Garage shelves Dec 2014

After living here for 3 years I finally got around to building some garage shelves.  I needed to make them custom for our space and really it is so much cheaper when you make them yourself. I went to homedepot to get my supplies and was lucky enough to come across a sheet of plywood that had a cut in it.  The cut didn't affect my project and I was able to get the sheet for 70% off.  Woo Hoo! It only took me 45 minutes to actually build the shelves and another 10 to install them.  When ever I do a project like this and the time is realativly easy I always think "why did it take me so long to get around to doing this project?"  It always comes down to priorities, sometimes I just need to get them straight.
Scott helped me install the stacked shelves and I was able to install the single one all on my own.  He came home and wanted to make sure that my install was sound because that little shelf rests right over his car.  I assured him that I put all the stuff on and then set Peter on top and hung on it myself to make sure it was sound. (yep I used my child for a safety test.  But I wouldn't have put him in any danger I was sure my work would hold). Scott looked a little skeptical but eased up after inspecting my work.  I never doubted;)

Christmas gokart Dec 2014

We decided to get William a gokart for Christmas this year.  I was remembering back to my childhood and we had a go kart or 2 around his age and I just remembered how much fun we had driving it.  I kept my eyes open and searched KSL and the facebook yardsale sights until I found it.  I really wanted one that was simple enough that he could learn the mechanics of it.  In my mind this is the perfect time to teach him about engines and I want him to be able to learn how one works and how to take care of it, even fix it if needed.  A little machine like this is the perfect tool to teach him that. We are also able to adjust the top speed of this go kart so he can get used to driving at a speed he is comfortable with.

It was a little funny that we mentioned to some of our friends that we were getting Willliam a go kart that they decided to get their son a go kart.  The went all out and bought a nice new one totally decked out.  At first I felt a little underwhelmed about our little go kart until I remembered the reason we went with this one.  

William was over the moon with his little ride.  He was so cautious with it he wanted me to turn the speed down.  I told him it was as slow as the engine would go and assured him he was doing fine.  After some practice he got that thing zooming at its top speed of 35 mph. without any qualms.  Mister safety does insist on wearing his helmet which I am grateful for but he also added a bungee chord seat belt that I think is a little ridiculous. 

Christmas boutique Dec 2014

My mom invited me to do a Christmas boutique with her this year.  I came up with the idea of putting Chistmasie (yes that's a word in my book) vinyl on all different kinds of mirrors.  I hunted near and far, for mirrors and  frames.  If the frame didn't have a mirror in it I would use that "looking glass" spray that turns things into a mirror.  I would even buy those cheap wardrobe mirrors from DI and cut them to fit my frames.  Most of them turned out so cute and some were I admit just OK.  My brother-in-law was sweet enough to help print and cut most of the vinyl for me with the promise of him and Scott being able to go to dinner and/or a movie.  Sadly the boutique didn't go quite as well as we had hoped but it was enough that I made a profit.
Scott was so supportive of this little endeavor of mine.  He would come join me in the cold garage and helped keep me organized as I did the artsy stuff.  I even taught him how to cut the glass. I can't believe he had never done that before.  Then again I am constantly learning that what my normal growing up was is defiantly not everyone else's normal, usually not even close.  That makes me all the more thankful for artistic hard working parents that taught me so much.

Christmas decor Dec 2014

This year for Christmas decorations I re purposed old sweaters that I picked up at DI because we really don't have sweaters like that.  I recovered our couch pillows in them to make them look festive.  When I was sewing them Peter says to me. "Hey mom did you make those? I didn't know you could sew like a grandma!"  apparently only grandma's can sew.
I was wondering when I was going to have time to put my Christmas stuff up when miraculously all of the kids got sick at the same time.  How often does that happen? Almost never, its usually one kids is sick for a couple of days, and then the next, and the next, to where it drags out for weeks. This particular sickness was the perfect kind of sick where they just slept the whole day leaving me plenty of time to get stuff done because I couldn't go anywhere.  I really think it was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father.  I was feeling stressed and over worked with a list a mile long.  When they got sick it forced me to cancel some things that really weren't that important and just have a day of 2 to reminisce and take my time putting up the symbols of Christ and remember what Christmas is really about.  Its kind of sad really when I need these kind of reminders every year.  Maybe someday I will get it down.  

A New Christmas Tradition Dec 2014

We went to see the lights and deliver blankets to the homeless. At first the kids were hesitent to give the blankets.  I think Brennen threw his first blanket at some poor guy.  We of course apologized and gave it nicely.  The kids warmed up to the people and stopped being so shy around them. After we gave away our last blanket the kids begged to get some more because there were more people in need. We told them we gave them all out, so hey dug in their pockets to find change to give instead. It was so sweet, this might become a new tradition.
I hope they are always blessed enough that they can give to those less fortunate than them.

William turns 11 Dec 2014

William decided this year that he was going to have a survival party. I agreed that it would be a perfect theme for an 11yr old birthday party.  My idea for the party was to gather a backpack full of a some materials to survive.  I broke the kids into 2 teams.  Each team was given a backpack with some rope, twine, a roll of duct tape, scissors, a tarp, some clothes pins, and a flashlight.  Each team was given some time to construct their own shelter using what ever they could find in the backyard.  I purposely placed some items that would normally be found in the wilderness in plain sight for them to use.  

The boys absolutely LOVED!! this activity.  We probably could have had that be the entire birthday party and the boys would have been happy.  Once time was up I chose who did the best shelter and that team got a prize (a candy) then we got to play "capture the flag" with the flags being hidden in the shelters.  Another huge win for 11yr old boys, again this could have been the entire party but I had one last game, and 1 more activity.  After a few rounds of "capture the flag" I gave each boy a flashlight (which they got to keep as a part favor) and a list for a flashlight scavenger hunt.  The first 2 people back won some para chord.

After all this time outside it was getting quite dark and chilly so it was time to come in for some cake.  Can I just say this was probably the easiest cake I ever made and it went perfectly with the theme.  For the last part of the party I had a craft of some homemade crossbows with Popsicle sticks, snap barrettes, and embroidery floss.  I pre-made most of the crossbow to minimize craziness and for lack of time.  We used q-tips for arrows.  Apparently the boys had all seen these on a YouTube video and were ecstatic to make them. 

This party was so fun for me to do and the fact that the boys all loved it made it even more fantastic.

I am so grateful I have kids that go along with parties like this so I can come up with fun stuff.  I don't know what I would do if I had to come up with super girly frilly stuff. 

William also received his arrow of light on his birthday.  He was so proud to be able to graduate that level of scouts.

gingerbread houses Dec 2014

This year we did our first ever gingerbread houses with actually baking gingerbread from scratch.  I found a recipe online along with some templates.  The trick of course is roll and cut out the templates on the cookie sheet.  That way there is as little movement as possible and it wont warp.
The kids and Scott all got to decorate their own houses.  Scott turned his into a church.  We really had a lot of fun making these.  Sure it was a lot of work to mix, bake the gingerbread, make the special icing, prepare, the foundations and put it all together. but it was one of those moments where we were brought back to the family togetherness that Christmas always seems to bring about.  We had the music playing and it made me think of simpler times.  That maybe I could give my kids a taste of that wonderfully simple tradition that they could savor and tuck away for times when they are older and needing a sweet memory.