Hair "HooP-DEE-doo's"!

I've always liked to be creative. From the time I was just little I remember creating, whether it was mud pies in a pie tin- garnished with cottonwood leaves, making barbie doll clothes from scratch pieces of fabric that my mom gave me or home decor items for my house as I got older....no matter what it was, I loved it. Last year for Christmas all of my girls gave me a crafting day, WHICH I LOVED and enjoyed so much. We had a blast and made a day of wonderful memories. Crafting is alot of fun, alot of work and makes me feel a great sense of accomplishment when its done....and to make it even better there is something fun to look at when the work is done...I guess that's one reason I have enjoyed making my aprons so much. Halle loves being creative as well. She has been wanting to make some hair flowers and things and join in on the "HOLLY FAIR" extravaganza of selling her handmade goods. She very artistic and likes to craft and make things, she has since she was just little. She has been making a few hair flowers and has even used her own money to purchase supplies. She has even gone so far as to order things on-line. So I knew that she was serious about wanting to make a bunch and sell them. Today the boys were off hunting for deer (which they didn't find) and then were headed off to a football game with grandpa, Kim was going out to the city to a school play, so I thought today would be the perfect day for just Halle and I to get down and messy and have a little fun. We gathered up supplies and got out the glue guns...made a huge mess...and yes, we even got creative. Between the 2 of us (and 9 LONG hours) we made 65+ hair flowers and 20 headbands. We laughed and had a great time. We had a few battle wounds with the glue gun, a few spills here and there, but all in all it was a fun and productive day. Now she is pretty much set to sell her goods at the Holly Fair (we still have to finishe packaging them). It was a memorable day, full of hard work and getting to know my youngest daughter just a little bit better. Couldn't ask for a better Saturday!

"Mom AnD Me DaTes"~

A long time ago....a way back...when my kids were all young, I told them that when they finished reading the Book of Mormon I would take them on a little "date", just the two of us. They could pick where we went and what we did. Some of the kids have been able to finish reading the Book of Mormon really fast and have even got to go on several "Mom and Me Dates", others have taken a little longer and are just now getting to go. Either way, I am thrilled when they finish no matter how long it takes them to read it. Kimberly finished reading it a month or so ago, but we haven't ever had time to plan our date. FINALLY, we got a day and time set and I anxiously looked forward to having a fun time together, just her and I. She decided that she wanted to go to a movie and out to eat at Cafe Rio (no complaints from me!). As the week went by, I found myself getting more and more excited to just go and spend the evening with her, no matter what we would been doing. As soon as she got home from work last night we hopped in the car and off we went. We talked all the way there...about anything and everything. About life, family, her future...we just talked. Its always fun to spend time with my kids, and I treasure any and all times that I get to do that. But I especially like the times when I get to have them all to myself, the little moments when its just me and one of them, and I get to know them personally~ a little better. Those are special times for me ~times that I hold very dear...and this was one of those times. I have wonderful children and I feel so blessed to have each one of them in my life.

"Children are a mother's anchor to Life"

Hunting and Homebodies!

Deron has only gone hunting a handful of times since we've been married. And I mean JUST a handful of times (like 3x at the most). But Cameron, being the adventurous boy that he is, convinced his dad- one of his grandpa's and one of his uncles, to go deer hunting. They planned it all out, knew where they wanted to go and got all packed up. The girls and I, being the homebodies that we are, decided it would be a good night for a PIZZA PARTY and to watch a movie. We love hanging out anyway...but now we were the "Deer Orphans", it was a good excuse to live it up. So we made little personal pizza's with refrigerator dough and watched my favorite family Halloween movie, "HOCUS POCUS"! We have watched it every Halloween since it came out and its now a family tradition. We had fun "girl time" and then we went off to bed. I worried all night if the guys were going to be warm enough, if they had enough food, if they would remember to wear their orange, if Cameron was well enough to be out and about, (he'd been a pretty sick boy for 3 days prior to going)...and last but not least, if I was going to HAVE to eat venison!...Luckily, for now, we don't have to worry about that one- no body had shot anything yet!....BUT- as I've been reminded....its not over YET!

"Diva Apparel"~

Years ago when I was about 12 my mother told me that I was going to LEARN to sew whether I wanted to or not. Under much protest and even alot of tears, I learned to sew. I made shirts, dresses and even tempted (might I repeat, TEMPTED) a pair of pants all before I graduated from high school. After I got married and had children, the art of sewing took on a whole new light as that's how my children were clothed for a good part of their "small lives". I made their summer shorts, shirts, church clothes and Halloween costumes. I made all of my maternity clothes (while we were attending college..you know, the POOR college students), baby blankets....you get the picture. As my children have grown up, they have outgrown wanting me to make their clothes. I still sew a large part of my skirts and dresses, and the girls skirts and dresses...but that is where it ends. Time doesn't allow me to sew as much as I would like to anymore, and the price of patterns and fabric has turned the art of sewing into a "rich mans hobby" instead of it being something cheap and fun that you could do for 1/2 the cost of purchasing clothing off the rack. I have been trying to think of ways that I could use my sewing skills and make money at the same time...I and Dayna had been talking about it and she said that we should make things and put them in the local craft fair (The Holly Fair for all of you locals). After much thought, debate, and encouragement from my sweet daughter and friends, I relented and decided that I would dip my toe into the "crafting world" and see how it went. So Dayna is making Home Decor Blocks, Dana is making some Tutu's, Halle is making Hair Flowers and I am making Aprons. I made up an apron pattern that I just loved (actually 2, and adult and a child)...and then got to sewing (like a maniac). We've all had to buckle down and work hard and fast because we haven't got alot of time left before the fair. I've made 55 Diva (women's) aprons and 31 Little Darling aprons (little girls), up to this point. But I still have some more to do before I'm finished. I've had a ton of fun making them, although they take alot of time and I have had to put off doing other things that need to be done, like the cleaning and the laundry etc... (because right now we are cramming for the Holly Fair...3 weeks away)...I am hoping that it pays off in the end. They will make cute, fun gifts for any woman/teen or little girl. I tried to find colors and fabrics that suit many tastes.... but so many of them are just fun and happy colors. A fun way to brighten up anyone's day. I've had fun matching colors and making them to match personalities. I didn't realize how much time it was really going to take. There are days that I have sewn for 10 hours and then into the night. I often dream about sewing apron after apron, matching colors, choosing the wrong colors etc...I know its just because its been my LIFE for so many weeks and that's all I've been able to think about. Life is full of different paths and exciting fun things...maybe this will be something that will turn into "A new PATH" for my life to take...who knows. I am selling the Diva aprons for $25.00 and the Little Darling aprons for $15.00. Here are a few pictures and "just a taste" of what I've been doing for the past month....come and see us at the Holly Fair on November 13th and 14th (Friday and Saturday) at the UBET building.

Little Monsters

Halloween is here...the creepy crawlers have been unleashed and are out on the prowl. Just the other day I was making my bed when out from under my sheets crawls a very large and scary spider! It was like it (being the spider) was out to prove to me that "YES WE are out here", and its only in my imagination that they DON'T climb on my bed or between my sheets. When in all reality, I am sure that while I am sleeping they ARE climbing on my bed if not right across my body!!! AHHHH....And if that wasn't bad enough, I went outside to grab the bug spray to spray the perimeter of my bed (as to kill all other bugs BEFORE they are able to climb in bed with me). As I go to step out the door there I see a SCORPION laying on its back...BUT it's stinger was pointing right up toward me (sneaky little monster!)....I thought about smashing it but didn't have the appropriate shoes on for such tasks at that moment, SO I got a sewing gauge (I was in my sewing room) and lifted it up to take it out on the cement and squish it. As soon as I put it down on the ground, it jumped to attention and was then out to get me... coming after me, I could do nothing but defend myself...so I SMASHED it. The rest of the day was uneventful (as far as creatures go) but it was a quick reminder to me, that all the critters from outside are making their way inside to warmer, more comfortable homes....to bad it has to be my home!

There is Beauty all around...you just have to look~

Years ago we bought some trees to fill our barren yard. Some were fruit trees others were shade trees, some lived and some died. We bought a Red Maple tree, which I thought would probably die...just because we can't usually get the pretty ones to live, BUT it has flourished and done so well that I wished we would have bought 5 more just like it. Every Fall I remember why I love it so much. The leaves turn a flaming red color which in turn, adds so much dimension to the yard. We have yellow leaves, brown leaves and even a few maroon leaves (on bushes) but the RED from these leaves just stand out and make all the colors come together. I love it!!!

One of our apple trees this year did more than its share of producing. For such a small tree, it was loaded with these dark red, gorgeous apples. We picked almost an entire 5 gallon bucket of them and they were even WORM FREE....(yeah for pesticides!).

We have been eating a few off of it and they are super sweet and better than the ones that I bought in the store last time. On the other hand we have another apple tree that did a lousy job at doing anything. Not only did it not produce its weight in poop, the apples taste AWFUL! I don't know what the difference was between the 2, but if it doesn't do better next year...it will become nice wood to roast hot dogs over!

My opinion, for what its worth.

If any of you are gum chewers...like me, I have found the best gum out there (at least in my opinion). I have been on a crusade for years trying to find the PERFECT gum, and after trying MANY different kinds (Extra, Trident, Dentyne, Stride...etc...) I have found "Mento's Chewing Gum", in the blue package to be my favorite. It looks like a mint and has a huge burst of flavor when you first begin to chew. At first the taste is really strong, almost overwhelming, but as you chew it- the strong taste mellows out a little- BUT the flavor lasts forever...or close to it. Its not a huge piece, so you don't feel like you have a wad of gum in your mouth, its just right. Who would have thought that I would actually have an opinion on gum...here all these years I thought that they were all about the same. That was before I met "Mr. Mento"...he won me over and now I am hooked.

Well there you have it....my opinion on GUM...take it for what its worth.

LoNG dAys...build character???? I DON'T think so!!!

Can I just vent for a minute?! (Guess its my blog and I can do what I want right?!) Its been "A LONG DAY"...I will just leave it at that...(not going to dive into any details or even share much BUT..). My heart is heavy, my mind is full and some days, I just DO to be DOING, so I don't have to think about anything. This morning was especially difficult for me....I debated on what I wanted to accomplish today and after my workout I decided that... I needed to get out. I had some things that I had to pick up at Walmart so today seemed like THE day to do it. I showered, got ready and jumped in the car....started driving and listening to the radio. Every song that came on seemed to choke me up , if it wasn't for one thing- it was another. Finally after 3o minutes of it I just started crying...there goes my make-up all down my face. SO I put a stop to the tunes and decided that I needed quiet time....that wasn't what I needed either, because then I just had thinking time, AND that WAS the LAST thing that I needed to do today! Finally I arrive at Walmart. I pull myself together, touch up the make up on my face and march in like I knew where I was going. I was hoping that I didn't run in to anyone that I knew today. NOT that I don't love all my friends and acquaintances because I do, they are the best ever...I just didn't want anyone to ask me "how I was today" (only because I KNEW that my emotions were on the sleeve of my shirt and would fall off at any minute). I wandered around the store for awhile, looking at this and that....even got a few Christmas ideas. I gathered up what I needed and then browsed a bit more. I didn't want to go home very bad and so I continued to wander. Just when I thought I was pulling myself together I walked past the end of an isle that had the cutest (little baby) Halloween costumes on it. They were all for 0-3 months old babies. There was a little pea (sweet pea), a Zebra, a giraffe and a little piggy....I just lost it, I started to cry! GOSH- I was supposed to be buying little Halloween outfits for my grandbaby to be wearing this month.... I was supposed to be waiting for my kids to send me pictures over the Internet, of him "all dressed up for grandma to see"....I was supposed to be getting ready to spoil him at Christmas, I already knew what I wanted to get him....I was supposed to be waiting for pictures of his first smile and looking forward to the many years that I was going to have with him, loving the cute little guy....I WAS SUPPOSED to be a grandma right now!! AND frankly...it still hurts like crazy!...I know eventually I will be a grandma. I have no doubts that it will happen. I know that the Lord has a plan for everyone and that my sweet daughter and sweet son-in-law will have babies of their own. I know that the Lord is blessing their lives as we speak, in the ways that only HE does. He loves them more than I do and HE will bless them. I also know that I have many children and eventually will have grandbabies running around my feet. But right now, I am still grieving for the grandbaby that we planned on having right now, today, the one that was supposed to be wrapped in the little red puppy blanket that I made just for him... Wearing the outfit that I bought just for him, with his first basketball sneakers...that's the way it was SUPPOSED TO BE...grief was just one of the emotions that got the best of me today. I had to leave the area because people were starting to stare and that's the last thing I wanted today was to draw attention to myself (I don't ever want that, but especially not today). I continued my journey through Walmart, trying to avoid any more "baby surprises". I finished up and headed to the front to check out. With all the flu that is out and about, I decided I was going to lean on the side of cautious and sort of check out all the checkers...see if any looked ill or worn down. I finally picked the one that I thought looked the healthiest (sounds like I was picking a hog for slaughter...). I proceeded to unload my cart and put everything on the belt and waited for her to start to scan my findings. JUST as she finished with the customer in front of me, she took out her till (I'm thinking WHAT THE HECK??) and said that she was heading home, her day was over (well okay, I thought...go home.) THEN who comes to take her place BUT the most sickly checker of the bunch. She is hacking up a lung, looks feverish and then "...excuses herself if she doesn't talk much, she has the FLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!"....I wanted to die! I know that my eyes flew open and my chin hit the floor. I couldn't believe it!!!! If she hadn't already touched my stuff and started scanning it through-I really might have loaded it all up and taken it to another register. BUT...instead, I sat there and watched her hack and cough as she put my things into bags. She tells me about "how sick she has been, can't sleep at night, has to sit up all night because she is coughing so much!!!!" I just literally wanted to slap this woman and send her home! WHAT business does she have coming to work and contaminating everyone else??? Doesn't she know that's how things spread????....UHGGGGGGGGGG. I wasn't very nice...I didn't say anything and was very short with her. I didn't want to yell and tell her what I really thought, so I opted to do what thumper councils us to do, "if you can't say anyfing nice, don't say noffing at all"....so I said NOTHING! Needless to say, I couldn't get the hand sanitizer on fast enough and the sacks are NOT getting emptied for at least 24 hours! Its just been that kind of a day!!!.......

NOW- I'm done crying and I'm done venting... and I am sure "the sun will come out tomorrow", things will look better and brighter and I will be okay....no worries.

41 things that contRibuTe To MY CRazY liTTle LiFE~

This week was very busy, but dull...so I don't have much to write a post about BUT...trying to keep up with my "traditional" Sunday blog update I decided to "put myself out there" a bit. I am normally a semi-private person, I don't talk about myself or like to talk about myself (because really, I am a very boring person)...but trying to get out of my shell a little I thought that I would post 41 (because yes, that's how old I am...see I am already coming out of my shell a bit) things that you may or may not know about me...I guess it all depends on how well we know each other~

1. I'm a very schedule oriented person. I make lists for everything. I have a weekly list that breaks down my days and has what I plan on doing for each day, whether its where I have to go or little things like doing laundry etc...and then I cross them off when they are completed. I love looking at the list at the end of the day/week and seeing what I've accomplished.

2. I work out every day except Sunday. I power walk on my treadmill for 50 minutes at a 7% incline. I hate every single minute of it, every single day...but I do it because I want to be healthy and I know its good for me.

3. I don't listen to the radio unless I am in the car. I like it quiet in my house when I am home. I don't turn the TV on unless I am going to sit down and watch it...which is very rarely. I just prefer to have quiet time while I go about my day.

4. Lilacs are my favorite flower...and I wished that they bloomed all summer long. I love taking pictures of nature, I love being among nature and I would live outside from May until the snow flew, if I could.

5. I collect Rooster/Chicken stuff and have more than 50 rooster/chickens...my kids keep count.

6. I love Spring and Summer, every single thing about it...and I am learning to love the beauty that Autumn has to offer (I just have a hard time enjoying Fall because I know that winter is right around the corner).

7. I suffer from seasonal depression. I've tried to conquer it, but it seems impossible.

8. I love to read. Its one of my favorite things to do when I have some "me" time....the only problem is, it makes me sleepy. I never make it through more than a few pages before

my eyes are closing...so needless to say, I don't read as much as I would like to.

9. If I were rich and could have "hired help"...I would hire a maid to put clean sheets on my bed every single day. BUT they have to be bleached and hung out on the line to dry ( I love that smell).

10. I love growing things. Gardens are my favorite because they "give back" in the fall when they produce all that yummy produce. I don't grow flowers very well... for some reason, I didn't get my mom's green thumb.

11. I've always loved being a stay-at-home mom. I never lack for things to do, in spite of what others might think....even though my kids are either gone (moved away) or in school I always have plenty to do. I don't get bored by any means!

12. I love to travel. Part of the fun in traveling is the journey getting from point A to point B. I love seeing new things, experience new things and taking tons of pictures to capture the memories.

13. I drink 5-6 quarts of water every day...yes that means LOTs of potty breaks!

14. I hate change. I really don't deal well with big, negitive changes in my life. I like my life to stay "normal" (to me)... like living in the same place, same house, same job...etc.....little changes like, hair cuts, new clothes, going out to dinner instead of staying in, new additions to the family etc...those are all okay and don't upset my life, but BIG changes are very upsetting to me.

15. I love the smell of a thunderstorm, homemade bread, babies, Spring, the mountains as the sun comes up, bacon cooking while we are camping (but only then, otherwise I don't like the smell of it), BBQing, fresh air, cut hay, cut grass, and the swimming pool water.

16. I make a 2 week menu for both breakfast and dinner. It keeps me organized and on schedule. It doesn't hurt that it saves me lots of money too.

17. I am not a very good speller. I use to be a wonderful speller when I was in high school, but as the years have gone its a skill that I have let go...thank goodness for "spell check" so that I can at least pretend to still be able to spell.

18. I have always dreamed of having a gazebo with a hanging swing in it. I would love to sit under it during the summer evenings and read a good book or watch the sun go down (or~ come up, for that matter)...I guess I will just keep dreaming.

19. I love to reminisce about all the wonderful times I had when I was a child. I love watching movies from my childhood and eating comfort food that remind me of when I was young. I didn't come from money or a family with lots of frills. We lived in the country, lived off of what we raised in our garden, fed in the fields and canned with our own hands. We had to make our own kind of fun and adventures. But I loved it, especially because I didn't know any different. I didn't know what I was missing. It was a fun little life. My mom forced me to learn to sew my own clothing. At the time, I threw every fit there was to throw, but now having that skill has been a huge benifit in my life and I am so grateful that she taught me to not only sew, but to like to sew....(I don't sew my own clothes much, except maybe a skirt here and there...but I use to sew my kids clothes when they were little)

20. I despise the dentist. At my age- I still cry when I have to go for a visit. I have to hype myself up in order to just make the appointment and make it for as far out as I can so that I can get up my nerve to go. I think it stems from a really bad experience at the dentist that I had in 4th grade. We have never had dental insurance and so going for preventive appointments have always been a "costly" matter that is never in the budget.

21. I consider myself a hard worker and I'm not afraid of hard work. I have tried to instill this in my children because I think that by being a hard worker, you can get anywhere you want to go in life.

22. On days that I don't have plans to leave the house, I shower...but I don't do my

hair (I use a hat to hide the wet mess) or put my make-up on...that way I can use the time that I would usually take to "get ready for the day" to clean or do yard work or whatever it is that I might be working on that day. So if you ever pop in on me, on one of those days, don't be surprised to see me looking a little "out of sorts".

23. I am still a kid at heart. I love to hang out with my kids at amusement parks, in the mountains, at home, anywhere....it keeps me young. I have been known to do "CRAZY" things late at night, in the car, and when there are only a few select people around. I don't know why, but my kids bring out "The Kid In ME"...and I love them for it!

24. I've always been afraid of dying...lets just say-its not at the top of my "to do list!"

25. I am addicted to Orville Redenbacher's 94% fat-free popcorn and I eat it every single day!

26. I am not a fan of red meat. I don't hate it, and it certainly doesn't bother me that other people love it, and I even eat it sometimes...but its just not something that I eat (or like to eat) on a daily basis...now put me in front of a seafood buffet and I could eat it all day...I know, go figure, you would think that meat was meat, BUT alas, its NOT.

27. I love bread, its one of my favorite foods in the world...BUT I don't eat it often because I have a hard time not eating a ton of it. I guess you could call me a "recovering Breadaholic" and I know my limits so I steer clear of it...most days. I have to "fall off the wagon" sometimes but I limit those times to~ few and far between.

28. I've always wanted to have a gym membership. I think that going everyday with people that are working toward the same thing, would be great motivation for me.....but since we don't have one within a 5 minute radius (rural living has its disadvantages), I opt to do it alone and its not near as much fun as I think it COULD be!

29. I like to people watch (not in a perverse way). I wonder what their lives are all about. What they do for fun, what their trials in life might be, where they have been and what they've overcome. I wonder what brought them to that point in their lives and where they might be going from there....its just a weird thing that I do...but its interesting none the less.

30. I hate being in a bathing suit. I've NEVER in my life been confident in being seen by anyone, anywhere at anytime in swim wear. IF by chance that you have been somewhere and seen me in a swimsuit, just know that it took DAYs if not WEEKS to hype myself up into going there in that skimpy attire....maybe it stems from me having a poor body image my entire life.

31. I like to cook, but don't like the clean up. I like trying new recipes and then blogging about them. I made a recipe book for all of my children. It has the recipes in it of the foods that they grew up with, their favorites and even some of their "NOT so Favorites". (It has recipes that the 3 older kids grew up on, the 3 younger ones haven't grown up yet) and I am working on volume 2...(this one will have the recipes that the 3 younger kids ate alot of, loved and even hated...but I made anyway.)

32. I have a "Bucket List" and I am actually working on accomplishing the things that are on it...I don't want the things that I wrote to be in vain, I really plan on making things happen.

33. I color code my clothes in my closet and I am a little OCD about it. I know, I shouldn't stress about such things, but we all have our little nitches don't we?!...and that's ONE of mine.

34. I'm scared of wood ticks and skunks...they absolutely freak me out.

35. I have a huge dent in my head that would look like I was beat with a baseball bat if you could see my scalp...here's praying that I never have to have chemotherapy and lose my hair.

36. I have many pet peeves (don't we all?), some of which I won't divulge here...but some of them are laziness (especially if it directly affects me), dishonesty in any shape or form, dirty dishes in my kitchen when I get home from anywhere (especially if the kitchen was clean when I left), those who are in a hurry and cut in front of me on the road when there isn't any reason to, gum in my dryer, an un-made bed and when people say mean things to others and then say, "Just kidding!" (like that's going to take all the hurt away and as if that hurt person isn't going to analyze the mean comment later, words always hurt...been there)

37. I don't like to talk/discuss or be in a room where others are talking/discussing anything to do with politics, especially with friends and family. I think that every person has the right to chose what political party they choose to affiliate with and support that party. Because I believe one way, doesn't make it the one and only or correct way. And just because I believe something doesn't mean that someone else can't believe another. Political conversations aren't meant for group settings with those you love....in my experience it only causes feelings of hurt and anger....SO "If you can't say anything nice, don't say noffing at all" ~Thumper (from Bambi)

38. I always wished that I was musically talented, (like played the piano or the Cello or the harp)....but not enough to do anything about it.

39. I am a big fan of Oil of Olay anti-wrinkle cream. I think it works wonders on my face and I hope they never stop making it.

40. Three things that I couldn't live without (besides the obvious, like my hubby and my children and family, money, shelter, food and water etc...)~ 1. clothes....they hide so many of my physical flaws 2. My toothbrush...it makes the world a happier place to be when we all brush our teeth 3. My stove...I don't ever want to go back to cooking over a fire like the pioneers had to do...I'm a big fan of Modern DAY conveniences!

41.....last but not least~ this one's for you KIM (because I told her to ask me a question that she didn't know about me, but wanted to know)

If I could have any job (and she said being a mom doesn't count as an answer) in the world, what would it be....I have many that I would love, being a pediatrician would be great. I love kids, medicine intrigues me, I love learning and helping others and I would love that job...plus the mullah wouldn't be so bad either. When I was young (high school) I always thought that I would love to be a high school teacher or a marriage councilor or even a beautician.....but being a wife and mom was always my biggest dream job....so here I am, living out my dream.

There you have it...41 things that make me..."ME". As crazy, unique, strange and even lame as it all might seem, those 41 things are part of what makes me who I am.