A craft week...

We did a bit of crafting this week! Easy projects we found in a library book, that we have renewed once already....


Craft #1: Tamberines made from paper plates, filled with beans and attached with ribbons. This was actually our FHE activity. Guess whose turn it was to plan the activity? Yep, Sasha, the craft-lover.



Craft #2: Awesome Stained Glass Art Work made from crayon shavings, placed inbetween waxed paper and ironed to melt the wax. So pretty. I really got into this one!!

Craft #3: Found these in Family Fun Magazine! They are little quadropus! Made from a glove! Tuck the thumb inside and stitch shut. Glue buttons on for the tentacles, and the eyes and nose. Use felt for the mouth. Fill with beans or rice and stitch shut. We did these with our neighbors, the Prigmores today and it was fun.

In order: Seth's (I made his. Big shocker.) Sasha's black one and white one with TONS of buttons. LOL. Finally, Addie's with the purple bow. Cute, easy project! Go make some! Walmart has their gloves on clearance for .50 and they come in a 2-pk!

Just wanna say that I post our crafts, not to brag, but to give someone ideas! I LOVE reading craft blogs, myself, so I like to post when I find something fun! :)

I can say whatever I want. It's my blog.

Ok, so I frequent a website for coupon freaks, like myself, and tonight someone posted a big vent about a new calling and threw in their discontentment over Sister Beck's talk, "Mother's Who Know", which was given in General Conference in November of 2007. I wanted to voice my opinion, but didn't want to do it on this website since I knew it would probably not invite the best of feelings, or words. So, this is my blog, and I can say whatever I want to, right? Right!! So, this person was so rude about the talk and thought it was unreasonable and got offended about things and I don't understand why. For example, the person got offended at the part where Sister Beck describes visiting poverty stricken countries and seeing mothers getting their children ready for church and their clothes are "ironed to perfection" and their hair is "brushed to perfection". Why would that offend someone? I don't know. She is not telling us to be perfect. I didn't take it that way at all.

The thing that makes me so sad, is that this talk was from the Lord. It was inspired. She said things the Lord wanted us to hear. Why do some women dislike this talk so much? Why do they speak out about it so harshly? Could it be because they are doing things that they know are wrong and they can't rest because of it? Why would they speak out against the Lord's annointed and think it is ok?

I will honestly say, that when I heard this talk for the 1st time, I was in tears. I felt the spirit and I knew my Heavenly Father was well-pleased with me and the way I am living my life. I am very hard on myself as a wife and mother and when I heard that talk, I felt so good and I knew what I was doing was pleasing the Lord. I have read that talk many times since it came out in the Ensign, and each time I love it more and more. I hope that those who got offended by it will figure out why, and make some changes, as directed by the spirit.

I ran out of Karo Syrup!!

Ever say that? I have many times and wondered if you can make it from scratch. Yes, you can. Oh, yay! It is super easy and waaaay cheaper than buying it at the store. (You knew I was gonna say that, didn't you?)

Homemade light corn syrup

2 c white sugar
3\4 c water
1\4 t cream of tartar
dash of salt

Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Uncover and cook until it reaches soft ball stage. Stir often. Cool and store in a covered container at room temperature. Will keep for about 2 months. Makes almost 2 cups.

Use that wheat, girls!!

Whole Wheat Gravy Mix

1 c whole wheat flour
2 1\2 c nonfat dry milk
1 tsp salt
Mix these together and store in a ziploc baggie until you are ready to make some up.

Sauce:
use 1\3 of the mix
1 c milk
1\2 T butter

Mix and simmer until thick. Add seasonings to taste.



Pancake or Waffle Mix
10 cups whole wheat flour
2 1\2 cups instant nonfat milk
1\2 c sugar
1\4 c baking powder
2 T salt

Combine all above ingredients in a large bowl. Blend well. Store in an airtight containter. Keep cool and dry. Will keep for 6-8 months.

Perfect pancakes:
1 1\2 c mix
1 egg
1 1\4 c water
3 t oil
Mix ingredients and let stand for 5 minutes. Cook as you would any other pancake or waffle mix!

I love doing this and it has saved me tons of money! Pancake mix is pricey! Especially if you buy 100% whole wheat! I have both mixes in my cupboard at all times and love it! Very easy, and from scratch! YUM!

French Toast Topping....

You GOTTA try this! We use it for pancakes and waffles, too.

1 1\2 c sugar
3\4 c butter ( I use less than this and it turns out just fine)
1\2 c buttermilk (or plain milk is fine)
2 T corn syrup
1 t soda

(Use a large sauce pan since it will bubble up) Bring to a boil on medium heat. Boil for 5-7 minutes until it starts to turn light brown. Stir constantly. Take off heat and add 2 t vanilla.

It is dreamy! Enjoy!

Making a change...

Well, in my quest to be ultra-frugal since I went to a coupon class 2 years ago, I fear I taken it too far, sometimes. Pinching your pennies is a good thing, don't get me wrong. But I have become so obessed with it, I guess, that I have not even wanted to spend any money for things that are not a neccessity. Like eating out. Ever. Like going to a movie. Hardly ever. Like getting popcorn at the movie. Even more hardly ever. Yesterday was a sad, glass-totally-empty kind of day for me and I sat in my jammies and had a good cry pretty much all morning long. The kids had a great time, watching whatever the wanted. No, we did no school at all yesterday. **Sigh** Good thing we worked hard the rest of the week.

I decided that despite money situations, and everything else, WE NEED TO HAVE FUN. I NEED to have FUN! Will and I both decided to take the kids to see "Hotel for Dogs" and it was wonderful. I tried not to cringe as we paid for the tickets and bought some popcorn. It was such a cute movie and Addie kept saying, loudly, over and over: "Oh, that puppy is adorable!" It was just precious. The theater was 'bout empty since it has been out for awhile, so we were able to be noisy and laugh right out loud!!! Actually, I think we would have been noisy in a full theater! How can you not be noisy and laugh out loud when watching a kid movie!? For real. Anyway, it was such a great show and my little girls actually cried in a few spots; the doggies got taken to the pound. LOL.

We have a lot of debts, as most people do and the economy is affecting us, like it is affecting most people. But, Will and I have decided that it is ok to spend a little money every now and then. Good heavens, I save us so much by using coupons and by making stuff from scratch all the time. I am going to make an effort to plan some fun things for us to do every now and then.........I hope I can find coupons to use...........

Pay it forward...

Pay it forward!!

So this is how it works: The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise.There's a small catch... You knew there would be, didn't you? Post this on your blog then come back and leave a comment, telling me you're in. Fun, huh? Remember, only the first 3 comments receive a gift. Give it a try!

So funny....

Two things, I must share.....
1. Some of the girls in YW's don't know how to address a letter.....hee hee hee. I am just laughing about this. Today in YW, the Stake Leaders came and taught a lesson about honoring your parents and as an activity, they were supposed to write a thank-you note to their parents, address them, and they would send them off. The Stake YW President demonstrated how to address an envelope and I was thinking "Why is she doing that? They know how to send a letter". Ummm, some of them don't! They know how to send emails and text messages, but don't know how to write a letter. What a different era we are in. I feel stinkin' old.

2. Yesterday we went to RC Willey to look at some carpet for Will's potential new office. They are having a great sale because of President's Day and they had FREE HOT DOGS. We looked around and when we were done, we went upstairs and ate a bunch of hot dogs and guzzled free soda. (We go all out for Valentines Day) The room they had the food in reminded me of a cafeteria and they had signs everywhere reminding you to PLEASE not bring any food or drink downstairs. So we sat there, eating our free Valentines Day lunch; the kids thought it was the greatest thing ever. So, today after church, Seth told Will and I that he wants to go back to RC Willey for more hot dogs. He ate like 3 yesterday. We reminded him that it is Sunday today, so no free hot dogs today. But, I wonder if they will still have them tomorrow since it is President's Day........ok, I am cheap but not THAT cheap. I won't take my kids to RC Willey for free hot dogs twice. I wonder what kind of samples Sam's Club will be having tomorrow??? (Just jokin')

What we did today....

Sledding at Syracuse High! Wahoo! I went with the YW\YM this week, and Sasha tagged along. We decided the rest of our family would LOVE it, so we went today. It was very crowded and we had a few close calls with other sledders, but then it thinned out and we ended up having a ball.

We also built a fort in this awesome, heavy, good-fort-makin' snow we got today. It was great. Seth liked pegging us with snow balls. "Not at our face, Bud, not the face."

(Addie was in the house at this point.) Fun day. Ok, though, Will and I want to know how come our kids, and kids in general, look so darling in snow hats and we both think we look dumb in snow hats. Now, that right there, is a question to ponder and ponder.

Happy Valentines Day!

Here is my final love of the season: Will, Addie, Sasha and Seth. LOVE THEM so much! Will is holding what Sasha picked out to give him for Valentines Day. Cute, huh. They each picked out something like that to give him and Sasha hid them so Seth and Addie wouldn't eat them.








I love that Will gets flowers for his girls each Valentines Day! (I got my flowers on our Anniversary.)



We decided to get the kids something small, but something they'd actually play with for Valentines Day this year.....
Sasha let us know she'd really like a Peek-a-Boo.



Addie got one too.

Seth got some Star Wars Legos.

Love #13

This whole idea of "post what you love each day until Valentines Day" idea has been so good for me. It has really been good for me to think each day what I will post, to ponder the many things I have to love in my life. Tomorrow is the last day, but I think I will still be in the zone for quite some time and may still post what I love. But, maybe not each and every day.

Today, I would like to say I love the General Authorities and I love reading their words in the Ensign. This morning I was reading Elder Wirthlin's talk, again. I loved that talk and think this was such an awesome talk for him to end with. My favorite line from that talk, this time was this:

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."

I can't even explain what those words mean to me, personally. This talk came at a time when I really needed some answers, and I got them. I love these men and I love that Heavenly Father loves us so much to send them to us to lead us and guide us. Love, love, love the General Authorities.

Love #12

I love Abraham Lincoln. Today is his birthday, so the kids and I read some books about him for school. I found a book at the library that was written for children but also had some awesome quotes in there. Here are some that I loved:

"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. I cannot remember when I did not so think. and feel so."

"Upon the subject of education, I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in."

"I am young and unknown to many of you. I was born and have ever remained in the most humble walks of life. I have no wealthy or popular relations to recommend me." (Taken from a speech given when he ran for the Illinois state legislature. He did not win the election.)

"Resolve to be honest at all events....." (His nickname "Honest Abe" came from his clients that praised him. He was a lawyer, by the way.)


"As a nation, we began to declare that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men are created equal, except Negros.'"

"I hold that the Union of these states is perpetual. No state can lawfully get out of that union". (I wonder what he would have to say about what is going on in some states right now.....)

"If I were to try read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the best I know how- the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end."

"I never in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right, than I do in signing this paper. My whole soul is in it." (Speaking of the Emancipation Proclamation).

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds." (Taken from his 2nd inaugural address.)

On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to General Grant. The war was over. Five days later, President Lincoln was killed by an assassin's bullet. He was such a great man and I love him.

Love #11

I love it when I get a text from Will saying that a client paid their bill. Lady, whoever you are, whatever your name is, I love you. (Thanks too, HF for helping us. ) Love him, too.

#10 love

I love finding another way to save my family money. We have never had dental coverage; it doesn't exsist on most self-employed plans. We have always just paid for everything. Well, now that Will is building his practice from scratch (Go Will), I decided I had to find a better way to get dental care. I heard about going to Eagle Gate College, where they have a dental assistant program and see patients. They have dentists doing the examing, and the students take the patients back and take their x-rays among other duties. We went today and I paid $70 for both Seth and Sasha to have x-rays, cleanings, flouride and an exam. Wow. $35 each. LOVE that.

LUV

I love it when I work out on the treadmill in the morning and then shovel the driveway in the afternoon. Two workouts in one day can only mean one thing: I can eat an extra sugar cookie, or two right now! Yay for me. Love that. (I am dancing the happy cookie dance right now!)

(Ok, actually I still probably would have eaten some cookies tonight, even it I hadn't worked out twice today. Just bein' honest, here. Ya, I know, naughty am I.)

More love...

I love the funny things my kids say to me: Addie told me tonight that I smelled like boogers. Oh, ok. Love her. Seth, hearing the oven timer going off: "Is it still my turn on the computer???" said very panicked. We use the timer a lot to help them share the computer, so when Seth hears it going off, and he is on the computer, he gets a little anxious. Ok, a lot anxious. Love him. Sasha: "Can you tell Dad to come here and kiss me.....again..." said as I am finishing up our nightly reading session, and Daddy has already come and kissed her goodnight, long ago. She is very good at delaying the inevitable. Love her.

6th group of LOVE....

Can I do more than one LOVE today? Ok, thanks.

1. I love serving in the YW's. Here I am with one of my girls. LOVE them.



2. I love creating something out of nothing. Sasha needed a bed skirt, really bad and I am not going to spend money to buy one. So, I started hunting for fabric that I could piece together. It is looking so cute and I can't wait until it is done. Here is something funny: Addie was down in the craft room, "helping me" and her capri pants, that she was wearing, that are from LAST summer, were bugging her, so we took them off. (She keeps finding clothes that I have put away for good reason! They are too small and it is too cold for shorts!). I decided the were cute, too small for her, and needed a new life. So, while she wasn't looking, I cut them up and added them to the bed skirt. I hoped she wouldn't notice, but she did. She was like "Who ruined my pants?". I was like "Me".




3. I love when my kids are creative. Addie sat by me all afternoon and made me Valentines Day cards. I'd fold the paper, sit down and sew a little, she'd glue some stuff on them, call out "Happy Balentines Day, Mommy" and hand me my card with her head cocked to one side and her hands clasped and up under her chin. It was so cute. She did that routine over and over, and the same way every time. I loved it.


4. Ok, this is the last love for today. Actually, love may be too strong of a word for me to use in the same sentence with our pooch. (He is a lot of work and well, if it wasn't for the kids, he might not be around anymore. Let's just say we need to get our carpets cleaned asap. Grrrrr!!) Anyway, he knows I am the mom, and he follows me around all day long. If I stop somewhere long enough, and he sits on my feet and gets cozy. I move to another spot in the kitchen, he gets up and flops right back down on my feet. It is hilarious. I don't stay in one spot very long, but he just doesn't give up. I guess he loves me.

My biggest LOVE of all....

Will is my biggest LOVE of all!! Today is our 10 year anniversary! It is hard to believe that 10 years have gone by!


I love that he loves to do fun things with the kids. He is such a great teacher. He is so very patient with them and lets them help with whatever he is doing. He is a good example to me. Love him.



I love that he is my biggest fan. He builds me up like one else can or ever will. He encourages me, sincerely compliments me, and just loves me. I love that about him.



I love that he values his role as father and husband. We all know we are his priority.

I love him with a go-tee (how do spell that word, anyway?). He doesn't grow one very often, but wheet-woo, when he does.

I love that he talked to me in that early morning institute class and walked me to the gym that day. I love that he said "hi" as he passed a friend who was blind, and would have never known Will was there. That had me. I knew he was a very special guy. He is. I love him.

I love...

Today, I love that I can "mourn with those that mourn". I am grateful that my trials have made me compassionate to others that are hurting. I have prayed many times that somewhere along the way I could meet someone that has had similar trials, and that I could somehow help and comfort them. I love ya, girl and am here for you. Thank you for letting me know. (You know who you are).

I love...

I guess I should explain the whole "I love" thing. My friend Annie challenged anyone who reads her blog to post something they love, each day until Valentines Day. So, here ya go. I missed yesterday, so I am posting 2 today!


I love that I am the one who gets to take care of my kids when they are sick. I love that I stay home with them and that I get up with them in the night when they are feeling under the weather.


Here is Seth caught mid-cough. (What kind of weird mom goes around taking pictures of her sick kids?)

Please note the runny noses. Addie has followed me around the house for two days saying "I don't feel good" over and over. I love that girl.

I love these patterns! I will be making my girls some dang cute things for the spring. They were one sale for $1.99 at Hobby Lobby. I love that place.

Ok, I LOVE this fabric and the ribbon that will accent the dress and skirt I will be making for my girlies.

I love...

I love that Heavenly Father seems to always help us out, even at the last minute. Things have been very sloooow this month with Will's practice which makes for some stress. He refered a case 2 years, yes, 2 years ago to a lawyer buddy and it was a personal injury case. When you refer a case like that to another attorney, generally, you get a portion of what is collected. Well, we got our portion just in the nick of time, to put it mildly. A case that has taken 2 years to complete, gets done and we get some $$ was not just coinsidence. Nope. Heavenly Father was watching out for us.

I love food storage. We had a chance to purchase our year's worth of wheat and decided to take a huge leap of faith and get the wheat with some of the funds mentioned above. It was a lot of money to us, but we want to follow the Lord's counsel and get our food storage, so we wrote the check, picked up our 28, 50 pound buckets of wheat and prayed for some blessings......

Well, as you know, we have been trying to rent or lease-option or sell our house in North Ogden since May. It has been 8 long months, made even longer by Will's former employers not paying him for his last month, and giving him no warning of letting everyone go, despite Will's asking for as much warning as possible. You can't build a practice back up overnight, ya know. Anyway, we have had quite a few bites on the house, but nothing has worked out. Until Saturday. Exactly one week from the day we bought our wheat, someone called, wanting to rent the house asap and had money in their hand. All this time we have been praying for this and it happens right after we make a big purchase for our food storage. Don't tell me we weren't blessed.

This economy has me so stressed, and sad, and gosh, I hope things get better soon for all of us. But, I have a testimony of food storage and of Heavenly Father hearing our prayers. We may not get an answer right when we want it, but we will get an answer. Just in the nick of time. I'm off to buy more food storage so we can have some more blessings.......