Blogging Hiatus

I know/hope many of you are wondering what happened to our blog.  Life is crazy, don't you know that?

Well I thought it was crazy and then the addition of a new ward happened to our Stake.  As part of that, our ward boundaries changed and we had to change RS Presidencies.  I really enjoyed working with the RS Presidency as the secretary.  Each of the sisters really pushed me to grow and rely more on Heavenly Father's guidance in my life as well as calling.  But I was excited to find out who the new RS Presidency would be because I would get to work with them.  I was very surprised when Bishop called and said he was coming over on Friday night (April 8th).  Adam immediately assumed it would a new calling for me.  But I told him it was possible it was him.  Fortunately, we only had to wait an hour.  Another fortunate thing - whenever we get the call to go meet with a member of the Bishopric at Church, I feel like I'm being sent to the Principle's office so I run through my life - have I done something wrong?  Oh, I hope it's a new calling because I can't think of anything.  So when the Bishopric calls and comes to our home, I'm comfortable with the thought it's a calling, not a call to repentance.

So Bishop came over and thanked me for my service in the Relief Society.  (Oh please don't be putting me in Nursery or Sunbeams - I need sisters until my girls are older).  I was surprised when he then asked me to serve as the 1st Counselor in the Relief Society.  (Oh, I hope that's education, not the additional meetings/activities).  I accepted the calling and was sustained on April 10th along with our new RS President, new 2nd Counselor and 2 new secretaries (we have two in our ward).  Since then, our Presidency has felt it our number one priority to meet the sisters in our ward.  So every free afternoon and evening, we've been out meeting the sisters.  We have almost completed our blitz of active sisters and will start visiting those who aren't able to make it often.  Thus if every free afternoon and evening are spent with me running around, I am tired when I am home and not as interested in blogging.  Hopefully, as this blitz ends, and I regain our home (again), I'll get back to more regular blog posts.

Our Bird Feeder

Back in March, I bought myself a bird feeder that would suction cup to a window because I wanted it close enough to enjoy the birds.  When I got home, I realized our kitchen windows where I planned to put it were covered in plastic (how could I forget) so they wouldn't work.  The only place that would work is our bedroom window.  I filled the bird feeder and waited.

I have seen birds a few times at the feeder but it's rare and my feeder still is 1/2 full.  Maybe you can help me figure out why the birds aren't coming?

Thanks to Kaylyn for capturing these photos with her camera (thanks Granny - she really loves her Christmas present).

Spring Break 2011 - Day 1

Spring Break has officially begun.  We headed out early this Monday morning and drove to the farm where Granny (my Mom) has recently acquired 2 horses for the pleasure of the grandchildren.  You may remember Kaylyn attending a birthday party almost 2 years ago and getting to ride and loving it so she was super excited to take a turn on Black Flash.

 Morgan was excited until the reality of sitting on the horse made her nervous.  She got on.

And immediately was asking to get down.

 Kaylyn couldn't stop the smile.

 She was trying to keep it in but her joy came out very quickly.  Aunt Robbie led her around the corral several times.

 Then Ian got a turn so Kaylyn hung onto the corral to watch.

 And wanted another turn.  This time on her own (in the corral).

 Morgan took off with Regan to play on the porch.

 After their turns on the horse, Ian and Kaylyn headed back to the house where Ian wanted to dress up as a soldier (using a riding helmet instead of a soldier's helmet).

 I even got on the gentle horse for a few minutes around the corral.  I haven't been on a horse since high school and didn't ride much then.

 I did ride a lot as a kid though, even showing horses from younger than Morgan's age to close to Kaylyn's age (lead-line class).

 Firefly is for more experienced riders - Robin is so far the only one in the family who has ventured on him.  After his turn with a saddle, he posed hoping for extra treats.

 Robin on Firefly.

 Matt rode Black Flash while Robin rode Firefly. They rode around the yard a few times and then headed out into the pasture.

 Here's my only picture of Ian.  I got a nice long video of him riding in the corral.  I just need to edit it to post.

Sunday Schedule

As January started, our church time switched to 11 am.  Instead of having frantic mornings, we were looking forward to relaxed mornings and arriving at church on time, without rushing out the door.  Week 1 was not successful.  Week 2 still not doing well. What's going on?  Why is that now that we have 2 more hours, we're still struggling to get out the door?  So last Sunday, Adam and I sat down and came up with a plan so that everyone could be ready, on time, without rushing or yelling (big goal, I know).  Then I misplaced the schedule so this morning I rewrote it as I remembered.  And then I had to rewrite again making one for the Sundays that Adam isn't here (like today).  BIG SUCCESS!  The girls and I were in the van and pulling out of the driveway at 10:40 am, which was our target time (so that we can be in the Chapel 10 minutes prior to Sacrament meeting as our leaders have encouraged).

So here's the schedule for when both of us are here:
                           Eden                            Adam                      Kaylyn                  Morgan
7:30 am     wake up/prayer/scriptures
8:15 am     Cats
8:30 am     shower/dress/hair/makeup
8:45 am                                             wake up girls               wake up                wake up
9:00 am                                            Make breakfast
9:15 am              <<<<<<<       Eat breakfast together ;>>>>>>>>>>
9:30 am     Clean up breakfast            Shower/Dress           Get dressed          Get dressed
9:45 am     Church bags/Start dinner
10:00 am   Help K with hair                Help M with teeth        Hair                    Brush teeth
10:15 am    Help M with hair              Help K with teeth        Brush teeth                Hair
10:25 am   Brush teeth                      Get scriptures          Get scriptures       Get scriptures
10:30 am        <<<<<<  Rise & Shine (Prayer/Pledge/Scripture)>>>>>>>
10:35 am       <<<<<<<<<<<<<  Coats on  - go to van  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
10:40 am      <<<<<<<<<<<     Leave for Church    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


And for Sundays when it's just me getting the girls ready:

7:30 am   Wake up/Prayer/Scriptures/Cats
8:15 am    Shower/Dress
9:00 am   Make Breakfast
9:15 am    Eat breakfast together
9:30 am    Clean up breakfast/Start dinner/Help K&M get dressed
9:45 am    Brush teeth
9:50 am    Help K with hair
10:00 am  help K with teeth
10:10 am  Help M with hair
10:20 am   Help M with teeth
10:25 am   Get scriptures/church bags ready
10:30 am   Rise & Shine
10:35 am   Coats on - go to van
10:40 am   Leave for Church


The big difference between the two is that there isn't much wiggle room on the days that Adam isn't here.  I padded the normal Sunday schedule with lots of wiggle room so that we never felt rushed and most likely would be able to have some "down time" throughout the morning.  You may also wonder about the Wake Up Girls at 8:45 am - sometimes they sleep in but not very often.  So this is the time that they HAVE to be awake by.  This morning, they were awake before 8 am.  So they got to watch a video while I showered and dressed (scripture video, of course).  We also turned on an instrumental hymns CD to help set the mood in our home.

June 2005 to January 2011 - It's Finally done!

In June 2005, I started a project to make a quilt for my baby girl, just 2 years old but getting ready to transition into a big girl bed.  What started out as this that month...

 became this in June 2009 (I actually had most of it pieced by the end of 2005 but it wasn't long enough and I had to add a few more rows - I got frustrated and put it aside for a few years ). This is the top of the quilt (no backing or batting or quilting done)

 By July 2009, I started quilting, with assistance from my shadow.

 But with the bulkiness of my quilting frame (it took up a good chunk of our living room), I finally had to switch to a hoop to finish up the quilting.  Then it got set aside again because I had to figure out the binding.  In Dec 2010, I went back to my friend, Janet, the expert who graciously shared the knowledge of her talent with me.  I made the binding; tried to square up my edges; sewed the binding onto the front and then blind-stitched it to the back. 
And here's the finished product - January 2011!
On top of my bed (it's that wide because I wanted it to hang down the sides of Kaylyn's twin bed as in the picture of just the top - little did I know she'd be in a top bunk with rails by the time she got it).

 The man behind the "curtain"/quilt is Adam holding it up for a picture.

 And the happy girl :)

Oh Chickadee

About a month ago, I went to wake up the girls and in the process, I made up a song to the tune "Oh Christmas Tree".

Oh Chickadee
Oh Chickadee
It's time for you to wake up!

Oh Chickadee
Oh chickadee
It's time for you to wake up!

Your beautiful smile
It makes me grin
Your shiny eyes
Give me a thrill

Oh Chickadee
Oh Chickadee
It's time for you to wake up!

Now sometimes the verse gets a little different since this is the first time I've tried to write it down and I tend to make it up each time.  But it generally involves seeing a little girl's beautiful eyes and smile.

This morning on the way home from taking Kaylyn to school, the radio is tuned to "The Christmas Station".  Oh Christmas Tree comes on - in an instrumental version.  And guess what happens?
Morgan:  "Mommy!!!  They're playing Oh Chickadee!"

She was very excited to hear their special song on the radio :)

Morgan is a Scarecrow

Morgan's Preschool had a scarecrow parade at the end of October.  I was counting Boxtops that day so I got to see her parade.

 The pink shirt is actually mine.  It was the only thing I could find that was close to being a scarecrow.

 Isn't her makeup adorable?!