Not sure what's up with my blog

The last couple of days, I've been trying to get into my blog and it just doesn't want to come up correctly.  I may have to go in and change the background or something...not sure.
I lost my keyboard at home, and so I've been trying to use the on screen keyboard, which is really the pits.  I can't seem to find out what the problem is either.  I tried replacing the batteries, tried restarting my computer several times...I hate computer problems.  I want it to just WORK! 
Made more hats over the holiday.  Jeff and I just hung out at home and I did some crafting.  Finished a couple of projects and actually got into my sewing closet and tried...tried...to straighten it up a little.  I've decided I'm as bad about buying flannel as I am with scrapbooking supplies.  A little overload!
Jeff had to drive to Boise yesterday (in the blizzard) so he could catch his plane this morning.  Not a real good day for traveling, but he said once he got past Twin it wasn't too bad.  Hopefully the girls and I can make our shopping date this Thursday, but it isn't looking real good.  Big storm coming again.  No school for the kids again today.

Happy Thanksgiiving

Today was a pretty relaxing day.  I cooked a turkey,  made pies, cooked the rest of the dinner, and then Jeff and I ate it in about 10 minutes.  Doesn't seem like we spend alot of time cooking...to be eaten in just a few minutes...then we spend time cleaning up and putting it all away.  I love to cook...but it sure seems like it takes alot of my time.
I appreciate all the invitations we received for dinner today.  We just planned to stay home and relax, but alot of folks must have thought we'd feel bad if we weren't around a bunch of family.  It was nice that we were invited though.  Sharon Heiner came down this morning and brought us a fruit basket...super nice!  This afternoon she came back and brought her DIL to look at the house.  She and her husband are building a new home, and Sharon wanted her to see ours.  She is getting discouraged that it's taking so long.  I remember that well!
Kim and Larry had their new little guy yesterday...that's exciting.  They have such cute kids.  Can't wait to see him.  I made a "little" hat for him this morning.  I'll have to go over there to visit and take all their hats.
Well, I seem to be sort of rambling.  I have so much to be thankful for.  Our family, our home, our health.  I appreciate all the good friends we have, and the beautiful country we live in.  I appreciate our freedoms and all the bounty we enjoy.  We truly are blessed.

Jeff and his dad took a drive a couple of weeks ago, and this is a photo he took of the Tetons.  I thought it was very pretty.  I'm sure they have a ton more snow now.
GO BRONCOS!!!!

Home for the day

Lots more hats.  I need to quit making them I guess.  But, it's too much fun.  The first photo are ones I'm going to give Margene for some of her grandkids.  The left side for the Johnson kids, and the right side for Merlynn's girls.  The next photo are ones for the lady that works with Janell and extras.  The bottom one is extra's also.  I guess I'll decide what to do with them before Christmas.  Right now, I just keep making them.
Today I had the day off...in fact, I took the whole week off.  But we've had about a foot of snow, and it isn't looking good to go to Boise shopping tomorrow.  Steph just called and is disappointed we aren't going, but it doesn't make sense to try and drive up there with the storm they are predicting.  It will be our luck that it turns out fine...but, I guess I'll go back to work for the rest of the week and then take a day off to go shopping when it clears up.  Hopefully.  I did get all my quilts quilted, and three of the seven bound today.  I also watched "How the Grinch stole Christmas".  That's going to be our theme for Christmas Eve.  Hopefully we can come up with some fun things to do with it.
I know I'm tired of shoveling snow.  My back is killing me.  Jeff has done the driveway three times already.  I've shoveled four or five times.  I'm already sick of snow. And tomorrow night it's supposed to get down to -2 and that's too dang cold.

Go Broncos!

I don't know if you all saw the game, but it was awesome.  They started out pretty slow and I was getting worried, but they pulled it off in great shape.  51 to 0.  The defense said they wanted a shutout and they got it.  Before the game, the team came out without shirts on to warm up...whew.  Maybe that's why they couldn't play the first quarter...they were all too cold!  It wasn't too bad, but I wore everything I own I think.  I had on my underalls, a turtleneck, a sweatshirt, a fleece vest, with the heavy BSU coat over that.  I wore my stocking cap too, and had my ski gloves on with warmers inside them.  Then we had a blanket over our legs.  We got along just fine!  Darin bought me some hot chocolate, and that tasted pretty good too.  I put warmers in my shoes, but I must not have gotten them started very well, because they never did warm up.  It was soooo much fun to go to another game.  It's been a long time.  We had taco's at the tailgating party, and it rained on us, but during the game we didn't have more than a few sprinkles.  Then as soon as the game was over...it started raining.
Connor played basketball pretty well, but we only went to one game.  Since it was snowing pretty good, we were a little worried about the roads.  We headed back about 12:30 and didn't have any trouble at all.  We had quite a bit of snow here when we got back though.  We put the blade on the 4-wheeler and Jeff got the driveways cleared while I did the shoveling.  Today I can barely move though.  Shoveling is always so hard on my back.   We had a bunch more snow toady, so we did it all over again.
I've been sewing on my quilts.  I'm actually thinking I may get them done yet.  I have quilted five of them today, so I only have the binding to do on them.  If I can get two more quilted tomorrow and the binding done...I'm happy.  I don't really care if I get mine done or not.  Hope the weather isn't so awful that we can't go on Tuesday now.  It isn't look too good.

Here's a corner of my quilts.  I'll post one of the whole thing once I've given them to the girls.  Can't wait.  It's always so much fun when we get together for shopping.

Exchange cards for November 2010

These are my exchange cards for the month of November.  The theme is "anything", and I just made whatever cards I wanted and used whatever I wanted.  I made these back in September when I went to Soda for a few days.  Doris likes to stamp and make cards while we're there, and after I finished my Christmas cards, I started doing the exchanges.  I have through December made, so I don't have to worry about them next month either.  They are done!
I have two of my little quilts ready to quilt.  I'm excited.  I have all but one (I lack some ribbon) sewn together.  Now I'm doing the embroidery work and then putting the batting and backing on.  Then of course, I have to quilt them.  I've never really done machine quilting before, but I guess I'll learn.  Then I will need to bind them...it's a long process.  But, I'm beginning to at least "like" them.  I thought they would be MUCH  cuter, but maybe I don't like them because I'm sick of working on them.
We've decided to go to Boise Friday for the Fresno game.  My A.B. rep was in today, and he has a friend with some tickets to sell.  Jeff called Darin, and he will give us "free"  "free" "free" tickets.  Connor also has 2 basketball games on Saturday, so we've decided to go and then stay over and watch him play.  Jaden is on crutches due to knee problems, so we won't get to see her play anything.  Not sure she'll be doing much of anything for at least awhile.

Christmas Eve, 2009

The Stapelman's were in charge of Christmas Eve last year, and they set it up like Bethlehem, and we were to all come in costumes.  Most of my family really didn't want to dress up, but when we got there, they had costumes for people who didn't come in them.  We sat on the floor to eat and we went from booth to booth to get our food.  It was quite short, so we came back to our house and made pizza's and had a good time. 

Let's get together

Not to be out done...I had to show some photos from our get together before Halloween also.  Even if I didn't take them!  Since Robin brought her camera, I let her do the "taking".  It was raining and I didn't really want to go through the maze, so she did.  She said it was hard to get any photos though, so I feel lucky she shared a few with me.
Tomorrow night we're having just the adults over for dinner.  I think we'd better decide what we're doing for Christmas Eve and get busy on it.  It will be here before we know it.

Christmas is how far away?

Every year when the "girls" go shopping, I try to give them some Christmas decoration.  This year, I had gotten a pattern for a table top quilt (or wall hanging) and thought it would be fun to make.  Well, back up.  When I was in Idaho Falls, Robin and I went to Porter's and got this pattern and I bought the material to make her and I one...then, I had this brain storm that I could make it for the decoration gift...where was my head!  I am in the process of making 8...EIGHT...of these things.  And I'm hating it.  They are taking me forever.  And they are seriously cutting into my Christmas gift making time.  I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get them done.  I have all but the snowflake blocks done, but then I still have to put the whole thing together, quilt them, bind them...whew.  Maybe I'll just give them a photo of what they will be like...someday!

A whole bunch of hats

I know...everyone is getting tired of seeing my hats, but I just can't seem to get enough of making them.  I keep trying new colors and combinations.  And I love everyone of them.  These are all ones I made before I went to Florida, and I made a ton more there.  I haven't taken photos of them yet.  Jeff keeps asking me who I am making them all for...I have no idea, but it's relaxing.  I always work on them when I get ready to go to bed, and then I can relax and go to sleep.  I'm making some for a lady that works with Janell, and I still have about four granddaughters that don't have them yet, and then....who knows.  The blue/white/black ones were for Chris and Taylor.  They wanted the"new wave" style.  I really didn't enjoy making them as much.  You have to really count every stitch and every row, and that wasn't as relaxing.  The top red/black/white one is for McKenna (yes, Marcy...I have it done).  The yellow/brown, and the yellow/green, are for Kaylin andTayler...maybe.  I can't decide whether to send them the same color or not.  I may change and send them a different one.  There are three for a lady that works with Braquel.  I probably won't run out of girls to give them to, huh?  Maybe this will be what I do when I retire...

I'm trying to be creative

I made this apron before Halloween for myself.  I thought it was pretty fun. I wore it on Halloween day, but Jason's family were the only ones to come out.  It was great to have them though.  I made a pumpkin squares dessert for them.  Kylie only wanted Cool Whip.  Evidently, that's all she really cares about.  The rest of the kids all seemed to enjoy it though.  I love it when someone comes to visit and I can bake something.  Otherwise, I just don't make dessert, because Jeff shouldn't eat it, and I don't need any more weight.
I had a little bucket full of candy bars, and Kylie had her hands clear full when they left. 

I'm back from Florida

At the retreat, Marcy was making some wood blocks that said "boo" and they were soooo cute.  She said one set was for Steph and one was for the auction at the retreat.  I figured I'd just have to get enough money to buy them.  Then she started these wood blocks that say "believe".  I kept going over and admiring them, and telling her how cute they were. Finally I told her I'd trade her scrapbooking for a set.  She had to break down and tell me they were actually for me.  I was so excited.  I love them.  Thanks Marcy!
Florida was okay, but I'm so tired.  Thursday night I didn't get a wink of sleep because I was so afraid I'd over sleep and not make my flight.  We had to leave the hotel at 4:30 a.m. and I had a wake up call for 3:00.  But I would read for awhile, then turn off the light and lay there and lay there.  Finally I'd turn the light back on and read again...then about 2:30 I figured I might as well just get up and get ready.  Long day.
CED got Hard Rock Cafe for a private party on Wednesday night.  That was okay, but...long.  On Tuesday night we went to a restaurant called Cuban and I guess it was one of the top 20 restaurants in Orlando.  It was different...but okay.  Thursday night we had our division dinner at the hotel and it was "okay".  I just wasn't that thrilled with anything this year.  I didn't even take a camera...guess I won't have to scrap that trip.
It's sure nice to be home though.