Choo-Choo!

These three sure do have a lot of fun playing together while the big boys are at school.  They've recently "rediscovered"  the Geo Tracks set.  Hours of fun...but never enough cars.

Making Dust

It's that time of year again!  Pinewood Derby time that is.  Tory and the boys got an early start on them this year.  February 11th they made them!  Wow!  After last year's experience where they didn't have time until the last minute, Austin's car actually cracked, they weren't able to properly fix it, and he came in dead last...they decided to start earlier just in case.  Plus they'd be making TWO cars this year with Dallin now in the ranks.  So they set up shop...in my dining room...and got to work.  Why in my dining room?  I don't know.  But that's what they did.  They had a blast.  Each of the boys picked their design and colors.  I'll have to show you the finished cars later because he doesn't quite have all the weights and stuff on yet.  

They look pretty awesome though!

Ribbon Candy

I have had these on my to-make list FOREVER!  I've even had the ribbon and supplies bought forever.  But I just never took the time to make them.  While my Mom was here in January I finally made a set.  I'll admit...they were a little trickier than they looked.  I think next time I'll use a heavier string.  I just used a double thickness of thread.  The knots were the hardest part for me.  Other than that...they were really pretty simple and I just love the way they look!  So cute!  And so much like real ribbon candy! 

I made them all different lengths and widths for fun.  The only other thing I'd do differently is use two sizes of beads with a little more difference in size.  You're supposed to thread a larger bead and then a smaller bead on every other layer.  I used two different sizes but they were a little too close to the same I think.  Of course there were some tutorials I saw that used all the same size and some that didn't even put beads between the layers!  So really, anything goes!  They are so cute as Christmas tree ornaments or to hang from a shelf, window, etc.  You could even tie one on a present.  It was hard to find grosgrain ribbon with stripes going the right direction.  I finally found mine at Michael's.  

So pretty!  Keep away from children.  Even Beckham could tell they were "candy" and went crazy when we wouldn't let him have any.  How did he know?  He's never even eaten ribbon candy!  Crazy!

New Posts to Check Out

Here's a list of new posts I've posted.  I decided to put them on the date they occur so when I'm going back they'll be in order.  Just click on the title below to read the post.  Enjoy!

Christmas Eve
Christmas
11 Years
Biker Boy
2012
Company
Dallin's Baptism
Austin is TEN!
Valentine's Day

Yellow Spring

Last week we had a couple REALLY warm days.  Upper 70s and even low 80s.  It was great!  I cleaned up the back yard, raked the flower beds, trimmed the branches on bushes, and enjoyed the warmth.  

I love spring.  

I love Texas for bringing spring to us so early.  

I noticed that several of our plants are blooming.

I think it's so interesting that all of my yellow-blooming plants seem to come first.

Honeysuckle

and this little bush...I'm not sure what it is but it fills up with yellow flowers first and then when the green leaves come on the flowers go away.  Quite the spring show.

My little Beckham.  He noticed I left the door open when I went out to take pictures this morning.  

He won't let an opportunity to go outside pass him by.  

I've noticed all of the pear trees are blooming everywhere.  Makes me miss our big front tree.  It would have been blooming for sure.  It was always the first one on the street.  

Spring is in the air here!  Today is the last "chilly" day for the week.  We're going to be in the 70s all week long.  And when it's that nice outside I have a hard time staying inside.  Which makes me realize...I've got to get my blog caught up so I don't have to worry about it anymore!  So that's my goal for today.  

Let's see how far I can get.
First up, Christmas Eve...

I Wish...

I feel like I have many blessings and things to be grateful for.  I have a great family and life is pretty good.  But every once-in-awhile there are things I wish for.  I know I should be happy for what I have but sometimes it's OK to wish, right?  I mean...wishes can be dreams as well and it is good to dream, right?  

So right now I wish...

...I had a video camera.  I feel like I am missing so many moments of my kids' lives that I'll never get back.  Every single day it kills me not to have one.  

...I could put my boys in piano lessons.  Austin plays the couple songs he knows over and over again and is dying to learn more but it's just not something we can afford right now.  Lessons are expensive!  I've tried to teach him and I just feel like I'm not good enough myself and don't want him to learn wrong.

Dallin's really been showing interest, too.  Hopefully soon.

...I could home school my kids.  I'd love to shelter them from all the terrible things they are already getting exposed to in elementary school knowing it will only get worse.  It was bad when I was a kid and that doesn't even compare.  I'd also love to home school just because I love having my kids with me and I'd love to make sure they're learning everything they need to.  Sometimes I feel like public schools really hold kids back.  I just would have no idea where to start and I feel like I'm not organized enough or patient enough to do it full time.

...I could build a house out in the country and get away from people.  I don't like having neighbors so close that you can't even open your blinds.  I don't like driving in traffic.  I'd like to let my kids play outside without worrying about cars speeding by or strangers picking them up.  I'd love to have a big yard with a giant garden and a dog.  I'm a Kansas girl.  A WESTERN Kansas girl.  Lots of wide open spaces is all I knew until I went to BYU and I've never had it since.

...I knew how to crochet.  If I could at least learn how to make cute hats, scarves, and especially flowers I'd be happy.  Tory's mom has taught me a few times but I just don't quite get it and could never read a pattern.  Maybe that's what I need to learn, how to read a pattern and then learn which stitches went with it.

...I had a couch.  Being sick with a fever and nauseous Sunday and having to sit in a recliner all day was so uncomfortable and absolutely killed my back but I didn't want to be in my room all alone.  I'd love to be able to stretch out on a couch.  I can't even remember what that feels like.  Last time we had a couch was when I was pregnant with Claire.  We have a loveseat and two recliners.  And none of them match.  It's great.

...I had a great friend who really "got" me.  Someone who I could talk with anytime (and who wanted to talk to me), count on, do things with, someone who knew what I was going through, someone who was interested in me.  Most of the time I feel so lonely.  I've always had really good friends when I was younger.  Grade school, junior high, high school, college roommates, mission companions.  Really, really great friends.  But I've only had a friend like that once since I've been married.  And it was so many years ago.  Back when we both just had our first babies.  It was awesome and so fun!

...I had a really great project to work on.  I feel like I haven't been creative in so long.  Even my paints are all dried up.  I have been doing a lot of organizing lately and that feels good.  

It's hard to create in clutter so that's a good first step I guess.

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day.  I didn't always.  I always wanted to but never really had a "valentine" if you know what I mean.  So it's been my mission as a mom to make it a day that everyone feels loved and everyone gets a special dinner.  I think it's one of my kids' favorite holidays.  It's the mailboxes that really do it though.  I mean, who wouldn't want to open up a box with love notes and/or treats for two weeks straight?

We started the evening before with a Family Home Evening about showing love in the family.  I made a chart with a big heart with rays all around it and then about 21 lines underneath to write names on.  Inside the heart read "Love One Another".  Every time someone saw somebody in the family do something that showed love then they got to color a ray and write that person's name.  We were going to work on it for a week.  It was a hit and I loved that everyone was watching other people and trying to catch them in the act.  It was always a surprise for whoever was caught because most of the time they didn't realize they were doing something that showed love.  They were just doing it.  We ended the FHE by writing little notes to each other and putting them in our mailboxes.  Each note paper was about a two-inch square.  At the end of the evening everyone had a little love note from everyone in the family.  It was so fun!

The boys also made their valentines to give to their classmates.  I grabbed a couple  bags of pencils last year when they were on clearance.  Yeah!  So I knew we'd use them somehow.  After searching around the internet I found this idea:

You can find the free printout HERE.

Austin made his valentine box.  He went with a locker theme.  It was cute!

Dallin was sooooo very sad that he didn't get to decorate a box.  The room mom in his class chose to have them decorate sacks.  Never has a boy been more disappointed than Dallin was.  But this is his sack.  He tried to make it his own and had it all tied up with a little cut out at the top.  But it ripped before he got home.

I made everyone red lunches.  Grapes, strawberries, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and a sandwich with a heart cut out.  

Yep, even Tory got one.  He got teased at work. :)  At least they all know he's loved, right?

And then we had our fancy dinner.  It was crepes, crepes, crepes.  I was already going to do crepes for dessert but then went to a Relief Society activity where a girl in our ward who is from France taught a class on French foods.  She made some sweet and savory crepes.  And my dinner came together in my head.  Why didn't I think of that earlier?!  So easy!  I made four batches of crepes.  For dinner we filled them with a white sauce that was packed with sauteed spinach, onions, mushrooms, and garlic with a dash of nutmeg.  We had asperagus on the side.  We had 1-2-3 Jello because we always do and then for dessert we had crepes filled with Nutella, strawberries, and whipped cream.  It was so good!  We had cherry 7-Up to drink.  All I know is Beckham is a serious crepe fan.  Holy cow!  That child could not get enough!  Inhaled them.  Both varieties.  I'm pretty sure he ate more than the big boys even.  On about his second or third he held it in his hands, looked up towards the ceiling, closed his eyes tight, and opened his mouth in the biggest open mouth smile ever!  He just couldn't believe all this yumminess was for him!  Out of control!

The Place Settings  

Happy Valentine's Day!

XOXO


**Oh, I also have to mention that Tory and I got to go to a Valentine Dance the Friday before Valentine's Day.  It was so fun!  We went last year and knew we had to do it again.  They had professional dance instructors come and teach us moves for an hour and a half and then the dance began!  They gave out lots of awards...but we didn't get any...again.  Guess we'll have to buy our own sparkling cider. ;)  Personally, I think we should have gotten an award for "most dances danced".  Ha!  We never stopped! Can't let a good song go to waste when this is the only opportunity we have to go dancing! :)

Crack-a-lackin'

I just have to write this down before I forget.  I was helping Claire get ready for bed tonight and after I pulled her pajama bottoms up she started wiggling her little bum around and then said, 

"My bum is crackin'!"  

I knew exactly what she was trying to say and about died laughing.  She doesn't know the word "wedgie" so this was the best way she could think of to describe it.  She got everything situated and all was better. :)

Blue & Gold

Last Wednesday was the Blue & Gold banquet for the Cub Scouts.  The boys were VERY excited!  I hadn't sewn patches on Austin's shirt for quite awhile and hadn't even gotten to Dallin's yet and it's been two months since his birthday!  So I got right on that.  I've decided I really don't like sewing on patches.  I don't mind sewing.  I know how to do it and usually it's pretty fun.  But there's something about these patches that turns me into a crazy person!  It never fails...when I get close to the end I get a big giant knot in my thread.  Almost Every. Single. Time!  It's amazing really.  Spending the extra $$ for the iron on backing is looking very tempting right now considering how many boys...and years of scouts...are still ahead!  I'm seeing some sewing classes for the boys ahead, too.  I've decided that once they are Boy Scouts they will be in charge of sewing on their own stuff.  Just because it's a valuable skill to know and apparently it takes special skills (which I lack) to sew patches on!  At one point I was really having to push to get my needle through.  Finally I got it but when I turned over the shirt to grab it this is where it was:

Nice.  Yeah, serious issues here.  And this was not the last time I did this on this poor finger!  No, it didn't hurt.  I guess my skin's dry enough to have some good layers on it.  Ha.  Didn't even bleed.  But the 1,003,746 other stabs with the needle did.  Ouch!  So anyway, after a couple sewing sessions and one late night, I finally finished them.  And they looked pretty good I thought.  I kept my needle and thread out because I knew Dallin was going to be receiving his Bobcat.  Another patch to sew on.

The banquet was nice.  It was especially nice because Tory was able to be there.  He never gets to come and I dread going to pack meetings alone with all 5 kids.  I usually spend the whole time out in the hall with Beckham.  So it was sooo nice to have him here.  We had dinner of pizza and salad and root berry floats (that's what our family calls root beer.  Austin called it that when he was a little guy and it's just stuck.  I think he just realized it was root beer a year or so ago.  Ha!)  They had a slide presentation with pictures of the scouts and some of their activities during the last year.

They did a little skit that was funny.  And then it was time for awards.

Austin got another silver arrow (at least it's a tiny one to sew on...then again those were tricky, too) and his first Webelos pin.  PINS!  What a GREAT idea!  The awards concluded and Dallin's name was never called.  He was pretty disappointed.  He's been waiting for his first rank for two months.  He did all his requirements within a week of starting scouts but then January's pack meeting was cancelled.  So he thought for SURE this month.  I guess they forgot to pick it up. He said he was more excited for that than even eating dinner there (and dinner is a big deal for these boys!  Ha!).  Plus Dada was actually there to see (and take pictures.)  Poor guy.  At least he knows he'll be getting it next month for sure! :)  Plus he did volunteer to tell what his wolf den has been doing this past month so at least he got to participate.  Next month is the pinewood derby so lots of fun this month!  Tory gets to help with TWO cars this year.  Yikes!  But really, patches aside, I love Scouts.  I think it's so great for the boys and they absolutely love it!  I'm thankful for all of their great leaders who make it so fun for them.  I'm sure it's a lot of work but I know that for at least two of those boys it is time well spent.  Thank you!

Love-ly

The little kids and I were busy last week getting all of our Valentine's Day decorations up while the big boys were at school.  We decided we needed a little something more for the mantel so we got busy!  We made some salt dough and cut out 35 hearts. We baked them up, let them cool, and then the fun part...painting!  

Coen and Claire started with all the little hearts and painted them white.  

They did a great job!  We painted the bigger ones pink and red and the biggest red.  

I added a few more little details.

Then it was time to hang them up!  It was a little too long so we took some off and hung them up above.

I love it!

Our little Valentine mailboxes came out, too!  We always love these.  It's fun to see your flag up because that means there's something special inside for you!

I love the cute little notes and gifts each person comes up with.

Here's the first thing I found in my box!  Austin made me a giant sized "kiss".  It's not chocolate though...it's made from mud that he microwaved to get hard.  Oh, boy!  Turned out great though!  I love it!

XOXO