:: A WEEKEND AWAY ::


Remember these gals that I wrote about a while ago?


Here we are now... 12 years and 16 kids later. Well, 20 kids because 4 of us are pregnant. HOLY SMOKES! Between us we'll have 20 kids in July. I guess we took the Lord's commandment to "multiple and replenish" quite seriously, didn't we?

We stayed at Little America here in SLC. We ate at fantastic restaurants. We gossiped and laughed about old times. We didn't get much sleep. We shopped. Most of all we had a great time.


Angie, Braxton, Ris, and I went through the Draper Temple open house one morning. It was cold, but I don't know why Ris was shivering. She lives in -30 degree wintered Canada. :-) If you are in SLC, take advantage of this tour, LDS or not. I think tours end the second weekend in March. It is beautiful... and you get cookies at the end.

I love these gals. I hadn't seen any of them in 2 years and it was so nice to pick up right where we left off the last time. I can't wait until our next weekend away.

:: PROJECTS 3 & 4 & 5 ::

I'm back. I finally had a few moments to clear the pics from my camera and get them on here. I have not printed a single picture since I got my digital camera 2 years ago. One of my "50 Projects" this year is to get those photos printed! I just want to photoshop each one and make them better before I print them and it is just taking way too long. I just have a little point and shoot. I want a digital SLR so badly and was hoping to spend part of our tax return on one. However, our tax return wouldn't even buy us a little point and shoot (I'm totally bummed) so I guess the upgrade will be put off for another day. I digress.

While cleaning off the memory card, I found there was not a single photo of Project #3. Boo! It was cute, too. I made a bag for Mardi. She asked me in SEPTEMBER. I'm so busy (read: lazy). I cut all of the pieces out right before Halloween, but didn't sew it until Tanya and I got together for our January sewing group. I am so lame. (Have I mentioned our little sewing group? It is fun. It is Tanya, Rusti, Liz and I. We try to get together once a month and work on our lingering projects. It is a great motivator to get stuff done.) Tanya can vouch that I finished it. It was a simple messenger bag, made of the best blue/brown geometric fabric I could find. I finally gave it to Mardi last Sunday and was able to cross it off my list.


Project #4 was started in November. My friend Terra asked me to make her a scarf in a really simple color. I started a cable pattern on a cream yarn but I hated the yarn I chose. It just wasn't working. Browsing a book I found this really cute pattern called "Feather and Fan" that I wanted to try. I consulted my yarn gurus and decided on the Berroco Cuzco yarn called Blue Smoke. It turned out so lovely that I almost kept it for myself.


The photos don't do it justice. I was weaving in the ends just as Terra and I were planning our last outing together. I guess I work best under pressure. They moved to Alaska on Saturday. (Boo hoo!) More on the Binghams... as a side note... It is really hard to find good friends like them. You like them, they like you. Husbands have stuff to talk about. Your kids like each other, I liked her kids, she liked mine. You know the low-maintenance kind. Anyway, good luck in AK, Binghams. I am glad you have a nice new scarf to keep you warm in the great white north.

Back to the project. The pattern is easy and I'd like to share it with you.
Use whatever needle size your yarn choice suggests.
Cast on 24 stitches (or any multiple of 12)
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K2tog 2 times, YO 4 times, K2tog 4 times, YO 4 times, K2tog 2 times
Row 4: Knit
Repeat this pattern until you get the desired length. It is so easy and has a stunning outcome.

So Project #5 is titled "Make Room for Debbie". "Debbie" is our baby that won't be named Debbie, but that is what Cohen calls her. So far we've completed cleaned out Cohen's bedroom and closet and I've consolidated 3 craft areas into one. Last night Mike set up our GINORMOUS new bookshelf to consolidate our 3 mismatched bookcases into. We even went to look at a house this morning (which we won't make an offer on). We're moving in the right direction as to finding more space. I'm calling this project complete because if "Debbie" came tomorrow, she'd have a place to sleep in Cohen's room, or my own.

:: MY BLOG IS LAME ::


I have even completed Project 3-5 on my list, taken pictures, and have them ready to share with you... plus rearranged the entire house (thanks Mike) due to my OCD with clutter lately (read: nesting). BUT, sitting down to blog, after sitting down for hours to work just hasn't seemed to fulfilling lately. While I have immersed myself in my projects, Cohen has found ways to entertain himself. He's such a good kid. I hope "Debbie" (that is what Cohen wants to name this little pea - actually, more like a banana right now) inherits his good nature.

Happy Valentines Day... tomorrow. Mike and I aren't much for V-day and for that I am thankful. We're going to have our friend Terra and her kids over for dinner tomorrow because her family is moving to Alaska in 10 short days. We need all of the Bingham time we can get because AK is FAR AWAY.

Since I am not giving Mike a gift, I'll give you one. This is one delicious sugar cookie recipe that my buddy Annie gave me. I don't like to make sugar cookies, but I sure like to eat them! This recipe is easy, though, and they are the soft kind that won't go hard for days. YUMMY!

Sugar Cookie Recipe
Add the following ingredients and blend until well mixed:

2 C white sugar
1 C Softened Butter
4 lg eggs (if small eggs use 5)
1 tsp lemon juice
1 C Buttermilk
1 tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp soda

Then add in 5-6 cups flour to make soft dough.

Roll out on floured surface, about ¼ inch thick. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes or until cooked through completely. Cookies do not brown.

Butter Frosting

1 cube butter, softened
4 c powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp vanilla (adjust for taste)
Add in small increments, up to ¼ c milk for consistency

Adios muchachos! I hope you all get the lovin' you deserve this wonderful 3-day weekend.

:: NESTING & EDITING ::

I have been working A LOT and cleaning out corners A LOT and haven't done much else. I'm looking forward to a weekend off with my buddies from high school. Then I'll be back to my normal life. Until the kidlet is born. Only 8 more weeks until I get to meet that little one.


This photo has nothing to do with anything, except that it is crazy how much my youngest brother looks just like my Pops. Nice moostaches, boys.