Autumn turns five

So I can not get my dumb computer to work the way I want it to this morning and I am giving up on trying to get the scanned picture to work for this post.( I will edit later on with her baby picture) Autumn turned five years old last Friday. We went to the coast to celebrate her birthday. She is such a character. She could not get to sleep the night before she kept saying she was "so ecited" (that is how she says excited). Finally at 12:30 I told her if she did not go to sleep she was not going to five and the birthday monster was going to come and take away her birthday. (was that mean or what, but I was exhausted). She soon was sleeping and woke up at around 6:00 . When she came downstairs to let us all know she was five now she said "I don't really feel 5, I feel more like 10. I have been feeling like five for so long now that I just feel at least 8!" What a funny, funny girl. We did not have cake for her birthday she only wanted sloppy joes, barbque chips and orange soda and lots and lots of ice cream! So of course, I honored her request. The weather at the coast was beautiful and we had a great time down on the beach. Then because she thinks she is so special and that my mom coming on Monday was just for her we went to the airport to pick up my mom and papa John. She hasn't really connected that Thanksgiving and her birthday will always be celebrated around the same time. Needless to say on Monday night we had her "birthday" party with everyone coming out to celebrate with pizza and of course more ice cream! We just love this little girl and we are so glad she has come to be with our family. She adds the extra little something to all of our lives and forever keeps us laughing with her sweet little stories and thoughts. Happy Birthday autumn - we love you!

Pondering a thought

So I have been thinking a lot lately about a talk that I heard two weeks ago. I don't know who gave it or what the forum was but there has been a phrase that has stuck in my head and I keep thinking about it when I have my quiet moments. I don't know why it has resonated with me this last couple of weeks. I have a feeling it is something that I needed to hear for what I had been praying about for quite a while. Because I have children who don't accept and act on the teachings they have been brought up with I think that this had a special meaning to me. The thought went something like this. "We need to use our agency to turn ourselves over to the Lord." As I have thought of this other thoughts have come to me. Mostly that the world around us makes it hard for us to commit our agency to God. We can become so distracted with other things, even good things, that we can get out of the spiritual habits that we have committed to. I sometimes think we fill our lives with our own treats and and then we put ourselves in a position so that we cannot or won't accept the "bread of life". It takes a lot of faith to choose the good. As we delay our commitment to the Lord it makes us vulnerable to those things in the world that can distract us. I need to develop the skill to give up some experiences to choose the ones that will lead me to God. That does not mean to give up my hobbies or activities but maybe knowing that even though those experiences bring me joy and happiness there is another kind of joy that can bring me even greater happiness. What I have been trying to be better at is putting the things the Lord wants me to do first. As I have done this I have thought "What is God trying to make of me?"I think He could make much more of me if I let Him. As I have looked back on the last couple of years and all the things that I have laid at His feet - what have I let Him lay at my feet? How have I made choices that show I am committed to developing the spiritual habits I need to? I really think that when we use our agency to turn ourselves over to the Lord we become free and whole! So in pondering these thoughts about myself I have come to realize how it all works for my children. I don't make excuses for what their choices have been but I can see how they could make them. I needed that understanding because I then realize that they are just as apt to come back to the teachings they have been taught when they come to the place in their lives where they want to turn their agency to the Lord. This has brought a lot of peace as I wander through my days being a wife, mother, sister, aunt, daughter, friend, and now a grandmother! I am so thankful I was listening that one Sunday afternoon - that the Lord knew that first, I needed to hear these things and second, that I needed to ponder it for a while to let it sink deep into my heart so that the spirit could teach me!

Scripture surprise!

So I missed gym classes last week due to different appointments that I had. I have been trying really hard to work out consistantly and have stepped it up. So today got up as usual (very early) and walked my two miles with Paulette. Came home did dishes (sometimes Monday morning has Sunday dishes left to do because we have so many with all the kids I have to do two loads in the dishwasher and don't always get the second one done). Got everyone up for family scripture study (let Autumn sleep as she had a very late night last night) - had a great study time - had prayers and we were just ready to get on with the other morning rituals when Autumn runs downstairs goes to the cupboard and grabs a bowl and throws up in it! As I run her to the bathroom I ask her why she did that and she said "I always throw up in that bowl!" Needless to say my visit to the gym had to be put on hold. I tried to bribe someone to stay home and watch her - how bad is that? But I had no takers. I thought it was because they all love school so much but no they just did not want to get sick. So instead of the gym I got to some much needed chores I have been putting off for some time. I now have a clean floor, all the little girls clothes have been cleaned out and summer stuff put away and winter stuff brought out. I only have 1 load of laundry left to do (I have done 3 loads already this morning!) The dishes are done, my room picked up and vaccummed and several phones calls made for my calling. It is now 9:30 in the morning and I am ready for a nap! That is why I have decided to sit down for a few minutes and get caught up on emails and blogging. I also need to get caught up on my online writing class I have been taking. I am three assignments behind. Good thing there is no grading or time limit. I wonder if I have burned very many calories with my busy morning? - I definately need come what may, to get to class on Wednesday! Oh well, when you are living life you can't always get everything done you want!

Super Saturday Success

Yeah! Another wonderful Super Saturday activity that went very well. I am so happy with all the wonderful creating and sharing of friendship that I saw going on today. It started off with a nice visiting teaching conference. I came away more motivated to be a better visiting teacher. Breakfast and then off to create. I think as I watched everyone it was amazing how it all came together. Everyone buzzing around the gym painting, beading, paper creating, and quilt tying! We were just a busy little beehive today. What warmed my soul the most though really was the quilt that everyone had a hand in making. It was a big request on my part a few months ago to ask everyone to complete a 9 block square. I was not sure how it would turn out. But I was impressed with how many blocks we got back and then when I asked Marion to put it together for us I was hoping it would turn out. I have to tell you it was impressive. We were able to put together a king size and a twin quilt from all the squares that came back! I was moved to tears at how neat it was to know that these quilts really were coming from every sister in the ward. It was neat to see everyone tying and working around the quilt. I had the tables set up around the outside of the gym and the quilt in the center. It was a long productive day and I am so glad that I got to be a part of the beautiful sisterhood in our ward. Now you know me...my mind is on to great ideas for next year....

A few thoughts on creating

I have had a few of emails about making things for gift giving. I have thought a lot about this for the last couple of days. What is so wonderful about making gifts for me is that I can really think about that person and try to make or create something for them. It is not always easy, men and older boys are harder for me to come up with things. So most of the time they get thoughtful "purchased" gifts;) Some people have not had such a fun holiday experience when it comes to making things as opposed to buying. Again, for me planning is important. I do sometimes put off the project but I have thought about it and gathered the materials needed. So if I do have to put it off (or just do put it off because I am living life) when I want to pick it up I can. I am constantly looking for and thinking of things to make. So when I get the ideas and write them down it helps me to know when I have enough for that season or what I want to gather over the next several months. It helps to have crafty friends who like to get together at least monthly to create and share ideas. One question that I was asked a couple of times had to do with cost. Creating and making gifts is not necessarily a cost saver. Many times it is and that is why when you keep a list of projects and see things on sale you can really save. But sometimes it really would be cheaper and easier to just buy it. I have done that and please note not everything is entirely homemade. I might make an apron, but along with that gift I give kitchen utensils or baking items. For me I enjoy making things, so it is not that stressful for me. Also, I personally treasure a gift that was made with me in mind and the thought and time put into it. I look forward every year to see what my sister Melissa makes for our family. Each gift is very tailored for our family and much time and effort has gone into it. I know she thinks all during the year what she is going to do for us. Knowing that for me makes her gifts some of my most treasured. Toshia has made cute things for us ever since she was a little girl. Chad helped Autumn last year make the cutest coupon book for me. It was adorable! Ashleigh takes awesome photos and usually makes a gift that uses her photography. Believe me, I love any and all gifts - I was always the one who would sneak and try to find out what everyone was getting- (sorry, mom) I appreciate that someone thought of me enough to get me something. Last year a friend gave me some "bee's" lip balm. I loved it. That little jester lifted me all day long! Every time I use it I think of her sweet smile and it makes me happy! So it is not necessarily that it is homemade but that thought and love go into whatever you give! If you don't enjoy crafting - don't craft. Make your holiday as stressless as you can and don't add unnecessary stress to yourself by thinking you have to make something. But if you do love to craft like me - think, search for, plan, and gather! If you don't have time this year do it for next year. Make it a process that helps to lifts you. I loved the talk this last General Women's Conference where we were encouraged to create! I truly believe that everyone of us has the ability to create. I have seen many of my friends who say "I don't know how" but then try and it is amazing what they come up with. I just love it! I may not get done all I have planned for this year - but that is OK I have a lot of months ahead to create and make :D

Super Saturday is this Saturday! I can hardly wait. I have been working on this for a few weeks now. I am glad to be done with all the collecting and creating for this. I am so grateful for my sister who created this wonderful Christmas Planner for me and I have adapted it for our Super Saturday.

We borrowed this idea for the next couple of projects from the other ward. But we did make them our own. And I am so glad Toshia has the machine so we can do the vinyl letters. She is helping to teach that class and I am so thankful to David for cutting all the wood - it was a project for him and while we were having fun at Jonathan's baby shower in town he was here working hard for the ladies.

The candy jar is the class I will be teaching. It turned out so cute. But the glass bowl part was only to be found at Walmart. I searched several other places and could only find it at Walmart. Thank you to Denise for going to several stores out of our area to find the quantity that I needed.

Denise will be teaching our jewelry class and I am so excited to have her as our teacher. She is a very talented crafter and such a great friend!

With just a few small things to finish up I can now move on to my holiday crafting. I have been collecting so many ideas and hope I get it all finished. This little elf has a lot of work to do in the next few weeks. It is going to be a wonderful simple Christmas. I love the idea of the simple part. We did this as a family several years ago (a totally homemade Christmas) and my older kids say it is one of their favorite Christmas memories. Hopefully this one will be listed as a favorite as well. I am also anticipating the arrival of my parents in two weeks. They will be staying with us over the Thanksgiving holiday. I am so excited! My mom is the ultimate crafter and she always can come up with the cleverest ideas. I turn to her for a lot help. It will be fun to have her here in person. This is turning into a very Happy Monday despite the rain falling outside. Lots to do, places to go, and people to see:)

A beautiful fall day!

I just have to share that I am experiencing a wonderful beautiful fall day. There are so many things that I am thankful for and want to do a sort of thankful countdown to Thanksgiving. I have been creating an advent type of blessing calendar but wanted to do the same sort of thing on my blog. I am so not talented to create wonderful side elements on my own so will just make a list that will be added to daily. My goal for the next year is to learn how to create page elements and buttons and so forth on my own. A lofty goal for me but maybe with a little help from my friends:) I can do it. When I first woke up this morning and was walking in the rain - I know it was very early and I did get wet this morning - I was just overwhelmed with thinking about how this voting day is going to end. Then as we did scriptures, prayers, breakfast, getting everyone out the door, violin lessons, homeschool with miss Autumn and I went to answer the door (another check for Super Saturday (Yeah!)) I saw how beautiful it was outside as the sun was shining and fall was everywhere. Then just a few minutes later rain and dark skies. Isn't that how it is - the wonderful mixed with the gloomy rain! I know the sun will come out again, it is not gone forever and the rain is so necessary for the earth to be beautiful. I also know that however today's election turns out that Heavenly Father is watching over us. We will be alright! My thoughts and heart and prayers are with my family in California as they fight a worthy fight to keep families as we know they were intended. But again I know that Heavenly Father is watching over and He will win in the end. Happy Tuesday to everyone and remember fall and winter have to come so we can appreciate and hope for the life to come in the spring and summer!

The hard life of a four year old

Autumn thinks sometimes she has it hard. She says "I have so much school, and trying to read is only fun if mom is teaching me and I can play the piano with my eyes shut. I wish I could play more." What she doesn't realize is that she is constantly playing. Her favorite thing now are the legos. She has really gotten into playing with the legos lately. She is constantly trying to create things with these crazy blocks that stick together. She really is quite clever with the creations she comes up with and there is always a function for whatever she makes.
She has said some funny things lately that I wanted to write before I forget and they become faded memories. Actually she is constantly saying things that just crack me up, so these few do not do give her credit for all the creative things she says. The other night we were having lasagna and she wanted the Parmesan cheese, but she asked for the "Papa John" cheese. (Papa John is her grandfather) We could not figure out what she was wanting until it finally hit me that Parmesan and Papa John must sound a lot alike to a 4 year old. Today she was trying to get Hayden in trouble so she was "telling" on her. Hayden was emphatically denying the accusations. But I told Autumn if she said it was so then Hayden must get in trouble. Then she looked over at Hayden and said, "OK I will tell her you did not do it, but you know you lie at least 50 times a day and I only lie 4 times a day". Hmmmmm, I will have to watch out for that. When Toshia brought baby Jonathan over tonight for all the kids to meet him she looked at him and said, "He is so big, I thought he was going to be as big as a mouse!". But for me the funniest of all this last week was when she was watching TV with her dad and a commercial came on for some kind of exercise thing that helps you get strong abs. She looked over at David and said, "You should get that, you only have two lines and you need a 52 pack like that guy on TV." David said "you mean a 6 pack" and she said "no, I mean a 52 pack look at all those lines on that guy!". We laughed so hard.
Chad has said recently that he wished life was as simple as it was when he was little. I know how he feels sometimes. That is why Autumn is such a blessing to us. She is constantly reminding us to laugh. To be happy. To create even if no one knows what the heck you are making. To say what is on her mind and not hold back. I hope to show her like I was able to for Chad that at one time life was not hard and but growing up can be just as fun as when you were four! But for now Autumn thinks she has all the hard work!