My first quilt

    I have been crocheting and sewing and scrapbooking a lot lately.  My latest project was a small blanket quilt.  It only took me two days, in part because it's a beginner quilt and the other, because I was so excited to see the end result!  At some point I may do a little tutorial on it, but for now I'll just share some pictures of the end result. I also didn't get a chance share some Christmas pictures in my last post....it may have been overloaded with vacation pics :). So here's to a much shorter post than the last!


Shopping with Mom and Heather




"Kal, make a funny face!"




Lego time with Kailey and Uncle Andrew




Our gingerbread house




Christmas Eve




Our aprons that I made!




Kal and Uncle Andrew




Dr. Kailey getting "bugs" out of Andrew's ears




Spa day!




My first little quilt



Pretty proud!

    That's all for now!  I hope you have enjoyed catching up with us from the last few months.

Love, Carrie

I'm baaaacckkkk!

    Wow, sorry it has been so long! I guess things got even busier than anticipated. November was great, we had Thanksgiving with Andrew's family then went on a fabulous cruise with my dad and family!  Vacation was amazing and much needed.  We had a lot of fun with the family, but also got to spend some time just the two of us as well.  It really was our first major vacation since our honeymoon almost 4 years ago! Oh, I am getting ahead of myself!  In between Thanksgiving and the cruise, the week before we left to be exact, Andrew and the 211 Band had an event in Omaha to play at for the weekend.  The guys drove up earlier on Friday and myself along with the usual gals, were driving that afternoon when I get a call from Andrew.  I answer and he immediately asks if I can bring a first aid kit....insert short pause...."ummm what happened?"...."Well, Dave and I were moving some equipment and some stage equipment rolled over my foot and ripped off my entire big toenail." At this point I shrieked and cringed and shuddered and whatever you probably just did as you read that! So needless to say that put a slight damper not only on that weekend, but the cruise as well.  It healed well, but Andrew decided not to get in the water...probably wise.  We stopped in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica.  Cozumel and Grand Cayman were relaxing, but in Jamaica we explored some caves and climbed Dunns River Falls, pretty awesome.  There are (quite) a few pictures below.  We drove home and as nice as vacation was, it was nice to be back; even if we did come home to 4 inches of snow and 12 degree weather!
    December came so quickly; and with it, me working myself to the bone to finish lots of homemade Christmas gifts. It's ok, it was worth it!  Three weeks after the cruise we drove BACK down to Texas to spend Christmas with Mom and Terry.  Another wonderful visit, it was fun and relaxing and we got a lot of girl time in which usually doesn't happen.  Mom, Heather, and I went shopping in Old Town Spring, did lots of baking, and the Monday after Christmas, Terry surprised us girls by making us appointments at a local spa for an 80 min. massage and hot stone massage...A-MA-ZING!  That was my first massage and certainly won't be my last!  Sadly, after 5 days it was time to head home luckily to much nicer weather this time!  We spent New Years with Andrew's parents and just like that, it's 2012.
    The holidays are over and it's back to reality!  This last year just flew by, I feel like I say that constantly, but seriously, where is time going?!?  As much as I love Christmas time, it is nice to be back in a routine with no where to go in the next two months!  March and the following months will be busy for us, but for now I will enjoy doing whatever I want here at home.  Normally I'd say I would hibernate, but it has been SO nice here. Yes, you heard me right, it is January and I said it has been nice!  It was really cold the other day, but otherwise the temperatures have been spring like...we even had a record breaking 64 degree day last week.  Some say winter is still coming, I like to be an optimist and say that even if it does, it won't last long. We are already to mid-January.  If winter decides to show up for a month or so, I can handle that considering that last couple winters it has started in November and lasted through March!
    Well, enough rambling, here are some photos from the last few months.  I will be writing another entry shortly as I have been busy sewing and just made my very first quilt! Ok ok, here you go:

Thanksgiving



At the Nebraska District Youth Gathering

The toe...for the sake of queezy stomachs, I posted the wrapped up version. You're welcome :)



Exploring the ship





Beautiful sunset our first night on the ship




Hot tub with Heather on our first full day at sea




Taking a break from laying out :)




First stop, Cozumel




Drinks after dinner




Grand Cayman






The whole climbing group...photos courtesy of the gimp, Andrew



Green Grotto Caves



Love my little Kailey girl



Uncle Andrew and Kailey's game faces



Last formal night





Last day at sea, dodgeball!





The four sisters



     Sorry for all the pictures!  I hope y'all had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Here's to a fabulous 2012!

Love, Carrie





   







Autumn, The Year's Last Loveliest Smile

    Is that not a beautiful quote?! I love it so had to share it. It is certainly fall around here! Cool days follwed by very cold nights...I love the days, but the cold mornings and evenings are a sharp reminder of what is coming, you know, the "W" word. Bbbbuuuuuuuurrrrrr, I shiver just thinking about it! There are many things to love about this time of year, the crispness in the air, the beautiful leaves as the trees change, and the FOOD! Ahhh I just love me a good soup and sandwhich, and ya cannot beat a homemade apple pie! Andrew and I went the the apple orchards a couple weeks ago, I made two apple pies and we have already devoured one...I am trying my hardest to save the other one for the holidays!
    I cannot believe that October has come to an end! This year has flown by and I do not think it is going to slow down. We celebrated our 28th and 24th birthdays earlier this month, we spent the day with family taking family pictures, opening presents, and eating good food! We also went to Denver for another UnPaved event, the kids were great! We rounded out October by going to the apple orchards. It was a PERFECT fall day. Andrew and I sipped wine, picked apples (not at the same time, don't worry :) ), then drove to another winery and sipped some more :) We just had a perfect day together! As I am sure I post every month, Andrew is busy with school, BUT we are on the final countdown...4 months to go!!!! Then in May it'll be official, get ready for a party at the Parr's! Ok, sorry, had to say it. Well, here are some pictures of what we have been up to this month:

Doin' what he does best

Andrew and I in Denver

Opening his guitar pedal I got him :)

Gorgeous watch and bracelet Andrew got me...as you can tell by
my face, this was the morning of my birthday!

Celebrating our birthdays with family, my first Northface fleece
from Steve and Karen

It's not fall without Husker football! Typical us lol

Wonderful friends

At the apple orchard!

A little wine

Such a perfect day!

Picking apples

Also had to pick the perfect pumpkin!

Family photo- Allison Koranda Photography

Allison Koranda Photography

Love this one- Allison Koranda Photography

    Well, it's been a great month and we are gearing up for an even busier one! We have something going on every weekend in November, all leading up to a nice relaxing family vacation at the end! If I do not post in November, have no fear, I will be back in early December with plenty to talk about and lots of fun vacation photos to share, of course. Love y'all!
- Carrie

End of summer already?

WOW what an ending to summer it has been! After my latest project, I picked up crocheting again. I started teaching myself last year and just got too busy. So, when I had a little extra time I started looking online and found tutorials. Since then I have purchased patterns and now have just started my own small business making hats and headbands for babies and children as well as photography props! I am pretty nervous about this new venture, but I am also really excited! I never pictured myself owning my own business, but I'm trying to not let it intimidate me. My items are great for photography, baby gifts, and of course the cold winter months fast approaching (for y'all Texans, not soon enough I'm sure!). Check me out at http://loopsandlace.com/

Speaking of cooling down, this first week of September is already starting to show us signs of fall!!! I love summer, but I am very ready for fall Fall is probably my favorite season, unlike the one that follows it! Starting tomorrow we'll be in the 70s for highs and 50s for lows...a drastic change from the 105 degree heat index we had two days ago!  I am sure we'll still have a few more warm days, but signs of cooler weather are here. Besides the cool weather, the other GREAT thing about fall is college football!!! Husker season officially kicks off today and I am psyched! The atmosphere in a college town makes college football that much better, I love it! Speaking of which, I need to get the house ready to have people over for the game, happy fall everyone!!

Channeling my Inner Martha

    It is July, and with the heat index hitting 126 degrees multiple times over the last three weeks, I have been channeling my inner Martha Stewart and crafting up a storm!  I enjoy making things, but have not had a place to do it.  Andrew has his office, so we decided I needed a place as well. Down to the basement I went!  I had purchased a bookcase almost a year ago with the intention of refinishing it once we found just the right spot for it. Well, tada, I finally decided it would come down to the basement with me to help organize all my crafty things.  We purchased a craft table and chair and refinished the bookcase to match.  I finally have lots of space to sew, crochet, scrapbook, or whatever else I come up with!  Here are a few photos of my new area all to myself:

Bookcase before....



Bookcase after!




My desk with lots of work space!




Love all the storage




Little organizers




My yarn baskets are overflowing already

    So there's my new space, I love it!!  There's enough room that Tonka likes to hang out in the air conditioning with me too, he isn't much help but he thinks he is!  I'm sure by now you're wondering what I have been up to in this new space, here are some photos of some appliqued onesies, a tutu, and come crochet hats:

    Well, I hope all of y'all are staying cool!  We decided to refinish the bookcase at the start of this super hot weather...woops!  Oh well, live and learn, it was a lot of work but I love how it turned out!  Either way we'll enjoy this heat while it lasts because we all know what comes a couple seasons from now!  Happy summer and I'm sure I'll be writing again soon!
-Carrie