WHAT IS THE GREATEST LESSON IN LIFE YOU HAVE LEARNED?

I went over to the Trevenan's home, so Sister Trevenan could teach me how to smock. We went through one of her old books. Isn't this dress amazing? I have to make one for each of the girls for Christmas. I am scared to death but I am going to smock their Easter dresses. I know. I know. I am excited too.

The next day Friday, Madison and I went back to the Trevenan's home. Sister Kay, their daughter, had the day off and we were meeting to work on the quilt. Nate had to take me because the car was smelling like burnt rubber. When we got there, Brother Trevenan convinced Nate to come in and tie flies with him. I thought it was cute that we were hanging out there as a family. Nate back with Brother Bob Trevenan, who is really like a grandpa to us. I sitting there with Sister Trevenan, who is like a my grandma, and Sister Kay, who is my second mother, quilting while Madison is on the floor playing with vintage toys. I was so happy. Their home really is my happy place and to see Nate enjoying it the same way I do made them even more family to me. (Brother Bob has Nate involved in a program called Healing Water's. They teach war veteran's fly fishing, how to tie flies and build fly rods. He is really excited about it.)

Well, us ladies were laughing and chatting over top of the quilt. Sister Trevenan got Madison to join her over at the kitchen table. They made a natural bug repellent together, out of cloves, cinnamon, and whole black pepper. Madison hammered the spices and filled little socks with them. They laughed like they were the best of friends.

Sister Kay and I are laughing about this and that and then the conversation turned. She said one of the great things about her ward in Craig was this woman who was in charge of the Sunday Program. She used to ask a handful of ward members each week what was the greatest lesson in life they had learned. Then she would put it on the back of the program every Sunday. Sister Kay thought it was so fun to read. She then went around the room and asked us all what lesson in life we had learned. We said a lot of silly things and laughed.

Then she got serious. (If you have hung on this long then you get to hear a very special story.) She said, "One night I was working at the VA hospital. There was an old man there who was 89 years old and had suffered a stroke. I was checking in on him and asked him where he served." He said, "World War II on the Indianapolis." (I am no history buff. I didn't know about Indianapolis. The Indianapolis was a warship in WWII. It delivered crucial parts of the atomic bomb. It was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. There were 880 men that lived through the blast and floated in the water but by the time they were rescued four days later only 316 were still alive. The rest died of exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks.)This man lived. He said, "It was the morning of the third day and the sun rose on the horizon. It was the most spectacular sunrise I had ever seen. I heard my mother's voice, who had passed on years earlier, and she said, "Hang on. Don't give up. You have a good life ahead of you." He then turned to Kay and said, "I think of all I would have walked away from, if I had given up in that moment. I have lived such a full life." We both cried as we thought on the man's word. Her story reminded me of this talk.

WYATT WEDNESDAY

Sierra was good to her word. She didn't have a story. She went straight to bed and was asleep by 8:30. I know, I wouldn't have believed if I had not seen.

Meet Wyatt. Isn't he adorable? I wish I had a better picture but I was distracted the day he came over and didn't take a lot of pictures. He was a little shy when he first came over. Shy isn't the right word, overwhelmed. I don't blame him. He was meet with a lot of enthusiasm.

Sierra has wanted to play with cornstarch for a while. I went to my stash and brought some out. I let them play on the back porch. (I love playing with cornstarch and water. It really is so entertaining even for adults.) She said, "Mom, I am so excited we haven't done this in like years." We really haven't done it in a long time.

Wyatt thought it looked really gross and wouldn't touch it but Sierra gently nudged him into it. He had fun. Then they went back to her bedroom and played with all Sierra's art supplies. I may have overheard one of their conversations.

Wyatt: You know what I am scared of most in the whole world?
Sierra: What?
Wyatt: (Whisperings)
Sierra: I am scared of that too.

I just thought it was so cute. I thought... the world would be easier if we could all be as honest and candid with each other as those two little kids were in that moment.

(For inquiring minds. A few of the bantu knots fell out. Then a few others didn't dry. The ones that stayed and dried made most beautiful spiral curls. I didn't take a pictures, sorry.)

FRUITA LOVE

Yes, they are playing pick-up sticks with spagetti noodles. Can you guess what we had for dinner last night?

SAD

Sierra went to computers today. I guess they were talking about social networks. Sierra volunteered that she was on facebook. Her computer teacher said, "No child should ever be on facebook." She worried that she had done something wrong. She worried she had disappointed her teacher. She looked sad when I picked her up. She cried all the way home. I tried to explain to her that she wasn't on facebook. She said through her sobs, "But I am on facebook." It was hard to explain to her that having your picture on facebook is not the same as having a facebook account. Poor thing.

SILLY

Last night we were sitting around the kitchen table and Sierra said, "Mom you don't have to read me a story or anything tonight. I am going straight to bed." I said, "Wow, what brought this on." "Well, because tomorrow is Wyatt Wednesday and I can't wait! I am going straight to bed so tomorrow will come faster."

(Background: Sierra asked the other day, "Can I have a Fruita love?" I said, "What do you mean?" She said, "Well, Andrew will always be my Pittsburgh love, but can I have a Fruita love?" I said, "I guess so." She said, "Well, then Wyatt is my Fruita love." I said, "Okay."

On Sunday Wyatt's mom asked if I could watch him on Wednesday.)

Back to the kitchen table last night... "Do you know why I am so excited Mom?" "No." "Well, I am so excited because I used to chase Wyatt on the playground, so he runs every time I get near him. Tomorrow he can't run so I am going to tell him, Wyatt I don't want to chase you anymore I just want to be with you."

I don't know what I am going to do with that little girl and her crushes.

SNOW AGAIN

The girls were so excited that it snowed again.

Sierra has been saying it is the "worstest" winter of all time because there has been hardly any snow.

They wanted to make a snowman but the snow was too powdery.

Surprisingly, despite all the playing in the snow Sierra was on time for school.

She was really motivated this morning.

She wanted to play in the snow with her friends.

Conversation with Madison on the way home from dropping Sierra off:

Me: Madison do you want to go over to Sister Trevenan's house, so mom can work on Sister Kay's quilt?

Madison: Can I take my Ba Ba?

(Seriously? I bought her a sippy cup because it was the only way I could be sure she would stay hydrated while she had such a high fever. It took three days and she is absolutely addicted again.)

Me: It isn't a Ba Ba Madison.

Madison: Oh yeah, a sippy.

Me: So, do you want to go?

Madison: Does she have milk?

(Seriously, I should have never bought that thing.)

Me: We have milk.

Madison: Will you take it to Sister Trevenan's house in a grocery bag?

(Then she giggled like crazy.)

Me: No, we can just put milk in it before we leave.

Madison: Grocery bag, isn't that so funny mom?

Talking to a three year old always interesting.

MY LITTLE SWEET HEART

She has had a high fever for three days.

BANTU KNOTS

My friend sent me this link. I was in love. I think they are as cute as a button. The girls were sliding around in the bottom of the tub like wet slimmy fish this morning for about ten minutes after they should have been out. There wasn't any water in the tub just two little naked bums. I kept begging them to get out, but no. I didn't have time to really do Sierra's hair, so I bantu knoted it. I am so excited for her to get home and take them out and look at her cute curls. However, I am not naive I have been this little ones mother for too long. The likely hood of her coming home with her little knots still in tact is slim at best. The luxurious curls I envision may never be realized.

MADE A PILLOW FOR THE COUCH

I made this pillow this morning. I found the the vintage piece of fabric at the church in a box of old polyester fabric. Sister K has been drooping by stuff. A set of old curtains and some batting that was cemented together when she vacuum sealed it. I made a pillow and then covered with the vintage fabric. I am in love and it was free. The only price I paid was walking around in my pajamas all morning with make-up smeared across my face because I haven't washed it since yesterday. I only had a couple people stop by. I may have resembled a mad scientist. Oh yeah, and maybe I stink a little and it is noon. I better go take a shower and brush my teeth. Wasn't it worth it though? Look at the pillow.

SANDRA BOYNTON

A few pattern's I ordered from vogue arrived today . I am in love. I hope I get up the guts to tackle them soon. I have some old vintage sheets I am going to use. I am hoping to find an old lace table cloth for the dress on the left. Ahhhh. You can do it too, come and join me and sew something for Easter. If you are afraid, let me know and I will let you keep me on speed dial.
The girls have spent the afternoon on crayola.com. You can turn yourself into a coloring page. They love it.Last, but not least one of my all time favorite authors, Sandra Boynton. I can't begin to say how much I love her work. You know how sometimes a book just speaks to you. Well,this is my all time favorite book she wrote. It spoke to me at a time in life when I felt like the hippopotamus. I think it is hard to be the hippopotamus, but I also think it is important because it teach us charity. For all of you who have felt like the hippopotamus, or helped a hippopotamus, or just cheered a hippopotamus on, you must own this book. Also, watch this video, if you aren't a mom you will laugh. If you are a mom, you will laugh harder. It is a Sandra Boynton song! Yeah, for great writers.

ME

I hate taking pictures of myself. I can't even begin to say how much. I feel like a total goof ball and I crack up when I preview them. I can't imagine what is going through my mind when I pull the faces I do. However, this blog is my blog and least I forget, I guess I must put a picture of myself up every once and a while.

I have submitted one of my children's book to five agents as of this evening. I wish I could post it here. I know you would love it, it's about Christmas. However, I can't... but I promise when it gets published I will blog endlessly about it until you are all sick of it.

I found out who Cristi is. She is my best friend from high school's little sister. I am excited to make the dress for her little girl and for Sierra. I can't wait to get started.

Today, I have been really grateful for my life. Nate and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary a few weeks ago and I am grateful for all eight of our years together. They each have been difficult and wonderful for different reasons. I have learned from each. After, eight years of marriage I have learned three things....

-They say, "Don't let the sun go down on a argument." It is a dumb saying. Go to bed and sleep it off and everything will be okay in the morning.

-If you are having a problem in your marriage talk to your Father-in-Heaven more than your friends and family. He will give you better advice and more comfort.

-Don't let anyone tell you that marriage isn't work. Anything worth having requires work to get it and an amazing marriage is no different.

I had a special experience over Christmas break I got to go to my grandparent's house and dust. I know it sounds dumb but it was one of the best moments of my life. I was dusting there living room and watching them. They were holding hands on the couch and resting their heads against each other. I just knew in sixty years I want Nate and I to look just like the two of them. I want us to be that close. I don't care what movies and novels say about what true love is, what my grandparents have, that is true love. The butterflies of youth just aren't as glamorous to me anymore as the rock hard devotion of old age. As I watched my grandparents together, their story became my new favorite love story.

CRAZY HAIR

I did the girls hair in sponge rollers last night thinking I would save time, but I spent so much time trying to tame it this morning I think it was a wash. However, I did think she looked cute enough to be the perfect charicter for a children's story book. I seem to be thinking about children's literature a lot lately. I hope you had an amazing Sabath. We sure did.

AND THERE GONE

I woke up yesterday and took Sierra to school. I went with her. I volunteered in her classroom. There is a strange smell in a first grade classroom. I did some organizing for the teacher and left. The car didn't start. I tried again and again but no. It was cold and I didn't have a coat. I called Nate and asked him to come get me but I had the car seats and he had Madison. I called a friend, she was at the school with some other women from the ward. She said she would take me home after we went out for breakfast. We picked up Madison. We ate yummy food and I told them of the latest children's book I am writing. Then I went home. The house was locked tight and I didn't have a key. Nate was out fishing. I sat all my stuff down including my nook and searched for a key. Nothing. My friends saw I was stuck and swung back around. They invited me to hang out with them. I got to their house and realized I didn't have my nook. They went back and got it for me. I went to Home Depot with my friends, how else was I going to spend the day? Nate finally returned my phone call and said to use the garage door-opener in the broken down car. Duh, why didn't I think of that. Where has my mind gone. I went back to the school. It was time to pick of Sierra. I got the garage door opener. It was freezing. We walked back to the same friends house. (Who has been way over used since she met me.... poor thing... should have never said hello.) I got a ride home with the girls. We did the night time routine; dinner, books, prayers, scriptures, brush teeth, and to bed. I started cleaning the house that I never got around to because of my crazy day. I started up the laundry and then I get a phone call from my brother that is coming to see us, "Lisa, we are broken down. Can you come get us? We are in Green River." Yes, the car my brother borrowed to come see us broke down. (What is up with us and cars?) I said, "Sure." Nate had gone to bed. I know that sounds bad but he had a hard day too. I didn't expect them to breakdown. I didn't want to wake him up, so I unloaded the fishing stuff out of the truck and went to the gas station and filled the truck with gas. I then get a call from my Dad, "A good person stopped and helped them. They should be okay now." I got a redbox movie and went home to enjoy the rest of my night. I start my movie and begin folding laundry and the phone rings. "The car broke down again, go get them." It is freezing and they have a baby. I get in the car and I don't care if I speed I just want to rescue them but the dang car won't go over 60mph. Stink. I get there. We come home at 2:00am. Nate worked on my brother's teeth all morning, which is why they came. He is an angel. Phillip, my brother, gets out of the dental chair and they have to head back. Because today is the best day for Dad and my other brother to come pick up the broken down car, and we can't take them back another day because we don't have a car that will fit six people. Anyway, it has been a really crazy twenty-four hours for all of us. Nate is driving them back to Green River to get a ride back to Utah with the towing brigade. Good-bye. Glad you came. Sad you couldn't stay.

WINNER WINNER

Well, I wrote the names on pieces of paper. She shook it up and drew our winner. Truth be told, I don't even know who Christi is. I mean I know a few Christi's but I don't know which it is. Whom ever was comment number three on my pretty post, you are the winner. Send me an e-mail with your daughter's age, her waist measurement, and her measurement from waist to knee. My e-mail address is lcmcknight@gmail.com. I am excited! Also, dress number 5 won the contest so this will be the dress I will be making. Yeah!!! For you losers out there, don't worry we will have another contest in the summer... if this one goes well.

SETTING the RECORD STRAIGHT

About two months ago, no maybe longer than that, I was walking back from school with Sierra and Madison. I told Madison she could ride her Diego bike. On the way back she had a major melt down half way home. Sierra had gotten in front of her. She hates it when she is not in the lead. She was crying and screaming. I thought I will just let her throw a fit and keep walking. I thought if I get far enough ahead of her she will follow. I was about ten feet in front of her and this woman from across the street yells, "Lady, help your daughter. I know she road that bike all the way to the school. You can't make her ride it back. She is too little." She was mad. She didn't appreciate my parenting style. She didn't really know what was going on. I wasn't about to yell across the main road to explain the situation. It was easier at this point to let Madison have her way. I walked behind her and pushed her all the way home.

FAST FORWARD. Today, I was walking to school to get Sierra. Madison was riding her Diego bike again. The same lady was walking with her son to the school. (I didn't know it was the same lady.) She decided to strike up conversation, "You make her ride that bike to school a lot." I smiled. She said, "I guess it is good excercise for her." I smile. Then she said, "The other day she was riding and had a melt down and you just kept making her ride that bike." (Then I knew it was the same lady.) I didn't hold my tongue. I set the record straight. I said, "She had a melt down because her sister got in front of her, not because she was tired from riding. She begs to ride this bike to school every day." The lady was nice after that and made small talk the rest of the way to school. I was glad I was finally able to set the record straight.

A LOST TOOTH

{I don't think I told any of you how Sierra lost her other tooth. She is missing both her front teeth now. It is so weird to see her with them both gone. She refused to let anyone pull it even though it was barely hanging on. Finally, Nate came in to me after I fell asleep. He was so excited. He said, "Honey, I did it. I got it out. She didn't even wake up." I was so relieved. It really had been a pain in all our sides for sometime and maybe that is a testament to what a good dentist he is.}
The only thing I can do with this little girl's hair is round brush it. And the miracle is, she holds still every Sunday while I do it.
Sierra loves giving Madison horse rides around the living room. I am so glad they have each other.

TORTILLA's for LUNCH

MJ and I made tortilla's for lunch. If you would like the recipe click here. It is really messy when I let my little MJ help but she loves it to pieces. She loves to sprinkle flour on the counter, so they won't stick when I roll them out. She loves to hand me the little balls of dough. She loves to watch them puff up. It is a fun activity to do with your kids and you will get something absolutely delicious to eat. This recipe will make 16 tortilla's, so for my family. For a family of four that is typically enough tortilla's for two meals. Enjoy. There are three things I am most passionate about in life and I hope to dedicate more time to each of them on this blog. One modest fashion. Two cooking. Three reading to my girls. Every other week, we go to the library and bring home a huge stack of books. Ever once and a while, we come across ones we love and ones we don't really love. I am going to try and do a children's book review of our most favorite book of the week here. Remember Reading Rainbow? Plantzillia, by Jerdine Nolen I love this book. It is funny and clever and it is especially fun if you read the letter's from the parents in the voice from the babysiter, on the Incredibles. Especially the voice she gets near the end of the movie when she is talking about Jack, Jack. The illustrations are so cute. It would be a great book to read to your kids before they get ready to plant the garden for spring. So, go and pick up this book from your local library today. (Wasn't that last phrase perfect? I sound like I could be on Reading Rainbow.)

BRINGING BACK PRETTY

There is something that has concerned me about raising little girls. I feel it when I see Sierra shaking her little bum. (Call me a prude.) I feel it when I see other little girls her same age wearing Minny skirts. I feel it more now that she has out grown the children's section at Target and is now moving into a new phase where classy is less accessable. I want her to be classy. I especially want her to wear classy dresses during her Tween and Teen years. I want her to be pretty and not hot. This article has put into words how I have felt for a long time.

You didn't know I could sketch, did you? Well I can sew too. Click here. So, in an effort to bring back pretty I am going to make the dress that gets the most votes for my daughter Sierra. The pictures are numbered like you read left right, up and down, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. VOTE. In March I will post a picture of her in her new dress.

It gets even better. I will make two dresses. I will draw a random winner from the votes on this post next Friday and I will make the dress for their daughter too. She can be any age from 6-14. The project will be done by the end of March just in time for Easter. So vote!

PAPER DOLLS AND PLAYDOUGH

Sierra has been creating like crazy since we got home from Utah. She was so happy to be back with her presents. She has been making paperdolls out of the felt grandma sent her. She has been cutting and designing like crazy.

WE HAVE A SUNBEAM

What happened? How did it get to be 2012? How did Madison ever get old enough to graduate from Nursery and become a Sunbeam? Ahhhh. I sometimes think I could still pass for 18. I know hillarious.