Yep, I'm One of Those Moms

You may recall the Valentine's Box I did for Mitchell last year.  If not, please read this post before continuing on.  Things will make much more sense. Since I did such a great job last year, I needed to one up myself.  Here it is:

Complete with A/V cable spots.

I was He was pretty proud. He couldn't wait to show it off to his class.  Although, when he got home he said it wasn't the most creative one there.  That went to the kid in his class who made a toilet.  Go figure.

Two Down

This is another goal I've been working on dreaming about for quite a while.  I figured that I just needed to do it.  So, I now present to you:

Chocolatey Ever After

I'm interested in what you think.  (But please be nice.)


p.s. I don't know if I'm crazy about the name, so if you're wittier than I, please feel free to suggest something.

One down

I rarely do this kind of stuff, but one of my goals for this year is to take more time to do "me" projects. Seriously, my sewing/craft desk is overflowing with half-finished crafts. So, I am posting about this Valentines's decor idea from Craftily Ever After in hopes that it's early enough to get the printable and get it done in time for this year's holiday.






p.s. stay tuned for my annual list of goals. They're still swimming around in my head.

For those not as well educated in the random, obscure characters of Super Mario Bros. I give you the original photos that the costumes were based upon.

Archer as Dry Bones. A skeleton Koopa.

Cameron as Yoshi.
I know not completely accurate. Lay off.

Mitchell as Shy Guy

Strawberry Shortcake

Apple Dumpling

It was a fun couple of days. Matt and I still need to get in costume again to take pictures. We dressed up for the ward trunk or treat. I was in charge of said event and in the chaos didn't get pictures taken of us.

Stay tuned.

Save Money. Live Better.

I have a problem with this motto. Every time I step foot into the spawn of Satan's store, I turn into a bad person. I become an aggressive cart driver, I am abrupt with employees, and irritable towards everyone shopping. Now, I don't shop there very often, maybe once every couple of months for one or two things that I just can't find anywhere else. Now that they've stopped carrying my color of Nice 'n' Easy, I have no longer had the "need" to go there.

Fast Forward to today. I knew that they had the best price on a ream of copy paper (that's now on my kids' list of school supplies) and Expo brand fine tip dry erase markers (do they really have to be Expo brand?). So, I braved the outing, with all 5 kids in tow, which, I admit was my second mistake. The first of course being my choice of store (and the horrific parking).

I got the copy paper, they were out of dry erase markers and watercolors just like everywhere else, and could not find a steno notebook to save my life. The school supply section was a complete joke. Granted, this is the day before school starts, but it wasn't even laid out well.

I had five items, so I waited to use the self-checkout, which I love for small purchases. I am not one of those people who think they can do it better than the paid checker and take my overflowing basket to check out myself. Of course the machine froze on me and wouldn't take my coupon and wanted the "attendant" to do it for me. Meanwhile, Child #1 and #2 are "entertaining" themselves by running in small circles around each other. Child #3 was repeatedly begging for a pack a lip gloss, and when told "no" more than once, starts screaming and crying. Child #4 was climbing out of the cart and onto the little self-check out shelf (and "thank you" to the lady behind me who saved him from falling on his head). Child #5 just started crying.

It was quite the afternoon. I now quote my philosophical husband who believes "if there were no "insert store-that-shall-not-be-named" and no middle schools, it would solve three quarters of the world's problems."

Save Money. Live Better. Unless You Have Kids.

Why?

I like to blog stalk. Some people blog as a way of creative escape, some blog to share memories with others, and some use their blog as a journal. But there are a few blogs that I read, one in particular, whose blogger never blogs about anything bad that happens in their life. Only the great parties they've thrown, or the wonderful trips they've been on. Their blogs make me feel like I don't have the nicest house with granite counter tops, teak cabinets, slate flooring, or all stainless steel appliances. I also feel like a bad mom who doesn't love her kids enough pick up all the Otter Pop wrappers after them or have them signed up at with the best (and most expensive) ballet academy or sports camps, or whisk them away on fabulous vacations all across the country. I also feel disorganized, non-crafty, and boring. So, why, do I continue to read these? Self masochism I suppose.

Now, if you are reading this, you can be absolutely positively 100% sure that I am not talking about you or your blog. I can guarantee that to you. The blogs I am referring to are those of your best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend.

Double Your Pleasure

Same age. Same dress. Same bow.

Be Careful What You Wish For

So, for a long time I have said that I would love to be called as the Ward Activities Chairwoman. I love to plan parties and have no one come. (At least that's been my experience when planning my own gatherings.) A couple of weeks ago, I got the call. Either I mentioned it to the right person, or they really wanted to get us (and by us, I mean me, because Matt is an awesome teacher) out of teaching the pilot class "Strengthening Marriage".

I don't know about your wards, but in the last 4 years that we have lived here, we have done the same activities. The Chili Cook-Off in March, the Pancake Breakfast on the 4th of July, the Trunk-or-Treat in October, and the Christmas Party. I'm going to bet that it's the same for most of you. Minus the Chili Cook-Off in March. March?? I only make chili from September on, when the weather is right. Now that I think about it, here in Idaho, that can include March.

I got the "go-ahead" to shake things up a bit. I might get fired before I even get to some of my ideas, but it needs to be done. While I won't mess with the Trunk-or-Treat, I definitely have plans for the Christmas Party. I hope no one is offended when I don't serve ham and funeral potatoes.

What are some of your favorite or not so favorite activities that you have been to? I'm talking church gatherings, neighborhood block parties, school parties. We, Mormons, can adapt almost anything to suit our needs, right?

Make Up Call

When Mitchell was in K-2nd grade, he always made a Valentine's sack at school to put all his valentines in. I thought it was kind of a cop-out. What happened to decorating a shoe box or constructing something hugely creative, like my brother's poster board size Pacman? He came to me last year, the night before the party at school, and said he was supposed to take a shoe box (nothing bigger) for his loot. I had not seen a note about this (I guess they figure 3rd graders are responsible enough to relay messages home), so I didn't know exactly what he was supposed to do. I asked him if he was supposed to decorate it and his reply was "eh, we can if we want". I asked him if he wanted to and his reply was "nah, I'll be okay" (whose kid is this??). Now, we don't buy a lot of shoes in the box (I'm more of a find-a-great-deal-at-TJ Maxx kind of gal), so the chances of me finding a box around the house were pretty slim. I remembered that I had bought a pair of shoes for Addison to grow into (thank you Famous Footwear cousin discount) and they were still in the box up in her closet. I gave the tiny size shoe box to him to take. As I waited for him after school, I watched all the kids exit with their extravagantly-decorated-bigger-than-shoe-boxes-box. I felt like the worst.mom.ever. I managed a craft store for 2 years for crying out loud, and I sent my kid to school with a girl's Esprit box for his valentines? Right then, I vowed to make it up next year. I am usually one of those moms who doesn't do their kid's school stuff (poster's, oral presentation cue cards, etc.) for them. I help them, but I really think it's important that they do it themselves. But I needed a make up call.

I present this year's make up call.

I know, it doesn't have a cord. I'd appreciate you getting off my back about it.


Thank goodness for Pepsi products being on sale last week.



To be fair, he did help, I let him think up the tin foil and cover it.

Budding Ballerina

Addison takes ballet through our City Rec Center. To say she loves it would be quite the understatement. For her winter recital they did a little number to "Kiss the Girl". Which couldn't have been more perfect for her. She concentrates so hard and tries to perfect every move and position. This has been a great outlet for her and her princess drama. Now if we can move on past the tantrums we will be set.

All I Can Make is Cold Cereal and Maybe Toast

This is our traditional Thanksgiving Eve dinner. The kids love it. I wonder why?

On Turning Ten...

This about sums it up. He always has a great way with words.

Hayden

Here's Haydee at about 8 weeks old. She is such a sweet baby. She is sleeping through the night, however, most of the time she thinks she can't sleep unless she is being held. So I have quite the crick in my back. (I think postpartum care should include a good masseuse.) The kids love her and even Cameron is starting to pay more attention to her. He loves to give her a binky, even when she doesn't want it.

We were so lucky to be able to have some family come for her blessing. It made for a fun weekend. I wish we lived closer so we could celebrate more occasions and holidays together. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be quiet around here this year.

Ha! Who am I kidding? Things are never quiet with 5 kids.

This is Halloween, Everybody Make a Scene

Batman, Robin, Penguin, The Flash, Storm, Wonder Woman. You know we had
to separate the Marvel comics from the DC comics.

Never could talk her into anything else. Her costume was definitely the easiest to make. She gathered up random pieces from her dress up box and called herself a fairy princess. She was more than happy. I was ecstatic that it was one less costume for me to recreate.

Diva for a Day

Matt wanted to do something special for Addison on her birthday and someone told him about this cute place in town. We took Addie in to Paislee Punch for a mani/pedi. For $8 she got her fingernails and toenails painted a glittery pink. Yeah, it might have been 8 bucks I could have saved by doing it myself, but she felt like the queen of the world and the excitement on her face was was worth every penny.

Halloween Apothecary

My new blog friend turned me on to this great Halloween apothecary. I downloaded the labels here and printed them on card stock. I scoured the D.I. (which wasn't easy as they are remodeling and everything was on wheeled carts on the sidewalk outside) and Goodwill (I'm always disappointed that they don''t offer better prices. They have better quality stuff, but not much better than shopping at TJ Maxx or the like) for the jars. After mod podging the labels to the jars, the real fun began with rifling through my cupboards to see what I could fill each jar with.

If you look closely you'll see:
Toadstool Essence = Craisins
Mummy Mold = Oreo crumbs
Werewolf Howls = Cotton balls
Tincture of Skull = Salt (both kosher and table)
Corpse Dust = Butterscotch pudding powder (the instant variety because I accidentally bought it instead of the cook and serve for sticky buns)
Deadly Nightshade = Dried Cloves
Poison = Water with red food coloring
Eye of Newt = Wrapped caramel filled chocolates (which I steal one from every now and then)

A fun little project and my kids enjoyed seeing what was going in the next jar. Now if only I could finish my "BOO" blocks and skeleton board (pics pending). Oh, and get out those fall decorations that were supposed to be up before the baby was born. Guess it's time to put up all the rest of the Halloween decor anyway.

Here She Is...

Hayden Dawn English
September 8, 2009
8 lbs. 2 oz.
21 inches

More pictures to come, I promise.

09/08/09

This friend of mine and I are due on the same day. We thought it would be cool to be induced on 09/09/09. Looks like she is set to get her wish. Unfortunately, I am not. I am scheduled to be induced one day earlier. My doctor originally had me scheduled for Wednesday and I had to talk him out of it. You see, my husband, the ever advocate of higher education, thinks his students would rather be in class reading, writing and well, no arithmetic in English 101.

I can't complain, he is starting his "paternity leave" tomorrow (except for teaching one hour a day three times a week). He asked me what is he really going to do for two weeks at home ("besides take care of the kids and get them off to school?"). Oh, I told him we have all kinds of things on our "to do" list. He is anxious and willing (well, anxious might be an overstatement). I am looking forward to having him around for a while.


p.s. check here to see another friend who will be birthing a child around the same time (guess which one is me?)

Why Is that, Anyway?

You would think that I would be blogging more, especially now that it is hot and I am 7+ months pregnant and really don't have the desire to do anything except sit on my rear. Plugging in my camera to upload even seems like too much of an effort.


Maybe I should correct myself. I have the desire to do a lot of things. I do want a clean house, and laundry done, and sewing projects finished, and scrapbooks worked on. It's just the motivation that I am lacking. There's a difference. I did manage to upload a few pictures to Facebook. I don't feel pressured to come up with witty captions and sarcastic remarks like I do when I post them on this blog.

So, I guess I'll just sit here under the ceiling fan and slurp down Sir Isaac Lime and Alexander the Grape Otter Pops (the two flavors of choice in the last half hour). They do a surprisingly good job of cooling a preggo off.

Why is that anyway?

My Fifteen Minutes

Well, it was more like 30 seconds, but I'll take what I can get.



Click on the title to be taken to Pocatello's NBC affiliate. Then find the "Summertime Presents Learning Opportunities" story on the video player and enjoy my fifteen minutes of fame.