HAPPY times!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Popcorn Seeds
POPCORN SEEDS
One of my tools for motivation and good behavior at home is giving my 4 year old daughter, Rilyn, popcorn kernals--or seeds as she calls them, in a jar.
It is a little babyfood jar. She gets popcorn seeds for good behavior, for picking up her room (she will get extra for doing it without being asked), for helping me with chores around the house, for being good for me in the store, etc...
When the jar is full she earns a prize that she previously picked out. Usually it's something small like a Pet Shop animal (toy) or a Polly Pocket or something from the dollar store. One of sthe latest things she has earned was a Strawberry Shortcake Puzzle from the dollar store, it has been the greatest "toy" because it's different than her other ones, it's educational and she loves it (as well as my 6 year old too)!
It's turned out to be the best dollar I have spent in a long time. All of my kids are loving it! Including Tyler, though he can't get the pieces to fit most of the time he still tries. The older kids enjoy it too!
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Curtains and Good Mail!
Here are a couple of pictures of what I've been working on the past few weeks (among a bunch of other things).
Me working on these curtains below for Alyssa's room.
This is the heavy tapestry fabric that I used for curtains in my family room, pictured below.
This fabric was SO heavy! I felt like I better not make a mistake while sewing with it because it was too expensive to waste it. So I was nervous!
Thankfully, these basic drapes were really easy!! And the fabric was originally $40.00 a yard and I got it for $20.00 per yard at JoAnn's on sale! Thank goodness for the sale because I had to buy $190.00 worth, even on sale!
Laren put those curtain rods up by standing where you shouldn't stand on a ladder (the very top part) while I held the ladder still from behind. Thankfully his 6'2" height came in handy for this since it was such a TALL project!!
And here's my GOOD MAIL!!
Dana was the first one to send me good mail and here it is:
Some cute earrings that she made, some Halloween socks and some Jelly Belly's Mmmmm!
Thanks Dana! (By the way she sent this WAY back before Halloween, but I wasn't blogging then to document it.)
Some good mail Victoria sent me. Some bath gels from Bath and Body Works. Thanks Victoria, I love it!! She also sent me a cute card, not pictured.
And finally, Bridget sent me this good mail on Monday, one of my sickest days! Thank you Bridget, the timing was perfect! The package included a cute little note book, the perfect little bag of M&M's that we all devoured quickly, some cute little Easter Cards and a sweet card to me!
Me working on these curtains below for Alyssa's room.
This is the heavy tapestry fabric that I used for curtains in my family room, pictured below.
This fabric was SO heavy! I felt like I better not make a mistake while sewing with it because it was too expensive to waste it. So I was nervous!
Thankfully, these basic drapes were really easy!! And the fabric was originally $40.00 a yard and I got it for $20.00 per yard at JoAnn's on sale! Thank goodness for the sale because I had to buy $190.00 worth, even on sale!
Laren put those curtain rods up by standing where you shouldn't stand on a ladder (the very top part) while I held the ladder still from behind. Thankfully his 6'2" height came in handy for this since it was such a TALL project!!
And here's my GOOD MAIL!!
Dana was the first one to send me good mail and here it is:
Some cute earrings that she made, some Halloween socks and some Jelly Belly's Mmmmm!
Thanks Dana! (By the way she sent this WAY back before Halloween, but I wasn't blogging then to document it.)
Some good mail Victoria sent me. Some bath gels from Bath and Body Works. Thanks Victoria, I love it!! She also sent me a cute card, not pictured.
And finally, Bridget sent me this good mail on Monday, one of my sickest days! Thank you Bridget, the timing was perfect! The package included a cute little note book, the perfect little bag of M&M's that we all devoured quickly, some cute little Easter Cards and a sweet card to me!
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Self Portrait Tuesday
In response to Lelly's challenge and to add a little fun to blogging, here is my self portrait in front of the mirror.
Doing something I do almost every single day of the year.
I didn't realize how hard this would be!!
Hmm, what do I notice about myself that other people might see that I don't? I don't know, I'll have to analyze my picture some more!
(I wanted to try some more shots, but figured I'd save it for another day and then I came down with the flu.)
Doing something I do almost every single day of the year.
I didn't realize how hard this would be!!
Hmm, what do I notice about myself that other people might see that I don't? I don't know, I'll have to analyze my picture some more!
(I wanted to try some more shots, but figured I'd save it for another day and then I came down with the flu.)
Another sick day -
Okay this sickness is knocking us out! We have seriously had this in our house for over a week now! First Kyle, he had it for a total of 8 days. Then Kayla got it, she had it for 7 days and still has a cough. Then Rilyn got it and then Tyler. I was next. I'm still sick now Rilyn and Tyler are getting a fever again!!
What is up with this!!?! It is the flu and it is going around our town like mad right now. It is not the short 24 hour bug either!! This one lasts and lasts! It includes nausea, fever and a sore throat and a cough.
I'm really trying to stay optimistic here. And so I'm hopefully not going to dwell on it. So, here are some of the best inventions for us lately:
and
And the best places to be when you're sick!
And thank goodness for this to pass the time!
What is up with this!!?! It is the flu and it is going around our town like mad right now. It is not the short 24 hour bug either!! This one lasts and lasts! It includes nausea, fever and a sore throat and a cough.
I'm really trying to stay optimistic here. And so I'm hopefully not going to dwell on it. So, here are some of the best inventions for us lately:
and
And the best places to be when you're sick!
And thank goodness for this to pass the time!
36 Things about Laren:
Happy 36th Birthday
36 Things about Laren:
1.)He is a hard worker. He is not one to come home and sit down in front of the TV after work, he eats and gets busy doing his various projects around the house. He seems to never run out of projects!
2.) He’s a perfectionist.
3.) He will only let me cut his hair. It used to be, when we were first married, that he would only let his Aunt cut his hair. She was a professional beautician and worked at a Salon. I tried to convince him that I had practice cutting my brother's hair and that I could save us a lot of money by him allowing me to cut it. Finally, one day he gave in and now he will let it get much longer than he likes it waiting for me to get around to cutting it!!
4.)He is conscientious. His decisions are usually well thought out.
5.)My kids think it is the best treat to have him carry them up, one by one, to their bed at night!! He is a good Dad!
6.)He is a Civil Engineer and designs roads for a living.
7.)He is intellectual.
8.)He is quiet by nature.
9.)He is the only boy and the youngest child in his family.
10.)He still wears the same suits he wore on his mission, along with a new one we bought for him a year ago at Christmas time.
11.)He likes to run for his exercise.
12.)He has become money conscious.
13.)He likes to listen to Dave Ramsey, a financial guru.
14.)He looks to the future, trying to save for retirement.
15.)He is the Jack of all trades. He can fix anything. And he does fix everything around our house.
16.)I can count on 2 fingers the number of times we’ve had to take our cars into a professional to get them worked on and one of the times wasn’t when we needed a new engine in one of our cars, he did that himself with my Dad’s help.
17.)He hopes to invent something someday. He has some ideas already.
18.)He has a close relationship with his Mom.
19.)He treats my family (of origin) well.
20.)He takes his time when doing a project, the payoff for not having to pay someone else to do it.
21.)He got his professional engineering license 2 years early by flying to California with a buddy to take the test. He didn’t hardly study for the test. His buddy did. Laren passed the test, his buddy didn’t.
22.)He likes to be outside.
23.)He grew up on a ranch until the age of 10 or so.
24.)Then he moved to Sugar City, Idaho where he graduated from High School.
25.)He did not attend Ricks College/BYU Idaho, even though it was in his own backyard.
26.)He had a scholarship to BYU, but opted to attend Eastern Washington University to live near his Dad and Stepmom instead.
27.)Ironically, we met at Eastern Washington University.
28.)He served his mission for our Church in Cordoba, Argentina.
29.)After 1 year of marriage living in Washington, we transferred to BYU in Provo where he graduated, in 1997.
30.)He is tall, dark haired and handsome – just as I always dreamed my husband would be.
31.)He is very loving and kind and often gives me foot rubs.
32.)He has a gentle nature about him.
33.)He is clean, he picks up after himself. If he is walking through a room and something is out of place he stops and puts it in its place.
34.)He likes tools.
35.)He is health conscious, except for when it comes to his nightly bowl of ice cream – his favorite treat!
36.) He loves me and it shows by his actions and his help around the house. He also demonstrates this by his kind words, I think he must tell me daily that I’m beautiful – even when it isn’t really the case and I’ve got my cleaning clothes on.
Happy Birthday Laren, I love you!!!!
36 Things about Laren:
1.)He is a hard worker. He is not one to come home and sit down in front of the TV after work, he eats and gets busy doing his various projects around the house. He seems to never run out of projects!
2.) He’s a perfectionist.
3.) He will only let me cut his hair. It used to be, when we were first married, that he would only let his Aunt cut his hair. She was a professional beautician and worked at a Salon. I tried to convince him that I had practice cutting my brother's hair and that I could save us a lot of money by him allowing me to cut it. Finally, one day he gave in and now he will let it get much longer than he likes it waiting for me to get around to cutting it!!
4.)He is conscientious. His decisions are usually well thought out.
5.)My kids think it is the best treat to have him carry them up, one by one, to their bed at night!! He is a good Dad!
6.)He is a Civil Engineer and designs roads for a living.
7.)He is intellectual.
8.)He is quiet by nature.
9.)He is the only boy and the youngest child in his family.
10.)He still wears the same suits he wore on his mission, along with a new one we bought for him a year ago at Christmas time.
11.)He likes to run for his exercise.
12.)He has become money conscious.
13.)He likes to listen to Dave Ramsey, a financial guru.
14.)He looks to the future, trying to save for retirement.
15.)He is the Jack of all trades. He can fix anything. And he does fix everything around our house.
16.)I can count on 2 fingers the number of times we’ve had to take our cars into a professional to get them worked on and one of the times wasn’t when we needed a new engine in one of our cars, he did that himself with my Dad’s help.
17.)He hopes to invent something someday. He has some ideas already.
18.)He has a close relationship with his Mom.
19.)He treats my family (of origin) well.
20.)He takes his time when doing a project, the payoff for not having to pay someone else to do it.
21.)He got his professional engineering license 2 years early by flying to California with a buddy to take the test. He didn’t hardly study for the test. His buddy did. Laren passed the test, his buddy didn’t.
22.)He likes to be outside.
23.)He grew up on a ranch until the age of 10 or so.
24.)Then he moved to Sugar City, Idaho where he graduated from High School.
25.)He did not attend Ricks College/BYU Idaho, even though it was in his own backyard.
26.)He had a scholarship to BYU, but opted to attend Eastern Washington University to live near his Dad and Stepmom instead.
27.)Ironically, we met at Eastern Washington University.
28.)He served his mission for our Church in Cordoba, Argentina.
29.)After 1 year of marriage living in Washington, we transferred to BYU in Provo where he graduated, in 1997.
30.)He is tall, dark haired and handsome – just as I always dreamed my husband would be.
31.)He is very loving and kind and often gives me foot rubs.
32.)He has a gentle nature about him.
33.)He is clean, he picks up after himself. If he is walking through a room and something is out of place he stops and puts it in its place.
34.)He likes tools.
35.)He is health conscious, except for when it comes to his nightly bowl of ice cream – his favorite treat!
36.) He loves me and it shows by his actions and his help around the house. He also demonstrates this by his kind words, I think he must tell me daily that I’m beautiful – even when it isn’t really the case and I’ve got my cleaning clothes on.
Happy Birthday Laren, I love you!!!!
Friday, March 2, 2007
Some Miscellaneous thoughts
-The sickness is still swirling around the house. I wish we could all just get it and get it over with all at once but instead it has to come by means of the domino effect!!
-Desires. There are many things that I desire to have differently in my life. Desires like having a cleaner house, changing the bed sheets more regularly, spending more quality time with my kids, having laundry done up at least most of the time, etc...
But do I desire to do the work that it takes to change that? I'm still working on a plan to revamp my life and change these things for the better. Any helpful tips that you want to share?
-Priorities. I love spending time on the computer. I love all my "cyber" friends. Although I have a time dilemna. Only so many hours in a day. So I'm also trying to figure out a proper balance.
-Hobby. I need a fun hobby. This was one of my New Year's goals. I am not sure what to choose. There are so many on here that are so crafty and talented. I wish you could reach through the screen and teach me quilting, beading, tassle making, singing, or so many other things!!
Any good ideas on a fun hobby that I can pick up and put down fairly easily that is not too consuming or costly? Lately I've been getting my hobby fix by decorating my house, sewing curtains and painting. But it will not last forever!
-Life. After I chatted with my kids about their day and got them going on their homework and played bristle blocks with Tyler yesterday, I saw a clip of Oprah yesterday (watched while I was hemming some jeans) and it was so inspiring. I keep thinking about the lady that lost her husband and 2 year old (only child) in a plane crash.
And she said she is able to deal with it by seeing the positives in her life. Instead of dwelling on what she doesn't have she is just grateful for what she does have because she cannot change what she longs for but doesn't have.
So, I have some things about my life that I wish were different -- mainly in regards to wishing my extended family was more close knit -- and so I'm going to try to adopt this woman's attitude about not dwelling on what I don't have but focusing on and being grateful for what I do have.
Anyway, just some random thoughts going through my head!!!
-Desires. There are many things that I desire to have differently in my life. Desires like having a cleaner house, changing the bed sheets more regularly, spending more quality time with my kids, having laundry done up at least most of the time, etc...
But do I desire to do the work that it takes to change that? I'm still working on a plan to revamp my life and change these things for the better. Any helpful tips that you want to share?
-Priorities. I love spending time on the computer. I love all my "cyber" friends. Although I have a time dilemna. Only so many hours in a day. So I'm also trying to figure out a proper balance.
-Hobby. I need a fun hobby. This was one of my New Year's goals. I am not sure what to choose. There are so many on here that are so crafty and talented. I wish you could reach through the screen and teach me quilting, beading, tassle making, singing, or so many other things!!
Any good ideas on a fun hobby that I can pick up and put down fairly easily that is not too consuming or costly? Lately I've been getting my hobby fix by decorating my house, sewing curtains and painting. But it will not last forever!
-Life. After I chatted with my kids about their day and got them going on their homework and played bristle blocks with Tyler yesterday, I saw a clip of Oprah yesterday (watched while I was hemming some jeans) and it was so inspiring. I keep thinking about the lady that lost her husband and 2 year old (only child) in a plane crash.
And she said she is able to deal with it by seeing the positives in her life. Instead of dwelling on what she doesn't have she is just grateful for what she does have because she cannot change what she longs for but doesn't have.
So, I have some things about my life that I wish were different -- mainly in regards to wishing my extended family was more close knit -- and so I'm going to try to adopt this woman's attitude about not dwelling on what I don't have but focusing on and being grateful for what I do have.
Anyway, just some random thoughts going through my head!!!
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