mission accomplished!

After working ALL afternoon on the crazy, embarrassing art closet, I finally got to the point where I could take a picture! Whew! It still isn't a "cute" closet but the whole point of this project was to get it done so Kelly would be satisfied and the kids could actually find their art supplies! Who knows how long this sweet organization will last. Who knows if all this work was in vain. (Do I have to KEEP organizing on a regular basis?) Here is what I learned from this experience:

1. My kids like to bite EVERY pencil eraser off EVERY pencil! And I don't think they can find their way to the sharpener.

2. I NEVER need to buy crayons AGAIN, ever, for the rest of all of our lives!!!! Can you say crayon-o-rama? I don't think anyone has said, "Honey, can you go to the store and buy some more crayons? We're out! Little Billy just used up the very last bit!"

3. If you don't put lids on markers FOR your children, they will be found bone dry.

4. Play Dough is a 1-2 time deal. After about 3 times, it is rubbery and multi-colored or brown. Every tub I opened was thrown away! But the good news is that we have about a million play dough cookie cutters!!!!

5. I found about 5 journals with about 5 pages written in them. All Bailey. Nice. When she wants to look back on her life as a child she will have to piece it all together somehow!

6. And finally, kids are just plain messy and if you haven't eaten or are sleep deprived, or if it's that time of the month, you should NOT for any reason, open the closet!

As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life. ~John Lubbock

Shark, by Bailey

Japanese Tea Garden, by Bailey

Scorpion, by Sam

Panda in the bamboo, by Noah

Chinese Lady, by Noah

What do you do on a grey, gloomy day?

Brighten it up with color!

SMILE!

Get messy!

Paint!

My beret was sitting nearby and so I thought...ahhh! Perfect!

Voila! Just like the French!

I LOVE LOVE my children's art! What mother doesn't? It shows their unique perspective, their interpretation of what they see! I still have in mind to get more art framed and up on WALLS! And I'm itching to try a class out myself. But for now, here are some of my favorites done recently and we can't forget sweet Jenna! Oh art, how I love you!

the things kids say

I just found a piece of paper that had two quotes by Jenna that I had written down- who knows when. No date but it was definitely last year sometime. It's really the little things that mom's adore and this is one of my favorites.

Jenna on gender identity: "Why are you a mom? Because you wear shirts? Patrick (from Sponge Bob, the cartoon) can't be a mom because he never wears a shirt. Plankton has lots of shirts, Patrick put on his shirt!"

Jenna on longevity and packing light: "I'm growing up so I'm going to heaven. I'll bring blankets and goldfish. That's all."

Then here's one from the other day. We were trekking through Ikea's showroom and got to the bedroom section: "Wow Mom, a lot of people sleep here!"

red mango

When I first heard the name of this frozen yogurt place I instantly knew I'd like it! Yesterday for our monthly girl's day out, my sisters, mom and I went to Red Mango and then to a movie! Now all I can think about is when I can get up to Layton next so I can go there AGAIN! I had their new flavor-cocoa with organic chocolate sauce and shredded coconut and sliced almonds! It was a little taste of heaven! AND the best part? NO GUILT! This yogurt is GOOD for you! It definitely has a different taste, the cocoa flavor I had reminded me of chocolate cheesecake, sort of sour. So we sat around their fire and talked for an hour then went to see "Leap Year" which I enjoyed. Next time you are up north, stop in!

introducing: Milly & Pearl

To appease our little animal lover until a dog can grace our home, we decided to buy Bailey two parakeets for her 11th birthday which was Wednesday. One of Bailey's best friends has two parakeets and Bailey LOVES them! So this is where the idea came from. They are still timid when Bailey tries to handle them but she is so excited and loves them already! I told her that her birds are the perfect accessory for her "bird" room! And they are. She said that this was the BEST birthday EVER! I'm happy that she has something to care for and learn about.

the REAL deal, (things that don't reflect positively on the woman I am)

So this is the real Heather. I am NOT organized, I have 3 junk drawers that are atrocious, EVERY time I cook, I make a huge mess. My closets look like this although not quite as bad in some places. This is an ART closet off of the kitchen that my kids LOVE! At times it has looked pretty good, definitely not THIS bad! I attribute the messy, unorganized closet in this photo to my four SWEET children. If I were just taking care of Kel and I, I would be all over organized closets. There in almost nothing better than a clean house and organization to me. I used to have an immaculate house when Kel and I were newly weds and up until 2 children. But now I feel like a sinking ship and I'm hardly doggy paddling! But by posting this monstrosity of a closet (something that Kelly HATES!), I am putting it out there for all of your horrified eyes to see hoping that this will get me to organize it and make it beautiful! So, I'm off to IKEA to find some affordable containers to make this closet easily accessible. Wish me luck and I will post results soon! *****The messy cooking thing won't be easy since it's genetic. Thanks mom!

holiday

No school=

Sleeping in till 9:00 a.m.

Take out

Cousin time!

Play

Accomplishing 0

Going to the movies

Staying up late!!!!!

Ahhhh...

togetherness

The day is done and I can't help but write a little about our day together as a family. It was a day of sweet feelings, closeness, and love, a day I wish I could have on a regular basis. It started out with church which was GOOD! We learned about the creation. I enjoyed every minute of it! After church the boys and Kel went for a walk around "the loop" in the sunshine and got a healthy dose of vitamin D, exercise, and bonding time. Later Kel and I were able to attend the annual temple meeting at the Regional Center. It was truly a reminder of what our focus and joy should be and the importance of our place in the grand plan. I loved it! I think I was one of the youngest people there but it made me smile to see all the white hair! I am amazed by the vision of the temple presidency and enjoyed each topic that the speakers chose. It was a very nice meeting! Then we came home and made a scrumptious dinner of pasta and salad, followed by warm cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa. We brought out "Blokus", a board game and played a round while eating our treats. Kelly made a fire and we sat around talking...we each shared our feelings and beliefs about our faith and it was truly one of those moments you want to bottle up and save forever. Noah and Sam held my eye contact through a 15-20 minute testimony of my beliefs, my expectations, and dreams for our family, gratitude, struggles, personal experiences and encouragement. As a mother, I don't tell them enough my deepest feelings. I don't often take quiet moments to rewind time and give them a look at where I've come from, who I was then and now, what I want for the future. It was simply heavenly. Afterwords Sam, Bailey and Jenna made cards for me and we talked for a while just watching the fire. We have a bedtime routine of me singing two songs each to each child while I rub their backs. This is their FAVORITE thing! Every night they want "Rain drops on Roses...or "My Favorite Things" (you know the song from Sound of Music). And they love "Whenever I hear the song of a bird"...I love this particular song as well. Bailey and I sang two songs with parts so we could harmonize. There is nothing like singing with your daughter or son! I savored every note! I put them all to sleep and then went to tell Kelly how lucky we are and how sweet and cute are little one are! Now I sit here with a full heart, feeling blessed beyond belief to be a mother, to be a wife, to have a home. What a glorious day! I love being together!

Mousey Chic

First, this was my crafty sister's idea, not mine although I wish I could claim it. I bought a new mouse pad but it was a hideous red that didn't match my cute office so I went to the fabric store and bought some bird toile and 2 minutes later had a designer mouse pad! Love it! Thanks Erika!!!! If anyone wants one, let me know because now I want to make some more! This is my idea of instant gratification!

A Gift

Starting fresh means starting a new book for me. I always look forward to this but especially today. There are only a handful of books that I feel have changed my life. This one book is the greatest story I know with the best characters, plot, moral, and promise. Don't think me cheesy to write this but it is the most important book I own. For Christmas Kelly had a dream fulfilled. I'm glad I am married to such a man as who would desire to have something such as the Book of Mormon in it's original form. He is my rock and this book means the world to him. He wasn't always as passionate about religion as he has been the last 16 years. He had to struggle to find who he was and what he believed. It is my greatest joy to share the same feelings and beliefs and PASSION for something so important as religion with my husband! I love it! WE love it! Studying together has been a bond between us. Learning about other faith's has strengthened our own. This book was made exactly as it was in 1830's and it has 2 old pages incorporated in it. Kelly could go on and on about the way it was bound, what the pages are made of, the leather used, but personally, I just like the way it feels in my hand and the reminder of days past. I have committed myself to start this book again, though I have read it through multiple times. Kelly and Bailey will also read with me and we will be able to share once again, the power of these words!

Things I look forward to in 2010...

No resolutions here. No goals whatsoever. Just what is on my mind at midnight. Day one to New year gone, much to contemplate for 2010! This is a painfully long post, I know, but my mind is reeling, can't sleep, here's some gibberish...

January: Bailey's upcoming birthday, 11! Up-side-down birthday party, lots of hyper girls, crazy get-ups and hopefully lots of laughs! Really start looking for the perfect Maltipoo for our little dog lover...really! Art class, basketball. Start cutting credit cards and go to my new CASH budget, right Kel? Got to be thrifty in order for this year to pan out! I hate the word THRIFTY, anyone else? Start "The Real Deal", what mother's don't like to admit on their blogs, a new monthly post seen only here at "Happenings du jour". I'm sick of sticky sweet blogs, now you get the real deal! I'm not ashamed!

Also, and can't forget this happened first, Kelly and my 15 year anniversary!!! Ya hoo! We are going strong! To celebrate, nothing big....yet...(see May)

Start BOM challenge with Bailey, Kel and me. Gonna DO IT!

Febuary: Valentines. I'm going all out this year but don't tell Kel! Shhh!
Trip to see the Dales in ID...skiing, snowshoeing, Tetons!

March: Celebrate Kel's birthday and my dad's 70th at Hale and Fiddler on the Roof (Bailey and Noah too!) Start training for race in June. Darn.

April: Seeing the snow go AWAY and enjoy the first look at Spring, hopefully...
Sam's B-day, 7! Conference, Easter with the family. Baseball begins.

May: A trip to Southern France. Need I say more. Happy Anniversary to ME! Oh, and finally start playing with photo shop for all the pictures I will take. Got to learn it this year FOR SURE! (right Carin?) This is where the CASH budget comes in.

June: Kids get out of school, summer, summer, summer time, pool days! Water parks, cousin time, brown kids.(oh, and ragnar...in fine print) I will run like the wind and not want to die. I will not regret my hardest run yet! I will survive! BTW, we are going to have a team "costume" this year and the coolest van EVER!!!!

July: Kelly's tri in ID, trips to Bear Lake, camping, fishing, general relaxing if possible. Family TIME! Monkeying around, swinging, laughing, late nights, and trying to stay SANE with all this family time!

August: Sneak in one more trip...somewhere. If Spackman's are reading this, how about Nauvoo, Carthage, Chicago? (If not this year next!) Or Oregon coast again with Moody's too? School shopping. Soccer time for boys!

September: Jenna will turn 5 and this will be my last year with a child at home. I look forward to a cherished year with my littlest one. I turn 30 something and LOVE it! (haha) School in swing, schedules, structure once again. AND LION KING!!!!! One of my favorite Broadway plays and we're taking the kids! It's their first!

October: Halloween like you've never seen it before...What do you think about a Rock-n-Roll theme for my party? Dress up as ANY singer or band you want!

November: Noah turns 10, can't believe I'm typing this. 10! He will be moving up in the Scouting world. (KEl will like that I added that) I can't even say Thanksgiving because that just happened and it doesn't sound good right now.

December: All the things we just did and more! Getting a second tree-fake, for entry way. Yes, I'm sort of breaking down here. I'm a firm believer in REAL and will continue to buy one every year. Get a TREE topper that I love since it's been two years with nada on top of our tree. Not that we can reach the top even if we wanted to!

Looks like a good year to me! Now I can sleep. Goodnight! ****Oh, one more thing...I want to take an adult art class from Chris Jacobs-painting. If anyone is out there reading this and would like to join in, let me know!!!!! I need support, people who won't laugh. Ok, goodnight!