Button shirt to dress

I found the most amazing tutorial a few weeks ago and had to try it out for myself. You take an adult button down shirt and make it into a toddler dress. So clever!! I am not much of a seamstress but like to try new things. The first dress is one that I did myself. I wasn't able to measure Hailey so I had to take it in later and make new sleeves. This one is only going to be a play dress. The second one was made by my mom today. This one is very church worthy! I am going to make a second attempt soon! My plan is to take my sewing machine over to moms and make one along side of her. The site is: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=170402.0

Hailey the escape artist and pen artist

Hailey has figured out how to get her door open at night. The only way to keep her in her room was to put a knob lock on her door. I remember telling my mom that I thought it was so mean of her to lock me in my room at night! I am now eating my words! Hailey prances downstairs with a big smile on her face. She thinks that she is so clever! Last night I let her bask in her cleverness and stay up with me. Tonight was a different story. I taped up the knob and quickly shut the door! I know...mean mom! I caved in after 35 mins of sobbing and layed with her until she fell asleep.
After coming home from running an errand this morning I had to get my crying Tanner out of the car. Hailey is always a little slow at coming in from the garage. I went back in to get her and noticed she was quickly writing on MY CAR with a pen. I only noticed a little pen and brought her into the house with a scolding. Later today I was shutting my trunk door and saw a much larger piece of artwork! Hailey had to scrub my car with a magic eraser. Luckily it came off!!

*Hailey is officially potty trained!

*Tanner has his first tooth

Ice Blocking!

Tonight for family home evening the kids and I joined our good friends at the park to go ice blocking. It was so much fun! Ryan has been so sick for over a week, so any opportunity to get out so that he can have some peace and quiet I take!
Before ice blocking I took Ry to a urgent care. I couldn't believe how rude the doctor was. She made a few comments about how Ry was a baby and wondered if we had two cribs in our house! I couldn't believe it! Here is a guy with a 1o1 fever and white puss on his throat and she had the nerve to make these comments! I am making a phone call in the morning.....it was nice to vent

Jill wanted to see a sign that I made for Karen, Cameron's fiance. You can't tell in the pic, but the sides are antiqued with gold paint.

Today we had a BBQ with Vendla, Kerry and the Hendriks family. The Hendriks are from Holland and are family friends. They came to visit Vendla and Kerry and we were lucky enough to have them to our home. The kids especially loved it!

Typical Day

Here are a few pictures of a typical day at the Karlsons house. I went upstairs and found Preston and Haily on top of Tanners dresser. Pres is drinking his slurpee and Hailey has Tanners hat on her head and binky in her mouth. The second is of Hailey dancing for Tanner.
Hailey has no clothes on because she is being potty trained. After two days I think that she finally gets it. Either that or she just wants candy!

Took family pictures by the Nauvoo Temple. Was absolutely beautiful!

We went to a play by the Mississippi River. Before it started the kids made hats and had a parade.

Tanner's first taste of watermelon. He loved it!

Cousins sitting a rock that Joseph Smith preached on.

Everyone on my rental car watching a cow give birth!

I am sure she remembers Him...

Nauvoo

We are back from our week long journey. Ryan was not able to come with us last minute, so I took my three kiddos alone. Being on an airplane with three kids, 4 and under was quite an adventure. Haily and Preston would sit in the double stroller and I had Tanner in a carrier on my back. I got more than a few stares! I am glad I did it but am so glad to be home.
Being able to see what my ancestors went through was truly humbling. Joseph Smith was an amazing man. Being able to see first hand the places that they were was testimony building. I cannot imagine being persecuted so much. My latest "trial" was traveling cross country with my kids! I cant imagine being driven out of my home because of what I believed! My trials are no comparison to what they went through.