my weekend

Well, I spoke to soon on Friday morning, 'cause after I blogged that I felt better, I opened my cupboard to put away a dish, and the world started spinning again.

Saturday, however, was much better. I've spent so much time lying around, that I was dying for a project and I dove into a BIG one. I've hated my kitchen cabinets since we moved in. They are cheap, plain, and worn out in some places. I'm not a huge fan of painting cabinets...I would much prefer new ones, but that is not an option, and in this case I think painting can only improve the stituation.

I decided awhile back to do them one section at a time, so it wouldn't be so overwhelming. It still took me the ENTIRE day to sand, prime, paint three coats, and then finish with a clear coat. Here's the first section:

Someday I may add some framed beadboard, or a decorative moulding to the front of my PLAIN cabinets...but today is not that day, so for now I'm going to add interest by hanging pictures on the three doors that you actually see when you walk in the room.

About 4 years ago, my friend gave me three chicken/rooster pictures from a calendar she had, and I STILL have them! (thanks Nicole!) When I moved here, I was glad I already had a chicken theme going 'cause it works with my "oh so orange" countertops.

I'm just waiting on Todd to make the last frame...and I am welcoming any opinions on what color I should paint them. I'm going to hang them from ribbon so I don't have to put a nail hole on the front.

I also did a little crafting this weekend. I took a couple packages of these dollar store eggs on a stick, pulled off the cheap ribbon, painted a few of them, and then covered them in mod-podge and glitter.

Then I took one of the flowered plastic cups that came with our house, and spray painted it cream. I added a piece of ribbon from my stash, and a $1.79 piece of greenery from Tai Pan......and now I have an easter bouquet!
I told Todd that I had taken these dollar store eggs, and brought them "up" to at least a Target level :o)

Last week, I took some ugly painted styrofoam eggs, and mod-podged some fabric on them, before covering them with glitter. Todd mentioned that he's a bit tired of all the glitter around, and I told him I'm a bit tired of all the testosterone around. He got the message...
I keep finding these wooden candlesticks at DI. I guess I'm the only one who wants them :o) I painted them cream, and I'm searching for the perfect ribbon. There's a shortage of cute ribbon where I live (among other things...)

While I had my mod-podge out, I took a piece of fabric that I love, and mod-podged it to the back of a clear plate to hang in our bedroom. I think I just found a new obsession.

And now it's time to start the spring cleaning...

Puttering

I found this blog yesterday http://carolinapanache.blogspot.com/ and I LOVE it!

I have always had a dream of owning different place settings, centerpieces, etc. for all seasons/holidays.

Unfortunately I do not have the money or the space to store it all (probably never will) but oh, how I love a pretty display!

This is the kind of stuff that motivates me. If I have a mind to do some re-decorating--even just moving stuff around to a new spot, I can get through the de-cluttering and cleaning so much faster. I call it puttering.

The Art of Puttering: Puttering around the house is one of the most relaxing things you can do. It is not the same as cleaning, working, or keeping house. It is a quiet, unhurried method of doing things at random just to make home a nicer place. Puttering consists of watering plants, moving decorative items on a coffee table, rearranging books, adding doilies in creative ways, replacing the color of your candles or putting out a fresh bouquet of flowers. Updating your photographs and placing them in a different grouping is also puttering. Puttering is a non-pressured way of beautifying your home. You can discover your own creativity while puttering. Puttering is putting things here and there, taking things away, standing back and looking, then determining what is the most pleasing. When you begin to feel tension, take a few minutes just to putter. This is not to be confused with being idle and useless, however, as putterers will tell you. ~Lady Lydia

I *think* I am FINALLY feeling better today. I can still feel a tiny bit of dizziness in my head, but I started an antibiotic yesterday in case of a sinus or ear infection, took a decongestant, spent a couple hours with a rice bag on my face, and I'm hoping that today won't take any more than a couple ibuprofin. I really think I just have a virus, but after a whole week, I figured it can't hurt to try something else.

We've got a friend coming to help Todd with the plumbing in our bathroom downstairs (hooray!) so I'm hoping to clean like a mad woman for the next four hours, trying to rescue my house from the disaster that happens when mom is sick, and then spend my afternoon puttering...or crafting...or sewing.

Happy first day of Spring!! My college "weather and climate" class taught me that the first day of Spring is on the 21st, but my calendar says it's today, so I'm going with that option. I didn't think it would ever get here...

It passes all my understanding

Those of you who follow my blog, probably remember that I've been thinking a lot lately. I feel like there is something I need to be doing, but I'm not sure what it is. I've felt lost, directionless, and like I can't find my purpose. It sounds silly, since I have many years left of rasing my children, but that's how I feel. I was talking to Todd about it the other day, and I told him, "I just feel like something is missing, but I don't know what it is."

A couple days later, I asked the bishop if I could be set apart for my new calling in cub scouts. I've been doing the job for a couple months, but had completely forgotten to be set apart.

On Sunday afternoon, we went into his office, and one of his counselors gave the blessing. I was first set apart to be a cub scout leader/primary worker, and he blessed me with the things I would need to fulfill that calling. Then he paused, and out of nowhere he said, "I bless you that you will find what it is that is missing in your life."

I immediately started to cry. Brother Petty, who gave the blessing, has no idea what I've been thinking about lately. I know that those words came from a Heavenly Father who knows me, loves me, and has a plan for me. I know that the priesthood is God's power on Earth.

I've pondered a lot about what people of other faith's believe. I realize that some of the doctrines of the LDS church may sound ridiculous to some. It truly "passes all my understanding" how it can all be true, and yet...I know it is. I know it because I have studied the doctrines, prayed to my Heavenly Father, and I have felt it in my heart. I cannot deny what I feel.

**I downloaded this song by Cherie Call from ldsaudio.com on Sunday night, and I thought it fit perfectly.

It's a box!

Poor Dillon. He is SO bored when his boys are gone at school all day. Yesterday, he made himself a box costume. Yeah, he cut the cardboard for the arm holes by himself.
He's been running around in his costume all day. It's pretty funny when he falls and can't get up.

He's also been making lightsabers out of popsicle sticks. There are at least 42 of them kicking around the dining area. They each have a handle, a button to turn them on, and a different color of "glow". He turns them on and flips them over while making lightsaber sound effects, and then battles anyone who will put up a fight.

In other news, my house is falling apart as the dizziness continues. The doctor did some lab work today and ruled out anemia, and diabetes. (I wasn't too worried about either...) I don't have any current ear or sinus problems, so his best guess is a virus...which seems to have been going around in these parts. He gave me some medicine that has helped with the dizziness, but makes me drowsy, so I still haven't done too much housework. If it doesn't get better soon, the next step is a CTscan. I'm not really expecting it to get to that point.

I missed my window...

I have been dizzy for five days now. I'll be headed to the dr. today to pay them money to find out that they don't really know why, but that's beside the point.

Despite the spinning in my head, I HAD to do this little idea I saw on one of my favorite blogs, little birdie secrets.

At 11:30 last night I hauled my butt out of bed and painted footprints across the bathroom floor, and in the kitchen. Those trickly little leprechauns dyed our toilet water and our milk green.

Brayden and Caleb got up and immediately said, "Mom, you did that."

Then Dillon got up and was so scared he wouldn't walk into the bathroom, so I had to let him in on the secret. Apparently I missed my window of opportunity with this one.

If any of you want to try it, use WASHABLE paint (I like the kind in the big bottle that they sell at Michael's). It comes off very easily...even out of clothes. You just make a fist, stick it in the paint sideways, and use your fingertip to make toes.

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone! I LOVE a reason to wear my favorite color, and since I'm dizzy, my face will probably match today.

Oh, and Happy 50th to Aunt Joyce!

Spring Wreath

I've spent a lot of time online in the past little while, looking for a new wreath for my bedroom. In all my searching, I only really liked three of them...but not the prices.

So, even though I've never been very good at flower arranging, I bought some stuff at Tai Pan last weekend, and went to town with my glue gun just to save some money. I even cut the twigs out of my lilac bush.

I was pretty happy with the finished product until Caleb announced that "it looks like a nest inside a nest". Oh, well. I guess I'll hang a nest on my wall.

Does anyone know what the fruits are? I just liked the color...

Here's an unusual tag...but I think I'm up for it

The first 3 people to respond to this post will get something made by me. My choice. Made especially for you.

Restrictions and Limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done this year.
4. You have no clue what it's going to be, because I don't even know what it's going to be!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The Catch: You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who comment on your post and agree to do the same!
So get ready for your mystery treat... but be prepared to share the love! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you get when you get it.

*You know what? Forget the catch. I don't care if you pay it forward or not. I'm just makin' stuff for the first three people who comment. Just remember that "it will be done this year" can be interpreted in more than one way.

Lucky to be in love...with my best friend

Today is Todd's birthday. Happy 35th!

My brother Ben, whose b-day is today as well, pointed out this weekend that the government was cutting their special day short by an hour, but I think Todd has just about gotten over it.

After Dillon's "horse party" last week, I asked Todd what kind of party he wanted for today (you know how men love a good themed party). He sarcastically gave me his answer, and unfortunately it was not appropriate for the children, so we went with his second choice, a nap party.

Activities included taking nice long nap after church. It wasn't the boys' favorite party ever, but Todd and I liked it just fine.

I am one lucky girl to be married to this wonderful man. He honors his priesthood, is a great dad, a hard worker, is fiercly loyal, and quick-witted. I love the nights when we actually have enough energy to stay up laughing and talking. He is so, so good to me.

I love you, Todd. Thank you for you, and Happy Birthday.

What a coincidence...

Remember when I said that running into doors and getting stitches runs in our family?

We were just leaving ToysRus in Orem (yeah, three hours from home) when Caleb and Dillon decided to fight over who got to get into the van first. Caleb was pulling on Dillon's shirt, and then suddenly let go...I'm sure you get the picture. He hit his forehead on the van door and popped it open.

I called my friend V, who used to live in Provo, and she gave us directions to the hospital, where we spent our next two hours.

The triage nurse AND the doctor both thought they were going to have to use anesthesia to put Dillon to sleep, but I asked them to please try to stitch him up without it because I didn't want to stay overnight. They tried it, and Dillon did AWESOME! He didn't budge. The nurses and doctor were amazed, and I was SO grateful. A trip to the ER is going to cost enough already.

Dillon's "battle wound" is exactly the same as Brayden's, just on the opposite eyebrow. The doctor gave him 6 stitches, as well as two suckers, a sticker book, an old-maid card game, a bendable toy, a dinosaur ring, and a whistle. He was one happy kid leaving that hospital, and we were one happy family listening to that whistle all the way to our next stop...

Yoda

Dillon just walked into the livingroom and said, "Look Mom...I'm Yoda!"

He's wearing two nets from our "Elefun" game on his head,

and walking with a baseball bat.

It looks like our little Yoda has been snitching something...

perhaps he's not as wise as he looks.

Dillon is 4!

Dillon wanted a "horse birthday" and we've had a fun day. Here he is, begging to open his presents before church :o)



Opening a Hot Wheels launcher from Grandma and Grandpa Salisbury. When we got on toysrus.com to see what he wanted, he liked anything that said "blast" or "launch". When he made his list, he asked for a clone helmet for Caleb, star wars lego's for Brayden, and a hot wheels car for himself. Such a sweetie to think of his brothers :o)

This is my favorite part...the display.

I made the Happy Birthday banner a month ago by ironing fabric onto felt.

We ate chili dogs in tin plates, drank "sasparilla" (root beer), and had carrot sticks.

Since horses (and Dillon) like oats, we had oatmeal for breakfast.

I had to be creative since the dollar store had NO cowboy/horse stuff at all.

The silverware was wrapped with pipecleaner rattlesnakes,

and I made wanted posters for place cards.

We played "There's a snake in my boot" by dropping plastic snakes into one of Todd's boots. (he would like everyone to notice that his boots are ruffed up and dirty...not at all like a mail order cowboy)

We had a "shoot out" using Dillon's new Nerf gun from Grandma Great, and some empty soda cans. Dad also got a Nerf gun for his birthday (a week early), and I think I've been shot at least 2000 times today, and we are currently missing 10 darts.

Todd was laughing at me, but I managed to hit my target :o)

We wiggled a 12 foot rope for a rattlesnake,

and took turns trying not to get "bit" while jumping over it.

Todd sarcastically stated that this cake is one of my best. I do not do cakes. Watch for an upcoming post on this topic. Dillon helped me make the fences out of popsicle sticks and hot glue. (Todd gave me a hot glue gun for Christmas so I wouldn't have to look for my old one, or use tub sealer ever again).

I used a tootsie roll to add a litte horse....poop.

That about sums up how I feel about horses.

Todd was going to make no bake cookies with green food coloring,

but he didn't get around to it.

Dillon loves his clone helmet from Grandma Graves! We gave him the light saber, and he's been walking around looking like a bobble head all day. We also gave him a Webkinz monkey (he named it Monkey), and a horse on a stick.

We blew up 25 balloons (okay, we used an air compressor) and the kids had a "cattle drive" trying to get them from one end of the livingroom, to the corral in the kitchen. It was a riot!

Before the cattle drive, we "branded" each of our cows in case any of them got lost.

Click to watch part of the cattle drive, and listen to Todd's great impression of a cow.