I Needed That!

Today was a VERY long day! Between the many reports to do for work and several kids running (litterally) around the house, this is what finally made me laugh today - hard!

http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/2009/03/boy-books.html

Awesome! I wish I was that creative!

More Creations

I was up WAY too late last night working on this. But I am so happy with how it turned out! I didn't have a pattern, just a store bought bag as a sample. I think I'll make an actual pattern, though, since I know so many women who could use a new tote for church. In any case, Yay Me! Now on to sewing clothes...maybe.

Rion's Armor

Yes, completely homemade! He's ready to conquer the world now!

Blog Address?

Does anyone recognize this blog? 4boysandcreativeme.blogspot.com It's a private blog that came to my blog directly, which means there is a link on this blog to my own. However, I can't access this blog. It vaguely looks familiar, but I'm not sure. Please let me know if it belongs to you! I'm mostly just curious. :-)

March Food Storage

Yay! I finally got March's food storage list up. Sorry for the delay!

Scripture Cases

I have been wanting a new scripture case for a while now, but the ones at Deseret Book are more money than I want to spend. So, I made some! This first one kind of ended up as a scripture case by accident. I wanted to make a little tote for Hailey that matched her apron, but then once I created the square bottom, it was just the right size to fit my scriptures AND my RS Manual. Very exciting!


So then I realized that I didn't care too much for the handles and I would like just a little more room. I found a blog about placemat scripture cases, and I found a placemat at Target on clearance for $1.25, so I figured I'd give it a try. This is the result...



I LOVE this one! The only thing I would change from here are, once again, the handles. This one uses gross grain ribbon, which is great, but I think I actually want to spend the money and buy some purse handles. Megan's placemat purses are so cute, which is where I got the idea. One thing is for sure...I'll probably make more of these!

Fruit Trees

We were very blessed on Saturday to get FREE fruit trees! All is took was a whole lot of manual labor. The church purchased about 250 acres of an existing orchard not too far from us, and they are in the process of removing all of the trees in order to plant new ones. (pear, I believe) So, we grabbed our shovels and with the help of Bishop Neal, we dug 8 trees in about 2 hours - 3 cherry and 5 globe peach. We planted 2 peach and 1 cherry in our yard, and the rest were spread out to several other homes. What a blessing! These trees would have been VERY expensive at a nursery!

Cherry

Peach

And then, of course, the weather changed. (As it always does in Idaho.) Sunday after church we had this wonderful scene! It snowed about an inch or so, then the sun came out and it all melted in about an hour. Go figure!

Finally Finished!

They are FINALLY done! Woo hoo! I started building these shelves for the kids about a month before Christmas, FOR Christmas. However, I just had too many things to do and make that they got put off. So, the gradual process began. I finally got them hung on Friday last week! Yay! We picked out the colors just randomly at Walmart one day...


...and amazingly enough, the colors turned out matching pretty well!

Yes!

Today in Sacrament Meeting, the speaker, Ray Coon, asked the congregation if we were happy to be there today. Rion, in his infinte need to participate, answered a very soundly, "Yes!" This drew many giggles from everyone. He was so embarassed! Poor little guy. He even started crying! At the end of Sacrament Meeting, he asked if he was going to get in trouble. We told him no, but just answer in his head next time.

Temple Night Service

Tonight was Stake Temple Night. We had a fairly decent group go to the temple, of which several carpooled with us. We had a wonderful session!...

...and the service aspect that I'm actually referring to? Not what you think. When we were walking out of the temple, a group of Young Women from an area ward was standing by the doors handing out cookies as a thank you. Yum!

Thank you Young Women!

Potty Training...

...has OFFICIALLY begun! We ran out of diapers on Friday and were left with just Pull-ups. The plan was to buy diapers after the Larsen's reception, but we were so tired that we decided to just go home. Then passed Sunday...and now today. I did buy the diapers this morning, but I also decided to test a theory that Chase is simply just being lazy. So I let him choose a candy, mini Tootsie Rolls, and off we went!

The plan: to let Chase have ONE Tootsie Roll every time he goes potty in the toilet and is dry when he goes potty. Overall, he did remarkably well! He had one accident, mostly because he is so accustomed to hiding in a closet when he goes poop. Other than that, he has been completely dry until right before bedtime. I think he had about 15-20 pieces of candy today. No wonder he didn't want a nap!

Now on to day two...

Next Apron

I just found this awesome apron! I think this is the one I will work on next, now that I've gotten the sewing bug. :-)

Chocolate Mints

MMMMM, Chocolate....and mint...or orange flavor!

After making several batches of these for Summer and Kevin's reception(s), I figured it was time to post how to make them! The picture above is peppermint, the tutorial is orange.

What you need (per batch):

2 dark cocoa bags of melting chocolate
1 colored white chocolate bag (whatever color you desire)
oils (peppermint, orange, raspberry, almond, etc.)
Wax paper
jelly roll pan

This is the brand I use, from Michaels.

1. Pour 1 bag of chocolate into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each interval, until completely melted. Normally it takes 1 1/2 - 2 minutes. Stir in 7 drops of desired oil.

***Important: make sure to use OIL and not EXTRACT. The extracts are water based and may have an adverse effect on your chocolate.

2. Line a jelly roll pan with wax paper. Dot corners with melted chocolate, then press down.

3. Pour melted chocolate over wax paper, then spread to the edges. Try to spread as evenly as possible. Once spread, pick up pan and bang it on the counter a couple times to flatten the chocolate. You can also shake the pan back and forth lengthwise and width wise to help even it out. (If anyone is totally confused by this, let me know and I'll post a video.)

Let cool until chocolate starts to lose its shine. Then begin melting colored white chocolate. (cooling time will vary) Do not let the chocolate cool completely or the layers will not hold together.


4. When colored chocolate is melted, add 7 drops of desired oil, then pour over 1st layer of chocolate.
5. Very carefully spread to edges trying not to mix the chocolate. (obviously, I didn't do so well here.) Spread evenly, then bang pan on counter and shake back and forth as before.

6. Once this layer has started losing it's shine, melt the 2nd bag of dark cocoa. Add 7 drops of oil and spread out as before.
7. Here is the trickiest part. Let the chocolate cool, but not completely. You'll need to cut your chocolate into pieces while it is cool enough to cut easily, but not too soft that it gathers along the knife. You'll have to experiment with this. Once it is all cut, you can peel the chocolate off and store in zip lock baggies. I put my mints in the fridge to finish cooling, then peeled them off. (hence the white-ish looking chocolate) I like these best stored in the freezer. Then it's a cool treat when you most need it! Enjoy!

Sickies

We have had SO many sick kids in our house this winter. I am so ready for summer. Poor Chase has been sick since a week ago. He had the typical cold and post nasal drip cough that turned into an ear infection and and croupy/asthma type cough. After being on antibiotics for almost three days, he was still laying around and napping all day. We have another Dr. appt today at 3:00 to check him again. He is starting to be a little more active, but this cough is as bad as ever.

Then, at 6:00 this morning, Hailey decided it was her turn once again to have the stomach flu. Seriously! Will it ever end? After 3 episodes of vomitting, she actually seems to be feeling pretty well, but now I'm paranoid about anyone coming over.

Someone please tell me that I have a full night sleep in the near future!

Kevin & Summer, 2-14-09

Congratulations to Kevin and Summer! They were sealed for Time and All Eternity today in the Twin Falls, ID Temple. We were the only ones from our ward to be able to go, and we are so glad we did! What a wonderful experience. I told Kevin yesterday that he was going to make me cry...and he did. A beautiful couple, beautiful promises that this sacred ordinance brings, and wonderful people to share the day with us. We wish you a very happy marriage, Kevin & Summer!

What a beautiful day it was. When we arrived at the temple, it was snowing really hard. When we came out, so did the sun. What a wonderful way to spend Valentine's Day with the love of MY life! (And free babysitting on top of it! Thanks, Lori!)

Pay it Forward

I am participating in the Pay it Forward exchange. Keep in mind you have a whole YEAR to do this. This is how it works: Pay It Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie "Pay it forward." I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange. All the gifts will be made and posted out within the next year. How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive! What you need to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

This Exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THIS SAME 'PAY IT FORWARD' MESSAGE ONTO YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL PAY IT FORWARD TO THREE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG.

I'd love for you to join me! Will you? Other comments are welcome, but only the first three will be my Pay It Forward recipients. Come and join me. Who doesn't love a gift or giving gifts??

If you leave a comment, please email your address to me at kimdwarren@gmail.com.

A Visit and LOTS of Aprons

Angie and Garth came to visit us! We had a blast with them while they were here. The time truly went too fast. We can't wait to see them again this summer.

While they were here, we decided to celebrate everyone's birthday. Hailey wanted an easy-bake oven from Angie and Garth, but Angie had a better idea! Why not make her an apron and let her bake a real cake? Better yet, why not make MATCHING aprons for all 4 of us? (Angie & Emma, Me & Hailey). Angie did a fabulous job picking a pattern and material so that we could make them reversible. I had "sew" much fun that I'm ready to take on another sewing project! We even had enough material left over to make an apron for Shannon and Savanna!

February Food Storage

The list is up! Sorry, I'm a couple of days late. With the economy the way it is, please do your best!

Dennys Free Food!

That's right....a FREE Grand Slam on Tuesday! Who's going???!!!

Cinderella

Hailey is so funny! After about 15 minutes of being in bed, she started calling us to turn off her light. We told her it was her responsibility to turn off the light when she goes to bed. She then exclaimed, "I feel like I'm Cinderella when you say that!" We had a good laugh about that one!