Boys will be boys

My boys found the pile of stuff I had brought upstairs to take to Deseret Industries. They entertained themselves for a good twenty minutes as they smashed things and flattened paper in the George Foreman. Who needs toys?

"Yes? Can I help you?"

Decorating. HELP

Hey there all you decorating guru's. I need a little help. I found these nifty bottles at a yard sale (six of them) and now I have to figure out what to put in them. I'm still trying to beef up my Italian style kitchen. So going with that theme, what would you suggest? (I think those bottles of vinigar with herbs floating around in them are really cool... but how the heck do you make your own?)

Split personality

Totally, really, absolutely don't want to clean my house today!!!!! Unfortunately, I don't have a maid. Kind of wish I did. No, today I REALLY wish I did. Or maybe just a couple more "me's." Actually, I'd need a small army of me's. The real me could go lay in the sunshine, read a book or something lazy and delightful. The other me's would take care of the children, clean the house, organize, make delish meals, run the errands and everything else. Mmmmmm that sounds so nice!

The only problem would be when Brett comes home. I'm not sure the poor man could handle more than one me. Hmmm, that comment could go two ways.... either I am a pretty big handful of girly emotions and wifely craziness OR I am so dang fabulous Brett just wouldn't know what to do with more wonderfulness. Please don't tell me which one is true. I'm just going to pretend its the second one.

Well, now that I have wasted about ten minutes that I really should have been cleaning a bathroom or something more productive... I'm going to clean and just pretend its the other me and that I am really at a spa for the day. (I've never been to a spa... sigh... scrub, spraying Windex... scrub, scrub... sigh).

Pioneer Children... walked and walked and...

Family home evening last night was pioneer themed. We invited some friends to join us on our mini trek. We read a cute children's story(When Pioneer Wagons Rumbled West, by Christine Graham), sang pioneer songs, and then ventured forth. I had rigged up our garden wagon with hoola-hoops and a little sewing to make a covered wagon. Brett left some "challenges"hidden along the trail. The kids had to find them, read a little about the trials the pioneers faced, and then try the challenge.

The one that tugged at my heart was challenge #2: "Sometimes ma's and pa's died along the trail. Try going a little way with out our help." My friend and I handed our babies to our oldest girls and stood back. As I watched our two seven-year olds daughters hold their baby brothers and struggle to keep hiking, I could see it - feel it - how it must have been for those families. How those parents who had "gone ahead" must have hovered near and tried to strengthen those children who had to carry on without them. Good grief, I sobbing as I write this!

The kids got to dress up a little. My son and his little bud getting all cowboy-ed up. I was laughing when Ben came down dressed like that... check out the plaid and the overalls. Madi and her friend. I told each of the kids to bring one special toy. One of the challenges later was that they had to leave the toy along the trail. (Don't worry, they didn't really have to leave it behind).
I whipped this skirt and apron out for Brooke a the last minute. She LOVED being a pioneer in her new duds.

These little pioneers seem to be excited to "leave their homes behind." The wagon in the back was my afternoons labors. Unfortunately it didn't last long.

My friend's little guy really had fun riding in the wagon.

If you ignore the buildings, it really looks authentic. Cool place for a mini trek huh? Yup, this is a block from my front door.

This was another one of the challenges. These three pioneer "got sick"and had to ride in the wagon for a bit. Daddy made it easy on the others and was the "oxen" the whole time. Poor guy. Well, at least this challenge was when we were on flat ground and not on one of the monster hills we hiked.

The kids had to hop on one foot for a few minutes... Challenge #3: "some pioneer children didn't have any shoes... pretend you just got a thorn in your foot."

We made it! And what do you know, "merry and happy where they," the whole way.

The "fun to do list"

I am a list maker. Mostly because after giving birth to four children, I have lost a lot of brain cells and can't remember things with out writing them down or having one of my children responsible for reminding me. That reminds me, I'd better jot down a few calendering things before I... oh shoot, what was I supposed to write down? hee hee

So this week, I decided to do the things I really should have done with my kids on the week I re-did my kitchen. This is my penance. The kids sat down with me and each of them shouted out a few of the "fun things" they wanted to do. It is only Tuesday, and I have to say, this has been the most fun I have had this summer! The list looks something like this:

• Go yard sale-ing
• Go to the library
• Picnic at the park
• Go to volleyball
• Sew Madi's dress
• Go swimming
• Tea party
• Run through sprinklers
• Play at another park
• Back yard camp out
• Drive-in movie party
• Go to pet store
• doughnut run
• Go to another park
• Go to more parks
• Family bike rides

I don't know why I get so caught up in getting my silly house work done . Fun with my kids is just WAY MORE FUN! We just finished our cardboard box cars and are going to have our "drive-in" in the family room tonight. (My car is a little small to sit in for a couple hours comfortably... I think I'll just let Connor sit in it).

So here is the lesson I have learned this week: Laundry and dirty dishes will still be there waiting for me (unfortunately) but my kids will only be little (and wanting me to play with them) for a short time. So have a fun day... I'm going to read stories with my cuties.

Basket makeover

I just finished this project last night and wanted to... is it ok to say "show it off?" I found this little beauty at a yard sale for a dollar. If you can't tell, it's an old picnic basket. And while it is very charming as is... I had plans for the unsuspecting little basket.So I hit the power tools and had a little fun. Yes those are my old college chemistry goggles for those of you wondering... but now they are ultra sweet power tool mom gear.

I ripped off the old top. Lined the whole basket with masonite to make it more sturdy. (Hooray for my new table saw... also from a yard sale. I know, its so sweet!) A yard of polka dot fabric, little hot glue and a lot of tiny screws later: my happenin' new basket! But hold the phone...


Now it's my guest bathroom, um... well I have haven't exactly figured out what to put in it, but hey, its done. (I just won't be showing my husband how many holes I put in the wall. Those stupid stud finders don't work!)

Who needs a drinking fountain?

It was bedtime... I'm running hither and yon trying to brush four sets of teeth, find pj's for everyone, check that they've done their chores and all those things that roll around at bedtime. And this is where I find Connor. Its amazing what the younger siblings learn from the older ones.
What a cheesy grin!

Just getting drink before bedtime.

Kitchen Makeover

So here are the before and after pictures of my "cheap" kitchen makeover project. (No new counter tops, flooring or cupboards... so I had to be creative). This is the kitchen BEFORE! Be advised.... the colors are about to get CRAZY. Here's what happens when my honey leaves me for a week and my sister comes to visit. I still have a lot of decorating to do and a little window treatmet, but you get the idea.

I had to sand down my "wood flavored" doors, prime, paint, whack and distress (which was interesting with particle board) and them stain and wipe off. Sounds fun huh? So if the cupboards look old... they're supposed to. :)