Sleeping? Anyone?

Last weekend was filled with fun. Food included. Sharon and Company were in town and I let loose and ate at will. Guess what Stuart slept through the night. Saturday (I gorged on Michelle's Peanut Butter Fingers) Sunday (Meat Balls and homemade ice cream) Monday (chocolate chip, toffee, nut, condensed milk bars....you know the ones that you just can't leave alone....) By Tuesday I was committed again to nutritious low cal options. And guess what? the boy could not be satisfied. Does what I eat really have a connection to the type of milk I produce? (This is why James won't tell anyone about our blog--because it's all about nursing and stuff) I've always been a "jersey" when it came to milk--and really, the supply is still secure but the value of it, in Stuart's very vocal opinion, maybe not as filling? What are my options? Eat at will for the next six months? Move Stu on to some cereal of sorts to make up for non filling milk? I'm still debating so this week I made spritzer cookies with Addie and ate Robyn' s BTS cake two nights in a row. Delish.... and Stuart is back to sleeping 10 - 7. Maybe I've already made up my mind.

I read a great book this week. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I always say no book is worth a night's sleep but I broke my rule by finishing it Wednesday morning .... what a memoir.

Last night in FHE James had the kids act out Nephi being tied up on the boat. The bb hoop was a the mast, Addie was Nephi's wife and Paige and Stuart were Laman and Lemuel. I was the wind of the storm.

This post has been brought to you by six loads of unfold clean laundry. It's folded now--do you believe me? And another commitment to laundry has been made: to stick to it so that folding over'load' will not happen again.

Oh and my scrappy quilt. I just stuck it up with sticky tack--it's not quilted yet. But it's put together. Now I need to figure out a boarder? What do you think? Does it need one? Maybe I don't like it anymore. Ever worked on a project for 2+ years and in the end it's not exactly the look--because of time. PS Addie made me snowflakes for under the twiggy circles. Just until I find something. So sweet.

Gordon B. Hinkley

He was a great leader; so personable and direct. He had wit and vision, from Mike Wallace to the Conference Center. He was one I listened to for inspiration and wisdom of how to "Be" a better person, neighbor and follower of Jesus Christ. I will miss him.

It's just my weekly focus coming to fruition!

So I didn't get any pictures up or the wall quilt completely sewn but we got the mirrors up! Ta-Da! I feel like I've overcome decorators block. I need to buy another pillow too--Paige's pillow was left in Idaho so she got the sham pillow off my bed. Any suggestions for under the twiggy circles? Maybe a metal MAIR or a photo...

Benjamin's blankie went under the knife this week. The first picture is the gigantic rip with batting falling out. The second is the zigzag sewn edge. All fixed! He sleeps with it wrapped around his feet.

Here I am assembling all my roasts for my "casserole club". It worked out so well. 10 gals made 10 meals each--we all met and traded away. We've eaten three cheese cannelloni, and chicken fajitas so I'm down to eight meals. I have spots to fill of people who can't trade next month--so if anyone is interested in making and trading meals on the third Friday of the month call me for details.

Stuart fell off the changing table. He was belted in but scooched off the end, head first; the diaper champ kind of broke his fall. It is a miracle that I can keep kids alive. He also slept through the night last night. 7:30 - 7:30. Now if I had just gone to bed right after he had...

On Saturday at our Stake Women's Conference I listened to a sister from Africa who had received a hygiene kit right after her village had been raided and burned. She showed the towel, the toothbrush and comb--and the zip lock that it came in. It was very cool. She said, " you have the gospel, you have so much, don't take it for granted." That's been my mantra for the last two days. I don't want to jinx myself but I'm 7 for 7 last week in reading the Book of Mormon. It makes the day go well and I'll have to continue so I can keep getting things done.

In Sunday school the lesson was on the fall of Adam and Eve. For our treat I had them bite into the rind of an orange. We talked about the bitter and knowing that it was bitter was because of the fall. We then ate a truffle to "know" the sweet. I read them 2 Nephi 2: 25 Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might eat french truffles from Costco. (Emphasis added). he he he.

My focus for this week is a continuation of the bedroom. Finish the wall scrappy wall hanging and get the pictures up of the girls--and another trip to IKEA to look at small bathroom spaces. Addie is off track for the next three weeks. I hear the cabin calling...anyone up for a trip to sled and drink hot chocolate?

At last.....

The couch is here. Yesterday my dad and James drove to Bassett to get it and the sales lady had no idea where it was and why it hadn't been "pulled". Of course no manager could be located. They came home empty handed and I was mad. I called the store demanding to talk to whoever was in charge, they had to make this right...the manager was at lunch. I went to a fun baby shower expecting to give the manager the "what for" when he called. He never did and I came home to this...I love it. I've napped and nursed on it. It passes all the tests and I'm sure it will last at least 12 years. That's how long I need it to justify the cost.....




And Stuart testing out the couch as well.

I'm also posting a picture of the secretary. You can see the gigantic screen gleaming through the cracks. I have to do something about all the cords now that I see it in the picture but I love it. I'm out of the laundry room! I'm now looking for an ottoman/coffee table--you know the big square ones that folks can sit on if more seating is needed but not leather--fabric and I haven't seen too much of that. Also some chairs for over under the windows. Working slowly till it's just right... right?

My focus for this week is my bedroom. I (really James, Donna and Bevan) painted it before the boy and I still haven't hung anything up. In Idaho Vanessa helped me with a scrappy wall hanging that I started two years ago and I just need to pull it together. I have Tai Pan mirrors that are show stoppers and prints of the girls that Marisa took almost a year ago ready to go that just need someone to pick them up and put them on the wall. A cool twiggy wreath that's been sitting in the master tub for at least 3 months. How embarrassing is all of this. I don't have to go and buy anything, just address what I already have. So that's the goal. I should do photos. I don't know if I will. I don't think it will be half as stunning as the recent furniture addition.

Along with that I'm pulling together a make a head meals group. Ten gals making one thing ten times and we're all meeting Friday, here at my house to swap. I'll probably do a crock pot fare; maybe a roast with potatoes and carrots. It's our first meeting--I'll for sure blog it.

Here are some cute pictures from Christmas.

Does anyone want this well loved computer desk. Free just come and get it.

I taught the 12 year old Sunday school class for the second time today and I'm still trying to get the hang of it. Cute kids from great families that know the gospel--I just feel so vulnerable yabbering on about agency... the topic for today. We played Simon says...which really was Satan's plan in the premortal life.....That's as deep as we got and we had a lot of fun.

From our fun trip to Idaho. How cute are these kids? They're ready to eat a snack and the last one is Sharon doing story time to calm the air. What a fun time we had. Thanks again Vanessa! And I was thinking about it. Here you are 4 weeks away from delivery. We didn't come to help or anything, we just ate all your food and wrecked your house. The fridge was spotless, the storage room completely organized, bathrooms shiny.... I'm sure it wasn't effortless but you made it look like it was. Amazing.

Fun Trip

On Wednesday, my sister Sharon, who is visiting from Michigan, and I drove to Idaho to visit Vanessa. We spend Thursday with Vanessa having her divulge her secrets in making wheat bread that are not bricks and, machine quilting with style. Also discussing John and Kate plus eight which I've never seen but Sharon and Vanessa had. We had all our nine and a half (Nessa's Aggie is one month away) kids with us and found similarities with this cable show. We'd make a meal, clean it up, address body fluids and then start again. It was great, thanks Vanessa for being such a great hostess.

So I just called and the couch is in. We'll pick it up tomorrow. I'll post pictures for sure.