Can't think of a creative title.

This is what we have been up to lately...


In one of my classes we are talking about teaching kids about money. I have also been really trying to get Andrew to clean up his toys and listen to me when I ask him to do something. Today I went to the dollar store to look for some Halloween costumes for Andrew and Olivia. Andrew picked out a sword that he really wanted. Instead of just buying it for him I decided to start teaching him about money so I made him this money jar. He now gets 10 cents for doing little chores around the house for me. I told him when he has ten dimes he can get his sword. He is absolutely giddy over the whole thing. I gave him two already and he said, "Okay get my shoes on. Let's get in the car. Want my sword."


This was my cake from the last Wilton Class. My flowers look a little like cabbages but I think overall it turned out really good. I am excited for the next class.


Here is Andrew, Ben, and Liv at the Homecoming parade. Andrew didn't much like the sun in his face...


He did however really love the candy.


Olivia was trying so hard to fit all the candy in her little hands. Once she stood up she lost about half and had to start over.


This picture is just cute, no story.




The rest of the pics are just us goofing around today. Check out all of Olivia's teeth! Yowzaa.

Andrew

Today Andrew got in his first real fight on the playground. Sad day. Ben was taking Olivia down the slide when he heard Andrew yell, "Daddy, he's gonna get me!" Ben looked over and saw Andrew in a corner with a little boy holding his fists out. The little boy and Andrew then grabbed each other by the hands and Ben hurried down the slide. By the time Ben got over there the little boy was gone and Andrew was crying and said, "boy hit me in the face." I felt so bad for him. I know kids will be kids but eww sometimes I just want to tell those meany kids off. Unfortunately sometimes Andrew is the culprit so I figure I better keep my mouth shut. Andrew was pretty sad so I taught him to say, "Don't hit me or I will give you a knuckle sandwich" and put his fists up. It is sooo funny to watch him. I don't think he actually knows when or why he says it but it made him feel better nonetheless. Anyone else have funny childhood fight experiences they want to share?

We also took Andrew to the doctor for his yearly checkup and for a flu shot and he now weighs 34 lbs! He is in the 90th percentile for height and 75th for weight. He is one big kid! Maybe his size will start scaring the mean kids off if he doesn't master the knuckle sandwich technique.

Words of wisdom from a 113 year old man...

So today when I was reading the news, I came across this story of a man who is now 113 years old. He gave a speech at his birthday and this was his advice or words of wisdom.



"Life begins each morning whether we have succeeded or failed or just muddled along. Life is a school to learn, not to unlearn.

"Life is the creation by God and if you would know God, be not a solver of riddles. Look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children. Look into the air and you shall see him walking in the clouds, out-stretching his arms in the lightning and descending in rain. You shall see him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving his hands in trees.

"Life is a great teacher of truth. What is truth to one is not truth to another. What is true in one country may be false in another.

"Life is short but the influences of what we do or say is immortal. There needs to be much more of the spirit of fellowship among us and more forgiveness. The power of gentleness is little seen in the world.

"Remember that life's length is not measured by its hours and days, but by that which we have done therein. A useless life is short if it lasts a century.

"There are greater and better things in us all if we would find them out. There will always be in this world — wrongs. No wrong is really successful.

"The day will come when light and truth and the just and the good shall be victorious and wrong as evil will be no more forever.

"Life itself teaches us to best prepare for that future which we hope for and for that journey to that land un-known, not made by hands.

"Everything just is beautiful; everything beautiful ought to be just.

"The mystery of the world remains unknown. Our maker alone is the key which unlocks all the mysteries of the universe.

"The world is neither a prison nor a palace of ease, but rather for instruction and discipline.

"This world has been good to all of us."

One Crazy Week

Ahhh life is so hectic, I am trying to keep up with everything but blogging is taking a back burner unfortunately. Nevertheless, I had cake decorating again last week and my cake turned out a little better. I made pumpkin spice cake and it was delish! I decorated the cake for a friend of mine's baby. I thought it went much better than last week but I still have a lot of work to do. :)

Ben and I are both in school now and I sometimes feel like I am going to go insane. In the next week and a half alone I have three tests and two papers to write, one of which is 7 pages. I have a play to go to and a paper for that as well. Not to mention that I have doc appointments for the kids, visiting teaching still to do, and achievement day parent night next wednesday. I know it could be worse but I feel like I am going crazy. As long as none of us get sick, I will be able to cope! So sick people, I love ya but please stay away! :)
Ben and I canned 23 pints of salsa yesterday. I hate canning but it feels so good afterward. I kept the jars on my counter all day today just because it makes me feel like I accomplished something.

Ben picked up the guitar yesterday for the first time in awhile and I realized how much I miss hearing him play so I am going to look into getting guitar lessons for him, if any of you Logan friends have any ideas on who does this, please let me know!
Andrew is still fun and crazy as ever. I am really trying to make some quality time for just him and me amidst all the chaos. He is obsessed with Cars and Lightning McQueen lately. Ben's sister gave us three Cars shirts and he now rotates wearing them everyday.
Olivia is learning a few signs. I taught her please and she learned it so fast that I taught her milk and up too and she is really doing it. It's so cute! She also blows kisses and gives hugs.

Anyway- there is a long lengthy update on our life lately. Have a good week!

Cake Decorating Wk. 1

Well last night was our second night of Wilton Cake Decorating. Me and my cousin Lindsey are having a blast so far with it. My frosting turned a delicious shade I like to call "dog turd brown"... see brown on the bottom of the cake. My spice cake was dry and stuck to the pan even though I buttered and floured it. During class my frosting began to "melt" and it separated to the point where it was just plan awful looking so I used my stiffer white icing to make the dots on the cake. For the first night decorating, I don't think it went too awful though. I learned a few things. 1: Use a cake mix when you don't have a ton of time. 2: Don't use old western family shortening to make your frosting 3: Cleaning shortening out of a mixer is pretty much impossible but can be done with LOTS of grease cutting dish soap. Hopefully things will start to look a little better next week. :)

Marett Family Reunion

We had a blast at the Marett Family Reunion last weekend. It was up at the Strawberry Pinnacles and I had never been there before.

We got our very own cabin, I felt totally spoiled. It was awesome!

Andrew and Ben having a little father/son time on the tire swing. :)

Andrew and all the kids caught lizards galore!

There were streams and wide open spaces to play around in. Ben led me and his sister and two brothers out into the middle of nowhere to go fishing. Sarah and I got more cockleburs in our hair than I even want to think about. We played board games with the family and stayed up late by the campfire. It was really fun. I want to go back sometime with Ben and stay in the cabins again.

When we got home... we discovered that Andrew had turned OFF the fridge and freezer and a great majority of our food had to go in the garbage. It was a nightmare. But besides that minor setback, it was a fun-filled weekend.

Our bus ride...

So I rode the bus home from school today. It was Olivia's nap time so she started to get fussy. I waited for thirty minutes at the bus stop. I was carrying two back packs, a stroller, and Olivia. Andrew had to sit next to a stranger a seat away from me because all the seats were taken. By the time we got sat down, Olivia was screaming bloody murder into my ear and everyone else's ear too seeing as how the bus was crammed full. I tried to calm Olivia by offering her a bottle which she immediately threw under the seats ahead of us. She then kicked off her shoes and those followed the bottle. It took all my strength to restrain her as she flung her body in every direction possible. Meanwhile... most of the bus is staring at me with their mouths wide open. One women even looked as though she might jump up and demand Olivia from me. She kept dodging her head to look past people in the way of her view on me. By the time we got off the bus, I was sweating, shaking, and on the verge of tears but I managed to keep it together until we got to the car and I called Ben, who I then cried to for 10 minutes. The moral of this story... Be patient with people who have kids and if you have something to say or something that is bothering you... Speak up or stop staring and mind your own business... That's all I have to say. Phew. I feel better already.

Sewing

I got a sewing machine for Christmas and Ben got me into sewing lessons as a surprise so since January I have been going and it has been a lot of fun. I became obsessed with thinking of projects to do and I love having a sewing machine! I just wish I had more free time to make stuff. Well school started and I had to quit doing my sewing lessons. I was pretty bummed about it but I plan to start up again when life isn't so hectic. These were some of the things I made while taking lessons...

First I made some pajama pants for Andrew but I couldn't find the picture I took of them and he has already grown out of them so they are boxed away. :( After I made his PJs, I made these cute little Thomas the train curtains for his room. He loves them.

I next decided to make an apron for me.

Then I made a dress for Olivia.

Last but not least... since Ben was feeling particularly left out, I made him this vest. It actually still needs buttons but you get the idea. I am sick to death of this vest to be quite honest, I have been working on it forever but it looks really good on Ben so it was worth it.

I am not sure what I am going to make next. Maybe a cute diaper bag or a skirt or dress for me. For now, I am going to concentrate on school so the sewing will have to take a back seat.