Ambidextrous

I think Dillon might be ambidextrous. Brayden started out doing this, and then became right-handed, but he was younger than Dillon when he stopped using both hands. Dillon seems to use his left a little more, but always colors with both hands.

Excerpt from wikipedia:

Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both right and left appendages (such as the hands). People that are born ambidextrous are extremely rare. Some people may be able to teach themselves to be ambidextrous, by practicing equally with both hands. People that are made ambidextrous are called Penwald ambidextrous; they can also stop being both-handed.

Although ambidexterity is rare, ambidextrous people may still gravitate towards performing certain types of tasks with a specific hand. The degree of versatility with each hand is generally the qualitative factor in determining a person's ambidexterity.

The Command Center

Well, I had hoped to completely finish my organizational wall before posting pictures, but if I did that, I'd lose my status as a 95%er. It truly wouldn't be "my house" if there wasn't an unfinished project displayed somewhere.

My "stud" of a husband built me all these pieces for our anniversary. I designed it, and he built it, and I am in love (both with him AND the wall).

My goal was to try to find a home for the clutter in my silverware drawer, on my counter, and on the fridge.

At the top, we put chicken wire in a frame, and added some mini-clothespins to hold all the little stuff that cluttered up the fridge. Things like post it notes, addresses, checks to deposit, the monthly visiting teaching message cards (yeah, I know tomorrow is the last day but I'll get 'em delivered...), etc.

On the left is a magazine rack with a spot for "To Do" and "To File". Inside there are folders for each kid, and one for the massive amount of papers that the school sends home.

In the middle, there is a magnet board. The magnetic containers are for box tops, magnets, and miscellaneous screws, nails, staples, etc. I made a bunch of magnets to display a very general weekly schedule, reminding me who has library/scouts/soccer/etc. on which day. Next to that, is my shopping list.

Under the magnet board is a towel bar, with tin buckets to hold crayons, and pens/pencils. If anyone out there who has access to more than one craft store can find me a third bucket for my wall I would be ever so grateful! I bought these two at Wal-Mart a couple years ago, but they don't carry them any more. My buckets are 4" high, and the diameter of the opening is 4 1/2". (I know that one of my buckets is "naked" but I'll eventually get a ribbon around it...)

On the right side, I have a shelf for whatever floats my boat, and a cubby for scissors, a calculator attached to a string (my calculator tends to be just as elusive as my glue guns), and that piece of scrapbook paper will soon be mod-podged onto a notebook where I can jot down all my idea's and lists. You know how I love a good list...

I want to have a black vinyl letter "G" cut (help Melanie!) to put in front of the scissors and to the left of the keys, but I'm searching for the perfect font. Also, I need to get back to Hobby Lobby for another piece of black/cream toile scrapbook paper to line the space under the shelf.

Oh, and I can't forget about the hooks for glasses. One person in our family (and it's not me) tends to leave his glasses laying around where they could get broken, so I'm particularly excited to have a place for them.

On the bottom left (and right) I have these 3 ring clip boards that Todd made with minimal swearing, to hold my menu planner, my weekly schedule that I fill out every Sunday night, School Reading Charts, the bright pink school lunch menu (I love that it's hidden but still easily accessible), box top charts, etc. The right side has our family calendar, and my quilting schedule behind it.

The frame in the middle has a spot for two pictures, and the middle is our "white board", but it is actually plexi-glass and we use a wet-erase marker. I debated putting a chalkboard there, but I hate touching chalk, so plexi-glass won. If you zoom in, you'll notice that some clever person has already drawn glasses and a mustache on Dillon...ahh, the love.

And, at the very bottom, I have new hooks that are deeper and farther apart than my last set, so I'm very excited that we can now walk through the door and down to the basement without knocking all the coats off.

If I'd had electricty on this wall, I would've included a spot for charging cell phones, and a digital picture frame.

So, this is how I've spent my last week, and how Todd has spent his last TWO weeks, and now it is time to clean up all the glue, paint, paper, and tools, and actually BE organized.

Let's get real 2009: Perfect People Lie

Amy is hosting a "Get Real" party in honor of my sister, who is feeling the effects of having two little kids, hormone issues, and not enough sleep.

Before I unveil my mess, I just want to mention that I think my sister is AMAZING. I can relate to how she's feeling, since I've been through post-partum depression, and because I too was born of goodly parents who are COMPLETE OPPOSITES. We are truly walking contradictions. Mom is very disciplined and organized, and Dad's schedule changes with the wind. It causes us to feel the need to be super creative and fulfull all of our artsy-fartsy dreams, and yet stick to every rule of perfection.

I've spent my week working on a huge project, and haven't spent an ounce of time on my house, so this is as real as it gets. The worst part? My project is an ORGANIZATIONAL WALL to help me get it together.

Here's the livingroom. Computer on the arm of the couch, grocery bags on the seats, and the boys PJ's on the floor where they got dressed for school. Our scriptures are scattered around the room, the 8th seat to our van is next to the piano where it's been for over a month, and I believe that there's a boot cover from a fireman's costume under the piano bench.
And the kitchen table. What is there to say? We certainly can't eat here. We'll have to eat at the bar...

...or maybe not. The dishwasher has had clean dishes in it for two days, while all the dirty dishes line the counters, mixed with all the stuff I've been using for my project.

And then there's my sewing room. If there were a spot, my sewing machine would go right there where the orange mug is sitting.

I should've taken a picture of the boys' room. It is actually CLEAN. My kids are doing better than I am.

I hope this makes someone feel better!

Sneak Peak

I've spent the last few days working on an organizational wall by my back door. Hopefully it will be finished and ready for pictures tomorrow, but for now I'll give you a sneak peak of the topiary I just made.

How to make your own topiary:

After buying some "fluff" at your favorite (or ONLY) craft store, sneak into your kids' box of "special things" and steal that smokey the bear styrofoam antenna ball that they got at the last parade.

Take a small nail, and poke holes about 1/4" apart all over the ball. (hint: try not to let your 4 yr. old watch you poke smokey's eyes out with a nail).

Cut up your "fluff" into 1 1/2"-2" sections with a stem part at the bottom. Go downstairs and look for your glue gun. Go out to the shed to look for your glue gun. Notice the tub sealer that is always so conveniently in it's place and briefly consider using it. Settle for tacky glue. It will take longer to dry, but will be faster than finding one of your glue guns.

Dip each stem into tacky glue, and then stick it into the holes in your styrofoam ball one at a time until it's full. Go outside to your favorite tree and find a nice straight branch and stick it in the antenna hole.

Get your stud-finder, and find yourself a stud who would be willing to cut some wood in a circle and drill a hole in it (the size of your branch).

If you're nice to him, he may even take a picture of it for future blog fodder. Glue your "stand" into whatever pot you might have laying around your house, and paint it the color of your choice (or the color of your 70's countertops).

Put it all together, tie a ribbon around the branch, and add some moss to cover your stand.

It's the first day of school!

I made it!

Our summer went well until we got home from our Washington vacation, and then everything kind of fell apart. It is most definitely time for school...for my house to stay clean for a few hours, for a normal bedtime, and for cooler weather. I love, love, love Autumn.

The only crying I did was yesterday, when I thought that I might not survive the final 18 hours of summer break without self-destructing. If I never hear the words, "Mom, I'm hungry" again, it will be too soon.

Thankfully, all of that is forgotten now that I've had a few hours to work on a project in glorious silence (pictures soon), and I'm sitting here looking at my cute boys who have grown way too fast.

Brayden is in 3rd grade this year!

...and Caleb is in 2nd grade.
I had to laugh last night when Caleb told me that Brayden
didn't look tall enough to be a 3rd grader.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Eleven Years

Eleven years ago today I married my best friend. And for the first time in eleven years, we are apart on our anniversary. I am "here" visiting my family and doing some last minute school shopping, and he is "there" at home working.

I miss you, Todd.

Here's a quick run-down of our years together:

1998- Our first date was on February 29th, we started seriously dating on May 10th, talked about marriage on May 17th, and Todd proposed on May 28th. We were married in the Logan temple on August 21st. Todd started school at USU, and worked at an inbound call center. I started working at a preschool/daycare center in Logan. We lived in "the little house" in Newton.

1999- I got called as a beehive advisor in Young Women, and Todd became the scoutmaster. We had an early miscarriage in May, and another at 11 weeks on the 24th of July. We spent our first anniversary in Park City, I started working as a computer specialist in an elementary school, and we flew to Washington for Christmas.

2000- We lived with my parents for a couple months while the bathroom floor was being re-done in "the little house". Todd started driving a bus for Logan transit, and Brayden was born on October 12th. I started doing daycare at home for two little girls from our ward.

2001- We bought our first van, took a vacation to Mt. St. Helen's with Todd's parents, discovered we were pregnant with #2, and I started teaching preschool at home. In the fall, I started working as an artist for Rebecca Wood Designs, painting needlepoint canvas.

2002- We missed the Olympics in Salt Lake because we were busy moving to Logan. Caleb was born on April 3rd. I was called as the "nursery coordinator" in our ward with 5 nurseries, and later became the Relief Sociey secretary. Todd was put in the Elder's Quorum presidency...I think. He still drove bus, went to school, and worked with children who had witnessed domestic violence. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was struggling with post-partum depression. Caleb started having seizures, we had to call the ambulance a couple times, and we went to Primary Children's for tests.

2003- This year is a blur for me. I discovered quilting, started working 2 days a week at Red Rooster Quilts and Treasures, and took out a loan for my own quilting machine. I got help for the depression, and "found myself" again through quilting. Todd got into the MFT program at USU, and Caleb's seizures finally stopped in August. In October I began quilting at home.

2004- In April we went to Washington for Easter, and found out in May that we were pregnant with #3. In October (on Brayden's birthday) I had my appendix out at 20 weeks pregnant. I found out we were having a boy when they were looking for my appendix in an ultrasound at 3:00 AM in the hospital. I drove myself to the hospital, by the way, and Todd will never live it down. He thought I had gas. :o) I was called as the ward choir director, and Todd became the executive secretary.

2005- Dillon was born on March 1st. Todd continued to drive bus, and also did psycho-social rehabilitation in Idaho, between working on his thesis. In the summer, we took a trip to Island Park with Michael and Becky, and met up with Todd's parents in Yellowstone. Brayden started preschool in the fall, and we started wondering about Aspergers Syndrome. Todd graduated in December.

2006- On Dillon's first birthday, we moved in with my parents for what was supposed to be four weeks, and it turned into four months. Todd got a job at Aspen Ranch, and we moved our family to the middle of nowhere and bought our first house. I became an Achievement Day leader, and Todd was called to Young Men's. In August, Todd's dad was diagnosed with cancer, and in October he passed away. We made two trips to WA, one to say goodbye, and one for the funeral.

2007- We did LOTS of house projects this year. Dillon broke his elbow in the spring. Todd got bucked off a horse. We had a miscarriage in July, and we bought our truck in October. We went to Washington for the one year anniversary of Dave's passing, and Todd and I were called to teach Caleb's primary class together.

2008- We started out our year with a new van. I spent a lot of time with Vanessa, whose husband was oversea's, and Todd fell in love with all things cowboy. In October, Brayden was baptized (when did we get so old?) and we suffered another miscarriage. In December, Todd was called to be the Sunday School Secretary, and I was put in cub scouts.

2009- This year has been good to us. So far we've visited Goblin Valley, the Grand Canyon, the Pacific Ocean, and Mt. St. Helen's, and have plans to visit a few more National Parks in the fall.

Eleven years ago I couldn't have imagined the joy or the pain that these years would bring.

Thank you, Todd, for you. For your strength, your kindness, your example to our boys, and for making me happy. I'm so grateful that our marriage is eternal, and that you honor your priesthood. I can't wait to see you tomorrow.

I love you.
-felicia

Boys Grow

I love this poem, written by my friend Cathy Brian. Maybe it's because I was raised on a farm. Even though my Brayden learned how to tie a tie, rather than move sprinkler pipe, the feeling you get from this poem describes how I feel today. I can't believe my "baby" is starting third grade in a week and a half.

Boys Grow

The hay is cut

They stacked it high

to feed the cattle

winter's nigh

The air is chill

My nose is cold

The shadows stretch

The leaves are gold.

It froze last night

mid-day's still hot

The light has changed

I like it a lot.

The birds fly south

The fruit is ripe

The days grow short

we change sprinkler pipe

In spring 'twas hard

Boys worked together

But seasons end

With change in weather

Young boys grow strong

With work to do

It still aint easy

They muddle through

But now alone

they change each line

They jump right in

They do it fine

What once they

couldn't do alone

they finish now

each on their own.

Yes, seasons change

And boys grow

Just like the leaves

My hearts a glow.

-Cathy Brian-