Girls Only Weekend

I got to spend an enjoyable 3 day weekend with this girl in the Bay Area.

We arrived early Friday morning, checked into our hotel and then went to Jack London Square for lunch and a tour of the USS Potomac (FDR's Floating White House). It was basically a private tour because we were the only tourists around.

FDR gave 3 of his "Fireside Chats" from the radio room of this boat. I took a picture of the gear because I thought my Father-in-law would appreciate the equipment.


Two of Ryan's sisters, one sister-in-law, and their three girls arrived later in the afternoon and we went off to the Oakland LDS Temple. What a beautiful place! Thanks again to Melissa for hanging out with Hailee and Sabrina at the Visitor's Center while we were in the Temple.



Afterwards we went to In N Out Burger for dinner. YUM!!!


On Saturday, we drove into San Francisco, following a misguided GPS affectionately named "Ophelia" (we have no idea why she wanted us to drive south from Oakland to get to San Francisco). We drove down Lombard Street, went around the block, found a place to park and then walked down Lombard Street. While everyone else walked up Lombard Street, I waited with Sabrina for them to drive down again and got in near the bottom.

Then we went to the Presidio and walked along a path leading us to the Golden Gate Bridge. There were a lot of runners on the bridge. I don't think I'd choose to run on it for two reasons: the noise, and the engine exhaust.

The reason this trip was planned by Ryan's sisters was for us to go see "Wicked". We wasted too much time looking for parking so we got to eat fast food for lunch instead of a sit-down meal. "Wicked" was enjoyable, but I found myself getting bored in the first act--thinking intermission must surely be coming soon. There were technical difficulties and so there were no moments of defying gravity during the song "Defy Gravity". I don't think it helped that a man with a big head was sitting right in front of me and I could hear the ushers talking to each other behind me. Sabrina really liked how this musical explained things from "The Wizard of Oz".

After church on Sunday, we had a few hours before our flights, so we drove back into San Francisco (ignoring Ophelia's pleas to turn around) and found Alamo Square and the famous Painted Ladies Victorian houses, that you see in the opening credits of TV's "Full House" We sang the theme song as we circled the block. There was one for sale, and Michelle called the number and asked the price...it was only $1.5 million.

Baby Bonnet Tutorial

This one is for you, Michelle! Call or email me if you get stuck...this is my first attempt at a sewing tutorial, so it may be a little rough to follow.

Supplies:
¼ yard of fabric (if you're going to use 2 different fabrics, buy ¼ yard of each fabric; you could also get away with using 2 fat quarters)
coordinating thread
28” of 3/8 inch ribbon
4mil clear plastic sheeting – to make your pattern (this is a thick plastic painters drop cloth)


Click on the next 2 pictures for the measurements to make your pattern

bonnet crown

bonnet back

Ironing the fabric is a good idea before you pin and cut out the pieces. I'm usually too lazy to do that. When cutting out the fabric, remember to cut the notches! Repeat with lining fabric.
Sew a gather stitch on both crown pieces between the notches. To sew a gather stitch, sew with your longest stitch length ½ inch from the edge. Then sew another line ¼ inch closer to the edge.

Pull threads to gather loosely.

With fabrics right sides together pin the crown to the back starting at the notch and going to the bottom.

Repeat with other notch to the bottom, then pin the gather to the round section of the back.

The bottom of the back will extend about ¾ inch below the crown piece.

Sew a 5/8 inch seam.

Repeat with lining fabric.



On the right side of your main fabric, pin the ribbon about 1 inch from the bottom edge of the crown. Sew ¼ inch seam to hold in place. Repeat on other side of the main fabric.

Gather the rest of the ribbon and pin down so the ends of the ribbon will be at the back bottom of the bonnet. This is so you don't accidentally sew the ribbon while you're attaching the two bonnet pieces together.

With right sides together, pin the two bonnet pieces together. The ribbon will stick out the center to remind you to not sew the whole thing completely shut.

Starting at one side of the bottom back, sew a 5/8 inch seam around the entire bonnet, stopping at the other bottom back.

Clip the corners to make it have a good chance of looking nice once you turn it right side out. Turn it out.

Pin the opening on the bottom shut and pin around the rest of the bonnet.

Sew a top stitch 1/8 inch around the entire bonnet.

Cut the ribbon at the half-way mark.

Find a cute baby to model it for you! As of now, I only have this doll to be a model. 7 more weeks and I'll have a baby's head to put them on!

Which one is your favorite? The blue and white one I made for this tutorial will match the kids' Easter clothes. The red one matches the baby quilt I'm working on. The white one is for the blessing outfit. The pink one matches the onesie dress I made.

One I love

Even though we celebrate Valentine's day with these:


And these:

And these (White Chocolate Pound Cake with whipping cream and strawberries!):

The thing that shows me that my husband truly loves me is this:
Oh, how I love a man with dishpan hands!

Valentines with HEART

When grocery shopping last week, I came across a bin of Hershey's mini Valentine chocolate bars in the bulk foods section. I waded through and pulled out about 40 Krackel bars (they're my favorite!) I thought they would be fun for Sabrina to use to make Valentines for her school class. After I brought them home and told her about them, she gave me a note from school saying that the 5th grade is having a pot-luck luncheon to celebrate Valentine's day and Valentines were not necessary. Well, what was I to do with 35 mini Krackel bars (I'd already eaten 5)? I decided to use them still for Valentines, but I put them in a Strawberry Nesquik canister and mailed them to my missionary brother! I figure he can eat them all himself, or share them with others. The phrases Sabrina and I wrote on them are variations on "You KRACKEL me up, Valentine!" and "Be Mine. Don't cause my heart to KRACKEL." I thought it was rather clever.


I found these super cute Valentines while blog surfing last night with Ryan (really I was forcing him to look at this bow-tie pattern that I want to buy). The instructions on how to make the valentines are found here! Hyrum had a lot of fun helping me stuff some this morning - we ran out of staples, though.

Wishin' and Hopin'

Apparently, I'm hoping for a girl baby.

I love online sewing tutorials. The onesie dress was a breeze to create. A few weeks ago at church, we saw a 7 month old girl wearing a bonnet. She was adorable. Ryan leaned over to me and asked if our baby girl would wear bonnets. I said, "YES!" I've made 2 so far and I have plans for more.

Wishin' and Hopin'

Restaurant Review: Boise Fry Company

Roderic, Clara and Hyrum after eating their fill of fries.

When coupons came in the mail for a restaurant that specializes in fries and makes burgers on the side, I was intrigued. The coupons didn't say exactly what to expect, just that they serve different kinds of fries - sweet potato, Russet, Yukon Gold, etc. Being pregnant and sensitive to getting cravings based on suggestions, I decided I had to try it out. I dragged Stacy (OK she drove, but I invited her!) along and we took ourselves and our combined 4 children on an outing to Boise Fry Co.

Let me say right off that this is not a restaurant that caters to children. At. All. It only had 2 tables that would sit the 6 of us and they were both bar height. The only kid friendly (or pregnant lady friendly) drinks they offered were milkshakes and Sierra Mist.

The staff was very friendly in explaining our options for fries. There were more than 15 different kinds of fries offered. Shoestring, curly, home style and regular were the cuts. Russet, Gold, Purple, Sweet, Yam, White were the potato choices. I ordered Home style Russet and Curly Purple to try. They were tasty. The condiments bar was a lot of fun: Ketchup, Fry Sauce, Blueberry Ketchup, Roasted Garlic and Mayo, and Teriyaki.

The burgers were HUGE. Stacy and I could have gotten away with ordering one burger for the 4 kids to share.

Will I go again? Perhaps with adults only. Do I recommend it to you? Yes I do, but take a coupon with you!

Hyrum speaks

This picture of Hyrum was taken on 1-3-10, his first day attening the Sunbeam class at church.

I think 3 year olds have the most interesting things to say. Hyrum is no exception. Here are some of the things he has said recently.

"Dad, that piano can play itself?" [1-10-10 during the special musical number in Sacrament Meeting]

"Mom, I want to name my new broyer Hopterhopter." (For those not fluent in Hyrum, Hopterhopter is helicopter.) [1-15-10]

"Dad, I don't like the sun to come up, just the shade to come up." [1-15-10]

Recently, Roderic and Hyrum have been telling each other to "Pause" when they need to leave the room for any reason. Like "Pause the game" "Pause the book" "Pause the tv show" (which we can't do) "Pause the playing with Legos". Perhaps we watch too many movies that we can pause. I don't know but they are cute!

After Roderic said that he'd like our baby brother to be named Donald and our baby sister to be Daisy, Hyrum said, "I want to name my baby broyer Goofy." [1-23-10]

Me: "Hyrum will you help me make a blanket for your new baby?" Hyrum: "It's not my new baby! It's our family's new baby." [1-27-10]