The things I LOVE to do in my spare time

Lately I have been in the crafty mood. And when I say lately I mean.... my whole life. I have ALWAYS loved doing quilts, scrapbooking, etc. but I never really have had a lot of time to do it. Well, these are the projects I've been doing this last month. I started at the end of November with all of these and been going strong ever since.

This is a baby blanket that I crocheted around...it also has a matching burping pad. I have done several of these over the years that I just save in my hope chest for later on when I need it.

This is a quilt I made today actually. Its not a great picture but I'll tell you a short history behind this quilt. Every year for the past couple of years my grandma gives me a couple doleys for christmas and birthdays. I had so many I didn't know what to do with so I decided to take a lot of them and mount them on a quilt. I am not quite finished with it...but I really like it. Its something I will be able to keep for a long time and always remind me of my grandma and some of the things she has made me. I thought it turned out pretty good.


I've also been making aprons lately. I might end up trying to sell them at some point once I perfect them but I'm not to that point yet. I've just been making some though for me and friends and family. These are a few that I have done over the past couple weeks.

I tied this quilt yesterday. My mom helped me. It went really fast and then I bound it all up by hand while watching Anne of Green Gables. I had never bound a quilt by hand so it was fun. It is a full size quilt but I did it up closer so you could see the pattern better.

I have also been making cards the past month or so. Its been a lot of fun. I have about 180 made now. I also am planning on trying to sell these at some point too ... but we'll see what happens. Here are a few different ones I have done.
Well those are a few projects that have been keeping me busy lately. It's been a lot of fun doing them. I'm always up for some good old fashion craft time.

Hope you enjoyed!

Christmas Project

My family started a new tradition this year that I absolutely loved! Every year in my family we all get to open one present on Christmas Eve and it is always without fail...pajamas. I know several other families that do this tradition as well and I love it. BUT this year in place of Christmas Pajamas my parents at Thanksgiving time gave each of us kids and our families (but since I don't have a spouse just me) $50 and with it we were supposed to spend it on someone else for Christmas that we know was struggling. As soon as I got my money I knew exactly what I wanted to do....

When I was student teaching in the Fifth grade I really immediately was drawn to this little girl...her name is Lupe. I talked to Lupe a lot everyday and even though you aren't supposed to have favorites...she was definitely one of mine. She told me all about her family and talked to me a lot about anything and everything. This is a little of her story.

Lupe was born in Mexico and lived there until she was about 6 years old. When she was 4 her dad became really sick. He moved to America because he knew that he could get better care here. They could only afford to send him though, so Lupe her mom and all her younger brothers and sisters stayed in Mexico. Her Mom in Mexico, and Dad in America, worked as much as they could in their circumstances until they saved all they could to move the rest of Lupe's family to America. It was pretty much their whole lives savings. They got here when Lupe was 6 and she is now 10. She is the oldest in her family. When she first moved here NOBODY in her family spoke any English at all. She started in school and struggled for a long time because she didn't know any English and she couldn't get any support at home really because her parents don't know any English either. Lupe is one of the sweetest little girls you will ever meet. She has so much life in her and is such a hard worker. She is now the top of her class, speaks great English (even better than some of the kids that have lived in cedar all their lives) and is one of the top readers. She is an amazing little girl. She used to come up to me and say how worried she was how she would do on a test because nobody at home can help her study and she didn't fully understand something so I would work with her a lot one on one to try and help her. She always got top scores. Her parents still don't know hardly any English at all and she basically is the translator for her whole family. She has a lot of responsibility in her family but is such a good example to everyone. I know her family struggles financially a lot so I wanted to at least help her out to have a Christmas that she deserves. In the things I got her there were a few things she could share with her brothers and sisters but I think I would like to get something more for her whole family soon to help them ALL out a little more. It felt so good to be able to help out a little. ... Oh and thanks Bryan for being the knock and run guy. Here are a few pictures from what I got her. (we were supposed to document our experience and tell about it..that was part of the deal). A few of the things I got for Lupe for Christmas.

Me with the Christmas gifts all packaged up!

I hope you enjoyed!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Touch the Temple

Thanksgiving break was great! There was lots of food, lots of family, and lots of fun! I wanted to share with everyone one thing my family did over the break and that was go to the St. George temple. A couple months ago in the ensign, my mom found an article that she really liked. It was called "Touching the Temple" (some of you may have read it). If you haven't read it, I would highly suggest it. Ever since my mom read this article she got this idea to do over the Thanksgiving break when all my family was here. It was an amazing and spiritual experience....

All of my family met at the temple on the side where the staircase is that leads up to the big doors. My mom talked to us for a minute about how President Monson has said that as we touch the temple the temple will touch us. She shared her testimony of the temple and how important it is in each of our lives. All the grandkids were there and after my mom talked to us each grandchild walked up the stairs and touched the temple doors and said "Today I touched the temple and one day I will enter the doors." and then we took their pictures touching the temple doors. It was so neat to see all my nieces and nephews do this. You could tell it really got them thinking about the importance of the temple. After all the kids had a chance to touch the temple, we all gathered at the bottom of the stairs again together and all of my family sang

"I love to see the temple. I'm going there some day,

to feel the holy spirit to listen and to pray. For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am young. This is my sacred duty."

The spirit was so strong and it was so amazing to be at such a sacred place with all of my family singing those words. All of the adults were able to go in after our program and go to a session at the temple. (I of course am not endowed yet so I was on babysitting duty...which I love too.) I can't wait to go to the temple someday. Until then I try to go to the temple regularly to do baptisms for the dead. I have had the opportunity to go to several temples and have the spirit touch me in so many ways. I am so thankful for this gospel. I am so thankful for Temples and the sacred work that goes on inside. I'm so thankful for the blessings in my life and the amazing family I have. I'm thankful to know that they are my eternal family and I will always live with them.

"Yes, temples can touch us as much — more so — than we can touch them. When we go to a temple, we touch its solid surfaces, but the temple touches us on a deeper level. It touches the spirit." -Touching the Temple Ensign talk.

Here are a few pictures from our temple trip:


I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Christmas ... Here we come!

My Life as of Late

Well everyone, I have quite a lot to catch everyone up on. So let's just get right into it... First of all I'M FREE!!!!!!!! I am officially done with college. I have graduated (the only thing that doesn't make it official is the actual graduation which will be in May...but lets not focus on that because I'm done)! I was officially done with student teaching on Friday the 20th and I already have several Subbing jobs at several different schools here in Cedar. Not much of a break but I'm excited and it's finally come to a time when I will actually be getting paid for what I've been working towards all this time. It's a great feeling to be done. Here is a picture of my 5th grade class on the last day I was with them. I will miss them a lot. They are cute kids but I'm excited for whats ahead for me.

Next... I went to my annual cancer check up and I am happy to say that everything is still fine. I'm still cancer free! Yay! The check up went great. It was a quick trip but it was good. Bryan came with me to keep me company.

I made a purchase that I am pretty excited about. I have always wanted to learn the guitar. My dad had a really old one that I tried to fix up but it just didn't have a very good sound to it. So I had saved up some money and I decided to buy this beauty....

Isn't she a beauty? I love it. Bryan has been teaching me how to play. It's been fun.

The next couple pictures are of me and some of my favorite nephews in the world. There is a picture of us at Halloween, one night when we were all in our PJ's together, and them in their brand new church clothes. They are so cute!Other than that life is continuing on as normal. I have been really busy lately but have been very blessed. I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving and everything is going well!

Through the Years ... What do you think?

So there is all this debate lately about what I should do with my hair. I have had many hairdos in my life and I think its about time for a change. You see... most all of my life I have had short hair. Exhibit A:This was one of the earliest pictures I could find showing proof of short hair through my life.

Exhibit B:The above picture was a stage in my life where it was curlers in the hair every night and take them out in the morning when I woke up.

Exhibit C:Ahh... Exhibit C is very interesting. To this day this picture is the time when my hair was the longest it has ever been. This was in the Second Grade. Now do you see why I say its about time for a change? Its been about 14 years since my hair has been past shoulder length.

Now the last picture was in the second grade and the next picture is from my Junior year of High School. The reason for the big jump is because 1. I couldn't find any pictures on my computer from those times. And 2. There are some times in your life that you just shouldn't make people relive with you. Maybe in some later posts you will see these pictures...it would probably be titled "My awkward years". Just trust me my hair was short.

Exhibit D:
Both these pictures are from my Junior year of high school. It was up at state track. The picture above is of us three team captains. This picture and the picture right below are from the same day. This is the shortest my hair has ever been. This is how my hair was from my freshman to junior year of high school.
Exhibit E:
Not only have I tried different lengths and styles, but different hair colors. I have tried going to really dark hair color.

And finally Exhibit F:This is probably the most recent picture of me. My hair is back to its natural hair color. And I have been trying to grow it out since the beginning of the summer. The real question is....should I continue on with growing out my hair? What do you think?

Grandma Lymans 90th Birthday and leaving the First Grade

My family (my extended family) had a huge birthday party for my Grandma Lyman. It was her 90th Birthday. We all went up to Delta and had the party inbetween conference sessions. I really love getting together with my moms side of the family. Even though there are 148 of us in all (aunts, uncles, grandkids, and great grandkids) we are all so close to each other and our family gatherings are always a blast. Like I said before her ... My Grandma Lyman is the big 9 0 . Even though that is her age you wouldn't know it. She looks so young for her age, she is still active and her sense of humor has never faded. She is an amazing woman and a huge role model in my life. Here are some of the pictures from the big day!

My Grandma leading us in the Happy Birthday Song.

All the Granddaughters with Grandma Lyman
(we were missing 4 others that couldn't make it to the party but this is most of us).
These are some of my favorite ladies in the world...all are amazing examples to me especially Kayla (front right in the wheelchair).

The three amigos meet again! Two of my best friends and cousins in the world.

Me , Grandma Lyman, Kelli, and Karilynne. Doesn't my Grandma look young for 90?

Grandma and I. Definitely a hero in my life.

My nephew Eli was pooped by the end of the day. It's a lot to take for just a little guy.

My family took a quick picture with Grandma before we had to leave.
I'm so blessed. My family is amazing.

October 2nd (Friday) was my last day with my first graders. I am going to miss them so much but it was so fun to be with them for 6 weeks. On my last day they surprised me with a book they made for me as a class and a root beer float party. It was so fun. It's just a fun age to be with. I wasn't able to take a picture with the class before I left but I took some pictures of some of the pages of the book they made me so you can understand why I'm going to miss them so much. Here are a few of the pictures from the book they made me. I hope you can read their writing and see their drawings well...it shows up kind of light on the camera.


Miss Keate, You are so nice to the class. Thank you for all you
have done. Thank you for teaching us math. Love, Sunny

Dear Miss Keate, Thank you for teaching us about Africa. Love, Bailey

Dear Miss Keate, I love you. You are nice. Thank you for teaching us about Africa. Love, Taz

Dear Miss Keate, You are the best teacher in the world. Love, Karsten

Dear Miss Keate, I love you. Happy Halloween. We are one
big happy classroom. Love Your Friend, McKenna

Dear Miss Keate, I love you. You are my best friend. Love, Brayden

Anyways...I thought those were cute and I would share them with you. Sorry for such a long post but I had a lot going on this week. Hope you enjoyed!

California Fun and More

I know, I confess its been FOREVER since I have blogged...I'm sorry. But I do have good reasons I'm usually gone from home everyday from 8-7 either at the school student teaching or teaching piano and by the time I get home I have to prep for the next day of school and then I try to squeeze in other stuff and blogging has just not been high priority as of late. But I'm going to get back into the groove of it. For those of you who may not know Bryan and I decided to head to Los Angeles this past weekend for a quick trip and we had so much fun. It was kind of on a whim and totally worth it. We left Friday as soon as both of us got out of school and headed for Vegas. We stayed the night in Vegas with my Grandpa Keate and headed out early the next morning because we had a full day ahead of us. The first thing we did was go to the Los Angeles Temple.

The temple grounds are HUGE! It was gorgeous.

This was one of the tree's on the temple ground. I just thought it was cool.


Then we headed to Venice Beach. It was one of the weirdest but coolest places ever. There were street performers everywhere, crazy old guys singing jingle bells, and little shops everywhere. We didn't get to stay for long but we got to get in the water for a little while at least.


We headed to the Dodgers game next. We missed the first inning because the traffic was ridiculous, but hey...everyone else was walking in just as late as us so we didn't feel like we missed out on that much. It was so fun to go to the Dodgers game....I had never been to a MLB game so it was a lot of fun. They played the Giants and the Dodgers totally crushed them... the final score of the game was 12 - 1. I want to go to another game! I'm a new and converted fan of Major League Baseball. Some highlights of the game were: 2 home runs hit by the Dodgers in a row, the Dodgers totally dominating the Giants, this guy purposed to his wife during the game and they showed it on the big screen so I thought that was pretty cool, singing take me out to the ball game with a whole stadium of Dodgers fans, and much much more. We were praying for Bryan to catch a ball from Manny Ramierez but Unfortunately that never happened. Maybe next time.



I know this picture of this man is random...we had to take a picture though for the pure memory of him. He sat behind us in the game. For those of you who want to know more about this I will tell you sometime. haha.Me and Bryan at the game. If your wondering why my hair is all wavy and weird...its because it was. It was SO hot and humid at the game and thats what happens. Oh well...we had to get at least one picture of us at the game.

We had a ton of fun even though it was a quick trip. I had to be back by Sunday morning at nine because one of my best friends is leaving on her mission and she was having her farewell. Anne is leaving on October 14th for the Naga, Philippines Mission.

Yeah, I know this is a forever old picture of us but it works. I'm so excited for Anne. She is going to be an amazing missionary. I will miss her a lot. We have been best friends since we were eleven. She did a great job in her talk and is going to have an amazing 1 1/2 years!

I also just finished piecing, tying, and binding a quilt. I thought I'd post a picture of it. I've been on quite the craftiness roll so I thought I'd keep going and now I'm crocheting around a couple baby blankets as well.Thanks Mary and Bryan for helping me with the quilt and letting me use your house to make it!

I am now up to 13 piano students and am half way through my student teaching! This semester is flying by but I'm absolutely loving working with my cute 1st graders! I will try to post again soon!