Sewing Skillz & Self Reliance

I would not say that my sewing is a very strong skill, but one that I aquired none the less. I'm grateful that I can follow a simple pattern or mend clothing, but it is definately not something that I love to do. This last week I've been sewing a few skirts for some young women in our ward for the upcoming "Temple Celebration" being held May 30 for all stakes in the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple District. They were easy and relatively pain free, and the bug to sew something more challenging is starting to take hold. I saw the cutest pattern at JoAnne's for a sort of wrap dress. I'm thinking I want to sew one for myself, but I'm scared to death! The other thing is material is just NOT cheap. It's less expensive to buy a dress on sale! So, knowing this why would I want to go through all the effort to make one (sweat and tears involved)? I think it has something to do with just knowing how. To be able to do something for myself and not depend on a store or someone else to make it. I remember when we were living in Portland about 3 years ago, I was curious about how to make soy milk. So, I did. Holy Cow, what a process (a very interesting process)! It worked and I'm glad I know how, but there is no way I would do that again, unless forced! I think that's what sewing is for me as well. I get in weird modes of wanting to learn something and then when I conquer it, I'm done. Is that weird or what? Do any of you do this? Maybe I would like sewing more if I knew the tricks of the trade. I mean JoAnne's used to be where I would go for material but I was looking for just some simple red polka dot, kind of cotton/poly material and couldn't find anything even remotely close to that! They have aisles and aisles of fleece and cotton (receiving blanket) junk, but not a big selection on other stuff. It was sort of depressing. Oh and if you wanted something nicer, it was $10 to $15 a yard! I would need like 4 yards...no flippin way!

Which brings me to my next rant...scrapbooking. I'm sorry Liesl, but I have to! I seriously got into scrapbooking for about 5 years! But now that things have moved to the digital world, and most of my pictures are stored neatly away where I can pull them up on my computer any time and have a slideshow with the kids, why the heck would I waste and hour on one page with about 3-5 pictures on it?! I can understand having a few important/fun pictures like a trip to Disney Land or a Baptism or Wedding, where you have a book for just those fun things, but not just every day life! I mean seriously?! I've heard about this digital scrapbooking thing, is it worth it? I mean, how does that work exactly? Any ideas? A friends told me about Photoshop...if I understand this right, can I use this just to enhance my own pictures as well and not just for digital scrapbooking? I have way too many questions, but maybe if I just put out all my questions, one of you smart, amazingly crafty ladies will answer one of them for me :)

If I choose to make this uber cute dress, I will let you all know and document the process...that is if you really give a darn...lol!

After School Happenings...

The second the kids get home from school, it is chaos! The kids immediately drop bags and beg for snacks and I swear I'm a broken record in saying "put your stuff away first!" It drives me insane! They then are on to homework...I'm always having to peel Hailey away from a book to get her chores done, but hey it could be worse?! I guess I'm a mean Mom, cause they literally have to get it all done before play. We've tried letting them have a little time right when they get home from school to play, but I find that they whine wayyyy more when it's time to stop playing and get things done. So, from 4:00 p.m. until about 5:30, it's patience time for me..yay! Yesterday, Rachel and Joe visited the dentist. They usually get little tokens and are able to buy little toys. Well, Joe wanted a mustache...lol! The pictures of him with it are sooo cute! I also threw in a picture of Joe's hut. This is what he does when the girls are in school in the afternoon. He loves to build stuff...and wants to be a "builder" when he grows up. Here are a few pics!

Abby in all her sass...doing her homework.

Hailey's favorite thing to do....READ!
Rachel...lol...begs me to take pictures of her all the time, here is one of them :)

Ray and Joe

Mustache Joe

THE HUT!

EXCITING NEWS!!!!

No, I'm not pregnant...LOL! My smashing hubby has an AMAZING new job!!!! One week ago today, he had an interviw with a company called Flat Iron Construction. This was not a job he applied for. They found him, and in talking with him, wanted him to come in for an interview right away. Dan had been interviewing with a company in Tuscon AZ. He would be building a schedule for a telescope there. It was going to be a contract job, meaning only two or three months of work and would require some travel. We were grateful for this opportunity and to have something coming in. He was looking to begin work this week or the beginning of next in Arizona. So, this was sort of interesting timing. This past week has been a crazy array of events that have convinced me once again that the Lord has a hand in our lives and is very mindful of us. I have to go back to last Thursday night (his first interview with Flat Iron being the next day). A couple from our ward invited us to go to the temple with them. We were anxious to go and had many things on our mind. As we entered the temple, I was very excited to do this session. Normally, I feel a little frazzled getting there and it is hard for me to relax and enjoy the session. Genise and Gregg, the other couple with us, attend each week and like us are out of work. There is a special prayer offered in the temple for those whose names are entered in the temple, people who are in special need. This particular prayer said some amazing things and was a little different than most prayers I hear. There was a promise and we truly were able to see that promise come to pass. I was so humbled by this! We had a very enjoyable evening with Genice and Gregg and enjoyed every minute of our time with them.

The next day Dan met Flat Iron. The interview went well and what they offered by way of benefits was very exciting. Dan explained that he had another company that he was interviewing with and it was likely that they would need him there by the end of this week. They told him they would get back to him soon. Over the weekend, we prayed hard that the right thing would present itself. Dan has an extreme fear of traveling and being away from his family. His father had to travel a great deal and that is something Dan just didn't want to do. We prayed hard over this! Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Dan received a call again from Flat Iron wanting him to come as soon as he would be able meet some other important desicion making people. He quickly dressed to go. He was there for the majority of the morning and I was home trying with all my might not to go down on redvines, M&M's and sugar cereal...ugh! I was doing my makeup and he came home. Usually he will come find me first thing, so I figured nothing extremely exciting happened because he sauntered into the bathroom and then broke out into a huge grin and exclaimed "I GOT THE JOB!" We were screaming and dancing around our the room, so excited! They told him a formal offer would be sent to him this week. We just received it this afternoon!!!! We immediately thanked the Lord for this awesome, amazing miracle! Dan will be building a schedule for a highway by Cabela's. He will literally be on site in a trailer. He is very excited at all this job will teach him, things he's been wanting to learn and just hasn't had the time. We are closing our business Intermountain Project Controls. We are sad to see this come to a close, but know and feel that it is the best thing. There is much to sort out with that, but know that things will work out.

Another exciting thing event taking place in the next few months is the fact that my parents will be buying into our home and living in our basement. I know, many people have the same reaction "how"? Well, Dan and I are so happy with our home, neighborhood and area, but never use our basement! We've thought quite a bit over the last 6 months that we wished we had bought something smaller. Yes, we have the kids doubled in two rooms upstairs. I love having them upstairs. We tried moving a couple of them downstairs but they just don't take care of their space! I didn't grow up in a large home and we had to make things work with what we had. I'm so grateful to my parents for this! Our home upstairs alone is enough for us. Yes, I feel it will probably get cramped, but we will make things work and the blessing of having my parents here will far surpass any negative aspect of this! They have wanted to downsize and greatly reduce their monthly expenses for a little while now and this will enable them to do this and for us to save and reduce the debt incured from shutting down the business. We are putting in an entrance and kitchen downstairs, to enable them to have their own space and for us to have ours. I greatly feel at this time of economic downturn, that it is important we band together as family and support one another. I feel so strongly that becoming as self-reliant as possible is vital! Living off of food storage this last month and reducing our expenses has opened my eyes! I know it will be a blessing as my parents age to have them here, to help them, spend time with them and develop a stronger bond will be a great blessing to us! Anyway, this is such a long post, thanks for hanging in there with us. I love you all, my good friends, for listening to me, supporting me, for your words of encouragement and love! You guys rock!

I am on My Knees

The Lord more times than not will bless us through others. If we listen we may be the saving grace for those in need. To a certain person, and you know who you are, my heart is full and I am humbled and on my knees with gratitude to you. May the Lord bless you, whoever you are for what you've given our family. The words thank you will never be enough :)

Mommies & Daddy's Don't Have It Ez

I must say that this last month has probably been the most humbling month ever! Dan is currently looking for work. His business is NOT thriving and so we are looking. I hate this economy right now and how it has affected everyone! We had a HUGE tax return and I am confident that was a marvelous blessing! We are very blessed and many are hurting worse than we are. So, I pulled out the 3 month supply of food storage...and started cutting expenses. What a good feeling that is! I feel the weight of not being able to help my husband by working. So, keeping expenses low is what I do best. But regardless of what is happening and how we are trying to keep a positive attitude, it has not been easy. Today was hard for me! In my frustration and stress I was extremely grouchy with my children and husband today. My poor Hailey asked me why I have to be so grouchy all the time. This hit my like a ton of bricks. I can't believe the weight we carry as parents. As I left sacrament meeting early to take a long drive I discovered something...I was trying to do this all on my own. That is a problem because I can't do it alone. I need my Heavenly Father. I realized my pride and selfishness. It is important that as parents we are kind and loving and positive. I think that as Mom's, we carry this burden (not that being happy is a burden, but trying to be when there is so much going on is tough sometimes) more than anyone else. When my Mom wasn't happy, I felt my world was just crumbling. I remember her taking long drives, especially on Sundays and not returning for the better part of the day. She would return with this shield of strength and the smile would return. I know that in those times she was pleading with the Lord for that and he blessed her. I discovered that today. Does it change our situation? No...but it does change my attitude and I feel a renewed strength that is not entirely my own. I am publicly grateful for my man. It is not easy looking for work. We've been in this position a couple of times before. Dan is like the other half of my soul (hokey...beware). When he is upset or troubled, I am. He still manages to take care of us and taking care of us monetarily is not the only way and definately not the most important way! He takes care of us in the MOST important way, by loving us, treating us with kindness, staying close to the Lord and I love him for it! So, for any of you struggling with life in general right now...remember...you don't have to do it alone :)

DON'T EAT PETE!

This super easy and fun FHE game was started in our family with my Sister-in-law years ago. We haven't really played it on our own, but since Grandpa Johnson is living with us he brought this fun game to life last Monday night after Family Night. It's very easy...You can choose how many M&M's (we had 15 or so per child). We dump the 15 M&M's on the table and someone leaves the room. We all pick which M&M is Pete. The person that left comes back and begins counting the M&M's and pulling them to them or putting them in their mouth. When they touch "Pete", then we all yell "DON'T EAT PETE" The kids laugh their heads off! It was so much fun! Here are some pics of each kiddie taking their turn :)

Our New Pets...

GUINEA PIGS! YIKES! I'm so excited, actually. I grew up with my own sweet guinea pig. His name was Porky. He was fat and super fluffy, sort of like this brown one below. They (we had three total) loved my dad...and would squeal when he would come home. My brothers and I used to take them outside in the summer and feed them grass and make huts for them. We had a lot of fun! Well, this last Saturday, Dan, the kids, my brother Shawn and cousin Erica went to see the movie Bedtime Stories and there was a guinea pig in it. Also Dan and I have been "discussing" the possibility of getting a dog. Our kids are big animal lovers, especially Abby. Dan suggested, after the movie, we all go walk around PetSmart. The kids were so excited! Well, Dan got a bee in his bonnet and started looking at the guinea pigs. They are a wonderful first pet. They require a fair amount of care and love each day and as the kids get used to them and the guinea pigs get used to the kids, the will make a fun, and relatively easy pet. They live 5-8 years but can live less if they catch colds. I remember ours died of colds and I honestly can't remember how long we had them. I loved my one and only pet Porky :) Well, next thing we knew we were walking out PetSmart with two guinea pigs. The kids were ecstatic! Here are some pics of the kids and our new guinea pigs.

The kids picked the names: Peek-a-Boo (the brown one, with the one white spot on her nose) and Missy (the multicolored one). They are both female, so I'm happy to report there will be no reproducing :) Also, the male variety tends to fight, like the three we had growing up.

Missy & Boo in their new cage (above)

Erica and Hailey (below)

Shawn and Missy