The Name Shauna

Usually Ashley is on my Naughty list, but today after a sweet conversation she shot straight to my Nice list.

"Mom, can I change my name to Shauna when I grow up?"

"Why do you want to do that?"

"Because I think Shauna is the best name for a mom, and I want to be a mom when I grow up"

I was thinking how I really DO love that girl! 

However, a few minutes later she did something and I was yelling at her and chasing her to time out as she tells me ..

"You are the most bad mom ever!"

Uh ya, that took her right back to my Naughty list!

Bedroom Redo

When Stephen is traveling I LOVE to tackle big projects.  It keeps me busy so that time passes quickly.

The other reason I undertook this for the week is because it soooo needed help!  We have had a lot of people in and out this summer.  Some stayed with us and others just passing through.  As they would tour our house I would always get embarrassed of this bedroom.  It just wasn't very put together. 

Their was a nook for a desk.  Stephen hasn't had time nor money to build it though.  AND every normal desk is just too big to fit in the space UNTIL I found this little sewing table.

Oh my goodness!  It was the exact size that I needed.  I LOVED the knobs and couldn't resist the price of 10 bucks.  I sanded it and sealed the top lid.  Caulked up the crack and sanded some more.  The only thing that I still need to do is get a piece of glass to cover the top so that the wood will endure all the art that will be drawn on it.  ANYWAY, here it is in the room now ...

I still need to hang a dry erase board above it and do a couple other ideas that I have for that nook AND the shelf above it and the door, BUT I am thrilled it is done!

Worked on the closet with baskets and a dresser.  Dad made the headboard and the little cradle.  I need you to come back dad to put the headboard together with the rest of the bed.  I sure appreciate all you do for me dad!  I still need to do the cushion for the window seat.  I also have a big white wall opposite the bed that I 'm excited to work on.  Is anything ever done?!?!

Anyway, that's what I have been busy doing this week in between all the other stuff.

Paper Animals

I had seen an amazing peacock at my friend, Becki's house and she pointed me to this fun SITE.  There are a ton of animals that you can print up.  All you need is craft glue and some patience.  I only did this with my older ones after the two littlest were in bed.  There is no way the little girls could do a project like this with the intricate cutting and folding.  However, since we did do this at night they were quite silly as they were working on them.  We couldn't stop laughing at one point.

Nathan said that I need to do more craft projects like this.  I think it's because he enjoys puzzle like crafts.  At any rate they are fun, check out the SITE!

Freckle Juice

I glanced up during the kids' free read time this afternoon and just couldn't resist taking this picture.  Rebecca's cute sprinkle of freckles across her nose, which is buried in this FRECKLE juice book!

It was just too cute!  And yes I do take a lot of pictures, but I'm sure I will be grateful for all the memories they will provide through the years.  Besides, can you really take too many pictures?!?! 

Playground

It is no secret that our family LOVES a good playground.  We thoroughly enjoy swinging on the very long swings OR playing a good game of tag.  Well last week, thanks to my cousin Annie, we found a playground heaven complete with wiggly wakeboards, rollers on the slides, hinged balance beam, spaceship spinners and other toys that I don't even know what to call them ...

 

The kids always love when Stephen and I play tag with them.  Stephen is always up for a good chase around the playground catching the elusive ones.  I love the picture after the one of Stephen where Ashley's face of fear is shining as Stephen is getting closer to her.

What was even better about the evening on the playground? ... The beautiful lighting for all my pictures!  There is just something about natural lighting that artificial can't quite create.

Notes

I have two sisters that have both lost babies shortly after they were born.  I will never forget both of the heart wrenching mother cries at the gravesides. I will also never forget a note written the night before one of the funerals.  My sisters and I were in talking about the last minute details of my nephew's funeral when my niece came into the room with a note that she had written.  She proceeded to ask my sister if she could put her note into Daxston's casket so that he could take it to her brother who was already in heaven.  Of course the flood of tears ensued and Alesha promised her that she would stick it in.

I have thought about that note over the years.  Sure my niece was young when she wrote it, but the writing of it was healing to her.  She was writing it to her brother with a surety that he would receive it.  I love how notes do so much for the writer AND the reader.

When I write little love notes to Stephen I realize how much I do love that man.  And of course as he reads it he can feel of my love.  Even as I'm writing thank you cards, I'm filled with gratitude of the service or gift that was rendered.  I love to write notes to my kids and leave them on their beds to find and read.  Sometimes it's easier to write than speak.  AND Sometimes people don't want to listen to your voice, but WILL read your words.

I also like the fact that a note can be kept.  I have quite a few little framed notes around the house that I am SOOO glad I framed.  Stephen gave me this sweet note AS a framed gift.  Giving it was right up his alley because it was "free".  I, on the receiving end LOVED it.  I just saw it today sitting there and was filled with thoughts of Stephen who is in Texas right now.  (I'm glad he will be home tonight!)  I love how notes can fill you with thoughts and emotions.  I love filling up Stephen's suitcase with notes to remind him that we love him back home. 

I enjoy going back and reading letters and notes that I have saved from different people.  Notes last over time when spoken words are sometimes forgotten.

I feel like we live in a day and age where notes are not very common.  We have email and facebook to send our messages.  But the problem is that those messages aren't usually kept.  When Stephen was traveling to Singapore we emailed A LOT and do I have a single one of those sweet emails?  NO!  I would just delete them from my inbox.  It makes me sad that I didn't save any of them.

Anyway, I LOVE notes!  I think they are very important to send and to receive.  I know that I enjoy getting them!  Well, I'm off to write a note or two ...

Chillaxin'

Sucker, New Book, Cool Breeze and Hammock

24th of July Sanford Celebration

We went down to my parents for one last hoorah with Kristy and her kids.  The first night we came they were having the pageant.  I had a very disappointed Nathan when he found out that the pageant was a pioneer one and NOT a beauty pageant!

The next morning was the breakfast and parade.  Some of the kids were IN the parade.  And yes, some resembled Hell's Angels ...

 

We opted to WATCH Manassa's parade the next day.

Before the races all the young kids made homemade ice cream in bags on the church's front lawn.

Then came the races.  Each person races in their own age group and then they throw in a few fun races.  It is always a fun part of the 24th.  There are A LOT of kids that race.  The winner gets to pick out a 2 liter of pop and all the others get suckers.  Nathan could taste his pop until he saw all the 11 year old boys step up to the start line.

He thought that he HAD won until someone kindly told him that he had taken second.  Kaylee thought that she had the race in the bag.  Can you see by the smile...

I mean seriously, look at her smile and reach for the finishing line tape.  Only to see it fall right before she touches it, thanks to the girl a little further down the line.

We did have two family winners.  My hot husband won in the 30-40 division.  He HATES Pepsi, but it is MY favorite!

Then Rebecca ...

Quite a few did the three legged races...

It is fun to see all the kids and then the adults line up for the 3 legged races only to fall and crash into each other.  Rebecca is acting like they won the 12 and under division, but in actuality she is just celebrating for finishing the race, practically dead last might I add.

Some did the egg toss...

 

And when the egg broke ...

Jerrica made sure that ALL the egg yolk was poured out ...

And at the end of the races, the finish line ribbon was used for the little Hell's Angel headband.

Another highlight always of the 24th is visiting with all my highschool friends and extended family.

Paper Animal Folding

I Heart Faces theme is paper this week.

We made paper animals this summer.  It took a lot of folding and gluing BUT when you are having a non-TV day - it sure helps time pass!



 See more entries HERE-

Pioneer FHE

We had the Wright's over for FHE last night.  They have seven kids that pretty much match up to my kids' ages.  We started out with dinner.  Then we each acted out a pioneer story with costumes and props.  When we practiced earlier in the afternoon I didn't think that my kids were going to make it through without laughing.

Then we played water balloon volleyball with sheets.  It was the Wright's against the Thompson's.

Next came dessert AND since I had to email this recipe tonight, I thought that I would post it here as well to save in my little recipe collection.  It is a yummy summer dessert.  Isn't it funny how some desserts are perfect for Summer and others more fit for Winter or Fall.

My favorite quote of the night that we talked about was this one from Francis Webster.  He was in a room where there was considerable criticism of the handcart company and how late in the season they started their trek.  Francis Webster stood up and said,

"Was it a mistake to send the handcart company out so late in the season?  Yes.  But my wife and I were in that company.  We suffered beyond anything you can imagine, and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of the company utter a word of criticism?  Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church because every one of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.  Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart?  No.  Neither then nor any minute of my life since.  The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful."   (quote from the book "The Price We Paid" by Olsen)

It was the perfect night to lead into our pioneer week!

 

Surprise

The little girls were playing with their older sisters' art set, when the older sisters came back to the tent and caught them.  I think their expressions show surprise mixed with a little scared.

Check out the other surprise shots at I Heart Faces.

Birdhouse

I just love this one of Jerrica peeking in the birdhouse that Grandpa Don built in our backyard.  The kids always drag the ladder out to check on the baby bluebirds. 

I'm just sad that MY baby is getting so big!

Birthday Weekend

 This week was really hard for me and I sure didn't have a sympathetic sister to sympathize with me.  Stephen's grandfather passed away and he flew out for the funeral for a few days.  Then Jacob was gone all week at Emerald Lake for scout camp.  Here is one of the pictures that he took of the lake.

Anyway, I was sad that I wasn't with Jacob on his birthday and sad to not have Stephen here.  He works from home and I just get so used to having him around.  Well, my sister Kristy's husband is in Afganistan for a YEAR.  And her oldest daughter has been with her biological father for OVER a MONTH now.  SOOO Kristy wasn't buying all my woes and sadness.  I did LOVE having Kristy and her kids with us though.

Friday was her daughter Karley's birthday.  She just learned to ride a bike this summer, so that morning Kristy and I woke her and Becca up at 6:00am and took the two of them for a bike ride on the Santa Fe trail.  We then took them and the other kids to see Despicable Me.  We LOVED it!

Then we all went to Red Robin for dinner to celebrate Karley's birthday.  She was loving the queen of the day treatment.

Rebecca asked if Karley was going to share her dessert.  I told her maybe if she gave Karley a kiss on the cheek she would.

I do believe that Rebecca was the only one she shared her dessert with, probably afraid that Rebecca would kiss her again.  We did a little celebrating at home as well.

Kristy and I would stay up WAYYY too late laughing, talking, shopping and doing projects.  I'm just sad that she is gone now.  HOWEVER, Jacob and Stephen are now back.  We celebrated Jacob's birthday today.

Jacob is such a sweet boy with such a mellow personality.

He is an incredible artist and avid reader.  Just to highlight what he enjoys - camping, basketball, swimming, drawing, nature and music.

I really can't believe that he is 13!  I don't believe that I am 13 years older since I had him! 

Kristy and Kaylee helped me make a little camping cake for his birthday.  It had a fire pit to roast marshmallows and even a pillow and sleeping bag in the tent!

We used pretzels, pop tarts, sugar cones, starbursts, marshmallows and chocolate rock candy for our masterpiece.  Then came the forest fire...

Anyway, Jacob we sure love you!