Cute Quick Clipboards

Today I got fed up with all the school calendars, homework, pictures, etc. that clutter my fridge! I need to be able to see them {because my mother brain just cannot remember everything} but I HATE looking at them up there on that fridge. SO, I decided to do something about it! I found 2 old clipboards, dolled them up, and hung them in the laundry room above the kids' backpacks. Now I can still see all the school stuff when I NEED to, but don't have to look at it if I don't WANT to.

This took me all of about 5 minutes to do. Serious. Just found some cute paper, taped it on, and voila! You could Mod Podge the paper if you want a glossy look, but I just used double sided tape. That way I can change them up if I ever get the urge.

Mangiamo!

Last night's Family Home Evening was all about manners. First, we had dinner at our own "fancy" restaurant where the kids got to fill out a menu & create their own pizzas. During dinner we talked about using our manners at the table.

*thanks to gourmet mom on the go for the inspiration!




Following dinner we had our FHE lesson, which I found HERE. We've done this one before, but the kids love it & can always use a refresher on the whole manners concept!!

Finding Joy In The Journey

Probably my favorite talk from Conference this year was given by Pres. Monson in the Sunday morning session. Here are some of my favorite words of wisdom from that talk:

I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.

Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed

Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey.

read the talk in its entirety HERE

The Weather Outside Is FRIGHTFUL!

Yesterday Morning......

Yesterday Afternoon.....

This Morning!!!

Check Me Out

My crayon-making post is featured on iVillage this weekend! Check it out {scroll down to The Buzz In The Blogs section on the right sidebar}.

The Parable Of The Peanut Butter Sandwich

or why you should vote yes to Prop. 8

By cousin K.C.

Behold, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was prepared to be made into a delicious morsel of satisfying grub for lunch...or maybe dinner...or maybe even breakfast. One piece of bread was laid upon the counter and in a few swift motions was smothered by delectable smooth peanut butter whilst the other slice of bread was smothered by mouth-watering raspberry jam. When the bread with the peanut butter and the bread with the jam were placed together as one it was approved of God and called a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Now behold there were some who were absolutely in love with peanut butter and had no interest in jam so both slices of bread were covered with Skippy. And then there were some who couldn't resist the mouth watering taste of the jam therefore both pieces of bread were soaked with Smuckers. WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR. And those reading this blog post said unto K.C., why speakest thou unto us in parables? And K.C. quoting Jesus said, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." And it came to pass that for some odd reason those who made peanut butter and peanut butter sandwiches along with those who made jelly and jelly sandwiches wished with all their heart that they could call their sandwiches "peanut butter and jelly sandwiches" and fought and fought and fought (I could go on forever) for the right to call their sandwiches "peanut butter and jelly sandwiches". I say unto you all ye ends of the earth, WO WO WO unto ye residents of CA...and all ye ends of the earth... who wish to call those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!!! For they are not so! If ye make a "like" spreaded sandwich ye are not permitted to call it a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. To you it may be delicious and you can enjoy the benefits of the sandwich thereof but IT IS NOT A PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH! "They seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they UNDERSTAND....For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I (the Savior...not K.C.) should heal them."

So that's that! The parable makes perfect sense to me and I hope it makes sense to you too. I know that marriage between a man and a woman was and always has been ordained of God from the days of Adam until now. Everyone who is registered to vote in CA...PLEASE vote yes on Prop 8 if you wish to preserve the sacred institution of marriage. Next time you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich...ENJOY IT! And remember that it actually makes sense to name it as such.

Crayon Making 101

If you're anything like us, you have a huge tub of crayons at your house. The majority of them in our tub are broken. I was finally motivated to sort through the crayons and we decided to reuse the broken ones to make fun new crayons- perfect for little hands and little ones {like Jackson}.

Here's what you do:

First, spray a muffin pan lightly with non-stick spray. Then peel the paper off your broken crayons and arrange in the cups. We did some all one color and some mixed colors.



Bake them at 275 degrees for about 10 minutes. Watch them carefully. Some crayon brands take longer to melt, we discovered.

Once they are completely melted, remove and let cool. You can swirl the colors with a toothpick while still melted if you like. We also put our pan in the fridge after it was cool enough to touch which sped up the process.

Once cooled they should pop right out and you're ready for some coloring fun!

Conference Weekend

What a peaceful and relaxing weekend! I always look forward to October Conference- snuggling on the couch with warm blankets & listening to inspired messages from a living Prophet and Apostles. What could be better? Well, nothing really. In addition to hearing wonderful words that motivated me, gave me peace, and lifted me up, we managed to do the following:

Building a goal post and flag at The Home Depot with Daddy

{we forgot to sign up but luckily they had some leftover projects for the kids to do}

Girls {and little boys} Night In while the boys were at Priesthood Session

lots of dancing......

and gyoza making {and eating, of course!}

We also enjoyed a wonderful Conference Brunch at the May's. We LOVE Grandma's brunch!!

I also enjoyed the following kid quotes this weekend:

Kensie- "Mom, why is Dad organizing?" {between Conference on Sat. Matt decided to organize the pantry and the basement. Once he gets going, do not get in his way!}

Me- "He's just in the mood to organize, I guess."

Kensie- "Usually he's just in the mood to sit and watch football."

Lincoln was asking me when it would be Christmas time. He associates Christmas with snow, so I told him "Not too long. See, there is already snow on the top of the mountains." His reply- "Oh, I thought that was just sugar."

Dancin' Fools

A few videos to make you smile. Pilobolus has always been one of my favorite dance companies, and Matt Harding.......well, I wish I were him!
Thanks, Ann, for the links :)

Pilobolus at the 79th Oscars



For some Pilobolus amazingness on Conan O'Brien GO HERE.



Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Yearbook {yes, I was in it}

*inside joke for my immediates :)


Thanks to Josie, I just HAD to yearbook myself!!

no, this is not my mother

who spent that much time on their hair, anyway?!

classic!

ah, the 80's

jean vest, 90210 haircut

i'm pretty sure my hair didn't look like this in 2000