Houndstooth

It is a classic.

I have always gravitated toward the houndstooth pattern. So I don't know why it did not occur to me sooner to use it in my home decor. I have a jacket in a brown houndstooth that I love, and I have seen shoes that are very cute.
When I saw these pillows on Etsy, I decided they would look nice in my boy's rooms. I initially went out and purchased some really big (too big) pillows, and eyed, some fabric to have some made. But when I crossed paths with these I decided they fit better size wise, and with a lower stress level, and went for it.

I keep thinking they just look "zippy" in the boy's rooms. I know, that is a cheesy word, but it describes the feel they give pretty accurately. A shot of life. I am liking it.

Especially for our very "overworked" bunk beds. These things have taken quit the beating from the older boys. I have decided that I will let them be for a while, before I get ambitious with paint. I am sure that would be one quickly destroyed refinishing job. Or better yet, we find an alternative bedding situation.

For now we are going with that "masculine rustic" look. That is code for:  -little boys who like to draw on, saw on, jump on, and stick things on, every piece of furniture they can get their hands on.-

And in Walker's room. Just so that when he has a big boy bed it can blend in a bit with the other brother's.

A little sweet, a little jazzy.

Oh, and there was a miscommunication with my Etsy order. I have yet to figure out how this happened, but, I apparently purchased six, of these pillows, instead of the intended three I thought I had. So if anyone is interested in buying a houndstooth pillow from me, let me know. Oopsy.

Speaking of a classic. Suuuuuch a great chair!

                                                                image Caitlin Creer Design

200,000 Miles!

Del is very proud. He had a great moment this past week. This beauty, his green Honda Accord hit the 200,000 mile mark. I say "beauty" with a smile in my voice, because my husband is very hard on two things. Cars, and clothes.

He is known to cram up to three motorized wheelchairs in his car at a time. Hence, the rip in the leather on the back seat. He is also prone to putting sticky notes all over the dash board, and not really taking note of his muddy shoes on the carpet. He is also driving constantly. To all kinds of doctor's offices, and health care facilities, and back and forth from his office to our home in the Sticks.  But luckily this is just in his car, not the family car.

As far as being hard on his clothes, let's just say there is a lot of dry cleaning going on here.

I guess it could be worse. There is a man at my health club that I see at least twice a week. And I am not kidding, he is working out in a dress shirt and slacks every time! I mean full on, sweating it out on the eliptical machine!  I always find myself stopping to stare for just a second. It is so odd.

Wake up, take shower, dress in work clothes, slick back hair, spritz on some cologn, hit the gym. Huh?

Okay back on subject.

I remember when we went to look at this car. The lady he bought it from pulled up in front of us in it, and Del said something like, "Yup, I think I'll buy it."

And buy it he did, The only way Del likes to buy anything. With cash.

 On the flip side of the muddy shoes and such, Del is very kind to the engine. He is always making sure it is up on it's mantainance. And it is still purring along! Del came in after it hit the big 200,000 with a smile on his face and said, "I think it is going to go to 300,000!"

One of the moments that sticks out to me is when an autobody shop guy lifted the Honda's hood, and told Del, "Look at that engine! That is a great engine!"

It was like someone had just complimented Del on his first born.

And nothing could please my thrifty minded husband more than this mile marker. Del is also a bit competitive, so this whole, "How far can the car go?" game is a lot of fun to him. Nothing to motivate this man like making money, and lack of needing to spend money on a new car.

 I am sure that one day, just as he had with past cars, he will have driven his car into the ground. And I will get a phone call from the side of the road to come pick him up. And we will start this all over again.

But don't tell Del I said his car might see the end of it's days.

He would be very sad.

A Study Guide

I have a friend that lives in my ward from church. We have attended meetings together for eight years now. When we first moved to the Chicago area, we lived in an apartment closer to the city, and Tanja, that is my friend's name, lived in the building right next to us. Through a great twist of fate, they ended up moving from another spot in a nearby city, into our complex, just weeks after us. Then, while our house was being built, Tanja and her husband began looking for a home. Coincidentally, they ended up in a city that is in our ward, yet again!
We have similar last names. I should say, we have last names that start with the same letter. And this has been enough to throw all of the people around us into confusion. We are them, and they are us, half of the time. Both families have learned to answer to both last names. The mix-ups just make us smile. We don't bother to correct people anymore.
It is actually a privilege on my part to be confused with Tanja on any level.

She is one of the most devout women I know. She is mindful of every principal of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and she lives them. I am sure that sometimes she wishes she could get a little more credit than being constantly mixed up with the likes of me.

When I first met Tanja, she was giving a small lesson at a Relief Society function. Relief Society is the organization run by, and founded for, women of the Church.
In her little talk, Tanja mentioned how at a young age, she set a goal for herself, that by the end of her life she would be a great Scriptiorian. She wanted to know the Bible, Book of Mormon, and other works, as well as she possibly could.

I found this to be a fascinating goal. Not just to say I have read this, or that. But to KNOW...where to look, who did what, and when it happened, and the meaning behind all of it. It stuck with me. And I am positive Tanja is well on her way.

I have a bit further to go. Okay... a lot further. But I want to get there too. As I have read The Book of Mormon this year, I have often thought, "Oh, I need to remember to look up what the symbolism, or meaning of that is." about one topic or another.
I have seen on other's blogs, that they have found guides to read as a companion to their scriptures, to help them decipher things that are difficult to grasp. But at the moment, who had what posted is slipping my mind.

So I wonder if you know of a good guide to follow along with scripture study, would you mind sharing?
It would greatly help me on my path to being a Scriptorian, in my own way.

"The mind can’t work in a vacuum. If you want to come to an understanding about something, you’ve got to [have] facts to work with, information. And sometimes as you’re pondering a problem you realize you don’t have all the data, you don’t have the facts. You need to go back and get more. Or some of the facts may not have been accurate. . . . Be sure that the data you’re working with is accurate.”


Elder Richard G. Scott 

Planting, Eating, And Enjoying Summer

Our poor little Walker has been sick this past week. The "coming out both ends" kind of sick. It is so sad to watch a little eighteen month old lean over his "throw-up bucket."

You know those little pink tupperware they bath the newborns in at the hospital, and then you can take home? They go from our children's newborn bathtubs, to their all grown up, throw-up buckets at our house.
I do have four kids, and only three pink tupperware however. So one of them must have disappeared somewhere along the way.

So I am home from church with Walker, and I thought after I had finished scrubbing the carpet from the last sickness incident, I would blog a bit. Yay for the fact that I have a carpet cleaning for the entire house scheduled for later this week!

We have had a week of nothing very pressing this past week. So the being sick thing kind of fit in. But we did have a few fun things go on.

I finally got my flowers in the pots. I needed new pots pretty badly this year. I found these ceramic pots for a really good price, and on sale! So I spray painted them with a textured black. Just give this pot a week and half, and the flowers will be big, happy, and spilling over the sides! Can't wait!

I generally keep things pretty simple with my flowers, because we are gone so much of the hot Summer, and watering becomes an issue. This year I took it one step further, and for the first time, I put mulch in my beds, instead of planting flowers. I love beds brimming over with blooms. But, I must admit the simplicity of the mulch has been nice. I also do like the clean look of it.

What do you do? Mulch, or flowers?

I love the tree line on this spot we drive past frequently. So I asked the kids if they wanted to get the camera set up and take a picture with the big trees. We got what we could. The boys look like burglars with their dark hood pulled over their heads.
Me saying "Look, it is about to take the picture!" Nobody else cared. So we packed up and went to Culvers.

We had our first S'mores night of the year.  Our kids love firepit nights. As pathetic as our firepit may be.

Some yard work, and some tired, dirty kids, wearing whatever random clothing they have changed into throughout the day, and an ooy, gooy, s'more!

More starchy carbs! This plate is an example of the eyes being bigger than the stomach. But what did fit in the stomach was good!

I think for the most part, I have cleared the pictures I had sitting around. I am loving that I have my iMac back, refreshed and ready to roll! I guess I better go get something ready for dinner for after church, and do some scripture study, so my soul does not go unfed this week. Unlike my stomach!

Just My PC, and Me

Well, the latest at our house is that my poor iMac had a horrible stroke and had to go to the iMac hospital. I have found that without it, I cannot charge up my iPod to listen to music while I work out, I cannot download all of my videos and pictures, and I can't figure out Pintrest because it says to click and drag everything, and my Dell is just not doing that. So all of that must wait. Other new events include, Wally discovering that he wants to document every minute of his life this week with the point and shoot and the Flip video. It is pretty cute. We are getitng ready for the boys to be off to Summer school for a few hours a day next week. I am now headed out the door to take all four of them to the health club with me for the first time. This should be interesting.
We had a nice weekend with lots of yard work, lots of good food, and time with Del. We had a BBQ with good friends at our house on Monday. And I was having such a good, stress free time (rare when hosting a party) that I did not pull out my camera, as I had intended.
This week, I am doing some more de-junking, waiting for my garage storage system to be installed.... searching for paint color inspiration for my powder room, wich is in need of some love, and keeping up with Walker, who has become even more of a handful, if that is possible. But we always have several stories to rehash, and smile about at night after he goes to bed.
In my inspiration search, I did come across a kitchen that I am luuuuuvvving right now. So crip and pretty. So until I get my own picture situation figured out, take a gander at this! What do you think, just right, or too white?
Nothing is ever too white for me.

                                           Found at Cote de Texas. Kitchen in a home in Chicagoland.

Appreciation

I have been so grateful for the teachers my children have had this year. All three of them have been lucky enough to come away from this year with more knowledge of academics, the world, and most of all, that there are people who care about them.

In a world of constant bad news from the education system, we have really had a positive experience overall. But this year we really were at peace with the classes our children were in. We do feel that particularly in Wally's case, we were led through answers to our prayers to the spot he spent second grade. I start praying that my kids will be placed in classes that will help them thrive, in about November. I am thinking ahead to the next school year, even then.

We had some big decisions to make when it came to Wally's education this time last year.

We prayed, and then still not feeling completely at ease, moved forward with what we thought was right for him, keeping in mind that Heavenly Father would let us know through the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, if what we were doing was in fact not right.

And boy, did I learn a lesson. We were halted in our plan, two days before the school year started. I felt sick, ill. We knew that the decision we had thought may work, was not the best thing for Wally at all.

We had an understanding principal on our side, and Wally ended up in Mrs. Pawelko's class. She welcomed him, even at the eleventh hour, with open arms. And in her classroom he has thrived. She saw him for who he is. I will admit, that when it comes to academics, she even saw him more clearly than I did. I don't know if she will ever see this post, but... Thank you so much Mrs. Pawelko!

I understand that this life will never be perfect. And some school years, that may mean teachers, classes, or circumstances beyond our control, will make school less than ideal. But I was able to breath a sigh of relief so often this past school year, in not only Wally's case, but Will and Georgia's too, that I want to celebrate that. And be grateful.

Thank you Ms. Tillman, Mrs. Holme, and Mrs. Vepely, for all you have done!

So we sent a token of our appreciation to our teachers. I mixed it up all over the place this year, and sent different things to almost all the teachers.  We did lotions, notebooks, cookies, stationary, and jams.

I want to start planning now for next year's teacher gifting occasions.

So I want to know, what have you done in the past, or this year, to show your teachers love? What are your ABC's and 123's  of gifting?

All That Jazz

When it gets close to the end of the school year, it becomes school concert season. Will and Georiga both had school programs. They danced, they sang, they wowed the crowd!!! You can check it all out on my very amateur video below. Please ignore the wobbly recording, I had Walker in my lap, and the back of the balding gentleman's head, and the lack of zoom. Our flip video is not very high tech. I should have pulled out Del's iphone.

Georgia doing her marching dance, instead of looking at the camera.

Georiga and Walker could not be bothered for a picture during snack. But we did our best.

Dad and the kiddos.

Here is Will on the stage with his class. He is in the second row back, short sleeved white shirt, with the orange apron on.

Doin' The Mama Thing

I have been busy doing what moms do. The busy stuff that is hard to define. It does not make for fascinating blog reading. But it is what makes my life full, and sometimes dull, but mostly fulfilling.

I have noticed that this Spring has brought the wildlife in our area out in full force. In the past six weeks I have hit a cat, a bird, and stopped my car for a turtle and a huge wild turkey to cross the street. I little animal craziness.


Who rocks the yard sale like we rock the yard sale?
My friend Jessica and I pulled our junk together and put on my very first ever yard sale!

 It was actually a lot of fun! And a lot of work.
 And I made a surprising chunk of change, considering how far off the beaten path my house is situated! Everything we did not sell is now headed to Jessica's so she can participate in her neighborhood garage sale. So we just might even make more money!

While Jessica and I supervised the sale, our husbands supervised the children. Eight in all. They also grilled us up and great BBQ lunch!

Later that evening Del and I attended a wedding reception for a girl in our ward. In our church the time and location you go to church are determined by boundaries lines drawn through your area. You see, and work with the same people every week. It provides unity and a sense of family, and gives structure to the worship, and learning of the Gospel.
It was SO much fun! The reception included dinner and dancing. A rarity among Mormon weddings where I come from. We danced the night away. With the Relief Society President, Young Womens President, the Bishop's wife, and all the other amazing women in my ward. (okay I danced the night away until 9:15, but that is pushing my bedtime.)
I had a blast digging out my old "Thriller" and "YMCA" moves with the women in my ward while our husbands supportively watched, and dutifully showed up for the slow songs. Yes, many men had fun dancing too, but not so much Del. My moves are not what they used to be, and I have no desire to do it every weekend anymore. But it was a good thing to dust off every decade or so! I have a picture around here somewhere, but not readily available at the moment. We all kind of kept looking around at each other wondering, "Are we still fun, or what?"
When is the last time you pulled out your dancing shoes?

THIS little monster turned eighteen months on Sunday. That is a big stinkin' deal in the land of the Latter Day Saint, as eighteen months marks a baby's entrance into the church Nursery class. This means that Mom and Dad no longer have to spend the last two hours of church chasing an adventurous toddler through the hallway. Mom and Dad go to class, and baby goes to Nursery to play with toys, have a snack, and enjoy an age appropriate lesson centered on Jesus Christ, and other Gospel topics.

Speaking of adventurous toddlers. I can't turn my back for one second without this boy plugging something dangerous in to an outlet. I need to get serious about my baby proofing.

Proof of that?
When I found a hot iron, face down on my kitchen floor. Yup, Walker went into my bathroom, pulled it off the shelf. YIKES!! carried it downstairs, and plugged it in, without, (wonder of wonders,) having it hit him on the head, or getting burned! And that is just the beginning of his mischief!

But his cuteness and spunk make up for the naughtys. Love, love him and his individuality! He did pretty well joining in the play in Nursery. I only had to sit in there with him for about 20 minutes. Can't complain for the first time attending.
What are the mile-stone ages that you look forward to?

Give Me A Sign

A sign of Spring, please!

I have been given a couple over the past week. The first was when we found a little nest with four beautiful blue robbin's eggs in a tree in our backyard. This spot is a favorite with the birds, and we can count on them almost every year. The tree is right next to the gate of our backyard fence. So we come and go, past the nest constantly. Every year, the mother bird has a panic attack after every passing. Flying and flapping, and chirping her heart out. But then after a week or so, she gets a little more used to us, and last year the mother bird didn't even fly around when we lifted the kids up for peeks at the nest. She just stood on the fence next to the tree, and waited.  Del told me last night as I drove home late from a church youth activity, that the eggs had hatched! Pretty exciting around here!

Another sign is that a small plant like specimen is sent home to mom with love, from each of my children's school and recreational classes. I have gathered quit the "glass dish garden" in my window sill. It is a lovely sight.

I am loving the smell of Spring. It comes and goes daily here. Not quit able to put down roots just yet, as Winter keeps sticking it's foot back in the door. But the warm days are getting warmer, and the birds are singing. And all I know is that I have waited seven long months for this. So I am not complaining!

I am also in love with my new kitchen faucet! Thanks to my dad, she is up and running. After giving him some fits that is. And forcing him to rebuild the sprayer with parts from a cheaper hardware store version. Eye, yai, yai!  Thanks dad! The new faucet is right at home here!

And, Del is having a fancy new storage system built in our garage for me! Yay! Organization here we come!
Spring is good.
Has it found you yet? Give it my address if it has!

I love Costco flowers!

I will keep you updated on the new born baby birds as soon as I figure out a way to deal with the nervous mama during pictures.

Girly

Girl, Girly, Lady, Sissy, Sis, Miss, and sometimes, Sassy. That is what we call her, and that is what she is. Georgia is four years old today. And we use the nickname "Girl" with all the love, and joy, and sometimes, disbelief, that through all the boyish events and things that take over our home and lives, we have a baby girl in the middle of it.
And we got one strong little lady. Georgie does not mind the "boy" aspects of life. She is right in there digging for worms, climbling trees, bossing, even using a cuss word at times, and then some more bossing. She will stand up for herself, but shrink with shyness at a new experience or person. She is armed with a plastic gun in the backyard battle, but wants to watch the Royal Wedding over, and over. She is best friend to the boys, but Daddy's little girl.
She does not seek the lime light. On Sunday the Primary at church had her come to the front, and sang Happy Birthday to her. Georgia stood with her hands over her ears the entire time.
Having Georgia in my life has taught me so much about myself. And the mom I want to be. I realize that with her in my home, I need to show her what to try to become. But better. Because in  so many ways, Georgia is so much better than me. It is also a great happiness for me to see Del with our little girl. I don't think he could love anything more than his spunky, but loving red-head. I could go on and on. Because that is what it would take to cover all the aspects of who Georgia is. And she is only four. She has many sides, and levels to her personality. We are blessed to be able to watch them develop, because she is our daughter.

 And we love her so!!! Happy Birthday, Girl!