My first creation

I've really felt the creative juices flowing, now that I found out I was having a girl. So I dove right in and made my first girly thing- a tutu. I think it turned out really cute, and it was super easy. I just cut strips of tulle about 12 inches long and then tied them around a small elastic. I think I need to sew through the knots, just to make sure they stay put. I haven't felt like sewing for the longest time, but now my mind is brimming with all the cute and wonderful things I want to make for her. Next up: a nursing cover, stroller bag, blankets and maybe some dresses.

It's a girl!

We are happy to announce that Owen will be getting a little sister this August.

Can you dig it?

Owen and I have been pretty sick the past few days and I have felt like a total failure as a mom during that time. I let Owen watch more TV than I ever have before. Thank goodness for the Backyardigans. I just couldn't find the energy to do anything constructive.
I found this blog, No Time for Flash Cards, that gives you ideas for crafts to do with your child, so today, since we're both feeling a lot better, I thought we'd try one out.
I picked this one for beginners: basically they go digging for treasures in oatmeal, but I didn't have oatmeal, so I used Rice Krispies. This is what happened.

He seemed to really like finding things at first.


Then he just got hungry and started eating all the cereal. Maybe that is why they used oatmeal.


Send in the reinforcements for clean-up duty. Isn't this why we have a dog?

Much Needed Break

Over the past couple weeks I have been pretty busy with school. It seemed as though all my big projects fell upon me at the same time. I ended up putting in about 65 - 70 each week trying to finish everything. Luckily, I have a couple weeks before things really pick up again. Kristin was more than patient with me. She even forgave me when I had to spend Valentine's Day night at school while I helped with a school competition. To make it up to her I took her out to dinner at a local restaurant that has a very nice spot on the banks of the Willamette River. Then we went out for ice cream at Prince Puckler's. It was really good, but I think that Farr Better Ice Cream in Ogden is a better choice. (Even if President Obama had ice cream there last year). Thanks again to the Richards for watching Owen.

I can't take credit for being busy all the time because Kristin is putting a lot of time into the young women's program. She has been planning a lot of activities and lessons lately. She has been a real busy body. Hopefully we can spend some time together over the next couple of weeks. She deserves it.

One of my friends at school took some pictures as evidence that I was really working hard over Valentines day weekend.

This is during the first night of competition. Yes, that is an Alta Ski Resort sticker on that Mac, but it's not mine.

Here I am giving instruction to some of our witnesses before the first night. We organized over 150 volunteer witnesses and close to 100 attorney judges to help out over the course of 3 days. In the end we held 36 mini trials each lasting 3 hours long. It was a huge undertaking.

Our final rounds were held here at the Eugene Federal Courthouse. It sticks out like a sore thumb because of its artsy fartsy look.

NOTE: I would like to formally object to this sissy color scheme. Pink on black? Come on, I don't deserve any of the blame for how "cute" our blog is right now.

NOTE 2: I have noticed that almost every undergrad girl wears those crazy Ugg boots. They are so common that one might think they are issued to undergrads as part of their tuition. First of all, boots are okay. Kristin has a very nice pair of leathery fuzzy boots that look really good. Unfortunately most Ugg boots actually look like this. They look like you're walking around with two dead Nutria on your feet. Now, I don't mean to offend anyone, but I just think this Aussie fashion statement needs to disappear like Crocodile Dundee. Just because some celebrity decides to wear them does not make them okay. That is, unless you ladies would like guys to start looking to our own favorite celebrities for fashion advice.

Owen doesn't want me to blog

Sorry about being so terrible at blogging. But I have an excuse. Owen has taken my cordless mouse and has either thrown in away while I wasn't looking or has stashed it somewhere. I have looked everywhere, which leads me to believe it was thrown away. So that leaves me with Blake's laptop, which is gone with Blake from about 8 am to midnight. He has been putting in some serious overtime at school. He has a lot of different things going right now. If only one of those things were a job....just jokin' Blake.
Anywho, when life gets back to normal and I give up looking and go buy a new mouse, I'll post more often. Thanks for being patient.

A small announcement

I can't believe it has been 14 months already since our little Owen was born. Time has gone by so fast, and will probably continue to go even faster when our second little one gets here in August!

Merry Christmas

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas break. We'll update more when we get home. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.