We are moving…

Blogs that is.  We are moving back to Blogger/Blogspot.  You can find us at this location.

My first post there is about a couple of prayer requests I have.

I will be updating the new blog very soon with an extremly long update, so stay tuned.

What Have You Done?

I found this on my friend Bethany’s blog. Pass it along if you want. Ignore it if you would rather.

Here’s the rule: Bold the things you’ve done & post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20.Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language -I was actually planning on picking up Latin!

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted-drawn but not painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie-on T.V., but not in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business – does helping my husband start 2 count?

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (nobody wants mine)

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car-well it was really 6 months old.

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life -I once saved a child from choking who was having a snack in my class.

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Crafty, Crafty, Crafty

When the girls and I went to Micheal’s Craft store the other day we picked up some cute ribbon. Ansley and Kylie both wanted to wear some of their new clothes to school today, their first day back, and wanted ribbons in their hair to match.

So last night I stayed up late to make something with my new spools of ribbon . Ansley suggested a head band as her last words before bed last night, so I pulled out my cream colored head band and this is what I made:

I wrapped the headband in a sheer purple ribbon while weaving a polka dot ribbon through the sheer ribbon in an over under pattern. When I reached the top side of the headband, I pulled out a little extra of the polka dot ribbon and tied a bow. Before pulling the ribbon taught, I tied a small knot with the purple sheer and put it around the center of the bow. I glued it into place with hot glue. I then pulled the polka dot ribbon taught and proceeded with the completion of the woven design on the headband. I hot glued the purple sheer to the end of the headband. I then wrapped the polka dot ribbon over the ends of the headband and hot glued it over the purple sheer ribbon. I did find that gluing the purple ribbon in place on the underside of the headband did help while tying the bow at the top.

Kylie loves boutique bows to pull her hair up, so this is what I made for her:

It was my first try at a boutique bow, but the picture doesn’t really do it justice. For this bow, I took about 16 inches of the floral ribbon and folded it in half. I made a mark with pencil on the underside of the ribbon. I then turned the underside of the ribbon facing me and took one end and looped it to form what appeared to be a ribbon like the breast cancer awareness ribbons. I then took the other end of the ribbon and turned it in the opposite direction using the same method to create the awareness ribbon look. Then I took the upper portion of the top of what now appears to be a figure 8, and placed it in the center, where the line was drawn originally. I then did the same thing to the other side. I flipped it over and voila, I had a boutique bow, just not finished yet. I then wrapped the center of the bow with thread and tied it off. I then made outer loops for the bow, glued the outer loops to a bow, made a center knot for the ribbon, wrapped the knot around the bow and outer loops, and then finally glued the bow to the barrette. For all of these directions I turned of course to You Tube. I typed in boutique hair bows and several videos popped up!

Here they are after their long/hard day at school. As you can see it was warm enough today to go comfortably with short sleeves and leggings on. Ansley was so excited to wear this outfit before spring.

On another note, here is a cute photo of Emma I caught today. She was trying to eat my sash from my dress. She grabbed it while I was standing next to her playpen talking to Jerry.

And for those of you who are hungry, here is a picture of Jerry’s delicious lunch he made for us on Sunday. He made Salmon with a feta/cream cheese and spinach toping. The kids (well except Christian who was having a rough day) loved it!

Before it went into the oven, the girls helped him prepare it.

Here was our delicious meal. He also prepared a pasta salad with fresh tomatoes.

“Reading” In the New Year: A Mini Novel Challenge

I found this challenge through my best friend Bethany. Since I love to read, and greatly enjoy it as a form of relaxation and escape from the real world, I have decided to join in with her on the plan. The following list describes the challenge, but you can check it out and join as well at Mini Challenge.

1. Read a collection of short stories.
2. Read a play.
3. Read a nonfiction book.
4. Read 2 essays from the same collection.
5. Go to a book event.
6. Borrow (and read) a library book.
7. Read a book by a “new to you” author.
8. Make a donation.
9. Promote literacy.
10. Participate in a buddy read or Group discussion.
11. Read a book outside your comfort level or from a genre you don’t normally read.
12. Read a classic (defined as anything published before 1970).

After you complete each challenge, you blog about it.  I hope that you will join in this challenge with me and so many others.

What Year Do You Belong In?

If you do this, please post a comment letting me know what you get.
Have fun!!!

You Belong in 1950

You’re fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

What Year Do You Belong In?

New Year Meme

I got this Meme from a friend of a friend’s blog.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I began teaching 4th grade

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t make any last year since I wanted to lose weight, but was expectant at the time. I have 4 for this year: 1)Lose weight, 2)Take pictures everyday of each child, 3)Read the Bible daily, 4)Blog at least once a week.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I did, and I also had some dear friends who did.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No one close to me, however, I did know some people who passed away.

5. What countries did you visit? I didn’t visit any other countries, but maybe will get to this year!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Sanity, lol. Organization.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Emma’s birthdate, Ansley’s first day of 1st grade and Kylie’s first day of pre-K.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? The continued achievements of my children and the birth of a beautiful baby girl!

9. What was your biggest failure? Failing others…

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, a knee injury and a recent car accident that left my back injured.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Cloth diapers, sewing patterns, cloth, knitting needles. We have made so many changes around here for our environment, and need to make many more. I was thinking the other day at all that has changed since I had miss Emma. All that we have changed around here, just because we gave birth to another child. There is so much we want to change about our world, that was probably on the back burner in our minds before, but came to light since we had her. On top of all that, I have come to realize my own craftiness and ability to make things. I have made many useful things for Emma and for myself that I had never thought of before.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Ansley’s terrific season at Hot Shots, the kids wonderful grades, their terrific daily accomplishments, every time Emma does something new, every new thing Christian learns, and every new day Jerry leaves to run a successful business!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? That of others who truly don’t understand how harsh they are to others. In my life, I have known others who could be rude on occasion, but I don’t think I have ever met anyone who was rude on a daily basis to people. I have encountered this person and their actions towards others are truly depressing and sad.

14. Where did most of your money go? To the children and public school, lol. We also went on a nice vacation during fall intersession.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The birth of our 4th child, my new sewing machine, our cloth diapers, learning how to knit, I could go on and on.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Bad Day, by Daniel Powter

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) poorer or richer?

A)Happier, somewhat

B)Fatter, working on that though

C)About the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise, devotional, prayer, worshiping the LORD!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying, crying, being upset about things that others have done

20. How did you spend Christmas? With my wonderful family!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? With another baby that I was in love with from the moment I found out about her!

22. What was your favorite TV program? Heroes

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate last year. Not hate, I don’t hate anyone, but there are people who irritate me on an almost daily basis.

24. What was the best book you read? The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks, since it was one of the only ones I finished in 2008.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? That my fondness of music is ever so present in my children, my baby boy asked for a piano for Christmas, and that even though I don’t sing very well (per my husband) I will sing whenever and wherever I want since it makes me happy!

26. What did you want and get? My 4th baby!, and a new sewing machine

27. What did you want and not get? I really don’t know. I guess there were little things, but nothing that significant.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Twilight.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I don’t think I really did anything. I turned 29. My goodness, the big 30 is this year!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Winning the lottery, lol. Being able to stay home with my babies, being able to finish certain things around here, and some other little things.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Slacks and button ups, more jewelry, more skirts, 2009 will be full of fitting back into those cute dresses!!!

32. What kept you sane? Family, friends, and music

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? None

34. What political issue stirred you the most? The election and many more.

35. Who did you miss? My friends who have moved away, or who I have moved away from.

36. Who was the best new person you met? Some new friends from work, online, and at church.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. There are some you can trust, but watch out because just when you think you can trust them, it turns out you can’t.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.(This is long, I couldn’t sum it up in just one)

Made to Love, by Toby Mac

The dream’s alive with my eyes opened wide

Back in the ring you’ve got me swinging for the grand prize

I feel the haters spittin vapors on my dreams

But I still believe

I’m reachin out, reachin up, reachin over

I feel a breeze cover me called Jehovah

And Daddy I’m on my way

Cause I was made to love…

I was made to love You

I was made to find You

I was made just for You

Made to adore You

I was made to love

And be loved by You

You were here before me

You were waiting on me

And You said you’d keep me

Never would You leave me

I was made to love (I was made to love)

And be loved by You (Be loved by You)

Capri, by Colbi Caillat

She’s got a baby inside

And holds her belly tight

All through the night

Just so she knows

She’s sleeping so

Safely to keep

Her growing

And oh when she’ll open her eyes

There’ll be no surprise

That she’ll grow to be

So beautifully

Just like her mother

That’s carrying

Oh Capri

She’s beauty

Baby inside she’s loving

Oh Capri

She’s beauty

There is and angel growin’ peacefully

Oh Capri

Sweet baby

Bad Day, by, Daniel Powter

Where is the moment when you need it the most

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Tell me your blue sky’s fade to grey

Tell me your passion’s gone away

And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You’re standin’ in line just to hit a new low

You’re fakin’ a smile with the coffee to go

Tell me your life’s been way off line

You’re fallin’ to pieces every time

And I don’t need no carryin’ on

‘Cause you had a bad day, you’re taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don’t know, you tell me don’t lie

You work on a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day, the camera don’t lie

You’re comin’ back down and you really don’t mind

You had a bad day… you had a bad day

More to Life, by, Staci Orrico

I’ve got it all, but I feel so deprived

I go up, I come down and I’m emptier inside

Tell me what is this thing that I feel like I’m missing

And why can’t I let it go

There’s gotta be more to life…

Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me

Cause the more that I’m…

Tripping out thinking there must be more to life

Well it’s life, but I’m sure… there’s gotta be more

Than wanting more

I’ve got the time and I’m wasting it slowly

Here in this moment I’m half way out the door

Onto the next thing, I’m searching for something that’s missing

So this is where I have been spending my free time…

This is where I have been spending my free time..In front of the sewing machine into the wee hours of the night, and watching the t.v. with needles in hands. So far I have made: a black with white polka-dot dress for Emma to wear to football games. Our bow lady made her a beautiful boutique style baby bow, but she had nothing to match it, so I made her a dress. I also made her first pouch sling (the hibiscus print) some time ago, but have just made another (the brown and pink) for the winter. I am also going to make a Christmas themed one to wear to Christmas outings. I also just made Emma some leggings like ‘baby legs’ that can be made with cute designed socks. (It was hard to get a good shot of her, as she will not sit still for long now.) Along with mommy pouch slings, I have also made kid-sized pouch slings for the girls (the pink print). For Emma, I also made some recycled sweater diaper soakers and longies from old wool sweaters that no longer fit me. I have also made some fleece diaper soakers, but did not get pictures of them. On the needles I have my first dish rag. I have just taken up knitting and love it! It is so relaxing. I greatly enjoy spending my free time making things that we can use.

I have also purchased an apron pattern and fabric, and a skirt pattern and fabric. I will update with pictures when those are being worked on.

You can click on the pictures below to view each one separately.

All four children are doing well and my year so far with 4th graders has been pretty good. We are currently studying multiplication with 2 and 3 digit factors, doing a unit on the book Chocolate Fever, and subject-verb agreement and irregular verbs.

Ansley is doing well in school, and we are so proud to announce she made straight A’s on her 1st nine weeks report card. Ansley has enjoyed her season cheering at Hot Shots. She has had 2 exhibitions already and will be cheering at a Berry College basketball game during half-time in a couple weeks. Kylie is greatly enjoying Pre-K, and has been writing her name for the past few weeks! Christian and Emma are enjoying their time at Mrs. Sherri’s, their babysitter. Emma recently got in trouble when her and another baby, a month older than her, got into the other children’s wipes and diapers and threw them around the room ! Emma has been crawling for a long while now, and is now pulling up on everything!

Welcome to the Party…A little political humor…

Reading a friend’s blog tonight I came across this joke…

I hope you enjoy…

I was talking to a friend of mine’s little girl the other day. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied, ‘I want to be President!’ Both of her parents are liberal Democrats and were standing there. So then I asked her, ‘If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?’

She replied, ‘I’d give houses to all the homeless people.’

‘Wow – what a worthy goal.’ I told her, ‘You don’t have to wait until you’re President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I’ll pay you $50. Then I’ll take you over to the grocery store where this homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward a new house.’

Since she is only 6, she thought that over for a few seconds. While her Mom glared at me, she looked me straight in the eye and asked, ‘Why doesn’t the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?’

And I said, ‘Welcome to the Republican Party.’

Her folks still aren’t talking to me.

Our Family Portrait

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Contests

So my friend Michelle has posted some contests on her site.  I thought I would check them out, and low and behold, I wanted to enter as well.  First we have a diaper contest from Nature’s Child.  By entering their Beat the Heat Summer Contest, my cloth diaper mommy friends, you can win a bumGenius 3.0 Starter Kit.  The second contest is for an Essential Baby Wearing Stash from Along For The Ride.  I know my little one would love some new cloth dipes to add to our growing stash or a new sling for Mommy to carry her in.