Ahh, Summer!

So much has been happening this summer!

The kids had swim lessons at our local rec center, and are now all nice and tan. Well, everyone except Bea. I'm afraid she got my pale French-Canadian genes.

We went camping at Whiskeytown, and it only rained for 1 1/2 days straight!

(We managed to have a good time anyway.)

Natalie turned 9 at the end of June. Jay made a solar system of cakes to celebrate. (Including Pluto ... who cares what the scientists say?! Besides, we needed one cake for each year.)

Natalie choose to eat earth all by herself

And then, Jay and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary with a romantic picnic, followed by canoeing on the lake. The 10 years have truly flown by. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I simply wouldn't want to be on this adventure with anyone else. Jay is perfect for me. (Notice I didn't say he was perfect....) :)

Then:

Now:

Happy Anniversary, Schmoopy.

Nana and the Quilt

Right around the time Calvin was born, my mom stopped by my house with a box of things that my Nana (my mom's mom) wasn't able to use anymore due to her poor health. The box contained a lot of fabric, which was exciting to me because I was starting to do quite a bit of sewing. As I looked through the box, I came across some quilt pieces. These weren't just any quilt pieces... they were lovingly embroidered by my Nana with the names of her and my Papa, and all their children, and their birth dates and places. It was family history, but it was in pieces. I knew in that instant what I needed to do.

So with a newborn baby at my side, I started piecing together the quilt. As I worked, I thought of my Nana. I thought of how, despite poor physical health, she was still quick as a whip. I thought of the many times we would visit her and Papa at the big house in Vermont, and what an adventure that always was. I thought about how she and I would go, by ourselves, out on the lake in a little rowboat and just spent time together. I thought about a million other memories that all added up to one thing: how much I loved her.

A few weeks later, I handed Nana and Papa their Christmas present. I was so excited, I could barely contain myself. Somehow it ended up that there were only a few people in the room when she opened the present, and I was selfishly happy about that, because, to me, it was a special moment that I didn't really want to share with anyone else.

Nana unwrapped the paper, and confusion, then recognition crossed her face. "I made this..." she said, her voice trailing off. "Yes, and I finished it for you, " I answered. Her eyes filled with tears as we laid out the quilt for her and Papa to see. She was so happy and surprised, and I felt the pure joy that comes from making someone you love happy.

My cousin broke the silence. "Man, now all of our gifts are going to look like crap!" I had to laugh, because it sounded just like something my nana might say.

Yesterday, June 20th 2011, my sweet Nana passed away. She left her broken body and all the pains that came with it, and joined her Savior and her loved ones that have gone on before. I'm sure it was a joyous reunion, and I am happy for her, but I also already miss her very much.

I was so blessed to see her on Sunday, the day before she passed. I held her hand and told her how much I love her, and shared with her some of the wonderful memories I have of her. She was so ill that she could not respond, but I know she heard me. And I know that when it is my turn to leave this life behind, Nana will be there on the other side, waiting for me with a big smile and open arms (and maybe a crockpot of meatballs).

I love you, Nana.

Ruth Jean Crosby D'Entremont

June 26, 1925 - June 20, 2011

(back row, pictured with her brother James and her mother Eleanore and father Howard. What a handsome family!)

The X-Man Works, Too

We saw this car outside of Taco Bell and just had to take a picture, since we have our very own D-Man. I'm pretty sure Dexter thinks this will be his actual car when he grows up.

Happy Friday, every one! I hope you have a fantastic weekend.

To start your weekend off right, check out this sweet (and short) video. I'll admit it, I cried.

The Best Decision of My Life

(Elder Smout, me with very thick bangs, and Elder Kitchens at my baptism, June 9, 1991)

20 years (!) goes by very fast, but the memories of that day, and the blessings that I've been given since, will stay with me forever.

Wherefore, you must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

2 Nephi 31:20

One of my favorite scriptures from

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Another New Adventure

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed their "day of rest" as much as I did ... there's nothing like your two year old throwing a humungous fit on your way into church to really start your day off on the right foot. (Because Jay has had to work the last few Sundays, church has been a bit of a challenge, but at least I get a lot of sympathetic looks!)

Anyway, enough about that. What I really want to tell you about is my new little venture. As a combination of finding a creative outlet and trying to earn a little extra cash for a much-hoped-for Disneyland trip this fall... I've opened an Etsy shop to sell my handmade doll clothes! Pretty fun, right? I opened the shop last Monday, as many of you already know, and I already had my first sale. It was very exciting, I tell ya!

So... if you're like me and have a slight obsession with American Girl dolls (or any other 18 inch doll, for that matter), check out my shop for some cute but inexpensive options to outfit your your daughter's doll. I will be updating it weekly so if you don't see anything that you can't live without now, keep checking back. To celebrate my grand opening, enter in the coupon code "grandopening" at checkout for 10% off of your order! Yeah! And please feel free to pass this on to any and all of your friends that may be interested.

My two newest creations ...

1930's Style Polka Dot Dress

Linen Pants with Butterfly Shirt

Thanks all, and have a fabulous Memorial Day! And don't forget to visit my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/MrsFear

Dining Room Update

Can you believe it's been almost 2 years since we moved? Since we normally move every year, this is quite a feat! Happily, we have no plans to move anytime in the next 20 years... besides, our decorating style is not exactly resale friendly - there is not a white wall in sight! (Nothing against white walls, of course. They're just not for me.)

There was, however, a lot of beige grasscloth wallpaper when we moved in. Here is the dining room... just looking at this picture makes me smile. It brings back that feeling I had the first time we stepped into this house, that immediate feeling of "home."


Nevertheless, we changed it all. :)

Our interim solution was to paint the wall, change the chandelier, and paint our furniture. We were never really thrilled with it, though, because it was such a mish-mash, as evidenced below:

So we decided to put our furniture on craigslist, and throw caution to the decorating wind.

Here is the final product:

We added the same "wood" to the wall that we have in the entryway, changed the lighting to some light blue pendants we found on clearance at - of course - IKEA, added corrugated metal to the ceiling, and of course had the new stained concrete flooring installed. We replaced the railing with two IKEA bookshelves serving dual purpose as storage and room divider. We plan on putting some type of countertop on the bookshelves so we can also use it as a buffet.

We also added some new furniture and decor, but kept the lime green wall and the original beige grasscloth wallpaper. I think it came together quite well... it's currently my favorite room in the house!

Some details:

The floor ... two shades of grey concrete with a metallic blue epoxy. So much easier to clean than carpet!

The dining room side of the shelves... the perfect place to store the kids' craft supplies and our bulky kitchen items, like our crockpot.

The new lighting and the ceiling. They were both Jay's idea and I am very happy with how they turned out.

View from the kitchen door. The big mirror is another IKEA bargain. The color coordinated bottles were from Crate & Barrell, and reminded me of a stretched 7UP bottle we had in my house growing up. (My mom has since given it to me, but I'm too afraid to put it out and within the kids' reach.)

So there you have it! Another project complete, only about 100 to go. :)

Happy Day

Last week, our sweet Beatrice turned 7.

She was so excited for her birthday that she could hardly sleep the night before. She loved everything about her day ... from bringing the famous Fear Family peanut butter rice krispy treats to school, to receiving cards from family and friends, and of course, having cake and opening presents. She was smiling all day long. (Which is not out of character for our goofy little girl.)

Bea is currently obsessed with the Disney movie, Tangled, so Jay made her a cake complete with "floating" lanterns.

The Tangled obsession has not trumped the gum obsession, though.

And nothing probably ever will. :)

We love you, Beatrice!

You Know Dinner's Bad When...

... no one stops the cat from doing this:

(Don't ask how I managed to mess up fettucini alfredo ... it's a mystery.)