It's uhhh...it's finished, people. The cross-stitch. It is really and truly done. I finished it tonight at about 5:36pm, while Caleb asked repeatedly to go in the car, and Kenn played Mario Brothers 3. I literally almost cried when I realized I'd stitched the last stitch, and now I'm just in a bit of disbelief. I'm debating whether or not to wash it, because I'm sure I should but I'm so afraid of ruining 5 years of work, and I will definitely iron it, and maybe for Christmas it will get professionally matted and framed (hint hint, kenn). Once it's cleaned/ironed, I'll try and post a picture. I guess that should happen pretty soon, because now I've got all this free time on my hands.

Except for the guest room needing to be painted. Hmm.

So, our little man turned 2. We planned a cool little party for Caleb, trying to keep things simple but still fun for him, and it turned into a pretty fun day, although he got VERY emotional a few times. We had his birthday present all wrapped and ready the day before, and my parents had mailed him a few things also, so Saturday morning (the 28th) we let Caleb open up his birthday presents. We gave him a sprinkler/pool thing which was also the main activity for the party, and also a rag quilt that I had made a few months ago. Happily, he LOVED the blanket. That always makes a girl feel good. :)

And then the party itself went pretty well, although this was where the tears came. Before friends arrived, we set up the sprinkler thing outside, and Caleb saw it of course, and completely burst into tears when we didn't let him immediately go out and play in it. So he was crying for about 10 minutes before people even showed up. Then, once everyone was there, we did cake and ice cream, and when we sang "Happy Birthday" to him he freaked out. Literally. Lots more tears and screaming. I don't think I'm really doing the situation justice, but we got it on video, so you can all see for yourselves what went down.

Caleb loved eating his cake that mommy made in the shape of a puppy, and then all the kiddies went out and played in the water and had a great time. He even got to open more presents that his friends had brought him. It was nice that he didn't cry anymore. :) So, a big thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us, and thanks for the gifts that you gave Caleb. He had a great birthday, and we loved sharing it with you all. Enjoy the pics!

It has taken me over 5 years to get to this point, the point where you can seriously tell what my cross-stitch is (Greg Olsen's "O, Jerusalem"). I can now honestly, seriously, say that it is almost done. When we moved to Texas 2 years ago, all I had was the yellow and gray above Jerusalem, and the trees and bushes behind the Savior. Since then, I've done EVERYTHING else. I finished all the basic cross-stitches a month or so ago, and started the overwhelming task of outlining. Now, I've finished everything on the main cross-stitch key (which is good, because it was really falling apart) and all that's left is 3-D stitches of bushes and outlining the city of Jerusalem. I am FLOORED that I'm really so close, and the hope is to finish the entire thing before this baby is born in a little less than 3 months. I also have to make a Christmas stocking for the baby, and finish reading "Gone With the Wind," and read "Breaking Dawn" once it comes out. Oh, and let's not forget that we actually have to paint and redo flooring and replace a ceiling fan in the guest room for the baby.

But seriously, the cross-stitch comes first. It's been staring at me for so long, and vice-versa, I am psychotically devoted to being done. Kenn thinks I'm crazy, but I think he's secretly very impressed that I've come this far. He's proud, I know it. :)

My little Bro Kow (Karl) came home over the weekend. We surprised him at the airport, he didn't know we were coming. He looks so old, but also so good. He was serving his Mission in the Richmond Virginia Mission and had a WONDERFUL time. I always knew he'd make a great missionary. His humility and general nice guy attitude have always impressed me.

Mom and Dad went to Virginia to pick him and bring him home and go to see some of the great people in Virginia that Karl had the privilege to be around. It's good to have him back. On the way home from the airport we attempted to plan a snowboarding trip, but too many are closed at the moment. Snowbird is open, but I don't like it there. Next February we are going, no matter what.

Here are a few pictures of the clan that saw him come back.




Welcome home Kow. We missed you.

Labels: family, pictures

Well friends, an important milestone was met today by our very own Caleb. What could it be, you ask? Has he learned the secret art of holding it? Can he now multiply large sums in his head? Did he discover that tiny objects can fit into his nose? Oh no, it is a skill beyond all these other trivial accomplishments, something the wisest of us often cannot master until well into our later years. Ladies and gentlemen, Caleb can now...drink through a straw. ::wild applause::

It's official--Kenn was right, and we're having another BOY! This picture proves it all. :) Everything else looked good, heart and spine and all that, and this little one is definitely a mover and a shaker just like Caleb was. He kept wiggling and kicking the whole time. But it was fun to see him, and Caleb even got to come along and see the "baby" on the screen. He understands now that there is a baby in mommy's tummy, and he's given the baby kisses and everything, so hopefully we can get that brotherly love going strong before this baby is actually born. At any rate, Kenn is thrilled, and I'm excited, although a little surprised that I was wrong. I was so sure it was a girl, but I can't know everything, I guess. I'm glad we won't have to buy all new bedding and clothes and everything, cause goodness knows we're equipped for a boy. So, off we go into the world of getting ready for another boy. My goodness, what are we getting into?

UPDATE from Kenn:
All of our friends and ourselves got caught up in the charts, calendars and other signs of telling if a baby is a boy or a girl. This goes to show all that stuff is just not reliable. It could be right, but with chances that are 50-50 the results are seriously skewed. I'm happy it's a boy, but I'm truly more happy that everything looked good on the ultrasound, and that Amy is healthy and happy. Caleb will have fun with his new little brother. The new Caleb 2.0! We'll get things right this time ;).

Labels: family, pictures