Happy 10th Birthday Haley!

I can't believe that my little Haley is now 10 and going to be in the 5th grade this year!

This morning she woke up with the birthday quilt. I have never seen someone that thrashes so much when she sleeps. Her blankets and pillow are often thrown off the bed.


Haley's new 10 year old look!

Here are 10 things I love about Haley:

1. She is a great big sister. Ruby and Lucy totally look up to her.

2. She has a great smile (when you get to see it).

3. She LOVES to read and has literally read the majority of books in our local library's children's room.

We make trips to the library so often that Ruby and Lucy started complaining and did not want to go in. So sometimes I park outside while she runs in and picks out a stash to suffice for a few days.

4. She is a great softball player. She listens to her coaches and works really hard. She has also recently decided that she wanted to be called Lizzy (her middle name is Elizabeth). I'm totally ok with that, but I never remember to call her Lizzy.

5. She loves to be comfortable. I snapped this photo because It's so classic Haley. Hair unbrushed, wearing sweats, reading and eating ice cream, I'm not sure if life could get any better for her.

6. Haley is a fish. She is a great swimmer. She LOVES the beach and will stay in the water boogie boarding all day if we would let her.

7. I love when she gets excited over something new. When she has on her China clothes she struts all over the house.

8. She is crafty. She has learned to crochet and loves to make blankets for her stuffed animals.

9. She loves animals. Alive and stuffed. Haley loves to read stories about animals and makes lists of good names for pets in the future. Her latest animal obsession is Webkins.



10. Haley pretends to be a very serious little girl, but when she lets go she is hilarious and cracks me up!

Happy Birthday Lizzy!

We love you!

Haley's Birthday Party

Haley's party was tonight even though her Birthday is tomorrow. She was very specific about every detail.

The invitations were blue...
We all went swimming and had pizza delivered to the pool. We had water bottles with the water died blue.

The cake was blue.

The cupcakes were BLUE and white. Notice the frosting... I didn't even realize I was quilting until about the 3rd cupcake!


We set up a large screen (sheet) and projector in the garage and watched Cheaper by the dozen 2. During the movie we passed out light up bracelets and ate red licorice, cheese balls and popcorn.


The party favors were all blue.


Can you guess what Haley's favorite color is?

The Birthday Quilt

I have had so many people ask for the pattern to this birthday quilt so here is the info. It is from Eleanor Burns book Ice Cream Cone Quilt from her quilt in a day series ISBN#1891776037.

You can buy this book from Half. com Here , or you can get it Here from Barns & Noble or Here from Amazon.

This quilt is a birthday tradition at our house. You wake up with it on your bed on your Birthday and you get your photo taken in front of it each year so that you can see how much you have grown. It stays up for a while so everyone that walks in the front door asks who's birthday it is. My girls really look forward to it. The night before their birthday they say "Don't forget to put the quilt on my bed tonight".

Ruby's 4th birthday

Ruby's 5th birthday

Ruby's 6th birthday

I feel the love!

A while back I read The 5 love languages by Gary Chapman. He proposes that the five languages of love are:

Quality time
Words of affirmation
Gifts
Acts of service
Physical touch.

When I first read through what the 5 languages are, I could not believe that one was gifts. Gifts, that sounds so shallow and greedy. However after reading the book I realized that my love language is gifts. I know, embarrassing.

I show love to others with gifts. Usually gifts that are handmade or that I have put a lot of thought into, but to me gifts are not always "things". I also feel loved when someone gives me a gift. It is not the physical gift that is important, I just appreciate the time and thought that went into it and that they were thinking about me!

Having aired this dark secret I need to also confess that I can't remember a time in my life that I have received so many gifts in such a short amount of time. While Eric was away and then with my Birthday, I really have been overwhelmed by the amount of "love" that I have received.

My visiting teacher brought me home-made huge chocolate cream puffs. Oh ya.

Ms. Jenny sent me a package with a huge box of red hots (already consumed) a dark chocolate candy bar, note cards and a quilters calculator. Now I have no excuse for buying too much fabric or running short.

Natasha ( a blogger that I have never met) sent me handmade note cards with my initial. So cute.


My Sister gave me these extreme Mary Janes. My new favorite shoes.


Jill sent me these great note cards with my name. I love them!

My quilting Sistas took me out to Claim Jumper for dinner and gave me a subscription to the best quilting magazine.


Since these quilting friends are all moving away from the area, I made (just showing my love) them each a 9 patch of black & white photos, hand-tinted and stitched together.


Suzanne gave me some beautiful fat quarters for my "Baby"... Baby Jane quilt that is.



My Mom sent me two super cute Maggie purses by Vera Bradly. They are the perfect size and have pockets in all the right places. Fyi-I always tease my Mom about changing her purse every day to match her outfit...I guess she is trying to convert me.

Eric's Mom & Dad (Hawley and John) gave me this incredibly inspiring book. Although I can't compare my life to these pioneer women (as I sit in an air conditioned house blogging on a computer), I can relate to their need to create and make beautiful things and work together while so many of their husbands were gone for long periods of time.


Ms. Casey gave me these groovy scissors. I seriously needed a new pair of small sharp scissors. I love the colors.

Kristi sent me a subscription to her favorite magazine along with post it notes inside marking all her favorite ideas. Good mail for the next two years!

Jinky (a super sweet Lady in my Ward) gave me a coupon for a dinner for us any night we want it. She is Philippino and an amazing cook- I can't wait!


Ms. Nicole sent these beautiful flowers to my house!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I feel so loved!