Some of My Favorite Library Books

I love checking out new and interesting books from the library. You can learn so much about anything this way! Most of the books I check out have something to do with fabric or food. Here are some of my favorite books I have found so far:

I love the diversity of foods this book teaches you to can. The recipe I can't wait to try out: Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate on page 192. It is so rosy pink and crystal clear and sounds yummy too!


I love this canning book because it is written by someone who has done a lot of it. I loved that she teaches the difference between jams, jellies, butters, preserves, conserves, marmalade and curds. Who knew there were so many things to eat with your peanut butter and bread! My favorite recipes I have tried and love: Orange Marmalade, Lemon Curd and Banana Pineapple Jam.



This quilting book is awesome! I love the asymmetrical designs that look like you sewed it crooked but really that's how the quilt was designed!



These two quilting books have some great quilts in them I just love the colors they have used and all the shapes the quilts have.

I like that this book shows you how different a quilt can look if you just make it in different colors.




And last but not least if you live in the Phoenix area and TRY to garden, you NEED this book! I loved it so much I ended up buying it! The author is from here and explains what to grow and how to grow. It's great!!

So "check them out" if you need a new read.

Changes in the Bond Home

March has definitely been the month of change so far for us.  At the beginning of the month we changed around some of our stuff to make room for Emily to live with us again.  The kids sure love having her around.  I don't know if they like her so much because she plays with them or because she sneaks them candy when mom and dad aren't around...probably both.


Yesterday we had some changes too.  We have been talking for quite a while about getting a dog and although we can't decide on color, size, breed, or even if a dog is a good choice, we did finally make one choice:  we are now a doggie foster home.   :)  We decided that fostering a familyless dog would give us the chance to decide if we want to make the life long commitment of adopting a dog. We picked up our first dog last night.

Her name is Chelsea she is a 1 year old German Shepherd Lab mix.  She has short hair and she comes up to just below my knee.  She thinks she is a lap dog... 

She is really playful and patient with the kids.

She is sweet and loving and well, perfect...so far.

I'll update you later on if she stays that way after the first 24 hours.


Oh and don't worry, there have been changes for Cookie, our Cockateil, too.   She now has a cage to call home. 

I don't know if she likes the cage as much as her home on the shelf but this is just how it's going to be from now on.  I am going to enjoy not stressing about her flying out the door or into the kitchen while I'm cooking.  (Besides we really didn't want to find out the hard way that the dog, ahem, likes birds...)

So there you have it.  Exciting changes in our home!

Happy Birthday James!!

Today James turned 3!  He is such a sweet and fun boy that loves to make people happy!  However, when he wants to be a stinker he knows exactly what bugs each person!  I love that he quickly comes to Katelyn's aide when she is sad or throwing a tantrum. Without being asked he will begin to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to her and by the end of the song she is happy and smiling again.  He loves doing Preschool and knows many if not all of the letters and can count to 10.  He is very proud of his name and if he is ever referred to as something other than James, such as handsome, he gets very defensive and says, "No, I'm James Robert Bond!"   We love him so much and we are glad he is in our family!

For his special day we had cake:

He was so excited about new "Cars" cars.

He loved that he got to pick what ever piece of the cake he wanted, he picked Lightening McQueen.

The cake was really, really good.

Good thing his gift was a bubble maker for bubble baths--trust me they all needed a bath after that cake, especially Katie.

Happy Birthday James, WE LOVE YOU!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

10 years, exactly, after our first date...

6 wonderful years of marriage...

3 beautiful children...

and we're still smiling!

Here's to another great year!

Christmas Presents

We had such a great Christmas! Thank you to everyone for all your gifts, goodies and well wishes! Here are a few highlights:

Christmas Eve Pajamas


Robert brought back some Christmas items from Germany and we enjoy them each year around Christmas.  Our favorite is the pyramid.  When you light the candles the layers turn.  Each layer portrays a different scene from the birth of Christ.

Michael got a cool helicopter

James got a dump truck
Katelyn got a Noah's Ark
Robert got a new digital camera
Brandy got a new bike

We have had a great time spending time with family, eating good food and having lots of fun! Thanks to all!

Merry Christmas! 

For the Grandparents:

New Carpet!!

Our old carpet was well, old and didn't look very good any more. It also was pulling away from the tile and tack strips so the kids would get poked if they weren't careful and the tack strips caught a few pants too...

I am so excited that we finally bought new carpet!

Katelyn is One!

Wow how time flies! It seems like just last month I was calling my Sister-in-law to watch my kids so I could drive myself to the hospital so they could check to see if my water broke...fun times...That's how it all began with her and after many, many hours of antibiotics and pitocin with nothing happening finally I went into labor and 3 1/2 hours later, and 10 days after her original due date she quickly came into this world. She came so quickly in fact, that my doctor was still driving to the hospital and the random doctor that was hanging out at the nurse's station was still trying to get his gloves on to catch her while the nurses yelled, "Don't Push". Luckily the doctor got the gloves in place just in time to catch our 9lb 1oz beautiful baby girl. She has definitely kept us on our toes ever since her arrival. And really, I can't imagine life without her! Looking back at her first year of pictures it's amazing to see how she has changed and grown and I am so glad the bruising she had after birth went away...boy was she purple! See how she has grown:

Pictures anyone?

I'm not a pro, just someone who likes to take pictures. During the holiday season I love having new family pictures to hang on the wall and send out to friends and family. Here are a few pictures of others that I have taken.






The other thing about me is that I like free stuff. So this holiday season I would like to give of my time to others and share the joy of free pictures. If you or someone you know would like some pictures taken of their family, kids, pets...whatever... I would love to do it for you. Just let me know and we'll figure out when we can get together so you can have them in time for the holidays.