Body FHE

We did a fun FHE tonight.  We had done this years ago at our old house, but all the girls were too young to remember it.  I started the evening by laying the kids' PJ's on the living room floor.  I left them there and just told everyone that it was for FHE to get their interest.

We then started by all going up the stairs to the loft and looking down on the pajamas.  I asked them if the pajamas had moved at all down there.  I also asked questions like if Nathan's PJ's wanted to kick a soccer ball, could they?...  Then I told them to pretend that we were in heaven.  Their PJ's were bodies waiting to have a spirit inside of them.  We continued to talk about what they, as spirits, weren't able to do without a body.
I then let them all go down to "Earth" and get their body.  I made them go and change into their body (pajamas).  Then I had different ones do different things "IN" their bodies, like Ashley dancing ...
We then read and discussed this amazing TALK.  It is filled with facts and appreciation for our bodies.  We discussed how we are only given ONE body during this earthly life and how we need to take care of it.  We talked about ways to take care of our bodies.
Then Rebecca shared her little Plan of Salvation that she colored and cut out.  Her little spirit girl and paper girl were really cute.
We ended with the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and I reiterated and testified one more time how important and lucky we are to have bodies and the need to take care of them.

Classic

After basketball I went in to get Ashley, but she was jumping in the big blow up house.  I kept saying impatiently, "Hurry Ashley I'm waiting on you."  Finally she emerged with a disgusted look and shouted,

"MOM, I'm tired of YOU waiting on Me!!!!"

Uh ... ya, me too!

Weekend Update

We started off Friday afternoon over at the Wright Family's for a play date.  They have seven kids that match up to the ages of mine.  The older ones were loving the outside tire swings, hammock, and other toys

The Wrights have an elevator in their house.  Can you guess what the little kids did?  You're right, up and down and racing each other- stairs vs. elevator.

It was also a temple weekend.  Stephen and I went on a temple dinner date night on Friday night.  Then Jacob went the next morning with the youth.

Of course it was Mother's Day and I was spoiled with sweet cards that made me smile AND wayyyy too much chocolate.  Stephen did get me a real fun photography toy, a new purse and some of my favorite snacks!  Thank you for a sweet day!

Kaylee's Secret

Almost every game I hear, "How is Kaylee so tough?"  "She faces girls twice her size and isn't the least bit intimidated!"  "How is she so fast?"

Well, today during Ashley's half time you could see the secret of what makes Kaylee the little athlete that she is ...

Playing against an older brother is what makes Kaylee such an incredible soccer player.

You better watch out Nathan!!!!

Umbrellas in Rain

I picked up some fun flower rain gear on clearance at Target.  Ash has been wearing the boots everywhere this week.  Well the other evening, rain started to sprinkle and I told Ash she could try out the new umbrella.  She was SOOOO excited as she sat out on the rocks and trotted across the lawn.  She would yell to me on the porch, "The rain is not getting me!!!"

I stood there snapping pictures thinking of how much she was enjoying the rain.  My idea of enjoying rain is to sit cuddled up with a good book and just listening to the rain.  Kids of course love to play out IN the rain, especially with an umbrella. 

I so LOVE watching my Ash enjoy life!

Word Wall Art

Do you ever decorate a kids' room and then the decor stays and stays and stays...?  Well, the other day Kaylee asked if I could put a different picture up in her room instead of the framed fish art picture that she had made in Kindergarten.  She proceeded by asking if her room could be more "Tween" like.  I wanted to scream NOOOO because I want her to stay little forever.
Well, Target has this Wall art right now.

And I found THIS BLOG that had done a version in Photoshop for her daughter.  She has a download for hers.  I took it and tweaked it a little.  It didn't take long at all because she had a good base.  I just added a little color to the smiley face, took off a couple things, and added a few other graphics to personalize it more to Kaylee's sayings that she says and activities that she enjoys like piano and sports.

The canvas was on sale for $3 and I printed the picture at Costco as an 11x14 for $3.  So it was a $6 project instead of Target's $40, plus ours was personalized somewhat.  I did the same process with modge podge that I did for my Subway sign.

I loved how the canvas turned out ...

BUT it was too small for me in that space.  So I ran down to the garage grabbed some scrap wood sheeting, painted it purple and nailed the thin wood sheeting behind the canvas to make it feel bigger.  I also LOVE how the dark purple brings out the dark purple in her room that are on her shelf, dresser and the furry dark purple throw pillows on her bed.  Trust me it actually pulls the room together, so it was good that I had to add it in the end.

And that was my little project to "Tween" Kaylee's room up a little.

The Hair Style

Kaylee has wanted me to braid her hair in little braids since the beginning of the school year.  I used to do it a lot when she was little.  Well, each morning for months now I have said  "Oh we will do it sometime this year ...."  Then all of a sudden I realized that we are in MAY!  So we HAD to do the braids. 

Of course with my hands cramping after 20 minutes worth of braiding before school, Rebecca walks in and asks for the same style. 

Then tonight I went to a Mother / Daughter Luau with my little braid girl. 

It was a really fun night.  Thanks for putting it all together Lanita!

Made Someone Happy

These brought a HUGE smile to someone's face today -

Therefore, they made me happy too.  Yes, they are even a VERY bright happy yellow color.

Nathan has completely worn down his last set of cleats to where they are lopsided.  He constantly has them on before and after school practicing soccer.  However, finding time to buy him new cleats was getting impossible.  He begged this morning to run to Dick's before his practice tonight, but looking at the afternoon calendar I could see it NOT happening.  SOOOO I decided around noon to go take him out of school and take him on a little date.  When I picked him up he had this bewildered stare, then as we walked out to the van I told him that I needed someone to go to Dick's with me.  That's when the smile started.  The smile continued to grow as he picked out these BRIGHT new soccer cleats.  We better see some fancy footwork in them this weekend!

Hand Sanitizer Take 2

Here is what I made and used.   You can just click on it and save the picture.  Open it up in a photoshop program and add the teacher's name with a text box.  The size that I made mine were 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.  I picked up hand sanitizers from the dollar store.  The front labels peeled off really easy.  If you have hard to peel labels just heat the label a little with a blow dryer and they will peel right off.  The heat breaks down the adhesive.

Katherine had a really good comment.  You could print these in color, you could personalize it for your kids, you can basically put whatever your little creative mind wants to create on it! 

Different Perspective

I recently saw a photo shoot in a movie.  The photographer was psycho moving this way and that way and laying down and standing on chairs.  I couldn't quit thinking about that photographer.  I started out thinking he was psycho, but then changed to being impressed at all of the angles he was getting. 

I could take a hundred straight on head shots of my kids, but isn't it more fun to look DOWN at those big eyes in some of the pictures.

That's usually how I see her everyday.  She isn't MY height.  I'm taller and this is how I see her.

I have read many times that it is more flattering to take pictures DOWN at your subject.  Maybe this is why all the pictures my kids take of me are SOOO unflattering because they are aiming UP at me.  They get my double chins, nostrils and thick neck.  I think I'm going to make them start standing on chairs to take pictures of me.

It does make sense though.  Features can appear flat and wide when you are shooting head on.  Yet what pretty angles you see when looking DOWN.

Blogs

One night at about 11:00pm

Me, "Stephen, I have about 600 people visit my blog a day!"

Steve, "Oh..."

Me, "Stephen, are you even listening to me?!?"

Steve, "Uh ya, I'm just looking at this blog"

(This would be his favorite blog that he checks nightly.  It is FILLED with political boringness.  If you don't believe me go check it out -www.instapundit.com)

Then Steve praising his Instapundit blog, "Guess how many people look at this blog a day?"

Me, "Probably ONE, which would be YOU"

Steve, "Actually the sitemeter says, 404,630 people a DAY"

Me, "Uh,... OK, that IS a few more than mine (just 400,000 more), BUT I bet Mr. Instapundit doesn't get nice emails and comments from people like I do!"

Seriously, who would get nice emails from a political blog!??! 

Thank You for all of YOUR sweet notes I do appreciate each of them!

Curious George

I love the smell of fresh clean kids after a night bath.  I love combing out their hair and seeing the sleekness of it.  I love seeing that they are finally tired and ready to go to sleep. 

Jerrica had just finished her bath and was snuggling her George on my bed as she waited for the others.  Can I resist taking pictures ....... uh NO!

She kinda looks like a monkey herself!

Minute to Win It FHE

A blogging friend, Dana had suggested this for a FHE. 

Then after watching it, my kids were begging to try these seemingly simple games.  Some look so easy until you try to do them.  Jacob was in charge of FHE tonight and chose the games that we would compete in.  One was trying to get four ping pong balls into four different cups with water in them.  Some of us tried really hard ...

Then others (AKA - little girls) loved just throwing the balls around and then watching everyone gathering them up after a minute.  The other favorite game was watching the kids dance and jump to get the ping pong balls out of the box that was taped around their hips.  

What I liked BEST about this FHE was hearing everyone cheer everyone on and praise each other.  We earned our ice cream treat with each game.  Some were a little worried about ending up with just a cup and spoon, but of course everyone was a winner.  Great Job on FHE tonight Jacob!

Teacher Appreciation

UPDATE: I just printed up on regular paper the hands quote with teacher names.  I then took it to a Copy store and asked for them to make a transparent copy of my paper copy.  It was $1 for both my pages.  I then cut each out, rolled the transparent copies up and slipped them inside the bottle.  Then took a pencil or something to push the transparent copy up to the side of the sanitizer bottle. 

This week is teacher appreciation.  Each of my kids has a teacher and tutor, AND then each class adopted an office staff member or a specials teacher. 

So that means 3 teachers times 4 kids is 12 gifts.

For our school they do something each day.  The first day is homemade cards.  Then the next day each kid brings a flower to contribute to each teacher's vase.  The next day is a healthy snack or fruit to contribute to a big basket for each teacher.  Then they have a gift basket one day, where everyone puts their little gifts in.  This is also for the gift cards from the $ contributed.

ANYWAY, the cards are done, the small gifts are done ...


Now to just run to Costco tomorrow for the flowers and fruit.  Always something to do....

Art and Weekend Wrap Up

Jacob continues to amaze me with his art skills.  He is still working with oils.  I love the color blending and shading in this last one that he brought home.



It is on such a nice big canvas.  I have to find a spot to hang it up now.  The kids also had their art show at school this week.  It was fun to see their projects.  I'm getting antsy to change up the kids art wall with all the year end art coming home from school this week.

Rebecca took second place in the Aaron Brother's Green Earth contest.

Rebecca has also been quite busy writing a book.  She writes so small and has so much detail in her writing.  She is our author.  She wants to be a librarian when she grows up, so she might as well have one of HER own books in the library.



Of course there were soccer games.  Have I said about a hundred times that I LOVE to watch my kids play!



Ashley has this football blocking technique that she does with her opponents.  She likes to keep her arms up so that they can't get to the ball.  Sometimes it looks like there may be a little pushing involved as well.

Anyway, on to a new week filled with lots to do.  May is always so busy!

Happy May Day

For the last who knows how many years we have taken flowers to the Stieningers for May Day.  This year as Judith answered the door she said, "I was just asking Bill yesterday if he thought you guys would remember us this year."  How can we forget May Day with such a cute little older couple waiting for us each year.  You can see them HERE from last year's post.

This year we added Cari to the list.  It is always fun to see her smile.  Kaylee's friend Elizabeth had spent the night and she went around with us.  Here is one of the bouquets from this year.

Happy May Day!

Newsprint Table

Do you know what this is?

Of course you do because you read the title of this post.  It is a roll of newsprint.  We bought it for about $10 when the boys were little from our local newspaper office and as you can see we still have TONS left.  I LOVE this paper because we can use it for so many things like welcome home banners, or filler in boxes we are mailing, or to lay down for messy craft projects or for table coverings at meals. 

Ashley wanted a project so I rolled it out onto the table to have her decorate it for dinner.

In years past I would haul out the big roll and let the kids go to town decorating as I would make dinner.  It would entertain them and then entertain us as we looked at the artwork while we ate.  Today Ashley asked if I would make some pictures with her.  I thought that it would be fun to personalize each place setting and then fill in with games.

I had little doodling games like -

• Tic Tac Toe
• Mad Libs
• Finish the Face, Monster, Flowers in the Vase
• Family Thumb War Ring with place to write the winners
• Word Game Ideas
• Finish the Sentence

The possibilities are endless.  When each family member came to dinner they commented on my notes to them and then proceeded to make a few of their own notes and doodles.  Nathan made us play hang man and Jacob drew an incredible monster.  Ashley LOVED showing off her afternoon drawings.  It was really a lot of fun!

The best part was that the newsprint kept my table clean from the dinner mess!

Everything Waits for ME!

My scriptures lay there waiting for me to pick them up.  My fat waits for me to exercise it off, so I try and go work-out.  I come home and see that the laundry and dishes have waited for me to do them.  The house hasn't  started cleaning itself, it too has waited for me.  I look at what to make for dinner and once again it sits waiting in the pantry.  All my fun projects lie in wait for my hands to get a hold of them.  My kids wait for me to do something fun with them, my husband waits on that one too!

I feel like EVERYTHING is waiting for me.  Everything waits for me, except for TIME.  I wish that time would wait.  I wish that I could pause time here and there.  I could really get ahead if I could pause time.  Wouldn't that be awesome to pause time in the morning, get EVERYTHING done, then start time to do whatever your heart desired.

Well I better go, sleep is waiting for me now...

Questions

I just figure these posts are the easiest way to answer people's questions because a lot of them are the same.

FHE
Here are the 8 1/2 by 11 Sea pictures.  I chalked them, but can't remember where they came from.
 
Years ago I did a few FHE groups where one person makes 10 of the same lesson and then we meet and swap.  So that's why I don't know exactly where some of them have come from.  We love family home evening nights and do try and do them every week.  The kids don't let us forget and there is usually something that I'm wanting to teach or share with them.  I know that my time with them listening to me won't be around forever so I'm trying to take advantage of it now.

Also, those of you who have asked what FHE is, HERE is a great explanation.

Backdrop
So many have asked where I got the nice cream and wrinkle free backdrop for so many of my pictures.  It made me smile because it's actually just a wall in our house.  I have whomever I'm taking the picture of just take a step AWAY from the wall so that you don't see the texture (or dirty handprints) on the wall, just a nice distant bokeh. 

Also, my 50mm-1.4 lense is what I take the majority of my pictures with.  LOVE it!

Guilty
I always hear, "Shauna your blog makes me feel guilty"  OK seriously that's ridiculous!  If you would journal everything you did in a day you would find that you probably do a whole lot more than me.  I remember talking to my good friend Angie about this one night.  She had just finished talking about going to the park with her kids, doing all the freezer meals for our freezer group and then was knitting a gift, yet she still said that she hadn't done anything that day.  We do so many little things in a day that add up to A LOT if we could just step back and see that!

Hope that answers some questions!

Tea Party

A couple weeks ago Ashley begged Stephen and I to go up to her room for a tea party.  We were sooo surprised to see that she cleaned her room and see the care she had taken in setting her little table.  Of course we all thoroughly enjoyed it, especially Ash. 

Well, she proceeded to plan and talk about having another tea party for all of the family up in her room.  One day when she was talking about it we were shopping in Wal-Mart.  I decided then and there to make it a grand tea party.  We bought pink napkins and plates.  We bought those little pink waffer cookies.  We bought raspberry sherbet to make a drink.  She was soooo excited as we kept getting things for the tea party.


And let me tell you the tea party was grand.  She cleaned her room once again and had every little chair that we own set up for everyone in our family.  Everyone kept complimenting her on her fancy tea party.  She beamed the entire time.  The older girls asked her for her Fancy Nancy drink recipe for their recipe binders, so we had to create a little recipe card for them.

Today as I was up there helping clean her room she asked if I would have a small tea party with her.  I couldn't resist pictures this time around.  She is just too into these little parties and I must journal this stage that she is in!

She had to talk on the phone while she was cooking (I kinda do that)

And then the time slipped away as we were having our tea party and I had to go teach piano lessons.  She proceeded to pout on her bed.  I'm sure we will have yet ANOTHER tea party in the near future.

Ashley, thanks for all the tea parties lately!  You keep our family FANCY!