Housework Haiku

All day long I work
my hands do clean and wipe up
melted snow and mud

Holiday Happenings

Christmas is over, and it was fantastic. I fixed Elizabeth's sketch book purse by using my seam ripper to take out some of the lines and the lay was much better. (Please tell me another word to use.... lay of the fabric. What else do you call it?)

I really love this little play kitchen Santa got for Leah. It was only $60 and is

very sturdy and nice.

I was bound and determined to make this one, but it never happened. I had all the plans to go to Ikea in Utah over Thanksgiving and get the supplies, but our Black Friday meant Flu Friday.

I love this toy kitchen. (Copied from Ohdeedoh.)





Nathan got a hydration pack.





Sledding does make you thirsty, ya know. I don't know where the snow

went in this picture, but it was there.

See!

Leah went down the hill saying "more, more, more" all the way down.

I feel a little bad about complaining in my last post about financial woes. Did it sound like complaining? I was just stating the facts. I actually still feel like I am stuck in November. It is still Thanksgiving time for me. Everywhere I look there are blessings. Even when I get a large unexpected bill that wipes out my piddly savings, I am grateful that the savings was there. I can feed my kids and make them gifts and they are healthy. I have sight and a home and my husband works and most of all I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.

A friend told me money problems are the best problems to have because they are easily fixed by simply earning more and spending less. I couldn't agree more.

Rage Against the (sewing) Machine

I felt inspired about six weeks ago to start making Christmas presents. I thought it was only because I wanted Christmas to be more meaningful and homemade. I'm glad I listened because we have had a load of financial poop dropped on our heads. It has been nice to have some presents that I didn't have to spend hardly anything on.

I thought this one would be my favorite. The idea is, but I just couldn't make it right. It involved math and measurements and pattern making which are all apparently beyond my skills.

It is a sketch book and pencil holder made for Elizabeth.

I have made little crayon rolls before. I don't know how but I ended up with too many pencil pockets and it made them a tight fit- which makes the front bunch up and look not so cute.

I do like the buttons on the back, it keeps it all together tightly and she can carry it around like a little purse.

Even with the bunched up front I hope she'll like it. Carolyn said "That's for me right?" I guess if she likes it then Elizabeth will. The sketch book was bought with a Michael's coupon for $6 and the twistable colored pencils were only $3. Not bad I think. Maybe when I want to look at my sewing machine again I will make another in the right width. Right now the machine is not my friend. I'm glad I made it, but there was some muttered words uttered that children should not hear. (don't tell).

p.s. I know nothing about the band rage against the machine and have no idea if their music is good- or horrible.

Tis the season for portraits

Eddie's cousin wanted pictures for his Grandma Arnold. I kept thinking we would go take some outside. It is snowing. It never happened. So, I took some brown fabric and hung it up to make our own home portrait studio.

Leah's is awfully cute.

I like pictures that show some personality.



The next model was very uncooperative and this one was unfortunately the best option.

This week Nathan came home from school and told me what a good day he had- because when someone kicked him all he did was tell the teacher. When I hugged him he squeezed back.

I suggested chapstick but she refused.

When I look through our pics there are just about none of me. So, I let Nathan take this one. Abreva is not working on this cold sore.

And, the dad.

Wait, this one is cuter. He does have hair, it's just hiding in the background color.


Also, my pictures always look kinda blurry on here. They are better on my computer file. Is that because I use free ninety-nine blogspot? Oh, well. They aren't great, but they are taken. In my book it counts.