family

"We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, 'Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.' Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together." --M. Russell Ballard

(Can't wait to see what we'll learn about next week!!)

Springville, Utah last weekend.

Nothing gets better than this.

Project

Since it feels like autumn is coming up fast I've become a bit frantic. That's right, I'm a procrastinator and here in eastern Idaho you never know how much time you have left of beautiful sunshine to get things done. 

Well, since we moved into our house, a year ago, I've been unhappy about its color.  LOVE the yellow (sigh) but HATE the forest green door and shutters. Every time we drove home it was something I'd wrinkle my nose at and ponder on all the alternatives I'd make to my front yard. 

Soooooo, I finally did it. Spur of the moment after my piano lesson on Tuesday I decided if I was going to get it done, it had better be TODAY! Without giving Mike the heads up and putting off cleaning my hideously messy house (which was my original goal) I took on the project.

First, I barricaded the door so my children couldn't get to me (much to their dismay)

Then, I pulled off the shutters and front door hardware and laid down a drop cloth.

(notice the icky green even with the bad lighting, it soooo doesn't go with the yellow they chose for the house, yuck)

Then PAINT!

(I let Danna help while Carina was taking a nap, and yes, she was covered in paint afterwords)

Then reassemble. . .

I wish I had a better picture but by this time it was late afternoon and the shadow lay right over my front door. 

I know it may not be exciting to anyone else except me (and my neighbors) but I LOVE IT and am so glad that I was actually able to get it done. It makes the yellow look not so "BAM"  and more of a subdued creamy yellow. I think that's just as it should be for the outside of a house. What do you think?

GO ME!

Anticipation

So I got the kids ready this morning and throw on my capri sweats and a T-shirt and head out for our MWF walking group, like normal. Then I step outside.

BRRRRRRRRRR!!

When did autumn get here?

Okay, now, usually this is quite a depressing thought for me. Like, "Oh no!!!! I'm going to lose my tan and will have to become a hermit and I won't be able to find watermelon anywhere!" type of crisis. And yes, it is a crisis when those things happen.

But this time around I'm a little excited for the coolness to set in. Why, you ask?

Because I have a new obsession called blogging (thanks Emily). Not writing blogs, mind you, but reading other women's blogs, women I don't know but LOVE. Women who are funny and creative and thrifty, and magic, and did I say creative? And who are moms. They inspire me with some of the beautiful and fun things they create. 

So now I have ideas (most of which I've stolen from these women) to help me make the most of my cooped up time at home. And I'm SOO EXCITED!!!

Seriously check out some of these adorable ideas! 

(don't remember)

http://notsoidlehands.blogspot.com

http://notsoidlehands.blogspot.com

http://kari-youcanmakeit.blogspot.com

(don't remember)

http://www.skiptomylou.org

http://www.skiptomylou.org

http://kari-youcanmakeit.blogspot.com

And this isn't even the half of it. There are ideas for baby, furniture, bedroom, bathroom, outdoors, sewing, quilts, organization, cooking and more. 

And they have hundreds more that are sooo cute!

Check out a few links I have off to the right under 'new obsessions' if you're interested in seeing what else they and others have done but beware--you may become addicted.

Rules to live by. . .

Toddler's creed

If it is on, I must turn it off.

If it is off, I must turn it on.

If it is folded, I must unfold it.

If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.

If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.

If it is high, it must be reached.

If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.  

If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.

If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.

If it does not open, it must be screamed at.

If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.

If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.

If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.

If Mommy's hands are full, I must be carried.

If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.

If it is paper, it must be torn.

If it has buttons, they must be pressed.

If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.

If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.

If it is not food, it must be tasted.

If it is food, it must not be tasted.

If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.

If it is Mommy (or Daddy), it must be hugged.

I am toddler!

Thought this was funny and thought I'd share!

Good Thing

Good thing I have so much help around here with:

cooking,

doing the dishes,

laundry,

and cleaning,

Or this housewife thing would be really HARD!

Family pictures

So. . . we finally got some family pictures taken. 

Good thing we have a friend who is amazing with a camera.

AND who is patient with our unruly kids.

I thought they turned out fantastic.

Tell me what YOU think. . .

hope it's okay that I stole these pictures from your blog Emily!

If you're interested to see more of what she and her husband do go see www.legacyddp.blogspot.com or www.legacyddp.com

Row

Row, Row, Row your boat, gently down the stream. . . 

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, life is but a dream. . .

After yard sale-ing one particular Saturday and not finding anything that I wanted or needed (weird, I know) I found this big blow-up raft. Did I need it? no way. . . but my mind was rolling with possibilities of all the fun we could have with it. So I talked down a $30 purchase to $20 and brought home my random prize (with oars, how fun!)

OK- So maybe I AM addicted to random stuff just 'cause I can get it for cheap.

Anyway, last Friday we invited my sister Amber and her husband Talon for a float down the warm river just above Ashton. We had a blast as you can see. Even the girls loved our little adventure, as well as Big Jud's when we were through!

I recommend you try it sometime. Call us if you need to borrow a raft!