We have HISTORY!

I have been taking digital photos of hard copy photos. Feeling amazed at my beautiful babies. Sweet memories and thoughts as I look at these.

I love this shot of Emma and Stewart lying on mini-trampoline with matching picture Books of Mormon. "Abid-ah-buh?" was Stewart's mimic-repeat-after-me of family scripture reading. Kind of sounds like "It came to pass"



Mom made these in Homemaking--sewing boards using shoe laces to go in and out of the holes and trace the pictures she drew. Formative favorite pictures.
Emma baby pictures.


At 4 years I remember thinking I thought this looked like me when I grew up.
Gift from creative friend last year...
..and this year. She knows and shares the creative NEED to make stuff.
I am in an on-line quilting group. We make blocks for each other. This month I made these for Sheryl in DC. She sent me fragments of 4 of her brother's shirts, asked for stars. I used up every scrap I could, including his pocket with initials in the center of the "Churn Dash" star-ish block (it is one of my all-time favorite blocks!)

"Because she said so" part 2

Honestly, I've been thinking about changing the dining room for months. Pondering colors, thinking of possible solutions. Hearing back from professional interior designer Christine on Monday made it easy for me to feel confident and do something. It was the first Monday that I wasn't painting for someone else, knew I could work on it all day and the next day...(Worse time to start a project for me is Saturday afternoon...)

So, I didn't wait to implement Christine's ideas! The red is gone, and it completely changed the personality of the room. It feels very grown up. Bigger. Sophisticated. Different. LOVE the table being the focus in the room under the ceiling. You walk in and the ceiling is the wow-factor. It stands out more. I like it!



I can't wait to find frames for all the photos I want to put up in here. Black suede curtains I found are 6 inches too short, so taking those back and looking for longer ones.

The fireplace woodwork and shelves are drying--I'll post pictures of living room when I get it put back together.

Happy Father's Day from DAD to DAD!

My Dad by marriage lives 2 blocks away. It has been a huge blessing living close enough for the kids to walk over. He is a good grandfather to them. He taught his son well how to treasure the mother of your children, how to honor your wife. I am thankful for the son this man raised.
This is John and his 3 sons, last Father's Day. I hope they grow into the kind of father their Daddy has taught them to be. I hope that for my future grandchildren! And daughters-by-marriage!
My four brothers, more great men to honor in my life (picture before Michael's wedding--4 years ago?!)

http://www.youtube.com/mormonmessages

My dad sent this in email--a great link to a touching video, "A Father Indeed." Nice message, as we prepare to honor our fathers this coming Sunday.

Because She said so

This Blog answers some questions about my house.

I found her blog while blog-jumping. It was linked to a friend of Luanna's. Christine was a BYU roommate of a friend of my sisters...I read through her entire archived posts and got up the courage to take pictures of my decorating indecisions. I wrote to her months ago. She answered! And today I started priming the wood, primed over the red dinning room....pictures of progress coming soon!

Labors of Love

Luanna is in a PA hospital, epidural-ed, waiting for a birthday!

Happy Birthday to brother Artist David in Missouri! You inspire me.

Today I started by basecoating "Child's Play" Sherwin Williams 6845 (light blue-pink) in SATIN finish. I talked client into letting me do ceiling!!!! Love how it expands the room visually. Added dinner plate sized polka dots in semi-gloss, same color. Could have used polyurethane, but that can be runny/messy. Chalked circles 13 inches diameter, 19 inches apart side to side and 26 inches apart vertically from high dot to one straight down. If you get the vertical lines just right the polka dot pattern looks really cool. Freehand painted circles, erased chalk guidelines.

Snail is taken from the baby.gap bedding collection "Sleeping Snail."

Stitch lines, eye, antenae=white

Snail shell= "Dancing Green" SW 6716

Snail body= "Hibiscus" SW 6851

30% off SW paints today through....?

Go paint!

Our kitchen. Notice how I am ignoring the color cues from the outdated green tiles and chose a happy cheddar cheesy color and hot pink. Added this phrase again, dropped the "here." I like how the quote means many things, many levels. We could be longing for God's comfort, or our longing for your comfort as you come and visit our shelter....It is a John Landbeck quote. My man of many words!

Spread out families

This mural I painted years ago in Mom's kitchen in SLC

Early quilt (Suzanna was the baby when I made this) 9 houses for my 9 siblings, all of us spread across the country...

Our brown eyes came from this guy, young then and older now.

Kissing Sare, Michael and niece Ellie

Brother Steven, doing well--ask him about funny movie recommendations!

Nephew Ocean in Kansas City would love playing with nephew Simon in SLC...

Baby Iris with beautiful big brown eyes!





Niece Olivia has the same eyes!

Niece Ava: fun, silly, loving!

Ella, Julie and Iris again

My favorite trampoline picture!

Baby Ellie and soon-t0-be-big-brother Isaac playing the same game with their moms. Bob in the background cheering for the Pens!

Mom Trip

I started the trip by going early on the train into Baltimore, the same one John takes every morning to go to work. We passed some amazing wonderful graffiti art en route! John left me at the airport and I flew to Chicago, then SLC.

Mom picked me up at the airport with Becca (how did I not get ONE SINGLE picture of Becca?) and we went shopping, first thing.

Next blog will include nephews and nieces seen on our trip across the country, driving, just the two of us, mother and daughter, friends.

I want to show you my mom.

A bird clipped Mom on the head, beak or wing? Protecting a nest, and Mom got too close...

Legs up as often as possible!

Back in Baltimore!