Cutie

I may be biased, but I think she is about the cutest little girl EVER!!!

Christmas Decorations

Belle thinks the tree is great!! I get to battle her, but I have chosen to try and let her get used to it being there and, I am hoping that I'll have less frustration if I let her play a little.


Luke got to try and place the star on top!


Our stockings are hung with care, but we don't have a chimney...


Here's the advent calendar to help us keep up the traditions we want to enjoy.


Here's a close-up of the tree skirt.

I am really excited to have all the homemade decorations this year!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was at Aaron's aunt and uncle's home. We haven't had it there, before. She went to a lot of trouble to make everything beautiful and really nice. She sent invitations (which, frankly, I thought were weird for a family gathering, before going). She had center pieces. There were even take home gifts (including Playdoh for the kids). It was a great meal and we had a great time!!

Lemon Pie

I love Thanksgiving pies. My favorite is one that my Grandmother used to make. It is a lemon custard pie. It is so sweet and...I think my mouth just started to water thinking about it. It is nothing like lemon meringue, but everyone thinks it is and they pass it up for others. That just leaves more for me.

Aaron was able to go into work early and get off early, so we came down to be with him, today. The kids and I are staying at my mother in law's house for the day and then helping make some of the pies for dinner tomorrow.

I can just feel the pounds attaching themselves to my hips just thinking about it.

Craftiness

So I've been doing a lot of sewing recently. It is odd because I don't really sew well or often. Between Halloween, when I made two Jedi robes, and a Jedi tunic, and Christmas, when I am finally making the tree skirt, stockings and an advent calendar, I have been a busy little seamstress. I have really enjoyed it. I am not very good and that is probably because I just dabble. My real craft love is crochet. No matter how many things I try, I return to her: My one true craft love! I have done it the most and know how to do the most things in crochet. I think it is where I am comfortable. I am always trying new things in crochet, too. It is fun to experiment with new techniques and materials.

P. S. I'll post pictures of my Christmas creations when they are done and/or up for the holidays!

MySpace

I was sucked into myspace. I really didn't want to be there. My extended family are all there and love it, so I decided to join so that I could post on their blogs and that sort of thing. I really just like having a plain and simple blog where I can do what I want, I just want a blog.

Sleep

Does anyone else take pictures of their kids when they fall asleep in weird positions or places? I do it all the time. They are so cute, plus they might make good blackmail someday...


Belle fell asleep, in my arms, barely after waking up yesterday morning and I took this picutre of she and Freckles resting together. Freckles would be a lap dog if she weren't such a giant!


Luke was still sick, so he was extra sleepy yesterday, too. He crawled into the makeshift tent-fort we made in the living room for them.


Luke was having a bad day, so he was in time-out until he could calm down. Well, he calmed down... How do you like that Jedi tunic?

Waiting in Line

I can't believe all the people we have seen waiting in line, outside of stores, to get the new video game systems. And it isn't like they get anything special for doing it. They still have to pay for them. It is ridiculous! We want to get the Wii for Christmas, but there is no way we'd wait outside in below freezing temperatures, just for a game. It's JUST a game. If we can't get it before Christmas, we'll be able to get it after.

It got me thinking, though. What would I be willing to wait in line, like that, for? The only things I can think of are not things you can buy. The only things that I want THAT bad are the health and welfare of my family and to be close to God. Those things are way more valuable and you have to work for them, not sit and wait around.

Ill

Well, now that I am feeling well, it is Aaron's turn. The kids are doing well, just more tired than usual (Luke just fell asleep sitting beside me). Aaron is upstairs in bed. I really should get up and do something to the house, but I don't feel like it. Other than all the toys on the floor and the tent in the middle of the living room, it actually isn't all that bad. On Thursday, I was in between illnesses, and I was able to get quite a bit done.

I think the nastiness on Wednesday may or may not have been caused by the large amounts of popcorn balls that I consumedon Tuesday. If we didn't finish it, it would have been all soggy the next day. I do that more than I should--eating more than I should so that it isn't gross the next day.

I did work on my Christmas decorations. The tree skirt is all but done, 2 out of 4 stockings are also all but done, and the advent calendar is not even close. I need to go buy more red thread before I can do very much more. I'll post pictures when they are complete. I have to get at least the tree skirt done by the day after Thanksgiving. We always put up the tree, then.

100 Things About ME!

Well, I thought I'd try to post a list of 100 things about me.

1. I love to sing, but I rarely do so in public.
2. I refused to eat chocolate as a child because I was fanatical (I couldn't give it up, now)
3. I got my first dog this year and have mostly enjoyed it.
4. She is a dalmation, German shorthair pointer mix and her name is Freckles.
5. I love being a mom---2 is a great number, for now, we'll see what we are given.
6. I have a horrible memory.
7. I love to read.
8. I am a crochet-a-holic.
9. I like to have a clean house, but #5 makes that nearly impossible.
10. My favorite season is spring.
11. But I love snow! I usually go out and take pictures of the first snow of the season.
12. I shop for purses and other bags everywhere we go, Aaron thinks I am nuts.
13. I think that cooking is fun.
14. I like to find new recipes, and get bored if I don't get new ones once in a while.
15. I was born in Florida.
16. I was 21 when I moved out of state.
17. My name is from Ben-Hur.
18. I have a bachelor's degree in horticulture.
19. I'm not a very picky eater.
20. I don't get depressed.
21. I love turtles, but I have never owned one.
22. My favorite colors are blue, yellow and green (I can't decide in what order)
23. My favorite number is 23.
24. I don't watch very much TV.
25. Calla lilies are my favorite flowers. (But I have TONS of seconds)
26. I get along with most people.
27. I love being at home.
28. I used to squish my face up when I walked home from the bus stop so that kidnappers wouldn't think I was cute enough to take. (Conceited, eh?)
29. I love cool pens.
30. I love Christmas!! (I started playing Christmas music at the beginning of November)
31. But, I don't like Santa.
32. I don't know how to fix my hair. (Most days are bad hair days)
33. I really like potato chips.
34. So, I rarely buy them.
35. I love mushrooms. (Aaron hates them, so I usually only eat them at restaurants)
36. I like shrimp. (Aaron thinks they are bugs.)
37. I make lists for most things.
38. I hate pictures of myself. (But I like how I look in the mirror)
39. I drive a purple Saturn.
40. I wear glasses, but only when I need them. (Which is becoming more common)
41. Lasagna and cheese cake are my favorite foods.
42. I like cold weather. But I need a nice warm coat outside and cozy blankets inside.
43. My hair and eyes are dark brown.
44. I like weird names, but I have a difficult time naming children strange things.
45. I am a Mormon.
46. I didn't have a middle name until I got married and used my maiden name.
47. I don't drink very much pop.
48. I hate buying shoes.
49. I have REALLY wide feet. (Reason for #48)
50. I am right-handed.
51. I wish I knew how to play the piano.
52. I have a sister and 2 brothers.
53. I am a morning person.
54. I don't get enough sleep.
55. I have seasonal allergies.
56. I haven't found my political party, yet.
57. I sing the songs from video games.
58. I get songs stuck in my head easily.
59. I have really weird dreams, but I rarely remember them past the morning.
60. I have a horrible sense of direction.
61. I like order and symmetry.
62. I don't spell very well. I will replace the word I really want to use with one I know how to spell.
63. I love orange juice.
64. I can remember numbers easily, sometimes without trying.
65. I can do math in my head, quite quickly.
66. I haven't liked math since 7th grade, but before that, I loved it.
67. I like to get email.
68. I like to get mail.
69. I love presents!
70. I was homeschooled in second grade.
71. I did well through school.
72. People think I am younger than I am.
73. I am 5 feet 5 inches tall.
74. I got bitten by a dog when I was a teenager and (after some time had passed) I was less afraid of dogs after it than before the bite.
75. I can keep a secret.
76. I have no tatoos or piercings other than one ear piercing in each ear.
77. I was supposed to wait until I was 13 to get my ears pierced, but my mom let me when I was eight.
78. The only jewelry I wear everyday is my wedding ring.
79. I don't wear make-up at all.
80. I always light a candle if I know someone is coming over, because I am paranoid that my house smells weird.
81. I notice things that most other people don't.
82. I can tell when many people are pregnant long before they announce it. (#81 helps with that one.)
83. My favorite musicians are Billie Holiday, Harry Connick Jr, and the Squirrel Nut Zippers.
84. The only real concert I have ever been to is Simon and Garfunkel with Aaron. (About 2 years ago.)
85. I like to wash my hands in warm water.
86. I like to brush my teeth in cold water.
87. I have never been out of the US.
88. I remember faces extremely well.
89. I forget names, horribly.
90. I hate guns.
91. I met Aaron online, but not on purpose.
92. Aaron is the only man I have ever loved.
93. I don't have a distinct accent. Most of my family does.
94. I have good skin.
95. I would like to act on stage. Just for a community thing.
96. I mostly drink water, but I don't get as much of it as I should.
97. I love cuddling.
98. I have mostly cacti and other succulent plants as houseplants. When I get normal plants, they usually die, because I am used to watering the others.
99. I worry a lot that those I love will die.
100. I love taking cute pictures of my kids, but I take a long time to get them off of the camera and edited on the computer.

There, I did it! It took me a while but I don't feel too bad because we are sick at our house today, so not much got done, anyway.

Agency

We had a great lesson about agency in church, yesterday. A lot of it revolved around how to teach our children to make wise choices. The sister that taught, read part of a newspaper column. In it the author talked about the fact that there is too much negativity in directions. He thought there were way too many "Don'ts" and not enough "Dos". For example, when the kids are yelling, what do we do? Tell them to stop yelling, rather than give them something to do, such as play quietly, or whisper or be reverent.

I do give alternatives at times, but I, too am guilty of just saying "no", or "don't" rather than giving a GOOD alternative. That is my new goal.

Snow

It snowed pretty hard for the first time this year, yesterday. I took the kids out to play in it. They liked it!

Punishment

Our little boy is having trouble with violence. We have started to take away all violent toys, movies and games. He love Star Wars, so it is an especially effective punishment. Today is the first time he doesn't get anything violent. A few days ago, we took away all Jedi stuff to try and teach him to control himself and that Jedi only use violence when absolutely necessary. I hope it works. It is tough to teach a 4 year old that he needs to think before he does. It is definitely a needed life skill, though. In most instances, he is such a good little boy. He is fun and smart, but he just has trouble with hitting his family. At least he doesn't hit other kids.

Waste

Well, I wasted a lot of time on random quizzes! I needed that, though. It was a weird Saturday...We didn't do most of the things we normally do, so I needed to do something else. Sure, I could have been productive, and I was in the morning, but I wasted a lot of time. I think everyone needs to do that now and then. If you are always "on" you'd go nuts. I also couldn't work on the crochet project that I wanted to. I have been making a cradle from some really stiff yarn and it hurts my hands. I have to do a little at a time or I am afraid I'll get carpal tunnel syndrome. That would drive me nuts!! I need my hands!

Future

If You Were Born in 2893...

Your Name Would Be: Reunn Vir And You Would Be: A Comet Chaser

If You Were Born in 2893

Wow, and I'm a college graduate!

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

My celebrity baby name

Your Celebrity Baby Name Is...

Heaven Bamboo

What's" Your Celebrity Baby Name?

I finished!!

Well I am doing well, so far. I finished two projects this week!! I successfully turned a would-be baby blanket into a cute little doll blanket for Christmas and I made a bunny puppet from the pattern I bought on ebay. The kids really like it! His name is Harry.