Quilting is sew NOT fun!!

So, i'm sure you've heard, but I bought these cuddle soft/ minky quilt kits to make for the girls. And i bought them last year. How sad. I literally started making them last week. You make it using the "sew and flip" method, which meant nothing to me until I saw a video of it on youtube. Anyways, I finally started and got everthing ready to sew... and nothing. I couldn't do it on my machine. It was too think. I had the backing, the batting, plus two strips trying to be sewn through. Well, I basically gave up on them and was ready to throw the whole thing away.

Then, my friend Audrey (who make/sell paci-catchers, check out her site at www.paci-catchers.com No, I was not told or paid to say that), anyways, she's amazing! She told me to bring over my machine and we'd figure it out together. Well, long story short, it didn't work on my machine. Something about not having a walking foot that make it easier to quilt. So, I used her machine. It went so smoothly that I finished a half of one quilt in one afternoon! Plus it will take me even less time on the rest because I actually know what I'm doing and can get started right away!

these are gonna look so good, here are the pictures of the first quilt, half way finished!

 finished side plus a little of the backing

 Its sewn through both sides

You can see the lines where I sewed through!

Isn't this just the cutest fabric ever? The other one is just as cute!!

Thankful catch-Up Post

Sorry, I promise to be better about this!!

Day 14: Today I'm thankful for a good friend who had graciously offered to show me how to use my sewing machine to sew the girls' cuddle soft blankets!

Day 13: These past few days 5 friends have told me that they are pregnant! I'm very happy for all of them and grateful for all the little babies that will be born next year! I love babies!

Day 12: I'm grateful for the sound of my children's laughter! They have their moments, but most of the time they love playing the teasing each other!

Day 11: I am so very thankful that I opened my inbox today and received an email saying that our application to our top choice of apartments was available again!!   Their other applicants fell through and it was ours! Its a awesome furnished, 4 bedroom place that is close to campus! So very thankful!

Day 10: I'm thankful for my little brother, Dave who asked me to take pictures of him in his cadet uniform! They turned out so great, and it was a real confidence booster! (check out my post below this one, there is something for you to do, if you want!)

Day 9: I'm thankful for food today! I love love love food, and being a diabetic its sometimes hard to stop eating when things taste so good, but you know they will raise your blood sugars too high. I'm learning self control. Anyways, food rocks!

Photography

I've been playing around on photoshop lately and sprucing up a few pictures of the kids. I've download some actions from a few blogs (such as http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/ ) They have tutorials and teach you how to do certain things to your photos. Its really cool. I have to admit, I'm addicted to Pinterest, and it was from there that I found the tutorial sites that have really helped me with photoshop. I've been recommended by a friend to do the New York Institute of Photography correspondence course. I will be starting that as soon as Toby does his internship (and we actually have money). Until then, I do some shoots for friends, some for family and others just for fun. Most pictures are of my kids. I do have a photography blog, but have never given out the address.

I've been thinking about starting a facebook page, but I don't know if I'm confidence enough to do that. I've been thinking of the name callmeSamm photography. It really is my favorite. Its already my email, and it works really well, because my maiden name is call, plus you can call me Samm, or call me, Samm. hehe, I love it. anybody agree.
Also, if I get 10 people to comment on here and tell me I should start a FB page for my photography, then I will. If not, I guess I'm not popular enough to even warrant likes.  So there you have it, your first challenge. (or mine).  Here are some pictures I just finished:

Like 'em?

Happy Veteran's Day!

So, its a little late but my pictures kept taking forever to load and slowing the internet, so now here it is:

I come from a big military family. My Dad served, a couple of Uncle's served, my grandpa serve, my older brother enlisted, and my little brother is in the ROTC program. Also, my father-in-law served. I grew up military. Its almost all I know.
I've heard a lot of stories about different wars and different experiences. I am grateful and proud for everyone who has served and especially those who have died while serving. A great friend of mine was KIA last February. It was a really hard thing to deal with. I am grateful for his service and sacrifice.

Just yesterday I got the privilege of taking some picture for my little brother who just got his uniform for the ROTC program. Doesn't he look dashing?

Thank you to all who served, are serving or will serve. You have my deepest respects!

Its only a few days late....

I decided that I wanted to to the 'month of thanks' doo-hickey-thingy. I'm only a few days into the month, so I'll back track from today.

Day 8 - Today I'm Thankful for waterproof mascara. I have over active tear duct so every yawn, every breeze, every little thing makes my eyes water. Today it was so stinking cold up here and chilly that I was practically crying on my way to class. I never wear eyeliner in the winter because it WILL run. But my eyes still look pretty good with my mascara. its amazing!!

Day 7 - I'm grateful for Toby today. He came home after class so we could get out housing applicaiton sent off, then decided to stay and help me with the house and kids before going back to work on campus after the kids were asleep. He is such an amazing guy, I'm so glad he takes the time to be with us. Also, he brought the family together for FHE, which we do on rare occasion. I love this guy!

Day 6 - I'm thankful today for the nursery leaders and primary leaders to take care of my kids. They say my kids are good, but I know better, haha. No really, its so nice to have the kids in nursery!

Day 5 - My thankful shout out goes out to my Uncle Rob and his wife, Bonnie. They let me and the kids stay with them friday and saturday while I apartment hunt. They were always helpful with the kids and I even got my own room away from the kids! They even let me use their GPS to visit my sister-in-law! Amazing family I got here!

Day 4 - I'm grateful for the fact that I left one of my credit cards out of my wallet. I just so happened to leave my wallet at a Rite Aid off the interstate on my way down to Utah to look for apartments. If I didn't have this one card that I accidentally forgot to put back then i would be in major trouble. My car tank was on empty and I didn't have anything to pay for the gas! My friend Hannah offered to fill me up, but luckily she didn't have to waste her money one me! (Yes, I did get my wallet back, on the drive back up to Idaho).

Day 3 - I'm thankful I didn't really have class today. It nice when you have practically a week until your next class. And that its 2nd half of Book of Mormon. And that its your only class. And that its the last class you need for graduation!

Day 2 - I'm grateful today for Netflix. Its so easy to watch shows while I clean. Thats my new rule, that I have to be cleaning while I watch. Or I just sit on the couch all day.

Day 1 - I'm very thankful that my kids are so cute that they get tons of candy on Halloween. Its nice when they share with mommy. Its even better if they never find out they shared!

SuperHeroes are super fun!

Ben is obsessed with superheroes lately! he was Spider-Man for Halloween and he got a sticker book from the store for being good. He's been asking all about the Hulk lately and Toby taught him how to hulk, SMASH! We even showed him a clip from the movie. Here is Ben doing the smash, the the whole family doing it, even the girls.. even though their smashes might just be a little soft.. hehehe

Autumn Fun

Its been awhile since I updated, but life has been super crazy.
1. We've been anxious about being accepted into Graduate school, and about getting close to graduation!
2. WE'VE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO GRAD SCHOOL!!! (Its true that after the trials come the blessings).
3. We've moving to Utah.
4. We found a place that we like, and we're waiting to hear if we got it or not.

We went to the Straw Maze for FHE a little while ago. The kids loved it so much. We had to carry the girls for the most part because they were so slow and wanted to just stop and play in the straw. Even when we carried them, they would try and reach for the straw anyways. Ben loved running around but I was always scared we'd lose him, so I tried to keep a close eye on him, which wasn't easy. Anyways, here are some pictures of the cutesy kiddies!

Did you guess right as to which girl was which? Addie is in the blue peacoat and Peyton is in the red one. Aren't they just so adorable in those coats?!?! When we go out, the love to carry their shoes and coats to me to put on for them! Such girly girls!