Happy Father's Day!

Today is Father's Day. I have to say that I think that Steve is the best father and husband that I could have asked for for our family. I know that every wife and mother will say the same about their husbands. Isn't that wonderful?

I just have to brag about Steve a bit. He is such a good example to me, and more importantly, the kids. When Alexis was 17 months old Tommy was born. It was really hard for her. She didn't like that my attention was placed on that little baby, and so she began to act out a bit. Steve thought about what he could do to help her, and so began the tradition of Saturday morning dates, now termed by the kids as their "days off". Steve would take Alexis to breakfast each Saturday morning and spend time just the two of them. When Tommy got a little older the dates pretty much stopped. A few years later, Michael was born and so Steve thought it was time to start the breakfast dates again. He would alternate every other week with Alexis then Tommy. When Michael was 19 months old, Amy was born, and Michael was able to start going on his day off with Steve. When Amy reached 18 months old, she started to go as well. Now each child gets one Saturday per month with Steve. They all know when their day off is next. They look forward to it all month. I am impressed with Steve. He uses this time with the kids to talk to them and shows interest in their lives. Last year he spent each of the days off with Alexis preparing her for baptism. For twelve months he had a different lesson prepared for her. He is doing the same with Tommy this year. I feel that Steve is a great father because he takes the time to know his kids. He shows them that he loves them and that he cares for them. He takes the time to teach them the things which he feels are important in the scriptures and is a good example with his scripture study. The kids know that the gospel is important to him, and so it is important to them as well. I am grateful to have been sealed to him in the temple. I couldn't have asked for a better husband.

I love you, Steve.

More Gluten Free Goodness!

I've posted before about gluten free cereals not being very tasty, and over priced. At that time we were able to buy the newly GF Rice Chex, and Trix. The Chex company is now offering the following as Gluten Free! We are so happy about this.

In addition, Betty Crocker brand has come out with some gluten free cakes, cookies and brownies. We tried the yellow cake, which is good. I like my homemade cakes better, but if we were in a pinch or out of town and need a treat, then these are such a great addition to GF baking. I'm am so grateful for the GF awareness that seems to be everywhere now. It makes our lives a little easier, but I really enjoy doing the GF baking and cooking from scratch. I love GF cooking.

Just Some Pictures

I Am Ill

On Monday, I came down with a pretty serious illness that I thought I was immune to. The symptoms are sleeplessness, anxiousness, and being a little giddy. I have Twilightus. I can't stop. I started Twilight Monday after the kids were in bed at 8:30 and read until 2:30am. I wished all morning on Tuesday that I could sit and finish the book, but of course there were little people that needed crazy things like food, rides to school, attention, stuff like that. So After I put Amy down for her nap I snatched the book back up and finished the last ninety pages. I needed more. Luckily, the first chapter of New Moon was at the back and I could read that for the time being. I was frantic. How long would it take the library to get the book to me if I put it on hold? How fast could I drive to Costco where I'd seen them for around $12 a piece? Or Amazon.com for $6 a piece, but when would it arrive. No, I had to find someone out there who had all the books so that I could read and read. I called my good friend. She met me at an undisclosed location (our kids school) and handed me two of the books I needed and said that the third was lost, but she'd find it. I was so grateful. We got home and I set a timer so that I wouldn't forget to make dinner ( all those little needy people) and then tried to put the kids to bed early, but wait! I had to go take Alexis to a church thing, NOOO!!! We got home at a little after eight. I sat and read , then saw the time and rushed the older two kids to bed. I was alone to read. And then I fell asleep on the couch! I woke up at around 11:30 and put myself to bed. When I woke up I got those needy kids fed again and drove them to there shortened day of school and ran home and read. I set the timer again so that I wouldn't forget to pick them up two hours earlier than scheduled, and came home and Steve says "Let's go to the zoo." Fine. We went, had fun, saw animals. I was missing my book. I needed it. I read a little more setting the timer again so that I would remember to make dinner, and then at about 9:30 I was finished. It is a good thing that I already had Eclipse. I asked Steve if he would be annoyed if I started it, he said no. I kissed him goodnight and went back on the couch and read and got to page 109 and had to go to bed (if only I was a vampire right?) So today my illness is sure to continue. Twilightus, is there a cure? I hope I can find a support group or something to help me.

May 23

Addition: I finished Breaking Dawn this morning. I extremely enjoyed these books. I don't know that I'll ever be cured from Twilightus as silly as it may seem. Reading all the books so quickly back to back made the experience really fun and a little emotional.

Cool Giveaway

This giveaway is not for fabric or anything to do with quilting. It is for a really cool bike. I have never seen a bike like this before. It has a huge bucket to carry your kids in the back! Click on the link for Madsen Bikes on my sidebar to enter the contest! Good Luck!

Michael is Four

It feels like Michael was three for three years. On April 15th he turned the big four! I woke him up that morning and said " Happy Birthday!" He got up really quick and said "Am I four? Am I bigger?" He is the one kid who I think really feels special on his birthday. He is a sweet little boy who tells me "I love you" at least 10 times a day. I love having him as my son.

Top Happy

So, I finished the top of my quilt today. I am so happy with the way it turned out, considering the cutting problems. Now I need to figure out how I'm going to quilt it.

Do you think it looks like the picture a couple posts down?