This is my first attempt at using vinyl lettering.....I am still trying to get the hang of it (it is a little crooked, but it wasn't too bad for a first try). I am working on a frame right now that will have "U.S.A." on it with vinyl lettering. I will post a pic once I'm done.
My new favorite thing to do lately is decorate gift bags. I feel like it gives it a personal touch, and it is a lot of fun to do! 
Art City Days has been a tradition of my family since I was a kid. We have gone to the parade and carnival for as long as I can remember. I also remember watching the fireworks from my Grandma "M's" front lawn. A new tradition that we have decided to do every year is the Art City Days 5K. I didn't even know that they did a 5K until this year, but apparently they have been doing it for years. This is a picture of me with my mom and my friend Laura Butler, who also did the 5K that day. It was so fun!
This is us coming to the finish line. We had a good time, and Malea did so well. All I can say is, I am so out of shape! I ran maybe 1 of the 3 miles, and I thought I was going to puke! Pathetic, I know. Well, I guess you have to start somewhere. I am going to start training for the next one!
All of us at the Art City Days parade. We brought umbrellas thinking it might rain, and then we ended up needing the umbrellas for shade! I am so glad that the weather was nice. For the last couple of years, the older grandkids spend the night at my mom's the night before the parade, and then they wake up in the morning and go to the parade. Maybe a few more years and Malea can sleep over!
Malea hanging out on her pink chair. She loves this chair, and if anyone else tries to sit on it she throws a fit! Yeah, she has hit the stage of not wanting to share (so fun!). I think she really enjoyed the parade, and she got to eat lots of treats (thanks to Grandma Vicki!). This is Malea's second year of Art City Days. She seemed to have fun, but mostly walked around the whole time looking for dogs to pet. :)
Of course Art City Days wouldn't be complete without heading down to the carnival. This is a picture of Malea and I on a ride (we're the second car from the right). Malea had fun the first couple of times around, but apparently wasn't loving it after that (I couldn't see her face.....I was just worried about holding on to her!). 
Sporting the sunglasses on the way to the cabin.
After.....
Consider the sheep of His fold,
How they follow where He leads.
Though the path may wind across the mountains,
He knows the meadows where they feed.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky,
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.
Consider the sweet, tender children
Who must suffer on this earth.
The pains of all of them He carried
From the day of His birth.
He clothes the lilies of the field,
He feeds the lambs in His fold,
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.
On January 29, 2006, the most wonderful, self-less, Christ-like woman in the entire world past away from an almost 10 year battle with Alzheimers. That woman was my Grandma "M" (for Martindale). At her funeral, all of the grand kids sang this song, "Consider the Lilies", per her request. I feel like the words of this song are a perfect testimony of the way my Grandma felt and what she wanted her posterity to know when she died. When I heard the news that she had passed, I was devastated. Many people are not close with their Grandparents, and maybe only see them a few times a year or receive the occasional birthday card. This was not the case with my Grandma "M". I felt like I had lost a parent. There were times during my childhood when we lived with my Grandma, and even when we didn't live with her, we may as well have because of all the time we spent there! Unfortunately, my Grandma had been living in a rest home for the last few years of her battle with Alzheimers, and I didn't get to visit her very much. I often regret this, but then I also feel that the woman that was in that rest home was not my Grandma, and I wanted to remember her differently. I wanted to remember the Grandma who's face lit up when her grand kids came to visit her, who would do anything for anyone, who everyone in town knew, and if you mentioned to anyone that she was your Grandma, they would go on and on about how wonderful she is. I wanted to remember the woman who's home was my own personal heaven on earth. You could always feel the spirit in her home. You were always welcome. There was always food on the table and a comfortable bed to sleep in. My sweet baby Malea was born after my Grandma had left this earth, but I know that Grandma and Grandpa took good care of her up in heaven until she was ready to come down. Malea's middle name is Mary, after my sweet Grandma.
I hadn't really thought about my Grandma for a little while until I heard the choir singing that song during Conference. Almost instantly, my eyes were filled with tears and I had a good cry. I felt that I needed to do a short tribute to her, and to let her know that I will never forget her and will always love her. She will always be an example to me, and I am so grateful for all the things she has taught me in my life. I miss you Grandma, and will always love you!!!
On February 12th, 2008, Malea Mary Walker was born in to the world at 11:36 am. Little did anyone know that the world would never be the same! :) When I was pregnant with Malea, everyone told me to enjoy every minute of it because it goes by so fast. I had no idea how fast until I had her! I can't believe it has already been a year! Malea has been such a joy in our family. It has been so fun to see her personality slowly come forth with each new day. Malea is extremely active and has always been very inquisitive. She is very social and is not afraid to make new friends. She is also very independent. Although being a mother definitely has its challenges, it has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I am so happy to have Malea in my life!
For her 1st birthday we had family and friends over for a "Princess" party. I dressed Malea up in an adorable 1st Birthday outfit with a tutu. She wasn't sure what was going on when all the people came and all the attention was on her. We opened presents (which she got lots of so thanks everyone!) and she got her own cake. Much to my surprise, she was very danty about the cake - she wouldn't touch it at first and then slowly started sticking her finger in to eat the frosting. You can tell that I have been drilling it in her head for the last year not to play with her food! Eventually she started shoveling just the frosting in to her mouth. It was so funny!
