IHOP at Home

The kids love going to IHOP.  Sometimes they miss it so much that they create it at home. Pin It

Sometimes Fun is Best!

It's so fun to see the kids make amazing "creations" with the most basic of items! Pin It

Harry Potter Potions

So, the little girls have finally caught the HP Bug!  Hooray!!
The first order of business was to get them going with some spell books.
I found this one at dirt and sunshine.  So good.  I did make a word doc if that would help anyone who wants to print it out.  The PDF wouldn't let me print it in book form like I wanted.  Anywho...

I'll hopefully get an updated version and post it here.  I really love that the girls love to pretend still.  It makes me so happy.

Happy spell making! Pin It

Tender Mercies

You know those things/times that are crazy (trying to get the school routine figured out before it's spring) and you have this little thought pop in and just jump on it? {Those are RARE moments for me.}
Anywho... Last week was one of these weeks. Crazy everything. Exhausted from working in the yard and canning. Sunday was oh so needed!  Sacrament meeting was so thought provoking. Sunday school was great. Then Relief Society. Sitting down visiting with friends. The welcome and announcements. Time for the opening prayer. No one is up there ready to lead. What are we going to do? One second and I'm up there. I just jumped up.  The RS Pres was so thankful. I didn't even think about it. Just helping out. Fast forward to today. We were struggling to get there on time. My hands were shaking quite badly, but I had a thought of hairstyles for Delta and Emma I was determined to accomplish.  Finally got it done, teeth brushed, talks ready, off we go. 
I get there and the welcome remarks are going on. Announce the opening song. The organist is looking around. No one is up there to lead. Hey, I can do that. I jump up and go up there. I look to make sure I have the correct song, the organist plays the introduction, and off we go. Great song, turned out okay. We're good.
Then as I sit down for the prayer, I realized that three weeks ago the Ward Music Director had asked me to sub for her. Oops! So very grateful I had the experience just the previous Sunday so it was not a big deal to just get up.
Then in RS the music director wasn't there again, so I just got up again.
I do love music. I know it is a gift from Heavenly Father. I also know He gives us tender mercies to help us and let him know he loves us.

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Super Sunday!

Sunday is such an amazing day!
I love the opportunity to rejuvenate. I get to refill my bucket that I dip into through the week.
It is a chance to set (or reset) goals.
It is a change from the week.
Even though there is the stress of getting everyone and everything ready, it is still peaceful.
We listen to different music. (Songs singing praise.)
We watch different movies. (Use to just say Disney, but now Veggie Tales or movies put out by the church.)
We hang out with different people. (Family or those in need.)
We serve differently. It's more focused. Instead of thinking about taking cookies/bread, it is teaching and sharing.

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But What if I Wanted to Do Something?

So this has been a long, hard week. 
I have been reading a ton! I finally started reading some books by Traci Hunter Abramson. I really enjoy them. She used to work for the CIA, but then stayed home with her children.  Any way, she's pretty good.
So yeah, been reading. Not sure if it helps to lay around reading, but it's been hard to concentrate on much, do much. O know I need to have some down time. I know I am lucky (Blessed really) that I have learned to work through the pain. I am blessed with an amazing husband who makes breakfast everyday. Who comes home and doesn't care what the house looks like, but will just jump in and start helping.
But what if I wanted to do something? What if I wanted to sew? What if I wanted to work on the basement? What about that?
I did finally get up Thursday afternoon and scraped the floor in the bathroom since we are going to be tiling it.
That felt good. Then not good later. But I was done doing nothing.  Of course I paid for it today. Oh well. I read another book and watched the opening of the Olympics.

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Super Whammy Migraine Day

Today was so not good.
For starters, I didn't get enough sleep last night. I'm sure that made things worse.
I guess it just frustrates me that it's hard to function. Just when I think I can handle my situation, the pain becomes worse. Just when I think I might be able to focus and accomplish something, I have a hard time figuring out how to do something.
I spent the morning getting breakfast, had kids get breakfast (Delta made pancakes), and everyone got ready for the day.
I finished one book I had been reading, and started another.  (I'm currently reading books by Traci Hunter Abramson.)
Jayden decided that we should go to the movie today. (We do the summer movie thingamajig, where you purchase tickets for the whole summer at half the price.)
Then after that we went to the library to borrow a movie (because the movie showing was different than the one advertised). The library didn't have it, but got a movie for me.
I let the kids have friends over, then I laid down and read some more.
Tony came home and is fixing dinner while I type this hoping that maybe getting my thoughts down will help me be able to handle how I feel.

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Easy Summer/After School Snack.

So I'm getting exhausted! These late nights after busy-go-go-go-and-do days are wearing me out.
To the point where what ever you want to eat is fine with me.
Chips? For lunch? Sure, go ahead.
Ramen noodles for breakfast? And lunch? And dinner? Okay.
So when I came across this post on Instagram, I was very intrigued. It reminded me of how the beginning of summer looked. And I think I can still do nothing and it will work. Slushies made with apple juice and strawberries! Brilliant!
Because let's face it, I have no energy left for super awesome snacks!
So, yeah, head over to http://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2016/08/ad-organize-fridge-freezer-back-school.html
You will be glad you did!

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Graduation 2016

https://youtu.be/FlordMSFfdE Pin It

Get Ready, Get Set, Treats

The best way to go at the drop of the hat, is to not have to gather too much. It drives me crazy that when I am heading to the store with the kids, it takes an hour. (That might be an exaggeration, maybe.).
Gotta find shoes, drinks, sometimes a snack, that book that can't be left, even though I don't know where it is.  Then after the first 15 minutes, they are ready to go home because shopping is boring.
Any who... We have been trying to get lots of adventures in this year. Some days we'll get everything done, no one can play, but we want to do something, so we'll go do something.
When it takes forever to get ready, it makes me not want to go.

One way to get out the door more quickly is to have snacks pre-packed, and water bottles filled in the fridge. We are ready for tomorrow when we get a hankerin' to go somewhere kinda sudden like.

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Selfies

It is so fun to find selfies on my phone.  Love this girl.
Katia has so much expression and happiness.

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