Sew Simple and Sew Cute

Way back before the fair I made Lucy and her cousin Demsie matching dresses for the fair, but since it was bad weather they never even put them on. I wanted to make this smocked dress ever since I saw it on Martha a year ago and finally checked it off my to do list last month.

It really was sew simple to make and isn't my model sew cute!

Finally a ponytail for this blondie!

If you plan on making it for your little girl, here is a tip for you that might make it a little bit easier.

This is the elastic thread that I used. I found it at JoAnn's. You need two of these packages to make one dress. I ended up cutting each strand in half and winding just one half around my bobbin. That ended up making two rows with just a little leftover.

Other than that the lady on Martha gives a good how to.

The coolest part for sure was watching the dress shrivel up after you soak it and iron it. It just shrinks! If only I could put water on myself and shrink. Ha ha!

She's outta here!

Jensen Goes to Big Kids School

Jensen started big kids school last Monday. I am talking Goldfarb Elementary school already. I knew this was coming a little more than six months ago when we took Jensen to Early Intervention for his speech delay. What a journey that has been for Jensen and his parents. When we took him he only spoke one word. Car. They were worried that he may have Autism. That is a scary word for me and probably any parent. It took about three months before we got all of the services that he qualified for, but once they started he really started making progress. He had four different teachers that would come to our house to work with him. Some would come once or twice a month and one teacher even came three times a week. Big blessings his teachers were.

Around December, he could identify his shapes, colors, and letters but not say them. In February he started saying more words and could say all of his letter and their sounds. He really took off from there. Early Intervention started testing him for Autism in February too. He first went to the pediatrician and she said he fit under the Pervasive Development Disorder which is an Autism umbrella but wasn't sold that he had autism. She said he had good skills but there was a couple of red flags that are related to autism. A little bit later in March they tested him for his cognitive levels and an Autistic scale. His cognitive tester said that she had never tested a kid higher than him at Early Intervention. He was still behind his peers but only by six months which was great considering how behind Jensen was. The Autistic testers said that the same thing as the pediatrician but when the results came back he wasn't on the autism spectrum at all. Around that time too we took him to get tested with the school district because once Jensen turned three he would receive services from them. Again the same thing, great skills but some red flags. They were just as puzzled as the rest of us have been.

In April, Jensen continued making huge gains with his speech. He had 50 to 75 words, he sang his ABC's and has even started spelling two letter words. When he had his exit visit with his speech therapist she said that he had made a years progress in the six months that he was in the program. It really was one of the best things we did as parents was to take him to Early Intervention.

On my birthday we had Jensen's IEP (Individual Education Plan) with the school district. It was weird to be on the parent side of an IEP. I have been in many of these meetings but as a teacher. When it came down to it both the school district and us had the same idea what Jensen needed. Preschool for a couple hours a day with peers that have similar speech delays like Jensen. They told me that he could be bused anywhere in the district where there was an opening. That was scary because the district is huge. After the meeting I got a call from the district he would be at Goldfarb. Blessing. It is just on the other side of the park from us. They continued by telling me that his teacher would be Mrs. Adams. Huge Blessing. I used to teach with her. She was my mentor my first year of teaching and is a wonderful teacher. She is also currently in our ward and I visit teach her. Big blessings for Jensen and us.

So last Monday he went and was smiling when he came out of school. Mostly I think because he saw the buses, but he was smiling. They said that he had a great day and was a smart boy. I think so too! The best news is that they are working on potty training with him. Hopefully he gets it down before summer break and then he can teach his sister how to do it.

Fire Station Tour

Jensen's little preschool had a field trip this past Saturday to the fire station. Jensen was really excited about it! Living right next to a fire station we often hear the sirens and their eight a.m. announcements so it was fun to actually go visit and see what all that noise was about.

The firemen on duty showed us their kitchen and weight room, but of course the kids weren't too impressed about that. They wanted to see the fire trucks and the firemen didn't disappoint. They let the kids climb up inside, try on the fireman hat, play with their walkie talkies, turned on the lights, and even got to act like they were driving. They even ended the tour with coloring books, pencils and official fireman stickers.

Jensen's Classmates: Jonas, Asa and Ellie

This is when Jensen first saw the fire truck. Told ya he was excited!

Lucy went too but she was a Huge mama's girl and didn't want to pose for any pictures or flirt with the fireman. Her daddy was proud of her.

I Totally Redeemed Myself!

The only thing I didn't eat while I was in Utah was Lion House chocolate layered cake. Quincy said that I should try making it again for Jensen's and my birthday since we can't buy it here. I didn't know if I was up for that again but since my cravings are stronger than my will power (that's obvious!), I decided to try it.

I have to say my Ace of Cakes watching has really paid off. It totally turned out! The fridge is my best friend (again obvious!) in making this cake. Every step I put it back in the fridge to settle and cool. It made the biggest difference.

Not as perfect as a real piece from the Lion House but maybe even better since I put lots of yummy white goodness inside.

When Lucy first saw it she said "Ooh cake!" and kept on bugging us till we cut her a piece.

I didn't get an after shot of her but it was everywhere of course.

Jensen remained to his pickiness and left his piece untouched. Maybe next year he will eat his own birthday cake.

I'm glad to announce I got my courage back and will make this again. Just give me a good reason to make it. . . it's Monday . . . you got it!

Totally Awesome Three Year Old

This little guy turned 3 this Saturday!

It is tradition to eat pizza on Jensen's birthday. I guess that's what happens when it is one of the only foods he will eat.

Jensen got a new slide for his birthday from Grandma and Grandpa Knudsen. He was so excited he wouldn't wait two seconds while I got a perfect shot.

To celebrate his birthday we got tickets to the 51's baseball game here in town. Before the game they had a carnival for the kids. They had little games where you could win prizes, jumphouses, a balloon man, and even the mascot made an appearance.

Jensen was a riot at all the games. If he wasn't hitting the target from where he stood he would just go up and place them in there. They would give him a prize every time.

Jensen with his new baseball that he just won.

He is looking at the mascot Cosmo but was too afraid of him to give him five.

He is a little scary looking.

He would of stayed in here all night.

Before we left the carnival and headed into the game they had a baseball throw for any age. You had to get three out of three to win. It was pretty hard. I got 0 out of 3. Quincy tried twice, the first time 2 out of 3 and the second time 2 out of 3. The guys said he hit three total so they gave him a Nomar bobblehead.

This kid loved the game. His favorite part was talking back to the vendors. There was a really loud one and Jensen yelled back at him. Everyone in our section was laughing.

It got cold and was close to the kid's bedtime, so we decided to call it a night after 3 innings. Hopefully they can last longer the next time we go so we can see the fireworks.

We sure love this happy little guy and look forward to many more birthdays with him.

30ish

It was my birthday Friday and I had a wonderful day. My friends from my old and new ward got together and gave me a birthday luncheon. It's become a tradition now and they are so fun to look forward to especially when your a stay at home mommy.

When people ask me how old I am I usually don't remember. So to keep it simple, I am just going to reply 30ish.

Lucy definitely has my sweet tooth.


I didn't know what I wanted to do on my birthday this year but I did know that I wanted a date night. Nothing against my kids but this week was a little rough with Quincy gone almost every night due to meetings and his basketball league. So this birthday girl needed a little break.

It wasn't decided til later that day that the Kanets would come with us. Marian came over to bring me a present and she said they were having date night so I said why don't you come with us? So it was settled.

We tried to go to Cheesecake Factory but it seemed like everyone in town was celebrating my birthday so we ended up eating at a New York style pizza place. Then onto King Putt's to mini golf for a new adventure for all of us. It was glow in the dark style.

Can you see us?

Quincy and me


Marian and Mike

I would laugh everytime I looked at someone when they were talking. It was like those dancing teeth. I realized half way through that my flash was off but I think you get the full effect in those first two pictures.

I had the highest score at the end. Too bad that means I lost. Marian and I did get a hole in one on the last hole. We both won free games. We know what we are doing on our next date night.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes for this 30ish girl!

Easter Weekend

Just a quick post on what our Easter 2011 was like. If I don't blog about it, it just seems like it never happened.

We spent Saturday out in Logandale for a fun day with the cousins.

Lucas and Bryson just spoil Jensen when we are out there. They are so good to play with him and watch him. Jensen just laughs and laughs at them.

My men all Matchy-Matchy in their early Easter gifts.

Quincy's parents took us for a Rhino ride out to the Mesa so we could have an Easter egg hunt on the sand dunes. I think it was Lucy's first ride. She wasn't too sure if she liked her Grandpa's off- roading, but her Mama was thinking the same thing too.

I am glad I packed hats for the kids because it was a little hot out there.

Lucas trying to slide down the sand. Didn't work too well.

Jensen was content when he found his first Easter egg. He didn't see why he should look for any others.

I am not one to think that the desert is all that pretty but it was that day. There were these blooming white flowers all over the hill where they looked for eggs.

When we got back we cooled off with lunch in the shade and ice cream.
Jensen cooled off a different way, in the dog's water bowl and the sprinklers.

His cousins got new ducks for their pond. Jensen was squealing at these little guys.

Later that night we had a BBQ and Lucas even caught a toad for Jensen to look at.

On Sunday the Easter bunny came and the kids looked for eggs. They were pros by then.

Lucy really got into it. She had quite the stash that she trusted her dad with. Everytime she found one she would take it to him to hold.

Tangled. Finally!

Once Jensen found a lolipop he didn't care to look for any more eggs.

Our kids didn't feel too good so we stayed home from church so they didn't even get dressed up in their new Easter outfits.