My Inheritance

I have become a raving lunatic somewhat obsessive over things that belonged to my Mom. I have a big box (I do wish it was bigger now) of some of my Mom's clothes. I had planned on cutting them up and making lap quilts for myself and my siblings.....and maybe Dad.....But when I pulled them out to begin the cutting and disassembling.....I couldn't do it. No, I froze. These were her things. Does she need them now...? No. Will she be sad if I make them into something we all can cling to...? No. So why can't I cut them? Because I'm crazy, that's why.
Owls...not usually my thing...not even really my Mom's thing. But she had a necklace that my Dad gave her as a gift early on in their marriage. It is a silver and onyx owl. I have seen it around my Mom's neck for as long as I can remember. Did she wear it constantly? No. Did she have jewelry she liked more? Yes. But this wise old bird just reminds me of her. So now what do I do?I buy owl stuff. Lots of it. Mostly at thrift shops and then I paint it....but even my new address book has owls on it.
Earlier this year my Dad gave each of us kids some money that my Mom had been saving to give us....sort of an inheritance, if you will. As far as inheritance sums go....it wasn't a huge chunk of change.....but it wasn't anything to sneeze at that is for sure. I have been saving some of each paycheck I get for subbing. Not a lot....but it has added up. I have been looking for something to spend it on. I thought maybe I'd put granite counter tops in my kitchen here. I had it all picked out. I was ready. But then the thought came to me.....if I move.....part of my Mom (not really but this was the thought...ok) will have to stay behind in this house. ((Remember....crazy)) The money belonged to my Mother....my Mom. How could I leave a part of her in this house in Minnesota. As irrational as that sounds here, out in the open, that was my line of thinking. That money came from my Mom.....I just couldn't spend it on granite. I decided that liposuction was my next option. But...I'm not quite at the fitness level I want to be at (you know....so it doesn't go to waste!!)....so that had to wait. Then it hit me. Braces. I have always wanted to have straight teeth. We didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up and my parents chose to get braces for the child who had the most jacked up teeth. Unfortunately, that child didn't continue to wear his retainer and thus his teeth didn't stay where they were supposed to. Oh well......My sister Kim and I have this one tooth that is crazy. Really, if the angle is right, most people can't see why we hate the smile thing so much. But on the inside....we can feel it and we don't like what it looks like in our minds. So I started the process a few weeks ago. I have a friend of a friend for my awesome orthodontist. She is brilliant, and kind, and just fabulous. She presented 2 treatment options. Plan one involves about 4 years worth of time. Seriously....I'm 37.....I have my man....I don't need to be in braces for 4 years. Plan two....much less invasive. Plan two should wrap up within 7 months....but she is shooting for closer to 5. I have clear brackets on my top teeth and they will be shaving a little off the sides of the big gopher teeth 4 front teeth to make them all fit together nicely. So far...the pain is minimal. I think I was expecting it to be much worse. I just remember my poor kids and how much pain they were in. Maybe age and perspective and the fact that I really want this makes it more bearable. As I was paying the nice lady behind the desk....I felt like I was in the Geico commercial. Paid in full......discount. Paid with cash....discount....Lucky day....discount!! It came to about $400 less that the original price with all my discounts and the surprise "lucky day" discount. My insurance did cover some of the x-ray costs. So I walked out with all the money I got for Christmas in tact. WOOHOO!! Now all I need is a feather boa and I could be Josie Gellar. I look totally rufus!!

Some Kevin Photos

For Christmas, Kevin sent me a photo camera card. I stuck it in my computer and here are a few of the images I found. Here he is at the MTC. He is always having so much fun.
I don't have names or places......I just know my first born. Man, I miss that kid!!
Goofy, of course!!
Look how good he looks!! Be still my heart!!
And happy.....always happy. This is truly one choice spirit. I am so blessed to be his Mama.

Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve we open one gift. It is the same every year....pajamas. At first the kids were resistant to the idea....now they like it. We did miss Kevin a whole lot this year. He is doing great and loved the pj's we sent him. I didn't get a pic of Jo modeling hers like I usually do. Oh well.
This was one of her favorite gifts this year. A very personalized ornament with the date that she officially became a licenced driver.
She was so good to me this year. Yesterday I was feeling pretty low. She did everything she could think of to make the day easier for me. She even told me that we could wake up at 6:00 a.m. to see what Santa had left for us....AND she would do it with a smile. She totally rocks. I love this kid. My kids are always trying to get me to sleep in on Christmas morning....(mostly for Kevin it's all for show. He is as excited as I am)...She made the sacrifice for me and got up as promised. The smile came later....
The dogs even got new toys. Now I can throw away the yucky old ones.
My sisters enlisted my Dad's help and bought Jim some fishing lures. One can never have too many lures....Thanks guys!!
Darla, my love, thank you for posing for the pictures.
Jo loves hats. I think it is for the same reason I buy so many blankets. We hate to be cold. She also got a bracelet making kit. She is all sorts of crafty....I just love that.....so proud. ((sniff))
Jim LOVES to read. I got him a couple of books that I know he is going to love. One of them is a dog breed book. Thus incorporating 2 things that he loves....books and dogs.
This happened on Christmas Eve. Not sure how or why. I was just minding my own business, cooking away, and CRACK!! There it is.....Oh well......
And then there is the snow that I requested for Christmas. I was happy to see that our recent purchase of snow removal equipment won't go unused.
Of course, what I didn't realize is that he was going to clear the entire yard!! HAHAHA Seriously, we have very little snow left on the grass. But....in his defense.....my short, pudgy little dog now has a nice place to potty.
So a tons of left-overs sit in the fridge....wrapping paper fills the trash....we are (mostly) happy and are grateful for the blessings of the Season. What did you do for Christmas?

Cookies and Ornaments

Have I mentioned that I have the most fabulous peeps? I do....they inspire me every day. They are smart and witty and so darn good lookin'. We are unstoppable when we get together. We went to Fargo last week. Oh....so fun....the 4 of us in Fargo for twelve and a half hours....man!! It was awesome!! Ever since I have been here (third Christmas now) they have included me in their cookie exchange. Last year we even added ornaments to the exchange. I am constantly amazed at their creativity. This year was no different. This is the ornament that I made. I used some of my old buttons and some new buttons some wire and a little ribbon. Easy peasy.
These are the ornaments from my friends. Clock-wise from the top....we have a snowflake from Heather, a wooden heart form Renae, and a hand-made drawing from Salena. I love her creativity and in-a-pinch thinking. She had a photo of us all that she thought might work.....but our heads were too far apart. So she improvised and we took one today that will work. Oh, BTW....she is the tall one in the pic.....and yes, she is really that tall!!
These are the yummy cookies that they made. Mine are not in the photo. I made Ginger Snaps and they are yummy. Again, from the top, moving in a clock-wise manner....Renae made the Kiss Cookies, Sandies from Heather and my all-time favorite...Pumpkin Chocolate Chip from Salena. So tasty.
This is the four of us at a local eatery celebrating Renae's birthday. We always have such a great time. I love these women. They make Minnesota a place worth being.

It's Just Different

Last year was the first Christmas without a phone call from Mom. I had already done one Christmas here in Minnesota without seeing her....but I have always talked to my Mom on Christmas, until last year.....of course. I thought this year would be better. I wouldn't feel the loss so acutely. No such luck. Last year I can compare it to an open wound, seeping it's bloody sorrow into every facet of my day. This year it is more like a freshly scabbed wound, still tender and sore. It doesn't feel any better....just different. I have some cousins that lost their Dad very unexpectedly 2 months ago. I have felt their loss and have assumed I have an idea of how they are feeling. I told them a month ago that next year would be better. I guess I should never assume to know.....until I have lived it. Well, I am living the second Christmas and can tell them now....it doesn't get better.....it just gets different.

My New Favorite....

I do love Nativity scenes. They bring the Christmas Spirit into my heart quicker than anything else. I have a few in my collection. These are some of the new ones. The ceramic one on the left I bought last year at Target on their 75% off sale. SCORE!! I received the small clay one from a young friend this year for Christmas.....yes, I opened it early.....it's just how I roll. The Willow Tree Nativity in the center is the last one my Mom gave me. The metal one on the right I made this year. Yep, I made it.....or assembled it really.
I ordered a kit from HERE. It came with all the metal pieces ready to screw into any old wood. I got a chunk of 2x6 and spray painted it in the basement in my workshop. Then I took it to the garage and ran the sander over it for a while. After it was a bit scuffed up, I painted on and wiped off some dark stain to shabby it a bit more. I love it. I then tied a bow around the star for a pop of color. I can tell already.....it will be one of my favorite Nativity sets for years to come.
I am linking to Between Naps on the Porch this week. There are some fabulous transformations linked there. Go check them out!!

It's More of a Twig....

In my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) our congregations are divided up into wards depending on where we live. If there are not enough people in an area to form a ward....we form a branch....or as we affectionately call it....a twig. The area we pull from is approximately 120 miles by about 80 miles. On any given Sunday we have about 25 faithful members that drive as far as 70 miles away to attend church on Sunday. My family drives 40 minutes from our home every week....and an extra trip for the annual Christmas party. Last year we had to call it a night a bit early on account of snow. This year was a treat. We got to stay the entire time. These salt-of-the-earth people are as humble and fervent in their testimony as they come. We don't have a clique problem.....like you can find in bigger wards. We have a 2 hour meeting schedule instead of the usual 3 hours. And we have such a good time together. I don't think I have laughed so hard at a church party as I did last night. We have 2 young men in the ward and they are a riot! They are fun to kid around with and I like to talk with them. It makes me miss Kev just a hair less. Today we showed up to church and found the parking lot covered in a 4 inch blanket of snow. After a little teasing and cajoling the young men found it in their hearts to shovel the sidewalks and a few trails through the parking lot. What I didn't know is they were out there for most of the first block.........piling snow around every side of my car!!! I think they cleared the entire parking lot!
This is what it looked like as I came out from primary......the boys could barely contain their glee as they showed me the fruits of their labors. Oh, they were so proud. So many emotions hit me at once. A little bit of exasperation hit me as I hoped the hadn't scratched my paint....but mostly I laughed. They did promise to dig it out for me.....as they congratulated themselves on a job well done. And then it hit me. They only tease you if they like you. (How many time have I said that to Jo?) We were being initiated into the club....we are officially in....I know I can count on these boys for anything now. And I hope they know that they can count on me too.

Inspiration

Around this time of year I am on the look-out for inspiring stories. Stories with heart and grit. Stories of people that inspire me to try harder to be better.....a better wife, a better mother, a better daughter, sister, friend. I have been following the blog of Stephanie Nielson for quite some time now. See, Stephanie has the most inspiring story to tell. Her story is also being told by a reporter from the Arizona Republic. Here is a beautiful telling of the hardest year in Stephanie's life. If you are struggling with any form of self doubt or loss or even some self-pity....you really should read this article. It has helped me to shift my focus and look at my priority list. Things around this time of year are a little dicey for me. Emotions run high and threaten to drag me under their fast running current. Stephanie's courage to press on in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds has given me an extra dash of courage to face my own demons....my own problems seem small and silly compared to what she is dealing with. So friends, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy day. Be happy....

A Year in Review

This is our Christmas letter from last year. This year I have decided to do the same sort of letter....on my blog, of course. I think the people who really care about what we did will find it on my blog and those who don't won't have to be bored to tears by the endless stream of sticky sweetness that these Christmas letters seem to contain. Seriously, I read one letter that was sent with a darling Christmas card yesterday. I felt like I needed to brush my teeth is was so syrupy. I was amazed at the amount of smoke this letter was trying to blow......yeah. Anyway, to avoid putting any of you into insulin shock, I have decided to keep it more realistic this year. Here goes...

January:
I was still working at the kindergarten very regularly.
Jim-still working at the bakery
Jo and Kev-still in school. Not loving it....not getting straight A's
February:
Dark day....We hit the first anniversary of Mom's passing. Dark day indeed.....
March:
More school....lots of work.....snow.....ish.....
April:
Jim and I celebrated our anniversary
Michelle (my sister) delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy! Welcome to the fam, Cooper!!
May:
I flew to Idaho to see Michelle and Cooper (and the rest of the fam...of course)
While I was in ID, Kevin received his mission call to the Texas, Fort Worth Mission. I was standing in Kohl's when he opened it and read it to me over the phone! hahaha I did get some strange looks as I stood there, my eyes leaking.....
June:
This was my favorite month of the ENTIRE year!! My sisters and their families and my Dad came to visit me in Minnesota. It is a hellish drive and it was made even longer when one of the vehicles hit a big rock in the road and they were delayed for hours!! I loved the time with them here and will always remember their kindness.
Jo went home with them....I was pretty sure she would come back!! hahaha
My best pal Jackie and her family made the drive to see us. I am so grateful for her and her friendship. They were here for the only good week of weather we had in June!!
Kevin turned 19 and we finished our preparations for him to go.
July:
Kevin flew to SLC to enter the Missionary Training Center. We miss that guy so much!!
Dad brought Jo back to us and stayed for a visit. He brought along his best traveling companion (Lacey) and we had such a good time with them here!!
Jo took the 2 week drivers training course. So scary that she is old enough to drive. She has to drive with an adult until she turns 16....and then.......
August:
Kevin left the MTC and headed to the great state of Texas!!
Jo went to Stake Girls Camp and met Elaine Dalton!! She was so excited to meet her. Jo said that Sister Dalton took time to talk to each girl and let them know how much she loves them all.
Jim went to Flagstaff.....long story.....turned down an opportunity to escape the cold......
September:
I started work again. This time I was a full time sub at the school that houses grades 1&2. Their special ed program was in need of a new para and I filled the job until they could find one. It lasted 2 months and I loved it. They asked if I wanted the job....I said no.
Jo turned 16.....man I'm getting old!!
October:
I canned apple pie filling with my friends.
Jim started his new job....sort of. He was given another bakery (in Grand Rapids, MI). He loves to travel so much (HA) that he gets to go there once or twice a month for a week or 2 at a time.
November:
I got some much needed new carpet....not a lot....just some.....
We got to go to ID for Thanksgiving. It was the best trip home EVER!! Well, except for the fact that Kevin was missing. I find that punk left quite a hole....he is so missed!!
Jo passed her driving test and is now a licensed driver (gulp!)
December:
Kevin was transferred for the first time. He loves his new companion and is getting to know the area. I will miss having him in Fossil Ridge....Now I don't have anyone there to keep me informed on his well-being!!
Jim finished up his work in Michigan. Now he can just hold phone meetings and cut back on the travel. With the Smucker's plant in Fargo closing.....that does leave our future a bit up in the air. We have made some preliminary plans....more on that to come.

For the most part we are healthy and well. We get along with the day to day operations as good as the next group. I have tried to keep this year-end re-cap as real and gritty as it was. I hope I didn't get too gooey sweet for you all.

I do hope that all my friends and family are deliriously happy and well. I have loved keeping up with everyone on facebook. That has been a blast. I hope that you all have an adequate and satisfying New Year....as I'm sure we will as well. Keep in touch!!

((HUGS)).......Lori

Another Wreath

So first off....look at these colors!! Can I, just for a minute (since it's -30* with the wind chill), think of a stunning Fourth of July wreath? How gorgeous will that be??
So you saw the "random" wire hanger method. It didn't make my heart flutter....well....not in a good way. I just almost can't even look at it. The colors are gorg and I do love me a pretty wreath....but I decided to try again. This time with a foam center. This was a bit tricksier than I had imagined....and truth be told....it still needs....something. But I LOVE the fact that I was in control of the ball placement and all that jazz.
So, start by taking the top off the ornament and pushing the exposed glass edge into the foam. Trust me, do this every time.....before you glue it! After you have made the hole, pull the ornament out and put hot glue on the top of the ornament. Shove it back into the "pre-drilled" hole and let the glue cool a bit. Do this all the way around the outside of the foam ring. Learn from my mistakes and do the inside of the foam ring next. Just do it....trust me.
Then I started on the face if the foam ring. I do wish I had been able to find more of a medium sized ball to use along with the normal size and the minis. I do think it would have filled in easier.
Now, here is where you go back over it all and fill big holes and gaps with the mini balls. I used jingle bells too. They are small and easy to work with fun and festive. Sheesh....what is that big blue blob in the shiny ornaments?? Weird......
There it is hanging on the door. This one I love. I do. It warms the very corners of my heart. A couple of things that I learned again because it didn't quite sink in the first two dozen times doing this project: Hot glue....yeah....hot. Burns like a ....well....you know...Glass balls, when broken....become very sharp. You probably don't have to use the death grip to get them into the foam. Just sayin'. And when doing a Christmas project.....always. always. always. have Christmas music playing. It is just more festive.
So there it is. I will be filling in a couple more holes....and looking for....whatever is missing. I know it will come to me. Just gotta keep looking. AAHHHH....my kind of random!

Check out Blue Cricket Design for some great project ideas!!

I'm a Follower

I'll admit it. I'm not a leader. I'm more of a follower. It's something I've always done. My Dad once asked me "If your friends jumped off a bridge....would you?" Why, yes Dad, yes I would. No lie. Now the next sentence wasn't true of my friends back then.....but of my current friends I would say absolutely....I would jump. I am lucky enough to find myself surrounded by friends that would only ask me to jump off that bridge if it was really in my best interest. That being said....I have seen the most gorgeous wreaths around blog land lately. "They" have taken glass Christmas ball ornaments and either strung them on a coat hanger that has gone straight(hahaha)....or they have glued them onto a foam wreath base. Personally, I was dying to try the foam base method...but alas.....it was not to be. No where in my town was there a foam wreath base to be found. Sad....So I got busy unwinding the hanger. It wasn't hard. Oh....and you really should follow the instructions found here. I have been picking up ornaments for a couple of months. I got some at Target and some at the Dollar Store and some at the Wal-Mart....all on sale. I dumped them out and glued the tops on so they don't make my life more frustrating than it already is.
Then I looped one end of the hanger onto the bar stool so I didn't miss a minute of Phinneas and Ferb so I could string the balls like odd colored cranberries. You really need a lot of ornaments...more of the larger size than I ended up with. I strung them and twisted them around and even added a few jingle bells. I did glue a few smaller ornaments in the gaps where the hanger was showing.....nothing worse than having your hanger showing!
I added a bow on the top (that needs to be tightened) and there you have it! I don't hate it....but I have a reeeeaaalllllly hard time with anything random. I need a little more order. I need the colors more evenly spaced. It's just how I roll. I am still going to try the foam based wreath. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I am linking to BNTP. Check it out for some great project ideas!!

I Love Trees

I love Christmas trees. I always have. I have 6 trees that find their way into my decorating. Small ones like these....but not all of them are homemade. I do buy them when I see one that speaks to me. A while back I bought these foam cones to make a tree covered in buttons like my friend Heather did for her sister. I made one and gave it to my Mom on her birthday in 2008. I haven't made any more like that. I found some super soft, kinda chunky yarn at Michael's the other day and thought it would be perfect for trees.
I started at the bottom and worked my way to the top. I made sure to cover all the green foam. A wound and wound I went until it was covered and then (until I could go get the glue gun out which only took me three days a couple of hours) I secured the yarn on the top with a push pin. On the white tree I dove into my button stash and threw a few red and green "ornaments" on with some long pins. So far...I am loving how they look.
I picked up these stars at the Wal-Mart the other day. Not sure I am digging the green one. I will check out Hobby Lobby today and see if they have anything that will make my heart sing.
The red star started out being gold....didn't work here so I took it to the basement my workshop and spray painted it a color I love.
So easy. No special tools required. I stood in my kitchen and did this while I watched one episode of Gilmore Girls. Not bad for an hour of time. I love them.

Fun With Muffin Tins

It's been a while since I did anything way crafty. I have a ton of projects waiting for my attention. I finished a couple up yesterday. This one I started in Idaho with my sisters. I found it here. I guess I should have used my brain looked at it closer. Maybe it would have saved me from cutting 2 1/4 inch strips of paper and then cursing the instruction for being wrong when my squares didn't fit over the holes. hhhmmmmm...Can you guess what I did? Yeah...it says to buy a muffin tin at the Wal-Mart. Did...the 12 hole one...duh!! I guess if you start counting at 1 there would be 24 days until Christmas...see....So what size of stupid dang muffin tin should you get....right....mini muffin pan with 24 holes. Right....So mine will be a little more complicated in that I will put up 24-13 first and then when they are opened I will put up 12-1. Works for me! I started with a lot of different papers that have been in my stash from Hob Lob when they have scrapbook paper 50% off. I cut all sizes of squares making sure I had at least 24 that were big enough to cover the holes.
That was really the most time consuming part of the whole thing.
I printed off some numbers in a cute font and then had it copied onto white card stock. It worked out really good that way. My sister has a 1 1/2" hole punch that was perfect to cut the numbers out. Then I tried to be random with the colors and everything. Due to my OCD I don't do random very well. I try...really I do. I think it will be OK.
I bought these sheets of magnets at the Wal-Mart. They were cheap. I used my fancy cutter handy kitchen shears to cut them to size. I only put one on the top. If you wanted a stronger hold (you know...for BIGGER treats) you could put a magnet on the bottom too.
I put them on the muffin tin to see how they looked...and I like it. I think it will work.
Here is the candy reveled. Not my personal favorite...but what did you expect? If I kept my favorite in the house it wouldn't be around long...if you catch my drift....
13-24 are just as cute. I did ink the edges with some chestnut colored ink. I thought it was an appropriate color choice....you know "Chestnuts roast on an open fire...." an all that jazz.
Gotta say...20 & 21 are killing me. What was the thought process there? Who knows. I did make a pink and green one too. It makes my heart go pitter pat. Wanna see.......
As I was putting the numbers on the muffin pan, it occurred to me that I must have been tired of the project by the time I got to the pink and green one. They are so less ornate. Too funny. No bling or ink and very little embellishment at all. Huh...well, I still love it.
The thing I like most about this kind of advent calendar is that it's totally customizable. Not only could you fill this baby with candy....you could put little slips of paper with quotes, or service opportunities....or clues to a treasure hunt. Marvelous!!