Fourteen

Fourteen years ago:

1. You and I got hitched. Forever. Yep, you're stuck with me.

2. You and I didn't have any money. Yep, still the case. Sorry, Dear.

3. You and I could go anywhere, do anything, at any time. Now, not the case.

4. You and I could sleep in till noon. Those days are over.

5. You and I could have peace and quiet. Those days are definitely over.

6. You and I could have dinner out, by ourselves, anytime we wanted. Over.

7. You and I didn't drive a minivan. Or, I should say, we didn't HAVE to drive a minivan.

8. You and I could make out in the car. *Probably WHY we have to drive the minivan....

9. You and I didn't own a home, didn't have car payments, and had few responsibilities.

10. You and I didn't have 4 children that can make us laugh and cry and want to strangle them all in the same breath.

11. You and I didn't have 12+ years of parenting under our belts.

12. You and I didn't know the shear happiness of seeing our kids do something great.

13. You and I didn't know that having hardship and tough times in our marriage would make us strong.

14. You and I didn't know that after 14+ years together, we'd be as happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise as we are today.

I'm glad that we've had all the happiness and heartache. I'm glad that we've stuck it all out. I'm glad that you can tolerate my mood swings, my obsessive/compulsiveness, my hair all over the bathroom floor (and shower drain, and bathroom sink drain **BTW, could you fix that drain??). I'm glad that you are still happy to come home, happy to drive the minivan, and happy to be married to me. You are, aren't' you???

One For You, One For Me

I've been a mood lately....trying to complete lots of projects that were started months ago and put away half done. I've completed 2 quilts so far in my quest to become domesticated - one was a Christmas quilt that I sent to my mom for Christmas and the 2nd was a quilt made for my dad for his 60th birthday. Awhile ago, when talking to my mom on the phone, she mentioned that my niece, Katie, was sad that "everyone else had gotten a quilt from Aunt Erin, except HER!!" I found this lovely fabric and after consulting a few experts, started sewing away. The end result was this lovely spring-ish quilt that is just the perfect size for a soon-to-be 5 year old. Can't wait to send it and see her all curled up in it....

**Front View of Katie's Quilt**
Eden, by Moda Fabrics
Yellow, Pink, Purple, Green, Flowers, Birds, Stripes, and Polka Dots...How can you not love it??

** "K" is for Katie**

Because I had made so many squares to start out with, there may be a chance (*hint, hint) that my niece Elle will recieve a quilt that is much the same as this one for her own birthday...so, in order to keep them from getting mixed up, I hand-stitched a "k" in the corner. Now Katie will be able to keep Elle's dirty mitts off of her quilt!!

**Rear View of Katie's Quilt**
It's hard to see, but the fabric has sweet little birds on it...Oh, they make me happy.

The next project on my "to do" list, was to finish off this quilt for someone who had been waiting an extra long time for a quilt of her very own: ME!! I've been at this new found hobby for awhile now, and have yet to keep anything for myself!! So, this one got started....and then put away. Not too long ago, I pulled her out, finished the borders, sent it off for stippling and finished the binding during General Conference. Now, she's all done, beautiful to look at, and just perfect for curling up with at night. The kids have already hauled it off to their TV room - once. It only took once for me to threaten them with their lives.

**Front View of MY quilt**
Simple Abundance, by Moda Fabrics

The colors are all antiqued just slightly and if you saw the fabric just on the bolts, you would never think they went together. But, all together, they sure made for a lovely quilt.

**Rear View of MY quilt. Love it, Love it, Love it.**

Although the projects seem long and time consuming while I am doing them, they sure make me happy to see them all sewn, stippled, bound, washed, crinkly, and ready to use. Now, on to the next project....