Abundant Recompense Copy

This is my latest creation. I am extremely impressed with myself because I made it all by my lonesome, with no help from my mommy or anyone else. And it's my first time sewing stretchy fabric (shirt and leggings), which is a little different from cotton. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

Let the record reflect that Addison found this beautiful sight poking its little head out yesterday. We're going to make it through the winter!

This is after I turned the water off. It was on full blast.

I would just like to point you all in the direction of my sister Shauna's new etsy shop, Lil' Angel Boutique. She has got some serious skills. Lots of cute little bows and dresses for little girls that she'll custom make to fit and according to your color preferences. She's offering free shipping for a couple more weeks to celebrate her grand opening. Check it out! http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilAngelBoutique?ref=top_trail

I have heard a ridiculous number of people this year saying that they hate Valentine's Day or that they think it's a dumb holiday. And they're not all single. Without fail their reasoning is that you should show your love every day, not just once a year. I'm surprised at how bugged I am by that philosophy. Maybe it's because back in our courting days a certain someone who I married anyway felt the same way. Luckily he's come around. I don't know the history behind Valentine's Day, nor do I care to look it up and put it here. I just know that Valentine's day is a chance to make a big deal out of love. I don't hear one person saying "Oh Thanksgiving is so lame - you should be thankful every day, not just once a year" and passing on the turkey and pumpkin pie. Nor do I hear anyone being so annoyed by the fact that we only celebrate Christ's birth one day a year that they refuse to open their presents. Nobody minds that they get a rando...

Nate works and goes to school really far away. And he is involved with the production of books, which takes a really long time. So it's nice for the stuck at home far far away wifey to see some fruits of his labors every once in awhile. Here's his latest article that just got published in BYU Magazine , which may or may not have gotten on the cover of the magazine. Follow the link and click on the one called "The Master's Hand" to read it. It's about the art exhibit at BYU's Museum of Art featuring works by the Danish artist Carl Bloch. We haven't been yet, but hear it's a must-see and are planning a trip down that way in March. They even have ipad-guided tours. Pretty sweet. Also, remember this post about Nate where I mentioned that he'd applied to present at a couple conferences? He just got accepted to present his work on an environmental look at the Book of Mormon at the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment in India...

Although the life of a stay-at-home mom gives me the opportunity to see the worst in my children, more frequently it gives me the opportunity to see the best.

One day as the kids and I were walking into Walmart a while back, I was attempting to get Addison pumped about his upcoming birthday. I was talking up the cake and presents and then asked him how old he was going to be. He said three, and then sang in full voice, "three as I'll ever be!" For those of you who have less refined tastes than those of us around here and have no idea why that is hilarious, I give you a clip from Zac Brown Band's "Free."