Katie's Quilt

Here's a picture of one of the TWO quilts I quilted yesterday:

Isn't it cute? I LOVE the colors. My friend Vanessa and I got together over Mother's Day weekend to make pinwheel quilts. (Todd had to work the whole weekend, and V's husband is in Afghanistan). We let our kids run wild around the house while we sewed, talked, and laughed.

Mine is ALMOST finished.

I just have to put the borders on and then quilt it.

Cute bags at Uptown Jane

My friend Vanessa has been sewing up a storm and is selling these bags in her etsy shop starting at 2:00 today. They are one-of-a-kind and I'm sure they'll go fast. Aren't they adorable?

I love Dale's cone!

Since I have SO many relatives who teach primary right now, I thought some of you might like this. Or maybe you'll just think I'm a dork because I love Dale's cone ;o)

A friend of mine who homeschools her kids made a comment about homeschooling on her blog, and it got me all excited about teaching, and my training in preschool education, and my favorite...Dale's cone. I'm a little funny about Dale's cone. I've actually given a couple of enrichment classes on it.

Even though I could never homeschool because of my ADHD tendencies (those of you who know me well, stop laughing at the thought...in the next life I'll have my brain back), I've had the opportunity to to teach kids plenty...and this is the model I use and love, even for teaching PRIMARY (although, I need to explain adapting it to a church calling so bear with me here).

I hesitated to post this picture I found online because I've read that Dale's cone is often misrepresented, and I have no idea if the statistics are correct, but it really doesn't matter. You can still improve your teaching with it. Just ignore the numbers.

I'll start with an example of flowers. If you're going to teach children about flowers, the top of the cone would suggest reading about flowers. Take it a step further, and you might look at pictures of flowers, or color a flower. Even better would be to watch a movie about a flower, or take a walk and actually look at flowers. Moving on down the cone, you could pick flowers, dissect them, smell them, press them, make arrangements, etc. And finally, the best way to learn about flowers, would be to actually plant a seed, watch it grow, do all the activities that I just mentioned, and document it.

Any time I planned a preschool lesson, I would apply Dale's cone to try and come up with the best way to teach any given topic. Unfortunately, most of the time in church and schools, teachers are stuck at the top of the cone...giving out worksheets or a coloring page. It drives me crazy! There are so many better ways to teach something--especially to kids.

Why do a worksheet where you cut and paste the life cycle of a butterfly, when you can actually watch a caterpillar make the chrysalis, and come out a butterfly...or act it out with music...or have the kids re-tell the life cycle with flannel figures, or toys? They remember it so much better if it's fun.

After I graduated in preschool education, I thought I was a pretty good teacher...

And then I was called to teach the Sunbeams.

At first I was very frustrated with the lessons because I couldn't get very far down on the cone. I remember one lesson on the Godhead. As hard as I tried...I just couldn't get the Godhead to come to our class that day :o) Some lessons were easier (like I am thankful for fish), and I was able to move pretty far down the cone and provide some fun learning experiences, but others seemed impossible.

As I've continued to try to use this model in Family Home Evening, and in my current calling teaching primary, I've learned a little something. Any time you have the spirit there, and the kids feel it, you've reached the bottom of the cone. The spirit can teach their hearts and they can know and really experience what you're talking about. I am grateful for this because some of the topics we teach in church seem so far over their heads...but I know they are getting something if we make the effort to prepare, and invite the spirit.

Prayers needed

Those of you who have been reading our blog for awhile may remember our friends, Dave and Lori, whose daughter Alyssa was diagnosed with cancer in March. It's been a LONG summer for their little family, and until the last few weeks things were looking so good. She went through 4 or 5 rounds of chemo, and then surgery to remove what they could. They were planning to do a bone marrow transplant next.

After the surgery, she improved and they enjoyed a few good days at home before she started having fevers. It took a week or so and several trips to the clinic and Primary Children's before they discovered that the cancer had come back with a vengeance. In one week a mass in her chest grew, and spread to her abdomen. The doctors have given her NEXT to a 0% chance.

She is currently having a new round of aggressive Chemo, and if it does anything to the cancer, they will move to the most aggressive chemo they can. It will leave her extremely susceptible to any germs and she is almost guaranteed to be in the hospital with infections.

Our heart is breaking this morning for this good family. Todd and I have just been sobbing. There's nothing we can do but pray, and ask others to pray for her and her family. If any of you go to the temple any time soon, and could put her name in the prayer rolls at various temples, her name is Alyssa Chappell.

These are a few of my favorite things

I'm still trying to learn photoshop, so I made this sampler from pictures of stuff around my house. I learned that I have a lot to learn...both in picture taking, and in photoshop-ing.

Giveaway

A friend of mine who I was recently re-acquainted with through blogging (gotta love that blogealogy), has a giveaway going on right now if you give her tips on starting an Etsy account. So if you have any experience there, give Jo-Anne a comment or two about what you know or what kind of a shop you'd like to see.

Shall I clean my messy house....or tidy up my blog?

I choose the blog!

Our most recent professional picture

I'm thinking that maybe it's time for some new family pictures. Our last "professional" ones are from 2005. I think Dillon was 6 months old.

I use the term "professional" loosely because my brother and his wife actually took them, and I don't think they have any professional training...they're just completely amazing, and artistic, and talented, and they have a nice camera. I've been ever so happy with them for three years now, but alas, the kids are growing up and we (Todd and I) are growing "out" and our family pictures are slightly outdated.

Too bad they can't drop on by to take some new ones for us!

So right now (until I change it again), the blog header is a picture that I took in my neighbor's yard...in the middle of JANUARY 2007!


And now, as much as I hate to do it, I'd better go be responsible.

Been sick...

I've been sick for a couple days. I would highly recommend that none of you ever eat a leftover chicken enchilada after it sits in your car for 6 hours.

I know, it was dumb. I've already had the lecture from my mother-in-law. I just couldn't stand the idea of wasting it, and I hoped I'd be okay.

I was wrong. And now I'm paying the 48 hour price.

Have you ever been so dizzy that you had to hang on to the towel rack to keep yourself on the toilet? I can now say that I have, and I think I'll pass the next time the opportunity presents itself.

In better news, I was nominated for a blog award from my friend Nicole, but I don't know how to "get it". I'll work on that soon.

I hope you are all happy and HEALTHY and that your house is cleaner than mine.

*these little germs are not as friendly as they look. I think I got the long squiggly one that goes around, and around, and around...

A blast from the past

I thought I'd better post something funny, after all the whining I did in my last post.

This is a picture of Todd's (girl) friends from high-school.
If you look closely, you'll see that they're spelling TODD! with their bodies.

What you can't hear, is their chant:

"T" - "O" - "double D",

"that's the way we spell SE-XY"

Sorry gals...he's mine.

A pathetic little pity party

I am tired.

Tired of nagging my kids.

Tired of having a messy house, even though it feels like all I do is clean.

Tired of people calling to see when their quilt will be done.

Tired of five people living in two bedrooms, and one bathroom.

Tired of school debt that makes it so we'll never "get ahead"...at least not while our kids are home.

Tired of the problems in our economy.

Tired of gas prices.

Tired of living so far from stores.

Tired of living so far from family.

Tired of having so many house projects.

Tired of working so hard on our house, but nobody ever see's it.

Tired of having supplies for a shed that we don't know how to build.

Tired of having a half finished bathroom that we don't know how to finish.

Tired of having an unfinished bedroom that we need, but don't have the time or money to finish.

Tired of Todd working overtime without getting paid because he's on salary.

Tired of cancer...if my father-in-law were around, he'd be here helping us.

Tired of making plans that don't happen.

Tired of trying to grow a garden in a place that doesn't have a long enough growing season.

Tired of not having my dad around to help me with gardening.

Tired of not having my mom around to help me make window treatments.

Tired of not having fabric stores around.

Tired of a hormone imbalance that causes me to forget things.

Tired of the medicine that makes me gain weight.

Tired of not exercising for a million different reasons.

Tired of not going to the temple because we live so far, and don't know who to have watch our kids for 8 hours at a time.

Tired of procrastinating.

Tired of fighting the special ed. system in the schools.

Tired of food prices going up.

Tired of cooking dinner.

Tired of cooking anything.

Tired of not having air conditioning.

Tired of weeding.

I'm just tired.

My parents were going to come visit this weekend, and help us put new windows in the livingroom (so they'll open and we can have a breeze). The local hardware store faxed the order to the factory, and it sat on someones desk until AFTER the truck had left, so our windows won't be here until next week. Now my parents aren't coming. We see them every other month or so, but I just get so tired of living so far away. I need my dad to tell me what to plant in my flowerbeds. I need my mom to help me make curtains and help me figure out how to organize my life. I need my sister-in-laws to "play" with sometimes. I need cousins for my kids. I need a babysitter so we can go to the temple. I need a date with my husband.

My mother-in-law was going to come visit in two weeks, and now she has to have her gall bladder removed instead. I talk to her for hours on the phone each week, but it's not the same as having her here in my livingroom. She lives so far away and with the gas prices we just can't afford to go to Washington as often as I'd like. She was going to take us school shopping. It's always fun when she's around....probably because she NEVER has pity parties for herself. She's always positive.

Oh, and I just realized it's been a year (today) since my last miscarriage.

And now my pity party is done. If you're full of happy, wonderful thoughts about how blessed you are, and how blessed I am (and I know very well that I am)....come back another day because today I'm feeling sorry for myself.

Tomorrow will be better.

Family campout

Todd had two days off in the middle of last week, so we decided to go on a little family campout.

We forgot the oil for the pancakes, and Dillon arrived with only flip flops, but we managed to enjoy ourselves anyway.

As we were planning this little event, I imagined leaving our stresses behind, sitting in a camp chair, and enjoying nature while the kids entertained themselves with dirt and rocks.

The kids did a pretty good job of entertaining themselves, but for me and Todd it was really all just a big whirlwind of packing, setting up camp, fixing dinner, geocaching, fishing, s'mores, using the plop-drop, hanging on for dear life so as to not fall off the air mattress when someone else moved, not sleeping, making breakfast, taking down camp, fishing again, stopping for shakes, and un-packing.

**note to self: next time leave more than 24 hours for the event if I want to enjoy nature.

The boys had a great time walking on this "balance beam".

"Look, mom, I can do a twick!"

Our chair got attacked by a wild and ferocious animal during the night...

Oh, wait. It was just our dog. Heaven forbid we should take a family outing without the dog.

Oh, and we also played "Black Magic" and the boys were introduced to "The Great Tod-dah!" They were amazed at how Dad could read their minds.

This was taken in the spot where we found the geocache. We camped on a mountain that overlooks Capitol Reef. Usually the air is very clear, but it's hazy in the picture because of the fires in California.

Memories tag

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

(Go ahead and leave a memory for Todd AND/OR Felicia)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Proud to be an American

Okay, sorry Vanessa, I know you hate this picture, but I'm so proud to be your friend that I had to post it.

Independence Day meant something different this year, because I have a close friend whose husband is currently serving overseas. I've had the chance to see, first hand, the sacrifices that these men and women AND their families are making for our freedom.

Honestly, this is only the second time I've seen her cry, and I see her nearly every day. Her strength is amazing and she "holds everything together" for her four little kids so well...I am in awe. She deserves a lot more than free tickets to the Stadium of Fire.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone out there who has ever served in the military, or been a family member who has sent their loved ones so far away.
And V, you are in my prayers every day.

Sock Update

Todd would like you all to know that on the 36th try, his sock touched the hamper.

"It would have gone in, except there were clothes hanging over the edge"


My apologies to Char, Erin, and Tyler for giving your spouses the idea.

** he chose the theme music

Three kids? or four?

I just walked into my bedroom, only to find my husband throwing his dirty sock at the spinning ceiling fan, in the hopes that it would land in the hamper.

It didn't.

And then he tried again.

And it still didn't work.

And then he asked me how much I'd pay him if it worked.

Not much.

I think there's too much testosterone in this house.

The saddest part, is that now 90% of the men who read this post are going to try it themselves.

The morning after...

I opened my fridge this morning and found this.

Apparently someone (I wonder who??) decided he needed a midnight snack.

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th. We barbecued with our friends, and then did fireworks. We were waiting around for dark, but we got tired of the kids asking if it was time yet. What part of the word "dark" don't they understand? We finally decided that they wouldn't care whether it was dark or not, and if we went ahead with our fireworks show a little early, then we could all go to bed sooner.

So that's what we did.

By the end, the kids were all riding bikes in the driveway, and the "men" were having more fun with the explosives anyway.

Everybody dies famous in a small town

Most of you know that I delivered a piece of my brain with each child, and therefore, I can't remember anything.

Within the past two months, we have been late for two dentist appointments because I remembered them about 10 minutes before we were supposed to be there, and both times we were all in our pajamas. The clinic was kind, and when I called to see if I should re-schedule, they told us to hurry and come. They ALWAYS call with a reminder the day before, but alas, I still forget.

Todd had a dentist appointment this morning and I was bound and determined to remember it. And I did. (applause, please). When we went to bed last night I started to wonder if I was crazy because we hadn't gotten our reminder call and I was just sure he had an appointment today. I mentioned it to him as we fell asleep.

This morning, however, everything became clear when we got a wake-up call at 7:45 AM, reminding him of his appointment. I guess they don't trust us to remember overnight anymore.

It reminds me of the song by Miranda Lambert called "Famous in a Small Town". The chorus goes like this:

Every last one, route one, rural heart's got a story to tell

Every grandma, in-law, ex-girlfriend

Maybe knows you just a little too well

Whether you're late for church (or the dentist) or you're stuck in jail

Hey word's gonna get around

Everybody dies famous in a small town

I guess we've made a name for ourselves...

we're the people who can't get to the dentist on time.

Dillon and the chipmunks

Ignore the bad photoshop job,

and just ponder on the personalities of my three boys...

I think this is what they should be for Halloween.