Adventures of the Desert

Ok this day was just awesome. We don't get a lot of rain in the desert but on Sunday it was just beautiful. We played in it and then afterward we went for a hike. And just as we were getting to the top of the first hill we saw that my sister (who was babysitting my nieces) and my 3 nieces were also going for a walk. So together (all 8 of us) we hiked for quite a long time. I took 137 photos and videos and these are the few that I finally decided to post.

Before leaving home we needed a photo of Joseph's excitement over the rainbow.Of course my hubby and our dog Cool must come along to protect us.Rebekah and Robyn finding rocks along the way.
Awww! My kids love each other under the rainbow.From left to right: Joseph, Robyn, Marlaina, Angelena, and Katelynn. All venturing up the hill.
Wild cactus in the desert.
This large tanker was tipped at the top of a pretty high hill and very far from public. Hmmm was someone dumping in the desert? Wouldn't surprise me. Anyway, it was a fun target to reach, now let's go home.


Pretty much, "Take a picture." Was said at just about every "cool" rock we found.
This is an interesting picture because the lack of plants and rocks gives you a slight clue. Yes, they were blasting our hills for rocks for roads and this sand hill is a result. Although, the kids loved it and Rebekah kept asking if we were going to visit the "beach" before going home.

Rebekah's Princess Quilt

Finally I finished a block on Rebekah's Princess quilt. I can't seem to finish these. Always one more thing to add. LOL This one is inspired by Rebekah's favorite color and has quite a bit of blue in it. All the gold sequins have a blue bead inside them and all the feather stitch has blue beads on the tips. Also there is tiny blue beads here and there in the print of the fabric.

Blogs that Make me smile!!!

This is such a funny picture of me. I like it because you can't really see my wrinkles all that well and I had managed to tame the hair beast slightly, but I look a little spaced and I am in my dad's laundry room. LOL I was there because at my sister Angelena's graduation party Rebekah got her clothes wet from a water balloon and I was drying them in the dryer for her. (She has issues with wearing clothes that even have one drop of water on them LOL.)
Anyway, back to blogs that get the premio-2008 award. I got nominated by one of my all time favorite blogs called Stitch along with me by Judy. Thank you so much Judy! Judy does lovely knitting for her family and she has a beautiful family. Her yard is beautiful and unique and her grandkids, Sophia, KJ, and David are soooo cute.
Another blog that I absolutely have to nominate is my dear friend Melissa's, Honey Bees Bliss she has such an awesome blog and she does such beautiful embroidery and tatting. I absolutely cannot miss a single post.
Allie's in Stitches is another all time favorite. And if you haven't been following her spring quilt you must go back and see all the lovely details that keep me on the edge of my seat.
Another favorite is Football and Fried Rice. Sara is patiently waiting for God to bring her a Chinese daughter and has been 14 months in LID. I am not totally sure what the actual initials means but I know she makes an adorable ladybug cake each month closer to getting her little girl.
Also Needle 'n Thread where Mary does such beautiful embroidery and has been posting beautiful monogram letters just about everyday.
I am super intrigued by a blog I call "The Question Marks" because it is posted by someone in Hong Kong. I don't know how I found this blog but it is so interesting and each new picture posted (which is simply accompanied by a number) I try to think of what the photographer was thinking. I try to label them myself, i.e. "loneliness (064)," "The Body Moves (067)," "The imagination (071)."
A very talented quilter, embroiderer, and who has an enchantingly gorgeous yard is Cheryl's Chatelaine. If you have never checked out her blog you absolutely must scroll through her charming works.
Last but not least I am going to post a link to "Everyday Beauty." I really look forward to Andrea's daily hunt for beauty in everyday life. Even though her some of pictures aren't much embroidery or even stuff that I am obsessed with I love looking at her gorgeous view of life in these awesome pictures. Trust me when I say it is well worth the visit.
I have so enjoyed sharing some of my favorite blogs with all of you in blogland. I have many more that I love and visit regularly. I have actually cut back to only 110 that I am subscribed to in my google reader and that I visit a lot. But these give a good variety of some of my favorites in different areas. I hope you all enjoy them.

New Sister Quilt

My sister's and I are doing a sister themed quilt and passing it around. Mine is going to be fairies. Each of us is going to make our own quilt and then pass the blocks around so that each person can work on decorating them. I can't wait to see the other quilts. Because I am done with the Peacock RR, almost done with the Basket RR, and then will only have the Princess RR left; I think I won't be too swamped.

Forever in my Heart

Since there is so many of us it is getting harder and harder to get together, especially with the two brothers that I have that are married. I don't know if there will be a time where all eight of us will be in the same place again. However, it was really nice to have all my sisters together for the month that Deborah was here. (And of course our beloved David too.) Esther's husband was warned before he started dating her that she might belong to a cult that call themselves the sisters. LOL Well when you have this many.... LOL I love my sisters so much. This was the last time we were all together before Deborah had to fly back east. This picture brings a smile and tears. We are all so close and yet so far away.

A Day with Joshua's Family

This is my brother Joshua and his lovely wife Amy and their two boys Paul and Peter!!! We don't get to visit much because they live a about over an hour away and now they are moving to another state and so we absolutely had to go visit them before they left. Aren't they a beautiful family!!!Peter is only a few months old but already he is showing tons of personality and those big eyes win everyone's hearts.
And of course, Paul is soooooo adorable and was the life of the party as he ran around being a big boy in daddy's shop.
This is just part of my brothers beautiful violin shop. He is taking most of it with him and if you are ever interested in violins, bows, books, etc. you can visit his website at jbblevins.com
By the way, he plays so beautifully!!!
And here are the kids at the park. We had so much fun and had such a wonderful day visiting. We will sure miss them badly.

Esther's Wedding

Esther and Chris at the rehearsal dinner.
Esther in all her beauty!!! So sweet even though the rain forced her wedding indoors. She is wearing my mother's veil and these beautiful flowers are her favorites and were just everywhere.
Angelena was the maid of honor and Deborah the next bridesmaid. The little girls are our neices Robyn and Marlena and they were the fairy flower girls.
Angelena with the other two bridesmaids, Gavrielle and Valerie and also Robyn again.
Sweet brother David is getting so big standing next to his sister Deborah.
And of course, my babygirl fairy, Rebekah. She wasn't in the wedding but Esther said I could dress her as a fairy anyway. Joseph is the only one that I don't have a picture of since I got all these pictures from Deborah. So as soon as I get some of him from Esther I will post it. I know that you all have been waiting so patiently for these pictures because I didn't have my camera with me at the wedding. :( But now here they are. Congratulations Esther and Chris! It was a perfect fairy wedding!