My 27th Year in Review

My 27th year has come to a close and boy was it a doozy.  Here's a list of the things that I did this year.

• I spent a weekend away with friends to celebrate the start of my 27th year.
• I made several cakes.  A wedding cake for a friend's little sister and another one for a friend's brother along with a 1st birthday cake for a friend's little boy.
• Delivered Austin just like I wanted to, vaginally and with no drugs.
• Accepted a calling to serve as a Gospel Doctrine teacher in my ward.
• Called 911 because I thought my neighbor had been attacked.
• Redecorated my kitchen, the boys bathroom, and helped Darren install the new windows in our house.
• Helped Trevor learn to use the potty!!!
• I rafted and I camped.
• I wore swimsuit bottoms to a church activity.
• I found a battery in my son's diaper.

All of those things were fun, but I did some things that were even better.  I nursed my baby to sleep every night.  I taught Trevor the gospel of Jesus Christ and how to serve others.  I fell in love with my husband all over again.  And I walked through the valley of depression and came out better than ever.

So thank you 27.  It was a pleasure.

Gettin' Crafty

**This post has been in draft mode for over month.  Before I get around to publishing it I think of another project I want to work on and I have to wait until it's complete before I can blog about it.**

• Hales Family Tree

For Christmas I made my father-in-law a family tree.  Each of his children and their spouses, along with all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren have a photo magnet on the family tree.  That way as new people join our family we can add them to the tree.  There are currently 31 magnets on the tree.

• Silhouette Pictures

Now that I have a big, beautiful, bright garden window in my kitchen I needed some artwork to display in it.  Enter these darling silhouettes of my boys.  (Doesn't Austin kind of look like a turtle?)

• Cute Bobbypins

I can across this seller on Etsy who sells the cutest bobbypins.  I thought about buying some from her and then I thought, "I can do that".  After a couple trips to Joann and Michaels to pick out some embellishments and an hour or so of gluing...

• Made Over Magazine Files

I really like magazine files, so when my Aunt Cheryll brought over some for my brother to use back when he was living with us I was excited when he moved out and didn't want them.  The only thing I didn't like about them was that they didn't match the color scheme in the office.  With some spray paint and a roll of Contact paper, they are better than ever!

Before

After!

• Knitted Scarf

Years ago as a Christmas present from a good friend I received a wonderful scarf.  I love it and I have always wanted one to match every outfit.  So, my Aunt Shelley taught me to knit and I made another one.  See?

If you want to get together some time and learn to knit or crochet or just share ideas for craft projects, call me.  I love to get crafty!

Bret Michaels and Madonna Sighting

Did you hear about the Bret Michaels and Madonna sighting in Kent Saturday night?

Our good friend Kristi turned 30 this week and to celebrate her husband organized a dance party at their home.  The evite said to wear your best dance outfit and you know how much I love to dress up, so we decided to go as Bret Michaels and Madonna.

Darren is always such a good sport when I suggest costume ideas for him.  (You'll remember back in October when he wore red tights to the ward Halloween party...)  In order to channel his inner rock star he wore my jeans and I gotta say, he filled out the butt in those jeans better than I ever did.  I even convinced him to wear guyliner (aka eye liner on a man).

It was an awesome night and I think our costumes were a hit with everyone at the party.  Most people didn't even recognize Darren with his long hair. 

For one night only, we were rock stars.

Deja Vu

Two years ago I took this picture of Trevor sitting on my dad's lap.  Trevor had craned his neck to look up at my dad and it was a perfect moment in time that I happened to catch on camera.

On Saturday, almost exactly two years later I took another picture.  This time it was Austin and my dad.  I purposefully dressed Austin in the same outfit Trevor had worn, but it was a coincidence that my dad wore nearly the same outfit.

If you are thinking to yourself...  Wow!  Your kids alike.  Check this out.

 

Both of my boys have great big blue eyes.

 But notice how they have completely different noses.  Trevor's got mine and Austin has Darren's.

 

 They both get the same look in their eye when I walk into the room.  You know the look.  It's the one that screams, "Yay!  It's my mom!  She's my favorite person in the whole wide world!!"

While the similarities in their appearance are many, the dissimilarities in their personalities are even greater.  It is always amazing to me how two kids who look so much alike can be so different.

Austin and Autism

Austin is participating in a research study at the Austim Center at the University of Washington.  They are studying the social differences in children with an older sibling with Autism as compared to children who have a older sibling without Autism.  It is fascinating research and Austin makes good money which we add to his bank account.

As part of Austin's 9 month visit he was given an EEG (electroencephalography) which is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain.  They placed a cap on his head that had been soaked in salt water.  The cap had several little sponges attached to long wires that would pick up on the electrical activity going on inside his noggin.  Again, it was fascinating.

Here are some cute pictures of our happy little boy with his EEG cap on his head.