We Are Reverent Book

From about the time Raymond could hold up his head and show interest at all in the world around him, I wanted to make him a Reverent Book for church.  We go to church in a singles ward (read: a very quiet ward) where Raymond is a significant distraction to everyone around him. Toys don't help the situation. Not only that, but I don't really just want to get in the habit of using toys to keep Raymond quiet. I want to start (I know, he won't really get it for a while but that's not the point) teaching reverence.

With that in mind, I decided to make a Reverence Book. I found tons of examples for Quiet Books (here, here, here, to start)... but I knew I could go a step further. A quiet, entertaining book that also teaches reverence.

I made a list of songs from the children's song book that I thought would work, and finally decided to use the words to  "We Are Reverent" (page 27).  I didn't (don't) know the tune, but the words were perfect. I sketched out what I wanted each page to look like ahead of time, and then just started sewing! It took all my free time (read: Raymond's nap and bed times) for a week, but it's been worth it.

So without further ado, Raymond's very own Reverent Book:

The outside over: canvas material, hand embroidered title, button closure

Pages 1 and 2. Page 1 is definitely my least favorite. I would do many things different if I were to do another (plush fish that move rather than the ribbon moving). Page 2 is Raymond's favorite. He has a definite thing for buttons (which is why all of these are sewed on very securely). The felt sun is removable with a spiral embroidered sun underneath.

Pages 3 and 4.  The CTR are velcro and thus removable. Page 4 is hand embroidered with flap shadows.This just might be my favorite page (although Jeremy was disappointed the shadows aren't black. What can I say? I didn't have any black felt on hand and though brown was just fine. What do you think?) I love how our little family turned out.

Pages 5 and 6. If you can't read the words on page 5 is says, " Still as distant, watching star." This was the easiest page to make (a bonus!). I think I'm nuts to have actually embroidered "The Book of Mormon" on the mini book attached to page 6... but it's pretty cute, don't you think? Also note: little Raymond John (as a cute sunbeam of the future) is singing and his future sister (of someday) is praying (we always joke that we'll have a girl with brown curly hair next).

The End.

Someday I really want to make a Book of Mormon Reverent Book  and a Bible Stories Reverent Book. But not actually any time too soon. This little fellow was a lot of work! But oh so worth it.

A Saturday morning list

of things I am grateful for:

1. A clean kitchen. Really, is there anything better? It never fails to make me smile when it's clean.
2. Raymond went back to bed this morning after waking up at 5:30am. Ususally if he wakes up this early, he's up. This morning I was able to coax him back to sleep. Hallelujah!
3. A full fridge and pantry. Feel free to see my two week menu here, as I will be posting it shortly. Yesterday Jeremy opened the fridge and asked, "Do you feel like Old Mother Hubbard when you look in here?" The answer: yes. I was able to go to the store last night after three weeks of just getting by, and I am Old Mother Hubbard no longer. Hooray!
4. Jeremy did our taxes yesterday. And we'll be getting a tax return again this year. Such things are always so unexpected and pleasant. I already have a (small) list compiled of things we will buy with it before putting the rest into savings (for those other big things, you know like law school applications, a car?!, summer tuition, baby #2 (just planning ahead, folks), etc.)
5. Raymond is already down for his morning nap and a shower and scripture study are next on my list. The two best ways to start the day. (And then I have a whole slew of projects to work on. Hooray for projects!)
6. Jeremy takes the LSAT in one week from today (prayers requested please). I have 100% confidence that his (super) hard work studying will pay off. Just one more week. The count down is on!
7. And because the LSAT is over in a week, we will celebrate by going out to dinner (a Christmas present from Nick and Jeanine--many thanks!). I LOVE going out to dinner. It doesn't happen too often around here, so when it does it's a big treat (which is why, I think, I love it so). I am counting down to our meal at Chilis just about as much as the LSAT being over. Just one week! So exciting!
8. I get to spend a week at home (in CA) in May. Starting with Blake and Whitney's wedding. Every time I think about it, I smile. I love being excited for trips!
9. I have been rereading some of the Anne of Green Gables books. I started at the end with Rilla of Ingleside (since I never read it when I went through the series last time), but haven't been able to stop! I'm working my way backward (and currently reading  Anne of Ingleside). We'll see how far I go.  But really, is there anything more refreshing and uplifting than Anne?

And the list goes on! Ah, the joys of a lazy Saturday morning.
I hope you have a lovely weekend!

cj

The Debster

(Halloween 2008)

 I first met Debbie (my mother-in-law) at a Women's Conference in Blanding in 2008.  I was talked into joining the choir last minute and only went to the day-of rehersal. I sat by Debbie. We chatted a little--she's on the school board and knew who I was, I knew Merry Shumway, also on the school board.  Mostly I remember being grateful she had a strong alto voice that I could follow right along with since I didn't know the music well.

Who knew a few months later I would be sitting in her basement holding hands with her son when we met again. I was super nervous to meet Debbie the second time. Jeremy and I had just started dating and he invited me over to his house.  Part of the purpose was to meet his parents. I only vaguely remembered his mom from the Women's Conference. Jeremy had only been off his mission a few months. I was an "older" girl dating their son. What would they think of me?

I needn't have worried. Debbie came down the stairs with her usual boundless energy and made me feel right at home. Both she and Mark were warm and welcoming.  Like or not, I soon became a fixture at their house. Debbie always invited me to stay for dinner or to have some of her fantastic key lime pie. Goodness, if I learned anything during our Blanding courtship and engagement time, it was that Debbie can cook.

I remember the day of San Juan graduation, I headed over to Jeremy's after the ceremony. Debbie, who had also been at graduation representing the school board, stuck her head down the basement stairs and asked if we were hungry. We were. "Ok, I'll just whip up some spaghetti" she said.

Forty five minutes later, I was wondering if she'd gotten a little sidetracked or something. You see, at my house a "quick spaghetti dinner" usually meant heating up a jar of sauce, cooking some noodles, and, maybe, toasting some garlic bread. Fifteen minutes tops. When she finally called us up, I was greeted with some out-of-this-world spaghetti. Homemade sauce with fresh mushrooms and home-canned tomatoes. A pan of cheesy flat bread. A salad. Seriously? Let's just say in my book, Debbie is a chef.

Her skills in the kitchen don't stop with spaghetti, though. She decorates cakes, bakes pies, hello: bread pudding I love you, and she makes a pretty fantastic Thanksgiving dinner. The woman works food wonders. But that's just the beginning.The kitchen, it just so happens, is also her craft station. Out of it's depths have come countless pieced quilts, princess costumes, and who knows how many more creations. Debbie is a woman of many talents.

It was in that same kitchen (already working on the quilt that reigns upon our bed) that she greeted us right after getting engaged. I was a bit sheepish, but stuck out my hand to indicate the deed was done. With sheer delight Debbie let out a shout, did a few jumps up and down, and ran to give me a hug. She was so excited! And the truth is, she's excited about most things. She gave the same shout for joy when we called to tell her we were having a baby. She gets giddy thinking about what she'll be for Halloween each year, she always goes the extra mile when planning a party or project. Her enthusiasm for life is infectious.

Not only is Debbie happy, but she's always happy to help. Three weeks before my due date Jeremy had to spend a week in Baltimore for a conference. Debbie graciously came to stay with me while he was away. Despite the fact that we had moved just two days before. Our new apartment was one big pile of boxes and I was balloon bellied and trying to stay far away from preterm labor (at least until Jeremy was back in the state). Debbie was the perfect balance of willing to help and not-stepping-on-your-toes helpful. She would do anything I asked or needed, but didn't insist on unpacking my kitchen. Let's just say, Raymond's room is still set up in the layout she put it in.

Goodness, I feel l like I could go on for pages about how blessed I have been to have such a wonderful mother-in-law. I really haven't even scratched the surface here (hello, writes plays, performs in plays, is a fount of knowledge (how many times have I heard Jeremy say, "I'll call the Debster" when we need to know something?) is incredibly musical, is thoughtful and generous, kind and wise, loving and sincere...) but this will have to suffice for now. Mostly I just want to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

You are loved.

(Debbie driving the beloved boat. Summer 2008)

Happy Birtday Banner

(Note: camera batteries are on my shopping list. Phone pictures follow. Proceed with caution.)

I've been wanting to make a fabric birthday banner for about a year now (since Jeremy's birthday last year, I think).  This year I was bound and determined to do it. I've gone back and forth and up and down on just what I wanted it to look like, however. There are scads of tutorials out there, but most of them are of the triangle variety (like this). A few are squared. Most are appliqued. And well, meh, I just wasn't in the mood to applique. Or iron on.  Not that I think I went with much of a simpler route (although, maybe, I don't know), but it is a bit more original and not as big (which was another goal). It also lends itself to adjustments (thank goodness!) such as adding a name or a different event all together or, heck, the whole alphabet to be strung up in a play room someday. Yes, I think that last one is a definite possibility.

So without further ado, here is the official Christiansen Birthday Banner of 2010. (ps pretend you see a beautiful plate of cupcakes on the table below the banner all festive-like)

(Um, yes, I do realize it says "Birtday" instead of "Birthday." It did, for the record, take me a full 6 hours of it hanging on my wall before I noticed, however)

Two little button holes in each letter make the whole thing just about as versitle as it gets. (Thus an H will be added to Birtday shortly).

Next up: a valentine's banner of the same variety with lots of reds and pinks and hearts. Happy!

There once was a boy

Named Jeremy Max.

A good small town sort of boy. With some big time dreams. A lot of guts and go-to. And the prettiest blue eyes you ever did see.

Even when he means business. Which has been known to happen from time to time.  (Particularly when discussing politics.)

But most of the time those baby blues are crinkled behind a wrinkly twinkly smile.

Oh how I love that smile.

I hope today is an all-smile kind of day.

Happy Birthday, Hun!  Love your guts.

Love,

your Janegirl

(note: Jeremy had a fantastic birthday. He ended up coming home a little early from work and got to play with Raymond more than usual (we pulled out the pots and pans! Such music fun was never before seen!) and read some of his new book (thanks Mom!). Many thanks to all the well wishers, phone callers, package senders, and blog commenters for making his birthday so great!)

How to be a self taught sewer

Disclaimer: my mom is an OUTSTANDING seamstress. She is absolutely amazing. She smocks and tats and knits and quits and can do just about anything with a sewing machine (from prom dresses to dolls). She's good. And while I didn't really sew much myself growing up, I watched her a awful lot. Sitting on the floor of her sewing room while she works on a project is, in fact, still one of my favorite spots in my parent's house. I've seen her make a lot of things. So I guess you could say that some parts of sewing are absolutely intuitive for me.  I've seen her do it so many times that I automatically know what to do myself. It helps.

With that said, two years ago (just two folks!) I was pleasantly surprised to be given a sewing machine for Christmas. Surprised, I say, because I hadn't sat down at one in roughly 10 years. My sewing experiences up to that point included one quilt, made in high school. All straight lines. All sewing heavily supervised. It was, you could say, a leap of hope on my mom's part that I would put my new machine to any kind of use. She was even willing to be ok with the idea that I might not take it out of the box. Like I said, my mom rocks.

I went home (to Blanding, at the time) and decided to set it up on my desk in my room.

It was pushed out of the way, but it was there. Staring me in the face every morning when I got up and every night when I went to bed.  It was incredibly accessible. Best move I ever made.

Step one: Get your machine out of the box and put it somewhere you can access it.

I started slow. I decided to waste a needle by practicing on paper. I practiced straight lines for a few weeks. A little here, a little there. Then I started cooking up ideas in my head of things I could make. Little bags and such. I went to the store and bought some fabrics. A little here, a little there.

I am a believer in trial and error. I made four or five bags and only used one. The rest just weren't that cute. Or the handle was too long. Or the dimensions were wrong. No matter. I'd make another.

Step two: Turn the machine on. Practice, I say.

I was (am?) incredibly slow back then. A bag would take a few hours (shocking but true!). But no matter. It was part of the process. To learn to sew you've got to sew. Turn on the machine, you know? Get out your handy-dandy unpicking tool and dive in.

I used to be totally scared of sewing curves. Not that I'm any huge expert now, but sew a few bibs and frogs and birds and you definitely get more confident. And faster.

Step three: Trust yourself.

Now there are good things to be said about following a pattern. But I'm usually brave enough to just figure things out. Hello online tutorials (here's a good site to start with). They're everywhere. I'm a big fan of just jumping in. Make it up. Follow someone else's picture directions. Follow your own. Don't be afraid of messing up (like I said, become friends with the unpicker). And most importantly, don't be afraid of taking the machine out of the box. Turn it on. Think of the possibilities. I sew so much because it's easy to get to my machine (it's still on the desk where I do my scripture study and pay the bills... just pushed to the corner when not in use).

Step four: Stretch yourself. Try new (and hard!) things.

There are still plenty of things I'm not good at, or that I'm nervous to try (hello zippers... you make me uncomfortable! And for some reason elastic scares me. Guess that means I need to get my hands on some and give it a whirl).

I get comments all the time from people saying they "can't sew."  It's a falacy folks. I bet you can, you just don't know how yet.  I totally support taking a class, sitting down with a friend who knows, or reading a book on it. But I MOST support starting. Wherever that needs to be for you. You won't be good right away. Your first project will probably be a bit wobbly. That's ok! Don't expect it to look like it came straight out of the Pottery Barn Catalog. The more you sew, however, the better you'll be.

Ready??  Big G, little o, let's Go sew!

A few new fun places

I've been trying to cut back on my blogging life (as in reading blogs, not writing new posts). I even went through my google reader and deleted a few that were crowding the space there.

But low and behold, I always find new sites to make up the gap! (Isn't life always that way? Eliminate one thing only to add another?).  Anyhow, I wanted to share the love (Valentine's month is just around the corner) of a few of my newest favorite sites...

1. The Mormon Women Project. In their words, it is "a continuously expanding digital library of interviews with Latter-day Saint women from around the world." I seriously could read these interviews all day long. There is such beauty in righteous womanhood.
2. Janssen's new blog, co-authored with her mom and sisters: Frugal Wife = Wealthy Life. Isn't it the truth that it's us women folk who manage the budgets in our homes. I believe in frugality (even when I want to throw my budget out the window) and have been a long time in figuring out a way to live within a budget (long before marriage I've been working on this one... much work still to go).  I always appreciate practical and real life advice and experiences when it comes to money.
3. And in case you haven't discovered it, I'm a fan of the Mormon Channel.  My favorite are the interviews Sherry Dew does with General Authorities and their spouses. It's a favorite around here on Monday nights.  I think General Authorities are so interesting outside of the Conference Center, you know? If you're looking for a little uplifting background noise while on the computer, check it out.
   

 And for good measure: this is what we look like when we're all making "Raymond Faces." I'm obviously not very good at it. Some jowls would help.

That's all for now folks. Happy Wednesday!

Five things that are making me happy

1. Another finished project. I made a sweet little Reverent Book for Raymond last week. It took every ounce of time I had... but I got it done before Sunday. I based it off of the Children's song We Are Reverent. It turned out just as I hoped. Pictures, perhaps, another day.
   
2. Today is a holiday. Oh how I love a good holiday (even if it doesn't change much around here.) I love the I Have a Dream Speech. I love Martin Luther King's beautiful (and even poetic) Letter from Birmingham Jail. I love good people who fight valiantly for what it right.
3. I love the lines from Wordsworth's Ode "But trailing clouds of glory do we come / From God, who is our home". When I look at my sweet, smiling baby boy, I can't help but see traces of heaven in his countenance. And I know that Marriage and Families are part of the most precious of all fruit that is the Gospel Plan. Oh how I joy in motherhood.
4. There is a 90% chance that it will snow before tomorrow morning. Snow makes everything beautiful even in the dead of winter.
5. I found a picture of my Grandpa Torgerson and I--taken the Sunday before I left on my mission. He is leaning in close to me and winking at the camera in his usual teasing fashion. I has been sitting on my end table (among a stack of mission pictures I want to organize and the program from my Grandpa Snowball's funeral) making me smile every time I see it. I have been blessed with a wonderful family.

And for good measure: a previously unpublished family picture taken over Thanksgiving. We are a happy family! 

A homemade Christmas

You may be wondering why I've never posted (up till now) about any of my Christmas-Gift-Making-Extravaganza. Confession: I didn't take a single picture of a single gift. Not one. I had good intentions to. But, you see, my camera was out of batteries. And my phone pictures are so lame. It just couldn't do justice. And then suddenly it was the eve of our trip and needed to wrap them all. Sorry folks.

Good thing my sister is a photographer, huh?

She posted today about my very favorite Christmas project. The Alphabet Bean Bags.

I made two sets of these for my two nephews. Brayden, who's three, got the 26 letters all in capitals. Tanner, who's five, got the "scrabble set" consisting of some 70 lower case pieces--with multiples of all but two letters so he can write words and sentences. I loved them. Seriously, I wish I had a set myself! (Don't worry, I will make me one sometime soon.) And I love thinking about Tanner and Brayden having fun with letters and words as they play with their ABC bean bags made just for them. (ps: for more info on how I made them and what to do with them (so many things!), see Tasha's post)

But because I know a few of you are curious (and goodness knows we all need homemade gift ideas sometimes!) here are some other fun gifts I made:

• 5 Lunch bags (based off this pattern, but lined instead of embroidered. I loved the way they turned out)
• 5 sets of Coasters (all different fabrics and designs--very fun)
• 3 Scarves (based off this pattern, but with buttons like Soul Mama did on her's)
• 3 neck pillows (pattern from a 4-H sewing camp Jeremy did this summer--easy, but the ideal neck pillow. I seriously want one for out next road trip)
• 3 Super Hero capes for Hunter, Max, and Lucie (with appropriate insignia for their initials)--These turned out SO fun. (based off this pattern)
• 1 cute little "small outings" bag for Paige
• 1 pin cushion
• 1 fabric beaded necklace and bracelet (similar to this)
• 1 M is for Monkey wall hanging (for Miss Maggie Moo) (similar to these)
• 1 set of stuffed plush balls for little Chasers (like these)
• around 30 little birdie ornaments. Maybe the cutest of all! (These, but at 80% the size... note: a few people have asked me for this pattern. I can't find where I got it online, but I have it saved as a pdf on my computer. If you want it, leave a comment and I'll email it to you!)

Is that all? I think I missing something somewhere... but oh well! I am so very much in love with homemade Christmas's. I just need to start earlier, you know? Like now (or maybe February) for next year. True that.

Hooray for sewing and gifting and Christmas!

The MTC

I was just singing a little "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" to the man child while changing his fuzzibunz and had an intense reminder of the joy of singing in the MTC. For the most part (when I taught there) I always had districts of missionaries that sounded so good singing. Mmmm. I loved being in a room full of male voices and being the solo soprano. My kind of harmony. Oh that music was joyful.

I also had wonderful singing experiences with my Welfare Sisters. My last group I remember in particular. It was a bitter/sweet week. The very last group of welfare sisters ever (Salt lake did away with us--a justified but tragic decision). There were only two sisters that week (a typical number) and one of them was a gal who had been in my BYU singles ward for the past year and a half. Sister Tippetts. She was fun and energtic and had an amazing singing voice. Goodness. Oh how I loved to sing the opening and closing song with that companionship. My kind of beautiful.

I'm so glad for happy, tender, sweet memories. They make me smile. They make me glad to be alive. Glad to have lived wonderful experiences. Glad that everyday has the potential for more. Who knows, in five years I may suddenly have the intense memory of singing to Raymond John at the top of my lungs while he grins ear to ear up at me from his changing table.

I hope so anyway.

food food food

Anyone else out there struggle with coming up with a weekly menu? I know it makes grocery shopping so much easier (and cheaper!)... but it just doesn't always happen.  Suddenly I'm cooking the same meager meals week after week just because they're easy (or all I can think of).

In an effort to revamp my menu making this week I compiled a Master Menu list of all the meals I make (the ones I actually liked) and am keeping it in my pantry where I can update it with new menu ideas. That way when I'm making my menu and grocery list for the week, I can constantly mix things up a bit.

It looks like my sister-in-law, Jeanine, is on the same page. In an effort to revamp her menu making, she made a new blog where she (and any of us sister-in-laws) can post her two week menu. She's also attached links and recipes for us to try along with her if we want. I'm determined to follow along. In fact, I posted my current menu (and a few recipes) last night.

It's not a fancy shmancy cooking blog with pictures etc. It's just us, making new stuff and writing down what we're going to be trying. Sisters, swapping recipies and stuff.  But you're welcome to follow along.

Who knows, maybe it'll help you with your weekly menus too!

Happy cooking!

The Little Miss' Circus Partner in Crime

That was fast! This little fella came together almost entirely during Raymond's nap (granted, it was a long nap).  I love him oh so much more than the giraffe.

I'm going to make his trunk wider (sorry about that, gets a little skinny there towards the end) and make him smaller. That means less stuffing (the worst part about making a stuffed animal, if you want my opinion. Ironic isn't it?) Plus, wouldn't he be so dang adorable just a mear three or four inches tall? Yes sir.

And one of these days I'll figure out my monkey... and the circus will be complete!

The Little Miss

So I'm on a stuffed animal kick. The wheels in my head have been turning. Remember the giraffes? I tried to duplicate one (side note: is that plagerizing? What do you think? She sells patterns for them... butI just tried to do it without buying one. Is that wrong?)

Anyhow, I knew it would be a trial and error (you can't get patterns for things like this right the first time. A candy cane for Raymond's stocking took three times until I liked the result).  But I think it's a good start.

 Of course I forgot the tail. And the legs are too long. And it has the head of a camel more than a giraffe... but like I said: trial and error.

My favorite part is the ears and hair:

And the buttons (even though Jeremy hates that I put buttons on toys. I can't help it.)

And to give you an idea of how tall she ended up (even I was surprised!)

And because Raymond looked really cute yesterday in his baseball cap (a newborn size that finally fits him... what can I say? He has a small head)

Ps. I know. Phone pictures again. I'll work on it.

Our Chubby Cheekers

Well, Mr. "Ray-Ray" (as Gavin affectionately called him while in Logan) will officially be 7 months on Tuesday.

He has two front teeth (somewhat akin to serrated knives) that he likes to gnaw on things with... watch out for your fingers.

He is quite the little explorer.  Tonight, for example, he took his first bath sitting up and spent the time exploring the water and the faucet and the sides of the tub. Such adventures!

Not only does he love to explore, but he seems to have an exuberant amount of energy for it. His is always bouncing, kicking, flailing his arms, and twisting and turning. The adjectives spastic and out of control may have been used a time or two to describe his behavior.

He's this close to crawling.  Just can't quite figure out how to use those knees--he only scoots himself backward instead.  Only a matter of time before he's reeking havoc! Bring it.

He loves to bang his blocks (when he's not chewing on them) and play with his musical trumpet (and anything else that makes noise). Oh the fun of lights and whistles!

He loves to eat. This week we tried carrots (with basil...mmm).  He laps up his oatmeal each morning and looks with devastation at the empty bowl when it's gone, no matter how much it was. (But who can blame him since he still spits huge amounts of it up! The kid's always hungry).

He can turn the pages when we read board books. In fact, I think he likes turning pages more than the story or the pictures. It's seriously cute.

He loves anything to do with music. He'll sit and stare as Jeremy plays the guitar; he'll almost always calm down when I sing a lullaby; and he always give a grin and laugh when we sing silly songs together.

His first word is Dadadadada. He loves to say it back and forth with us. I'm not sure if he understands who it is... but sometimes it really seems like he does. He says is most when around Jeremy.

All in all, he is such a sweet and happy little guy. We are so lucky to have him!

Guess who's getting married?

Blake and Whitney!

Pretty much we are extatic in to the Torgerson family.  After dating for a little over two years, Blake popped the question on Christmas Eve (at the favorite Naples in Seal Beach).  So happy! I don't honestly think Whitney could be marrying into a family who will love her more. We are so very excited for her to be a Torgerson officially. The big day (May 1st) is already marked and starred on my 2010 calendar. It's going to be a good year!