The Toothfairy

is notoriously flakey at our house. You can read about it here. And here. So this week, when I realized I am quickly running out of month, I decided it's time to do a page about it. Plus, I've had these photos in my holding file and they're some of the first I see. That always makes a difference. I fall into the category of, "out of sight out of mind," thinker. Anyway. This is *A*. He lost his two front teeth on consecutive days. The toothfairy missed them both. After a bit of fumbling she made a nice recovery. All is well. All dollars accounted for. The first was found after a quick "check" in the jumble of covers/under the bed. The second? Well, wouldn't you know that sneaky toothfairy had tucked it under a piece of yarn that is tied around the bar on his bed. I just happened to see it when I was looking for something in his room... three days later.

This template is a modified version of the very first one I ever made. I can't believe I'm up to 39 now. Crazy.

For this layout I used the Kitschy Digitals Vintage Frames again. Love them! I also used Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend Elements, and Queen of Quirk/Paislee Press You Are Here Paper all from JS. The paint is Spencer Nugent Garage Grunge Brushes 4 from DHD.

Photoshop Friday

It's digi-friday again. I'm still up in the air about making this a permanent feature. Maybe [if I keep doing every episode of Photoshop Friday at JS it would be a simple enough thing to do]. This is the layout I did using Photoshop Friday Episode 26: Soft Glow Photos. $1.00 until Sunday night. I can't get enough of Photoshop Friday! This layout was done using the template that came with the episode [though I did switch out the papers to make for more boyish ones and I dropped the brads and added more of the journal lines]. The photo was altered using the tutorial. Can I just say that I loved it! I use PSE 4.0 [yes, you read that right... 4.0] and therefore miss out on all of the cool photo actions out there. Thanks to Jessica it doesn't matter! This is such a great effect. I love it! I also used papers from the My Awesome Life: Teen Album Class and other textures from a site Jessica recommends/uses in the tutorial. I fell in love. I covered the paint swatches and the background paper with them. You'll have to pick up the episode to find out what I'm talking about ;). Seriously, it's only a buck. Go get it! Also, don't forget about the free class. Registration is open now. Sign up if you haven't yet. And one more thing: Don't miss the Jessica Sprague Holiday sale for 20% off that will start on Black Friday and will go through December 31st. And here's a little extra incentive. Spend $20 and get a free kit put together by the designers. Lots of paper [over 35 sheets], lots of elements [over 50], lots of fun. Here's a sneak peek at some of the papers... I think I might love that star one.

Once A Year

there is a designated girls weekend. Also known as Fathers and Sons. Usually I have big plans. Bigger plans than I could ever accomplish. This year it came incognito. I was taken unaware. It was never announced over the pulpit. This year I've gone to bed at 12:00+ the last three nights. Two of the nights are completely my fault, but for last night I am blaming Primerica. As you can probably imagine, I am exhausted. But I won't admit it. I'm in complete denial. I keep thinking, "I should be accomplishing something great tonight. It's my night. Probably the last that will be mine. So, this is how it is going so far:

Zip over to pick up dinner at Cafe Rio [shredded chicken burrito enchilada style with a side of guacamole anyone?]. Usually I save half for lunch the next day, but wow... the girl is a great eater. She was exhausted and I knew if I played my cards right we would have an early bedtime. So after dinner we hopped in the shower. Had a few bedtime stories and she fell asleep during I am a child of God [7:00 p.m]. Since then I have been trying to figure out how to customize the new page tabs that are right under my blog header. It's not going so well and I'm not sure I'll leave them there. I gave up and decided to upload the photos on my camera so I could share a few things before I forget. I've also been eating pretzel M&Ms. They're pretty good, but they don't seem to register. I would sit down with a small bowl of a designated amount if I were you. Here's my list of possibles:

1. watch New Moon and eat a bowl of ice cream
2. finish the scripture bag that was supposed to be for *A*s birthday since he keeps asking about it.
3. cut squares for the levi quilt that is coming due very quickly. very quickly.
4. start the doll the I plan to make for *E* for her birthday [thought I have decided that as much as I want to cut into the extremely cute fabrics I've got at the ready for this project [It will have various fabrics on random parts of her body much like this rabbit, I will not begin until I've finished with the scripture bags. I won't.
5. cave in and order the baby journal/book It's done. I when I went to the site to grab the link and decided to just go for it [of course, I would start with the last thing on the list. It's so typical of me]. I keep telling myself that I could put together a similar kit myself, but that would be making things harder than they need to be since it just isn't flowing right now and it needs to be. putting together a baby book is on the list. nothing seems to be flowing right now. I seem to have entered the last stages of the cerebral/placental shift.

Or... I could just turn in early. my pregnant body is calling out for just that. It would be a first for Fathers and Sons weekend.

*A* lost his first tooth on Tuesday and again with the flakey toothfairy. Seriously, is my brain so addled that I can't remember the significant first lost tooth ever of this adorable little man? Yes, apparently it is. When he showed me the tooth in the morning, "Mom, look. But no money." he said [our toothfairy doesn't take the teeth... she knows that the kids have much more fun inspecting them regularly than she would stressing about how to keepsake them]. I began internally kicking myself repeatedly and told him what a bummer it is to have a flakey toothfairy. The second night I followed them down to bed and stuck a dollar with my toothbrush so I would be sure to get it taken care of. All was forgiven. The morning after the third night I watched him get up out of bed and cracked up when I saw him take his tooth out from under his pillow. He looked at me with a sheepish smile and shrugged his shoulders. I said, "it was worth a try wasn't it?" He was really hoping he could re-use that tooth for a second visit.

So, that settles it. Don't ever hire our toothfairy.

2.for.Tuesday

Not quite Tuesday, but just in time for Halloween. I'm kindergarten room mom this year + we're having a party. These are the games I came up with plus a link to some other fun ones that we're going to use. one: Ghoulies. This one is basically Cooties. I was inspired by this post from Angry Chicken. She made a little art project for her girls with color + cut + mix + match pumpkin faces. I took it one step further and made it a game [for 2-5 players]. Here you go:

1. print + cut. My pages are HERE in the box.
2. set up the game: sort according to type... eyes, ears [also includes bolts, antenna, horns...]. You will need a die [as in the singular for dice, not to be confused with death and all things halloween].
3. Enjoy the game!

And for those rusty in Cootie skills... Each number on the die corresponds to a type of feature

1. pumpkin head
2. eyes [and all things eye related i.e. glasses]
3. noses
4. mouths
5. ears
6. free [since we're playing with kindergarteners I left this one free + the roller gets to choose whatever they need].

So, basically you just take turns rolling the die and the features are first come first served. As in, just because you got the cat ears doesn't mean you get the cat face, etc. These pumpkin heads will be totally random and really fun.
The only real hard and fast rules in cooties are that you can only roll the die once per turn [i.e. I rolled a one and I already have my head so I want to keep rolling until I get a four because the mouth is the only thing I'm missing. Yeah, that doesn't work] the other is that you must have a body [pumpkin head] before you can add features [but you can change that if you want to... after all, it's your party]. Yes, you must roll a 1 first [or, a 6 because this is kindergarten after all].
two: Skeleton Scramble. Check out the template for this paper coffin from Martha Stewart. Eyeball it much bigger to alter your basic cardboard box to be a coffin. Add a mixed up skeleton [I like the plastic ones that really have the shape of bones] + fill with dirt. The kids get to dig in the dirt to find the skeleton pieces + race to put it back together again. I'm considering picking up some very small skeleton keychains + just doing it the size of the template. But that would remove the running back and forth fun of the race. I envision a team lined up. First person runs + finds a bone + runs back. Next person does the same + so on. Until they have all the pieces. Now it's a race to assemble it. When I told Melissa this idea she wanted to do it for her pre-school so I didn't put it together. Thus, you just get the idea, not the photos +/or templates. Have a happy + safe Halloween. Remember that he who hands out the candy also gets to eat the candy. Enjoy the Journey!

  **later** the game went beautifully. The kids enjoyed it and we only had a few broken hearts because they didn't get the feature they wanted. They even had time to color them. I took a few photos. I'll get them up when I can. The only downer for me was that my own little man wouldn't play because right off someone chose the eyes he wanted and that was the end of that. There was no compromising on the eyes. I also think the game would have gone much more smoothly if we had waited to glue the features on until the game was over. Have them place the feature where they would place them but don't bust out the glue and crayons until everyone is ready to use them. It really clogs up the flow of the game. Believe me. I know. You could either have them get their boxes and set them under their chairs or have them go and get them after they have all their features. Heck, if space is available you could also have them go to a neighboring table and get to work while the others finish playing.

Already?

Summer ended yesterday at our house. Yes, that's right. Back to school time already. I can't believe it. *A* will be going to school. a.m Kindergarten. He met his teacher yesterday. I hope she gets a kick out of him like I do. I hope she realizes that he just needs to be loved and enjoyed. I hope she knows that he's not naughty on purpose. He won't actually start until monday, but the house is already showing signs of missing children. With big brother gone he has set off in search of friends. I've not seen him since he made his bed this morning. The quiet is so nice. Just me and the girl and she's taking a nap. Now to do something with it. Yes, lets. Enjoy the Journey!

About A Boy

This is the story of my #2 aka: *A* . aka: Bigs.

This one is best described as impish. Really. From his round pixie, sunkissed face to his naughty little giggle. He is trouble and silliness and love all rolled into one very dirty and wiggly and loud little boy. His primary teacher tells me she doesn't know what child she will get on any given Sunday. Sometimes he's an angel and sometimes she wants to box his ears. Hmm... I think she'll have to get in line on that one.

Mostly he spends his days riding his bike around the neighborhood and can be found bare foot and wearing an odd assortment of superhero/karate/jedi/pirate costumes + pajamas and singing a theme song composed of various tunes and made up in betweens.

He enjoys visiting our older ward members and will just knock and ask if he can come in. Usually he walks away with some treat or another and that's just fine with him and pretty much guarantees a return visit.

He wakes up around 7:00 a.m and, with his shoes and socks already on, asks if his face is clean. Aunt Lill will only give him a cookie [um... I mean a bag of cookies] if he has shoes and socks on and his face and hands are clean. I remind him that he can't have cookies before breakfast and he breaks into an insta-cry, "I need some breakfast!" It's incredibly irritating in the end but endearingly cute in the beginning.

He still says things like, "Mom, I dot to dis end and I was lite 'hmm?' Isn't dat funny?" He is finally able to make the g + k sounds without a stick in his mouth if he is reminded. I asked him if it would be okay for me to tell his teacher [can't believe he'll be in Kindergarten] to correct him if she remembers. He said it's okay and now I just have to hope it doesn't lead to teasing from kids at school. Next up is the rrr sound .

I'll miss his happy-go-lucky attitude when he's in school, but I'm sure I'll get over it and be able to enjoy the quiet that will permeate the house until he gets home.

So, that's him in a nutshell, and also let it be known that he is very good at sharing whatever he has and he finds it silly when I stutter out his brothers name and for the life of me can't remember his. aka: argh... Whoeveryouare! He's a good boy.

Enjoy the Journey

2.for.Tuesday

I have a child who, while exhausted, will not sleep (unless I am holding her). She is miserable. I am miserable (and doing the one hand typing thing...)

Right now I am consumed with thoughts of Easter + a birthday. Mostly a birthday. *A* is turning five. He originally wanted a circus birthday. He wanted me to make costumes for everyone + he wanted to throw candy at us from the loft at G & G's cabin. Sounded like fun. I found all sorts of fun ideas and was prepared to share. Sadly, it is too muddy to get to the cabin right now and our lives have been randomly busy. The cabin is not to be. I explained that we wouldn't be able to go + therefore he wouldn't be able to throw candy off the balcony... did he still want a circus party? After discussing other party options he settled on a pirate birthday at the lake. I haven't started searching for fun ideas yet, but the cake has been floating around in my mind...

one: Pretty up a party with paper. I stumbled on the craft stylish blog today and loved this cake. How simple and fun. A great way to make a cute cake without all of the stress and mess of decorating. This could be done way in advance. I'm considering using it. It would be so easy to cut out a bunch of pirate-esque silhouettes and call it done. I am definitely considering it.

two: a fun Easter project for kids. I let *I* pick which one would be fun + he liked this one. It's from Martha and, therefore, cute (if you're looking for Easter ideas there are lots more to be had and you can find them all from this link because, of course, they are all Martha's. I'm still not quite sure what Easter eggs/bunnies/chicks have to do with the resurrection of our Savior, but they are cute and we celebrate on Saturday).

Enjoy the journey!

Two Things...

I have been getting the biggest kick out of Little Man #2 lately. He does the funniest things. I need to get them down so I don't forget and they get lost in the wash. First off, we have finished with t-ball (which is an incredible waste of time and was really only enjoyable to *I* because of the treats and the trophy... he said the games were boring and he was so very right). After the last game we went out to celebrate at Ernesto's. As we were enjoying our chips and the best salsa in the world *A* reaches across the table and picks up the pepper. He very carefully placed a chip on his napkin and proceeded to shake a single speck of pepper onto the chip. Then he tasted it, shrugged his shoulders, and picked up another chip. This chip received quite a bit more pepper. He ate it. Next chip... buried in pepper. Before he could eat it *I* informed him that pepper is hot. He picked up the chip, patted the back side to spill off some of the pepper and then ate it. I enjoyed observing this totally random behavior and I wished I had my camera. The second happened yesterday. *I* was playing a soccer-type catch game with a little boy at the rec center. *A* was keeping score. It went something like this: "Four-finity! Eight-finity! Zero-finity! Microwave-finity! Garbage-finity! etc. " Nice counting big man! Enjoy the Journey! Oh yes, one more thing. FYI: we are currently facing at the possibility of another c-section. Is there something anatomically wrong with my body that my children feel the need to keep their heads in my ribs? Are they like their daddy and get sick so they have to be head up? Or are they just so stinking huge that it's more comfortable to lay across this way than be squashed up the other? I can't imagine that having their head bonking into my ribs is any more comfortable for them than it is for me...

Twins?

So, my dear, sweet, say-whatever-comes-into-your-mind neighbor Lill asked me... "are you sure you're not having twins?" Yep, we're positive. There is only one baby in there. "Are you sure?" Yes! "I just don't know how you're going to last until July." Wow. What can I say to that? *B* had a great response approx. 6 hours later... "Oh, come on now Lill... I'm not any bigger than you are." I know, it's not very nice, but it sure cracked me up! Have I ever told you how much I love grilled cheese & tomato sandwiches? It's been a while. I LOVE THEM! I didn't think of it until it was gone, but I should have taken a picture. I seriously love them. *I* is stuck in his room for 3 hours today. He climbed into the cupboard to help himself to things that aren't his again. Nothing major, but *B* figured we should nip it in the bud now. He's right. Poor little buddy. Yesterday he was riding his "scooter" that the neighbor boy showed him how to convert into a skateboard. I had asked him not to ride it standing up until we got him a helmet/wrist guards etc. but riding on his knees got a little boring and he has been experimenting. Last night our neighbor girl asked him to race. He hit a rock and biffed it. He hit his eye and his nose and his mouth. I think he might have damaged two of his teeth. I'm really hoping he didn't (even though they're still his baby teeth). *A* has been packing around a little plastic doll I got to potty-teach a little a girl I was babysitting a few years ago (idea from Dr.Phil). So, it's his baby. Her name is Lisa and he takes her places. Tuesday he took her to *I's* soccer game and tossed her all around. Tuesday night she was nowhere to be found when it came time for bed. Today she was found. Hallelujah. Enjoy the Journey.

I Love...

I love it that I've got such great people around me. I've had chicken soup brought to me for lunch the last two days. How cool is that! I've never had anyone bring me something when I'm sick. People ask occasionally, but they never call up and say, "Have you eaten yet? I've got chicken soup for you. Can I bring it by?" I love a good book. I may have mentioned that I started reading The Kingdom and the Crown series again. I read the first one, Fishers of Men, and then went to get the next one from the library but it was out. I've had to request it. While waiting I've been reading The Peacegiver again. These are all repeat reads, but totally worth it. They are excellent books. I love hula seventy's pictures. She finished her 365 photo project. Hers was in conjunction with her 36th birthday to-do list. She did a photo a day... not necessarily self-portraits. I love the colors and the perspectives. They just make me happy to look at. I need to take a photography class. How does she get her colors to pop like that? I love it when *A* says, "okey dokey artichokey" I love the inspiration I find on the world.wide.web... I am making a tiny-art painting on a recycled thank you card. I'll post it tomorrow. It was inspired by Kal Barteski. I think she's way fun and I also love her triple-arm pumps. Enjoy the Journey!

It Just Doesn't Work

It just doesn't work to be a mom and to be sick. I've been fighting this... yuck... for approx. two weeks now and it finally hit me hard on friday. I spent Saturday and Sunday in bed (sort of). On Saturday I "thought" the boys were playing outside (they had asked to take Bully, a stuffed dog they have become obsessed with lately, for a walk). The phone rang. It was our neighbor... "Sister Miles, I just saw your boys walking down 100 South headed toward 400 East." Wow, that's like three blocks away! I hurried and threw on something more appropriate than a robe and hopped into the blazer to get them. Just as I was about to pull out a memeber of our bishopric pulled up with my two little wanderers. Thank you! As I quizzed the little men about what they were doing it made perfect sense... They were looking for their dad. Well, there you go. How about you wander the entire city looking for your dad when all you had to do was come into my room and say, "Mom, where did Dad go?" I could have easily told them he was at Lowe's to get some trim to finish trimming out the inside of our doors and also to pick up some beet and spinach seeds for our little garden and avoided the whole situation. But that would be too easy! On Sunday we had our FHE about the parable of the talents and tried to liken it to our situation at hand (little wandering men... did I tell you they went to the park alone a couple of weeks ago?). The first guy had five rings (representing how far he could wander from home) around him because he was older and had been given "according to his several abilities". The second guy only had two and the third guy only had one. In our story the 2nd and the third guys both lost their rings because they showed they weren't responsible enough to go anywhere and that's why they are now doomed to remain inside the fence until next week when we can have another reckoning. If they blow it again they will have to remain inside the house. Yes, I will love that. It will be so easy! Enjoy the Journey

Hello Again!

Hi! It's been a while. I've not been feeling the greatest. I hope you all had Happy Valentine's. I went to the school and helped in little man #1's class... they passed out Valentine's and had a little sugar rush party. This one game really had them all going. They had 30 seconds to stack as many conversation hearts as high as they could. The little man was doing great but he'd always push for just one more and the tower would topple. After a few rounds he was so frustrated. I felt so bad for him. He's way too much like me. Too perfectionistic or whatever. We just need to learn to leave well enough alone. *B* had school on the 14th so we celebrated on the 15th. He took me out to Texas Roadhouse and then we went and saw 27 Dresses it was a cute movie. We both really liked it. I had to laugh though, because I kept having to fight the tears... it's these stinking pregnancy hormones... the poor girl just got stepped on way too much. Today a lady knocked on my door and said that my boys were naked and that she completely understands since she has boys of her own... she was just worried about perverts. Yeah, me too. I swear... who told my boys they don't have to wear clothes if there is water around? They had stripped down (and the neighbors 4 year old grandson too) and were playing in the irrigation water running down the gutter. I honestly didn't think it was warm enough for that yet, but there they were. I wasn't up to fighting with them so I got their swimsuits for them. No more naked! The next time I looked out they were covered in mud. I just can't win! A special prize for all you readers from Redbox... free DVD rental. If you haven't tried the redbox you should. Can't beat $1 movies. All you have to do to get the free rental is type in the code: DVDONME when you check out. You'll still have to swipe a credit card just for identification purposes (and so they can charge you a dollar if you keep it longer than 1 day) but hey... free movie. We just watched No Reservations last night. We both really enjoyed that one too. I love that you can now rent the movies on-line then just go swipe your card and pick them up. No more having to scroll through the movies to see what's there and what isn't (sadly, the free codes don't work with on-line rentals). We really like movies at our house. Lastly, I just uploaded more [365] photos. My photos are totally lacking in creativity and... something. Oh well, at least they're there.

Day Fifteen... Nativity

Tonight we had our Ward Christmas party. The Primary did the Nativity story and the little men dressed up as Wisemen. They loved their costumes and I will try to get a picture of them to post later. I didn't take my camera since I was leading the music for the program... Little man #2 was funny. He just couldn't get it that he wasn't in the program, he was just dressed for fun. He sat down in front of the stage with me, "Mom, is it my turn yet?" approx. 1,000 times (only a slight exaggeration). I tried to tell him that he was just going to stay with me, but when the other three wisemen came on stage he said, "Mom, it's my turn!" and went up the stairs to join them. Cute little man! Oh well, I hope everyone else thought he was cute too. They also got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him they want Bumblebee and The Flash for Christmas. Hopefully he'll get that right! It was a good party. Yummy food, great company, and the program went well too. Can't complain about that! Enjoying the Journey!

Day Two... Christmas Devotional

Today the plan was to watch the First Presidency Christmas message. It didn't come on at 6:00 like it was supposed to. I guess you had to go see the brodcast to get the 6:00 showing. I watched the 8:00 re-broadcast and little man #1 joined me for most of it. He really didn't want to go to bed tonight. I love Elder Eyring! He said something that really struck me during the devotional. I went looking for a piece of paper and pen so I could write it down but by the time I got that task completed it was gone. I was hoping to get transcripts off of lds.org but they don't have it. You can download the broadcast to watch though. I might do that later just so I can write down what he said... maybe it'll be my new quote. We all know it's time for a change! My little man #2 is insane! He is a true morning person and he wakes up ready to go at approx. 4:00 a.m. (did I mention insane?). He realizes it's really early so he comes in and wants to lay by me. That is unacceptable because he is so incredibly wiggly. Then he asks if it's morning yet. Not quite yet, bud. Then he says he'll just sit on the chair (we have one by our closet to take our shoes off and generally pile junk on) and wait for morning. At about 6:00 he starts asking for breakfast and we can't put him off any longer. Crazy little man. Cracks me up every time. Enjoy the journey!