That's Sew Lexi

Birthday Party Fun Run for Mileigh

2011-05-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Jackson's sweet friend (girlfriend) Mileigh turned 4 this past month and her mom threw her such a fun party! A few months back her family and ours participated in a 5k fun run at our church. She loved it so much that it was a perfect idea for a fun birthday party. Each kid got their own race number and ran a fun obstacle course while they were cheered on by friends and parents. At the end of the course they each got their own medal and stood on top of a podium. She served 6ft subs, chips, and salads, otter pops and ice cream sandwiches. The kids each took home a water bottle with a special treat inside. A super fun time for parents and kids!

Jackson's Race Number

Through the box

Through the tunnel

Down the coaster

In the hoops

Tossing the water balloon

Over the hurdles

And across the finish line

They earned a medal!

Hooray!

Mesa Youth Museum

2011-05-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

We recently got an annual pass to the Mesa Youth Museum. The boys LOVE it!!! There is enough to do that they don't get bored but it's not so big that they get lost in there! :) They have a bunch of cute rooms with different themes, a garden, a kitchen, a music theatre, a bunch of art rooms and so much more. It is also located in downtown Mesa right next to some great shopping. If you go, make sure you save some time to visit Domestic Bliss, Found, and Adorn Style Lounge.

Here are some pictures of a recent trip we took with my friend Brit and her beautiful daughter Stella.

Sad and Happy Reasons to Celebrate

2011-05-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Our good friends, Sarah and Steve have many exciting things happening in their lives right now. They are expecting a baby girl, Steve just graduated with his Phd, and... well, they're moving. Which isn't happy or exciting for me, but just another reason for a party!

My friend Lindsay and I decided all of these things were a reason to celebrate with them. Here are some pictures from the "Baby Shower/Going Away/Congratulations You Graduated" party.

Yo-yo Mobile Lindsay and I made for the sweet baby girl.

My friend Katelyn over at Domestic Charm made these super cute cupcake toppers and graduation cake pops.

YoungLives

2011-05-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

YoungLives is an AMAZING ministry that Chris and I have had the privilege to be a part of for the past 5 years. YoungLives works with teen moms and during the past month I was given two different opportunities to help just a little.

First as part of our women's bible study at Mission Community Church we threw a Justice Baby Shower. During a time of fellowship, food and testimony we were able to provide East Valley YoungLives with 12- completely filled diaper bags. These bags will be presented to teen moms upon the birth of their baby.

Here are some pictures from that event.

Just this past weekend I attended the East Valley YoungLives Tea and Silent Auction. I LOVE this event. I use to help plan it... and hope to get to do that again next year! This is such a fun afternoon out with the girls. It was hosted at the Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert AZ. A beautiful clubhouse where we ate yummy "tea food", bid at a silent auction, enjoyed a fashion show, and cried through some amazing testimonies.

What a beautiful way to learn more about what God is doing in the lives of teen moms here in the east valley, and also a fun way to send girls to camp!

If you want to learn more about YoungLives go here.

The apron I made for the auction

Warrior Dash

2011-05-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, Chris and I and a group of our friends decided to see how much of a Warrior we are! And it was FUN! Muddy, dirty, long, tiring, fun! We ran 3.4 miles, swam through mud, jumped over cars, climbed over walls, hay, hills and up cargo nets, and jumped over fire. Seriously we jumped over fire! There are Dashes all over, visit here to see when the next one is! I can't wait to do this every year!

Easter Sunday

2011-04-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! I hope everyone enjoyed their day and spent some time praising God for the amazing sacrifice of His son!

Here are some pictures of our Easter. Church and egg hunt at Mission and then dinner at our home with family and friends.

I was so happy to see that our rose tree was covered in flowers yesterday! I cut a bunch and put them in old spaghetti sauce jars I had been saving to use as vases.

Easter Party at the Park

2011-04-23T23:51:00.001-07:00

My friend Katelyn and I put together a little Easter party for our kids and their friends. Just a casual morning at the park with an egg hunt, bunny ear crafts, and lunch. Katelyn made these super cute cupcakes too! You can check out more of her cupcakes and other fun things on her blog Domestic Charm.

Swedish Pancakes

2011-04-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

If Chris is cooking we know what we are having, Swedish Pancakes. A Lundberg specialty. Chris' Dad always made them for the family and now Chris makes them for ours. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, the boys love them! And Jackson has helped so often that he now duplicates the recipe while playing in the bath tub.

3 Eggs

1 1/4 Cup Milk

3/4 Cup Sifted All-purpose Flour

1 Tablespoon Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Beat eggs till thick, Stir in milk, Stir in dry ingredients. Spray the pan. Pour batter in until its just thicker than a crepe but not as thick as a regular pancake. Cook on both sides until slightly golden. Sprinkle with Cinnamon and Sugar. Roll up and eat like a burrito!

And yes, it seems as though my kids eat shirtless! Less mess!

Cheetahs in my Backyard

2011-04-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Jackson has been REALLY into lions, tigers, and cheetahs lately. Everyday he pretends to be an animal of some sort, usually "Aslan" the lion. Today it was a cheetah. While out in the backyard this evening Jack and Kai were "playing cheetahs", growling, crawling, you know, doing cheetah things. They came across a drip line and thought that it would work great as a watering hole. I couldn't resist taking some pictures of my wild animals stopping for a drink!

Cheetah Jack takes a rest on a rock

Cheetah Kai hiding in the bush

Jack showing off his muddy "paws"

Kai takes his drink at the "watering hole"

Jackson's turn at the "watering hole"

A Day at the Farm

2011-04-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

We recently took a trip to Superstition Farm and LOVED IT! The staff was great and super informative. We went on a hay ride tour of the dairy cows and saw a baby calf who was just born! The kids brushed goats, fed a donkey, pet a bunny and even held a rooster! The farm also served us flavored milk and ice cream. The boys loved it and we will definitely be going back.

Vintage Computer

2011-02-10T14:14:00.000-08:00

Our laptop has been broken for awhile and I finally took it in to the Apple store where they informed me that it is now "vintage". Awesome. Luckily we were able to replace it fairly quickly and I now have a working computer! Yippee! :) We've done a lot over the past few months. Here are some pictures to catch you up. I hope that I will be updating more often, but as always... we'll see!

The Lundberg Boys

Being silly with Daddy

Spending time with the Wilsons

Carter turns 3!

Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's

Jackson's first Seahawk game!

Jackson rides a camel

Kai's face after his Italian birthday party

Kai turns 1!

Christmas Crafts

2010-12-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to be a little creative with our Christmas decor this season. I'm always wanting to add new fun things but can't get myself to buy anything for 30 days of use, once a year, when only $40 feeds a child in Africa for A WHOLE YEAR! (Go HERE for more info on how you can feed some kids!) So Jackson and I have enjoyed doing a few Christmas crafts together and they look super cute up in the house!

Coffee Filter Snow Flakes

These snowflakes are now hanging from the ceiling in our entryway. Jack loved using his scissors and seeing how they looked when he unfolded them. He also loves that it is now "snowing" in our house!

Advent Calendar

Chris and I really wanted to create an advent calendar for Jackson to open this year. He completely gets that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. He even told Santa just that the other night during pictures at the mall! He is excited for Christmas time and we want to continue to remind and teach him that it's not about the presents and the tree, but that Jesus our Savior was born for us! Jack and I created this advent calendar together. He colored the bags and used "sprinkles" (glitter). I stuffed each bag with either a special treat or an activity for us to do as a family.

So far Jackson has set up the Nativity, received two pieces of chocolate- one to share, one to eat, cleaned out our toy box and donated toys to other children, and visited Santa. Other activities we have to look forward to this month are; make presents for our baby-sitters, drink hot chocolate, take special treats to the neighbors, go to the dollar store and pick our brother presents....

It has been fun to watch him open each bag and enjoy this Christmas time together.

Just a side note on Jack cleaning out his toy box to give away toys. I think it was much harder on me then him! In fact he was excited to do it. He decided to give away a lot of what I figured he would, but one toy that really surprised me was his Mickey Mouse. Just this little plastic toy. He picked it up and looks at it and says, "I love my Mickey Mouse. I want to give him away!" At first I thought he was confused and didn't understand so I explained to him that if he gives something away he can no longer play with it. To which he replied, "I know, I want to give him away." I think he understands better then I do! It was eye opening and a mixture of sadness and pride watching him. He is getting SO OLD! He gets it!

Turkey by Jackson

2010-12-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

Once again, a little late with this post. :) Thanksgiving was supposed to be quiet and small this year. Just my parents and brother along with our family at our home. But it got a little crazier when Chris separated his shoulder at the annual Mission Turkey Bowl. Jackson, Kai and I were there cheering him on when he went up for his fifth interception and came down right on his shoulder. My immediate response was, "GET UP! SHAKE IT OFF!" and then when finding out he was really hurt I thought about all my weekend plans (for Chris) not happening. No putting up the tree, no hanging Christmas lights, and no cleaning out the turkey. I know, I know, POOR CHRIS! After getting x-rays and determining nothing was broken it was time for me to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately an uncooked turkey makes me gag. Especially one that I'm supposed to clean out and remove stuff from. Luckily for me I have a great little helper when it comes to all things gross, Jackson! He was SO HELPFUL! He cleaned it, stuck his hand in it and pulled out the gross stuff, and the whole time kept asking, "Mom, where is his face?" He was also the first one sitting at the table ready to dig into "the biggest turkey he's ever seen!" Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Halloween

2010-11-17T21:54:00.000-08:00

So this post is a little late, but I thought I'd share some Halloween costumes and treats!

Here is the chocolate cake I made for Halloween night. I saw it done on the Today Show and it was pretty easy. But, I must have not let it cool all the way because the tree fell over before we got to eat it!

I melted some chocolate bars down put the melted chocolate into a zip lock baggy and just kind of gooped it in a "tree" shape. I put it in the fridge to cool.

I used Milano cookies and black frosting as "grave-stones".

I covered pretzel sticks in white chocolate and added marshmallows to the ends to make "bones".

The finished product: a creepy graveyard!

Jackson's favorite movie for the past year has been The Cat in the Hat. So for Halloween the boys had to be Thing 1 & Thing 2. They LOVED being Things, and making the costumes were super easy!

I just bought red fleece footy pj's. Used sticky-back felt, cut in a circle on the chest and pre-cut sticky-back felt letters/numbers to spell Thing 1 & 2. Red mittens. For the blue hair I simply hot glued blue feather boas onto a beanie. Super fun costumes. I love my little Things.

What Jack Says...

2010-10-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Jackson does a lot of talking, I mean A LOT!!! And, although lately I feel like he has only said, "No" he has also said some pretty funny things. He has definitely been keeping Chris and I on our toes. Always surprising us and never settling for the answer, "I don't know". Here are a few, "What Jack Says". (J: Jackson, L: me, C: Chris)

(notice the marker line on both sides of his mouth)

L: Jack, why did you write on your face? You can't write on your face!

J: Yes I can! I'm drawing a smiley face! (see picture above)

His version of the song "Thou Art Worthy"...

J: Now I worry, Now I worry, Now I worry Oh God!

"Mom, I like to sing. Is that my talent?"

He just let go of his balloon outside

L: Jack, you let go!

J: It's okay, it'll float up to heaven and God will get it for me. He will tie it to his wrist and fly it back down here.

While watching the sun go down

J: Where is heaven?

L: I don't know...

J: It's not far far away. It's too the west.

L: Why is it in the west?

J: Because God and Jesus pull the sun down to the west. And heaven is there. It is light in heaven.

While saying bedtime prayers

J: Thank you for Miley, she's my girlfriend. And Hudson, he's my boyfriend.

While eating salad

J: I don't like the sticks, (the stems) just the leafs.

While watching me put on my make-up

J: These brushes are like paint brushes.

L: Ya, Kinda

J: So you are painting your face?

L: Kinda

J: So, It's okay to paint on our face?

Jackson falls at the park

J: God wasn't watching over me, He let me fall!

While shooing away a fly

J: I can't get this freaking fly!

J: I don't see God. Is the door to heaven closed?

L: Well... I think its a gate.

While driving

J: What's your favorite song Daddy?

C: I don't know

L: What's yours Jack?

J: I'm singing right now!

L: Can you sing louder?

J: This is loud enough

L: Oh

J: If I sing louder I will hurt your ears!

6am on Chris' birthday

J: Happy Birthday Daddy, where's the party? I want cake!

At the Disneyland Gate

J to the gate lady: Are you my mother?

J's Grandma: I didn't steal him. He's my grandson! Why would you say that!?

The Boon Spoon

2010-10-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

I LOVE the Boon Spoon! I received one as a gift at Kai's baby shower. Since, I have been including it in each of my baby shower gifts. All you do is load it with baby's food, squirt and feed. This is a great way to travel with food and not have to pack glass jars. This spoon is awesome and fun to use! You can find them at Target along with other Boon products.

Playing School

2010-10-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

Jackson and I have been holding our own little "pre-school" together lately. I really wanted him to start pre-school this fall but it just didn't happen. Next year for sure... but for right now I'm playing teacher and he is eating it up! He is such a fun, smart and challenging little boy and he LOVES learning new things. Here is some of the stuff we've worked on lately.

Learning to use scissors...

And writing letters A & J...

So proud of him!!! We've also been learning our directions (N,S,E,W) and telling time.

Mother Nature's Farm

2010-10-05T20:53:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my parents invited Chris, the kids and I to join them for an afternoon atMother Nature's Farm. We had a great time. Mother Nature's is a little farm in Gilbert just off of Gilbert Rd and Baseline. We enjoyed a tractor ride, bounce houses, the hay maze, looking at the farm animals and Jackson even decorated a pumpkin. Super affordable at $7 for kids and $3 for adults. You can even get a $3 coupon here. It is open from 9am-9pm now thru Oct 31. Have fun! And watch out for the turkey.... He Bites!

Who are these animals?

The turkey just "kissed" Jack's finger!

Dollar $tore Birthday

2010-09-25T21:16:00.000-07:00

Chris turned 28 this month and Jackson was super excited to get him a birthday present. I took him to the Dollar Store with $10 and said, "Pick out whatever you want to give to Daddy." He LOVED getting to walk around, look at everything and pick out some special things. After a ton of consideration he finally settled on...

Party Blowers, Candy, Scooby Doo Washcloth, Plastic Magnify Glass, Back Massager, Dog Toy, and a Green Bouncy Ball. What a fun way to let Jack have fun and be involved without spending much.

Happy Birthday Chris! We love you!!!

Our First Family Vacation

2010-09-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we took our first family vacation. A road trip to California and a three-day visit to DISNEYLAND! Jackson has been talking about Disneyland ever since two of his buddies had gone and we were so excited to take him. We loaded up the car Friday morning and headed out at 4:45 am thinking since the sun would still be down the boys would go back to sleep. Kai did, but Jackson was so excited about our "road trip" (we still hadn't told him where we were going) that he talked the whole way... yes, THE WHOLE WAY! 6 hours! We started our trip in Laguna Beach. Jack and Kai loved playing in the sand and going in the water. That night Chris' mom flew in from Seattle. The boys were SO EXCITED to see her and having her there was such a blessing. The next three days were spent in Disneyland and California Adventure doing everything imaginable. We rode every ride and tried to see every show, parade and character. Chris' sister Kelsey and her boyfriend Paul joined us Sunday. By Monday night we were exhausted and ready to head home. Here are a few pictures from the trip and some of my highlights!

Jackson's reaction when he saw Mickey Mouse

Fun with Grandma

Jumping contest with Tigger

Jack got to walk down the street holding Minnie's hand

So tired

Kai didn't know what to think of the parade

Jack was so scared of the cheetah in Tarzan's Treehouse. But we had to go see him every day.

L for Lundberg

Planting Sunflowers

2010-09-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

I really like sunflowers. And I would love to have a bunch growing against my back wall. So Jackson and I went to the Garden Department at Target (they are all closing for good on Sept 30th) and bought a few sunflower seed packets. We've never really planted anything before so we'll see how well these grow. And you really know I'm a rookie gardener because when I opened the seed packet I was surprised to see actual sunflower seeds... like the ones you eat! I don't know what I expected to find! I'm hoping it was just a "mommy-brain" moment. I will take pictures as they grow.

While Chris was Gone

2010-09-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Chris got the chance to get away and go golfing with a group of guys from church. He had a great time and has been working so hard, I am glad he got to go. But, that left me to fend for myself with the boys... for 3 whole days! Now that doesn't sound like that long especially compared to when he went to Africa, but by morning 3 I was EXHAUSTED. And this is what I woke up to... Good Morning Mommy!

Chris' First Triathlon

2010-09-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month Chris participated in his first sprint-triathlon with a group of guys (and a few ladies) from Mission. He had done some training and he wasn't sure he would finish but he did AWESOME! I am so SO proud of him. It was a lot of fun to take the boys and cheer him on. Now he has the triathlon fever and plans to keep running them. To be honest just being there made me want to try! However, I've never ran, biked (besides my beach cruiser) or swam before. That hasn't stopped me from getting in the pool a couple times this last week to try and swim. I will keep you posted on my progress!

"You've Been Picked" Party

2010-09-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Last week some friends and I threw a "You've Been Picked" party for our friends Lindsay and Ryan. They have been picked as adoptive parents to a little boy due in November! We could not be more excited for them and felt the need to celebrate. They are going to be amazing parents and this little baby is already so loved. You can read about their adoption journey here.

Here is Ryan and Lindsay being surprised!

I just wanted to share some of the party details with you!

For dinner we had a baked potato bar. I bought the potatoes at Costco and they were HUGE! But the perfect size to stuff with; BBQ chicken, chili, cheese, sour cream, chives, butter and bacon. We also had fruit salad and rolls from Texas Roadhouse. The rolls are super yummy and you can purchase them by the dozen. Dessert we had chocolate cake.

As a gift we all pitched in on gift cards for Southwest Airlines. We can't wait for them to fly over to California and bring that little baby home!

And as something extra special we put together a paper chain. One link for everyday until baby is due. On each link was written a piece of advice, bible verse, prayer, quote, or special thought for Ryan and Lindsay from each of their friends.

Lindsay is going to be such a great mom! Her friend Renee made her this wrap and she is trying it out on Kai!

Crock Pot Mac & Cheese

2010-09-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Carrie makes a very yummy, very easy mac & cheese. My family LOVES it. And so does everyone I make it for. She has it posted on her blog here. But I thought I'd share it with you too! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
8oz. dry elbow macaroni, cooked
3-4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
12oz. can Evaporated Milk
1.5 cups Milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients, except 1 cup of cheese, in slow cooker. Sprinkle reserved cup of cheese over top.
2. Cover. Cook on low 3-4 hours. Do not remove the lid or stir until the mixture has finished cooking.

**This recipe is from the cookbook "Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook"**

Surprise Trip to San Diego

2010-08-29T21:56:00.001-07:00

Last week Chris surprised me with a trip to San Diego. It was a wonderful surprise and much needed. After 6 years of marriage and only one vacation (our honeymoon), we were beyond ready for a trip for two. He had already asked my mom to watch the boys so all we had to do was drop them off and hit the road! Our wonderful friend Carrie (who is super creative and probably the most thoughtful person I know... you can read her blog here) has a great family that offered us their beautiful boat to stay on! Yes, that's right. We got to spend our vacation on a boat in the bay in Coronado! It is docked at a gorgeous resort where we had pool and spa access! We had a great time relaxing, sleeping in, eating, sight seeing, walking, going to the beach, spending time with friends, and visiting with Chris' sister.

Some highlights include: watching the dolphins at Pacific Beach, seeing the seals in La Jolla, playing shuffle-board with Kelsey and Paul, drinking wine (yep I had two glasses! I'm learning!!!) and eating sushi with the Byards, going on a 5 mile beach walk, going to the Farmers Market in Little Italy, watching Chris get soaked by huge waves, picking out Jackson's surprise (a new ugly doll, Poe), gay karaoke night in the gas lamp district, and just spending 3 days with Chris.

Thanks Babe for a great vacation!

The boat "Temporary Sanity"

When Jackson saw this picture he asked, "Is Daddy going to eat him? Does he talk?"

Big Toe's Ugly Doll Family

My sunflowers from the Farmer's Market. 5 for $3.50!

Our JOYous Stay-cation!

2010-08-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago just as Chris was finishing fixing our TV (it had been broken for about 4 months and we just got the part in!) we realized how hot it was in our house. The AC was set to 78 but it was about 84 in the house and every few minutes the temp was rising! Chris went out to the breaker box and saw that the switch was flipped. He then walked around the side of the house to look at the unit when, POOF it suddenly "explodes" spilling oil everywhere. Not good. Since the unit is only a few years old we knew most of it would be under warranty. For whatever reason the warranty company was ridiculous to work with leaving us sweating it out in our house for a few days before we gave up and moved out. We went on a"stay-cation". We spent one night with our wonderful friends, the Herrmanns before landing at the Wine's house for a full week!

You'd think with a toddler and infant living out of a suitcase at a friends place would be stressful, cramped, and irritating. NOPE! IT WAS GREAT! Good food, beautiful house, great friends, and a swimming pool! Of course we did not want to overstay our welcome and tried to be sensitive to giving Jeff, Joy and Hadley their family time, but we could not have stayed with a more gracious, welcoming, warm people. Not once did we feel un-welcomed or in the way. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

While there I got to spend time with my friend Joy and her beautiful little girl Hadley. I already had a lot of respect and admiration for Joy. I'm not sure I can describe her as wonderful as she is, but I will try... She is the kind of person that just makes you feel included, enjoyed, comfortable, special, and... better. She is warm, loving, fun, smart, approachable, and genuine. Hmm... I'm sure there are a ton of other words to describe her too, but I'll stop now because she is also super humble.

Since I was her "roomie" for a week I got to observe and learn some great things I thought I'd share with you!

Joy does the majority of her grocery shopping at Sprouts. A farmers market sort of store that sells mostly organic foods and has wonderful prices on produce. Yesterday I thought I'd try it out and was pleasantly surprised at how many fruit and vegetables I went home with. Everything was super fresh and super cheap. I will definitely be going back!

Joy is great at doing things the healthy way. She buys organic, uses reusable shopping bags, makes her own baby food, and uses Ecosense cleaning products. Ecosense products are eco-friendly, safe for your home, powered by nature and economical. You can find them here .

Joy's uncle wrote a book on studying the Proverbs. I really enjoyed talking with her about it and I am looking forward to starting it. It is called Foundations of Wisdom- The Book of Proverbs by Richard S Hockett. You can purchase it here.

Did you know you can get the pit out of an avocado by hitting it with a knife, twisting it, and pulling it out? I had no idea!

While there Joy went through my makeup and helped me figure out what was still usable and what should have been thrown out 6 years ago when I bought it! After giving me a makeover we went to the Laura Mercier counter at Nordstroms where her best friend Melissa was doing makeup. SO MUCH FUN. Melissa is amazing. And I loved it. Needless to say I bought a bunch and I am still working on my "technique". My favorite things are the tinted moisturizer and the eye primer.

By far one of my favorite things I've learned while at Joy's is Groupon! You HAVE GOT TO sign up for this. Groupon is a website that notifies you of "coupons" you can buy. For example, today I spent $25 and purchased a $50 GAP gift-card. Yep, that's right! Yesterday I spent $3 and purchased a $6 gift-card to Bergies Coffee in Old Town Gilbert. To sign up for Groupon or learn more click here.

Basically our "stay-cation" left me energized, refreshed, and ready to try new things. Thank you Joy for a fun week!

Farm Animal Game

2010-08-07T09:51:00.000-07:00

Discovery Toys makes wonderful learning toys for children of all ages. Growing up I remember my favorites, which happen to be some of Jackson's favorites now! One toy, or game actually, that keeps Jack's attention for a long time is the Busy Farm. It is a great little game that consists of 6 sets of colorful animals and about 20 activity cards. Each card has an activity that helps him learn sorting, matching, alphabet awareness and pattern concepts. For example: put the blue horse to the left of the barn, put the yellow sheep under the pasture, finish the pattern, what animal starts with the letter p. Besides playing the games the cards suggest we have made up quite a few of our own. We group them by color and then remove one from a couple of the groups and have Jack figure out who is missing. But, his most favorite thing to do with them is make his own patterns. He lines them up, either in a long line (animal train) or in rows. He is very particular making sure each one is facing the correct way. :) I love this game because it causes him to really think and understand different concepts AND because it keeps him busy for long periods of time!

Oh! And I just looked. This game and many others are on sale right now!!! If you are interested in purchasing a toy or learning more about this great company click here.

My Favorite Necklace

2010-08-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

My friend Jamie makes the most beautiful and creative accessories. Every time I see her I ask her where she got either her necklace, headband or hair accessory. And every time she always says the same thing, "oh, I made that" She is SO GOOD, and SO CUTE, and always makes everything look amazing! One of my very favorite items she makes is a necklace with my boy's names engraved on it. I saw one she had made for a friend and thought, what a great Mother's Day gift. So I bought one for my mom with her four grandchildren's names on it, one for my mother-in-law, one for my sister, my girlfriend and one for myself. I wear it all the time. I'm sure she'd be happy to make one for you too! If you are interested and want Jamie's information please let me know!

Almond Crusted Tilapia

2010-08-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

I am reposting a recipe I got off of my friend Katelyn's blog, Domestic Charm. I made this last night and it was beyond easy and SO SO GOOD. Almonds and tilapia are both really good for you so I was excited to use a recipe that had both. I paired it with bow-tie and peas. Chris and Jackson both enjoyed it so I will definitely be making it again.

Ingredients

1 cup sliced almonds, divided

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 (6-oz.) tilapia fillets

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation

1. Process 1/2 cup almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, and combine with 1/4 cup flour in a shallow bowl.

2. Sprinkle fish evenly with salt; dredge in almond mixture.

3. Melt butter with olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat; add fish, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove fillets to a serving plate.

4. Add remaining 1/2 cup almonds to skillet, and cook, stirring often, 1 minute or until golden. Remove almonds with a slotted spoon, and sprinkle over fish.

From: Southern Living

Yummy Fruit Pizza

2010-08-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, I LOVE this dessert!!! I've never been much of a dessert person until I got pregnant with Kai. I thought it was just a craving that would go away once he was born, but it didn't. And, I can't say I'm to sad about that either. I mean, yes it would be nice to once again not like anything sweet. But I am so glad I do because I was REALLY missing out before :).

I've made this fruit pizza twice, most recently for my friend Kim's birthday. She liked it, and I liked it, and all the other girls liked it... so I thought I'd share it with you.

This recipe is from the Simple & Delicious Magazine May/June 2008

1 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 cup sugar divided

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 package (8oz) cream cheese softened

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

fruit of your choice- I like strawberries, bananas, peaches, blueberries

*Let dough stand at room temp for 10 min. Press onto ungreased 14in pizza pan. Bake at 350 for 15 min or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

*In a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and juices. Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat: set aside to cool.

*In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, milk, orange peel and remaining sugar until blended. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture. Spread over crust. Arrange fruit over filling; spread reserved glaze. Refrigerate until chilled.

Our Sticker Chart

2010-08-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

Lately we have been trying hard to positively reinforce good behavior through a sticker-chart-reward-system type thing. And it has been working wonderfully. Awhile back we really needed to work on Jackson going "poopoo" in the potty. He has been potty trained for quite awhile but for whatever reason he had saved the poop for the pull-up. So, when we decided no more pull-ups during nap and night time we needed some way to motivate him to use the potty. Well, the kid loves Jamba Juice, and he loves stickers. We decided that for every poop in the potty he would earn one sticker. After earning 10 stickers we would take a trip to Jamba Juice. The first few trips to the potty for number two went well. Jackson earned a sticker and we were both happy. But, Jack is a quick learner and suddenly realized that he could easily poop a turd, earn a sticker and then immediately get back on the potty and poop another turd for another sticker! We didn't want to discourage him but going to Jamba Juice every other day wasn't quite in our budget. So, we decided to bump the sticker total to 15.... that bought us a few more days between Jamba visits. However, since he was so motivated to poop in the potty for stickers and Jamba we thought we'd see what else he do for them!

Jackson and I made a simple chart with card stock and scrapbook stickers. The board hangs at the end of our hallway right next to his room and the bathroom so we never forget to add a sticker. Once the chart gets full and the reward given we'll just make another one. We chose scrapbook stickers he could identify with and labeled them:

Sweet Boy: given when caught doing something nice for his brother or friends, answering "yes mommy/daddy when asked to do something, being polite

Dress up: given when he gets dressed all by himself

Pick up Toys: given when he picks up his toys either when asked just once or without being asked

Poop in Potty: enough said (but for awhile 2 stickers were given if he got out of bed during nap or night and pooped in his little potty in his room, he would always be so excited when he woke up to show us

Make Bed: given when pillows, blankets and stuffed animals are straightened

These are all things Jackson either needed to work on or was ready to learn to do on his own. He has LOVED earning stickers and even tries to make up his own categories. At dinner he will say, "if I eat all of this can I have an I ate everything sticker?" He picks out each sticker, which can take awhile but I know he takes pride in each of them. Also on the chart we hung his recent certificate and pictures from swim lessons.

Today he enjoyed a trip to Jamba Juice for 25 Poop in Potty stickers. Way to go Jackson!

Session Nine Photography

2010-07-27T21:47:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Session Nine Photography! They have photographed some very special moments for my family over the past year and I cannot wait till we have our next session. We have pictures taken by Session Nine framed all over the house. Jason and Jessica are friends of ours and are so talented. They have photographed many of my friends families and events as well. Right now they have a summer special going... $100 gets you a Lifestyle Session if you book and complete your shoot on or before September 30th. This is an AMAZING deal. The shoots are SO SO MUCH FUN, the pictures are great, AND they give you a CD with your images to print wherever you want! (I like to use MPIX) I know there aren't many openings left so if you are interested book them soon!

Here are some of my favorite pictures they've taken for us...

Time for Something New

2010-07-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

Well, It's been awhile. Awhile since I've posted anything. And I've come to the conclusion that I think I want to start blogging. I think. It has been something that I think about every once and awhile, when I want to share a cute picture, fun idea, craft project, recipe... ANYTHING. Or, when I want to just write, talk, vent, think, share... but I have never really gotten around to doing it. Part of the reason why is because so many of my friends have these wonderfully creative blogs that they do a pretty good job of updating regularly. I'm afraid that if I start blogging I wont be able to keep up with it, but now I'm to the point that I don't care. So, I might blog every day one week, and just one time the next. Who cares? I don't! ;) With that being said, right now, I'm going to start blogging! (Actually, our computer is broken (and has been for about 6 months) so I will be using Chris' as often as he brings it home from the office!)

What to write about first...

Jackson is in swim lessons right now. He is going to be 3 in November and for the most part has always enjoyed being in the water. But, after seeing his friend Baylor swimming like a pro he decided he wanted to "jump in and swim like Baylor". Luckily his buddy Hudson had just taken swim lessons and learned a ton so we knew exactly where to sign him up at. Mrs. Parker's house. He calls her Mrs. Mrs. Parker. We aren't quite sure why. He LOVES his swim lessons. Every day he practices floating on his back, diving for rings, scooping the ice cream with his hands and kicking his feet so hard he splashes everyone. His FAVORITE is jumping off the diving board. He talks about it all the time and requests to do it while there. My FAVORITE is watching him get thrown into the pool, turning around, and climbing out all by himself. I am so excited for him and proud of him. I just can't believe how big he is getting!

Here is a video of him getting tossed in and jumping off the diving board.

Aprons on Sale for the Holidays!

2009-11-11T07:36:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again! Time to start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas before it's over! An apron is a wonderful Thanksgiving gift for your hostess and also a great Christmas present for anyone who is EVER in the kitchen.

Holiday Prices:

Full length apron: $40

Half apron: $30

Kitchen towels: $15 (set of two)

Be sure to get your order in soon! Email Sewlexi@gmail.com

Puppies for Sale

2009-08-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Olde English Bulldogge Puppies for Sale! 9 weeks old. Super cute. First Shots. IOEBA Reg. Parents on Site. 2 male, 2 female. Did I mention they are SUPER CUTE? $1200 + Email me if you or someone you know might be interested!

Celebrating You - A Night For Pampering

2009-05-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight at Superstition Springs Community Church, the women's bible study is hosting the ladies of SSCC and the women of House of Refuge East. Starting at 6:00 will be a wonderful night of fellowship, dinner, raffles, testimony, praise and worship, and pampering. Below is an apron I've made for the raffle. Hope to see you there!

For more information about SSCC visit www.mission68.org

East Valley Young Lives Tea & Silent Auction

2009-04-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

Here are a set of dish towels and an apron I made for the East Valley Young Lives Ladies Tea and Silent Auction. Young Lives is an amazing organization that works with pregnant teens and teen moms. Women walk along side these girls showing them God's love and mentoring them. The ladies tea is a fundraising event that sends teen moms to camp during the summer, where they can be teens, have wonderful volunteers love on their babies, be served by others, and learn about Christ's love for them. If you would like to learn more about Young Lives visit www.younglife.org/YoungLives. Or email me at sewlexi@gmail.com for more information on how you can get involved in Young Lives.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas!

2009-04-08T17:44:00.001-07:00

Right now order an Apron for Mother's Day for just $40! Half Aprons are $30. Add dish towels for $17. A perfect gift for mom. Aprons are custom made and include a "pocket prayer" with a bible verse or a special note. For more information or to order email sewlexi@gmail.com

Below are just a few examples but aprons can be made in any color combination!

Dish Towels with Ruffles

Half Apron

Dish Towels with Ruffles

2009-03-24T10:48:00.001-07:00

Here are some cute dish towels I made for my friend Tina's birthday. If you'd like a set you can order them for $23 by emailing sewlexi@gmail.com. They are super cute for the kitchen and can be made to match an apron. A perfect gift for Mother's Day or a new bride!

A Cute Anytime Gift

2009-03-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

Jackson and I made these adorable cards and doggie treats as Valentine's Day gifts for our friends and their pups! The design for the card came from my friend Fallon and her awesome blog, Finger-Paints & Fireflies. It was simple and easy to create. The little fist print heart will be something I will cherish forever. Be sure to check www.Fingerpaintsandfireflies.blogspot.com often for fun and creative projects to do with your little one!

Another Fun Apron!

2009-03-03T19:35:00.001-08:00

Puppies for Sale!

2009-02-10T20:02:00.000-08:00

So, I know that I didn't create this...but, they are just so cute I couldn't help but post them and see if anyone was in the market for one! These puppies are Olde English Bulldogges. They are 6 weeks old and we currently have 1 male and 2 females available for sale. Contact me for details!

Love Life and Home

2009-02-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

So I must have some pretty creative friends... My friend Carrie who is one of the kindest, sweetest and most thoughtful people you will ever meet has a new blog! LoveLifeandHome.blogspot.com Visit it and you will find a ton of information and cute ideas. Whenever I'm with her or in her home I am always so amazed by her latest finds. She knows how to find a great bargain and has a ton of style, PLUS she is full of thoughtful touches whether it's your birthday, wedding or baby shower. She shares all of these great things in her blog. Check it out!

Domestic Charm

2009-01-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for some domestic charm? Do you need to a great idea for a personalized gift? A new recipe? Well look no further because my friend Katelyn has it, AND is sharing it with all of us! She is the queen of all things crafty, yummy, and organized. Visit her fun blog at www.domesticcharm.blogspot.com and learn all of her domestic charm!

Christmas Gifts

2008-12-16T21:55:00.000-08:00

Click on Image for Larger View

Fall Flowers

Burgundy & Black

Purple Stripes w/Teal Paisley

Orange/Green/Blue Paisley

Polka Dots & Stripes

Green & Pink Floral

Polka Dot

Teal & Gray Floral & Stripes

A Wedding Gift

2008-11-17T18:17:00.000-08:00

This Apron was made for my friend Sarah to give as a wedding gift. The pocket prayer says, "Happily Ever After". I hope she likes it!

Cornerstone MOMS Raffle Gift

2008-11-17T18:00:00.001-08:00

This is the apron being raffled off as a door prize at the next MOMS meeting December 1st at Cornerstone.

If you haven't been to MOMS meeting you're missing out! It is a great time to visit with other women, eat amazing food, and learn practical advice for everyday from Godly women. You can learn more about MOMS at http://www.cornerstonechandler.com/women/moms.php

Hope to see you there and maybe you'll win this apron!

GROWTH STICKS

2008-11-05T14:13:00.001-08:00

Decorate your nursery and watch your child grow with these beautiful Growth Sticks. Record your child's height on these custom boards that are designed with your decor in mind.

Personalize each stick with your child's or family's name, special Bible verse or quote, and unique graphics to match your decor. Each stick can also be personalized with each parent's childhood heights as well. Watch how your child grows just as you did!

These beautiful Growth Sticks are a great baby shower gift for your loved one! For more information on how you can personalize a Growth Stick please email SewLexi@gmail.com.

Carter - Jackson's Cousin

Fun Aprons- A great bridal shower gift!

2008-09-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Fun prints and patterns make an apron a great gift...especially for a new bride! Congrats Kylie!