Home By the Creekside

As I was under the weather today, we all stayed home from church so we wouldn't infect anyone. My sis in law had to work so today my nephew came over to our house. They decided to build a fort. I knew there was reason for our really big table.

I saw this on the internet and almost peed my pants laughing. Let me tell you this is exactly how I feel this year. In Arizona, I was used to bonuses in the summer from Prop 301 and casino money...but now here in Idaho, I am forced to think up creative gift ideas such as this one.... This is how it goes.... My dear friends, Somewhat embarrassing to admit, I’m not getting an annual bonus and Christmas is tight this year. I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me know your sizes. You’ll most likely agree that it’s a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I’ve included the instructions below. How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads: You need four maxi pads to make a pair. Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part. The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top. Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part. Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most aesthetically appealing),

I was having my students write what they were thankful for. I thought I would write a couple things that I am very thankful for. 1. Church membership. I have been officially a member since I was 18. It means so much to me that I am able to have the freedom to practice any religion that I want. 2. My family. I love my husband and my two munchkins. I am so thankful that we were sealed in the temple . 3. My pets. My pups are my family, too. They let me know when someone is outside and they are always faithful to me. Studies show that you can relax more when you pet and hug your animals. It works when I am feeling down or stressed. 4. My house. I love my home and I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads to shelter to us from the world. 5. My friends. I am very thankful for those that I can call my friends whether they be work, church, or just plain friends. 6. My recliner. I thank you for making me comfy after a day's work, surfin the internet, or watching T.V. with my fa

Today is National Adoption Day. Our son came into our lives when he was just a month old. He had RSV and was really sick. Our first time visiting Brayden was when he was on NICU. He was so tiny and I knew he was mine. Lyndee was 6 months when she came into our lives. Her bio mom abandoned her in a crisis enter so she could come clean but never came back. When we went to visit her, she was so happy and bouncy. We knew that she was ours as she looked just like Clayton's baby pictures. I am so thankful for the adoptions of my two little ones. They are so precious to our family. We have been toying with the idea of adopting again. Heavenly Father has truly blessed us. I am so proud and thankful to be a mom to these two munchkins.

Okay so I signed up to be in a card exchange in our ward. This month has been so hectic and my creativity is on hiatus. So I thought as I was going to this card class at BYUI (I signed up for it in August), it better give me some creative ideas so I can quickly make my cards the night before our exchange (this Wednesday). Well at our class...we made 15 cards of three different designs. So not only do I have ideas, my cards are done. The ladies will get to choose from the different kinds. I do not have to slave away the night before our exchange. Then it gets better. I go again on Thursday for more cards.Whhhoooo hoo! I am relieved. Now I can relax for the next couple of nights.

Before: After: Please tell me why by the end of the week our counters are piled with crap. Then it takes me the whole weekend to go through it and clean it up. Then piled upon again. You would think I would have trained myself by now.....Such a vicious cycle.

Teaching Lyndee how to brush her teeth and THEN spit out the toothpaste has been such a hard task (taken us 2 years). She now can spit the toothpaste out. We are now training her on swishing water her in her mouth and spitting so we can graduate her to some flouride treatment. She has horrible teeth. Brayden of course has already graduated and is now a flouride treatment guru. He does his best to help his baby sister swish. We told her that she can use the flouride when she turns 4 and Brayden has decided to teach her and show her how to swish and spit to help her reach her goal.

I never wanted to gripe or strongly express my feelings on my blog. Well, I am throwing that out today because I am feeling miffed. My husband and I were called to get our ward members signed up to clean the church building every 3 months (now 4 months since we split wards). Do you know how hard that is? I am so grateful for the tiny few to humble themselves to clean. We started in August and had a great turnout. One family even signed up for every week. But....this month has been trying. Gripe 1: I can't get members to sign up. Cleaning the Lord's house is a blessing. We can be humble through service. Or...maybe this calling is supposed to humble me as well. It is doing a great job. I do not mind cleaning the church. I have been taking my rugrats with us. Brayden was excited about cleaning the windows and he is NOW taking careful steps to not touch the windows when opening the door. That hasn't reached Lyndee yet. Gripe 2: Candy and Play doh?? Come on, seriously. Do we

The start of the trick or treatin' fun You can't catch me! Neener Neener Neener! I'm ready to go home! We live in a fairly new subdivision. Not all the houses are built yet. The houses are too far spread apart as we are all on acre lots. We trick or treated in our subdivision. Then we drove two miles to my friend Shannon's neighborhood and let the kids loose (not too loose). We walked and the kids stopped at almost every house. We did confiscate their buckets. Clay and I picked out our favorite chocolate pieces when they weren't looking. The remaining stash will soon disappear to my classroom jar. Lyndee did not know who daddy was. (Just kidding, Clay)She was entranced by that handsome fellow on the right...I mean the left. Sorry, Clay.

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