The Whitney Auction

I've been asked to donate a few items for the Whitney Awards Auction. It's for a good cause and (selfishly) I hope I will get a little business from it. A tiny-toy play mat will be available starting on Saturday and a nursing cover will come later next week. I'm still considering donating a towel as well. Check it out here.

It's a great cause and I hope you'll check it out. Not only do they have homemade items like what I do, they also have copies of books that are autographed. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Carving 2008

Did anyone else carve pumpkins for Family Home Evening last night? We had a great time. We got a few great one liners from Emery.

Chani had a spoon and was hitting Emery's pumpkin, to which he replied, "Chani, don't whack my pumpkin."

A few moments later we got, "This pumpkin is very special to me."

And then, "I love you very much, mama."



Edited to add video.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A picture

Have you seen this? Open your picture file and go to the fourth folder. Select the fourth picture in the file, and tell a story about it.



This picture is pretty much self explanatory. Emery got his hands on my recipe box. Doesn't he look so little? He was the same age then as Chani is now, and it was just about the time I found out I was pregnant with her. It seems so long ago.

More house pictures

Remember when we moved in and I said I was going to show the rooms one at a time? I have slacked. I want my house to be perfect before I show it, and it's never perfect. But, Clint's parents are coming this week (yay! Emery keeps going on and on about how Grandma and Grandpapa are coming for Halloween) and so I've been working on the master bathroom. And, it's ready for the photos.



Now for the advice. The walls are a butter color (with a hint of yellow, but not strong). I need to pick out some accent towels and rugs. What colors do you think? I'd also like some art for above the tub. Devri, isn't this your specialty?

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

She's opening a store! What talent!

Tag

Thanks, Ana! I keep forgetting to check your blog now that you're private.......sorry!

Tag!

Ten Years Ago
1. I was starting my senior year of high school
2. Working at the Shilling House
3. I was deeply involved in debate & speech
4. My only real worry in life was college scholarships
5. I was a driving fool, with school, debate, seminary council, I was busy!

To do List
1. Make Cupcakes
2. Go to story time
3. Put make-up on
4. Buy eggs (for cupcakes)
5. Write Stewart a letter

Five Snacks I enjoy
1. Apples & Carmel
2. Ice cream
3. graham crackers with milk
4. samoa cookies
5. peanuts and candy corns (yes together)

Places I have lived
1. Blackfoot, ID
2. Twin Falls, Idaho
3. Andrews Hall, Chadron, NE
4. Edna Work Hall, Chadron, NE
5. Orange, TX

Jobs I have had
1. Babysitter
2. Waitress/catering assistant
3. Telemarketer
4. Inbound call specialist, DirecTV
5. Residence Hall Director

Pet Peeves
1. Stupid people
2. Whining kids
3. Lazy people
4. Weak women
5. AT&T Internet service

Things that bring me joy
1. My family
2. cooking
3. a good book
4. visiting extended family
5. Happy children

5 People I tag (you're it!)

Anyone that wants to participate!

I blame Millie....but really I thank her!

My friend Millie posted a link to a darling dress on her fun finder blog. I thought that it might not be too hard to make so I sat down the other night while Clint was teaching night class and whipped it up. I made up a pattern on newspaper (thanks mom) and I had to redo the sleeves, but other than that it was pretty easy. I think it turned out pretty cute, how about you?

Thanks Millie!

An invitation...

We've been invited to a Halloween Party.....but, we don't know the hosts. We received a darling invitation in the mail today, addressed to "Clint and Jill Reading" It sounds like a lot of fun, but we're a little nervous about going to a party full of strangers. So, if you know Brian and Becky, would you let us know?

Story Time

The girls that I've come to know all attended story time at the Bridge City Library, which was flooded during the storm. So, they've decided to have story time at a different home each week. This week it's my turn, so tomorrow we'll be reading this book:

We're going to have a snack of goldfish crackers and Swedish fish. I also made homemade Samoa cookie bars for the adults.
I'm still looking for the perfect fish craft, any ideas?

I was also asked if I would babysit for our friend L who is just 3 weeks younger than Emery. She's a sweet girl and they get along well. So, Monday through Thursday, I'll have 3 kids all day. It will be fun, and will help us pay off a few bills we accumulated during our move (a new fridge and dryer). It's just a temp job and so it will last about 4-6 weeks.

My new calling

Clint got a calling our second week here….Young Mens President. Yes, the president. He is still trying to figure out who all the kids belong to and how to get the Young Men to care about the program and about scouting. It's challenging, but he is really working hard.

Last week I was asked to be the Primary Music Chorister. They told me they would announce it during Sacrament Meeting and then set me apart before Primary, so that I could lead the music. Yesterday they almost forgot to announce it. I made a fishing pole from a dowel and some string, and need to find a stronger magnet. The kids loved fishing and it was a huge hit in Nursery. Emery is the best talker/singer in the class, the other kids don't sing along, so we need to do some serious work in there. It will be so fun though, and I'm really enthused about this calling. If you have any great ideas for activities for singing time, please pass them along!

My current quirk

Since Chani has decided to be so girly, I've ramped up the accessorizing. Before, I would just stick a bow on her that sort of matched. Now, if I don't have what I want, I make it. Not just I get it made sometime, at least 3 times this past week I have had to make a bow before we could leave the house. Here are a few that I have made in the past weeks.






Another silly thing is that at current, she can only wear one at a time, on a headband. But, some silliness in my brain tells me that I have to make matching bows, so I always make two at a time. Does this make me obsessive? By the way, the white one with orange flowers is for today....in case you wondered.

I know about things...

Emery is a smart little man. His current obsesion is dinasours, and when asked his name, he replies, "I'm a green T-Rex dinosaur." Sometimes he's a "regular" green T-Rex, or a blue pterodactyl, stegasourus, or whatever else he feels like being. So, it's a good time. He's been saying this phrase for about a week now, and I laugh and laugh every time. "I know about dinasours." He knows all their names and that they all eat grass and water...except T-Rex who munches other dinosaurs.

Today, he was playing on the computer and accidentally opened this picture:



And he said, "Bigger storm coming our way." I told him no, the bigger storm is gone, and we shouldn't have another one this season. He said, "I know all about storms, wind, rain, sunshine, hail."

Anniversary

Clint and I celebrated our 8th anniversary this weekend. We didn't do much, just ate great steaks for dinner last night with a pretty yummy side dish of potatoes with bacon and blue cheese inspired by a potato salad recipe my sister gave me. It was a good time, and we both kept saying, "I can't believe it's been 8 years, and that we live in Texas." Clint got me a very nice Coach purse and I got Clint a Pac-Man frog.

48 random things (two questions are missing)

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes, in fact I have some in my fridge right now, what should I do with it?
2. Have you ever smoked a cigarette? No
3. Do you own a gun? Technically, no, but I did purchase Clint one as a graduation gift. We have two in our home. They are safely put away, and Clint is already teaching Emery gun safety, which I think is the key to owning a gun.
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? We never go to Sonic, although they are very popular in Texas, there are two in our town.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointment? not usually
6. What do you think of hot dogs? It depends on my mood. We were invited to a Family Home Evening a few weeks ago, and they served Chili Dogs for dinner, what a creative dinner, they were awesome!
7. Favorite Christmas Song? I love Christmas music. I really enjoy The Forgotten Carols and O Holy Night
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Milk
9. Can you do push-ups? a few
10. What is your favorite movie? Of all time? I love movies, I think my all time favorite is Steel Magnolias
11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding ring
12. Favorite hobby? Reading
13. Do you work with people who idolize you? I think maybe my kids do, I gotta remember that more often
14. Do you have ADD? no
15. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? I get distracted so easily
16. What’s your middle name? Stewart
17. Name three thoughts at this moment: Chani just woke up from her nap, I have to call about our Internet service, and I need to buy diapers
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday: New cute running shorts (a score at only $2.90), a push broom, and new razor blades
19. Current worry right now? What am I going to do for family Christmas presents
21. Current hate right now? ants
22. Favorite place to be? anywhere with family
23. How did you bring in the New Year? I think we hosted the party at our house, it was lots of fun with tons of tasty food.
24. Where would you like to go? Idaho
25. Name three people who will complete this? I am so bad at guessing these
26. Whose answer do you want to read the most? Anybody.
27. What color shirt are you wearing? Blue
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I've never, so I can't say
29. Can you whistle? a little bit
30. Favorite color? orange
31. Would you be a pirate? Sure. For Halloween Emery will be Peter Pan and Chani will be Tinkerbell. Clint needs a croc costume, can anyone help me out? I want to be Wendy, but I'd be a pirate. Clint's parents will be here, I told his dad he could be Captain Hook and his mom could be Smee.
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing in the shower, I try to enjoy the quiet
33. Favorite girl’s name? Chani, Elsie
34. Favorite boy’s name? Emery, Miles
35. What’s in your pocket right now? nothing
36. Last thing (Person) that made you laugh? The Michael Phelps fan commercial
37. Best bed sheets as a child? I don't know
38. Worst injury you’ve ever had? One time I wrecked on a bike, and that was pretty bad.
39. What is your favorite snack? is ice cream a snack? Right now it's candy corn and peanuts
40. Favorite thing to do on Sundays? Take Emery to nursery.
41. Who is your loudest friend? Heidi
42. How many dogs do you have? 1
43. Does someone have a crush on you? Clint
45. What is your favorite book? This is a hard one, I love so many books. Anne of Green Gables is up there, The Wedding (Nicholas Sparks), The Secret Garden, Heidi, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Napping House
46. What is your favorite candy? Symphony with almonds and toffee
47. What is your favorite sports team? The Celtics
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Abide with Me, Tis Eventide
49. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping.
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? Did we get paid?