Odds and Ends

A few bits of miscellaneous items:

Miscellaneous #1: Our Christmas Shopping is 90% done. I am now an official online shopper. It all began 3 years ago when we saw a nice GPS for a great deal at one of the Black Friday sales. John got up early to pick up his Guitar Hero Wii stuff, then headed over to Office Max to pick up the GPS only to find out it was a bait and switch tactic. He tried a couple other stores, but they were either all gone or it wasn't a very good deal. I remember being quite sad as I had my heart set on one. Online shopping saved the day when we got an even better deal shopping from the comfort of our own home.

Then last year when we were hibernating with baby Megan, I did almost all of our shopping online. Now I'm just plain sold on sitting down at the computer and doing my shopping with a few clicks and - DONE - no more hopping across town from store to store. I even had John sit down and pick out the things he wanted to get. One stop shopping is my way to go - and we got some great stuff on sale with free shipping. For me, it can't possibly get any better than this.

Miscellaneous #2: I am now the proud owner of a Pfaff Sewing Machine, the only sewing machine I can actually sew on. And trust me, I've tried a lot - Bernina, Singer, Wal-Mart Special, etc. and for some reason, my non-sewer hands keep gravitating towards the Pfaff and its miraculous helper foot thingie behind the main sewer foot, thus making my sewing actually look good.

Over the years, we have continually borrowed my sweet mother-in-laws machine and every time reminding ourselves we really needed to get our own. Don't get me wrong, we have tried finding a nicely priced used one, but had no such luck, so when my neighbor said she was just going to drop her slightly used Pfaff at the DI unless I wanted it, I told her I'd be right over.

I hope you are sitting down for this announcement because it is so shocking....

I plan on making a few Christmas gifts on my sewing machine as soon as I get it back from the guy giving it a tune-up. I know, shocking, but I found some easy patterns that I'm excited to try. I will post pictures after Christmas as several of my blog readers will be my sewing gift recipients.

Miscellaneous #3: We had a fabulous Thanksgiving, filled with plenty of food and even better, surrounded by family. At one point during our feasting, a young woman came into the church house where we were at practically in tears because she couldn't find her family. She thought they were also celebrating at a local church house, but couldn't find them. I haven't forgotten how sad she looked and hope she found her family. I was grateful I knew where my family was and even those who were celebrating far away, they were close to my heart.

I think that's enough miscellaneous for now. Off to continue relaxing and fighting off the pumpkin pie temptations.

"But, It's Too Cold For a Parade!"

...this said by Kimberly as we bundled up with our parade blankets, gloves, hats and scarfs on the way to a parade in Layton celebrating the opening of the new freeway interchange and the road work on Main Street leading up to it.


I had to cover the event for my paper anyway, so I hauled all of the kids too so they could enjoy the massive amounts of free food they were handing out. I mean good stuff too - entire muffins, large pieces of yummy cake, popcorn, hot chocolate, cotton candy...my kids made out like bandits, and the cold was no longer an issue for them.

The parade was fun and not too long - even better. Of course, candy is essential for parades, and this one was no exception. It was pretty funny watching the kids trying to navigate candy wrappers with their gloves.

And who gets to see a parade with Santa waving from the driver's seat of a humungo front loader? (sorry no pics). I herded my crew over to see the lighting ceremony after the parade, then off to see Santa in one of the stores. When all was said and done, a very fun morning.

I think perhaps a big-miss-someone may be getting a titch too big for the big fellas lap.

And of course, no sign of Natalie going anywhere near Santa.
Does this really come as a surprise?

And in case you all were wondering, I have survived John's business trip as he comes home this afternoon - Yay! And just in case you missed it the first time, that would be YAY!! (yes, in very capital letters). Sadly, he may have another one in December, but I'll try not to think too much about that.

Since my Grandpa Joe needed to go to Virgina for a week, my Grandma Lynn joined me for a few days. We had a wonderful time, even enjoying a play put on by our stake last night. She also got up this morning and made Swedish hotcakes for us all. For those who may not know, this is a much-loved tradition I absolutely love about my grandma. I may have to have her come down more often when John is out of town.

A Glimpse into Our Life with All Girls...

Only one suit in the mix - poor John surrounded by dress fluff.

I was reading some of my friends blogs recently, (yup, it could even have been yours, oh fellow blog reader of mine), when I was hit with the realization that my life raising all girls is quite different when compared to families who have sons added into the mix. I had read a blog about one family's adventures with wrestling and basketball camp. I headed onto another blog reading about cub scouts, another with their son decked out looking oh-so-handsome on his way to a school dance, and yet another about their son's skate boarding party.

I had an ah-ha moment. I will never, no never, experience any of those moments. My life is filled with buying frilly dresses, (and yes, I know where and when all the great dress sales are - if you're wondering, Easter and Christmas), straightening, curling, and blow drying unruly girl's hair (and constantly fixing the beautician-to-be's continual hair cuts), totally girl-themed parties, overflowing boxes of dress-up, barbie paraphernalia everywhere, too many bins to count of kitchen dishes and pretend food, and the gazillion or so craft projects laying around with the gadgets and gizmels to accompany said craft.

In fact, we were at a cabin with some friends a few months ago and I had brought a few crafts to keep the kids busy. One of the dads, who has all boys, turned to me and asked how often my girls do crafts because, and I quote, "my boys just don't do crafts - ever." What? A house without glue sticks stuck to the table, glitter on the floor, and tape, markers, crayons, etc. littering my counters causing my OCD havoc?

By no means would I change any of it. I love my girls beyond words. Besides, am I really missing out on much when I have this in my life 24/7:

We go through at least a watercolor paint tray a month (no, make that two).

Kimberly

Alicia

Alicia working on yet another craft. I buy glue in bulk.
Oh, and all forms of tape are a permanent fixture on my grocery list.

Kimberly and Alicia's room after they "decorated" it.

Kimberly and Alicia

Alicia and Kimberly in dress ups

Natalie

Alicia - notice the Barbie stuff on the bed behind her.

Not one ioda of boy costumes are found in our Halloween box :(

...and yes, you are reading the time right on this posting. It is almost midnight. I really need to get my sleepy head to bed, but I have such a hard time dragging myself up to a lonely bed while John is on business trips (see posting below).

Survival Mode

I'm in survival mode right now because John is on another business trip. I need to get used to these because the current project he is on will require several more before all is said and done. So, that means, I have to learn how to make this work or I will go insane.

Things that help me survive:

* Cell phones so I can talk to John every day (not quite sure how that one is going to work out when he has to do the Italy and Australia trips, but gosh darnit, those airplane miles will sure come in handy down the road).
* Per Diem. Money in our pocket. Thanks John for eating homemade dinner at the condo rather than eating out so we can pocket the extra money not spent.
* Having older girls who can stay at home if I need to run a quick errand so I'm not having to drag the whole herd around.
* Dinner out (fast food of course so I can go through the drive thru) and movie nights with the girls. It makes the weekend manageable.
* My great family (and I'm lucky to have two sets) who have us over for dinner, let us spend time with them, and of course, long phone chats with various family members - thank goodness for unlimited long distance.
* Loving friends who invite me over for lunch, call and chat with me so I can have actual adult interaction, and help babysit my little ones so I can get out.

And last, but definitely not least, full-days at school for the older ones. I seriously was about ready to rip my hair out with the girls home early from school EVERY day last week for parent teacher conferences. Blessed quiet this week...here I come!! (That is, until 4 p.m. hits).

Learning How To Give

This month is Thanksgiving, right? Which just so happens to be a compound word. Yup, dragged that word out of my junior high English memory. A time to give thanks. I just so happened to finish writing a story about one of the biggest giving projects in the world. Funny, I'd never heard of it until now. There is something wrong with this picture. Regardless, I decided to jump on the giving bandwagon and get the girls involved.

The giving project you ask? Operation Christmas Child. In a nutshell, you buy simple toys, school supplies, hygiene products and cram them into a shoe box to send to another child in another country. From my interviews, I learned that over 500,000 volunteers worldwide hand-deliver around 8 million shoe box gifts to hurting kids around the world. This year the focus will be on the children in Haiti as well as children in 100 other countries.

I decided that my girls needed to learn how to think about others this season and decided to do a box of our own. While we were driving to the dollar store on Saturday so they could spend some of their recently acquired money, I talked to them about spending some of their dollars to help fill a box for another little girl who has nothing in a different country. One daughter was more than thrilled to help out. The other daughter took a little convincing, but once we started picking things out at the store, she began warming up to the idea.

One of the gals I spoke to helped deliver some of the boxes in Jamaica. Once they got past the resort areas, their team realized how devastating life was for the children there. They were living in slums and school was held at a compound surrounded by armed guards to protect them from the gang wars. The kids had nothing in the way of school supplies, so they had no way to do their school work. The kids there were so excited to get paper from the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, as well as flip flops to cover their bare feet, and a luxury - a toothbrush that one family shared as a family since they had none.

I was touched by the stories I heard while writing my story and decided we had to participate. One of the fun parts is the program encourages you to include your photo and a letter, and in some cases, the kids receiving the boxes write back. I hope my kids have learned something from the experience because I certainly did.

If any of you are interested in participating, the official collection week is Nov. 15 - 21. There are collection sites all over the country. Click here for more details http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/

A Tale of Two Tires...by John

It was the best of roads, it was the worst of roads. Charles Dickens is rolling in his grave now! :)

Last week I had the pleasure of picking up a nail while driving through a construction zone on I15. Can you believe it, road construction in Utah! It doesn't happen very often. :) Half way through, my car started complaining about tire pressure in the right rear tire. Seriously, it knew which tire. By the time I pull over, memories of ten years earlier when I nearly cut the tread off the sidewall come back. Not a pleasant experience at freeway speeds. This time around, the tire had only deflated part way. Phew, don't need to buy a new tire!

I grew up fixing cars with my Dad, who grew up fixing cars with his Dad. Add a couple more Grandpas who have fixed a lot of cars, and I don't mind getting under the hood. It's kind of fun; I get to use repair words fixing the car! :D Anyway, I was taught that when the dash lights come on, it's too late. Many years later, I think I like these new dash lights that warn you before it's too late. Now, if I can only get the radio to work ... :)

Halloween Weekend-O-Fun (and rain)

We had a great Halloween weekend. With three Halloween parties on Friday, carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating on Saturday and Finger Making on Sunday - we lived the holiday up to its fullest.

This year John decided to cut carving time in half by bringing out his power tools.

Success. We were done in an hour, as compared to our usual several-hour marathon.

Oops. I was trying to take this picture so fast in the rain, I didn't notice that Natalie is completely blocking Kimberly's fairy pumpkin. She carved most of it herself.

And speaking of rain, this is how the girls went trick-or-treating this year because of the rain. Lucky John got to go out with them. They all came home sopping wet. Luckily, their candy managed to stay dry, though I'm not sure how. Miracle from the candy goddess I'm sure.

And last, but certainly not least, the infamous fingers. This year the girls did them all by themselves. John and I have been making them together for so long, we have a good system down - John is the perfect finger maker and I am the accessories gal. However, this year we decided to let the girls completely loose and make them all by themselves. I must say, it is the funniest tray of fingers I've ever seen! I especially love Natalie's 'blob' fingers.

Now I must begin taking down all of the Halloween decor and trading it our for Thanksgiving paraphernalia. Good thing I don't have a ton of decorations.