Perfect use for a blog

Blogher is sponsoring an REI giveaway. And I can't resist. I have a crush on REI, we all know it.
http://www.blogher.com/rei-outdoor-pledge-sweepstakes?contentamp
But I'm really hoping you don't go and enter. I don't need any more competition.

Moving time

This is the blog that happens when you marry someone with the same nickname. Who is a math teacher. And really, it should be (kp)2. I'm told the parenthesis are important.

The new family blog is www.kpsquared.blogspot.com

I'm not sure what to do with this blog. I love that it really is the memory of the last 3 years. And it has been a good 3 years. But it's time to move on. Goodbye little blog...

T minus 1 day

I can't believe it's here. The last few months of being engaged really have flown by. And then I probably won't post much more on this blog. But I'll let you know the new blog when I finally decide to use it.

It's a wedding, something has to go wrong, Right?

It's almost midnight the night before I'm scheduled to leave for LA for my wedding. And I don't have my wedding dress. I should have known. Remember THIS post, when at the time I had no idea I would be needing a wedding dress so soon. I jokingly referred to using my old wedding dress, but in reality there were a lot of reasons I wanted a new dress. Well I found one and I love it. But it needed a few alterations to make it modest so 2 1/2 weeks ago I took it to a seamstress who said she needed a week. She'd call me in a week. She had had it a week and half when I decided I should call her. And then I called the next day. And the next. No response. I gave her Sunday off from calling, but resumed my pestering (although I'm not sure it's pestering under these circumstances) on Monday. She finally called back that night. It would be done the next morning which is today. So at the scheduled time I left to get it. I was about half way there when she called to say she needed another hour. I gave her an hour and a half. Drove over there....and it wasn't done. The parts she has done look amazing, but apparently the sleeves are being tricky. I really feel for her as I would be pulling my hair out. However, she was going to call tonight about it being picked up and no word. I'm torn between sympathy and frustration. At least I have seen the dress and know it hasn't been eaten by the dog, or coke spilled on it, or any number of situations I saw in my nightmares.

The big day

People keep asking if I'm nervous or excited. Yes. And then I realize they're talking about the wedding and I'm talking about Ragnar. I really have been way more mentally preoccupied with Ragnar than planning the wedding. I think it's been good to have something to keep me balanced while being engaged. At first I thought it was crazy to do two time consuming things within 2 weeks, but it really has been nice to not be able to devote too much time to one or the other. Added bonus, I dropped a dress size with all this training. Score.

This past weekend was finally the big race. It went really well. I met my goals for all 3 legs which felt really good. It also feels good to not have it hanging over my head. The day after there was no way I'd consider it again, but now a few days out I really want to do it again. Maybe even do a few of them in other states, you know states at lower elevation and fewer hills.

I wonder if I'd quilt if my friends didn't have babies

There are so many things I love about this quilt, but one of them is not the picture quality. I just get too impatient (shocking, I know) to wait for lighting or help or any number of things that would make this quilt more presentable. But I figure my fans will forgive me.

1. I love that this quilt was for my friend's little boy who was born with a bowel obstruction and has already had a resection. I knew from the start I had a special place for him because, well, people like that are just awesome. We've already bonded.

2. I love that this quilt's twin has a similar story. Both were for my best friend's little boys. Both boys were born with complications that required immediate surgery. Both boys were in the hospital for month/s. Both boys are just tiny and adorable.

3. I love this fabric. Mostly because this time around I appreciated it more since I had just returned from Africa and every animal I sewed reminded me of seeing them in person.

4. I love that sewing this gave me a break from wedding plans. Enough said.

5. I love that I finally found a use for a math major. Just kidding. I found a similar quilt on line, but couldn't find a pattern so I just showed it to Kyle, told him how big I wanted the blocks, and he did all the math to figure out the pattern. The only hiccup was I forgot to explain seam allowance, so it did end up a little smaller than my original plan. So this pattern is a KP original.

I'm still in shock

I pride myself on being a very independent girl. However, there are a few tasks in which I've found it's nice to have a guy around. Namely grilling, driving on road trips, keeping my feet warm, and putting Christmas lights up (and taking them down). And I've found just the guy who has so graciously agreed to take care of such activities. The only thing I've been asked to do is be a solid Spurs fan. Deal.

So with those important details agreed upon, Kyle and I are getting married. Eeeps! That still feels weird to say. In Los Angeles. In July.