My new TOY

I was talking with a home-schooling friend about how I wanted to save my money up for a Cricut machine. I loved the idea of being able to cut out lots of shapes and make cool gifts for people.

I have a great scroll saw that I love to make things with, nativities, pinewood derby cars, and especially Name Puzzles for my girls' friends' birthdays (who doesn't love to have their name in solid form?) Miranda has loved her puzzle, and has played with it a lot. It's helped her learn her letters, and it's been a lot of fun.



So, I was super excited about getting a Cricut, but I always hesitated because of the cost of cartridges. After spending $250 on the machine (cuz I wanted to be able to cut tiny letters (1/4 inch) out), you then have to purchase all the different font types, shapes, etc. Not very economical, and really difficult to for storage purposes.

As I was talking with my friend, she said, "Oh! You should look at the Silhouette". She explained that it does what the Cricut can do, but it doesn't require cartridges, but uses a computer. It uses any TrueType font already on your computer (and there are hundreds of free ones available for download from the internet), you can purchase shapes online (about $1 each), or even draw your own stuff. It even allows you to print something first on your printer and then cut it out! Or replace the blade with a pen and us it as a plotter. Way Cool!

So, I did my homework and found some sites that compared the machines. I read blogs, looked at ideas, and saved my pennies. Thanks to some wonderful family that sent me birthday money (Moms and Grandmothers), I got my new toy! It works just as promised: huge learning curve, but amazing versatility and awesome abilities...

With some time and effort, I was able to design my own four-inch tall paper box that folds together (one glue strip required) and even added this melded cut-out design on the outside:


Ooooh, the possibilities! It cuts fabric, vinyl, paper, cardstock. It can't cut anything wider than 8.5", but it can cut longer banners! I'm having soooo much fun with this baby! I even designed a decal for our shirts for the members of our church who want to match while we run the Sunburst Race in two weeks (I'll post this later). I've got ideas for my "family reunion" this summer. Paper dolls, boxes, gifts, freezer-paper stenciling... ahhh endless possibilities! I just wish I had a more creative mind to think up better uses!

Oh yeah. About the running. Yup, uh huh, this person who hates running has signed up for a 10K. And, I'm really doing it. I've been running 4-5 miles, and although I feel drained, I can do it. So, I am pretty sure I'll make it through the 10K. But, I'm not going to worry about time, just about finishing the race.

Bread Bags

I stitched together a few bread bags this past week. They only took about 20-minutes each, so super easy.

I have noticed that the plastic bags do lend themselves a bit of plastic-y taste to the bread. So, I thought I'd try these towel-linen bags. What I love about them? They are "natural", they don't leave a taste on the bread, they look super nice. What I'm disappointed about? They don't hold the moisture in quite enough for my taste, so the outside of the bread gets hard and a little dry.

So, I'm now wondering if they make something in oilcloth that is as cute as these:



The first bag was 16" x 18" and didn't quite fit my "fat" loaf (I have one bread pan that is slightly bigger than the other, I call that one my "fat" loaf). It cost about $2.60 to make (not including the thread and the string I already had on hand)

The second bag was 16" x 24" fit both breads, but the draw-string close is a little thick and a mite difficult to get it closed. It was $3.50 for fabric. They also had lots of cute types of fabric, but the red was my favorite.

Music Mayhem: 80s Flashbacks

Travis was driving with Miranda and Veronica one afternoon. He heard Miranda singing in the back of the van

won't you take me to
funky town

What he heard next cracked him up...

taco party
taco party
taco party
yeah-ah-yah

(see 0:24 and you'll see she's not too wrong).



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At dinner last night, Zoë put on an 80's cd Travis got for me from the Friends of the Library sale (the Library sells off their used/unwanted media). It has the song, "You Spin Me Round" on it.
As we listened to this song, Zoë looked very pensive and thoughtful. She said, "You know, the name of this band? It's Dead or Alive....
They can't decide."

I'm not sure what they had to decide about since for me, personally, it's kinda an either/or situation and one you don't really get to choose. I busted out laughing and giggled through the rest of dinner.



* * * * * * *

Oh, and another of Miranda's favorite 80s songs is "Beat It" by Michael Jackson. No, she doesn't moonwalk, and she doesn't dance (or grab herself) like this deceased icon. But, she does, for some reason, really like this song...

Slurpee

We had a Family Home Evening activity tonight. Megan earned a bicycle bell because she is now riding a bike without training wheels. We are ALL excited about this as it means more possibilities for longer-distance bike trips. She even chose to bike in the rain on Friday last!

On the way to the store, Travis gave a little lesson in the van about how if we learn and do all that Heavenly Father asks, what do we get? Eternal life. Is that a reward? Yes! Did Megan learn something? Yes! How to ride a a bike! What is her reward? Knowing how to ride a bike and a bike bell! Perfect lesson- short, sweet, and applicable.

Sadly, we couldn't find the bell (even after stopping at 2 stores). BUT, the girls did get the promised Slurpee's. Miranda was very patient- she's been waiting since Saturday for this treat!

Veronica is now old enough that she has to have her own Slurpee. The minute we walked into 7-eleven, she shrieked "MINE!" and ran over and grabbed a cup. She was adamant about having her own cup this time (in the past Travis usually shared his large cup with her). So, 4 Slurpee's and an icecream bar later (Zoë opted for an alternate treat and I chose to forego the extra calories altogether), we headed home.

It's fun to have little lessons like this for Family Home Evening.

Milestones

I asked Veronica this morning to put back the bottle of medicine she'd taken off my bedside table. She looked up at me and grinned. I asked her again. She still just looked at me and seemed to say, "Why!? This is fun!" So, then I said, "Nica, clean up. Go put it back. Clean up."

We both turned away from each other and the next thing I heard was her soft little voice (particularly soft compared to her immediately older sister) say, "Yes, Mom."


* * * * * * * * *

Megan learned to ride a "two-wheeler" on Mother's Day. That was the second best present I could get on Mother's Day this year (the best was the "day off" Travis gave me on Saturday; I didn't have to even think about anything to do about the house or with the kids. Freedom!)

Travis got Zoë a new bike since she had outgrown (literally) her old one. Zoë is very happy with her new bike, and looks great riding it around. Megan was super excited to get a "new" bike (Zoë's old one) and was already talking about painting it. Something must have been said about her needing to ride the bike before that could happen. I think also that Megan would be losing the very cool bike bell might also have been a motivation because we were outside on Sunday with the bikes, and Megan got on. With encouragement (LOTS of shouting praise) she took off! She was still very nervous, and would crash into anything that loomed out at her (bushes, trees, sisters, other bikes, etc)

So, for Family Home Evening last night we went on a LONG bike ride: 3 miles up to the Student Center on the Notre Dame campus. Zoë was on her bike, Megan on her bike, Travis pulling Miranda and Nica in the bike trailer. I ran/jogged. Whew!

But, Megan made it the WHOLE WAY and crashed only once into a tree (that leaped out at her). She was so proud of herself and glowing with her accomplishment, as she should be! Zoë was a trouper to be the leader, and give Megan something to work for. Nica cried when we pulled her out of the trailer. Miranda cried when we put her in (she was also very excited to get a 'new" bike as a hand-me-down from Megan adn was disappointed that she didn't get to ride her bike. But, she's still very SLOW. I can walk faster than Miranda can bike at this point. Still, I was lagging behind all the bike riders and got a good fast run, especially on the way home.

Yay! I love family bike rides!!!

Mmmm, candy

Do you remember "Sixlets"? Do you even know what they are?

I remember walking up the hill to the corner gas station with my sisters and spending my penny money on these candies. They are like M&Ms, but different- more candy less chocolate. And, I like them MORE.

They seem to have made a recent come-back. At least at dollar stores. My girls got some for Easter, too.

Ahhh, there's nothing like a taste of childhood....

Single Motherhood

My heart goes out and my hat goes off to all those mothers who raise their children without a husband. Some of these mother's are "part-time" single moms (whose husbands work away from the home all week). Others are full-time single moms. I have had a small taste of what it is like to walk in their shoes, and it is some seriously tough work.

Raising kids is tough work. Teaching, cleaning, loving and comforting, and all the other roles that a mother takes is time consuming, emotionally and physically and mentally challenging (and frequently exhausting). It is made even harder when all that responsibility falls on one person's shoulders. It is no wonder that the Savior speaks frequently in the bible about giving succor to the "widows and the fatherless".

I've had a small taste of single-motherhood these last few days while my husband was away at a conference. I'm very grateful I still got to have some auditory contact with him, and that it was only for a few days. Still, just thinking that at 3pm I still have dinner, help with homework, getting kids ready for bed, cleaning up, working on my job (I've got CME's), and accomplishing all that on my own... no respite or break or assistance when the 3-year-old is throwing a tantrum, and the 5-year-old is whining that she hates this dinner, and the 18-month-old is climbing up on the table to eat the dinner that is partially dished out but not ready to be eaten, and the 8-year-old is crying because she's so tired of homework and never gets to ________ (watch TV, play with friends, etc.) Yeah, uh huh. You know those nights.

Of course, it also breaks my heart to hear their plaintive comment, "I miss dad. When is he coming home?"

Miranda, my sweet exclamation-point-talker keeps asking, "What day is today!? I love ______ (fill in current day)!!! Is that the day dad comes home? I miss dada!"

He's a great dad, a really awesome friend, and the person I love spending time with the most. He's a good guy, and somebody I can talk to about anything- and do!

Oh, and it's great to have somebody who always takes the trash out.... my garbage cans are overflowing...