In Memory

My Uncle, Hans Dammaschke passed away this morning, Sunday, November 8, 2009.

He was a good man with a big heart and laugh to match.  He was interested in other's lives and stories and always enjoyed putting a good spin on a story if he could.

When I was a little girl I was alternatively fascinated and frightened by him.  He seemed larger than life and I was a timid child who watched from the sidelines while he jumped in with both feet and pulled everyone around him into the action with him.

Hans was my Boss for a couple of summers.  He ran the Amusement Ride Concession for Murray Park in the early to mid 70's.  I don't remember exactly how old I was.  Somewhere between 14 and 16.  I was old enough to know that his Corvette was Cool and I was Not.  Old enough to understand that I didn't know how to get the boys to look at me, Not cool enough to know what to say to them if they actually did look at me. 

We had Airplanes, Mini-Go-Karts, a Merry-go-Round and a Ferris Wheel (although I was never allowed to run the ferris wheel if we had paying passengers). 

I found this picture online.  It is from the University of Utah Library Archives.  This picture was taken in the 60's, so some things had changed by the time Hans got the lease for the concession.

Murray City Park Amusement Rides

Hans is my mother's youngest brother.  I know she will miss him.  It has been fun to watch her establish a good friendship with her siblings and their spouses over the years.    I wish I were closer so I could be there to lend her some support through this coming week and to share a hug. 

Finished!

Wow!

I'm not sure I would have started this project if I'd known
#1)  I was going to start working
#2)  I was going to get sick last week and not feel like sewing (let alone thinking)

However, it was fun learning how to do it and now I have all the little "ISSUES" worked out for next time (if there is a next time).

Our Gift to Brittany and Baby

(Sue, Emily, Emily & Alaina - thanks girls for letting me play with this idea

and being willing to share the cost of the fabric with me). 

In case you can't tell --- It's a lined Baby Sling!

We saw on her registry that she was interested in receiving a baby carrier.  I poked around online and found some good tutorials and thought it would be fun and interesting to learn how to make a sling.

I loved "wearing" Alaina in her infant sling when she was a baby and she loved it too so I am a big supporter of BabyWearing.  I think it's good for the baby and good for the mother.

Lessons learned:

#1)  The fabric is really cute together,

but lining the sling with this fabric makes it a little on the heavy side

and it is too much fabric for the regular size rings. 

I should have either made it with one fabric OR gotten larger rings.

#2)  The tail is too short for a pocket! 

This makes it very difficult to adjust the sling as the baby gets larger. 

Also, the pocket adds even MORE fabric which makes it even MORE difficult to adjust the sling.

YIKES! 

Brittany may have to remove the pocket.

(even if it did turn out pretty darn cute).

#3)  Now I know what I'm doing,

so IF I decide to try making another one

it will go much faster and easier

and I will definitely not trust the websites that say 72" is long enough.

Initially, I thought the sling would be a breeeeeze to make and felt silly having one sling be a gift from four of us so I picked up some flannel that will be cute with the bedding Brittany is registered for and made her a receiving blanket and matching burpies. 

I've seen a couple of receiving blankets (and quilts) done with the edges all frayed and worn  and thought they look kind of cute and updated....fun for a boy too....ya know, a little more messy.

I probably should have washed it one more time before I packaged it up....but time got in the way.

I hope the baby shower is lots of fun.

You should be able to click on the pics to see them a little bit larger.

By the way - if you are interested in making a sling - this is the site that had the best tutorials.

http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/index.html

Happy Halloween

Alaina loves HALLOWEEN!

She loves ALL Holidays (as you can tell if you ever read her blog)

She loves coming up with amazing and unique costumes

This year she decided to be someone living out of their briefcase

I wish I knew how to get better pictures of all the little details that she put into this

Click on the pictures to see them bigger

Then try to figure out all the fun items she included

Who ever comments with the most accurate list gets a prize!

(tbd)

Sami even tolerates getting dressed up for Halloween

She sits in the living room with us while we pass out candy to all the trick-or-treaters who stop by

I enjoy decorating for fall.

Alaina likes to kick it up a notch and decorate for Halloween.

This year we didn't get pumpkins

(I was sick, Rob was too busy)

Instead of Jack-o-Lantern's

Alaina put out hanging lanterns along the walkway

She added bats and cobwebs to the wreath on the front door

(excuse the sideways picture, somehow Blogger rotated it and I don't feel like messing with it tonight)

Cute pumpkins and Cobwebs add to the ambience

Yes, that IS a Haunted Castle hanging in my house with a large Snake guarding the stairs

Why do you ask?

This little guy used to hold candy for trick-or-treaters 

Alaina decided he needed to be a little more Rock & Roll

Dead Roses are the final crowning touch to the

Decor of the Day

We got many compliments on our house

and passed them all on to Alaina

when she got home from trick-or-treating with her friends

I wonder what our house will look like next year when a certain someone isn't here to decorate for us?

A New Hobby for ME

I've wanted to try digital scrapbooking for a long time.  I had myself convinced that I needed to purchase Just The Right Software - and had no idea what that was. 

I'd read reviews online, I'd ask the young moms in the ward what they were using. 

I never felt like I had the extra $$$ needed to buy the "recommended" software so I never moved forward.

This morning I was browsing around DigitalScrapbookPlace and discovered (in the tutorials) that I can use Microsoft Digital ImagePro (which, unfortunately, has been discontinued) for digital scrapbooking! 

Hallelujah! 

I don't have to spend $50 (or more) on software because I've been using ImagePro for years and years.  It's my go to Photo Editor and I know how to use it
and
I love it.

I got a free download (love, love, love Gifts!) for registering with Digital Scrapbook Place which included background paper and fun elements.

I am pleased to present my very first digital layout. 

in case you can't read the text it says ...

After a cool and rainy summer, it was nice to have some warm days as Alaina kicked off her senior year.  She has always loved being able to take advantage of opportunities to read outside.

Photo Fun

Our Artist

as art

Our TechGuy

in technology

Try your own at PhotoFunia

Happy Birthday

Eighteen years ago today, we welcomed Alaina Luise into our family, our home and our hearts. We have been charmed with her since day one and will continue to be throughout eternity. How glad I am that we have eternity with our family.

Alaina, there are so many things that I love about you.  I love your personality, your wit, your imagination and creativity, your intelligence, your sensitivity, your loyalty, the unflappable way you control your destiny, your love of language, your style, your confidence, your positive attitude, your spirit, your faith.

Alaina has always had an affinity for animals.  Even as an infant she preferred stuffed animals to dolls.

Alaina embraces her innate creativity and finds multiple ways to express it.

When she was young she surprised us with her ability to use and understand words that were way beyond the normal vocabulary for children her age.  She made up stories and poems and freely shared them.  She also made up unanswerable questions and INSISTED on answers.

She always preferred making up songs and arrangements to practicing the piano. 

She laughs with unabashed delight when something tickles her fancy.

Alaina relishes traditions and holidays and plans for them with GUSTO. 

Alaina OWNS her Uniqueness and Style and is more comfortable in her skin than almost anyone I know.

Family is, and always has been an integral part of Alaina's life.  She treats close friends like family too. 

Alaina, You Rule!

I Love You

Validation

Do you have an extra 15 minutes in your day to spare?

What if I promised that you'd have a big smile on your face at the end of the 15 minutes?

Try it.

You'll like it. 

Then,
pass it on.