Like Mother, Like Daughter

Clara asked me to come into her room and buy something from her garage sale. I just had to get a picture.

Before and After

This isn't the greatest makeover, but it was the best I could do while being a single mom all week. Derek went to New York for business and I wanted to surprise him with a clean, freshly painted garage. Before:

After:

I am SO glad the stenciled wording is gone.

Aren't I a nice wife?

Collections

Having my garage sale has put me in the decorating mood. It feels so good to clean out and re-organize! I have a lot of projects on my list and I'll post before and afters hopefully shortly, but as I was walking around my house I noticed all the things I love to collect. I think I've always loved having collections; when I was little it was seashells, stickers, and wallpaper samples. I may still have them; I'll have to try to dig them up and post pictures. So here are some of my collections:

This should be full of spoons, but my kids took them down and threw them behind my bed. I'll get them out some day. I think this is my longest standing collection so far. They're just those inexpensive souvenir spoons from gift shops, but I've gotten them from all the places I've traveled as well as gifts from family members that have visited other places. I think I have 34 as of now. I have no idea what even made me start this collection, but it's very sentimental. I love collecting!

SALE!

This is long overdue, but I'm finally getting around to having that garage sale I posted about months ago! It will be this Saturday, November 8 at 7a.m. at my house. If you need directions, e-mail me at marenann3@yahoo.com. Candice will also be contributing some of her stuff. We'll have furniture, lots of home accessories, as well as clothes and other misc. items. Spread the word!

More Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Clara and Clay got to dress up for preschool yesterday. My friend Melina made Clara's tutu and Janie will wear hers tonight. I love them Melina- thank you! They had a Halloween parade and then my mom took the kids to the park. They were covered in sand when they got home, but loved every minute of it!

Bedhead

Now that's some good bedhead.

Buddy Walk

Every October we attend the annual Buddy Walk for our favorite buddy, Parker. It's a HUGE event and it's always so much fun. By 10:00 a.m. we had all eaten Krispy Kremes, Jamba Juice smoothies, Blue Bell ice cream, cotton candy, and snow cones. Yum. We were lucky enough to have Kelli come from Utah too; although it was too short a visit, Kel!

Costume

Last night we had the pleasure of attending the Hinze's annual Halloween party. It was a success, as always! I didn't used to be one for costume parties, but it's been fun trying to come up with new ideas. I think this suits us well.

And I think Candice might have been a bit too comfortable as Oprah.

Mother Nature's Farm

Today I went with Clara and Clay's preschool on a field trip to Mother Nature's Farm. It was kinda hot and kind of a mad house, but the kids enjoyed it. They have pumpkin decorating, hay rides, a petting zoo, a hay maze, and an air bounce. If it would just cool down a few more degrees, we could spend all day outside!

One reason I shouldn't blog

Because while I was adding a new post, Clara learned how to take off the safety gate that's usually up to keep the kids from going into the guest room (which right now is the catch-all) and they made an even bigger mess of it.

Of course when I went to see what they were doing, Clara and Clay were nowhere to be found, but I heard a squeaky voice from the closet saying "Let me out!" in between sobs.

I opened the door to find Janie with black permanent marker all over herself and the closet door. Luckily it's on the inside where nobody can see it. Maybe I should wait until the kids are sleeping before I get on the computer.

Kiddies

Quick update on the kids: Clara's obsession lately is helping me in the kitchen. Every time she sees me in there she asks "Can I help you make something?" It's been a good motivator for me because I want her to love to cook so I've been trying to increase my cooking and baking skills. Which reminds me, if you haven't looked at mine and my sisters' cooking blog there are lots of delicious recipes so check it out here!

Clay is into Transformers right now. It's all he talks about morning, noon, and night. He got some photo album boxes out and put them on his feet and walked around the house saying he was a Transformer. At least it makes Christmas shopping for him really easy! He loves, loves, loves preschool and has grown up so much these last few months.

These girls have the best bedhead of anyone I know. This picture is actually mild compared to what it usually looks like! Janie is at SUCH a fun age! Her vocabulary is excellent and she is almost always sweet and happy. When Clara and Clay are at preschool, Janie makes a great shopping partner. She been showing some signs of interest in the potty training area, but I haven't been very faithful about it. On Sunday she told us she needed to go potty so Derek put her on her potty chair and she went pee and poop, a first! She hasn't done it since, but she was sure proud of herself!

General Conference

Oh how I love Conference weekend. Besides the fact that we don't have to get up and ready for 8 o'clock church, I look forward to General Conference because it's almost like a holiday. We get to spend 2 whole days with family and listen to our Prophet and Apostles who's words increase our faith and strengthen our testimonies. I have to admit though, the thing that touches me the most is the music. I loved listening to the Primary children's sweet voices and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was outstanding as always. I think my favorite song had to be "Oh What Songs of the Heart". It gave me chills. It reminded me of my ward growing up (Fairfield) when Candice was called to be the choir director and this was one of the songs we performed. I played the piano part while my mom was on organ and we had a very large choir- it sounded AMAZING. It became a favorite of our Bishop at the time, and when he passed away, the ward choir was asked to perform it at his funeral. Words cannot describe the feeling in that room. I'm sure even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir would have been impressed. I seem to associate music with memories, so for me this song reminds me of our dear Bishop. Music is so powerful and I hope my children grow to appreciate good music as much as I do. To listen to the song, go here (it's in the Sunday morning session). Now Dad- this is for you- my 6 favorite speakers: 1. Dallin H. Oaks- Sacrament Meeting 2. Jeffrey R. Holland-Angels 3. David A. Bednar- Meaningful Prayer 4. Henry B. Eyering- Unity 5. President Monson (Sunday Morning)- Change 6. Russell M. Nelson- Celestial Marriage

Garden

I never really thought about a garden probably because I do NOT have a green thumb and cannot keep plants alive for longer than 2 days, but Derek has wanted one for a while and it's finally become a reality! Monday night for FHE we planted the seeds; if we can even get one good vegetable from it, I'll consider it a success!