Sweets and Sours in Life

Today I met my new little niece. Evelyne May Sessions was born at 21weeks at 13.4 oz. She came to this earth for only a few short minutes of life.....


My sister in law and husband our two amazingly kind loving people. Ethan, born last year at 23 weeks 1 lb 2 oz is a miracle, and we are glad to have him in our family he is such a sweet and smiley boy. I feel blessed to have them as my family. They have taught me something with challenges today. As I was able to hold my little niece for a little bit, and look at her precious perfect face, and then look back at her parents, I realized how grateful I was for what I have been given in my life. Everyone has different trials and obstacles that they must endure in life, and I know that there is some grief and pain through this one that they are having, but I know that they are going to make it. I was impressed today by the love and closeness our family shared with this special little being, and no matter how crumby the situation your family will always be there for you. I just want to let David, Kele and Ethan know that I love them and will continue to pray for them.

Halloween Fun

I love the holidays, it's so fun to have family traditions and spend time together. Each year I like to make sugar cookies with the kids and they enjoy it too. Of course I loose a lot of dough that way, because two little birds can't stop eating it. Anyways I finally found a sugar cookie recipe that is fantastic. I have tried numerous recipes and have always wound up tossing them. Either they tasted great, but wouldn't hold their shape, or they tasted like dirt and would.

In this recipe they are moist, have great flavor and hold their shape.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

*if dough starts getting soft put it back in the fridge to chill again for best results.

This year we also carved a pumpkin! The kids were so excited and then when they saw what came out of the pumpkin they were a bit skeptical to jump in on the fun. Eventually once moist of the seeds and flesh was out they would put their hands in.

Hailey's Quilt

So I finally finished this quilt I have been working on for Hailey. I tried some new techniques and had fun putting it together. Satin is such a pain to work with that is for sure, but it will be nice and smooth for her. :) The next quilt I will be working on will be for the new baby. This pregnancy went by so fast. When you have to other kids to worry about it's hard to really think about much else. So I would say this year I will have lost the most brain cells, due to being pregnant and taking care of Kirt and Hailey through it. It has been quite the expierence. If I go into labor around 37 weeks like I did with Hailey, we could have a new Sessions here around November 10th.

Toddler fall lap quilt

Ok so I finished my first simple quilt for sale. It is very basic, but beatiful. It is made with cotton fabrics and tulle. It has not been tied off, but if anyone would like it done let me know.

Toddler lap quilt

38x26

$50.00

Bird house family project

Kirt was watching cartoons the other day and on one of the shows a boy made a bird house with his dad. I thought that would be fun for Kirt and Jon to do together sense Jon hasn't really got a chance to use his tools. Kirt needed some one on one time, but it ended up that everyone helped put it together. Kirt helped drill holes and Hailey handed daddy nails. :) We need to get a table before we tackle anything crazy with woodworking. It was tricky working without one.

Animals

Ok so we have two pets now, oh and one fish. We got a puppie from my sister, who by the way has three more for sale and is trying to get ride of them, and kitten from a person at Jon's work. They are so cute and for the most part get along. They chew on eachother, but I'd rather have that then have them chew on furniture or kids. Rosco is our min pin puppie and he is a handful. He is very playful and has a lot of energy. Our cat Taz on the other hand is so lazy and sleeps pretty much all day. The kids have lots of fun with them, but they get rough at times. Rosco is a lap dog. He is always in my lap or following me waiting for me to sit down. They are both good pets, but a lot a work. (well the dog is anyway) So ya if anyone wants one, Karie is more than happy to give you a good deal, They are worth about $700, but I think she is selling them for like 150. They are so cute, and they don't get very big.

Updates

It's been way too long sense I last updated the blog, but it has been an absolute nut house at my place! So lets just get out of the way old news, but still news, first.


June 25th,

Hailey was admitted to the Burn Center in Phoenix. The iron fell right on her little hand and burnt through several layers of skin. She endured a month hospital stay, which included ivs, hospital food, uncomfortable nights (mostly for mommy), pain medicine, dressing changes for the wound, and three surgeries. She was a trooper through the whole thing. She came out with a skin graft on her hand, the skin was taken from her bum. So if you can imagine the pain this little one had to go through. To this day, she has regular check ups at the hospital to make sure everything is healing correctly, and she has to wear a special glove on her hand to help flatten the graft. She is doing wonderful and is healing very nicely. There is a little scaring which she will be able to have removed later in life. Other than this whole ordeal she is advancing physically and mentally like crazy. She talks so much and can be very demanding at times. She comes up and says mommy, until she gets my attention and then ask for whatever it is she wants for the moment. She at least will say please, lol which is pretty cute.

Kirt is starting preschool in a week and let me tell you I couldn't be more excited, not only because I get a break, but I'm positive this will help him progress in his speech.


Jon has been promoted at work, which is great, but with that comes more responsibilites. I feel like I hardly see him, but I know he is working hard to support our family.


As for myself, I am 26 weeks along and feeling it. I've got the nice basketball under my shirt going at the moment and will still have to endure three more months of growth. Besides getting ready for the baby I have been working on fixing up our house. We have been there since May and let me tell you owning your own home is such a task. I am greatful that we have the place and think it will be quite awesome once I get all my home renovations done. It is however, far from friends and family. We are making it work though, and appreciate thoughs who have come to visit. :) Anyways, I always am looking for projects to do and found myself with a spare room. I would like to start offering a beginners sewing/ quilting classes, and then start selling quilts or other requested items. If anyone is interested I'm hoping to start in september. I'm waiting on getting the room finished. Its going to be 35 for 3 classes, which will last an hour.

So basically that is whats going on with our fam. Hope you all are well.