CRAZY!

Since my last post…

I’ve had Surgery in Two Hands

Helped run a Family Reunion in one State

Helped run another Family Reunion in another State

Certified as a Ropes Course Instructor – don’’t know how my body managed that one.

Attended a Week of Girls Camp – no one told me lack of sleep came with the event.

Made over 300 rope bracelets.  (More about that later)

Improved my belly flopping technique.

Been a Ma on a Pioneer Handcart Trek – Always was last into camp, but had the biggest smile on my face the whole time.

Dusted off my mad harmonica skills too.

Sewed three pioneer dresses, two aprons, three bonnets, and one pair of bloomers.

Held Two separate Garage Sales and the garage is still bursting with stuff.

Church Calling Duties too numerous to list.

Learned a new talent:  Whip Cracking – I know, crazy.  Can snap that cracker three different ways. – Comes in handy when trying to impress pioneer youth, and keeping kids in line.

Had my new (anniversary gift) camera Stolen.  Stupid Seattle.

Found it on Craigslist.

Cops did nothing so we lost it for good.  Stupid Seattle.

Husband took pity or got tired of me moaning about it and bought me a new one.

Sent kids off to Especially for Youth for a week.

Sent husband and boys off White Water Rafting for another week.

Continue to work on my dehoarding & the interior of my home.

Lost 27 lbs.

Found 23 lbs.  (Sigh).

I should take up yo-yo’s.  I’d probably be really good at it.

It’s been my craziest summer ever… and… I’m almost back. 

with pictures.

Missed you all.

Tootles,

FawnDear

Permission to Play in the Mud.

Ah, The Busy Life!  It seems life is coming at us way to fast to comprehend half of what's going on.  So as not to forget that these things actually happened I thought I'd post a snapshot of our crazy life.

The flood clean-up has begun.  Prince Erik took the boys out to help fix fences covered with debris over the weekend and we are scheduled to help clean out someone's barn tomorrow.  It will kind of be fun.  Permission to play in the mud - Granted.

We also played big time celebrating two family birthdays.  Lea turned 10!  Someone please slow down the clock.  My kids are growing to fast.

Prince Erik also celebrated a very quite birthday.  And no matter how fast that life clock goes he will always be a big kid. 

 

Proof in Point - Here he is playing Kung Fu Panda on the DS, with two little zombies attached to his person.

I crazily taught two different art lessons at my daughter's school in the past few days and have another scheduled for this week.  I love teaching art. 

However, we have an assigned curriculum that I sometimes wish I could deviate from.  Some of the projects are great fun...

 

And other projects - Not Exactly. 

There's something about being cooped up in January that get's my creative juices flowing. 

I've been having fun crafting and sewing.  Couldn't help but turn a tablecloth into some fun aprons for my girls and myself.  In fact, I'm having a hard time getting them to take their's off.   

I've posted a very long (picture heavy) tutorial over on my other home HERE on how you can make these aprons yourself.  You know, just in case you decided to channel Maria Von Trapp or Giselle from Enchanted and make your clothes from household linens.

Not everything I made turned out.  I was trying to make a different kind of biscuit with my girls.  Subbing healthy stuff like wheat flour for white and soy milk for real milk.  Well, at least they looked great.

But honestly, they were the worst biscuits that I've eaten in my entire life.  In fact I couldn't even swallow the first bite.  Blah!  I imagine they tasted about as good as the Hard Sea Biscuits you read in the ocean adventure books.

Thus, as a typical week goes there are sometimes failures, messes, and over scheduling life.

But what makes it all worthwhile is this...

After an extremely hard and busy day I came upstairs and came upon Hope teaching her sock monkey how to pray.  It was a wonderful reminder to this old grouchy lady that no matter how busy life gets we should never forget all our blessing and we should always show Gratitude to the Big Guy upstairs through action and most importantly through prayer.

How Did I Get So Busy?

That’s the name of the book my Young and Gorgeous counselor recommended that I read.

So I got it and…

I’m too busy to read it.

Sound familiar.

This time of year I always load my plate to overflowing. I expect it of myself.

So I’m moving and grooving and trying to get basics done, and a Lady retreat, birthday and blog party all done in the next to days.

Plus last week I started the task of moving gravel from the old play area to a side hill I’m trying to level. Hopefully this area once it’s free of the pebbles and had good fill dirt added will become part of our future hu-mongo garden next spring. Thing is, I only work about 1 hour a day and only get probably a 4x4 foot section cleared. That’s it. So I figure I’ve got another month of 4x4 days still ahead of me.

Oh Thrill! At least I'll be getting a good upper-body work-out.

I’ve decided that I’m only going to have the girls of OZ done by Saturday. The men folk will have to wait. Plus the pint-sized princesses are super thrilled about the whole thing and the teenagers are ho-hum. But I thought I’d give you a sneak peak on some of my finds. These are strictly before pictures, but I’m ubber excited because I totally think I can come up with all the costumes and still be under my $100 goal.

The future Dorothy started out as a full-sized duvet comforter cover $4.99 and the Ruby Slippers $1.99 both from Value Village. (Total $6.98)

Glenda was 3.99 in fabric dye (craft store). I don’t count the muslin because I already had it lying around the house. So anything I already have on hand I’m not adding to the total. Glenda’s hat will cost the most because of the sparkle paint $3.98 (craft store) and two bendable cutting boards $1 (Dollar-tree). (Total so far $8.96) I don’t know whether or not I’m going to get netting for the top layer or not?

My Munchkin started out life as a sheet $2.99 and a large woman’s hot pink (even though it looks red in the photo) shirt $2.49 (both thrift store). And slippers $1 (Dollar-tree). Around the house I had everything I needed for her apron, bonnet and puffy shirt. (Total $6.48)

The Wicked Witch – sorry no pictures. Shirt & Skirt and a black sheet all from the thrift store $7.99. O.K. here is my one splurge. Hauntingly cute black pumps $4.98 (70% off) from Fred Meyer. I figure since the Wicked Witch of the East had those darling ruby slippers her sister from the West might have had good taste in shoes too, right? (Total $12.97)

So for half our herd the cost so far for costumes is $35.39.

You'll have to tune back in Saturday for our Halloween blog party to see the after pictures.

And when it's all over maybe I'll get a chance to read that book.

Photo Meme Tag

What is a 'meme', anyway? I was tagged and since I have a camera and it was a little bit different I though I would go ahead and try to comply. So here it goes.

#1. Kitchen Sink

I don't feel too bad. Believe it or not less than two hours before I took this picture it was fly lady sparkly.

#2. Inside the Fridge - Kind of makes you lose your appetite.

#3. Favorite Shoes

Got these last summer after I lost a boatload of weight. My sister's Trenadoll, Sassy and Lyric came to visit and talked me into my first pair of heels in 18 years. I love em.

#4. The Closet

You'll have to use your imagination. I couldn't get into my closet it was so full of stuff.

#5. Laundry Pile

I'm about to make all of you readers feel a little bit better. I haven't been home much this week so here is the mountain of laundry I still need to do.

And here is a totally different mountain of laundry that needs to be folded, hung and put away. I feel it's going to be a long evening.

#6. What the kids are doing right now....

Hope is trying to scare the neighbors again with both of her favorite pastimes. Stripping and trying to make a jail break from her home prison.

Princess is climbing on Dad's Pride and Joy. A potential buyer actually came to look at the boat today much to Prince Erik's dismay. I think Princess wants to get as much boat time as possible while we still have it.

Lea's trying out the new Wii Fit Game we got. I have to admit it's quite the workout. Well it at least looks like it is with the rest of the family. I haven't actually tried it... Yet.

Evo-man's having the Robo - Whatevers go at each other in a literal smack-down.

T-rev saw me with the camera and did a good job at not holding still and avoiding me. After 10 minutes I gave up. But he's warned... I'll be back when he's not paying attention. And Abner's at work so at least one of my kids is doing something profitable.

#7. Favorite Room - It's the only one I let visitor's in. The rest of the house is a barn. It's also the only room with something other than a hard kitchen chair to sit on.

#8. Toilet ??? Don't know why you would want to see a picture of this, but it was on the list. Good thing my flash is on the fritz, and the picture is a bit hazy. Believe me you wouldn't want to see a high-definition photo with three teenage boys in the house.

#9. Fantasy Vacation - Sorry I don't have a picture of my fantasy vacation, cause I haven't been there yet. My fantasy vacation would be Disneyland with the whole Family! (Yes, I know I'm nuts!), Samoa and Merida, Mexico with just my Prince.

#10. Self Portrait.

O.K. I know this is isn't the real me. See, I'm actually a very hot, gorgeous, and fit mama. This is a picture of my mental me. When the modeling agency returns my proofs I'll let you take a gander at what the real me looks like.

Return of the Dinosaur.

I'm attempting to post this from an old ancient computer in the back room of our home. I ended up loaning my husband my laptop since his was swiped earlier this week. Currently my little brain is with him in the San Juan's relaxing on 'THE BOAT', which leaves me the Dinosaur.

The sun came out today so I retreated to the shadow's of our home. Squinting gives me headaches and until it decides to shine for more than a couple of days it's hard to adjust to so much light.

So while inside I attacked the mountain of laundry that built up during the sewing episode of last weekend and I did some reading.

I couldn't wait to get my copy of 'The Host', by Stephenie Meyers at next weeks signing so I was graciously loaned a copy from a friend. I figure the best time to read is while Prince Erik is away. I'll then furiously clean the house Friday night before he comes home Saturday.

So just a reminder of my Free 'The Host' Giveaway. Contest ends tomorrow. Everyone who enters the contest will have a chance to win. Just add a comment to the above highlighted link.
I'll probably choose the winner tomorrow night after the munchkins are in bed which might not be until around 9:00 (If I'm crazy lucky). But I will post the winner before midnight just so I can keep my streak of A-Blog-A-Day-In-May going.

Wow! I think the fossil is actually going to let me complete this post. Yippee!