It's CLEAN!!!

I decided as soon as I get my house all clean I can start my next project. Don't worry, it's a simple one, I just want to make a little shelf for all our shoes in the closet. I already have the wood, and it's already painted. I just have to make a few cuts and put it all together.
ANYWAY... My goal was after Christmas I was going to work room by room till my house was ALL clean. I started with the Laundry room. It's as clean as I can get it until we get more shelving for the pantry (hopefully in March) The kitchen...well that is a daily thing, as well as the living room. The bedrooms....yikes. We went through all the toys and got the rooms "organized" But then they play with toys, get dressed and sleep in their beds and all of a sudden their rooms are messy again. But at least it's an easy clean up. 10 mins a room and we are in good shape. My bedroom...now that is a different story.
Doing an insane amount of projects before Christmas turned out to be a good habit forming thing in the long run (lets hope it sticks) Danton goes down for a nap and I get up and get busy. So far I've done it all week with out a thought. So yesterday i started on my bedroom. And in order to clean my bedroom (which still had boxes) I also had to dive into my closet and the kids closets. threw out a bunch of junk, organized all teh kids clothes they they have grown out of, got a bag fo things to donate and cleaned up the closet and finally delt with thoes boxes of random STUFF that you don't know what to do with. I didn't quite get done yesterday, so when nap time rolled around again today I got back to work. When Danton woke up I had a few papers to file, one more small box to go through and vacuuming. I pushed through and now my whole room is CLEAN! My bathroom counter looks a little cluttery, and we still have a few things that live on top of the dressers cause we don't' have a home for them yet, but it's CLEAN!! Things are put away and not just put somewhere!
So I'm going to see if I can manage to get the ENTIRE house clean all at the same time, and I THINK i can do it before Mark gets home today (and he gets off early today) (I'm including folding laundry AND putting it away. And I think I can do it in about an hour and a half.
On your mark.
Get set.
GO!!!!
(next post is Christmas, promise)
::UPDATE:: It took ALMOST 2 hours, but I did it. YAY! And I got it done before Mark got home. YAY! And I already know what I'm cooking for dinner. YAY! And it's easy (hamburgers, with preformed patty's) YAY!!!!!!

I stuck my banjo in the dryer...

And it SHRUNK!
Ok, not really. This is my new toy. I didn't get it for Christmas, I got it cause I've wanted it for YEARS and could never justify getting it. Then Mark said he wanted another gun, and I was fine with that cause we have the money to get it, and then I realized that he didn't need another gun, he already has 3, but the gun he wanted has a different purpose then the others, and I am totally fine with that. BUT WAIT, I don't NEED another banjo, but this has a different purpose then my others, so I asked Mark what he thought and he said go for it...so I did. :) I got it a few days before Christmas, just enough time to let it sit and acclimate, tune it, and play a bit before Christmas.
I love it, a little travel size banjo. It's in a different key then my full size ones, and it's in a key that I play in often. However It's almost Danton's size and I'm not aloud to play it cause it's his.
He loves to play the banjo. It took me a little while to realize that when he "plays" the broom it's not his guitar. He says "baow baow" when he plays it and I thought that he was doing sound effects, but he was actually saying banjo.
He loves to play the banjo. It's fun. Now I'm really glad I made that little one out of a cookie tin and a 2X4 a couple years ago, he can "play" that one and he lets me play mine.

I did good...

Now that I'm pretty much done with project except for wrapping, I'm getting even MORE excited fr Christmas. And this morning was a testament to me that I did GOOD. I picked the right gifts for my kids.
Lydia pointed to the big couch and said "Mom, this is our couch" and then over to the love seat "and this is our oven's and our kitchen" She will make a kitchen out of ANYTHING and everything, and she makes one just about every day. She is going to be so excited!
And Danton has a little 5 in tall 7-8 inch long plastic dump truck he was playing with this morning and then he decided to ride it. Yeah, a little small for a ride on toy, but he is going to LOVE his truck. HE can sit in it and DRIVE. I was just not going to wrap it, but then I thought that if his truck was just sitting out for him to see he would just play in it and not care about opening his other presents. :) So I went to wal mart yesterday (crazy I know) and got 2 rolls of 200 sq/ft paper. Hopefully that will be enough for the other 2 kitchen items and the truck. :)
And now I"m ready for a good back massage. my neck and shoulders are KILLING me from sewing and painting and assembling!

This years projects

I posted pictures on FB already so most likely you've already seen them, But I wanted some on my blog with a better explanation. The truck was my design. I drew up plans and went and bought wood, and cut it out and put it together.
I got the pictures on line, and put them together to my liking.
The flames on the back I just dew in real quick and started painting. I'm very excited about how it turned out. I can't wait to see him play with it on Christmas.

The kitchen is a different story. The microwave was built from scratch with the same wood I got for the truck. The sink and oven were originally two little end table things. My Grandpa use to teach Jr High shop class and these two tables (if I remember correctly) were done by students and then left there. My mom had them forever. The oven one was repainted once for me when I was a kid and I called it my strawberry table (it had stickers of strawberries) I repainted it a couple years ago for Lydia.
Both tables had a cressent shape cut out on the sides that I had to cut wood to match and fill it in. The oven I didnt have to do much changing too, but the sink I took completly apart and put it back together with an added piece.
I (in effort to save money) cut out and made all the handles and knobs and the faucet my self. The microwave handle I actually cut out of wood the others are dowel rods that I cut and knotched to fit together. Again, that was more work then I anticipated. But I'm glad I did it.

All I can say is I hope my work is as sturdy ans some jr high kids. That shelf did NOT want to come apart. while hammering out the nails they took chunks of wood with them. It's a good thing I got a big tub of wood filler, I used A LOT for these.
It would have been easier to start from scratch with everything, but I already had the tables and scraps to fill them, so it did save a little money, and it's fun for me to give something new life.

I've been working on these since October and just finished the last one yesterday. It was definitely more work then I thought. I worked on them nearly every day when Danton took his nap. I'd put on a movie for Lydia and work till Danton woke up. Then again when Mark had school in the evenings, and the kids were in bed I'd get to work again. total cost for all 4 was about $80 when all was said and done.
I am also repainting buildings from a little town my parents made when I was little. It's for Danton to have something to drive his trucks on. They are all sanded and repaired and ready for paint. There are only 5 little buildings so I should be able to get it all done during one of Danton's naps.
And I have some sewing to finish up as well. Stockings and something for Mark for Christmas eve. (not that I think he will read this between now and then, but just in case I'm not saying what it is)
WHEW! Almost done.

the truck

Not that anyone else really cares, but I managed to get some paint thinner before my brush dried and cleaned it. yay. The red paint is awesome, I'm almost done with Lydia's kitchen. I haven't taken pictures cause it's all still in parts, so it doesn't look like anything. I have one more piece to paint and then assembly time. :)
Danton's truck is ALMOST done. I need to paint the steering wheel and attach it, and then do the flames. :) But here is what it looks like (the inside toy box part was spray painted, I think I need paint it with a brush. ...anyway, the TRUCK:

Oil-FREAKING-based paint.

I have 3 main colors for all of my big projects, black blue and red. The first can of red paint looked nothing like it said it should, it seemed like it was watered down, super crappy, so I took it back and got a different brand. The ONLY other kind they had ended up being oil based (which I didn't notice when I bought it) My black and blue are water based. All my big things that need black are done, and I only have the top of one side of the truck to do in blue. currently between the two I'd do one color, wash my brush and do the other color while the first dried.
So today with my new vibrant red paint, I started painting away during Danton's nap. Blue first, wash my brush, go on to red.
WOW this red paint coated VERY well only small sections even NEED a second coat. But I noticed it wasn't drying very fast. So I washed my bush so I could to the FINAL coat of blue. Only to find out that I was using oil based paint and I have NO mineral spirits, OR acetone. BAH!
I MAY have salvaged the brush, I did find an oil solvent chemical, but there was not much. I'll see what it's like after it dries. It's soft, but still red.
Anyway, I had to STOP (grrr) in the middle of Danton's nap. If I had realized it was oil based I'd have put it back, however if I new how well it painted I would have kept it and just got a chemical to clean it with. If I had been prepared I could have gotten almost ALL of my red painting done durring Dantons Nap, and had the truck with it's final coat. But now, I have to wait till I can go to wal mart (which is hard when you are a one car family...we sold the truck on Saturday and we are currently between cars) and I have to buy another brush and some mineral spirits. *sigh* oh well.
Oh one other thing just so you know oil based takes 2-4 times LONGER to dry. So in the mean time it's a good thing I can lock my laundry room, cause this is what it looks like.
Oh, and my hands are VERY red from attempting to clean the brush.
On a happy note, I got some more pictures of Danton yesterday. He likes Daddy's "scary" shirts. When he wears them Danton goes "AH! Scary" Well he saw Daddy's scary shirt in the laundry yesterday before I got it in the wash and insisted on wearing it.

This last weekend

I think I don't have much to blog about, and then I upload the pictures on the computer and all of a sudden i could have 4 different blogs. Boy having a camera makes a difference.
Saturday I was throwing a baby shower for a friend of mine. Granny and Papa invited Lydia to go to a pancake breakfast with Santa.Mark decided to go too and take Danton. (brave soul) He thought I could use the time to get ready for the shower with out the kids. And BOY was he RIGHT. It was awesome. And I had more to do then I realized. He got home just a few mins before guests started arriving. Just enough time to put Danton in bed and split.

I wanted to let the kids decorate cookies this year, so that is what we did for FHE yesterday. We had Tithing settlement on Sunday and Bishop gave us 3 pictures of the new temple in Kansas City, one for the family and one for each of the kids. So for FHE first we talked about the new temple and why they were building it, and then we framed them and hung them in their rooms. Then it was COOKIE TIME. I frosted them and gave them the sprinkles. *DUMP* One of their decorated cookies had enough sprinkles to share with 2 others. They each did two, and that pretty much took nearly the whole batch. :) We were a little late with the camera so we didn't get any decorating in action pics (also it was over very quickly) But we did get some of the after product. And finally some project pictures. This is Danton's truck, it's on it's side cause the paint was drying. I finally figured out a simple sturdy way to attach the steering wheel and still have it spin. So I still have to cut out the wheel, paint the front, add the flames (oh yes, FLAMES) and attach the wheel.
I expected the truck to be a big project, but not Lydia's kitchen. But when you end up having 4 BIG wood projects to do for Christmas with NO wood working experience and minimal tools, it takes a while. Lydia's kitchen will take a little more explaining, so I'll save that for another post.

Christmas "to do's "

I have really out done my self as far as abmitions go this year for Christmas. I'm making almost EVERY present for my kids, and one for Mark. But I also have other "projects" on my "to do before Christmas" list. I gotta say it's a good thing I start when I did, cause where I stand now, I will have time to finish things, with out being rushed, which is good. When you rush a project, it never turns out as good. Let me give you teh run down of my list.

repair tree onraments
repair count down calendar
repair white board
paint Dantons truck toy box
detail paint toy box
paint lydia's frigde, oven, and microwave/cabnit
detail lydia's kitchen
repair buildings for Danton's town
Paint buildings for dantons town
clean Dantons trucks and tractors
cut out and sew one of Marks gifts
figure out what to do for Christmas eve presents
make Christmas eve presents
sew two more stockings, one for Danton and one for #3 since I'll need it next year anyway
...and...is that all? The list looks smaller written down then in my head.
Oh I have my Activity day on Tuesday, I need to make an example craft to show the girls how to make theirs.
lots of painting and sewing
oh yeah, and wrap everything. DONE.
I'll take pictures next week of my BIG projects for the kids so you can see where all my spare time has gone in the last 3 weeks. :)

new camera--YAY!

I got my camera in the mail yesterday. It wasn't suppose to be here till today, so I was very excited. I haven't had a good camera since june. I LOVE this new one. It's amazing how much they can improve on a camera in 3 years.
The kids had just as much fun getting their pictures taken as I did playing with it.
this is my favorite:


So since I'm in the midst of TONS of Christmas projects, you can expect to see pictures and explanations soon. AND I don't think I ever said this, maybe i did, but my new calling is activity days with 8 and 9 year olds. SO FUN. We are having a combined Christmas activity with the older group next week for our Christmas activity. We are going to make a little manger scene and I'll post pictures of that too. Cute, simple, and kid proof...mostly...kind of. :)

Thankful for the mess

I have taken to locking the bathroom door while I shower if Danton is awake. I try to shower when he is asleep, but that just doesn't always work. When I'm done, I always expect trouble. So I put on a movie for Danton and Lydia, I thought this might actually work this time cause Danton was GLUED. He won't quite sit for a movie yet, but this looked promising.
I came out of the shower to find Lydia in the same spot, a quiet house, and no Danton....oh boy. I noticed the Laundry room door was open...oh boy. We keep the bar stools in there to keep him from climbing on to the counters. He was sitting on the bar stool in front of my shelf with my dry food on it. Beans, rice, pasta. Any open package was now scattered on the floor. I did get a video, but I have to fill up the rest of my disc before I can upload it.
As I was cleaning the mess all I thought was how thankful I was for it. Thankful that is was all dry goods, not stuff from the fridge, and it was on tile, not carpet. Thankful that I had an excuse to get rid of some of the whole wheat pasta that tastes gross. Thankful that I have enough food storage that I didn't have to clean all the dirt out and keep the stuff on the floor. Thankful for a smart healthy strong boy who not only is able to make a mess, but is smart enough to know WHEN to make a mess. There is always something to be thankful for.

LEGO Temple FHE

Last night just before FHE the kids were playing with their legos. We have been using our imaginations with legos a lot lately. We are pretty limited with our selection, but we have managed to make guns, houses, deer, dogs, birds, castles, towers, and many other things that didn't resemble at all what we said they were.
We have been talking a lot about temples lately to Lydia. Showing her how pretty they are and how important they are. So I had the idea to make lego temples. I started by telling the story about the SLT temple corner stones. And how they had to be buried, then when they were uncovered they found a crack. All the while animating the story with the legos. Then we built the rest of the temple REALLY slow cause it took 40 years to build. Then we even found the PERFECT Angel Moroni lego piece. It was yellow and had a circle coming off the side which we pretended was his trumpet. Worked great.
Then her favorite story was about the Nauvoo temple And the sisters crushing their china to make the walls sparkle. Well I knew Lydia didn't know what China was, so I explained it as really pretty plates. So we made lego plates, pretended to eat off of them, they were VERY pretty you know, then we SMASHED out plates on the ground and used the broken pieces to build the temple walls. She REALLY liked smashing the plates. :) BUt it was fun, and Danton got involved also.

It's about time.

I have been really bad about blogging now that I don't have a camera. Hopefully we will get one soon but it all really depends on what happens with the truck. Basically someone hit our truck a couple weeks ago and we are still waiting on the check from the insurance. Can't decide if we want to fix it or sell it.
Anyway, Marisa just sent me a couple CD's full of pics of my kids from when she was here. So I figured I'd post a few now, and a few later, and get my favorite ones up. I found one of Danton that I'm going to print big and frame it. But we didn't get a good one like that of Lydia. Well maybe we did, I'll have to look again. There are a LOT of pictures.

In OTHER news. Danton went poop on the potty for the first and second time yesterday. BIG STEP. He has only gone pee ONCE and that was several months ago. He was sitting in his high chair and said he was pooey. (He usually tells me after he is done) Then I noticed that he wasn't done, he was just starting, so I asked him if he wanted to go poop on the potty he said "uh-huh" so I ran with him to the bathroom, I wiped him up, but I could tell I was taking too long cause he started to fuss. I realized he was HOLDING IT!!! As soon as I sat him on the potty he finished. He liked flushing the potty (a little too much) and washing his hands, and he REALLY liked his sucker. I was super excited. Then just before bed time he did it again. so he got to stay up cause he was eating a sucker. Which was great, cause that also meant that he slept in till 6:30!!!!! WAHOO!!
This is the picture that is going up on my wall. He is just so CUTE!
Lydia on the other hand still gets up a freakin 5 like clock work. No matter how late I keep her up at night. I really despise day light savings. I have threatened to take her new blanket away if she doesn't stay in bed, she lost it yesterday. But today I asked her to go back to bed cause her body needed more rest, and she did. She didn't sleep but as least I got to stay in bed a little longer. She came out of her room at 6:20, so I told her she could have her blanket back.
Oh and with me I got my new calling in our new ward. I'm the Acitivty Day Leader for the 8 and 9 year olds. I don't even have to teach a class! We have an activity twice a month! It's so fun, and I'm so excited about it. :)

The new house with 2 windows

Here are a few of the pictures I posted on FB. I still haven't found my camera yet, but it doesn't matter, I can't take good indoor pictures anyway cause the flash is broken. But Marisa was here a lot last week and I ganked her camera one day and took some pictures.
This place really is big, but as I put things away and fill up the space I think how in the world did we fit in the other place?
Vacuuming is a whole new chore. It takes a while and since I have new carpet :) it fills my vacuum quickly with the lint. But as I vacuum I think "I'm so grateful for this great big house with lots of space"
I got to see my friend Jessica and meet her boy friend yesterday. She was in town and was able to stop by for about an hour. It was so fun. And it's fun to actually have a place that is big enough to have company over with out sitting on top of each other.

A Damsel in Distress

We got Hercules and the Princess and the Frog recently on Netflix. Found out that as much as Lydia loves princess movies, she didn't really care for The princess and the Frog, but she LOVES Hercules. She learned the phrase "damsel in distress" from Hercules.
Today she wanted a towel dress (sometimes she wants a blanket dress) So I warped the towel around her (fully clothed) and tucked it so it would stay up like a dress. Then she went on to play.
I heard her say "I'm a Damsel in Distress". I smiled and said "Are you a damsel in distress Lydia" she turns to me and said
"No...I'm a damsel in this dress" (but "this dress" was pronounced more like dis-dress) seriously, that girls makes me laugh.

Service Auction

A service auction is by far on of my favorite Relief Society activities. I did on in my student ward in ID and it was a ton of fun. Last week we did one for our Relief Society activity in Springfield 3rd ward. It was a big hit too.
Here is how it works.
Everyone (that wants to) writes down what service you want to donate along with your name and number on a card. Everyone got play money and then the auction started. When you have the winning bid, you turn in your money and you get the card with the service and the number of the one providing the service.
People donated things like a month of free piano lessons, help with sewing, FHE treats, breakfast on Conference morning (that one was popular), babysitting, all sorts of stuff. I donated a batch of cinnamon rolls, a glass etching (to be picked by the buyer), and 3 months of free banjo lessons and rental. And all 3 were more popular then I expected. They went for pretty good prices. The one that EVERYONE was bidding on was the free 1 hour massage. People were pooling their money and splitting the massage, and they ended up donating a few more cause it was in such high demand. It was hilarious to see what everyone did to try and get it, and how excited everyone got about it.
It was a fun way to get to know the sisters in our ward, and we all laughed so much. It got a little crazy at times, but it was so fun.
Me, I got 2 free babysitting. Hoping to cash one in this weekend.

The House with 2 windows

Looks like our move in date is for Monday the 27. That was the origional date we set on our paper work, but then we realized that was a Monday, and we'd rather move on the weekend. I called a few days ago to see if we could change the move in date to Friday the 24, but she said they have already scheduled the cleaning and the working around the 27 and we can't change the date. So we get to move on a MONDAY.... yay. It wont be too bad, I think I have everything all worked out as far as getting help, and having meals to eat. The plan is to be all finished packing early Saturday afternoon (which wont be hard, Ive got most of the packing done already, just have the food we will eat this week, a few dishes, clothes, and bathroom essentials. ) and be able to go on a date Saturday evening to relax and get out. Then Sunday dinner with family, and Monday, MOVING DAY.
Yesterday I took the kids over to the new house. I knew we wouldn't be able to go in, but I thought it would be fun for them to see their new yard. We didn't get out when we got there, we just drove past it then turned around and drove past it again. They were installing carpet I think. I saw 2 trucks and lots of tools. So I didn't let the kids get out. We have a nice medium size tree in the front yard that should shade the kids rooms nicely, and a little tiny back yard, which means less to mow. :)
I have packed just about all that I can to the point that if I pack any more we will have to unpack something before we move, and we would be living out of suit cases for a week and a half. So I guess now I get to start the deep cleaning. ...and finding more boxes...

The Princess Walk

I found a trick to getting Lydia to willingly go to bed. When I was little my Dad use to give us rides. First there was the horsey ride, self explanatory. Later, when we got older and needed more then a horse for entertainment, came the space ship ride. THRILLER. It was awesome. We'd sit on our launch pad (a pillow) with our knees up by our chest. Dad would do the count down then grab under our knees and fly us all around the house (sound effects and all of course). Then it evolved and on his arms were imaginary buttons we could push mid flight to navigate our course to bed. Later in trying to be creative, the girls got broom rides to bed. I think I was probably too big for this one when it came about, but Marisa remembers doing it. Dad grabs your feet and does a sweeping motion with you, and your hair acts as the bristles....got it?

Well we live in a house with stairs. Space ship rides are out of the question, and horsey rides...well they turn into piggy back rides. One day after prayers Lydia asked for a horsey ride up to bed, and in the spirit of not-wanting-to-kill-the-horse, I quickly came up with an easier (but fun) alternative.

"How bout a Princess Walk?" No explanation necessary for Lydia, she was BORN knowing how to walk like, talk like, and BE a princess. Hands are flexed but down at your side and have a swaying motion as you walk. Then as we go up the stairs we get princess names, usually they are Princesses she has seen on movies, but one day I was Princess Malta. (?) So we have a princess walk and we talk about princess things all the way to bed, it is very...princessey.
She loves it. She jumps up and gets excited about going to bed EVERY time. I'll have Daddy get a video of it sometime.

not much...

I got a call yesterday morning from Jacob's Landing. They got our file back from Audit, and there were only minor corrections. She said we look good, and to go ahead and put in our 30 days notice. She is sending the corrections back to Audit and we should have our final answer by the end of the week. This is taking forever, but it will be worth it.
Sorry no pictures lately. The flash on my camera is broken, and it is cheaper to buy a new one then to fix it, so It will be a while before we have another camera. IT still takes good out side pictures though. OH and we will be doing family pictures soon. Probably this weekend. Marisa is here from Texas for a while and she is going to take them for us. I'm so excited.
And, Lydia can't decided between going as Giselle for Halloween (from Enchanted, that what she was last year) and a cow boy (with a GUN).

cleaning and packing...yay...

Well we have started the process already. A little early maybe, but that's how we roll. A little bit here and a little bit there chunks away at the big picture and makes the last week MUCH easier. And actually we haven't got the "official" word from the housing weather we got the house or not. Still waiting on it to come back from Audit. But unofficially we have been told that they can't see anything that would keep us from getting it. Anyway we "should" know this week. I said "should" cause the app process is suppose to take 2 weeks, and it's been nearly 4. Shiesh. Its a good thing I started looking for housing plenty early.
It feels so good to get rid of junk though. I'm finding things that have been in the "get rid of" pile from previous moves, and I'm determined to get rid of them this time. The bad part about being 4 1/2 weeks out is then when I get in a packing/cleaning mood there is only so much I can do. There is only so much that we can do with out for a month. ...and there is only so much i can do with my two little helpers...
I'm really hoping we can get a "new" washer and dryer. This set we have now is....well...working...and it's better then nothing. We are going to take some of the money we get from the car and go shopping on craigs list. yippee! Now if I time it just right, we can just get rid of the old ones and bring the new ones straight to the new place. But I'm not holding my breath. I'll just check it every day and wait till I find the deal I'm looking for.
OH, and in other news, Danton went pee on the potty for the first time last week. He has been sitting on the potty on occasion for the last month or so with no luck. Then one evening before bed, his diaper was still dry and I asked if he wanted to go potty. He RAN to the bathroom, and after like 30 sec (or less) he peed on the potty!!!! Yay...well oops, you are suppose to pee IN the potty. We cleaned the seat and his leg and hand and adjusted his aim, and what do you know, he did it again, only this time IN the potty. It was great. ...and we washed hands really REALLY well that time. :)

Ditched the Dish

About a month ago we started our free trial of netflix and decided to cancel our Dish. We were finding that we weren't watching as many shows as we use to, and a lot of what we were watching wasn't that great anyway. And I gotta say, we haven't missed it one bit. Ok, maybe one bit, but just one. Football season just started and Mark doesn't have a tv to watch it on, BUT a friend at church just told him about a web site he could watch the games on, so it's all good.
When we had the dish it was on a lot more then I realized. Daddy would come home and we would try to get dinner on and talk about our days, so cartoons would go on to keep kids busy. And it would go off while we ate, then back on again till scriptures and prayers, then back on to watch our shows with out the kids.
Now, yes we have netfilx with tons of movies available on the wii, but it's on WAY less. A couple veggie tales or fragle rock during the day, daddy gets home and he plugs his ipod touch in to the surround sound and we listen to Internet radio, new songs every day. And the kids LOVE it. I learned a new song on my banjo cause I heard one I really loved, so I looked it up and played it, Daddy has more time to play with the kids. When the dancing starts to get silly they start teasing Daddy. As a family and individually we are all happier, just in general. Less yelling, more laughing. It's truly amazing the difference it's made. We can't get any local channels on our tv cause it's an analogue tv and we don't have a converter box or even an antenna. And I don't think we are going to be getting one any time soon. We still have plenty to watch when we want to, but we have found we are more aware of what we are watching and much less tolerant of things that maybe we shouldn't be watching. I think we are more aware of the spirit that it brings into our home. Plus, I love not EVER having to see commercials or adds.

SOLD! To the cousin in the front row

Well after the girl backed out on buying the car I had a feeling that there was someone who really needed it. So I prayed that we would find who ever it was that needed my car the most. I asked people I knew, and posted it on FB, no one spoke up so I went a head and posted it on Craigs List. Well the very next day (after only a few scam responses) My cousin Jacob posted his status on FB that he REALLY needed a cheap car. He just got a job and had no way of getting there. (that was LAST NIGHT) I quickly responded and he came to my house this morning to seal the deal. AWESOME. I have another parking spot back. AND he likes the car, so that is always good too. :)
AND another thing, a house. I had not been waiting to say ANYTHING about it in case it didn't happen, but I found a rental HOUSE that is the same price as rent here. 3 bed 2 bath, 2 car garage. FANTASTIC. Harder then heck to get in. There are income requirements, have to have good credit, good rental history and a bunch of other stuff. I found the place on line, called to see if they had any openings and they have one opening beginning of Sep, well we wanted to move at the end of Sep, PERFECT. I went in to get an app and I heard someone on the phone telling someone ELSE about this place....not good, you see, they only have ONE opening. You have to have the deposit for them to hold it, but it's a first come first serve. So I took the app home, filled it out and came in not even 10 mins after they opened the next day with the app and deposit. You know what she told me? "I'm so glad you made it back. There were 5 other people who got an app yesterday and YOU were the first one back" !!!!!! wahooo!
So I talked to her today and we passed the first part of the app process, she was getting my file ready to be sent to audit...not really sure what that entails, but she asked for a move in date and said we will come sign papers and pick up keys and garage door openers that day, so I'm like 98% sure we are in. I can't wait to get in a house, and to get the kids in separate rooms.

TAP!! tap tap tap tap tap!

So I thought I was going to have to quit tap for a while. We are trying to free up the budget with the car payment, and (if we get into a house) more utilities (but I"ll talk about that later) Just dont want to stretch it too thin. Anyway, plus Mark is getting back into school and will be taking night classes, so I really wont have any free evenings. But we got it worked out. Karla loves it as much as I do. We cut it back to twice a month, no charge cause she said I teach her as much as she teaches me...yeah, ok I guess that's true. And we will play it by ear, if I can get a baby sitter we will do it during week day mornings, if no Saturday morning. I was prepared (But very sad) to give it up. And now I dont have too!!!!
And on another note, the girl that was going to buy the car found another one (gee, it's a good thing we held on to it for her...) I'm going to post it on Craig's list this week. If any one wants it let me know. 99 ford escort zx2 140,ooo mi, 25-30 mpg for $1,000.

Car Wash

I cleaned up and washed the old car to get it ready to sell. I felt like being out side, so I washed it at home instead of taking it to a car wash. I had a bowl of soapy water and some rags to scrub with. The kids helped. Lydia helped scrub, and Danton dumped out the dirty water for me. And the clean water, and the water the I just brought out side. He was a tremendous help.....(what was I thinking) Then I used my garden watering can to rinse it off, and the kids helped dry. It was all in all a fun and wet...very VERY WET morning. :)And I think we have a buyer.

Danton Read Scriptures

Each night before we send the kids off to bed we do Family scriptures and prayers. Some times Lydia likes to help me read. I read a phrase while pointing to it and she points somewhere else on the page and repeats what I said. A couple days ago Danton wanted the scriptures, so I asked if he wanted to help me read, and he quickly jumped up on my lap. I did the same for him that I do for Lydia only with shorter phrases, and he pointed to a random spot on the page and repeated what I said also. Only we couldn't really understand what he was saying, he had all the inflections in his voice and even got one or two syllables correct. It was SUPER cute.

Ok Tami, here it is

After 8 years, it's sad to see my first car go. LOTS of memories with that car.
Feeling pretty HOT with Jessica and our cars as "Adults" after we graduated (I have a picture, but no scanner, sorry), Getting my first job to pay off my car, My first road trip with out parents with Sheri, going to Idaho for my First semester of Collage (no matter HOW short lived it was), Spur of the moment road trips to Utah and Washington, Getting married (drove to the temple in that car. ), driving back to Idaho, driving our first baby home from the hospital, moving BACK, and various other unmentioned road trips and adventures. OH, not to mention having 2 car seats in the back of that tiny thing.
So I guess it really is time to move on. But, when you go from "Clown Car":
To "Welcome to your second home" :
It makes it a little easier. Isn't it pretty? AND we have the stow N go seating, which we LOVE.

CD player, and cassette, (no DVD, but that's ok) pr windows, locks, and doors (which may not seem like a big deal to any of you, but I have been manually rolling my windows down and had a trunk that didn't LOCK for the past 8 years, so a door that opens ITS SELF is VERY awesome)
and it has a little digital display that tells us temp and gas millage and stuff like that.
So Basically, we LOVE IT!

you know you are getting old when...

You know you are getting old when you get excited about lame things. Things like:

A new Kitchen Appliance
"Cool" silverware
Getting to bed by 9:00 (PM)
Matching linens
Cereal going on sale
Gas dropping .10/gal
And Mini Vans

Yes, I'm excited about a mini van, cause we just BOUGHT ONE!!! (No, I'm not pregnant....I know someone was going to ask) I spent about an hour and a half at the bank this morning with the Kids getting everything squared away. (It originally was just going to be a few mins, but the guy we bought it from ended up coming over so I had to wait for him) The people there were great, giving the kids suckers, stickers, things to color, distracting a cry with an app on their i phone.
I got all the paper work out of the way, now we just need to go pick it up. Soon as Mark gets home we are going.
It's an 05 Dodge Grand Caravan, it's white, and has the stow n go seating, which we LOVE! AND AND AND, it has LESS then 48000 mi on it.
I'll do the picture thing once we get it. I'm a little sad to see my little Ford Escort go. I've had that thing for 8 years, and it's been a GREAT car. Almost every repair has been easy and cheap, something Mark can do in an afternoon.
But let me tell you, I wont miss contorting around the door into the back seat trying to get kids in a buckled (especially in a dress) We have it sold already, but they can't pay fro it just yet. Which is good for Lydia. When I was telling her that she wont ride in Chitty Bang Bang again she started to cry. This will give her a chance to get use to the idea. :) (yeah, she gave the car a hug and KISS yesteday "I love you Chitty Bang Bang!" she said)

Queen of good deals

I LOVE getting a bargain. But it's a good thing that I am a bit of a tight wad by nature, cause that usually keeps me from buying something I don't need just be cause it's a great deal.
To date I think my all time best bargain is our tempurpedic bed. A bed that never goes on sale, EVER, and I got $700 off the exact model I wanted. (yes I'm awesome, please hold your applause till the end)The one I kick my self for not getting was a $1600 violin going for $125. Mark said I should look at it before I buy it so I asked to look at it, they said yes, so when I called for directions she told me she had just sold it. :( live and learn friends (now I have a cheap Chinese model)
Moving on. My most recent great deal was an exercise bike. Not the most exciting purchase in the world, but I was not about to buy one NEW, so I check craigslist. Found 3 that we liked. $150 max price, but preferred $100. Found this one
$237 at Wal Mart new. Posted for $170, bought 2 months ago. I shoot him $150, he offers $165, I give final offer of $155, he takes it. When we went to pic it up, we foudn out that he is LITERALLY just around the corner -convenient.
If we bought it new from Wal Mart we would have had to pay taxes which brings it close to $250, AND we would have had to assemble it.
The only bad thing about this good deal, is now we have a tacky piece of exercise equipment in our living room. :S ...yaaaay (said with a nerdy crackly voice)

Special Family Movie Night

So yesterday we got BOTH kids to take a LONG nap at the SAME TIME up in THEIR ROOM...TOGETHER! Do you know how great that is! (Ok I actually did get a little board but that's not the point)
While they were sleeping We decided it would be fun to get a movie for the kids, and some movie treats, and spread a blanket out on the floor for them. They LOVED it. They each got their pillow (or bear in Danton's case) and a little bowl of pop corn and a little bowl of skittles. They were so cute. If you didn't know, blankets are MAGIC. If you spread a big blanket out on the floor they HAVE to play on it.
I didn't get a picture cause the flash in my camera is broken, but I got a short video on the video camera (which I wont have posted today)
They didn't last the whole movie, which I didn't figure they would. Danton lasted till his food was gone, which surprisingly was about 30 mins. He LOVED the skittles. In the middle of the move we headed up to the tub, he had STICKY hands, a messy face, and a mouth FULL of skittles. It was so cute. Then Lydia came up to the tub too, which was good, they both needed it, but I wish I could have gotten a picture of Danton. It looked like he had gotten a hold of a package of markers. He had bright colors EVERYWHERE, including the back of his neck from laying on pre-sucked-on skittles.
I even got them the little 1/2 size cans of soda, but when it came down to it, we didn't' give them to the kids, too much of a potential mess.
SO they got to stay up late (8:30) and of course Lydia was up like clock work at 6:16...just like EVERY morning. 6:16, I kid you not. Danton is still sleeping....did you catch that? Danton is STILL sleeping. It's 9:02. (I'm keeping Lydia home from church today cause we think she has ring worm, she has a DR appointment tomorrow.....if you were wondering)(which worked out well with Danton sleeping in :)

Dumpster Trumpet

So my bother Marshall got home from his Mission a few weeks ago, and one of the first stories he told us was that he and one of his companions would find all sorts of cool stuff in the dumpsters. His companion Elder Owen was really REALLY tall and as they walked by a dumpster he would just look in. Well As they were walking by one dumpster he said "Hey Adams...want a Trumpet?"They pulled it out and looked at it, and it was actually in pretty good condition. So to bring it home with him, Marshall had to vacuum pack (which he also found the bags in a dumpster) all his stuff to get the trumpet in there too.I had to take a look at it when he got home, and the Trumpet is nothing special, but it's in much better condition then both mine and Marshall's trumpets. I just thought that was cool. "Woah, hey look, a FREE trumpet!"Marshall came over one night with my cousin cause they were bored, and hungry and we started talking about Music. Before he went on his mission he use to brag that he could play more instruments then any of his siblings. He loves music just as much as I do, so it was fun talking music with him. He asked if I still play my trumpet and I said I do. Not very often, but I try to pull all my instruments out and play for my kids (not all at once, I'm good, but I'm not THAT good :) ) Then, (this is the good part) THEN he said I could HAVE the trumpet he found!!!!! WHAT!?!?! Ok. :)
He came over to baby sit a few days later and brought it with him. And of course now Lydia thinks it's HER trumpet and she tells me she is going to play it in High School. (which is fine by me :) )So today I pulled it out to really play it. (now my lips are not what they use to be. I can't play for 2 hours any more, 20 mins is about my max) But he gave me his extra mouth piece too, which is cool cause now I have 3 different mouth pieces (which makes it's easier to play different things) It was fun, the "dumpster trumpet" just needs a little cleaning, the valves stick a bit. The trumpet is, and has always been my favorite instrument...and now I have TWO!! :) Thanks Uncle Marshall!

Weekend with the Fam

This weekend was SO FUN! (and it's not quite over yet) It started Friday, Mike and Marisa got here early in the morning, so when Mark got off work we all headed in...LOADED. (We stopped at Wal Mart to get Lydia's pink fishing rod and tackle box first) We all went out to Grandpa Adams' for a bon fire. The guys left first to go shoot guns before the little ones got there. It was fun. Just playing in the water with the kids, cooking over the fire, and hanging out.


Saturday was a long but again FUN day. We ALL went to Silver Dollar City. We got a babysitter (actually 3) at Grandma's house so all the little kids could have a fun cousin day together. So it was most of the siblings, and baby Owen. ( We really missed Garry, Sheri, and Keith) :( We all did stuff together, but mostly we split up, guys and girls.

Girls on American Plunge

Dad got ice cream for all the girls :) We just sat and visited for a while, that was fun.

We got Lilly to go on Thunderation for the first time.

Then she wanted to go AGAIN.This was our "High Five Sister Ride"

Girls with Mom

Girls with Dad

"That. Was. AWESOME!!!"

Sunday we went to Willard Ward. Mark had to stay home cause he woke up with pink eye. :(
Then we hung out at the house till Lilly's baptism. Danton entertained him self...

I made a mirror for Lilly and she wanted to open it after church instead of waiting for the baptism, so I gave it to her then.

It's white lily's which are a symbol of purity.

This was everyone (in the family) who could come.

Sisters again...only this time looking good

The weekend wore Lydia OUT!

I say it's not quite over yet cause after Mark gets home we are driving down to Grandma Willis's for FHE tonight. Marshall and my cousin Jacob who both just got home from their missions are going to give a mission report tonight.
And this week Dave and Kendra get here WOO yeah! We are BUSY and I LOVE IT!!