fabulous teenager.

We are so happy to have you Hailey as our girl.

(I'm speaking for dad & I.)

I love you.

Happy Birthday!

sewing up a storm

Yesterday & today...

I've been sewing up a storm

First up
Tonight I finished a doll quilt to match the baby quilt I took to the quilter a couple of weeks ago. It's for a darling little girl, Lily who is going to be a big sister soon. Hopefully she will love snuggling her baby doll while her mom snuggles her new sister.
I will be posting the full sized quilt as soon as it's ready!

Yesterday I finally....
made this pillow.
I've been thinking about making this pillow for over a month now.

I saw a similar pillow at an upscale store & Loved it.
I thought for sure I could find an old sweat & make my own.
Then I was cleaning out my closet- and found an old yellow sweater.
Ta Dah!
It made a perfect yellow throw pillow to go in my red & yellow living room.
Oh it feels good to get a project done!

concert in the park

It's been a good weekend here at our house.

My In laws have been here & Hailey had a "real" gig Saturday night!

Some H.S. students were putting on a concert (fund raiser)

for a trip they are taking later in the year.

They asked Hailey to participate.

It was such a beautiful & fun night.

Loads of people showed up!

There were lots of different musical artists.

Hailey sang two of her original songs- Airplanes & Taxi's & my new favorite Ferris Wheel.

It was extra special to have Grandma & Grandpa here.

Trent loved every minute & was on pins & needles enjoying the show...

not.

Good times
P.S. I love being outside in the crisp fall air.
Fall in Utah is marvelous