Beauty and the Beast

When I heard my daughters singing this simultaneously I turned to see what on earth was going on. They were dancing and singing the theme song from Beauty and the Beast.

Very picture-worthy, don't you think?

One of the many heart-melting gold nuggets as a mom!

"MMMM. These mashed potatoes are so creamy."

Just a quote from my favorite Christmas season movie. (I know, it's not really a Christmas movie, but it is my favorite Christmas craft movie).

This year's crafts include:

Two twin sized quilts (one for each little squeaker). If you have ever heard little girls talk, you know where the name comes from. I find it both fascinating and utterly hilarious at the same time!

Knitting (my latest new skill). I love trying new things. I have done embroidery, cross-stitching, smocking, and crochet. I am now trying on my knitting hat (figuratively speaking).

Sewing (one for each squeaker). They love jammie dresses- my little princesses.

I finished the last stitch just before midnight Christmas eve . . . it was just barely finished on time!!! I will say this: I watched Pride & Prejudice (Collin Ferth version) 4 times while working on those Pjs. (Another good Christmas non-Christmas movie !)

Silly Gilly Gumballs

(Breanne's new name for silliness).
My children have their own ideas about what Christmas stockings are for. They need no encouragement here.

Deck the Halls - CHECK

The halls have been decked at our house. I thought you might enjoy some pictures, knowing how small our workable space is. (If you don't divide 1100 sq ft by 2 and that is what we are living in).

My little helpers! Watch-out, Santa! Mine are so much cuter than yours!!!!

My Little Stinker

Heidi turned two in October. She has a very funny personality. She is constantly surprising me with new words and new ideas (usually very silly). But this takes the cake. It was neither funny or silly. Mostly concerning.

She is usually quick to fall asleep for naptime, but this day she was just falling asleep at the time she is normally just waking up. I went in to check on her soon after I no longer heard her squeals of chatter. This is what I found:

newdy-newdy.

(I had a decent picture but I guess I just can't post it in good conscience. Photos really are worth 1000 words!)

What a stinker. I had to wake her up to dress her again. What a stinker!

The Undertaker

I am the undertaker. Are you shocked? Well, I'm probably not the undertaker in the sense that I'm implying.

In order to fight off the winter blues and cabin fever that set in every year, I am undertaking a few porojects this year. One of them is Craft Day!! Here are a few snapshots from our crafting today:

First, we made our letters to Santa

Breanne seems to really enjoy the glue!

Then we made ornament tambourines.

And read a classic Christmas story and watched a scene from a classic Christmas movie.

It was classic.

Finally we sang some songs with our christmas ornament tambourines

and made santa protraits . . .

Can you see Santa??

Leftovers

I love the fun things that come from leftovers at our house! Probably my all-time favorite is sauteed noodles.

Leftover Sauteed Noodles

1 1/2 t olive oil

1 clove garlic, diced

3/4-1 C spaghettie noodles (this is the leftover part- so you kinda have to base the whole thing around your left over portions)
1/4 t chicken flavoring
salt, to taste
parmesan cheese, to taste

heat oil in small skillet over medium - medium high heat. Sautee the garlic in your oil then add the leftover noodles. I like to sautee it for a few minutes while I add the chicken flavoring and salt. Just sautee it. Not too long, though. When it is nice and aromatic, remove it from heat and sprinkle your shredded parmesan cheese over it and enjoy.

Easy as Pie. I would have added a picture, but I ate it all. Not horribly healthy, but oh so good :)

Fall 2011

We finally had some professional pictures taken. Here are some highlights:

I thought they turned out well :)

My House

Here she is: My House. Incomplete, but looking "nice":)

I can say it is looking nice because someone today complimented me on our "nice" roofline. (That or ridgeline,) And he said it was looking, "nice." I take it as a compliment, especially because he said it with such a tone as to imply that he views himself an expert on the topic. So, from the self-implied expert, it is looking, "Nice." Thank GOODNESS. Because I think the squirel I stole all the walnuts from (when I was cleaning out our yard) just took up residence in our less-than enclosed attic. Knowing it is looking nice might make up for at least a little of the hassel. Maybe.

On a less sarcastic note, Breanne did her own hair today, "Like a princess."

Oh the little things in life!

House Upd8

We had a busy summer.

Well, I guess Chad had a busy summer :) More pictures to come- it looks more comlete now. I'm just out of batteries!!!

A Page and a Chapter

I turned another page in my book.

We layed my grandma to rest 10/31/2011- 65 years from the day she was sealed to grandpa.

We laughed, cried, ate, spent ($), drove, cried, and laughed again.

We said goodbye to mortal remains. We coped with her spirit's new adventure.

We thought about seeing her again someday.

We grieved Mormon style, I suppose.

It was Oh so good. And difficult.

My grandma sang at her own funeral. She sang in her strong, beautiful, meaningful voice of her testimony of our Savior and reminded us of the day we see Him again. (O Holy Night)

My uncle sang. In his powerful, purposeful, rich voice of his testimony of our Savior.

We all cried.

It was oh so good.

But at the end of the day, as we embarked on the 3.5 hour drive home, I felt myself not wanting to let go. And reminding myself that it was her time now. Turn the page, Laura. Re-visit it later, but turn the page now and start your new chapter.

So I begin my new chapter.

OLD

Just to let you know-
I have no idea how to upload pictures anymore . . .

I am becoming-

OLD!

As soon as I complete a tutorial by my husband I will upload the current condition of the house.

Food Storage

FOOD STORAGE . . . it's kind of-

a cussword at my house. How bout yours?

Well, we have lots of reasons WHY it is a cussword lately, but especially because it was my new years resolution to really get into whole-heartedly. Yeah. That didn't happen.

HOWEVER, there is this nifty tool I found to help me determine how much I have and how far it would go (and so how much more I will need). While the graphics and set-up for the site are slightly confusing for my simple mind, it is actually a very handy tool. And it is free! Click here for this nifty free food storage analyzer (from Emergency Essentials). But wait. Here's the kicker: After seeing how much food storage you lack, who isn't just feeling a strong urge to purchase more food storage?! Well, they will send you a free $10 gift card if you write a review about it on your blog and e-mail a link to your blog to: blog@beprepared.com

Now how could you possibly pass up this offer? I have a little more sugar for this frosting, though. Do you want $20 more in giftcards? Want to know how? Click here.

And happy shopping :)

Little Happier

We have been on a blogging hiatus. We still are, but I thought I would update the world on our life.

Our house is half the size. You would appreciate the tightness of the situation if you knew that our house is only 1100 square feet to begin with. So picture half that. That's what we live in now.

And now you know why we prefer to be gone . . .

So our poor little blog gets the shaft.

But I really enjoy littler. REALLY.

• Think smaller space so easier and faster to cool.


• Think smaller space so less objects to occupy it.


• Think less objects to occupy it so less mess to clean up.


• Think less floor space so less vacuum/mop space.


• Think TV and couch in my bedroom.


• Think snug and simple.

That's where I live now. I am starting to wonder why we are adding on at all. (I might be singing a different tune come winter.)

Bitter-Sweet

Chad turned in his last assignment today. He is un-officially done with school. This means no more single-mom Thursdays, where I stay up late waiting for him to come home while I fold the laundry in front of a chick-flick. That is nice. But it also means no more chick-flick Thursdays where I stay up late watching chick-flicks while I fold the clean clothes, immediatly after which he walks through the door. Have I clearly expressed the bitter-sweetness of this situation?

The Death of a Pill bug

Well, I had to do it today. Real parenting, I mean. The pill bug we saved from certain death yesterday had it coming anyway. Poor little guy. And little tots was so sad. Here is the scoop:

It was basically the Sunday rush to get to church (who isn't after a really nice Saturday??). But I just couldn't get tots to come. She had found somthing: A bug. She likes to pick them up lately. It takes everything in me not to react (and sometimes everything isn't enough). So I tell her that the bug would be okay (she'd dropped him on his back and he was struggling to flip). And we hop in the car.

Three hours later, we exit our car and she runs straight to the poor little guy. He was still flipped and only slightly moving. This time she wouldn't let it go, so I had to help the buggy to his belly and he slowly, slowly started crawling. Right under our garage door - as it closed. Poor little guy. And tots witnessed it. The reality hit her today as I opened the door and there was his little squished exosceleton on our driveway. She kept saying, "He's dead," and she wasn't going to leave this one, either. My mommy brain took over and we got a little leaf to carry his little body to our grass, where we dropped him off, as I explained that we all die and our bodies go back to the earth to help the plants grow... (thank goodness for The Lion King).

Here's the kicker: I was fighting back the tears as I watched my three-year-old process the idea of death. I hope she doesn't have any closer experiences with it any time soon. That just about did me in.

Upd8

Sorry . . .

. . . we have been finishing the potty training business.








We started tots when she was two. When it turned into a power struggle I decided to wait a while longer. When she started informing us when she was peeing, we both realized it was time. So we took it on again. This time much more committed to success. The day came and I said, "Uh-oh. Diapers all gone!" And so it began . . . again. Since then she is very good at getting there on her own. Sometimes she wants to be babyed, but mostly she wants to do it on her own. With all the potty talk going on, babes has started in on it, too. But I am not committed to it- I want her to wait til she is ready. Til I am ready. And Til big sister can help (and get a lil payback!).

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Stolen

I like to steal glimpses of my husband when he is uber-focused.

Last night I was stealing more of a stare than a glimpse when it occured to me that he isn't mine at all. He is simply the man who (for reasons unknown to me) loves me above everything else in this world.

The man who puts my life and happiness above his own. Everyday. Whose patience, sweat, and sacrifice puts food in our bellies and clothes on our backs. I have very little to do with it, really; and so can't really call him mine at all.

But here he is. Dedicated and trustworthy. The man you find in a Jane Austen book (minus the title and money, of course). And now I wonder who, in fact, is the thief?

Happy Birthday,

from one thief to another.

Three

I creid as I wrapped my little birthday girl's presents.

I had no idea three would be such an emotional experience!

To My Sweet Three-Year-Old:

You have brought a joy I never knew existed to our family.

Thank you for YOU.

And happy birthday.

With all my heart,

Mom