Mom Funnies

I "borrowed" these from my cousin's blog. They were too good not to share. This is Hillary Weeks. :)

Sew Crazy

I decided to haul out the sewing machine a few weeks ago to try to tap into my creative side again. I have been in a bit of a funk lately. I think it is most weather related, so I figured that sewing with some nice bright colors might help lift me out of it.

I forgot how much I miss MAKING things. I enjoy sewing because it involves so many things that I enjoy. I get to choose fabrics (which usually involves shopping), I get to make something with my hands (which gives me a nice sense of accomplishment), it usually involves problem solving due to my lack of technical skills, and most of my aprons go to other people, so I get the warm fuzzies for that. Unfortunately, the sewing maching, cutting mat, ironing board, and tools take up the entire kitchen table, so it isn't something I can really do all the time.

The first apron was for a cupcake themed apron swap on swap-bot. I made up this pattern myself. It looks really cute on, but I wasn't about to model it for the camera and I don't have a dress form. I sewed on little beads to look like sprinkles. I think it turned out well.

The next apron is for another swap. It had a Sugar and Spice theme and I was going to do a different cupcake apron, but after looking at all the pictures I realized that most people interpreted the theme to be more of a Valentines Day thing, so I switched gears. This is a new pattern that I really like. It wasn't HARD, but it was labor intensive. I learned a few things and the apron wasn't perfect (which really bugs me), but after all the time and expense I put into it I hope she will realize it was made with love. Besides, the reason I like sewing aprons so much is that due to their purpose, they don't HAVE to be perfect.

The last one is for a friend and I just love these fabrics. It looks like chic Victorian wallpaper. Now I am going to go pack up the sewing machine for at least a few days and try to sweep up all of the threads and scraps under the table.

♫ It's a Perfect Daaaaay...

Nothin' Standin' in my Waaaaaay...♪

For reasons soon to be explained, I have had this song going through my head all day. I don't know who sings it, but since I don't listen to much pop music, I am assuming it is in some Disney movie. But anyway...

Yesterday for my stake YW calling I got to attend a ward out on the beach. When Denise (the YW President) and I got out of the car at the chapel we realized how BEAUTIFUL it was out there. It has been so cold lately and so dreary and we were a little shocked to be hit with WARM SUNLIGHT. So after the meetings were over we stripped off our nylons (as ladylike as we could in the car) and went for a little walk on the beach. The sand (and later our feet) were cold, but it was just so *nice*. So I resolved that I was going to take the kids to the coast today. I am not the most spontaneous person so I was really proud of myself for being willing to (and following through with) this trip. Brian had to work (and get a root canal), so I messaged my friend Tanya (who has four beautiful girls -- two of whom are some of my girls' BFFs) and asked if she was interested in coming. After convincing her that it wouldn't be FREEZING, she agreed.

We left at about 10:30 this morning to give it some time to warm up and we stopped first at Pig 'N Pancake for lunch. I love places like this where you can get breakfast all day. Yum!! Then we went to see the sealions on the pier, then off to the beach!! We went where we could just drive our cars down onto the sand. MUCH easier than hauling all our stuff over the dunes. The thermometer on my car said 62 degrees. It was cool enough for sweatshirts and jeans, but the kids had a blast with bare feet and the few sand toys I was able to throw together. Tanya brought little baggies and the girls had fun filling them with all of the little broken sand dollars and shells that they found. It was low tide, so there was lots of sand to run around on, and they had fun digging big holes and then splashing in the water that would come up from the sand to fill it.

When we went to the beach this summer Jaren really seemed to hate it. I was curious to see how he would act today. He just ran around with his ladle and whack at all the shells he saw. SUCH a boy. Since we don't have any sandals that fit him, I just kept him in his tennis shoes and socks. Until I saw him standing in the girls water filled hole -- shoes and all. So he got to wear his sister's Crocs for the rest of the day.

We hung out on the sand for about two hours, then we headed to Dairy Queen for some icecream and a potty break, then we headed for home. Thanks to the DVD player and each girl having her own Nintendo DS, the trip was flawless. The kids were so well behaved and it has me thinking that we need to do this again SOON. Thanks for the fun, Tanya! It was PERFECT DAY

And Open Letter to M. Nature

Dear Ms. Mother Nature,

You are SO not my favorite person right now. The 17" of snow you chose to grace us with the weeks before Christmas was bad enough. I was a fairly good sport when school was cancelled four of the five days the week leading up to Christmas Break. I didn't even mind the freezing rain we got earlier this week that made my driveway an inclined skating rink.

But now school is all set to start tomorrow and the kids (and parents) are MORE than ready. And you decide to send MORE SNOW. Please cease and desist all precipitation RIGHT NOW. I think I may just burst into tears if I get another 5:40 am call that school has been cancelled. We are in desperate need of a return to structure and a schedule. I need to get back to the gym and I need a chance to clean the house without three little "helpers" undoing everything I have done.

So please. PUH-LEEZE!!! Stop toying with me! Send the clouds to the Southwest or some place where they need the precipitation. I'm DONE.

Sincerely,
Paige