A Birthday Success

 

Over the last few weeks Ky has had strep throat and pneumonia, Bradlee had strep throat and Temberlie had bronchitis.  Needless to say a lot of our money has gone to the doctors office and the pharmacy.  So when I realized that it was only one week until Temberlie's birthday, I wondered how I would afford to buy presents.  Braydee suggested that I make all of them.  As I thought about that and looked through my house here is what I came up with....

I found a binder that I was no longer using and put a notebook (the kind you can buy for like 15 cents when school starts), some coloring pages that I had pinned on pinterest and printed off and a pocket with crayons, colored pencils and chalk.  I covered the front of the binder with chalkboard contact paper. 

I had bought the My Little Pony memory game a few years ago and had it stashed away in a closet (it had never been opened).  The hand mirror I bought at the dollar store with the intention of giving it to her for Christmas, but I forgot.  The tin princess purse I bought the day after valentines day last year, also with Christmas in mind.  The three cardboard playhouses were from the dollar store and I had bought them last year.

When I went shopping for her birthday I found this pink treasure box for just under $6 and new she had to have.  It was the only one there so I grabbed it right away.  The doll (that I think is so ugly it is kind of cute) was pieces printed on fabric that you cut out, sew the front to the back, sew the dress and hair ties, stuff and done.  I think I bought the fabric with Christmas in mind as well.  I used left over quilt batting to stuff it.

Since her birthday was on a Sunday I decided to make her a dress.  I didn't want to sew sleeves in so I left it sleeveless and bought a sweater for about $10.

It turned out really cute, but the flowers on the fabric are painted on and they kept flaking off all day.  I don't think she can wear it to church again.   I just hope all the flower pieces come off the pew that we sat on in church.

She absolutely LOVES her doll.  It has blonde hair and blue eyes just like her.  It is a good thing that Temberlie likes everything because she was thrilled with all her presents even though it only cost us $16.  We didn't have a party..simply because I don't like throwing parties.  Our kids only have a party when they turn 5, 8, 12, and maybe 16.

She told what she wanted for her cake and helped her dad make it.  I think it turned out pretty good. Just a side note, her dad made the best biscuit cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting for breakfast.  He is AWESOME!

We are so glad that we have Temberlie.  Even though she is six now she still reminds us that she is the baby.  She is so cute and makes us laugh about half the time (the other half is spent throwing fits).  She loves us all and can get along with everyone.  She is learning how to read and write in kindergarten and she loves school.  We love her and we are glad that she had a very happy birthday!

New Year!! Maybe I shold have a new post?

Since it is to cold to go walking, I decided to add a post.  Sorry this is a no picture post, maybe neat time....maybe.

We had a really good Christmas!  I think everyone was pleased with their gifts.  We got to see Malcom, Lindsey, Rebekah and Jacob.  It was fun to spend time with them.  If all goes well and plans work out we will see them (with a brand new baby girl!) at spring break time.

We stayed up and rang in the new year with my (Lynaya) parents.  Next year we need to invite more people sooner.  We had to much food.  It was all so good and fun.

I really enjoyed the two week break from school.  We slept in until 10:00 everyday (except Christmas Day).  I didn't even want to pull out my hair until the Friday before school started, major improvement.   After sleeping in for two weeks it was rude awakening to have church at 9:00.  I already like the 9:00 church time.

I know I should have some new years goals, but I don't.  I just hope that by the end of the year I can show greater love towards my husband and children.  If I lose another 10 pounds, that would be a plus.  I know that I have a lot of weight to loose, but 10 pounds a year is good enough for me.

Here's to a New Year!  Bring It On!

Thanksgiving 2012

Look who we had at Thanksgiving dinner this year.

It all started as a joke.  My uncle said that if he was in charge of Thanksgiving dinner, he was going to cancel it.  My aunt said that if she was in charge we were going to Mcdonalds.  It just so happens that my aunts bishop is the manager of the Mcdonalds here in Safford.  She was able to get the Ronald Mcdonald that used to sit by the Mcdonalds in the old Walmart.

 We even had plenty of happy meal toys for all the kids.  You can see Mackensie has like four toys in her hand.  It was a lot of fun.

I know a lot of people have been posting things that they are thankful for all month.  I am not that dedicated, but I wanted to add what I am thankful for.  I am of course thankful for the things that most everyone is thankful for (family, home, gospel of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, Jesus...) but this year I am most thankful for my thyroid medication.  Let me explain...When you have a messed up thyroid you can be out of energy and become very depressed.  By the end of this last summer I knew that somewhere very deep down inside me might have been some love and joy for my children, but I couldn't honestly say that I loved them.  Luckily I have an AWESOME husband and I could say that I loved him.  It really bothered me that I didn't love my children and I felt like they were sucking what energy I did have out of me.  I finally got my thyroid checked and have been grateful ever since.  Know I can say that I truly do love my kids and I even enjoy them.  I have laughed, smiled and enjoyed life more in the past month than I have in this whole entire year.

Because I do not want to lie on my blog and make everyone think that we live in a majical kingdom full of laughter and sunshine (since thyroid medication),  I do want to add that life is still real, the kids still fight and say mean things and I still want to run away from home sometimes.  I am just able to deal with those things better.  I am also able to laugh at the funny things my kids do and say now.

I am also thankful for Christmas music.  I am excited for Christmas!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Our Summer ....It's About Time I Blog About It

I was going to start this post with the month of June, but I uploaded the pictures with August pictures first and June pictures last.  In order to save time I am starting with the most resent and working backwords.  

Mackensie was baptized by her dad on August 18.  It was a special day, but I think I stressed way to much and didn't take the time to enjoy it.  She was so beautiful in her dress.  The pictures really do not give her justice.

 

Braydee had a birthday on August 9th. She turned 13 (she is officially a teenager).  I think she had the worst birthday of her life.  The only thing we did to celebrate is lunch and a cake. Her cousin invited her to go to a night swim with some of her school classmates as an end of summer fun time.  While she was swimming we went and bought her a cake and picked up some pizza for dinner.  She is a lot of help around the house and will do things without being asked.  She is an awesome young woman!

 

 

July started with the kids and I going to the very fun Gale family reunion.  Ky had to stay and work, but the rest of us didn't want to miss it.  We drove the 10-11 hours to Cedar City, Utah with Ky's parents (Thank You for coming with us).   It was totally worth the time and money.  The kids and I really enjoyed it and of course we all left in tears because it was over.  Sorry I don't have any good pictures of all the fun.


June ended with awesome cousins visiting from Vermont.  My sister and her family came out to Arizona for a couple of weeks.  We were able to spent time with the before and after the Gale reunion.  I don't have any pictures of their visit either, but we did have a lot fun swimming and going to the mountains for a picnic. 

Along with my sister from Vermont coming, my sister form Tucson came with her camera and we all got new family photos.  Here are few of my favorites of our family.

I love the smoke from a fire on the mountains in the background of this one.  Note to self make sure all people in the photo have appropriate shoes on next time we take a family picture.

Ky had a birthday on June 20th.  I won't tell you how old he is , but we did put the right number of candles on the Texas sheet cake the he wanted. 

Mackensie turned 8 years old on June 9th.  Normally We would have thrown her a party, but she couldn't decide what she wanted to do for her party and we never got invitations made.  So, we decided to go to the Reid Park Zoo.  It was an awesome idea because she loves animals.  We invited my sister Elyssa to go with us.  We also invited My sister Kara Who lives in Tucson) and her daughter Cindel to meet us there.  We had a good time at the zoo, got some ice cream, did some shopping, ate dinner at Panda Express and came home.  I think she had an enjoyable birthday.

 

That about wraps up all the fun and excitement of our summer!

Back to School!!!!!

What is it about the first day of school that makes a  mom realize that she may not be as cold hearted as she thought? I have thought about how awesome this day is going to be since the first day of summer and now I don't know what to do with my lonely self.  I am so excited that my children are back in school to learn to things, gain more knowledge and make new friends.

Mackensie is in the third grade this year which means a new school building along with a new playground.  She has the same teacher that Bradlee had in third grade and they are both so excited.

Bradlee is in the 5th grade.  That is the highest grade in his school building.  His classroom has a fish tank full of fish and there is also a turtle in the room.  He is so excited to see his friends again.

Braydee is in the eighth grade.  As of last week she officially a teenager, scary I know.  She is beautiful without her hair and makeup done, but I think it made her dad a little scared that she kept looking in the mirror to make sure every hair was in the right place this morning.  She told me that she needs cute clothes and plenty of time to do her hair this year.

Temberlie is in kindergarten (good grief my eyes are getting watery just writing this part).  She is excited, but very, very nervous.  I think she will be OK, but I'm not sure I will know how to go shopping or out to lunch all by myself.  This is just a quick post.  Please check back because I will be posting some of the things that went on with us over the summer.  Right now I am off to go shopping ALL BY MYSELF! 

Adorable Chef Hat and Matching Apron

Mackensie was invited to a birthday party for her best friend.  I don't like giving toys for presents, because I think kids already have to many unused toys.  So I usually make an apron to go with cookie mix, frosting, sprinkles and cookie cutters.  The last time I did a gift like this I got the chef hat pattern from http://youcanmakethis.com/products/free/free-child-and-adult-size-chef-hat.htm.

I decided to do make a matching chef hat and apron for this gift.  It turned out so cute that I just had to share.

Normally I wouldn't add the ribbon to the chef hat, but I just couldn't resist.

 All wrapped up, ready to go.
I decided to hot glue lace to the bag.  Since I already had the glue gun out, I glued the card on as well.