For those of you who remember reading about me learning a new hobby...sewing. I completed sewing all of the Halloween costumes and some how I hadn't had enough of sewing. Strange, I know. I really had a difficult time trying to get into sewing, but I learned a very profound lesson. Amazing that it really has taken me 26 years to learn it. It goes something like this..."If at first you don't succeed, TRY TRY AGAIN." I can't tell you how many days & nights I was cursing the idea of sewing. With TONS of help and laughter from all my helpers...mainly because I didn't know what I was doing! I was able to finish the 6 costumes. So as I said, I had began to enjoy sewing despite my definite lack of experience I wanted a new project.
With the holidays upcoming I thought of something that would be very simple and memorable. So I decided to pick what I loved most as a child. My Christmas stocking. So with that in mind I headed to 4 different fabric stores trying to make up my mind on what exactly to sew for my kids. I went out first seeking, matching decorative fabric. By the third store I was not "feeling" the love if you will for fancy stockings. I realized by the 4th store that I wanted to do something FUN that Alayna and Jake would actually be excited about if I sewed it or them. So with that being said, I picked the "cheesy Christmas fabric!" Yes, I gave in and picked a Christmas print!! So unlike me I know. But I can't tell you how pleased I am with how they turned out. They are adorable.
I learned how to cut out the pattern, put a lining, batting and then she taught me how to quilt it. I had 3 different fabric options. With my lack of experience I bought enough fabric to make 12 stockings! Anyone interested? I decided to make 6 stockings, so all my kids...If I live long enough or choose to have 6 kids will have to have the same kind!
Here is the finished project! Jake LOVES his chubby (extra-batting = very squishy like a pillow!) penguin stocking.
Alayna has a darling reindeer pattern. So CUTE! I am so very pleased with how they turned out. A HUGE thanks goes to my wonderful mom who endured two very loud and hectic afternoons at our house with wild children running around and us trying to finish a project. Somehow we did. So thank you! My kids LOVE their new stockings. Plus I learned more about sewing...what should my next project be??
It was fantastic. I can't decide though if my favorite part was listening to the concert or the fact that we parked in Crown Burger's parking lot and had to spend $14 to park our car. So with that being said, we hurried and ordered...3 minutes later we were RUNNING down the sidewalk while eating our hamburgers. Seriously, it was the best! Next, I loved that after the concert we went back to Crown Burger for ice cream and for the men, more hamburger. Murphy's thanks for the fun van ride. That made the drive so much fun.
Oh, I almost forgot the next best part. The Prophet, Thomas S. Monson was there on Friday night. He was the best to watch. He would clap and give a standing ovation nearly after each performance. I was glad to have several standing moments throughout the performance. The concert was phenomenal. A memorable part was when the choir was singing, "Hee haw, Hee haw, Hee haw." It ended up being a really cute song about all the animals in the stable. It was cute! 
The cute ladies that joined the party. The men refused to take a picture...we should have taken a picture of them eating all their food at Crown Burger. Thanks Murphy's & Madsen's for the tickets. Tanner's it was so fun to get to know you better. Oh, and THANKS mom & dad for watching the several grand kids for hours and hours. 
