a little redo love

I took full advantage of the hubby gone hunting over the weekend and put up ALL the Christmas decor.  Inside and out, with the fantastic help of Emily.  But what I'm just giddy about is this awesome redo.  While visiting at my sister's last weekend we went to her goodwill (and were oh so excited about it!) She spotted this jewel as soon as we walked in and began oohing and aahing over it.  I looked at it and thought it was nice, but I quickly moved on to other things.  She, however, could not get it out of her head. She eventually decided it must be mine and knew exactly where it should go.  So after sleeping on it, she sent her husband and our Dad down to snatch it the next morning and surprise! it was marked down 25%.  A whopping $37.50.  My parents graciously delivered it to me and wham, bam!  The before and after:

love, Love, LOVE IT!!!!!!

Look out china hutch, you're next.

The Amanda Post

So Amanda claims she doesn't get much blog attention.  Here is AMANDA and her Scott and Indago.  You'll notice Scott is wearing giant footy pajamas that he later paraded around Walmart in.

Here is AMANDA at her new cashier position at Fry's.  I thought I would go down there the night before Thanksgiving to see her in action and snap a few pics.  She later informed me that I wasn't supposed to do that.  She's not allowed to check out family members. Do they think we're dishonest or something?  But all of you can go through her line and it will be just fine. So there you go AMANDA.  This is for you.

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Actress

Emily was in a very funny Play called Scapan  recently at her High School.  She did really well, she's a natural.  She had a kissing scene that frankly knocked the socks off of everyone watching.  Our mouths were left hanging open.  She tried to warn me, but nothing could have prepared me.  She has endured an endless parade of teasing from cousins, adults, family (mostly her Dad), and has taken it well.  It's odd to see my child up there on stage pretending to be someone else.  I don't know how parents of big movie stars ever get used to it.  Maybe someday I'll find out.

There's the weasel that kissed my daughter!

I've Been Bitten

I have been bitten by the creative bug! Ever since I made myself my very own creating space, it's been non-stop. Things like laundry and showering are really getting in the way.  I have also been blog stalking other lovely creative blogs to which I am completely addicted.  I had no idea how non creative I was.  Kind of like when you don't know you're singing off tune or you have really bad breath.  Why didn't someone tell me?  The gist I've gotten is that there is no right or wrong, do what makes you feel good.  And redo, repurpose, use what you have. I can do that!

  This collage above my bed is made with frames I already had and wasn't using. Some pretty paper that I love and there you have it.

I have been frequenting Goodwill alot latelty because that's where the Thrifty Decor Chic and The Nester go to find reusable treasures.  And it's so true.  This lovely touch lamp was $5.99.  I love it in my bathroom because I can touch it to three different softness levels.  No more turning on the overhead stage lights to accentuate every wrinkle and gray hair.  I DO love lamps!  I WILL get more!

These were other Goodwill finds.  The candle and the fillers are my own that I already had.  Very Fall.

I repainted these pears metallic Fall colors to go in this basket.  They're much better that they used to be!

I've been working on other things, to show later.  It's soooo much fun.  Those of you who have been doing this all along are saying "Duh" right now.  My mother is the most creative person I know and it just seems to have skipped right over me.  But I'm working on it.  Slowly , but surely.

Gypsy on the cheap

This was the best costume I've ever put together!  It was sooooo cheap and easy.  No messy face paint like when she was a witch or clown.  No long tangly wig like when she was sleeping beauty.  And we already owned most of the stuff.  I found some plastic hoop things at Goodwill like we used to use for purse handles and the purse was made out of placemats, remember?  Then some Christmas bells from the dollar store and ribbon I already had.  Some hot glue and abracadabra it's a tambourine!!  One skirt from Goodwill and some jewelry from the dollar store, everything else was ours.  A little makeup and a Gypsy is born.  She did NOT like everyone commenting on her mole. " It's a BEAUTY MARK", she would say after they would walk away.  Fiesty little Gypsy!!

Around our House

Emily went to the Homecoming dance with her friends.  She bought the dress herself, I bought matching fabric for the sleeves and the Kings helped her pin them on and I sewed them.  Melynda did her hair and lent her some jewelry.  She looked like a princess!

Amanda's 19th Birthday!! Can you believe she's 19?

Scott had fun with some pantyhose Amanda recieved on a funny giant card from Grandma Shirley.

That's Scott for ya!

Crazy hair day at Isabelle's school.

And that's what's been happening around our house.

Oh, and my dishwasher has been leaking for probably awhile. The pergo floor all around it is buckling and I can smell mildew.  Yuck!  At least we have our health, right?

Monster Mash

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Cake goal accomplished

I've seen fondant cakes for awhile now and have always wanted to try making one. So today I did. It's bumpy and crooked and squatty, but I did it and it was kind of fun. Now I can say I made one. And look at the MESS I made!
And here's a picture of Emily just for fun after I put a pair of her Dad's shorts on her head.

Kitten what's his name.

Amanda caught me in a moment of weakness for sure! She called from work begging me if she could have a kitten someone was giving away at Fry's. After many threats on my part, many promises on her part, we now have a kitten. It IS cute and it's supplies (cat box, food, water) are kept in her room. It's funny to watch it play and think it's a large hunting cat. It gives the dog something to do now. His main job is to keep an eye on it and make sure he takes all of it's toys and doesn't let it get too happy playing. This cat is yet to have a name. We kind of decided on Jack but now are rethinking that. Amanda wants something original like Percival or Jude. So in the meantime, it's just kitten or cat for short. Do you know how hard it is not to let it cross my path?

Do you think she's happy?

Isabelle was hoping beyond hope she'd get a Nintendo DS for her birthday. Her wish came true and boy was she happy! She also wanted a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake. She wanted store bought, but had to settle for homemeade. But it was pretty yummy though. My baby is nine years old! Guess I can't call her my baby anymore:(

Isabelle's Wild West Weekend

On Friday Isabelle got to skip school and go to Grandma Shirley's with Aunt Cindy. It was time for her annual birthday date with Grandma. This year she decided she wanted to go horseback riding and stay a couple of days at Grandma's. We bought her a cowboy hat to prepare her for her adventure, and what an adventure she had! A real chuckwagon dinner and show at Blazin' M Ranch. Love the old time saloon picture of the three wild gals! You have to click on it to see it up close! Horseback riding and roping lessons, thrown in jail, shopping, monopoly with Grandma. She's a happy little cowgirl!! Thanks to Grandma and Cindy for giving her a great weekend she'll never forget.

Scouting: To love or not to love.

There's just nothing quite like an all day Saturday Cubscout Training Day! No words can express. I had to keep pinching myself because I couldn't actually believe how lucky I was. Imagine it! Surrounded by Adult leaders in Scout Uniforms, going over this and that. Informing me how much MORE training I need as a Primary Counselor over Cubscouts. This training will be given at Roundtable coming up next month!! And at POW WOW later on. For FREE! I had to surpress my shout for joy at this announcement.

I know, I know. I'll just go repent now.

Love This Too!

Looking Forward to Conference

Love This!

Things you may not know.

Here are some things about me you may not know. Some of them I didn't even know.

I cuss under my breath. Sometimes in my head. Out loud alot lately too.

When I'm sick I snore so loud my husband has to retreat to the couch.

I blink my eyes and look around alot when talking on the phone.(so Amanda tells me)

It bugs me when people say they want to watch a movie with me, and then they go in the other room during the movie.

Allowing my children their free agency is really hard.

At age 40 I still care what people think of me.

I can function pretty well on very little sleep.

I put off hard things until I can't put them off any longer.

I don't really know alot about what's going on in our Government.

I feel ugly if I leave the house without makeup on.

I wish I had a hobby that I loved and that I could afford.

I'm scared to death of my plane going down when I'm on it.

Little things make me cry lately more than they ever have.

I hate it when Men will look at another woman and the woman they're with doesn't see it. (that's what I get for people watching)



That's all I can think of at the moment. I'm a Phsychiatrist's dream!! What are some things I may not know about you?

Just Life

Just a few pictures of what the kids have been up to. Logan bought himself a suit. He looks nice in it. Amanda started college. Her backpack weighs more than Isabelle (almost). Emily got to be a makeup model for our neighbor's neice. She had a good time. And Isabelle had fun having a friend over. That's about all, just life.
Isabelle said something funny the other day: "Mom, what does obnoxious mean again?"

"It means annoying."

"Well, Logan is being obnoxious!"

The Ants Go Marching Out

Can you feel it it too? Something has changed. There's less ants around these days. For the past several long months, I've had a plague of Ants infest my home. Hard as I try to keep the kitchen crumb free, they invite themselves anyway. Any dishes left out in or near the sink will undoubtedly be practically carried away with Ants the next morning. They made a permanent invisible line going along my stove and down to some underground tunnel. They've bitten my feet more times than I can count while making dinner. My dishwasher was a favorite dining spot for them. But many died a hot and steamy drowning. Not even my purse was safe in it's storage cupboard next to the dishwasher.
The kitchen isn't the only hangout for these little pests. It's been great fun to be watching a movie all comfy on the couch only to feel a little sting somewhere on your body. They don't discriminate. Everyone in the family gets it. They're in the carpet, bathroom, dirty clothes baskets, wood floors.
Which leaves me to ask myself: Am I just a horrible filthy housekeeper? Why are they here and what do they want? I've been tolerable to them to a point. Sure, I've killed some of them. But only hoping it would send a message to all of them. And maybe it finally has, because I believe they're retreating. It's a good thing too, because my bags were packed.

This makes me tap my toes.

Isabelle

Freshman in College. Senior in High School. Sophomore in High School:

They don't want their picture taken on the first day of school anymore.

Thank Heavens for this little third grade girl! She LOVES everything about school and lets me help her pick out her outfit every morning and tells me all about her day when she gets home. She's a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

How many more days?

Ok, I'm ready to drive Seminary kids. Ready to make school lunches. Ready to quiz spelling words. Ready to get out to the bus on time. Ready to pick up from rehearsals and practices. Ready to wake up early. Ready to meet the teacher. I'm ready for School to start!!