Sure, It can be a challenge

I was driving Olivia to school this morning, with her in the passenger seat and all the rest behind us. Ella was sick with a cold so Liv was the only one going today. We got further down the street when she asked me if there were enough donuts for everyone and I told her there were and that they were still hungry I would get them something else and not to worry about us.

She responded to that by saying:
I bet it's hard taking care of 4 kids all by yourself all day.
That surprised me but I only, simply, responded:
Try 5 all summer.

I just did that. Like 2 weeks ago. I still remember.

Girls Camp Prep 2016

I've been helping, in smaller ways, to get ready for girls camp this year. It has been a sensitive subject in my heart- camp this year. This is my first year in Young Womens, since being a Young Woman myself and I am the Second Counselor and should be going as a leader but I have used the "mommy of small children" card this year. I am told by many that I will have other chances to go in the future and it's just too hard in the stage I'm in. I agree and that's why I told them I couldn't but since I made that decision I have seen so much planning and preparation go into it that it's hard to not want to go.

I am doing some last minute things before they head out tomorrow morning. I am putting together Pillow Treats. I found a few gems online as I searched for ideas.

I also found that the thought I wanted for the glow sticks required me to buy a download and I didn't want to so I created my own version. It may not be as glamorous and beautiful but I'm fond of my little creation.

I also wanted to give the leaders who are going a little something extra. I found this cute idea here. She cited using this other blog for the printout. That comes from here. So, a few clicks and I printed this out and attached it to a couple pairs of socks for each leader and it came to be like this.

This next one should have gone with FUN DIPS but I had them printed off and when I went to get candy, I went to 5 different stores, only finding 5 FUN DIPS and had to resort to a diff. candy. I don't think the girls will mind what candy it is but it doesn't have the "play on words".

 

I did another one, using REISEN and Rolo candies in little, tied up bags but I didn't' take a picture of them.

 

They all turned out cute and served their purpose. It was nice to help in a small way, anyway.

 

I met up with the girls and leaders in the morning and got to see them off.

 

 

Kitchen Remodel part one

Somewhere in March and April Hyrum and I got serious about redoing our kitchen. It was time to get some more cabinet and counter space. And have the space more effectively used.
Here are pictures of how our kitchen has looked, since moving our things in last summer.

This is probably the best one in showing the right side-end of counter and cabinets.

The right side of the window could have been designed to hold a set or two of cabinets and the right side of the dishwasher could have held a set or two of cabinets, as well. So in whole, it is missing a lot of cabinet space in the current design shown here.

I am also not a fan of the greasy grime that collects on the top of cabinets over time and would rather have cabinets go to the ceiling. If I want to put something in the top shelf (the same space as over the top of the cabinets) no body even would have to know about it and the items would remain clean.

The current design only contains 4 narrow drawers. 2 of the 4 are deep but, in all, it is not much drawer space at all. That would need to be changed.

Where the current set of 3 drawers are in only designed for drawers and the space between under the sink and drawers is unused almost entirely. It only houses the sink drain in the back space.

There is a lazy-susan and it is original with house and, in my opinion, not high quality. Plastic and narrow. Not much can be stored there. But it is effective in holding my pots and pans, and that is highly important.

A simple memory to retain

I had finished painting Ella's and Livvy's nails and we were reading bedtime books when Ella was turning the page and said, "This is like Gramma."
I said, "What is?"
Ella replied, "That I have sparkles."
"Oh, so Gramma sparkles?", I asked.
And her simple response: "Yes."

But now I'm remembering that she has memories or Gramma painting her nails and painting sparkles over the top. I love the sweet memories that they have with her in them.

10 Years Later

Gavin came to us 10 years ago.
Gavin left us 10 years ago.
Gavin left our hearts aching 10 years ago.
Life has continued and we've had NUMEROUS blessings since those 10 years.
And it can still ache like it did 10 years ago.

I have been really emotional today and not-quite-right.
I keep thinking and asking questions. What would his favorite dinner be?
What kind of cake would he have wanted?
Would he want a Star Wars birthday? Or Pokemon? Or what?
Would he be friends with all the neighbor kids around us and want to invite them over?
Would he feel he's too old for me to fuss for him to wear a coat to school?
Would he be a good big brother to all of them?
Would he be annoyed at Jared grabbing everything and Dallin sitting on everyone?

I love you Gav. I miss you even though I didn't have long with you. and even though it has been 10 years.

A moment to laugh

Today Olivia was sitting at the table doing homework on the tablet and as I was walking downstairs I heard her say, "I have a problem."
This caused me to sing out loud, to the melody of a Backyardigans episode called "Tale of the Mighty Nights" and the song in it that sings "I have a challenge". But from her comment I started to sing "I have a problem.." and continued to walk away but not too quickly to hear her say,
"mom's crazy."

So true.