I shall return

LOADS of homework+craft show in two weeks+kids off track+sister moving cross-country in two weeks+ housework(ha ha)+children wanting to be fed occasionally=no blogging.

Some day I'll catch up- maybe in December after finals...

Lego cake

For historical purposes:

This is the Lego cake I made for my nephew's first birthday.

It was a huge hit with the kids! (The parents didn't turn it down either!)

Not my smoothest frosting job, but we'll let it go this time...

Reality Check

Do you ever have those times when you feel like you can't do anything right? I am in a bit of a funk right now.
Logically I know I am a smart, capable, valuable person but discouragement still rears its ugly head. I decided I need to make a list of some of my accomplishments & goals achieved over the last year. Hopefully seeing them together will help me remember all the good things I have done and help me not to dwell only on my shortcoming! You, dear reader, are my sounding board- but you are free to stop reading here! Ü

In no particular order:
Got up the courage to join Weight Watchers, lost 35 pounds
Ran- RAN- a 5K
Got up the courage to go back to school to finish my degree
So far I have Straight A's
Coordinated a yard sale that helped a family with huge medical bills
Helped build a float for the Days of 47 Parade
Hiked with my family and liked it!
Got down to a size of clothing I haven't seen in years
Grew out my bangs- this took more patience than I thought I had
I no longer tremble in fear before teaching Gospel Doctrine each week
Learned to say NO once in a while
Improved my sewing repertoire
Got two street lights installed
Actively participated as a county delegate for the Republican convention
Own my problems & take responsibility for my choices


I hopefully can think of a few more, but that should keep me going for a bit...

Halloween Party book

I promised I would tell you about the great book for school parties, so here you go!

It is called Halloween School Parties: What Do I do? by Wilhelminia Ripple ; illustrated by Heather Anderson.

It has so many great ideas- and not just Halloween. The beginning of the book gives tips about how to be an effective room mother & how to recruit other parents to help in the classroom. Many of the game and activities can be easily adapted for other themes or settings. I highly recommend this book! I got it at the library. It is also available various places online, along with her other titles.

I tried to put a picture here, but it didn't work, so you'll have to take my word for it.

More Little Birdie fun

In case you don't remember, one of my favorite idea blogs is Little Birdie Secrets. There is a button at the bottom of my blog for ever and ever for your convenience.

A little while back, they had a funny idea for a personalized gift using melted chocolate & molds. I love that kind of stuff and thought I'd pass it along in time for your Halloween fun- or any occassion. Nothing says love like chocolate teeth!

Check out their marshmallow monsters, too!

Halloween Bingo cards you customize

I made super cute Bingo cards for Aubrey's class party from this website that I LOVE. Just wanted to remind you it is available! A must-use for room mothers, party throwers and every mother in between! I also need to tell you about a great book that I found at the library for planning class parties. It will have to wait since I'm getting ready for a PTA meeting. Hehehe

My new nephew

This is my newest nephew, Jason. (My kids have been calling him Crash for months, so we'll have to get used to the name.)

He was born to Hill & Steve on Tuesday night & we are all so excited to see him here- safe & healthy! Congratulations Arveseth family!!!

This is another of my sisters- I know Kat is too skinny to have just given birth. Hill's delivery went quickly enough that the rest of us are a little bitter, but if she looked like this right after giving birth, we'd disown her. She looks really great, but not quite this chipper yet!

He already has excellent taste in fashion!

Abi & Emma wanted him to be a puppy if he couldn't be a sister, but they have welcomed him happily.

The happy family on the ride home from the hospital. If you can enlarge the picture, notice Emma glaring at him in the background. I love the look on her face!

Thanks to all who posted pics on facebook, which I stole & posted here. Hill's labor progressed so quickly that I didn't have my camera at the hospital because I thought there'd be nothing to photograph while I was there!

Concussion Reprocussion

Watching Conan's recap of his concussion last night reminded me of my own should-have-shought- medical-attention-because-I-probably-had-a-concussion experience last year.

If you'd like to take a stroll down slight-amnesia lane, look here.

Mommy's crutches

No, I'm not injured. Perhaps some wounded pride, but what else is new!

I have recently discovered that I am the walking wounded. I have been relying, to various degrees, crutches that I thought were my children's vices. Turns out they were mine.

Until two weeks ago, Lydia was a closet bottle drinker. Only at nap time, bed time, and any other time I thought she needed a chill pill. Two weeks ago we were heading to Moroni for the weekend. I purposely didn't bring a bottle, thinking this would be the perfect- albeit torturous- opportunity to lose the bottle. I would handle her screaming and freaking out while we broke the habit. Guess what. She didn't care.

She asked for milk in a bottle. I told her I was sorry, but we only had cups at Grandma's. She then asked for milk in a cup instead. What! No emotional scarring like Jenna had when we tossed the pacifiers! I thought it might be a fluke since the cousins were around for distraction, so I made sure Tim got rid off all the bottles and associated paraphernalia before we returned. I think she has mentioned it twice. I show her the cupboard where the bottles use to be, which now has cups. She calmly asks for a cup and we move on with life.

I ask you, who was the addict?

Crutch #2. The television. I have always been a TV junkie. Downgrading our cable freed up my time immensely! Unfortunately, I noticed my kids picking up the habit. And tuning mom & dad out when the TV is on. I admit to turning on a show (or shows) for them to watch so I can get homework or housework done.

This week we are doing a TV-free experiment. It is only for after-school time this week. (Let's be real about this.) We made a schedule of what we were going to do from the time Jenna got out of school until we sat down for dinner. The girls were hesitant in the morning when I talked to them about it, but we had a wonderful afternoon! They are also intrigued by the promise of a special something Thursday if we meet our goal. (They don't know we are going to the Jazz game!)

We started snack time on the way home by stopping for happy hour at Sonic, played with play dough for an hour, part of that time I read to them to satisfy the 20 minute reading goal for Aubrey, and part of Jenna's reading time. We did homework with no resistance, chores were easier, the table was set for dinner, the kids even picked fresh tomatoes for me to put in our spaghetti for dinner!

Jenna commented that it was so much more fun to make up her own games & challenges during art time than it was to watch other kids do things on her favorite "Ruff Ruffman." Aubrey told me usually she is bored when watching TV. What have I done to my kids!

Now, I don't plan completely ban the television forever, but it was so peaceful in our house yesterday! FHE even flowed smoothly! I was once again ashamed to see that the crutch was mine, no theirs.

If you find me slumped over somewhere, please prop me up on a broom or something and be patient. I'm learning to maneuver without my crutches!

The time is now!

If you are looking to buy a home or refinance your mortgage, this is the time!

We are about to refinance with our awesome mortgage guy (my dad) and the rate- 3.875% on a 5/1 ARM! We will be reducing our monthly payment by more than $300 a month!

Ask for Gary at 801-943-1999. Tell him Corrine sent you!