November 2021 Part 3: Michael's Quilt

 Sometime last year, Michael came to me and said, "Mom, I think I'm too old for my monkey quilt." And while I knew this was coming, a piece of me still died when he told me that. 

We decided to make him a new quilt for Christmas. We asked Julie to quilt it, and I asked her how soon she would need it pieced together in order for quilt it in time for Christmas, and we agreed that if I had the top done by Thanksgiving, she could have it quilted in time. First step was to find the right fabric.

We're all a little bit particular about patterns around here, and Michael has really been into dark colors...like black and Navy blue. It was a challenge to find the right ones that we though he'd like. We ended up going to at least four different fabric stores. Here are pictures from our research: 

Poor Gabe was sick and joined me in the craft room while I was sewing Michael's quilt. 

I got the initial fabric sewn up...and absolutely hated it. 

I brought Brian in to experiment with a new pattern. 

We also rejected some of the fabrics we had chosen, and I went in search of different fabric again. 

I kept sending pictures back to Brian to get his opinion. 

And then we experimented with placement some more. We had to unpick all that I had sewn, so we wanted to get it right. 

We checked and rechecked our math over and over again. 

Then compared all the pictures to decide what we were going to do. 

Finally, with our decided colors, I got back to cutting and sewing. I got the top finished and the sham ready too just before Thanksgiving. Phew! You'll have to wait until I write about December to see the finished product. 

November 2021 Part 2: The Plays' the Thing

We really channeled our culture side and attended so many plays in November. First up was Heather's high school production of Matilda. This was a really fun one. We had just listened to the audiobook on our Oregon road trip, so it was fun to see the story told visually. They even served Bruce's chocolate cake during intermission, which was a fun bonus! 

After the play, the kids were really excited to meet the girl that played Matilda and take a picture with her. 

And of course, we got to take pictures with our favorite actress in the play, Heather. 

After the play, I made Sarah play in the leaves with me! 

Mom, Taryn, Aaron, Brian, Michael, Rachel, Gabe, and I took Chelsea's kids out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. David and the rest of Taryn's kids joined us there. The wait was longer than expected, so we played Head's Up in the parking lot. Finally, we were able to eat. 

Since it was within a week of Taryn's birthday, we had the staff come sing to her. She was surprised that we did that. 

After finishing dinner, we headed home. 

A weekish later, Brian and I went to go see Lone Peak High School's production of Les Miserables. One of my young women was in the stage crew, and so we went with my teaching partner and her husband to show our support. 

The next day, we took the kids to The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Hale Center Theater in Orem. We were supposed to go with Kirt and Julie, but they forgot to put it into their calendar back when we bought tickets in June and didn't make it. 

The kids didn't love this one, but I did. It was a little deep for them to follow everything that was going on. The music was amazing! 

The following Monday, we were supposed to go to another play for Serene's birthday, but she ended up getting pretty sick, so we rescheduled for December. 

 

November 2021 Part 1: Emily's Birthday

Emily turned 40 in November, and I wanted to do something special. I got my sisters and sisters-in-law to drive to the Boise area and surprise Em with an overnight party. I picked up Chelsea in Ogden, and we had a fun time singing and talking all the way to Nampa. Taryn, Mom, and Cassidy drove another car, and Erika drove hers. The idea was that we'd meet at her nail salon where Pete had arranged pedicures or manicures for us. We were supposed to be inside waiting, but we ran late and she saw us in the parking lot, which only meant we missed her surprised face. 

We got her a birthday sash and crown to wear all night as well. 

After pedicures, we ate dinner at Tucanos in Boise. 

Afterwards, we went to our hotel, which we had decorated with streamers and balloons (which was why we were late to the nail salon). We got her a cheesecake for her birthday cake. 

We played games until late, slept not so restfully, visited Emily's house the next morning, and then we all headed home. Happy Birthday, Lou! I hope it was amazing!