Farmers Market

Today we piled in the car and headed to the Phoenix Public Market (http://www.foodconnect.org/phoenixmarket/ ) -- What a GREAT place! My buddy Marc volunteers up there and told us about it so we thought it might be fun to check out--even though it is about 45 mins away. My parents came with us and we passed the driving time with chatting (as always with my mom and I). The market has local vendors that sell everything from eggs and grain fed beef to crafts and pickles! We snagged some Grain Fed Sirloin Stakes and a Chuck roast (and so did my parents), cage free chicken eggs, our produce for the week and a jar of yummy sweet n soar pickles with jalapenos in them! You will never guess what Kenny bought... Eggplant Lasagna!! They had samples, he tried it and liked it! We met our friend Becky up there and had a lot of fun checking out all the "goods" together. It was a fun morning!!

Dancing the night away...

So tonight we slipped on our boots and went out dancing! I know right!? The two shyest people ever-- out dancing?? My friend from work asked us on a double date to this place called Buffalo Chips Saloon. They do free dancing lessons on Thursday nights and tonight was the Arizona two step- so fun! I have never really been that great of a dancer... and man did that shine through tonight although I did well at the spinning!! Poor Kenny I must have stepped more on his feet than the dance floor! He on the other hand, was SO good!!! A hidden talent! We have been together for almost 10 years and I am still learning new things about him everyday. We had so much fun tonight and are looking forward to going out dancing again soon!!

Kid's Say the darndest things...

So Sunday night my parents had Kenny and I, along with my bro and his family over for dinner for my B-day. After dinner we were all having ice cream and cake. The cake was a gift from my co-worker shaped like a little puppy. Well we asked little Brian if he wanted some cake he said "Yeah", but then when we tried to give him a piece he said "no tanks, no tanks" and waived it away. We said "I thought you wanted Cake" and he says "I not eat dog, no tanks."

A Blessing

Sunday morning my mom and I went to our old LDS Church... it had been almost 8 years for me and about 3 for my mom. We were welcomed by all our old friends. I was surprised how many people went out of there way to say hi to us... there was actually a line of people to talk to us. We were there for my girlfriend Catherine. Her little baby girl, Marlee Kate Hall, was being blessed and she invited us to come. I am thankful she shared her day with us- it was awesome.

Catherine is currently living in Utah and the last time we talked she told me she was a little concerned about bringing home her little baby in the snow... it inspired me to make her a super warm quilt!! I didn't finish it before the baby was born, but I got to give it to her in person rather than mailing it which was really nice. I made it with 100% cotton (quilt store quality) fabrics, warm and natural batting and minke for the backing--- it is WARM. When I was doing the hand sewing for the binding I had to take a break I got so hot. The quilting was done by a long arm quilter Sharon (very hard to see in the picture, but it is a bunch of swirly hearts)

I hope Catherine doesn't mind, but I am going to share her words... I think the greatest appreciation for me is knowing the person really liked what I made for them...

"The quilt you made is amazing. I love it so much. When we had lunch at my moms house she was wrapped in it for her whole nap. I love the fabric & the quilted hearts are so cool. Thanks sooooo much. I am glad you were able to make it & see Marlee. Thanks again"

Adventures of K & A

We had a super busy Saturday (03/07/09) which started with some yard sale shopping with my mom. We got some good deals and just had fun spending time together. Kenny and my mom really get a long well and are always laughing and making us laugh too.

We headed out to Buckeye for lunch at Kenny's Nana's house. She made us homemade chicken n dumplings- from scratch!! It was delicious. Kenny did his honey do lists for his mom and Nana while Sarah and I headed out to the Goodyear Market. We came across a game (LRC) she had been looking for and got a artificial plant for your new house. It was a pretty great afternoon.

Next we headed to church and enjoyed a guest Pastor Mark Batterson. He is a Pastor from Washington DC and holds his weekly services in the Subway stations! He ministers to the 20 somethings that are currently writing the laws for our nation-- awesome guy!! I bought his book- In a pit with a Lion which actually talks about our church, Radiant and the amazing growth and what God is doing right here in Surprise, AZ. Neat-o

After church Kenny had a softball game. It was an 8PM game and chilly!! The team didn't really play well, but were missing a number of their regular players so I am sure next week will be better.

Anyway, that was our busy and fun Saturday!!

Spoiled Rotten!

So I got absolutely spoiled rotten rotten rotten for my 26th b-day! I guess I'm kind of a big deal ...or at least people made me feel that way! My mom called me first thing in the morning to get my day started and I got calls, cards, e-mails, text etc all day! I was really surprised of all the people who thought of me : ) My girlfriends at work spoiled me with gifts, treats AND took me to lunch at this new restaurant down the street from our office. My buddy Carol made me the cutest apron ever! It is made out of I LOVE LUCY fabric and just super cute-- the picture just doesn't do it justice .She also made me this adorable mini quilt with my name on it! For dinner we went to Olive Garden and my parents joined us! That really is a big deal because they both work long hours and commute to Tempe so they are usually pretty tired, but they still came anyway. We had so much fun!

My grandparents are going to take Kenny and I out eat at Carlos O Brian's (one of our favorites!) too!!

I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life!! Thanks everyone you really made me feel special and loved!!

RAK (Random Act of Kindness)

Something unexpected, excepting nothing in return, a good deed... all can be considered a random act of kindness... Today when I got to work I found this awesome shamrock table runner waiting for me. My girlfriend at work just whipped it up for me last night! So funny because I made a comment on her blog.... http://carolscraftblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/shamrock-table-topper.html and so she just made me one! Now I need to think about what boarders to add... and who can I pass on a RAK to....

Will Work for Pizza

I am so blessed to have such a handy hubby! He helps all our friends and family with their household projects or their cars... whatever he can really. Tonight he helped our buddy Blair out by installing her garage door opener in her new home. She bought some pizza for all of us and we watched American idol. It was a fun night!

Oh yeah- on our way our to her house we got stopped by a train and as we were sitting there for about 15 minutes I snapped this picture of the pretty sunset.

Album Club

Just wanted to share some new scrapbook pages I just completed for the 2009 Album Club. This is our 4th of July Camping Trip Last Year.

Hand Me Downs, Yardsales and thrift store treasures! (Plus our weekend adventures)

Its Spring Cleaning time... okay well here in Phoenix it is practically summer already with record heat in the 90s, but we will call it Spring time anyway. My mom cleaned out her craft room last week and gave me a few boxes of paper, stickers, bags etc etc- I love it. If that weren't awesome enough my friend Carol from work gave me a bunch of stuff from cleaning out her craft room this week too!! She gave me a bunch of books, thread, tons of fun ribbon and more! I am SO spoiled. I have always loved hand me downs. When my bro and I were little I would always want his old toys, books and stuff when he cleaned out his room. One mans junk is another mans treasure!!

This Saturday Kenny and I kinda went our own ways- he went out to Buckeye to work on his Nana's truck and do some things at his moms house and I went to the Scrapbooking Yardsale at the Scrapbook Barn with my mom. We got a bunch of goodies... from Magazines to embellishments for next to nothing (because I need more stuff...).

Then we went to Scrapbooks etc and I got this new punch for my birthday (Kenny asked me what I wanted for my b-day and I said this awesome punch. SO... I just picked it up while we were out there).

I dropped my mom off and picked up my friend Blair and we went to the baby shower. It was really fun, we played games and ate delicious food (her dad is a chef at the Biltmore Resort). After the shower we decided to stop at Goodwill since it was 1/2 off day. I picked up these treasures.... The rug was brand new and I only paid $3- awesome. Plus I a Sponge Bob bucket (was for Halloween, but I thought it would make a great easter basket for one of my nephews), a toy for the dogs, a bunch of cards, this kit to make ornaments (was $27.99 at Michaels) and 4 shirts for under $20!!

Meanwhile Kenny had lunch with his mom, got some stuff done at her house and headed home for his softball game. He played really well that afternoon and got a triple and caught a pop up! Yippee Kenny! Lee, the coach of co-ed team, was jealous and told Kenny he need to hit a triple for the Radiant Royals!

After his game we went to Church- which was amazing BTW and then went to dinner at Mike's Greek and Italian Restaurant.

Sunday, was a slower paced day- which is what we are striving for these days. We played our softball game at 1. It was actually really hot out! Kenny gave Lee his wish and hit a triple AND caught another pop up along with making several other outs in the game!! We didn't win, but we had some fun. Michelle and Nanette came by for a quick visit and brought little Zack. He is just too cute I had to take some pictures of him.

So Michelle stepped out side to smoke and while she was gone I was watching Zack. He was sitting right by me on the couch and I reached for my camera on the coffee table and when I looked back he had rolled right off the couch!! I felt absolutely awful!! Michelle and Nanette were very nice about it, but I still cannot believe that happened!! Kenny tells me not to worry about it that is happens some times... I said yea to me! (see my post a few weeks back about Jake and the swing....) Anyway, when Zack fell he must have hit is gum just right and his second tooth popped out! So I am not sure how often we will be babysitting our little God Son here in the future, but Nanette says we may be referred to as his "Oh my God parents now".

Sarah and Barb came over for dinner (Coke Roast- see below recipe) and just sat around and talked and listened to music. BTW Sarah says there is a superstition that if a baby doesn't fall off a couch by the time they are 1 they will go crazy- so your Welcome Michelle and Trevor.

Oh and here is the recipe--

Coke Roast-

3 lb beef roast (you can do smaller I usually do)

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 packet of dry onion soup

1 can of coke (DO NOT Sub in diet coke)

I use a ceramic pot and cook with the lid on for 3-3 1/2 hours-- yum