Decorating dilemma

We are pretty much finished with the major projects on the main floor now we just need to decorate. The problem is that we have no idea what we are doing. We like the way the fireplace wall turned out with the clock and my figurines, the bookshelves need some help but they will get there.


We finally figured out how to dress the bay window and even thought it isn't even close to our original plan, we really like how the cornus boxes turned out. Happy accidents.

We also go a new couch. I've been making pillows to add a little color and make it blend in the room a little more.

We have this huge tall (vaulted) wall behind the couch that we have no clue what to do with. we'd like to maybe put up some shelves (floating?) but I have a lot of shelves in the house. I also have a lot of pictures I want to put up. Before I had pictures all over in a million different frames and I need to figure out how to make it not look so random. I do have this great portrait of my my that my cousin Nina did that I want to put up but we just can't figure out where.

I also want to do a little spot to show off my quilts. I have this antique sewing machine from one of my great grandmothers, and two different quilts that were started by two different grandmothers and that I later finished, plus some that I have just done on my own.

So we want the room to look chic and put together, but still look like us. the problem is that Jon and I are more, cluttered and comfy than chic and put together. And we have all this stuff that we want to go in the room that doesn't all really go together. I don't really like to just put stuff up either. I like for everything I use to decorate a room to mean something to me. I'm sure it will all come together eventually, I just wish I knew how to put it all together.

Egged

I know it's still a little early yet for Easter decorations, but my crocus are up and I couldn't resist.

Several years ago I bought some plastic egges and put string through them so we could hang them on our trees.

The Girls really love doing it.

Daddy's Girls!

Train show

Jon really loves model trains and the girls are getting old enough that they can play with them too, so we went to yet another train show recently.

Even though we came to see the model trains the best part was the bigger trains.

The kids loved riding in this little train. My sister and her husband and little boy came with us.

Carly.

The show was at the Ogden Train Depot and outside they have lots of real engines you can climb on.

I think Jon had the most fun out of the group.

Ruined

These are my favorite candy ever. I know that they make a heart and a pumpkin and a tree for the different holidays but there is nothing like the egg. I wait all year for them to come out and then ration them after the holiday. they are my weakness. So Saturday Jon and I bought the kids a new movie to keep them entertained because we were exhausted after spending the day at my Grandma's funeral. I told Jon that I thought I deserved some chocolate after the week I had been through. SO we bought a bag of these wonderful creations. I ate 4, now to some of you this may seem like a lot but I thought I show quite a bit of restraint at not eating the entire bag. Well at 2 A.M. I woke up and threw up. I had thought that maybe the Reese's had something to do with because this has happened before when I have over indulged on the candy. But they are still my favorite, so Sunday night I only had 2. And there I was again at 2 A.M. puking my guts out. So I guess that is it for my favorite treat. Probably a good thing since Reese's PB cup are not really conducive to loving weight. But I will miss them.

Grandma Faye

My Grandma Faye Passed away Tuesday night. She has been in bad health for about a year now, and though we will miss her I am glad to know she is finally at peace.
Grandma had 3 kids and 12 grandchildren. The above picture was taken last Easter with just a few of her 26 great grandchildren. She loved being a grandma and was so proud of all of her kids. My Grandma loved to talk and would talk your ear off, one of the many qualities I inherited from her. I was grateful to have lived with her for a year before I got married and I got to hear so many great stories. She is a great example to me and we will miss her greatly.


Grandma and Carly

My favorite picture of Grandma and Brianna.

We love you Grandma Faye!

The Breakfast Experiment

I mentioned in some recent posts that Brianna was having a very hard time adjusting to being back on track. Well, as I talked to my friends about it, and how frustrated I was getting with the situation, several different people mentioned that it might be her diet. It made me think hard about what I'm feeding her. She is pretty picky about food but I think I do a pretty good job at least for dinner. Breakfast is a different story. I was letting her eat Marshmallow Mateys every morning mainly because it was easy and I was too tired to do much more in the mornings. And not only was she eating this horrible cereal, she usually would pick out the marshmallows and just eat them. So 2 weeks ago I decided to start the Breakfast Experiment. I started waking up earlier and making her an actual breakfast. Ham and eggs, oatmeal, Any thing but cereal. And it worked! She is doing so much better. She is getting her work done at school and I'm getting very good reports back form her teacher. I'm still not total convinced that it is just the food that did the trick. I think I might have nagged her into submission. But for now it's working. And we are all much happier.

Night wanderings of a 3 year old

Last night when Jon and I finally went up to bed I checked in on the girls like I always do. Carly's room is at the top of the stairs so I looked in on her first and she wasn't in her bed.
So I looked in the bathroom, no Carly, and then in our room, no Carly. By this point I was getting a bit freaked out. I went to look in Brianna's bed and there I found Carly laying on the floor in the middle of Brianna's room on top of several toy. I picked her up and put her back in her own bed and she never woke up. I talk in my sleep (some would say I just never stop talking) and we have some great stories about my brothers night wanderings. We've known that Carly is pron to sleep walking but it hasn't happened for a while. We use to lock her in her room when she was little because of it, now I'm wondering if we need to do it again. I usually am awake before my kids feet touch the floor but when she gets out of bed and is still asleep I don't always hear her. Hopefully this won't become a usual thing.

Climbing up on my soap box

So one of the ways I know that I'm getting old is that I'm becoming more and more interested in politics. Well today I heard something that made me want to get involved and take some action. There is a bill currently before the Utah State legislature that would essentially disallow PTA involvement in our schools. I believe (as do many others) that it is pay back for the failed school voucher debate last year. So for the first time I wrote my state representatives and told them how I felt. I don't think that most people realize how much PTA adds to our children's education. I didn't, at least not until I became involved. Most parents just pay the membership fee and call it good. I Reluctantly became very involved in the PTA at my kids school this year and though it has taken up much more time and energy then I expected it has been worth every minute. Now I know that not every Mom has the time or means to volunteer hours every week. But I feel that for me, part of my job of stay at home mom is to be involved in every way I can. I'm lucky that I have the time and grateful that I get to be such a big part of the lives of all the kids at our school. I love it when little kids come up to me at the grocery store or church and want to say "Hi" to the Birthday mom.
Just imagine your child's school with out PTA. It's not good. So now I'm going to urge you (the 15 of you who read my blog) to write your representatives and tell them how you feel about HB199 Equal Recognition of Parent Groups bill.

Now I'll Climb back down.

My Valentines

I'm a lucky Girl. I have three Valentines.

My latest project

I love quilting. I think quilts are beautiful and it amazes me how they change from step to step in the process. I love picking a pattern and then the colors and seeing what will turn out. I would love to someday own a quilting machine but I do really enjoy hand quilting. it relaxes me. And it makes me feel connected to my past. (cheesy I know) My grandmothers were quilters and some of my best memories are of tying quilts with them and when I was little playing under the quilt frames as my mom and grandma quilted.

Several years ago I was given some quilt squares that my Great Grandma Ada Susanna had made. I never met this grandma, she died before I was born . I finally have made them into a quilt top.

It's so much fun to see the vintage fabrics and think about what they might have made with it.

This is the top pieced together and waiting for me to quilt. I have a small lap frame that I use and I can sit and quilt at night while I watch my shows.

It will probably be spring before I finish.

Gettin Crafty

I really enjoy getting and giving homemade gifts so when ever a holiday rolls around I'm always thinking what can I make. I got this idea for my kids to give for Valentines from Family Fun Magazine. Carly really had fun helping.

First you gather all your broken crayons. We usually have a ton and I keep a plastic cup around and start collecting them a few months in advance. It takes more than you would think. Make sure all the labels are peeled off and them break them into smallish pieces. Fill up the cups of a muffin tin or sucker mold. Hint: fill them to the top because when they melt they won't take up as much space.


Put in oven on low heat (around 200) for about 15 min. You don't want them to melt too fast or get to hot or the colors will blend completely and won't look as cute. When you take them out of the oven they won't look very cute, but don't worry.

When you pop them out of the molds the under side looks great. I usually use a knife to trim down the ridge on the other side and some of the excess wax.

They are really fun to color with and see what color shows up. I have also make a set where I just melted different shades of the same color and then gave a set of about 6 crayons.

I like this particular Valentine because my kids don't need any more candy and this is a fun alternative.

Possessed

I think my children are possessed. I'm not sure if it is going back on track or what exactly but My kids have been little demons this week. Brianna is acting like she has been brain damaged and can't remember or follow through on a single request, that is unless it involves playing or coloring. When I saw her teacher mid week she let me know that she is having a bit of an attitude problem. (my words not hers) So I spent some time in her class. But really, thoughts just go in one ear and right out the the other. I have been asking her every day this week to get her room clean and it never happened, yet she wants to go to ridding lessons. And then there is Carly. The only reason Carly has survived this long is because she is so damn cute. She has been sick this week so I have spent a good portion of the week snuggling on the couch. But when she isn't snuggling she is bossy and irritable. Last night we took them to dinner and after Carly almost kicked the table over (on purpose) for the 3 time, I took her out to the car where she screamed for the next 10 minutes till Jon could wrap things up and come out. Then we had to wrestle her in to the car seat and I had to sit on the floor in between the seats and cover the seat belt release so she wouldn't get out. Her tantrum lasted another 45 min at home as we tried to get her changed for bed.
I'm sick of being mean mommy but I feel like right now I have to lay down the law. I hope what ever bratty beings that have possessed my kids will be exercised soon.

6 going on 13

When I (on those rare occasions) put on make up, my girls sit with me and put on make-up too. I usually just let them put on moisturiser and powder and maybe a swipe of mascara. Between Halloween and ballet recitals Brianna thinks she get to wear a bit more than that. I usually don't mind the blue eye shadow on her because it's dress up, but yesterday she went a little too far with the makeup and I told her she had to take it off before church. She didn't like that and threw a little fit. Then when she got dressed she put on a summer dress with little straps. I told her she could only wear it if she put a shirt on under it, or a sweater over. She didn't like that either and threw another fit. We finally got her dressed and out the door but for the next few hours all I got from her was a scowl. When did my little girl get such an attitude? I love having 2 little girls, but I have always panicked at the thought of them turning into teenagers. I thought I had a few more years before I had to deal with this kind of stuff.

Just for fun!

Brianna got invited to a 'Fancy Nancy' party Saturday and to say she was excited doesn't even come close. She was counting down the days.

She kept changing her mind as to what she should wear. After so looking in my sewing room I found some leftover fabrics and decided to make her a Fancy dress to wear. She loves it so much she even took the time to actually hang it on a hanger.

Sassy sassy!


At the party Brianna got her face painted and her hair done. She loved her butterfly so much that she cried when we washed it off that night.

When Bri got home we decided to go to a train show. We took our nephew Atticus with us.

These are Z trains. The actual train car is not bigger than one knuckle of my pinkie. They do these mountain scenes and put them in suitcases.

Atty really loves his Uncle Jon.

This was the girls favorite. A Lego train set. It was huge. This is only a very small portion of it.

We had lots of fun this weekend.

Observations

I did indeed spend most of the day watching the inauguration. I'm a patriotic sap and found my self brought to tears several times. I made my girls watch with me, and I'm so glad I did. I explained who every one was to Brianna. When she saw The First Daughters she said "Mom, wouldn't it be cool if I could be their friend and play with them at their house?" Then later she asked me when we were going to have the first girl president. But my favorite part of watching with my girls, was when Brianna started waving a piece of paper over her head. She had drawn herself an American flag. Today I am a proud Mom and a proud American. I am hopeful for the next years to come. Living in Utah I have heard and felt such a negative spirit toward President Obama, and it makes me sad. No matter how you voted now is the time to stand up for our country and our President and lend our support. Change is often scary but after listing to President Obama today I am convinced he is that he is what our country needs.

Witness

You can ask any one in my parents generation where they were when Kennedy was shot they will tell exactly where they were and what they were doing. In my life I have had a few days where I feel like I have witnessed history. The Challenger disaster, Princess Diana's death, and of course 9/11. I didn't realize that Tuesday morning when I turned on the TV what I would be witnessing or just how greatly that morning would affect the world or my life.
Today I plan to spend the good majority of the day watching history being made. Whether or not I agree with his politics, today I am proud of my generation for electing a Black president. When I tried to explain to Bri yesterday why Daddy was home and why it was a holiday, it was amazing to think about how far we have come in such a short time. We still have so far to go, but with all the horrible thing that happen in the world, it gives me hope for my kids that they will like in a world were all are accepted anyone can be President. I remember watching other inaugurations and feeling very proud but today is even more special and I'm excited to watch history in the making.

Start them young

I don't remember my mom ever teaching me how to sew. I just did. I do remember her sewing a lot. I would wait for the scraps and then fashion them in to a dress for my barbie. Somewhere along the line My creations went from just wrapping my barbies mummy style to being actual sewn dresses. But in my memory I've always known how to sew. I loved to help pin the patterns and I would sit and pull the pins out as my mom sewed.
We still have 2 more weeks left off track and we are getting a little stir crazy. Aunt Misit gave the girls some sewing kits for Christmas so we pulled them out the other day and had some fun. The girls were really good and didn't need very much help at all.





Brianna made a pig.

and Carly made a cute little bunny.
They already think that I can make anything so hopefully they will soon learn that they can make anything.

Goofball

Jon has had a beard for the last several months and decided to shave it this past weekend. But since his favorite past time is teasing me, he couldn't resist keeping a cheesy mustache for most of the day.

Frosty family

It just wouldn't be winter without building a snowman family.

Mii Fit

For Christmas Santa brought us a Wii. and We love it. I have used it more than everyone. I was able to get a Wii fit and I think it is the greatest thing ever. I've been trying to lose weight this past year and so far it has been going really well. I've done it mostly by changing my diet, but I haven't really exercised much. In the past I've used exercising as an excuse to eat badly. So this time around I felt like I had to get my diet under control before I started exercising.
The Wii fit is the perfect motivator for me.
This is my Mii. You create your own character. Mine is a bit chubby, but I'm a bit chubby. I think she is very cute.

This is my Mii family. Notice the 2 skinny little girls.


The Wii keeps track of your weight and BMI and how much you exercise. So far I have lost 3 pounds using the Wii.
It is pretty expensive but worth every penny.

Christmas 2008

Christmas Recap

I thought I'd give a little run down of our Holiday so you'll know what your seeing on the slid show I did.
The Saturday before Christmas we got to visit with Santa at our family party. This is always so much fun for the girls.
A few days later we went with my sister, her husband and little boy to see Santa again. We also got to go on a hey ride and have some hot chocolate.
I got to help Brianna's class make gingerbread houses on the Tuesday before Christmas.
On Christmas Eve we celebrate with my Mom and brother and sister. My Sister-in-law helped the kids decorate cookies to leave for Santa then we opened gifts. My family is great gift givers and we really had a great time.
Christmas morning Santa left us a wii. Jon's family came over and Jon made us all Swedish Pancakes. Then we opened more presents.
We had planned to have dinner with my Dad and little brother but the weather was so bad that they couldn't make it. So we headed over to Jon's parents for dinner and a wii bowling tournament. Brianna kick all our butts.
We finally got to celebrate with my Dad and brother the day after Christmas.
On Saturday we decided to head downtown to see the lights. My Brother and his family and my Sister and her family and of course Grandma Phyllis all came along. The kids loved the train. (Trax)
We were busy but we had a great Christmas.