Digital Scrapbook

So this is my first digital scrap book page.

I haven't "scraped" in probably 3 years. I just don't have a good place to have all my stuff out and to be able to leave it and come back. So I decided to try digital scrapbooking. It has definitely been a work in progress. I started out with a free program that made me NUTS! Then our resident Computer Genius Wes! told me about GIMP! MUCH better. I really like being able to "scrap book" for FREE! 

Fall Fun

So I always am unprepared for Halloween. Maybe it's because I don't care for scary stuff. But I do love fall. I love the colors, the leaves, pumpkins, the crisp cool air, the coming of the holidays, and kids in CUTE costumes, not scary ones. This year David will be a lion (again), Rachel Cinderella, Abby a lady bug, and Jacob has still yet to pick out a costume. My memories of Halloween are my mom cooking stuffed pumpkin for dinner, John handing out candy at home and making a stuffed man with a basketball head to sit on a lawn chair next to him, spreading out our candy to pick out the best candy, giving Dad our Recee's Pieces, carving pumpkins, crunching leaves, running from house to house. I think one of my favorite halloween memories is when I was pregnant with Rachel. I was staying at my mom's house and so I got to take Abby around my old neighborhood to trick or treat, and all my childhood memories came back. I loved watching her have such fun. And even though I was already overdue! every one told me I looked fabulous (that's cause they didn't know me prepregnant :))
In Clifton, and Dallas, we always did trunk or treat. Loved It. Fun with friends when we were so far from family.
Last year I spent Halloween with Rachel at urgent care and Winslow took the kids trick or treating. BUMMER!
Hope to make some fun memories this weekend.

projects and more projects.

I haven't posted in a while. Mostly because I have been babysitting a lot so I haven't had the time. And, when I'm not babysitting, I am doing projects. We have 2 birthdays in November and Christmas comes right after that. So I start going crazy with ideas towards the end of September. So what are my projects?

Skirts for both the girls. I have one for each done so far.
Beanies for the whole family. David's and Rachel's are done.
     And i learned how to crochet flowers.
Scarf for Abby that matches her new coat. Done
Duvet covers for all the kids' beds. 2 done
Tons of hair flowers. Some done.
Baby blankets and burp cloths. 1 done!(for my FRIENDS who have had babies...NOT ME!!!)
Lots and lots of Christmas Surprises for the extended family gifts.

In addition to all that we have a baptism coming up so we have been working on the house, the yard, the chicken coop, and WOOD Cutting 7 hours nearly every Saturday.

I feel so unprepared for Halloween. Oh well.
I will post pics soon so you can see all the fun stuff.

What are you working on?

Tradition

Now don't start singing Fiddler on the Roof just yet.

The LDS General Conference is always a special time for me. Now if I could just make it special for my children.

So, this year we tried hard to prepare our children. Starting in the begining of September we began reading in the Book Of Mosiah about King Benjamin speaking to his people from the temple. We talked of prophets and why they are important. I made up a general authority picture Memory game. We printed out bingo cards for conference. We set up a tent in our living room so our children could be like the people of King Benjamin and sit in their tent while they listened to the prophet. They Licked Jaw breakers (thank you Rhonda! they loved them) while they played conference Bingo.

And for about an hour they were totally engaged. Too bad Conference is 8 hours!~

We did get them to listen and learn. But of course they got restless and picked at each other and talked during talks, and chased each other thru the house.

But I do believe they learned some things. The talks they did listen to, they were really listening. And the talks in which they didn't and my attention was distracted I can listen to during the week online while they are at school.

So I think we will make the tent, and the jaw breakers, and bingo a Conference weekend tradition.

And of course we had to indulge in a tradition my mom started long ago, Cinnamon Rolls. My mom always made cinnamon rolls conference weekend. Helps keep you awake during the afternoon sessions. And of course they taste FABULOUS! So today we made cinnamon rolls and I know that's a tradition I will try to keep every conference.

Enjoy the moment





BAND

Okay so I am a little nostalgic.
One of the joys of living next to the high school is that we live right by the choir/band room door. In the fall and spring they leave the door open and with my windows open we can hear them. I love it. Right before Homecomming is especially a treat. The band preps for the parade.
This is hilarious. They are NOT your typical marching band. The band is tiny and because they are only marching in this one parade they don't have a lot of Marching SKILLS you might say. It's a hoot.
We sit on our front porch and the boys love to see the band "march" by.
It reminds me of highschool. Of marching in my highschool band. Of band camp, hot days, mosquitoes, band tans, locker rooms, Mr. Hatler, Flag routines, Friday night games, California competitions, State, friendships, and road trips!
I am so glad I took the time to be involved. They are fun memories.
What did you do in highschool?

Letting Go

Lately I have been learning some lessons in Letting Go.
I am learning to turn control over to my children. I am giving them more responsibility. Letting them vacumn their own rooms. Having them help Make dinner. I am letting go of things. I cleaned out toys and put them in totes. And with LESS I feel that I have MORE.
More time to read with kids, more Peace, more time for me.
I always wondered how all those other moms did it. Well, my good friend Mary has been teaching me her ways by example. Thankyou thankyou!
And I learned something, I do have a pretty clean house, I am pretty organized, I am a good mom. (Thanks Winslow and Nancy!)