we are sleeping in!

well-
- the talk is done. pfew.
my topic was sacrifice. I talked a bit about pioneers, a bit about Joseph Smith, a bit about Christ's sacrifice for us, and what sacrifices we are expected to make, and then I snuck in a little quote from President Benson, from when he gave the talk to the women of the church about staying home with our kids. I talked about how I make that sacrifice, and I believe it is a very important one. so looked down on in the worlds eyes, but such a great thing- to be home with your kids.
- actually a lady in my ward talked to me later, and thanked me for including that in my talk. she is struggling right now with the whole staying at home thing- being a very under appreciated thing- all around, and she appreciated my talk. yay. it is all good!
- speaking of being home with the kids- it is fall break this week. no school. good and bad. I no longer can spend all day on the computer- now that 5 kids all need their turns!
but we can sleep in. yay. and watch tv all day. yay.
okay, maybe I need to come up with projects and activities to keep us off the computer and the tv. hmm. any suggestions?

well...

-Cory says it is wrong to give my boys quilts for their birthdays.
well, he can just come up woth something better then!
- had to go help with hot lunch at the school today.
I really didn't want to, but did it anyways.
it ended up great- got 2 free lunches out of the deal, and a bag of bread sticks. it is all good.
- hoping to head to the fabric store this afternoon. that would be a good time, for sure!
- realizing it is already Friday, and that my talk needs to be given on Sunday. time is running out. ahhh!
-and that is where I am at!

1. be careful what you wish for, 'cause you just might get it!
2. (can you read the text? I tried to make it bigger, but it was having none of that)

3. technology and I don't get along so well. it is kind of a joke with Cory and I that I just can't figure anything remotely electronic out.
sad but true.

4. I did leave the house yesterday, but not until the evening.
we headed to the library- where I found a christmas craft magazine I have been eyeing at the stores. now I have it- for free- in my hot little hands- for three weeks.
let the crafting begin!

5. because we all know I don't have enough projects on the go already.

6. I have to talk in church on Sunday. I am not too worried about it yet. check with me on Saturday night. then I think I will be stressed.

7. all in all, I don't really mind talking. I guess. I think it is the 15 minute time they give you. that is a long time to stand up there and try to keep peoples attention, and share something inspiring for all. you know what I mean?

8. I pulle out a quilt I had started a long time ago, and worked on it some more yesterday. Is it wrong to giive a 13 year old a quilt for his birthday?
I don't think so. that is what he might be getting.

9. and when that is done, I need to get working on the quilt for the almost 11 year old. actually, his birthday is first, I should get going on his first!

10. although I am sure they wouldn't be too thrilled with quilts for their birthdays, I think we will more than make up for that at Christmas.

11. well, I have just been informed that I need to change a diaper. yes. my youngest- at 3 1/2 + is still wearing diapers.
now, all my other kids were completely trained around age 3. yes, a bit late for my liking, but I am under the beliefs that it is easier to wait until they are ready and when they are ready- they are ready. and that is how it went with all my kids. but maggie. my dear sweet maggie broke the mold.
She pees on the potty, even is dry at night, but will not poop on the potty.
yep, drives me crazy.
now, I wouldn't put her in playschool until next year, but I think it is time to play that card. no playschool until you can go on the potty.
I don't get it. have no clue what the issue is. maybe I should check with the professionals.
and she was in panties, but I got so tired of having dirty panties all the time, that I put her back in diapers. and that is where we are at.

12. in case you were wondering, I am so not the perfect mom.

13. and my house is a mess. so I will go and change a diaper and clean, in my quest to be a little bit better mom today!

today-

I am staying at home.
skipping the mom's and tot's group at the church.
because I am feeling anti social-
in the words of oscar the grouch-
on our tape we have in the van
yes, our van has a cassette player, and not a CD player. sad, huh?
anyways, in one of his songs Oscar says-
I don't want to be with anyone today.
that is how I feel.

but yesterday, I did go out-
with Maggie, my mom, my sister and my aunt-
we went to a greenhouse that has a beautiful Christmas display- and shop.
I picked up this little beauty.
It plays the First Noel.
I love it.
I am feeling a bit more Christmassy now.
I think the whole not into halloween thing was because the Christmas season was already out there in the stores.
hold up, people. one season at a time!
crazyness.
but now halloween is over. my stuff put back into boxes.
I am working on a few homemade things for gifts.

I think all I really need to get me really in the Christmas mode is snow.
we had one day a week or two ago that was super windy and cold, and there were a few minutes that we would look outside and see snow blowing, but it didn't even land on the ground. it just got blown away.
but no snow is okay too.
no shovelling,
no slippery roads.
maybe in a month. that would be great!

but for now, I am going to go wrap up with maggie in my newly finished quilt and watch some kid shows.
until the kids come home for lunch.
then I might have to get in gear and get something constructive done around here.

it's finished

so here is the back-
a bit puckered.
I really need to learn the art of pinning it tighter before it get's quilted.
the white strip in the middle has little yellow stars on it.

and here is the front.
my hour glass quilt.

pretty fun!

Maggie wouldn't be my model and hold it up for me,

so I had to just lay it down on the floor.

one project down, a million and one more to go!

What I did last weekend

well, besides eating way, way, way
too much candy-
darn those Aero bars.
so delicious.
on Friday- before all the candy -was a retirement lunch for my dad.
here he is cutting the cake.
and my, was that cake yummy. his co-workers had such nice things to say about him.
about how organized he is.
sadly, I think I didn't get any of those genes.
and his sister flew in from Ottawa and suprised him at the lunch.
that was fun.
then of course, we trick-or-treated.
then on Saturday I had a seminary inservice.
it was good. learned some good tips for teaching.
maybe by the end of my four years I will have some clue as to how to be a good teacher.
maybe.
and ate more of the kids candy.
then we hit a surprise party for a guy in our ward.
such a great couple. fun stuff.
then Sunday was stake conference.
man, even I had a hard time sitting in one spot for two hours.
I smuggled some knitting in my bag, but didn't get too much of it done.
I felt a bit guilty doing that.
then I ate more of the kids candy.
then the best part of Sunday- afternoon nap.
love it!
then to my parents for dinner-
the whole crew. and my aunt. she has no kids.
she must think it is crazy- which it is, when we are all there.
and that brings us to today
quilting at the church this morning.
more people came than last time,
and I got the binding sewn on my hourglass quilt-
just need to finish hand stitching it on.
then I can show you all.
more eating of the kids candy.
babysitting,
laundry.
good times around here!

it was a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

and the weather-

well, it couldn't have been better.

I wore a touque and some mitts when I took the kids out,

but almost could have done without them.

almost.

a cute lawn gnome:a sweet little red riding hood.

who got many, many oohs and ahhs, and 'she's so cute' while trick-or-treating.she agreed to go out to the "woods" for some pictures before supper, and trick-or-treating, so I got a few-

but she was pretty grumpy.

then the tears came.

she wanted to do it,

I promise.
then comes the spreading out, sorting and trading.

ahh, good times.

randomness

1. the eggnog is now gone.
I think I will wait a little while until I buy another.
as long as I can hold out.
which might not be too long.
yum

2. aren't they cute? 3. I finally bought a pumpkin yesterday,
but no one has made any indication that they want to carve it.
maybe tonight one of the kids will want to.
or not.

4. made some sugar cookies shaped like pumpkins.
so yummy.
I adore sugar cookies.

5. I just bought the pattern to make this super cute dress.

6.I see christmas dresses for the girls

7. okay, I actually bought two patterns because there were two I couldn't decide between.

8. and with the bad exchange rate right now

9. I think I see every dress the girls need for the next few years made of those two patterns.

10. but that is okay, because they are super cute, and versatile- mix and match patterns and colors. right, Cory?

11.I can't wait until they come!

12. but I have many, many other projects that I need to finish, so that is good that it will take a while for them to come!

13. Halloween tomorrow.
I am not excited. not sure why. usually I am.
excited for the candy.
but I am not.
why? I love candy.
it's a mystery. for halloween.
maybe tomorrow I will be excited.
maybe.

what?

I gave in.
fell under your clutches.
I couldn't wait even one more month.
why do the stores do this to us?
the temptation is too great.
Christmas oranges and eggnog.
and it isn't even halloween yet.

at least the oranges are healthy.
I would advise you to just not even look at the nutrition label on the eggnog. and especially not how many calories are in there.
trust me.
it is better not to know.

a peek- or a flashback. however you want to look at it.

with fuzzy pictures, a dirty house, here are some halloween costumes- as we were ready to head out the door on Friday night to the church party. Chiquita, or carribean girl- she was afraid to put on the large hoop earrings, after I told her to be careful not to get them caught on anything- but has assured me she will wear them on Friday.
we shall see.

a frightening gladiator, with a foam sword.

and skinny legs.

and red eyes, but let's not be too critical.

and a sweet little red riding hood

her wonderful grandmother- I wish you could see the saggy knee-highs and grandmotherly shoes,

and a handsome woodcutter.

I must have deleted Jeds picture, so you will have to wait to see his costume- I think it turned out super!

and Ben pulled out some hippy stuff to wear to the party, and the tattoo sleeves- I tried to tell him that they didn't really go together,

but whatever.

it's halloween.

anything goes,

right?

and- it was indeed crayzay! to quote Bobbi-jo.

all the candy kids could want.

what could be better?

then Cory and I headed out to clean the temple,

and Ben got to put the kids to bed.

lucky guy.

ha ha

a totally cute lady in my ward at church handed these out to all the women today. so funny. love it.

hip, hip hurray!

it's my birthday today! in between finishing up, and in one case- starting- halloween costumes,
I will be enjoying this cake my sweet sister made for me while she was watching my kids.
so sweet!
and then going to the crazy ward halloween party.
good times for all.

and now, once again- as I did last year,
I would love everyone who checks my blog today to leave a comment.
I see the numbers. I know there are a bunch of you out there!
today is the day to come out of the dark, and show yourselves.
don't be shy!
thanks so much! it will make my day!

now, off to sew!

2 days of bliss

1. well, here I am in Calgary, in a hotel, sitting and playing on the internet. how fun is that?

2. yesterday was a great day. do any of the rest of you have the same problem I do? when you finally get some time to yourself, you just don't know what to do with it?

3. but don't worry, I used it well

4. I hit the super cute quilt shop I love to visit, but never buy anything at. I am just to cheap- nay, thrifty for that.

5. then I hit Salvation Army- which I bought nothing at, Dollarama- bought a few things, and Value Village- where I hit the jackpot.

6. I guess maybe it was because I had no kids, and all the time I wanted to spend there. I bought a few things for halloween costumes, a few things for Christmas, and hmm- not really anything for me.

7. I did find super cute black dress shoes- with a bit of a heel
I am so not a heel wearer, but I would like to start- now that I am older!
but alas, I could only find one shoe. it fit like a dream. loved it. scoured all the shoe shelves three or four times, checked the floors, but it was not to be found.
I was pretty sad about that.

8. then I stopped at winners- used up the rest of a gift card I had, and bought a winter coat for Ben. I hope he likes it. I think it is really nice.

9. then I was right by a superstore, so I decided to stop in and see if they had the big huge bags of pretzels that I used to always buy at my extra foods, but they haven't had there for a very long while. they had some alright. I probably should have bought more than one.

10. and they had the small one litre cartons of chocolate milk for $1 so I thought I would buy one and keep it in the fridge- our room has a kitchen- fancy, no? but when I was ready to pay I saw the expiry date on it was OCT o8. then I was thinking, does it mean 2008, but no, milk never hs the year, only the day, and it was october 22. wow. can't believe they even have that in the store still, so needless to say, I left it there.

11. then I went back to the hotel, and Cory and I hit the Keg for supper. yummy. way expensive for this cheap- no, thrifty girl.

12. then we went to a mall and walked around. I bought another christmas present. loved the christmas dresses that were at gymborie- that doesn't look right, but you know what store I mean, right, and remembered last years dress fiasco- the girls haven't ever worn those dresses again, because I am afraid they will just fall apart. nice.
anyways, buying dresses is pretty tempting, but I do have an idea that just might work.

13. and that brings me to now, when I am sitting on the computer, waiting for Cory to call me and tell me he is done work, so I can get him, we can pick up something for my mom, maybe make a stop at a fabric store I just found that could be great- if Cory will indulge me, stop somewhere great for lunch and head back home.
I bet the kids are having such a great time with Aunt Shelley, they won't even want me to come home. do you think?

ahh!

The weekend was nice.
the drive was long.
Jed - who hates trips- got to stay at my sister's house and play the computer to his hearts content.
I don't think he will ever go anywhere with us again.
I don't do well at funerals.
Luckily I knew this and packed lots of kleenexes.
the cemetary was in the most beautiful spot- in the foothills outside of Cardston.
it was a beautiful day.
today was supposed to be quilting at the church.
apparently I was the only one who knew this or cared.
so I sewed until my bobbin thread ran out, then we came home
I am babysitting this afternoon.
I have seminary tomorrow- and haven't even opened my book.
shame on me.
I am also heading to Calgary tomorrow- right after seminary-
with Cory, he is going for work, for me it is all pleasure
thanks so much Shelley- I am sure my kids will be angels for you!
right.
but before that I have to go visiting teaching.
then I will come back thursday.
head to book club.
then Friday is my birthday. hurray.
but the kids have no school. boo.
but cory is off work. hurray.
so he said he will stay home and I can go do whatever I want!
I will have to decide what I want to do.
then friday night is a halloween party at the church.
remember how I said I like homemade costumes?
oh, well, I have one done, and 3 to make.
and not much time to make them.
and my house is a mess.
and I am wasting too much time on the computer.
ahhh.

what a dump.

As soon as I saw this-I knew it was going to be a good field trip! we went to the dump. this is a huge pile of metal waiting to be recycled.
this is a huge mountain of recyclables waiting to be recycled. apparently they are building a new building to sort this in, so it will be delt with soon.

this is a river of computers and tv's. that is what our tour guide told us. it was a few kilometers wide. we got to see the place where the workers take them apart and sort out all the pieces for further recycling, or to be sold to other places and reused.
and this was the land fill. crazy. there was a Brick truck that dumped off all of those mattresses and boxsprings. I hope they didn't advertise that they would recycle them, because they definitely weren't being recycled. I believe that truck also dumped off a few couches and chairs- Jed and I watched a bulldozer completely smush one of the chairs. crazy amount of garbage and waste, but I was thoroughly impressed with the amount that the city is trying to recycle and reuse. the landfill will be full in June. then the city will be trucking the garbage to a landfill farther away, until a new facility is built that will do so much sorting and recycling that the actual amount of waste will be very small.

I learned a lot on this field trip! made me want to compost and recycle more. Reduce, reuse and recycle. for sure.

to do, to do, to do

do I have that little song in your head yet?
singing a song is fun to do..
you know the one!
anyways today I will share with you what I am doing, or need to do

1. I am knitting this hat for somone for Christmas, and I am loving it. the yarn has some alpaca in it, and it is really nice! hope she likes it! 2. I am going to run on my treadmill- as soon as I am done blogging. I have done it for 3 days now- not very long runs, of course, but I run until I can run no more- which only takes about 3 minutes. hopefully I can build that up, so maybe next year I can run a whole 10 k. maybe.

3. Halloween. oh, sweet halloween.
we have a love/hate thing going on.
I love the candy, hate the rest.
okay, maybe not quite that bad. I love the costume excitement- seeing what we can come up with- this is what Sadie has decided on. I picked up the hat at IKEA, of all places, and am trying to make a layered colorful skirt, and a little top to go with it- she will be a carribean girl. so far, the skirt is kind of wacky, but I am hoping it will all turn out in the end. 4. I am trying to convince Jack to be a jack-in-the box. I think that would be so funny. cut some leg holes in a box, and put some straps on the top to go over his shoulders- funny.
I don't think he is buying it.

5. still working on my little craft area. the room is pretty much clean, but now all around the entrance is crowded with all the stuff I don't want in it, but don't really know what to do with. must clean that out.

6. remember this quilt? I was going to link back to the post, it was back in August that I first showed you, but I had no title on that post, and now because of that, I can't link. weird.

anyways, instead of adding borders to it, I added two more rows, now I have the back ready, and need to pin it up and quilt it! exciting. this picture was taken before the rows were added on. or even made into blocks, and then rows.

7. I get to go on a field trip with Jed's class this afternoon. we are going to some place to find out what happens with the garbage and recycled stuff. I think. at least that is what I hope we are finding out- because I really am curious about it all.

8. I hope we go on a bus that says SCHOLAR HAULER on the side. I think that is so funny- and clever. makes me chuckle everytime I see a bus like that.

9. laundry. must be done today.

10. heading down south this weekend. Cory's grandpa died. he was such a sweet guy. he fed his horse peppermints. what is sweeter than that?

11. Jed- the one with the serious aversion to travelling really doesn't want to come. what a kid. need to do some calling to see if anyone wants a really sweet boy for the weekend. anyone? anyone?

12. I went into homesense yesterday- I have a gift card that needs to be used, and was thinking maybe I could get some more halloween decor, but when you walk in- everywhere is Christmas. what? is that crazy, or is it just me? can we wait until after halloween at least? weird.

13. I did manage to get a cute pumpkin head guy- the halloween stuff was all stashed in the front of the store. some of their stuff is creepy- in fact Maggie had a blanket with her- she is in a bring a blanket or a doll everywhere with her stage right now, and she stood at the edge of the halloween stuff hiding behind her blanket and crying. I was laughing and she was crying.

I am a good mom like that.

before and after

what a weekend!
what a great thanksgiving weekend!
Before:
I bought some shelves for my craft room- this is before. as you can see, no crafting gets done in there. I usually do it at the dining room table, but the boys, and Cory were cleaning the dining room out and packed all my stuff down here- added it to the pile. something had to be done!after:
well, by no means is it done, but look, I have room at the table to get busy crafting. and the Ikea shelves got assembled, and loaded up with crafts.
I think I need a few shelves and pictures on the wall straight ahead. it will come! slowly but surely.
still a couple of boxes to be sorted and stuff put away. soon. very soon.

before: then- look at these shaggy boys- and a girl. they are digging the long hair look, but dad- and mom- aren't going for it, so to Aunties house we go.
After: much better. they have ears! oh, and I pulled out the winter wear, so the girls were trying it all on. Ben pretends he doesn't like it, but I think he really does.

Before: and then, of course, it was thanksgiving! we had our dinner on Sunday at Grandmas house. yum. so good. love the turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing. oh- I love it all. and end it all with pumpkin pie- oh, love it.

After: and it is over. and it was so good!

swapped

I was involved in a vintage sheet swap. what fun!
these are the sheets- cut into fat quarters- that I sent. and this is what I just got in the mail this morning.
funny- the mail lady rang my doorbell, I was in my snazzy workout clothes, with the computer blaring music- because I can't find my mp3 player, and I wanted to run on the treadmill- nice.
but, ooohwee! I can't wait to cut into them. I have a few ideas. but I must finish one or two other projects first.
I think.
if I can hold off.

oh- in case you were wondering, those ribs were delicious.
Jack could hardly get enough.
the secret sauce- a bottle of honey garlic sauce. not barbeque sauce, but the sauce like in the asian aisle- by the plum sauce and stuff.
cut up the ribs, trim off the fat.
boil them for 1/2 hour.
then put them in a roaster with the sauce, cook at 325 for 1 1/2 hours,
and yummy!

okay, today I am determined to find some stuff and get halloween costumes started! it is coming quickly. the girls are ready, but the boys- well, I hope we can come up with something close to what they are wanting. I am all over the home made costumes. and no masks. the boys think it is because they scare maggie- which they do, but I really hate not knowing who is in a costume. freaky stuff.

you all know what day it is-

and you all know what that means!

1. Jack has been begging for ribs every day since we had our ward potluck and someone brought the most delicious ribs.

2. on Tuesday I bought ribs.

3. on Tuesday night I called and got the recipe.

4. now I have to go buy the secret sauce!

5. and we will be having ribs tonight. Jack will be a happy boy.

I hope.

if they turn out.

I don't cook ribs much.

maybe a couple of times in my life.

wish me luck.

6. yesterday I met a couple of my sisters at Ikea. but Maggie and I were there a bit early- so we popped up and had their $1 breakfast. I love their potatoes, and maggie likes the eggs. noone likes the sausage, so we got extra potatoes instead. yum.

7. then I bought some very heavy shelves for my craft room.

I had a worker guy help me get them on my cart.

then when we were finishing up with icecream cones, there were a bunch of missionaries there eating, so I had a couple of them help me get the shelves into my van.

such helpful guys.

8. so, when I was walking out to my van to back it up to the store, I was thinking- I don't think I have my keys.

I got to the van, and low and behold, there they were, in the ignition.

nice.

I did lock all the doors.

except the back one.

so I had Maggie crawl over and unlock the doors.

very nice.

9. the shelves are still in my van. Cory doesn't like them. but I just want to get my craft room to the stage where I can get into it and find stuff. that would be nice. If we are keeping them I am putting them up this weekend!

10. my sewing machine has been having issues. it is an oldie, but a goodie, so I was debating if I should fork out the cash to get it fixed up, or just put that money towards a new one.

11. well, I also bought a new machine yesterday. Happy birthday to me.

and probably merry Christmas too.

12. I sewed last night.

it is dreamy.

13. on the way back home yesterday I took a picture of this house sort of close to ours. The lady there always decks her lawn out to the extreme for every holiday. it is a hoot.

I think I have about 10 halloween decorations. for the inside and the outside of my house. maybe I should find out where she shops!

love life

I just found out that a close friend of a close friend of mine died.
it was very unexpected.
she was young- 25ish, I think
healthy- I had seen her out jogging a few times.
she was not a member of our church,
but she came to young women's camp- back when I was in YW to help with one of our girls.
she was so sweet.
it made me think.
think about life.
and remind myself of a few things.
yell a little less.
love a bit more.
don't waste so much time.
have fun.
laugh more.
don't be bitter.
help others out.
smile.
take more pictures.
remember the fun times.

it made me glad I took maggie out yesterday to enjoy the last of the warm weather (they say today will be the last double digit day for a long time)
and glad I took my camera.
I love life.