Baby Boy

Due October 16, 2011

Shameless Plug

Piano lessons start next week on Thursday.  I anticipate wanting to tell Lori about every little knowledge tidbit and every little detail I learn while taking lessons, and while at college in a few months.

Rather than bore her to death, I decided to start another blog where I can write some of this down and bore lots more people to death.

I'm not German, nor do I speak German, but this is the name of the blog http://dasmusikblog.blogspot.com/

Have a gander.

P.S.- I'm listing that blog in the list over there --->

Projects

I've been working on some sewing projects lately.  It's nice to have some motivation to do things back.

This is the dress I made Hattie because the seasons have changed and all her dresses for church are more appropriate for the winter and fall.  This normally wouldn't bother me, but Hattie normally runs hot, so putting a thicker fabric on her in the heat of Southern Utah equals heat rash and crabby Hattie.  So I rummaged through my fabric and found some material.  I would like to make her at least one other dress and a skirt, but we will see what happens.  My goal was to not spend any money and use what I had in my stash, and I succeeded.  I didn't have a pattern per say and used an existing dress for inspiration.  The back is done with button's that are a little too small, but that's what I had, no zippers.

I thought I would try some tulip sleeves.  I found a tutorial online, and it was great, but I forgot to take into account that the sleeve pattern I used to make the tulip sleeve pattern was made to gather.  Not what I wanted, but it turned out fine.

I think it turned out cute, and Hattie likes her butterfly dress.  She wore that and nothing else for a couple days since I made it.

My next project was for me.  I wanted a prego dress for me to wear on Sundays because I only have one long black skirt that fits me currently.  I have tried others, but it is too uncomfortable for me to squeeze into them, and I would rather be comfortable.  So again, I had to use fabric I had, and thanks to my mother for always letting me use her stuff.  I borrowed some thread from her that I didn't have for the jean material.  I was going to put sleeves on it then decided that it would be easier to just wear a shirt under it because I was going to have to put a covering in the front anyway, so I decided to just wear a shirt then I wouldn't have sew either.  So now I am happy that I have a new dress to wear.  I think I want to make another dress, but we will see.

 Hattie has wanted a pillow pet for a long time.  I never bought one because I thought I could just make one.  But then the material I wanted to use was that really expensive soft cuddly kind, yeah, so it would be cheaper to buy a pillow pet.  Well I didn't do it and didn't do it.  I went to Cedar City with my mom to help my grandma and we decided to go look and see how much the fabric would be.  If it would be more than $20 then I wouldn't buy it.  Well it ended up being 50% off the regular price and we only needed a half a yard of red and a quater yard of black and white, so the total for the fabric ended up being $5!  I was so excited.  It was fun to make and I'm glad I did because everyday since I made it she thanks me for making it and tells me how glad she is that I made it.  Again I found a tutorial online.  If you are interested, I'll post it.  But I only used it for the head because the pillow part is very straight forward and easy to do.

For the face I embroidered the mouth with black floss, used buttons for the eyes, black pipe cleaners for the antenna, and pom poms for the nose and antenna.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Lyrics according to Hattie:

"The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout
down came the rain and didn't wash the spider or the fork out
the fork was flying and it went for a ride up the mountain
and fell down the mountain and died right here
then he fell off the table aaAAAAAaaa (crash)"

Back to School 2011

This post could be 4 pages long or 3 paragraphs.  Part of it may end up being a Sunday school lesson.  We'll see how it goes.

As you may already know, I have been unemployed since May 2009.  Since then I have been doing some work for my old boss here and there, doing computer work for locals and selling everything of value to keep afloat.  You get the idea.

Since May 2009 we have gone through a failed business purchase, one set of abandoned plans for a business of our own (after finding funding and a business partner), and a lukewarm effort to focus on joining the rat race and getting a "safe and steady" career.

Over the past 2.5 weeks, I have spent a lot of time thinking.  Thinking about what I really want to accomplish.  When I finished sifting through the kitty litter in my head, these are the nuggets that remained:

1. Business ownership is fine and everything, but it's mostly for the money.
2. Education is important.
3. There are some empty spots in my brain that need be filled with knowledge.
4. School isn't evil.
5. Setting and accomplishing goals is a big deal.
6. Setting and accomplishing goals is hard.
7. Pursuing a degree in music is not a selfish thing to do.
8. I have always regretted not being serious about music.
9. Jealousy is a good motivator.
10. I need to eat lunch.

So I decided to sign up for the fall 2011 semester at Dixie and pursue a degree (between Bachelor's and Ph. D.) in organ performance.  Since there is no official organ program at Dixie, I will do enough to get an associate's degree, then transfer to U of U or BYU where they have official organ programs.  What would I do with such a degree?  Other than "be able to play the music I want to play," I have no idea.

While researching organ programs, I came across a keynote address given at the 2010 BYU organ workshop.  This sealed the deal for me and authenticated much of what I was pondering.  I will post part of it below:
---

A few months ago, Elder David A. Bednar gave a moving talk to the missionaries at the MTC. His message was simple. He asked a very stimulating question, "How does one recognize the Spirit?"

"You will succeed as you learn to follow the Spirit, and, learn to understand the Holy Ghost and how He works." 

So, he said, How do YOU recognize the Spirit?
The answer is simple and direct. Now, listen carefully, he said.

Quit stewing about it. 

Quit Fussing. 

Quit worrying. 

Just be good boys and girls. 

Just be worthy.

Sometime you will look back and see that you were in the right place at the right time. And you will recognize that you were prompted and directed.

I have seen so many wonderful people who are paralyzed by not having an immediate prompting to be guided. . . .NOW! Should I get married, should I go to school, should I buy this car, or should I do this thing?

Most of us just need to press forward. Take that step in the dark, make that leap of faith.

--

A Real Addition to the Family

So a while ago Kevin posted about an addition to the family, this time it is not an inanimate object.  I am pregnant, expecting, have a bun in the oven, etc.  I am only about 7 weeks along and the due date is October 16.
We are excited for this other baby to be part of our family.  We are still getting Hattie use to the idea of a sibling.  I don't think she gets it yet, but we will work on it.

Valentimes

Hattie: (pointing at clock) LOOK WHAT TIME IT IS

Mom and Dad: (blank stare)

Hattie: IT'S VALENTIMES!