We are the champions, my friend!

Jackson was in heaven today. I honestly think Las Vegas is his favorite vacation destination (yes, we really don't travel much). BYU blew out Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl and so all the BYU fans rushed the field. Nathan just sent me this photo from his phone and I had to post it. It is with Colby Klausen (I have no idea on the correct spelling) and he felt like he met a real life celebrity. Here's my little guy with one huge football player. Jackson, Audrey really misses you and keeps asking when you are coming home. Nathan, Jane has walked into your office several times today saying "Da? Da? Da?" What can I say, we three ladies are missing our men! Drive home safe tomorrow and we can't wait to see you. XOXO

Yes, I actually do care about this blog....

My boys just left for their annual pilgrimage to the Las Vegas bowl game to cheer on the mighty Cougars. I honestly can't think of two bigger fans of BYU sports. They bought season tickets for BYU basketball and once (sometimes twice) a week they head on down to the Marriot center, grab a cougar tail (a really long maple bar) and very intensely watch, discuss stats and cheer for their team. Nathan is such a great dad, I hope Jackson realizes how lucky he is!

So what am I to do? Well, Audrey, Jane and I are going down to my parents to spend the night. My dad is having surgery today and I just wanted to be there to help my mom take care of him. She has been having a lot of problems with her knees and I think she could use a little help. Honestly, old age is not for wimps! I did not coin that phrase but once I saw it, it stuck. I love my parents and I wish them less doctor visits for the upcoming year.

I have totally neglected my little space on the world wide web for some time now and it has been really difficult even wanting to start blogging again because I feel I must write about all the things that have happened since my last post. So here I sit and start pondering what has happened and quite honestly, my mind is drawing a blank ----- yup - not much up there. So don't worry, you don't have to read about all the stuff that apparently didn't happen. The one thing that did happen is Jane finally decided to walk. . . okay, run. It's amazing - she never plays with toys, she just walks around my house, stopping only for meals and for naps. She does spend a large amount of time in my pantry and as a side effect, I change a unusually large number of messy diapers. She is so fun and sweet - she knows a few words such as "sit" (I guess that's a given with having a large dog) and "meow" (thanks to Rose the cat for that one). Babies are fun we just can't wait for February 8 (Nursery - yea!).

Jackson has been very busy with Junior Jazz basketball this season. He loves it and their team is really quite good. He plays on a team with a bunch of his friends from school so it is a lot of fun hanging out with the other kid's mom's who have actually become really great friends of mine. Total bonus. Audrey is, as always, still one of a kind. We can't imagine our house without her - she is so kind and is always drawing little pictures for me. I often bypass Nathan and ask her opinion about an outfit I am questioning - she gives it to me straight up. She has yet to encase her foot in a sock of any kind this winter - if it is really cold outside, I will bribe her to wear tights but they have to be footless. Once a California girl, always a California girl.

I have been in my sewing room nonstop this season. Sometimes I wonder if everything is right in my head. I made Christmas dresses for Jane and Audrey and there was a lot of tulle and lace involved and Audrey even had a little black wool jacket. I took some photos but I don't know if you can see all the detail. Then, a few days ago, I decided that I too wanted a new dress so I made just a simple red wool dress, classic Jackie O style. Nathan was impressed and said that even rich people don't dress their kids this nice. Maybe that is why we are not rich, I just would have no need to sew. Finally, one of life's burning questions has been answered.

Well, just in case I don't post again before Christmas, I want to wish the few readers I have a very Merry Christmas. I love the holiday season and truly a highlight for me was being able to do Black Friday with my sisters. For the record, Stephanie did invite Brandon (our brother) and Debbie (his wife) but neither of them had the desire to get up at 4am and fight the crowds. Bah humbug. We had such a great time laughing and laughing and looking totally unkempt and homeless the entire time. I can't wait till next year. They should have a Black Friday every six months but honestly, what would we shop for in July? Fireworks and hot dogs at rock bottom prices!

A case of the giggles...

I am in desperate need of a dress form - you know - the kind professional fashion designers use (as seen on project runway). I am constantly looking on Craigs list and KSL classifieds for a used one but because they are pretty pricey - once you buy one, you're not likely going to sell it for pennies (boo for me).

So from time to time I will google "dress form" and view website after website trying to decide which dress form would be best - just so I can narrow down exactly what I am looking for. Well today, because I am just confused as to what would be best I "googled" what is the best dress form for designers. One of the first pages that pop up is this link to the Threads magazine (magazine for sewers like myself) detailing how to make your own dress form so I think "Wow, now that would be a lot more economical! I think I'll check this out".

So as I am reading through the instructions, I am seeing that basically it involves putting your body in a cast and then cutting it away and using the shell as a dress form. I am thinking "Okay, so does this really work? It seems kind of crazy." Then I proceed to scroll to the bottom of the page where people have left their comments and about the third comment down, I see in large capital letters . . .NEVER MAKE A PLASTER BODY CAST!!! Okay, this ladies post made me laugh so hard and I have laughed several times through out the day. Maybe I'm crazy and It's not as funny as I think it is but you just have to read it. What lengths we seamstresses will go to!
Here's the link:

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3659/clone-yourself-a-fitting-assistant

Okay peeps - More photos of fashion show

So I thought I put this link on my last post but apparently I am too technically challenged to make that happen so here is my second attempt to direct you to this link. It is a link for all the professional photos taken at the Fashion Remix fashion show. Not only can you see better pictures of what I did but you can see pictures of all the creations. So cool - definitely check it out.

http://gregneilphoto.smugmug.com/Fashion/Fashion-Remix-2009/10101705_3vezp#693731053_qVyeA

Have a great day

Halloween is over so I think I can now get on with the rest of my life!

I honestly think October is the busiest month of the year! How many times did I have to get my kids in and out of their costumes? And what exactly is the message of Halloween?
"Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and then when I do finally get my boat load of free candy, I am going to be grouchy and grumpy for a few days - Happy Halloween MOM!"

Really, my kids are pretty good. They went to some houses in my parents neighborhood and were pleased with what they got - they weren't too greedy. One house we went to gave out fresh cotton candy. They were making it in their driveway - What a great idea. We ate it as we went from house to house. So much fun.

Another house we went to displayed over 60 intricately carved pumpkins. I wish I had my camera with me. They were AMAZING but honestly I have to say that carving pumpkins is just about my least favorite activity. It was fun to look at but gave me a headache to think about all that carving. But hey - at least that person enjoys it. If you've had difficulty discovering your special talent - I can give you this ladies address (I'm just sayin').


In case you couldn't tell. . .Jackson is BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall and Audrey and Jane are BYU Cheerleaders. GO COUGS!
The few pictures that follow are ones I took when we went to Cornbellys. I love that place - it was so much fun. They had an entire barn filled with corn kernels that the kids were able to just dig and play in (like sand). So great - kind of pricey to go but I have to say they had so many fun activities that it was worth it.
Who doesn't like to have their picture taken on a plastic cow?
Apparently Audrey. Thanks for not smiling.


They had princess dress ups for the little girls. That was Audrey and her cousin's favorite station. The dressed up and then did a little performance for us. I love this age!
Jane LOVES anything to do with wheels. She climbs on the kids bikes and has me push her around. She would not get off these go carts and I had to keep pushing her on them. It's okay - I'll do anything for that gummy grin of hers - even break my back.
Jackson participated in some serious races on the go carts - he even beat a few grownups. Go Jackson!

Finally! It's all over with! Fashion Remix is a sucess!

Okay, now do you see why I have been so busy and holed up in my little red brick house for the past few months? So in August of this year, the BYU interior design department came to me and asked if I would help them out a little bit. They had to create at look using fabrics usually found in the interior design industry and make them into something wearable that could be sent down the runway. There were about 15 design firms who were paired with suppliers/manufactures in the interior design industry. Luck for us, we were paired with Silverstate - they are a wholesaler for interior fabrics. It was so much fun - at the beginning of this process, we were able to go to their showroom and choose any fabrics we wanted to use. We choose 20 different fabrics and used a total of 25 yards. Granted, there are a lot of scraps, however, that was very generous of them. In the end, they will get the dress to display in their showroom. I hope they enjoy it! I made the pattern and sewed the entire ensemble. It was so much work but so much fun.

Thanks to my family for putting up with huge messes for a few months, cheese tortillas for many nights and crazy moments for lots of weeks. I love my hubby so much for supporting me in all I do. He let me take the best room in the house and make it into my sewing room (otherwise known as my "happy place"). Jackson and Audrey are constantly excited to see what I'm working on next and were majorly bummed they could not attend the fashion show. Jackson is always telling me I should be on Project Runway. I love being a celebrity in my own home!
Back stage with some of the models and other designers.
This is Katy walking down the runway. I was back stage helping out so thanks Mom and Dad for snapping these photos.

The big reveal. The crowd wend crazy when she dropped the skirt. Great job Katy! (she's a student employee in the Interior Design Department at BYU. She is majoring in Ballet - lucky for us she's beautiful, tall and a natural performer!)
Models posing at the end of the catwalk! So FIERCE!

Casey was the MC for the event. He was funny and it was obvious he was not used to this thing- He did a good job though. I still miss him on the radio " 101.5 The End" is just not the same without him. Oh, I forgot to mention. We did win one of the three major awards - we won "Best Ready to Wear" and we will be featured in Salt Lake Magazine. This dress above won "Best of Show" and I have to say, it deserved it. It was made from wood veneer and it is a work of art. Well done!

I have to say major thanks to my good friend Lori who showed up to this event solo to cheer me on and then the next day she and my good friend Kamille took me to lunch to celebrate. Thanks you guys! I woke up the next morning feeling like "okay, now what?!" so you saved me some postpartum depression.

Kourtne, I will now work on getting you those photos of you and your beautiful children. I now have some extra time on my hands.

Ann, I will now call you and chat for a while - I loved your Birkin post on your blog - you know me, anything fashion I obsess about.

We Are PATRIOTS, Sir Yes Sir!

Last week was a busy one for the Ringger family - it was Nathan's drill weekend but every September, they have what is called Governor's Day. In lieu of September drill, the Governor of Utah inspects the troops so they all march out onto the field in Rice Eccles Stadium at the U of U (booooo!) and they parade in formation and the Governor inspects them (you have to understand that this is just a ceremony - he doesn't really look that close-I actually thought it was quite funny watching him walk up and down the length of the field.). The entire thing takes about an hour but every year, soldiers pass out because it is quite hot on the field. We saw two carried off on stretchers.

My dad and my nephew, Tyler and came with us. When Tyler returned home, his parents asked him how it went and he said - "Good. Some guys died though." Oh dear, I hope he's not scarred for life. If he begins saying, "I see dead people", then we know there may be some lasting effects of Governors Day.

I love my dad! He loves anything to do with the military. Every once a while I remind my kids that grandpa served in the military too - just like dad. But to put it into perspective, I have to tell them that he served a long time ago - before they had home computers and cell phones. They immediately are sent into silent reflection and awe for the people who lived in such a time they like to refer to as the "dark ages".

From the moment we got there, Audrey's eye immediately staked out the most girly thing happening and her eye was drawn to the face painting booth - so from that moment on, I was constantly nagged with "When can I get my face painted? Is it time to get my face painted? What if they leave and I can't get my face painted! Does dad care if I get my face painted?" Over and over again I heard this so finally, after only holding out for about 5 minutes (I know, I'm going soft already), I relented and let her do it and she behaved perfectly afterwards. This is a photo of her before the face painting - do you see why I just give in?

Jackson and Tyler are always so cute when they are together.

Ahh, a family moment - one for the Christmas card that we NEVER send out.

Okay, so the evening before Governors day, they always have a military ball. I actually like getting dressed up and going out. Our cute neighbor, Angela, came and took these photos for us before we left. I know, what are we 16 or something? Who are we kidding, we know we are hanging on to the proverbial "Thread" but I have to document that once-upon-a-time, we did look youngish.
P.S. I know your wondering and yes, I did make my dress.

No, I'm not dead - just overwhelmed. . .

Okay, I know all of you think that I probably gave up blogging for good like so many others do but I can assure you this is not true. I just have had so much going on lately and amazingly enough, not a whole heck of a lot to show for it. So here I sit, with a tall glass of Diet Coke and the two liter sitting near by, ready to update you all. Since I last blogged, I am now minus two kids for 7 hours a day. I have to say, that first day of both Audrey and Jackson being in school all day long was a tough one for me. I looked at Jane, Jane looked at me and we had no idea what to do for an entire day by ourselves so - I did what any other insanely sad lady would do - I rented a carpet cleaner and cleaned my carpets for two days. Here's the thing - when Nathan was in Iraq and had come home for his two weeks of R&R, the day after he left to go back to Iraq, I did the same thing - I rented a carpet cleaner and cleaned my carpets for two days. As I was cleaning my carpets this last time around, I did some deep reflection and realized that must be how I deal with changes in my life - I deep clean the carpets. It's challenging, requires a lot of physical effort, and it makes everything look fresh and new again - an immediate positive reaction that I can control! See how therapeutic that all was? And all for the low price of $30 a day - much cheaper than a therapist.

Audrey is thrilled to begin school - can't you tell? I actually think she is more bummed out that I insisted she wear a matching outfit on the first day. Don't worry Audrey, you can be fashionably challenged tomorrow.

Jackson is ready to get back to work. I think he is excited at the idea of being around more boys on a regular basis - with a family of 7 girls and 1 boy living next door and Audrey being the equivalent of a cruise ship social director, he has seen enough picnics, fashion shows, tea parties and girls playing house this summer to last a lifetime.

The week after school began, we realized that we definitely needed a break from all that hard school work so we went to Sun Valley for Labor Day. Actually, my family has a family reunion every year up there. It was so much fun! Jackson worked really hard this summer and finally saved up enough money to buy the Mountain bike he had been drooling over (we seriously went to the bike shop several times this summer just so he could look at it). I was glad that he was able to buy it before Sun Valley so we could do of mountain biking while we were up there. He is quite good at it and is not afraid of any terrain. Jackson, Nathan and I are really getting into the sport so hopefully Jane and Audrey will eventually like it too (yes Audrey, we can put ribbon streamers on your mountain bike).

Sun Valley was a blast! I love it up there. I wish we could go up there more often than we do. What a great time we had. I love my brother and sisters soooo much. Brandon always offers the comedic relief to any situation and he would do anything for any of his sisters- you are the best brother any girl could have. My nieces and nephew are so adorable and so much fun for my kids to be around! My parents have four children, 13 grand children and only two of those grand kids are boys (can you say DRAMA as these girls turn into teenagers?).

We all went ice skating one morning and it was so much fun to see the kids trying their best to figure it out. Sun Valley has an outdoor ice rink that is open all year round and professional skaters come and preform there in the the summer. Here are many photos of us showing off our stuff.

Audrey had a hard time getting the skating thing down so I tried to do my best to teach her what with my professional abilities and all. I even tried to eavesdrop on the lesson going on and get some tips to teach my kids (see photo below) but I think the guy was wise to me because when I came around he'd just skate off with his private lesson! Jeez - you're already making a boat-load of money off your private lesson - can't you share the love??

This is the Sun Valley lodge - have you ever seen Stephen King's "The Shinning"? I saw it on TV once and this is the lodge in the movie - very scary show - I don't recommend it.

I had to get at least one photo of Stephanie. She refused to be photographed the entire time and seriously, I get that but I think she still is a hot mama even preggers. This was a look we all got a lot during our family reunion weekend. Steph, you're a trooper! We are so glad you were able to still come to SV. Good luck with baby #4 (She is giving birth today even as I write this).

I continually razzed Marcus about his plaid jacket (in his defense, he borrowed the jacket from my Dad, honestly Dad, can you explain this purchase to me? When is it ever okay to buy a plaid jacket?)

The two guys

The gang's all here.

Debbi always looks perfect.

The Young family is represented well - Leia's soaking up the rays.

Brielle was such a champ - she would fall and get up, fall and get up and she never cried or complained! What a trooper girlie!

Kendra and her roomie Alyssa opted out on the skating thing - aren't they beautiful?

Our cheering section of all the lovely ladies.

Audrey had it after a while - she was a little frustrated. Good thing Grandma was there to make things better.

The man room - this is where the guys hang out and watch the start of the football season - Jackson says it's the best time of the year. Go Cougars!

Stephanie's girls were so cute on Sunday - I loved their outfits so I thought I would take some photos of them - they are darling!

Future chemist or lunchroom lady - you decide.


I am going to have to leave this post as it is and call it good.  I will post more photos and commentary about the Ringger family later.

UPDATE:  Stephanie did have her baby today.  The name is Savanna Ray and she was born 7lbs 3 oz.  Mom and baby are doing brilliantly!  Well done Steph!