Fall decorations

Over on LemonAnnie's blog, she's hosting a Fall Link-a-thon. She's inviting everyone to shoot some pictures of their autumn decorations and link them up to her blog. I wanted to get these up yesterday, but I 'm a little slow. So, here's what I've got so far...

My front door. I should have just stepped back a few feet and shot the whole thing in one picture. But, my poor flowers aren't looking too fab right now. This picture is from a week or so ago.

I think I planted the mums a little too early.

I really want to do a bit more decorating in the front yard for Halloween. Some people in the neighborhood really go all out at Halloween, they're places are either so cute, or uber spooky. I think it would be fun to do a spooky walkway.

My little corner shelf unit. Below is a close-up of the bottom shelf--the little haunted houses are kind of dark so I was trying to get a better picture of them for you.

My tablescape...

The plant shelves above the kitchen cupboards....

And my sink area. The little candy bowl has candy corn in it. I like a little snack while I'm doing the dishes! :o)

Hope you go visit LemonAnnie's site, there's some great inspiration there.

Music, music--beautiful music

Music is so powerful!!!
funny story...
I was at work Friday night, and I was the last person to leave, as usual. I have to close the store, count the registers, prepare the deposit--yada, yada.
Well, in the exhibit I work at, there are several different cd's that play different music simultaneously for effect. Well when the exhibit supervisor left, she turned off all but one of the cd's, and it happens to be the one that I think is the creepiest. The walls between the store and the exhibit don't go all the way up, so I can hear the music in the distant background, and it was so spooky. Now, I knew it was just the cd playing, and I don't believe the exhibit is haunted or anything, (although we're dealing with dead people's artifacts here, so who knows--right?), and I don't think I'm very sensitive to that sort of thing anyway IF there's any truth to it. But, man, did I get spooked!! I could not wait to finish up what I had to do and get the heck out of there.

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I also notice that the music I play in my car helps determine my driving demeanor. If I'm listening to calming, soothing church or classical music, I'm much more realaxed in my driving. If there's harder rock music, or even country music playing, I'm not as easy going. I drive a bit more aggessively I think, and am more likely to make nasty comments about the other drivers abilites.

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Weekday mornings are often wrought with stress for me, trying to get the kids up, fed, the babies dressed, and the girls off to school all within an hour or so timespan. Some days I have to make their lunches, always have to help Haley brush her hair, help Ashley with her tennis shoes--you know, all the usual stuff. And those are the good days, there are days like the one last week, when we're down to twenty minutes 'til the school bell rings, and I walk into the girls' room and they're both still in their pj's playing on their beds---then the screaming begins--Monster Mom comes out to play. Not a pretty sight.

I usually watch the Today show in the mornings, trying to catch up on current events. I'm thinking that this might not be the best choice. Since I know what an impact music can have on the soul, perhaps I ought to pop in a church cd, or some other uplifting music to start off the day. I'm sure squeezing some personal prayer in there would help too.

So, this is my goal for this week--Turn of the tube no later than 7:30, when the girls get up, and pop in an uplifting cd. See if it makes a difference.

I'm a nut!!

I'm a little acorn round
Sitting on the cold, cold ground
Somebody came and stepped on me,
Now I'm cracked as you can see.

(chorus)
I'm a nut (cluck, cluck) (clicking your tongue, not cluck like a duck-uh I mean chicken)
in a rut (cluck, cluck)
I'm a nut
in a rut
I'm a nut

Called myself on the phone
just to hear my golden tone
asked myself for a date
Picked me up at half past 8

chorus

Took myself to the show
sat right down in the very last row
Wrapped my arm around my waist
got so fresh I slapped my face

chorus

Pepsi Cola came to town
Coca Cola shot him down
Dr. Pepper fixed him up
Now we all drink 7-Up

Chorus



So, what's your favorite camp song?

A little Friday Randomness (just a little)

So, do you remember the PowerPuff Girls? When Ashley was little, it was one of her favorite shows. I wish they still aired it. Anyway, Miss Ashley is a pretty good little artist I think. Here she did the PowerPuff Girls all grown up. Cute, no?

Justin's getting in some game time with Daddy. It's a really cute cheek shot, but I'm not sure I should post my sweet little boys sweet cheeks all over the web.
What do you do when you've got two little hooligans who like to get into things, in this case, the book shelves, and scatter them all over tarnation?

Well, I don't know what you'd do, but here's our temporary solution....

And this introduces the next dilemma. They computer is on the other side of the barrier. You know, I have to get on the computer at least five times a day.

Do you suppose this counts as exercise. Up and over the barrier, at least ten times a day. I'm just waiting for the day that I'm rushing to get back over for whatever reason, catch my foot and come crashing down. Should be a pretty sight. Maybe I should set up a video camera. And here's the view from the computer side. Peekaboo! I see you!!

blog or bust

OK, so I've got total bloggers block. I don't know what to post about. I suppose, if I were truly intelligent then I would just get my behind to bed instead of wasting time writing fluff and nonsense. I know hubby wants me in bed right now, he's been hinting at it all week. Poor guy--totally neglected. Why is it that the year after I give birth to a baby, I just lose all interest in anything else. It's like I'm in love with the baby, which I suppose I am, but poor hubby gets pushed to the side. And yes, the boys are fourteen months old now, so my year is over. But, that's not necessarily a hard and fast number.
I'm trying (and by trying I mean, not really trying very hard) to wean these two little tykes. They're just not going for it. They won't drink regular milk. So how do I wean them???

Friday, say "Cheese"!

Do you Twitter?

Hey girls! Come join the fun Tuesday night for a girls night out on Twitter. Ok, it's really not like you have to get all dolled up and go out. It's just meeting up to chat with each other live on Twitter, you can just hang out in your jammies in the warmth and security of your own home. Go here to get all the juicy details. Go here to create a Twitter account. This week, there's a couple interesting topics to discuss, although if things end up like last week, we'll just discuss what we're snacking on.
Hope to chat with all of you there! :o)


funny conversation with my kids tonight:
Ashley asked me what countries our ancestors came from. So I told her that they came from various locations like England, Germany, Denmark and Ireland. She thought Ireland was really cool. I explained that our ancestors from these other countries were way, way back. Haley's response to this was "like four or five hundred miles?"

I love to see the temple...

I'm going there some day.

Well, today I am one step closer. I interviewed with the bishop again today, and he filled out my recommend. Now I just need to schedule an appointment with the stake president. It won't be long now!So, of course after that, I had to take a drive over to the temple this evening.

The girls went with me.

I just love to walk around the grounds. It's so peaceful and lovely.

It was close to dusk already, so I didn't get many shots of the gardens-next time.

I loved this window. It's not real clear in the picture, but there's like a star shape in the middle of the circle. With the light shining through it, it just looked really cool. The picture didn't really capture it though.

Weekend wrapup

Pretty Sunrise, Jon snapped this at work yesterday.Our garage sale was a success. We unloaded quite a bit of our junk.

Made a few bucks too-yay!

The girls had a blast with their lemonade stand. They made more than I expected them to selling lemonade and their cast-off toys.

Jon got tickets to the Nascar truck races last night. He took the girls. They had a truckload of fun. Now Ashley is dying to go to the Nextel cup series next spring.

Anybody who would like to donate tickets to our cause, would be adored forever! LOL

This mornings excitement... almost touched down in our backyard. He must have been running low on fuel, he touched down in the cul-d-sac behind our house. Jon and the girls walked over and checked it out. Everybody was ok. They were already loading things up by the time they got there. Balloon-a-palooza ends today-I was hoping to go check it out this weekend. Maybe next year.
Hope everyone is having a great Sunday. :o)

Me, Myself and I

I saw this over on Sher's blog and had to check it out for myself. What Mikki Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Dear.....

Imbeingheldhostage is hosting a fall giveaway, with a catch.

She notes:
"There are people who come and go in our lives. Some are there for a long time, others just long enough to leave a permanent mark. I'd like to plaster the blog world with thank you letters. Thank you's to average everyday people who made a difference in your life at one time or another.Please write a blog post in the form of a "Thank you" letter. To someone that has passed through your life. They can be living or not so much so. They could've touched your childhood, or maybe they just entered."

So, here's my entry, done in hopes of winning some wonderful goodness from England, and to say thanks to a wonderful figure from my childhood.


Dear Mrs. Hardy,
I know, that's not your name anymore. You got married and it changed to something with a cat in it. But I can't remember what it was.
You were my first grade teacher, and I loved you so much! More than my kindergarten teacher, and how amazing is that? Everyone adores their kindergarten teacher. But, Ms. Gibson had nothing on you. With your beautfiul red hair, pretty face and sweet personality--she didn't stand a chance.
What was it about you that I adored so much? Was it how you would let me clean off your desk when I had finished my assignments? Or was it that you allowed us to rub your back? Perhaps it was chalkboard duty when you would leave the classroom for a few minutes. Oh to be the lucky child picked to wield the chalk and take down names of all the naughty students.
Perhaps it was because you were a truly beautiful individual both inside and out. You loved your students, and you loved teaching them.
Whatever it was, you helped instill in me a lifelong love of learning. Because of you I always wanted to teach the first grade. That hasn't ended up happening, but I still often think, that if I were to pursue teaching as a career, I would want to teach the first grade.
Thank you! Thank you for being you, for not being afraid to show your students that you cared for them. Thanks for being such a terrific teacher.
Love,
Mikki

To do today

• make yard sale signs a
• wash car seat covers a
• do an additional 1.5 loads of laundry
• begin ticketing stuff a
• make lemonaid stand signs a
• purchase lemon-aid mix or lemons--NOT! (and maybe a container to serve it from?) a
• get change for yard sale a
• balloons? for yard sale? a
• check on yard sale permit a
• dinner? what's that? --Pizza hut-most def.
• post yard sale signs before going to bed a
• go to bed

do you have any great yard sale tips?

Gonna' be a bear (another great email)

"Image Provided by Classroom Clipart" or Clipart provided by Classroom Clipart


In this life I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.
Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.
When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.
If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.
If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.
Yup, gonna be a bear.

Three things...more like I've tried 3 times to get this post to publish correctly!

I was tagged last week by Rebecca and I am now just getting to it.

3 Joys:
1. My family
2.the twins' naptime-'nuff said
3. catching up with all my blogging buddies

3 Fears:
1. not being around for my kids
2. never making it to the temple
3. not being prepared

3 Goals:
1. Lose about 30 pounds-although the real goal here is to eat better and get more exercise.
2. get my house completely cleaned and organized
3. start saving money

3 Current Obsessions:
1. sewing scripture totes
2. Blogging
3. learning about digital scrapbooking

3 Random/Surprising Facts:
1. I love Margarita's--don't drink them (anymore), but I still love them
2. I love digging around in dirt--I'm not exactly a green thumb, but I love planting flowers. Eventually they die due to lack of care :o(
3. I easily drink 2-liters of Pepsi a day! (yikes!)

OK, I tag...whoever wants to do it. (I know, a total copout--sorry).

Wordless Wednesday

So sweet...

Jon called me at work last night to inform me we had just been tagged.

Some sweet family left this on our doorstsep....
this large basket was filled with lots of sweet stuff. Backpacks for the girls, clothes for the boys, books, games, toys. A fabulous planner that I will take a lot of joy in, a bath set, handkerchiefs.

How thoughtful!! Don't know who it came from though-- secret service. How kind. Now I feel like passing the love along. hmmmm......






In other news, here's a purse I've been working on. I'm pretty happy with it.

I need to do some more. I'll hopefully get a few more knocked out in the next couple weeks, and then I'll check into opening an Etsy store. I purchased a couple different handbag patterns as well. So, I'll probably do more than just this tote bag style. I'll have to see how they turn out.

This week, however, my focus is going to be on getting through my garage. I have to take Saturday off this week, because Jon has inventory at work and has mandatory overtime (yay for me, bummer for Jon). So, I figured Saturday will be the perfect day for a yard sale. Hopefully I can get a lot accomplished during naptimes this week.

My mom and dad popped in for a visit yesterday afternoon. They were on their way home from a trip to Lake Powell. It was so good to see them-unfortunately I had to work last night, but they got to visit with their grandkids--always a fun thing. I said good bye to them this morning. I miss 'em already. But, I helped mom set up her own blog this morning--so now we can keep contact through one more means besides the telephone and email. I look forward to visiting her blog. :o)

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Please fast.

Just a quick shout out to whoever reads my blog. Please look at the above blurb thing about The Nielson Family. Stephanie is having a major surgery tomorrow and could use any extra prayers and, really, if you might be so inclined to fast for her--I know it would be powerful. If you could mention it in your blogs, please do--I would love for the word to get out quickly, and for as many people as possible to do this for her. Thanks!

The power of thought

Saturday NIght Review

Just thought I'd recap a few of this weeks happenings. Nothing too interesting. I realize that I need to get busy with my picture taking.

When I got home from work the other night, I was greeted by this little treat from my daughter, Ashley.

Her note says: "Dear Mama, Please engoy these white chocolate pretzels

love ya lots-Ashley

She made them for me. Such a sweetie!

Last weekend, she wanted to do makeovers. I gave in.

She did mine, and I did hers...

She's awful cute isn't she?

hamming it up...
This little munchkin is climbing everything.

And bathtime tonight. They were having a great time.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

P.S. Are fishnet stockings inappropriate for church? just wondering....

Flashback Friday

OK so, my wonderful aunt Myrtle Rae took a lot of time and patience and scanned hundreds of pictures of my grandma's to disc, then made copies for everyone. So, I was looking through one of them today and couldn't resist the urge to post some of them.

~


I love these two pictures of my mom. She looks so beautiful. The little boy in her arms is my big brother James. (he passed away in 2001)

~
My brothers James, David and me.

~

This picture is hilarious to me. We were going to a wedding. My hair was slicked back something major. I'm wearing a white skirt--wouldn't you know it, I got my period that day. Nice stains all over my new white skirt.

~

James and his son, Matthew. Matthew is now like, 16 or 17 years old. Man, that makes me feel old!








These next few crack me up too. These are some interesting before and after ones.



David as a cute and sweet young man...


















And here he is in his rebellious teenage years.












My sister, Jennivene, as a cute little munchkin...







And after, in ger "Goth, new age, and rebellious teenage years.

(looks like BoyGeorge-no?)










Me, as a cute little girl......







And later, in my oh so nerdy years. Nice glasses huh'? Can you say bug eyes?









A family picture after the boys had moved away.




Mom,


Dad,


Me and Jenn


And last, but certainly not least. The love of my life...
Jon as an adorable little boy on his pony...





And, after... rebellious and hip!

Sorry about the spacing on this post, I can't figure out how to fix it.