Logan begins pre-school!

Better Late Than Never, Right?

Man oh man...blogging is falling by the wayside these days. Things around here have been really busy (really good, but busy).


***Logan started pre-school at Willamette Christian (3 days a week)
***I just started working on my Master's Degree in Education (specifically reading)
***Mason has had some stomach pain issues (lots of blood work and an CT scan)
***I am back to MOPS (co-coordinator this year)
***BSF has started back up (we are all attending and studying Isaiah)
***Mason and Mya are potty training (yuck! yuck! yuck!)
***Onion Harvest is in full swing (which means I am an onion widow and single mama for the time being)

Thursday is our only 'open' day and that is typically reserved for catch-up around the house or playdates with people we don't get to see due to this new crazy schedule. I used to use my free moments to update our blog, but now I have set the time aside for homework. I am trying really hard to keep up our family scrapbook so when I get a few moments I will upload the current pages. Blessings!

Melts a mama's HEART!

Chic...

This is my new chic, cash-only organizer. I am super excited because I love ANYTHING and everything that is CUTE and allows me to be more organized! I have struggled to find a way to make myself more accountable for my ‘discretionary spending’ (coffee, clothes, home décor, crafts, party planning…). This is the what I came up with…I will let you know how it goes!

Saving Money in Style...1000 Markets!  Love it, Love it, Love it!

It Starts Early!

Lately...

 

Guaranteed Laugh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2_9H0jzXRM

Mya's Monster Truck Adventure!

Yesterday was the Homer Davenport parade in Silverton. Our friend Dan was going to be in the parade driving his monster truck (the Full Bore enforcer). Ryan was going to ride with Dan so we thought that Logan might get a kick out of riding with them in the parade and throwing candy rather than just watching from the curb this year. To our surprise, Logan declined and instead wanted to go to the parade with Grammy, Nana and his cousins. Since Logan turned us down I figured for sure Mason would want to ride in the monster truck with us and throw candy. Nope, he too declined the offer. That left little Miss Mya (the more unlikely candidate in our minds) who was ecstatic at the idea of riding in the parade. She LOVED every minute of it. She waved and smiled like a true little princess. I think she ate more candy than she threw, but she really loved it. Here are a few snapshots of our ‘parade debut’!

House Envy

Each time I check my e-mail, random articles and pop-ups appear in an attempt to lure me away from my original goal, which is to check my e-mail.  Typically the distractions that appear on my screen are links to articles about really strange things and people or random tidbits relating to pop culture.  All that to say, this morning there was an article about house envy.  I succumbed to the 'time-wasting' temptation and checked out the article.  It turned out to be a really insightful!  I bet most of you will agree that many of us have been there at one time or another.  Check  it out, I think you'll find it interesting and even a little bit humorous!   
http://www.shelterpop.com/2010/08/03/in-love-with-another-house/?icid=mainmaindl3link1http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shelterpop.com%2F2010%2F08%2F03%2Fin-love-with-another-house%2F

Tutorials!

A few of you have asked about those various tu-tu and flower tutorials.  Here they are... Thanks Amy for sending them my way!

1. Flower (very cool video tutorial)
http://houseof3designdistrict.blogspot.com/2010/02/rolled-fabric-flower-tutorial-using.html

2. Tu-tu
http://www.designmom.com/2008/12/tulle-tutorial/

3. Satin Ribbon wrap
http://treasuresfortots.blogspot.com/2009/10/diy-satin-wrap-tutu.html

Presenting...my first tu-tu!

 Well, here is the completed project.  My very first no-sew tutu! Last week at a birthday party, one of Logan's little grill-friends (as he so affectionately calls them) received one of these as a gift.  I was SO impressed, and the crafty-mama who gave the gift was kind enough to send me some tutorials.  Did this come out cute or what?  Truth be told, I would have chosen a different color scheme, but when I went to Wal-Mart last night (with my kids at 8:00 pm...not very smart) I was determined to get ALL the supplies necessary to complete the project and Wal-Mart's ribbon selection was extremely limited, to say the least.  So, I just got what they had so I could get to work.  I even made the little broach myself (thanks to another tutorial that crafty mama sent over).  Well, thanks for humoring me!  I hope you like this!

Documenting History!

Is this mean?  I can't help myself but snap pictures whenever the time seems appropriate (or I see it as a funny blog post in the future).  I am just documenting life as I know it, that's all.

Well, Mason officially has one loose front tooth and one crooked front tooth.  I called our family dentist this morning as well as a pediatric dentist in the area and there were mixed responses.  Of course the pediatric dentist thought he should be seen by the dentist  and the family dentist thought that I should just monitor him and bring him in if the teeth didn't firm up in the next week or so.  I choose to follow the advice of the latter.  Both dentists said that he was too young to x-ray  so I figured that I would just keep an eye on him.  Mason slept fine last night and has been up to his old adventursome antics already today so we will just wait and see.  I think he will come out of this little episode totally unscathed and ready to face another adventure!

Seriously! Who does that?

Today was a crazy day.  We had two 'teeth incidents' in our home today!

The day started out  in a relatively normal fashion until I heard my middle child (by only 6 minutes) cry out a SCREAM that any mama recognizes as 'a scream that may require medical attention'.  I know you know the scream.  The one that sends you running like a track star in socks on a slippery floor.  Truth be told, I really didn't even want to know what happened because....well, I didn't have the energy for it (and daddy was home...I figured it was his turn).  As Ryan called for me to come help him (which is never a good sign), I saw Mason holding his mouth.  He was running, tripped and had fallen into the coffee table.   One of his front teeth had found a new home, or position, I suppose.  His tooth now sat sort of sideways and his gum was bulging and white.  I was definitely worried about his little tooth, but I also knew that we had to get to my grandma's 80th birthday party in Eugene and I didn't think there was much we could do for him today (on Sunday) ,so we gave him so Motrin and continued getting everybody ready. 

After an hour  or so of cuddling and some reading, Mason was ready to play while I finished getting ready.  (Boy am I lucky we started getting ready rather early today...a rarity in all honesty) .  I kid you not, about 20 minutes later I hear another SCREAM (that same scream that indicates a potential need for medical attention) from my adventurous middle child.  He had fallen off a toy car and landed smack dab on his mouth.  This time blood was going everywhere and his mouth was swollen like a monkey.  That same sideways tooth was now a very loose sideways tooth AND the tooth next to it had some wiggle to it too. What are the odds?  Seriously, who does that?

 Needless to say, we will be getting to the dentist bright and early tomorrow morning.  With the help of Motrin (can I get an Amen?) and a car ride full of new videos and soft snacks, we did indeed make it to my Grandma's 80th birthday party.  Praise the Lord!

Those of you who spend much time with us know that Mason is an adventurous soul with a mischevious spirit and strong will.  I have a feeling he will be our kiddo who demonstrates great leadership potential, but as a two-and-a-half year old he is an accident looking for a place to happen. I pray for his safety in the upcoming years (seriously).

Wish us luck tomorrow!

Pickin'

NOA

There is an organization called the National Onion Association (NOA).  They meet twice yearly in different places throughout the country, and this meeting happened to be in Portland, Oregon.  It is attended by farmers and lots of other people associated with the industry.   If you are furrowing your brow right now I completely understand.  I distinctly remember when Ryan and I were dating and he mentioned the NOA (and then had to clarify for me what exactly it was).  I was sort of chuckling  (okay really laughing) inside simply because it seemed rather odd to me.  A whole organization devoted to a vegetable that costs less than $1.00?  Weird.  Anyways, a lot has changed since then and now I appreciate onions as  the means to our livlihood.  I no longer see farmers as pitchfork toting, overall wearing old guys but rather saavy businessmen who go to college, dress totally normal and have a great love for agriculture.  All that to say, I had to devote a moment to explaining the NOA.  The first night of the meeting was a banquet and auction.  Our good friend Dan was the auctioneer and it was a blast.  Truth be told, I was thrilled to throw a dress on and get out of the house.  Great food, good friends and fabulous entertainment.  The second day included a Willamette Valley tour with a lunch stop at our shop for lunch.  Greg and Judy (Ryan's parents) hosted a fabulous lunch with 250 people, a catered lunch and an antique car show.  It was a really good time! 

Happy Birthday Papa!

High School Reunion!

I finally got around to posting some pictures from my 10 year class reunion!  It was so exciting to see my gal pals (and other classmates too)!  We had a family picnic that morning and a dinner (minus kiddos) in the evening.  I didn't take any photos at the picnic earlier in the day (which I am super bummed about) but these are some of the pictures from our evening.  Our family stayed with Denee's parents along with she, Travis and Aksel.  Staying up late with Denee', working on projects, laughing (you get the idea) totally took me right back to high school.  It was a wonderful weekend to relax and enjoy my family while also reminissing with friends.  I am so grateful to the Lord that I look back on my high school years with fondness.  I truly enjoyed my years at TBS and loved the opportunity to revisit my old stomping grounds and great friends! What a blessing!

Me, Denee, Kristin and Becca! Now if we had just had Molly and Heidi, we would have had us all!

Everybody was cracking up at how much Ryan looked like this guy I went to high school with.  I figured that we better take a picture so that you guys could decide.  What do you think?

Look like twins?  Or is it just the dark hair?

Cheers!

Denee', Elya and I worked together to plan the reunion for our class!

Still Besties after all these years!

Signature Tutorial

I have mentioned to a few of you that I would share the tutorial I found on how to add a signature to the end of your blogger post.  I AM NOT good at coming up with anything fancy for my blog, but adding my signature was so stinkin' easy (thanks to the great tutorial). 

http://shabbyblogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/tutorial-how-to-add-custom-signature-to.html

I opted to create a signature online.  I thought this site was awesome and so simple!

http://mylivesignature.com/ 

Good Luck!

Stars and Stripes...

Happy 4th of July friends!