One of the worst nights... UUGGGGG...

I hate to brand it "the worst night ever" as I have never had a colicky kid or whatnot. But we have had our share of cranky baby nights... however last night I believe takes the cake. (So far!)
Our neightbour has an ex, whether or not it's ex-husband or ex-boyfriend I'm not too sure, but that ex has a dog. We were under the impression there were no pets allowed here, but you gotta 'love' rule breakers.
Our neighbour had her mother take her young daughter (just a bit older than Brant) for the evening, just so she could get a break. Fair enough, we all need a break! She had her ex over, and they were having some drinks. They were being completely fair about trying to keep quiet, and respectful that we had a little guy. At around 1030 they invited some friends over for drinks. They too were nice and quiet, didn't play music too loud, but did hang out on the balcony and talked a bit loud. Around 1230 they decided to go out... where I don't know... as i'm usually in bed and asleep by 1030. Shortly after they left the ex's dog started barking. And barking... and barking and barking. Until finally around 115 we decided to call the cops. They weren't home or I would have got them to shut their dog up! The cops said they would send someone around to check things out.
Their dog continued to bark until about 230 when our neighbours got home! Needless to say, after trying hard, Colin and I could NOT sleep! He finally stopped barking once they got home and ahhh... it was nice a quiet. But ... not for long. Brant must have had a nightmare and woke up screaming at about 245-300. We brought him to bed with us and after about half and hour of crying he went back to sleep.
(Side Note) I think it's funny how kids sleep! I mean, I don't know about you, but I tend to stay relatively still at night and usually wake up in the same position I fell asleep in. I think it's hilarious how much kids move in their sleep. How do they stay asleep after moving soo much and then wake up bright and chipper?!!? i have no idea...
Anywho, after having been kicked, bumped, head butted and elbowed from anywhere from my tummy, head and boobs I got Colin to take him back to his room. Well Brant woke up from trying to be moved at 530, and decided that that was enough sleep for him.
So needless to say, we've been up since... oh heck I don't even know if we fell asleep!?!?
It was a horrible night, and to top it all off, all three of us are sick, so sleep would have helped!
BUT - we did make it to church, a little late, but we still made it! Colin had to teach and I had to lead the music in RS. And we got to come home and take a nap! So not all was lost, but it's going to catch up with us I betcha!

Learn something new with every... quilt?

For a while now I`ve been working on improving my quilting skills.
I`ve made (almost) 4 quilts, and seem to learn something new each time I make one.
The first one I made was for Colin`s brother and his wife for their wedding. It was fun because I was just learning how to quilt and had a couple of fun ideas, (and a new sewing machine) but thankfully had someone to help with the color selection as I`m not that well coordinated.
(I can`t seem to find a picture of it right now!)
With this quilt, I learned HOW to quilt. How to cut strips, squares, how to line everything up perfectly and basically everything there is to know about quilting. (well, besides triangles!!) I think this quilt turned out really nice, and was a huge project for a first-timer, but Barry and his wife enjoy it!

Second quilt I made was technically for Colin`s cousin`s wife. She was due with a baby and we were both pretty sure it was a girl. So, being `pretty sure` I started making this pink quilt. Well, low and behold she had a boy! So here I was with this cute pink quilt...



Thankfully a friend of ours had a baby girl. I was going to make her a rag quilt but this couldn`t have been more perfect!
With this quilt I learned that it`s not a great idea...
1. to start a big project like this without being 100% sure the sex of the baby you are making it for
2. never to pin a quilt on carpet... no matter how low the carpet! This quilt had a few spots where things didn`t line up and it puckered a bit, but it was still cute!



Third quilt I made was for Colin and I. I figured I had made 2 for other people and I wanted one for myself. I love this pattern and will most likely make another quilt with it. It was really easy but I spent a lot of time cutting out all the different sizes of pieces.

With this quilt I learned that I should never go to Fabricland expecting to get all the fabric for one quilt in a day. While I love the pattern of this quilt and some of the patterns of the fabrics, some just don`t go together. Oh... and never let the husband pick out fabrics either.

Oh... and NEVER under any circumstance take an overtired hungry baby to a fabric store...

This fourth quilt isn`t quite done yet. I am making it for my Aunt who just had a baby back in April. I had picked up these fabric patterns a while back and have been looking for the perfect project to use them on.

(Sorry, had to post the picture of the cute boy in it!!)
While I love the pattern of the quilt (easiest one out there!!) and love the fabrics, I wish I had been a little more creative with the piecing. As you notice a predictable pattern happening. I wish I had been a little more spontaneous with the placing of some squares.

Also... no matter how good you think you are... always pin borders... (not shown)

Overall though, this quilt will be cute no matter what. Now I just know better for next time!

I have only learned a few things, but still continue to make the same silly mistakes! So I figured it I took the time to write it all down I wouldn't be so absent minded and I would remember NOT to make these mistakes!

'Un'safe road hazard!

I feel the need to apologize to all the drivers out there who feel that I'm an 'un'safe road hazard.

1. I'm sorry that I honked at you, it was completely my fault you felt the need to pull right out in front of me!

2. I'm sorry I'm not going fast enough, go ahead and speed to the next red light. I'll meet you there!

3. I'm sorry to inconvience you when I have the 'right of way' to turn left onto a service road. I should kneel at your feet with gratitude.

4. I'm sorry I didn't yield to you turning left while I was going straight through an intersection. How careless of me!

5. I'm sorry I'm merging onto the highway right beside you. Please don't worry about making room, I'm sure I'll fit between you and that semi!

6. I'm sorry I'm only going 15 kilometers over the speed limit. Feel free to pass me while waving the finger, I deserve it!

And on a more serious note:

I'm sorry I didn't see you and DID almost drive out in front of you. Feel free to stop, hold up traffic and cuss me out, because I'm sure you've NEVER done anything like that before!!

I must need to take driver's ed all over again...

Drive safe everyone!

Happy Easter, BABY!!!

So, again... we forgot our camera! You would think that by placing it by the door you would remember to take it with you... NOPE!
Anyway, Friday morning Colin, Brant and I went to the Calgary Zoo, and met up with some friends there. It was fun! Brant called every animal he saw a puppy, even after telling him that that large grizzly puppy could take his head off.
After the zoo we drove the 3 1/2 hours to Oyen, Alberta. My Great-Uncle and Aunt bought a home out there and completely renovated it and wanted everyone out for Easter dinner before they sold it.
We felt kind of odd out there on this Easter weekend, what with it being General Conference and all. We missed out completely on all 4 sessions, and Colin mentioned he didn't think he had ever missed a Priesthood session before. But, thanks to modern technology, we will be able to catch up on all we missed over this next week.
It's also was a bit of a dissappointing Easter for Brant. Not that he knew anyways! But I guess the Easter Bunny will have to come back tomorrow! Colin and I kind of dropped the ball on that one! My Grandmother had sent Brant a little dark chocolate Easter Bunny but we totally forgot! I'm thinkin I'll head out to Walmart tomorrow and find him a few goodies and then take pictures of memories sake.
We did have a little bit of exciting news... all 6 pounds 14 ounces of it! My aunt had her baby girl on Saturday. We had a phone call around 3:30 saying her water broke and she was off to the hospital. Then not even 3 hrs later, at 6:15 we had a phone call telling us little Claire Alison was born. We were all so excited and recieved pictures of her right away! (Again, thanks to modern technology!)
This trip was fun and good for us, considering with Colin's job and school I never really get to see him, or have a day where there is nothing on our agenda. But as always, trips are nice to think about, but end up being more stressful than you anticipate! We are happy to be home and sleep in our own beds.
Hope everyone had a happy Easter, and enjoyed Conference.

Has Spring Sprung??

Well, it's been a while since I've written anything here, and while since I've taken any pictures! So sorry, no pictures up this time!

It's nice to be able to walk outside in sweaters again! Much easier too!

Colin has been busy with school and I've been busy with... well whatever I feel like. I've been going to the gym running and hanging out at Mom and Tots. Nothing terribly exciting and it seems to be the same week after week!

Colin and I went for a walk today and will hopefully be bbq after school! It's beautiful out! Just as long as Mother Nature lets it continue this way.

We really have no exciting news to report, hence the long silence.

We will be moving hopefully sometime this summer, because Colin will no longer be taking classes here at the college! "Is he done?" you ask? NO, but he will be taking online courses through the University of Athabasca for the next couple years. He will be able to work full time and get a few things paid off!

We are excited to move out of this little tiny place into something a bit bigger and then hopefully in a couple years buy a house!

Well, that's about all right now! I don't think I'm very good at this blogging thing as I never have any witty, funny remarks to write in here!

Oh well, have a great day everyone and enjoy the nice weather while it's here!

New people mover...!!!

Well, it's been an interesting week!
Our Oldsmobile has given us nothing but trouble for the last year and a half but we have just been too scared to look at purchasing a new car. Well, this week we had had enough! In the last 6 months this car has cost us more than what the car is worth and we had to decide if we were done pouring money into this car.
We had been given a great offer on a bigger family 8 seater car, and were quite excited about it, but after crunching numbers and figuring for gas and insurance decided this 'bigger' car wasn't worth it just yet as we don't need the space!
We were getting so confused! While we felt it was time for a new car, nothing was working out for us! Until yesterday! I had gone into a dealership looking at used cars and pricing and such when it was brought to my attention that the interests rates on brand new cars has dropped to nothing! (Thanks Toyota for making sticky gas pedals!) So after crunching more numbers found that we could get a BRAND NEW car for cheaper than a used because of the interest rate! We were approved and finally felt that things were working out for us!
We are going to the dealership to get our new car today!
It's amazing how even though we may not see the final result, Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need, when we need it! We are so grateful that this opportunity came up for us and are very excited to have a nice reliable car!
Now just to get better at driving a stick!!

New Year Snew Year...

Well, the New Year hasn't been too kind to us!
Brant had a bit of a cough but then got better around the 2nd, but I got sick on the 30th with a sore throat and went to the doctor a little late but am on antibiotics. I have never had a cold sore in my life, but this week I have developed... count them... 1...2...3...4...5...6! Yep... S.I.X. cold sores. They hurt soo bad! I've been to the doctor and he gave me some pills (for genital herpes!! But they work for cold sores too! YAY) and now I'm taking 2 prescriptions...
I still feel gross and haven't done much! I feel bad for Colin because he's had to take over a lot of things around the house because I feel like junk. But that means I have the greatest husband ever!
I was also supposed to give a talk in church on Sunday, but called and cancelled because I AM NOT feeling any better yet! I feel bad because I didn't have a hard topic! It would have been easy!
I hope this year starts to look up and that I don't get sick anymore! I don't think I could take another illness! I'm just glad it's me and not Brant! Unfortunately... I can't kiss my little guy!
Brant is still talking and walking lots and he's still making us laugh. He's also almost 13 months!! It's crazy how fast he's growing up and turning into a little boy!!