The results are in...

When the doctor told us what we are having, Carter said, "I was right!!!"



That's right folks, we're having a baby GIRL!!!

Cast your Vote!

We go to the doctor tomorrow to find out what we are having. Carter is still sure the baby is "Rose." I think it's a girl too, but I think that is mostly because of how sure Carter is! So we have two votes for a girl so far. What do you think?

Gila Valley Temple Open House

Carter and I went with my family to the Gila Valley Temple Open House this weekend. It was so great to be with Carter inside the temple (it only would have been better if Sean could have been there!) and talk about why we have temples and answer his questions while in the temple. Carter has an amazing memory so I hope this is one experience he remembers for a long time.



**For more information on temples and why our church builds them, here is a short video:

Table Redo

My SIL Steph, gave me her old kitchen table and bench. (I already painted the bench red and added it to our current kitchen table). Here is a before and after of what I did with the table. (well the before isn't a true before, I had already put the first coat of primer on the top when I remembered to take a picture--but you get the idea)
It is the perfect sewing table now! Our house doesn't have much storage space and with the baby on the way I had to clean out my craft stuff from the baby room closet. So where to put it all? I painted the table black and then attached Velcro to the material to the table and put all my craft stuff under it!! Very accessible, all in one spot, but hidden! It has been so nice to sew and not have to move everything off my kitchen table for dinner and put the machine in a closet. I LOVE it. Thanks again Steph!

For the unbelievers out there

the proof is in the photo. the baby bump exists.

**photo courtesy of carter

Happy Birthday Carter!

Carter has been going to some birthday parties lately so for his birthday he really wanted a party. He wanted a car party and a pinata. Everyone took a turn hitting the pinata then it was back to Carter. He kept hitting it and all the kids would run in when candy dropped out. It was a great system. Carter only cared about hitting the pinata and the kids only cared about the candy! We had fun decorating bikes and going on a "bike parade." Amazing, how a group of 10 4 year olds can really tire you out!!

P.S. Can you spy my baby bump in the pictures above? I am 4 months now and definitely showing. (click on the picture to enlarge it)

quilts

I gave Carley and Tanner their birthday quilts last month. Carley wanted bright colors and animal print. Tanner wanted zebra print and sports. I am really loving my embroidery machine for the quilts. Now I just have Carter's quilt to make--don't think I'll have it done in time for his birthday, which is in 3 days, since I haven't even started it yet!!

I think he likes him

(Above) This is how Carter went to sleep last night, in Buddy's bed that we bought him.

Meet the newest member...

Carter got an early birthday present today and named him Buddy.

To run, or not to run

When I did this triathlon in November 2009 I was 6 weeks pregnant. This run was seriously killing me. My SIL Marlee (in the black and yellow) ran with me the whole time and really pushed me to run faster. We had a goal of passing that guy right behind me, I didn't think I could do it, but I finally did. Katie (in the white and blue) joined up with us at the end and helped me finish. I could really feel the effects of being pregnant. I was cramping and extra tired during the triathlon. I had already signed up for a relay race in February. But after this triathlon, I dropped out. 3 weeks later I had a miscarriage. So I was now back in the relay race and really started training hard for it. One month later I found out I was pregnant again. I was placed on "moderate activity" by the doctor. No running. So I had to drop out of the race, again. I am happy to report that I did not have to rejoin the race again. Baby Rose (according to Carter!) will be here in September.

Projects!

I've been busy the last two months with a few projects around the house and gifts. It's been fun, but I am excited to finish one more quilt and be done with projects (yeah, right!)

1. made some burp cloths

2. made an apron for a niece

3. made a cover for some storage in the garage

4. revamped a bench my SIL gave me for my kitchen table

5. revamped the top of my hutch after 7 years of the same stuff, it was time for a change!

Gonna brag, just a little

Carter's training wheels were all bent, so when Sean got home from work this morning, instead of fixing them he just took them off and told Carter to try it without his training wheels. Sean gave him a quick lesson before he tried it on his own, and I held the back of his bike for about 5 seconds and he has been on his own all morning. No crashes yet! I am so amazed with this 3 year old! The best part, was seeing Carter's face and how proud he was of himself! LOVE that kid.

How to have fun at Wal-Mart

As a general rule I typically try to avoid Wal-mart. However, when we are in Sierra Vista, with my Mom, we have to make an appearance there, kind of as a general rule. Our trip last week to see Spencer and Marlee was no exception! But Carter taught us a few ways to have lots of fun in Wal-Mart.

Step 1: Get in the cart and pile all of the bolts of material on top of the cart. Then insist that everyone call you "Jack" (the hamster) and feed you crackers through the "cage."

Step 2: Lay all the bolts of material across the cart and then lay on top of them. Make whoever is with you pull you around making the sound "whoooo wooo" as you take your patient to the hospital, while the patient lays on the ambulance bed.
Follow these steps and you are sure to have a fun time at your local Wal-mart.

I told you I was serious

What did I give at the baby shower I went to today?


An embroidered baby blanket and onsie.

knitting with paige

My sister Amy and I went to a knitting class tonight. Paige, came over to fix my row for me. I borrowed Amy's tide stick, to remove a stain. Paige was not happy about this.

Thanks for teaching me how to knit Paige, I believe I will knit a scarf that will make you proud. Sorry for being off task. But I'm more sorry that I didn't look in a mirror after 1pm today.

I know what I will make you...

Baby gifts?
Wedding gifts?
Birthdays?

Embroidered, embroidered, embroidered!

Yep, that will be my staple gift from here on out, just tellin' you now.


I got an embroidery sewing machine for Christmas. I am LOVING the possibilities with this thing. Think of all I can do with the quilts I have been making for my nieces and nephews. I have two to complete in the next 2 months! I can't wait to get started on them. I went to the class yesterday to learn how to use the machine and here is my first project I made today! Carter wanted his own towel, so we embroidered a snail on one and a fish on another for him. So fun!

A New Day

Happy New Year! We met up with friends on New Year's Eve at the Tempe Block Party. Sean has been wanting to go to this literally since the day I met him. We finally made it there and I finally heard the sweet words, "you were right!!" The highlight of the block party is a toss up between the magician who had to try 3 different times to get his assistant to lay on the sword correctly so it could go through her stomach or the guy at the ferris wheel asking if I was over 18, otherwise I couldn't take Carter on the ride!
After the block party we went to the Anselmo's house for fun and games.

Right after midnight, we left for the cabin up north. We spent the New Year's Day sledding. Carter was in heaven. He has spent the whole last year asking every couple of weeks when we get to go to the snow again. Glad we can quickly visit it and then quickly come home!

Christmas Magic

I love the magic of Christmas, the fun times spent with family, the traditional Christmas Brunch with the Klippel clan, the Christmas Eve Mexican dinner and festivities, the yummy peppermint cheesecake that I had to search at 3 different stores for peppermint extract and still didn't find any-who knew it was such a hot commodity this year?, fun with cousins, matching pajamas, seeing what Santa brought, and hearing the joy from a 3-year old who exclaimed, "this is just what I wanted!!" with every single gift he opened. LOVE it.

Busy times

We have been keeping pretty busy the last few weeks, but that's why I love this time of year!

1. Carter at Uncle Spencer's graduation

2. Carter, Spencer, Madison, and I at Spencer's graduation (he received his MBA from ASU)

3. Our BFF's Dan and Stefani had to unexpectantly make a quick trip to Phoenix. We were so glad we got to see them on a night Sean didn't have to work! Our lives haven't been the same since they moved to Colorado....we want them back!

4. Santa made a surprise visit while decorating cookies.

5. Even I got to visit with Santa for a minute.

6. Carter had so much fun decorating cookies with his cousins at Aunt Amy's house!

Merry Christmas Mormons!

My friend Emily had this on her blog. I thought it was pretty funny!