A little green before Christmas

We could hardly believe that we were still harvesting these beautiful salad greens until the end of December!

I love the Christmas tree lights in the background! Gardening in NC definitely has its advantages. I did a huge lettuce garden for my fall garden this year and it was a HUGE success. It is now frozen, so no more lettuce, at least for a few months. I'm going to do square foot gardening this spring and I'm working on planning--which is half the fun:)

Happy Anniversary!

January 1 was our 5th wedding anniversary! I can't believe it has been 5 years. So much has happened in the last 5 years...I graduated from dental school and started Perio, Loren got how many degrees?? I think only 3 within the last 5 years (MS, MBA and PhD) but I could be wrong...who can keep track?!? We moved to NC, had a baby...wow, I wonder if the past 5 years will have held the most change of any 5 year period for our lives. It has been a whirlwind for sure.

Here are photos from January 1 since 2003!!

1.1.03

 

1.1.04

1.1.05

1.1.06

1.1.07

1.1.08

*missing*

1.1.09

 

My mom had saved the top of our wedding cake (for 5 years!) in her freezer (you can't beat free long term storage at mom and dad's :)) We got it out, but it smelled kind of gross, so we took some photos and opted out of the sampling.

It is also the 2nd anniversary of my blog! I've got tons of Christmas photos to put up just as soon as I have the time...this is going to be a pretty intense next few months for me. I'm studying for my one of my big "final" exams of my residency- an oral exam where they put up case photos and grill you on how to diagnose, treat, etc. and you have to back it all up with memorized literature. Yuck. I'm nervous and stressed:( I'd appreciate prayers!

Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving with Uncle Tim et. al. It is always a fun time and this year was no exception! I made the pies:)

Daddy doing Kate's hair (yes, he does hair!!)

all around the table

And more projects...

 I've been busy! Not that I'm ever NOT busy, but recently I've had the sewing bug or a transient "obsession" as Loren so lovingly refers to it. Our dining room table has been filled with my Bernina, my (relatively) new serger and lots of fabric. Most are for gifts, so hopefully those of you on the receiving end have either already received the gift or don't read this so the fun isn't spoiled!! So that means you, Lindsay Cashen, Jillian Wehmeyer, Baylie Brooks, Josephine Valgus and Alison Biggs don't read until you get my package!!

For real, please don't:)

Here is a skirt for a niece with a pattern I just made up:

this pretty rolled edge is courtesy of the serger!

And these are some more dresses made from old men's shirts, but using a different tutorial, found here.

And a newborn gown from this tutorial...

T-shirt before:

...and after

Last for today, pillows I made from a bridesmaids dress...roughly following this pattern

 

So now I need to work on my case presentations for school. So hard when there is pretty fabric calling my name...sigh...

Straggler wedding photos...

Here are the last of Beedoh's wedding photos. These are from the professional photographer. Hopefully I'll have some photos from Alison's wedding in Chicago last weekend soon!!

Projects

Here are some of the things we've been working on...

This is a dress I made from one of Loren's old dress shirts

Here are some pants I lengthened by adding a ruffle to the bottom

This is the latest in my knitting adventures...I've graduated from dishcloths and swiffer covers to leg warmers! I used this tutorial. My skills are improving! It was knit in the round on 4 double pointed needles AND has stripes!! I'm working on a dress for Christmas now...we'll see if I can finish!!

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween! This year Kate was Cinderella. She had been asking and asking for a Cinderella dress, so I broke down and made one for her. It was quite a project, when I realized half way through that the fabric store had cut my fabric short and I didn't have enough. When I went back, they were out of the original fabric, so I got one that was close and got a sparkly organza to overlay and hide the color mis-match. I think it actually turned out even cuter with the sparkles! Plus, Kate loved the "sprinkles" on the skirt.

We went to playgroup on Friday wearing Cinderella and then on Saturday we went to a neighborhood parade at a friends' home and then to church for Trunk or Treat. Kate wasn't quite sure at the beginning, when people reached for her treat bag, she was pretty sure they were trying to take it from her. It took a few trunks for her to realize that people were actually giving her candy! Then she decided it was ok:)