Where have you been lately?

I had mentioned to one friend that I has posted a pattern for bibs on my blog. She looked at me puzzled and said "you haven't posted anything on your blog for a while..." I just then realized that I hadn't posted anything here on this blog for a while because I have been working do hard my my NEW blog. Fleece Fun is my latest pet project. It's a sewing blog that offers free patterns and tutorials to people plus some video instructions too! If you get a chance check out what I've been spending my time on - Fleece Fun!

roberts contest

Roberts is having a contest for some fun stuff - check it out on their blog: http://blog.robertscrafts.com/2010/10/freebie-friday-oct-30-2010.html

Discovery Park! Swings!

For AJ's cousin Isaac's birthday the Peterson family went to Discovery park. Discovery park has to be one of the best play parks in Utah. It has all kinds of fun tunnels, bridges, games, slides, ropes and swings. Kids of all ages flock to this park.
AJ's current love is the swings. She loves them and will swing for long stretches of time.

Living it up in Daybreak

Ok, I fully admit I am a terrible blogger. To be perfectly honest I thought that we would live with my parents in Daybreak for three months max and that it would just be a few lost months and we would resume normal life after we settled into a house in Utah. Note to self change header on blog site...
But the truth is that it's been five months, and well, currently this is our life. So I got out my camera and took some long over due pictures of AJ out enjoying the springtime around the house.

Things are going well with the pregnancy of our second child, whom we are planning on naming Alexandria Diane (Alex for short Diane is after my mother). She's due the beginning of July and we're grateful to have another little girl join our family!

Idaho House update:
We now have temporary renters in our house, who are cool with it still being on the market which is nice. Sell house, sell! If you know of anyone who is looking they can check out the house at www.housewiththereddoor.com for a full tour and contact information.

www.housewiththereddoor.com

Well we're getting ready to pack up and head back to Utah... now we jus need to get our house sold! Aaron has accepted a position at NuSkin and he's happy to be heading home.

So my fellow bloggers I would be eternaly greatful if you would take a minute out of your busy day and post a link to our web page http://www.housewiththereddoor.com on your blog. Someone who is looking for a home in Idaho might see it, plus it would help with , our website's ranking in the search results. Thank you for your love and support!

Fall Fashion Fleece Frenzy

It began for two reasons. The first was because for years I have wanted to make a little fleece coat for one of my kids ( this was long before I was married). The second was that the clothes gravey train from showers and baby gifts had run out. I began with the urge to make a coat for AJ and when I saw that fleece was on sale I confess I went a little crazy and decided to make AJ's entire winter wardrobe.

Now I have to confess that it's been a few years since I've sewn anything. But I figured it would be a good way to dust off my sewing skills and it's not like AJ is going to say "Mother that button hole is not straight - I refuse to wear it, plus it isn't from Aeropostale". I still have a few years before I am likely to hear that.

I pulled out my trusty Bernina (over 16 years old and runs like it's brand new - thanks Mom and Dad for that great Christmas gift) and got to work. Along the way I discovered a few things to help anyone else who would like to make such an attempt.

1. Always buy it on sale. Whether it's fabric or the pattern - to make it cost effective to do your own sewing it needs to be on sale.

2. There are basic patterns on the internet. I found (and slightly modifed) two patterns/ instructions I found on the internet. Since the patterns are basically free this cuts costs significantly. You can find the pant instructions here and the skirt instructions here.


3. Be willing to rummage through the clearance bin. I found the piping for AJ's coat and skirt in the clearance bin at Walmart.


4. Forgive yourself and unpick it or sometimes just let it be. The outfits have flaws - even after unpicking. But for the most part they look good and will serve there purpose of keeping AJ cute and warm this winter.


5. Don't be afraid to modify the pattern. The hoodie patterns didn't have a lining in the hood - which I thought was stupid so I added a lining. The coat pattern didn't call for piping but I added it and I think it looks the better for it.


I had a lot of fun with my crazy sewing but I think I have it out of my system for a while. But I have to say that I am quite pleased with how it turned out:


For 6 yards of fleece I got:
1 long coat
4 pants
2 skirts
1 set of overalls
2 hoodies


(one pair of pants not shown because AJ was wearing them!) Including two patterns I bought (one coat pattern and one for the hoodies/overalls) with thread and buttons around $60. Which is amazing considering how much all of that would cost me at Walmart let alone Carter's. The best part is that it all coordinates so I can mix and match to my heart's content.


In addition to that I bought some Cordiroy that was on sale because I loved the pattern and made AJ one more skirt. I found a onsie at Old Navy that matched!

It's a bird, it's a plane... no it's SUPER BABY!

Here's AJ in her curlers and halloween costume. She was so good and left the curlers in until I took them out! I couldn't believe it. We went all dressed up to Aaron's work to go trick or treating at all of the departments. I bought her a little trick or treat basket at Wal-Mart earlier that day. She carried it the whole time. She loved being out with all the kids and getting candy (although I don't think she knew what exactly people were putting in her basket). She had a blast and was all smiles. People kept telling us what a doll she was. We had a great time.

yummy garden tomatoes.....

Yesterday AJ, Aaron and I were outside setting up some lawn furniture for company, and I picked some ripe tomatoes out of our garden. I thought I would let AJ carry one of them inside the house, but instead she started to take a bite out of it. I asked her to wait, washed it, and gave it back to her. She totally scarfed it down! I gave her another one to eat, and got some shots of her devouring that one too! She kept calling them apples, Aaron and I kept correcting her, but she was too busy enjoying her tomato. I thought she was pretty tidy the way she was eating it too - only a little got on her outfit. It was so cute. Our little Vegan. At least she loves her veggies!

I love Photoshop!

Ok so I admit that loving the newest gadget is an expensive hobby, but i just got these new photoshop filters and I am having soooooo much fun with them. Check it out. The first picture is untouched the second is with a filter

Anniversary

We had a great anniversary this year. I joined Aaron on his business trip in Chicago. On our actual anniversary, Aaron surprised me by brining me flowers in the middle of the day (it was most elborate arrangement I'd ever gotten!) later he took me out to dinner to Texas Roadhouse. He also had a gift certificate to Target that he let me spend on anything I wanted - it was really fun. Video elements courtesy of http://www.flixify.com/

AJ's First Birthday Video

Elements courtesy of http://www.flixify.com/

AJ is learning how to walk!

Video elements courtesy of http://www.flixify.com/

Memorial Day weekend

We had a great time visiting friends and family over Memorial Day weekend. A.J. got to meet her Great Gandpa Hal and Nanny-Jo for the first time too! I was so happy to see AJ take to my family that we haven't seen in ages!

We had a whirlwind tour of Utah. We first stopped at my parents place in S. Jordan. Then the next day we drove to St. George. We spent two night there and drove back North, stopping in Beaver to see the improvements to Park's Place and get some lunch, then drove to Pleasant Grove where we spent the night at Aaron's Parent's house. Finally driving home later on Memorial day. It was a lot of driving.... when I woke up in our house the next day I actually had to remember where we were!