Times have changed

This is an excerpt from a Singer Sewing manual from 1949:

"Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do...never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates. Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing.

...When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on...(If) you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should..."

A silly song for Friday

Do you have a favorite Veggie Tales silly song?

Our's is the Cheeseburger love song sung by Mr. Lunt

Happy Friday everyone!

(if you're reading this on google reader, you'll have to come to our blog to listen to the song)

You know you're a mom when...

You know you're a mom, when you accidentally cut up YOUR OWN ravioli into bite size pieces.

new calling

When I gave birth to my third son, I knew this calling was inevitable...I just didn't think it would happen so soon.

I have been called as a den leader over Brayden's scout group, den, troop, pack, or whatever it's called. I'm still not sure.

I also have yet to sew any of the patches onto Brayden's scout shirt, since I'm not exactly sure where they go.

I guess I will need to learn fast.

Dillon made a pie!

I made quiche for dinner yesterday, and while I was making the pie crust, Dillon informed me that he would like a chocolate pie. I can never resist his puppy dog eyes and freckles, so I found a small pie tin, and let him make his own pie.

He helped roll out the crust, made the design around the top with a fork, poked holes in it (a whole bunch of them), and then helped make the mousse by folding whipped cream in with the melted chocolate chips.

Today he played like the little red hen, and ate it himself.

This is how WE do it

I thought I'd post this, in case it will help anyone. These are idea's that have worked well for our family. Every year I like to make up a very general yearly plan for our FHE's. Do we follow it exactly? No way. But it gives me a direction on those busy nights when I haven't planned anything and have to "wing it". I do not let myself feel guilty for not sticking to it, but use it as a guide.

Our topics include:

Week 1 - Primary theme for that month

Week 2 - Conference talk; Friend; or Ensign article from the current magazine

Week 3 - Pertinent Subject (whatever Todd and I feel needs to be taught)

Week 4 - Kid's teach (their choice of topic or scripture story)

Week 5 - Fun Activity (since there are only 4 of these per year, these are the times we get to spend $$ on bowling, or eating out, or whatever we decide).

As a backup, if ALL these idea's fail on any given night, we will work on Brayden's Scout requirements, or Faith in God goals.

We usually sing the song that they are learning in primary that month. After being a primary teacher for a year, I've noticed that there is not usually enough time for them to learn all the songs really well, unless they are also learning them at home.

Our lessons are pretty short. I used to think that I had to go "all out" and have flannel board stories, activities, etc. but then they weren't getting done because it took too much time. If the spirit is there, the job is done. Kids CAN learn without all the fluff. (but the "fluff" does help, so I'm still always seeking out object lessons, activities, songs, etc. It's the preschool teacher in me.) If you come up with something really great this year...PLEASE SHARE IT WITH ME!

Our "pertinent subject" often ends up being board games, playing lego's, or watching a movie because we tend to get so caught up in our jobs, that we don't have enough fun together. Gotta have those "wholesome recreational activities".

Something else we have done, is give our kids "callings" in the family. Dillon is the reminder (he helps us remember to read our scriptures every night). Caleb is the service coordinator (we set a family goal for 2009 to do a service project each month, so Caleb will plan them). Brayden is the Activity Coordinator (he plans a monthly family activity). We will change them whenever we feel like it. Dillon's last job was music coordinator (he led the singing at FHE). We haven't done so well at this in the past (except for Dillon), and hope to do better this year.

You can click here for a pdf copy of the Primary Outline for this year.

And last of all, this has been our most successful method for reading scriptures:

On either Sunday or Monday night, we watch one scripture "reader" story on DVD (from the distribution center). The next night we read it from the "reader". The next night we might read the SAME story from the Gospel Art Picture kit. This is new this year, but if we have a flannel board story, I'll have the kids tell it, and after we know the story or the subject REALLY well, then we finally read it in our scriptures. By then, it's so much easier for the kids to understand.

We've done *most* of the Book of Mormon this way, and this year we are going to do The Doctrine and Covenants.

Maybe it's not a good substitute for the actual scriptures every night...but my kids are enjoying it, and they are really learning the stories. Caleb and Dillon do their "personal scripture study" by watching the Book of Mormon reader on CD-ROM on their computer. Brayden reads out of the readers.

Another idea that has worked well in the past, is to post an article of faith on the fridge. We try to read through it during breakfast in the morning, and it's amazing to me how fast the kids pick up on them. We need to get back to it...

None of this happens regularly. I am probably the WORST at keeping a schedule like this, but I figure that anything that works for awhile is better than nothing. We go in cycles where we do really well, and then times where we get caught up in "life", but by using a schedule like this in the past, I feel that OVERALL we are taking baby steps in the right direction.

What I've been "up to"...

~making pillows

A few weeks ago I got this new quilt and shams from Wal-Mart. Todd thinks I'm a "fake" because I'm a machine quilter, yet I bought our bed quilt from the store. But, I fell in love with the print, and there's NO WAY I could've made it for the price I paid. Even if I quilted it for free :o).
It was a little plain so I made fake euro pillows (they're 12"x28") that sit atop the pillows we sleep on. Then I made the roly pillow (a.k.a "the tampon"). The sides of it look black in the picture, but they are really a yummy chocolate brown. The floral one is just a pillow form wrapped in fabric because I got tired of making piping. I'll finish it...eventually. Any idea's for paint color on the walls and my $8 DI headboard? So far I have one vote for tan on the walls. (The carpet is brown, and the curtains are aqua and brown.)

~making a wreath

I had this berry garland with rusty stars that I've never liked as much as I thought I would when I bought it, so I turned it into a wreath for the centerpiece on my trunk. Brayden declared, "It's looking a little January-ish in here..."

~making a "winter" arrangement

I took the snowflakes and berries off my Christmas tree, and stuck them in this tin container that I bought last summer and haven't ever known what to do with.

~bought a new lamp

We can't have overhead lighting in our livingroom because the heat is in the ceiling. (ridiculous, I know). The ambience is nice on occasion, but most of the time the dim room drives us crazy. This little baby takes a 150 watt bulb. While I was trying to be creative by re-decorating with stuff I have in my house, I came upon this black wooden plate with stars (that I had planned to re-paint) and stuck it under the lamp.

~making a quilt

Vanessa and I sewed up a storm on New Year's Eve and Day. I made my bed pillows, as well as this little non-valentine's Valentine quilt. I wanted something to look winter/valentine-ish but could be left out year round if the mood moves me...so, this quilt was born. Now the question is: Where will I put it?


~Adding a little "love" to the room

My willow tree has sprouted hearts...made from FIMO baking clay. Mom, remember when you bought me that pack of clay my sophomore year of high school? Well, it's still soft! I guess you could call this our "love fern" :o)

~making wooden sugar cookies

I printed off some free digital scrapbooking paper, and mod-podged it to these wooden hearts before spraying them with glitter...such fun.

~more decorating

I found these adorable fake cherries at the DI and stuck them in this little wooden bowl...and now I don't know where to put the bowl. They're probably a bit more summery, but I thought they were cute for Valentine's day too.

~signed for Todd's valentine's day gift

...and birthday, and father's day, and anniversary, and Christmas, and...

You'd better hurry home, Todd, or your laptop is going to have wallpaper with Jason Bateman on it...

And last of all, I've been...

~avoiding laundry.