It always gets worse before it gets better

or at least I hope is the case,
as this is the state of our living room right now. yikes. It is a disaster. worse than that.
horrible. and is already driving me crazy.
why is it so bad?
because this is what the girl's room looks like right now-

soon- hopefully this week,
it will have new carpet, new paint, new beds, new quilts- maybe new curtains, and a new closet system!
wow. I can't wait.
oh, wait. I am the one doing some of the work. better get on that.
soon.
so I can have my living room back.

yesterday

I got a phone call from my mom, in the morning, telling us that supper was at their house tonight.
this could only mean one thing-
they got their mission call!
so we gathered, made our guesses- then ate a delicious dinner.
then, when we could wait no more, they opened it!this was my mom's reaction. I think she is a bit shocked. so- where are they going?
well, they are going to Baguio, Phillipines!

(here's a little picture I found on the internet. ) it looks beautiful. and it is hot there. my mom doesn't like hot. but they are going to be working in an office-hopefully it is air conditioned!

-and us girls are already planning a trip to go visit them. when it is cold here. and nice and hot there.

can't wait.

so exciting. for them. we will miss them. I mean- who will tell me how to cook a turkey- every time I cook one? and no more meals at their house all cooked by mom. but it is all good.

what a great adventure!

(and the green faced kid is my nephew. my brother in law doesn't want pictures of his kids on the internet. just so you know. he really doesn't have a green face like that. in case you were wondering!)

Thursday

1. I find it so funny that Maggie is always- always dancing and singing around the house. but when it came time for the kids at church to go up and sing their mother's day song, she would have nothing to do with it.
crazy girl.
2. I didn't get a picture of me and the kids on mother's day. I will have to do a make up picture on the Sunday coming up, and pretend we took it last week. no one will really know- I mean in a few years it won't matter that it was a week late, right?
3. isn't Ben cute? or should I say handsome? studly? a hunk? I love this picture by Rebecca Cooper. love it. what a babe.

3. Cory commented that I should change my header picture back- that you can't really tell what we are doing in the picture-

we are all eating suckers! heart suckers. so now you all know. and since a few of you commented that you like the picture, I will leave it for a while. until something better comes along. - these were also done by Rebecca. so fun.

( I love that Sadie is totally taking a lick. so funny.)

4. I totally want to have a wall full of pictures in the basement, so I need to go get some pictures enlarged, and maybe a few more frames, hopefully I can get that done soon! I am so excited.

5. I bought some watermelon this week.

very much makes me think of summer.

yum.

6. then today we have this.

very much not summer. yuck.

7. we have gone camping on the May long weekend with a few families for years now. last year it was actually warm. some years- not so warm. the way it is going today, I am thinking that it might not be so warm.

but, our van is having issues. we are pretty sure it is due to the oil change incident- but we have no proof, and since our van was at the limit for weight it should pull anyways with our trailer-

anyways, we aren't going camping this weekend. and we are having issues deciding if we should just buy a bigger vehicle that can pull the trailer- and use more gas, or sell the trailer and get a smaller van.

and Cory and I are not the best at making decisions. so many choices. what to do, what to do.

8. but I am glad we are staying home. hopefully we can get some stuff done around here.

9. so, on Tuesday afternoon a nice young man in a suit came to my door and asked me if he could steam clean my carpets. for free. no catch. all I had to do was tell my friends and family what a great job they did.

well, since my livingroom carpet could really use a cleaning, I said okay. so he called his boss guy, and they came back in a few minutes carrying the box. the minute I saw the box I knew.

Kirby.

oh no. I told them. I am not buying a Kirby vacuum. so just go now if you want, or you can stay and clean, but I am not buying your stuff. I told them how the last Kirby guy who came to my house- when we lived in Calgary made me cry. yup. nice. he was very high pressure, and how come I wouldn't buy his $2000 + vacuum without my husband there. I didn't need him to tell me it was okay. yikes. it was not pleasant.

anyways, the guy said he would not pressure me, and proceeded to vacuum my living room for the next hour. showing me all the dirt he got out of my rug. gross.

then it was getting to be dinner time, and he still hadn't steam cleaned. so I said it was okay- I didn't need that. so anyways, he called his boss guy- who dropped him off, and he was going to come and get him in about 10 minutes.

so he packs up his stuff and goes to sit on the steps to wait.

Cory comes home and chats with him a bit. tell him how he sold Kirby vacuums once upon a time too! I can hardly believe it!

it was pretty cold out- snowy like today. so I did tell him he could wait inside, but he said it was okay.

anyways, we eat dinner. and the guy is still waiting.

so we invite him back in again, and he says okay this time.

so we watch the news together and chat. he was nice. from BC. didn't really like doing sales. finally the boss guy came - over an hour after he called him. nice. poor guy.

I was just sad that he could have steam cleaned my carpet in all that time he was waiting. darn it.

10. I joined in on Crazy mom quilts block a day nine patch quilt along. and wasn't doing one a day- or following along well. but I did sew up 6 squares yesterday. we are supposed to be at 17. yikes. I have some sewing to do.

11. and due to that yummy watermelon, and little girls eating it and dripping it's juicy goodness all over the floor, I have some floors to mop. fun for me.

12. when we were having the garage sale, my sister Shelley came in and spent a while helping the girls clean up their room. it was so nice. but it is not so nice any more. but today I am going to get it nice again. yes, I am.

13. have a happy Thursday!

10 minutes

on monday for family home evening, Cory told us to pretend we had to get out of our house- we had 10 minutes to grab everything we wanted to take, then we had to get to grandma's house.

this is what the gathered stuff looked like- but the vacuum was already there, and the laundry basket. I wouldn't bring those.

it was interesting to see what everyone grabbed.

one of the boys grabbed the globe. love it.

ben grabbed the quilt I made him. that made me happy.

another boy grabbed a whole pile of games and puzzles.

just in case we get bored, I guess.

Cory made several trips bringing up all the scrapbooks.

it was interesting to think about what is important to us, and what can and can't be replaced.

(there have been some wild fires by some towns close to here, so some people in our ward have been on stand by to evacuate- but I think the fires are under control now.)

something to think about.

and I really should get a big 72 hour kit together.

add it to the to-do list!

science fair

so- guess who got first place for the grade 8's in the science fair?
not ben,
but he did get second place! (sorry for the glare. the title says home sweet home?)

I told him the colored dots on his display sealed the deal.
anything with colored dots deserves a prize in my books!

he did his project on decibels, and the safe level for any noise- then tested people by having them listen to music at a certain volume, and having them guess if it is within the safe limit for listening. very interesting, no?

here- today!

except we aren't moving, and we aren't selling a car. but we are selling stuff we bought at other garage sales- right mom?
good times.

13 blogs you should check out.

- if you have the time, and the inclination, that is!

I thought I would share some blogs I have found and enjoyed.

1. ambrosia girl

I just found her- love it.

check out this download you can print off to give to your special someone before mothers day, so they can get you just what you want! so fun- but I do think she forgot the chocolate box. that is what I would check for sure!

2. film in the fridge.

just look at this quilt she made, and you will know why I like her blog!

3. v & co. I am sure I have shared this link before, and I am sure I will share it again. she is thrifty, and crafty, and super cute. love it!

4. the lettered cottage

she made curtains out of drop cloths. what is not to love?

she decorates houses. and does it beautifully. some day I want my house to look like hers.

5. a friend to knit with

with a blog name like that, how can it not be good?

6.bakerella

cake pops. yum. and sprinkles. double yum

7. the shabby nest. super cute decorating ideas. and thrifty too!

8. confessions of a twenty something drama queen

I think she is so funny. and presh.

9. Design mom so trendy and with it.

everything I am not, but want to be!

10. my insanity- and I quote "an insane amount of ideas"

what is not to love?

11. kate benson photography- because I do love photography, and I do love her style. love.

12. the farm chicks

anyone want to go to washington in June? so fun. thrify goodness.

13. the urban photo blog
another photographer I greatly admire.

now go, look, have fun. then get off your computer and get some sun!

because

it makes me smile. and sometimes, a smile makes things better.
not that things are bad.
but things can always be better, right?

what a guy!

thanks to home-ec classes at school-
that everyone has to take,
Ben learned how to sew-
(or sue as he says it- he claims that's how his teacher says it)
and he made these pajama pants! pretty cool.
and he knows how to make orange julius'-
isn't that what everyone learns in home-ec?
so I need to keep the freezer stocked with orange juice concentrate.
when will they teach him how to cook a full meal?
oh- maybe that's my job.
I had better get on that.

overheard

while at work on Friday, Cory overheard a guy talking to the ladies, telling them about an estate sale he was having- selling his mom's stuff.
according to Cory there would be hundreds of jeans, and thousands of shoes, or thousands of jeans and hundreds of shoes.
he couldn't remember which.
either way, I was sold.
so I went.
and I don't think that guy was a very good estimator, there was maybe 30 pairs of shoes, and just a whole lot of old lady clothes.
but I managed to have a good time.
this is what I got.and a bread machine-now was it $10 like the green sticker said, or $5 like the red sticker at the back?
well, I just gave the guy a $20 for all the stuff, and called it good.
and that bag in the pile- the pretty blueish/greenish flowery one-
well, it was full of knitting needles. tons of them. I sorted them out- kept a very few that I didn't already have that size of, and paired the rest up, and will attempt to sell them at a garage sale we will hopefully be having next weekend. with my mom's help.
should be good.
so- the bread machine- it came with a cook book, but not the instruction manual. so I decided- what the heck, let's try it. so I did,
and this is what I got.
a tiny loaf.
I had a piece. it was very dense.

I think I need to find a manual.

because it could be very fun.

-if I can get it to make light, fluffy, delicious bread.

ps- thanks for all your comments with my last post.

I really appreciate your support.

crafting, and sharing ideas is such a great thing.

the internet is such a great resource.

I love it.

the dirt

so- I thought I would share my story on the whole artistic integrity deal- and see what you guys think-
be honest with me- what would you do?

okay, so I was reading a blog of a photographer I admire, and there was a picture she had taken of a cute little baby in a gnome hat- very much like my pixie hats I had already made, but instead of a flower clip- like mine had, this one had a tree appliqued on it.
wow- super cute.
I can do that- so I did-
and this is what it looked like. and I listed it on etsy,
and there it sat for a couple of months. being viewed, but never bought.
until a couple of days ago, when I received a message on etsy.
from someone very crafty. and well known.
I am sure a bunch of you have heard of her- but I won't name names here. apparently her friend "worked hard to come up with an original and unique concept" and she thinks it is "such a shame as a fellow etsy artist to take advantage of that"
and "i just wish that when someone has a great and original idea, it wouldn't be stolen by others."

well. huh. I thought and thought.
what would I say to that.
what should I do.

so- I have said nothing. and changed my hat to this-

look- my very own idea.
like 90% of what is on etsy is not a copy/version of something else somewhere.
like what this girl who wrote me makes is at all original, and tons of people haven't copied her.
I wonder if her friend even cares that I did that.
and I wonder if this girl has written this same letter to all the people who have copied her stuff she sells.

and those are my thoughts on the matter.
what are yours?

things on my mind

1. wondering if my house will ever get cleaned up.

I really don't think so.

2. artistic integrity. apparently I crossed the line. when is it okay to copy someones idea? maybe never. but really, aren't most things out there a version of something else?

can't dwell on this thought. it makes me get crazy.

3. I thought I bought a bag of peanut butter m&m's when I was in the states, but not sure where I stashed it. maybe my mom took it out of my bag at her house? hmm. I could use some of those right now.

4. I am doing good with the running. but not getting any thinner.

hmm. could be all the chocolate.

darn it.

5. I want to make some more quilts. for what? I don't know. but I am itching to sew some.

6. I bought this pattern, and want to make a bunch of them too.

7. survivor tonight. I missed it last week- due to my trip. so I am excited to catch up.

8. I want to make some yummy cookies. and eat them . hmm. why am I not losing any weight.

oh ya, I eat too many sweets.

9. too bad I really don't think I could stop that. that would be hard.

10. there is a Time out for Women here this weekend. and I am not going. and I am okay with that. but time away sounds good. but I guess I did just have a long weekend last weekend. and I sure do have a lot of stuff I could do around here.

11. okay, I am going to clean. and make some cookies.

and see if I can find some thread that matches a quilt I just pinned up and need to quilt. then I might do that this afternoon.

12. or I might just use white thread. I'm not picky.

13. boy, I have some random thoughts. and a lot of things I should be doing. must get off this computer!

look alike

so, I got my hair cut while I was in Rexburg.

it was fun.

the girl who cut my hair is Kelly McCaleb's sister- Nicole.

her little shop was cute. and she was so sweet.

and she said my hair was like Kirsten Dunst.-and not that she had ever cut Kirsten Dunst's hair, but my hair is what she thinks hers would be like. I thought that was funny.

it was fun.

then I kept bugging my sister Shelley that my hair was just like Kirsten Dunst, and don't I look like her- and I was basically driving her crazy-

but isn't that what big sisters are supposed to do?

and then we went to Kohls- and this sign was in the parking lot, so I had to get a picture.

(can you see the similarities? I think she meant the curl, and thickness. but it was fun while it lasted)

but my hair looks a bit wacky, and not a bit like Kirsten Dunst.

but it was cute, and sadly, will never look that way again.

in fact, Cory didn't even realize I had gotten a hair cut- because I basically just styled it like I always do.

my favorite store

I have a new favorite store.
unfortunately, they are only in the states.
but it was so fun- and I will be back, that's for sure!
it is called Real Deals.-
and we found some real deals.
really cute decorating things- like this sign that will be in my laundry room. they had really big ones- just like this, but room in our car was limited, so I got the smaller one. but just as fun. and of course- stars. because I have a thing for them.
and I liked how this one was a bit different- with the longer points at the bottom.

and this sign was on for really cheap. and I love it.

I hung it in my dining room, but cory says it is misleading. your eye follows the arrow - to nothing. I wish I could hang it above my fridge, but that just doesn't work. I might have to find a new place for it.

and this one- man, I could be a rich woman if I could really collect on that! it is a big sign- hanging in my hallway.

so fun. if I had more time, and space, and money - of course, I could have had a very, very fun time at that store. just my style, and the prices were very reasonable.

I like this store. it is so choice.

if you have the means, I highly recommend checking one out!

today

I'm home-
after a lot of driving- we got home late last night-
I didn't even get all my goods unloaded from the car, so I need to make a trip back to my mom's to see what I left in their car. and figure out where to put all the fun decorating items I bought, and them probably sew for a very long time to use up some of the tons of cute fabric I picked up.
will post pictures- soon!

where I am going...

1. there will be a DI. - because thrift stores are always fun.

2. there will be a Sonic. ( and I am so getting some sonic ice. yum)


3. there will be Porter's craft store.


4. there will be a Joann's. and I hear they are having a sale that ends on Saturday. yay!


5. there will be a target. so much better than Walmart.

6. there will be a college I attended for 2 years.


7. there will be a girl I hear does amazing hair- that I am going to check out.


8. there is a new temple there


9.I really hope it is nice and warm there


10.it is a long drive, but I will be doing it with my parents and my sister Shelley.


11. I made some meals that are in the freezer, so my family can enjoy my home cooking even when I am not home.


12. I really need to go and pack!


13.so- where am I going? if you guessed Rexburg, you are so right!

earth day

in honor of earth day, I am going to -
reuse- we are having left overs for supper- hurray!
reduce- use less electricity tonight and go to bed really early- again.
I was in bed, lights out at 8:45, probably asleep at 8:46. the kids were probably all still awake, but I was so sound asleep, it just didn't matter to me.
recycle- I think I will go out and put all the milk jugs I have been throwing out the back door for a while now into a garbage bag (or two)- and stash them in the garage- out of every day sight. we are saving them until June when we can get a refund for them!
I think we should buy a barbeque with the money.
okay, I don't know that we have that many milk jugs, but maybe enough to make a nice dent in the price of a barbeque. yum. I do love to eat barbequed food.
happy earth day!

too early

so so tired.
I switched my seminary days- with the other teacher,
so I could have Friday and monday off,
which were supposed to be my on days-
because I have big plans for the weekend.
big fun fabulous plans.
(which I will reveal at a later date)
but right now, it is only 7:30, and I really, really wish I was already in bed.
do you think my kids will let me get them to bed in the next 10 minutes so I can get into mine?
yah, I don't think so either. but one can dream.
oh, dream. I wish I was.
in my bed.
dreaming.
but I probably should get a lesson ready for early in the morning first.
oh, how I love seminary.
I really love that in just over a month it will be done for the year.
oh bliss- waking up at 7 am. instead of 5:30.
that is way too early for me.

field trip recap

I learned that all day field trips are about a half a day too long.

on Jeds I was definitely done at lunch time.

maybe because I got reprimanded by his teacher for leaving thier group- when they had all gone to the bathroom, to follow another part of the school group to an auditorium where we all met up a few minutes later anyways. sheesh. I felt like I was just one of the kids. forced to follow the crowd. - I just wanted to tell her- I am an adult, and I can handle 5 kids. really. I can.

and I also was annoyed that I had to stay with my group- even though there were about 4 groups that were together- at all times- so when, for example, I had to go to the bathroom, I had to take all 5 kids, and they had to stand outside the bathrooms waiting for me. hmm. I didn't think they were any safer there unsupervised than if I had left them all at the booth with the whole group looking at the cows for 2 minutes. I don't get it.

but other than that- and the one crazy kid in my group, it was kind of neat. and I got Jed to pose with all the animal statues that were in all the booths.
isn't he so excited about the pigs? They had 2 pigs in a pen that were 8 months old- and were huge! crazy.

and the cows. there were a few different cow booths- one for beef, one about milk, a booth about eggs, one about chickens- where the adults got to hold a chick and the kids could pet them. and there were hand sanitizer stations everywhere- which was good, but the kids got a bit crazy with them by the end of the day.

then- the Aviation museum the day before.

good times.

there is a gift shop there, so before the field trip they suggest that each kid can bring up to $10. a few times I heard kids saying they really wanted more money. to buy what - I just don't know. most kids bought a foam plane that was pretty cool- and cost $3, or a propeller toy that was $2, but of course some kids had to buy 3 of whatever because they had money and had to spend it. I found that quite funny.

so, the kids got to sit in a fighter plane, while the tour guy showed them the controls. pretty cool.

and I saw this on a plane- right before the words was an arrow - pointing up to where the jack was stored, but I thought it was kind of funny.

and I think my field trip quota for the year is filled. maybe I can still go on one with Sadie's class- but definitely not a full day one. not this year anyways.

13

1. due to a lack of parent volunteers, I got to go to the Aviation museum with the grade 6's today. all day. it was okay. I think it was good because I didn't have to ride the bus. I drove because I had to drop Maggie off at my mom's house.

2. bus rides are yucky.

3. I am glad I was never bussed as a kid. although we did live pretty far from the elementary school. maybe we should have been bussed. but we were tough kids. kids now a-days - not so tough. I did catch a bus to high school, but it was a city bus, so it doesn't count.

4. an tomorrow- due to a lack of parent volunteers I get to go to an agricultural fair with the grade 4's. all day. not sure how it will be.

5. but I do have to take the bus. I hope it's a scholar hauler.

6. The weather has improved since Tuesday. thank goodness. but it is still a bit chilly for my taste. we had to go outside at the museum to look at a couple of airplanes, and it was very cold. yikes.

7. I learned a bit about airplanes today. (it wasn't a total waste!) I learned that now a-days, pilots don't actually have to fly planes to get their license. they only have to fly simulators. that is kind of a scary thought.
The guy was telling us his son got a job for some airline a while ago and had to fly a big plane with only 3 people in it, and land it 7 times, then he got the job. he said it cost about $5ooo an hour. and that is why they only have to fly simulators now. so I guess it makes sense.

8. and the guy was talking about that Hudson River crash a while back, and how well the pilot handled it. that is comforting. it was interesting. apparently the pilot landed the tail in the water first, which was good because then the jets both landed in the water at the same time, because if one jet went in first, the plane probably would have sunk.

9. I guess I did learn a bunch of stuff.

10. I wonder what I will learn about farm animals tomorrow.

11. so, when we were down south for Easter we got pictures taken by Rebecca Cooper- and she put a sneak peak on her blog here. check them out if you want. kind of fun. I can't wait to see them all- we did some fun stuff!

12. I was trying to be very good today and not eat any junk food- since easter and the chocolate everywhere I have not been very good with abstaining from the sweetness, and I was doing good. but my sister was in the states, and she brought me back a big bag of peanut butter m&m's. and I am not doing so good any more.

13. I have seen peanut butter m&m's up here, they used to be in more places, but now I only can find them at Sobeys, but she got me a big bag, for a fraction of the cost here. so delish!

I think I should head to the gym for a bit tonight.

today

500

first things first-
we put the names in a bucket- and I had my sweet, young, beautiful assistant pull out a name, and this is the name she got- Shari! now your two girls might have to share! (let me know if you want me to mail it to you or just hold on to it until we see you guys!)
Thanks to you all for entering- that was fun. I still have much more yarn, and maybe later on I will crochet up another one to share the love!

Easter was nice. the drive was not too bad. we hooked up the DVD player, I knitted and slept.
the town of Stirling has an 'easter egg hunt" which really is a 'pick the candy up off the ground' but my kids love it. and check out the haul!
tons of sugar. and tons of candy wrappers all over the house. sorry about that grandma!

the three bluish tin buckets are ours. I spray painted them without knowing that I really should have primed them first. I am hoping to fix them up and paint them again, and maybe get the kids names in vinyl lettering to put on each bucket. that would be fun.

I headed to walmart this morning to see if I could get some choclate bunnies to stash in the freezer for future fondues, but all the easter stuff was gone. wow. all for the better, I guess.
Jack is sitting by me harrassing me because he wants to go to Walmart and spend all his money. he can't stand to have it and not spend it. but he wants to buy a shoot-em up video game, and I am not too keen on that. not good.

alright. back to life. I have a few etsy orders that I need to get knitted up- yay! and a house that needs cleaned up.
the weather man said it might snow tonight. what is up with that? craziness.

13

1. it is supposed to reach a high of 14 degrees today. woohoo!



2. I made these little bird nests for Easter, and for my seminary kids, and of course for my kids!



all you do is melt 1 cup of chocolate chips, 1 cup of butterscotch chips, then you add in some chow mein noodles ( but make sure they aren't rancid- like the ones I had were! yuck. I did run to the store- for the second time yesterday and get some good ones!) then shape into nests on some waxed paper- when they harden add some yummy chocolate eggs! sweet.


3. we are getting family pictures taken this weekend! I am so excited. I have a couple of fun ideas which involve mustaches and suckers. so fun.


4. but getting to those pictures, and 0ur grandma's house first requires a 6+ hour drive. not so fun.


5. since our spring break trip, Maggie has taken to not only pooping in her diaper, but peeing too. and every time I try to talk to her about this craziness she covers her ears. the little stinker. I keep hoping one day it will all just click, but that day is sure taking a long time coming. I think I will have to take some drastic action- after our next trip. for sure. so tired of it all.

6. I am on track with my 5K training. I can run 6 minutes- mind you, not 6 minutes straight, but 6 minutes interspersed in 24 minutes.- but that is okay. next week we build up to 10 minutes running. I am actually excited for that. crazy, I know!


7. my sister who lived in Virginia is back there visiting right now. surely she is going to Joann's and Target, Kohls and Chipotle. probably a stop at Trader Joe's. oohh. I miss those places. someday maybe they will come to Canada, hopefully. but I am not holding my breath.

8. something I never thought I would see- on my boys-

but his blond streaks are pretty subtle. Jed got the leftover color on his head. he has a big chunk of light hair. funky. I hope this doesn't become a regular thing. no boys of mine can color their hair more than I do! I mean, really!

9. today- must tidy up. nothing worse than coming home from a trip to a messy house. yuck.

10. but Maggie is helping me out- she is mopping my dining floor right now! I love it!

11. the next time I post will be my 500th post. wow. that is a lot of blogging going on.

12. so, I thought for fun I would give something away! how about this sweet little crocheted bag! I made up two for my girls for easter- instead of a basket this is what they will be getting. but this pink one just doesn't match with their Easter dresses. egads! so one of you fine readers are welcome to it!

13. just comment- tell me anything- maybe how much you enjoy reading all my posts! hee hee. or maybe if you have a favorite post. or maybe just say hi.

and on Monday we will pick someone to send it to!

twinners

when I went to pick up Maggie at the play place at the gym this morning,
I peeked my head into the park area to call her,
and a worker lady had already told her that I was there,
then she told me that she didn't even see us come in together,
but Maggie looks just like me, so she knew she was mine. hmm. am I really that cute?
too fun.

fun with clay

very cute.

lots of detail. what an artist!
um- the world? maybe?

I see a lot of potential!

clay is pretty fun.

and now the colors are all blended together into a big blob.

which is fun, until they all get mushed up into brown.

not so fun.

13

1. it was warmer. there was less snow. yay!

2. but the day we left was chilly. and we passed through a town where it had recently- like that morning snowed a few inches! but it was melting and slushy everywhere.

3. then I got back home and there is still tons of snow. but it is melting. slowly.

4. Maggie woke me up this morning and made me come to the front window to see the remains of a plant from our front garden that we can now see because the snow is melting. it was exciting.

5. isn't she cute?
6.on our way home we stopped in a city at Value Village. and had a good time. but it would have been even better if I had no kids, but you gotta do what you gotta do. bargains were found. good times were had by all.

7. Jed got these glasses at a thrift store. he calls them his Napoleon Dynamite glasses. he thinks he is pretty styling. the big boys bug him about them. but I think they are secretly jealous.8. two more days of spring break. Jack is dying to go to West Edmonton Mall. I think I would die if we did go. yikes. west ed on spring break? madness.

9. Joannes house is very tidy. my house is not. but I am thinking I will enlist my kids help and get my house to a tidier state today. I know that that means we need to get rid of some of the offending clutter. that could be difficult. but I will try my darndest.

10. and I am making cinnamon buns today. yum. just thought I would share that fact. and if you came here I would share the buns too.
just saying.

11. the dresses I was making for the girls for easter involved Shirring. and I tried it, unsuccessfully. I followed the instructions on the pattern, but it wasn't happening. then I looked on the internet to see if there was anything I was missing. and there was. use a large stitch size- like 5. it works like a charm. in case you were wondering.

12. Sadie by the pink door. why is it when you are other places you see all kinds of great places to take pictures, but not so much at home?13. this was on our drive home. probably not such a great idea to take pictures while you are driving. Just saying. but we didn't crash or anything like that. phew. Cory is leaving this afternoon with some youth and a friend to go to General Conference in Utah. after my little (comparitively) drive, I am glad it's not me. especially since they are not planning on shopping. I mean, really. what is a trip to Utah without stopping to shop? not the trip for me!