Natural Born (Zombie) Killer

Just like most folks in America, Jim is fascinated with Zombies. I blame it on that television program...Walking Dead. It keeps him entertained, so who am I to complain. When I saw this Man Crate, I knew exactly what Jim NEEDED for his birthday.

The premise behind Man Crates is no fluff. It's a gift for a man, why wrap it up all sissyfied? So it comes in a wooden crate with a little pry bar to open it. No paper or ribbon required.

There are many crates to chose from. I chose the Zombie Survival Crate. It is full of survival gear that babe loves.

My man is hard to buy for. How on earth am I going to pick out a gun? Now, I realize I sound like a commercial for Man Crates. Believe me, I'm not getting paid a dime (although I wouldn't turn it down, sounds like a sweet gig) to tell you about them.

It used to include Twinkies...but we all know what happened there.

This birthday boy is ready for action. Now all we need is WWZ (not that I'm an advocate for zombie violence) to begin. Are you ready??

You better be ready, my food storage is well protected...is yours ;)

Happiest of birthday wishes to my sweet husband. I love you, babe!! Thank you for EVERYTHING you do for me. You are my night in shinning armor and my protector in all things!!

The Day of Christmas Eve

We went to visit Jo. We did our nails...Jim helped. We ate at Johnny's and saw HH and her hubby. We snuggled and watched Gillmore Girls. We laughed. We left. We cried.

We got to watch Jo care for her baby, Deek.

He is very pretty.

And he scoots right along.

But now we are home. I am loving my Christmas decorations this year. I really don't want to take them down.

My house seems empty without all the JOY.

Lots of reminders of my Mom. Lots of reasons to be thankful.

Mixing the old and the new makes me happy.

It's usually just the kitchen and living room that get decorated.

I have out the old favorite (and well loved) recipes for today.

And trying out a new one. Since it is just Jim and I, I made mini pies. We'll see how they turn out.

I hope you and yours are safe and happy. Merry Christmas friends!

Ornament Frenzie

This all started on Pinterest. This is the link where I got the idea. But instead of the foam wreath forms (because I couldn't ever find any) I used some round plastic thingies I found at Good Will for $3.99 for THE WHOLE BAG.

Here are the forms I used (you could even use shower curtain rings). I started with yarn balls. It makes it a zillion times easier to wrap the form a hundred gazillion times if you are working with a smaller amount of yarn.

Then a little embellishment and some ribbon (or bakers twine) and you are good to go. They are about 2 3/4 " from the outside edges.

I hope you are having a joyous Christmas season.

Wordless Wednesday

December

So it's December again. You may or may not have noticed a lack of posts. I'm fine...I'm still here. I am enjoying the season and my collection of Nativities. I am praying that all of you are doing the same. Since I print this blog out and use it as a supplemental journal I just wanted a post that would explain my absence for a bit. I am going to sit this one out. December, I mean. It still hurts....this time of year. And I do find comfort in solitude. So my friends let me wish you the merriest of Christmases and pray that you are with your loved ones and that you are healthy and happy.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful...SO thankful for these people. My sweet husband who loves me unconditionally. My beautiful children who make me so proud to be their Mama. My sweet Abby who fits into our family so seamlessly. Her wonderful parents who raised such an amazing daughter and James...the little brother Kevin always prayed for. Funny how things work out exactly right. I am thankful for them all.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm not sure if I have shown you these pictures yet. I have a few from Kevin's wedding that I like looking at over and over. These are a few of them. My awesome personal photographer HH took a lot of great shots to help me remember every second of this day. Jo had started complaining that her shoes were killing her feet.

I suggested she take off her shoes. It was cool and rainy but it had to feel better than brand new, super high heeled shoes. 
"But I can't get them off" was her reply. So what's a Mama to do? Help her, that's what!

Her feet did not want to come out of those shoes. They were on good and tight.

VICTORY!! Sort of....my sweet girl did the rest of our time at the temple without shoes and she was just fine with that.

Sad face. I do love this little face. She cracks me up so often with it. I love her more than I can say. Thanks for the mamories (ha) memories my Jo. Can't wait to see you in 12 days!!!

Updated "Family" Gallery Wall

This is what my family photo wall has looked like since the second week we moved in just over two years ago. Nice, organized, balanced....boring. With the overhaul of the basement bedroom I was feeling the need for a small project. I needed to change out the picture of Jo for one of her senior pictures and that required a major shake up.

I took down the photos from the wall and laid the ones I knew I'd be using on the floor. I used a measuring tape to make sure I stayed within the size constraints.

I knew the big picture of Jo would be changing and that I wanted some different smaller photos from our lives. I gathered some frames and threw them down and went to work.

Here is what I came up with. I think I will be looking for a couple more frames to fill in here and there, but overall I am very happy with how it turned out.

I need a new Reader family picture. The little one I have is SO out dated. The square frame will have a metal insert and will be a cute magnet board.

The top frame I bought at Good Will for $1. I couldn't get the back off so I just painted over the glass and put vinyl on it.

In these 5x7 frames I want to put photos of Jim and me and my favorites of the kids. I just have to get them all collected.

As soon as I get new and updated photos of my nieces and nephews  my wall will be finished. Family is everything and using their faces as art in my home makes me happy.

This is my new favorite quote from Elder Holland. It came into my life at a point when I was questioning whether or not my prayers were being heard.

Family is everything. Not matter if it is family you are related to by blood or family you pick up along the way. Jim and I were watching a documentary on how to be happy. One of the main ways people around the world find happiness is through associating with their family and friends.

And of course my kids....if you have had a conversation with me in the last 22 years, you know all about my kids. I love them more than I ever thought possible. They are my soul. Every Mama should be as lucky as me.

So there is my new wall. Having pictures of my family like this makes them seem so close. Do you have a lot of family photos??

I am linking up with Met Monday....Check it out!!

It Happened on Valentine's Day

Back in February I decided that I would see if Valentine's Day was easier if I spent it in Idaho. We planned some fun things including all of Mom's favorites. We also enlisted the help of my Aunties and Grandma with a project. See, we had saved some of Mom's clothes that I had planned on making into quilts. What I didn't plan on was how hard it would be to cut into those clothes.

(My little buddy Cooper...I luff him!)

So we gathered together for a birthday party out at Aunt Peggy's to cut and sew and tie. It was hard at first. But since we were together, we just ignored the feelings (getting pretty good at that) and started in. 

(I did say we tried to avoid it)

We got all the kids (that we trusted with scissors) in on it too. There were a lot of jeans and shirts to cut.

And cut we did :) A few tears were shed, but mostly we giggled.

Some of my sweet cousins showed up to help as well. They were so appreciated. I have a very talented family.

Brook got some squares to lay out. She and Great-Grandma make a pretty good team.

Cy wanted to help too. She didn't do to bad.

 The tying was the fastest and easiest part of the whole day. We made Kevin help us with it since it was his quilt. Grandma came in a few times to supervise. I can't even count the number of quilts she has made in her life time. 

This awesome kid didn't complain. She is so sweet. I love you, Lace.

Kev pretended to sleep so he could be done for the day. I am SO thankful for my family that was able to come and help us. Aunt Pam took most of them home with her and finished them for me. She is a rock star!!

This is the one we made for Jo. I would bet it was her favorite graduation gift. She uses it every night. I love the memories we made during that trip. While it was nice to be near my sisters on Valentine's Day...it really wasn't any easier. Oh well. We'll always have next year :)