I have been busy sewing

I have been wanting to make Maddie and Emma matching dresses for Easter. I thought I better start now so they will be done in time. I finished Maddie's and it was so easy I finished it in a day. So instead of working on Emma's I made Maddie a dress she can wear now. I also made her a headband to match and if you know Maddie there is nothing better she likes than to accessorise (I couldn't talk her out of the socks). You have to wait until Easter to see the girls in their matching dresses.

My Gift To Miss Molly

I have a cute new niece. Mandie had a baby girl Molly (I love that name). We can't wait to meet her.

I just sent Molly a gift on Friday and I stuck it in the mail the same day. It's Monday and she already received it in Oregon. When things get sent to me from Oregon it takes weeks. It's not fair!!!

I made her some cute little red shoes. Now I want to make Emma a pair!!

I then bought these cute little hats and put ribbon through it, I can't wait to see her in them. Okay, one more thing I bought her this red dress to complete her outfit.

Just Don't Call Him Four Eyes

Wesley got his glasses and I think he looks handsome. On the way home he was staring at the clouds and said they looked different. He went on and on about them and how different they were. Poor kid he never was able to see them in focus before.

Start Your Engines

Wednesday was Cub Scout Pine Wood Derby. It was fun seeing all the different cars. Wesley and Maddie made cars for the open division. A cub scout didn't make a car so Wesley let him use his. It came in fourth place!!! So next year, with a few modifications, it will hopefully come in first.

Lightning McQueen and as we call it "The Fish Car"

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Todd made the trophies again this year.

Okay, This Proves We Are Procrastinators

Wesley probably knew how to ride his bike without training wheels a long time ago, but we finally go around to it. We were all outside because it was such a nice day and we noticed Wesley didn't use his training wheels (to be fair he doesn't ride his bike that much), he's a runner not a rider. Todd took off his wheels and away he went (with only a few falls). Spencer needs to teach him how to fall off with grace. Nothing beats his wipeouts at Silver Falls.

Homemade Laundry Soap

I have been making my own laundry soap on and off for the last two years (when I'm feeling lazy I buy Tide). It's so easy I thought I would share my recipe. First you only need three ingredients 1. Borax 2. Washing Soda (not baking soda) 3. ZOTE or Fels Naptha soap bar. I get Borax and Washing Soda at Krogers and they are less than three dollars each. Zote I have to go to Super Marcado (Target used to carry it).

I thought the flowers were a cute effect (they happened to be on the table)

I take the ZOTE soap and I grate it in the food processor

After this I put it in a cake pan and let it dry over night (in the garage because your house will smell of soap).

When it's dry I put it back into the food processor (this time use the chop blade)

1 cup borax

1 cup Washing Soda

1 dry, grated bar of ZOTE

Mix all together and it should look like this:

I store it in a Ziploc bag and only use a few spoonfuls for each load. This lasts us anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks (depends on how many times Maddie changes her clothes in a day). Todd and I figure it cost around $ 1.50 for each batch. Try it see if you like it.

One small step for Dad, One giant relief for Mom

I have the best husband in the world. To begin with my house is a disaster zone. I hate trying to clean when the kids are home from school because they go right behind me and mess it up. I casually told Todd that are Houston Space Center passes are almost expired. And he said (with a little persuasion) that he would take all the kids there. What a house to myself with no kids, not even the baby (I recently stopped nursing). I don't remember the last time this has happened. I'm cleaning all day and it might stay clean until they come home.

Feeling Like A Bad Mom

Do you ever have those moments where you say to yourself, "Man, I really messed that one up." Wesley has been invited to three parties this year and every time he wasn't able to go. Some were on a Sunday and some we were out of town for. I kept telling him, "you can go to the next one." Maddie went to one today and Wesley asked when it's his turn and I reminded him he can go to the next one. Tonight I was upstairs sewing and he came up with tears in his eyes and handed me an invitation, someone in his class was having a party that was today at 2:00. Boy did I feel bad, I didn't check his backpack because it was the weekend. So once again I promised he can go to the next, I'm hoping it will be soon.

Lets label this: "Stuff I have to do because my husband works offshore"

Emma is quickly growing out of her bumbo. She arches her back and then leans to the side. One of these days she is going to fall out. Because this is what she has been sitting in so I can feed her I decided I better get a high chair. Because I still had a gift certificate to Babies R Us (I lost it and recently found it) Emma and I went on a field trip. I saw one that was on sale and I bought it. When I came home I opened the box and dumped out the contents. Little did I know there was over 30 different pieces to put together. All week I thought I had a Thursday afternoon that had nothing scheduled and instead of just sitting down and doing absolutely nothing I put a high chair together. And now three hours later it's done. Emma has already broken it in and ate a piece of bread. She loves anything to do with food.

The Bowman Cookbook Strikes Again

I looked into my crisper drawer in the refrigerator and I found apples, apples, and apples. I think at one time Todd the Bod was going to make an apple pie but didn't have time. So low and behold I had over ten apples. I needed a recipe and I needed it fast. So I turned to the out of print Bowman Family Cookbook and found a recipe from my Aunt Sharon, "Apple Pudding and Sauce". What was unusual I had all the ingredients so I went to work and it was delicious. This is what the kids and I had for dinner.

Apple Pudding and Sauce

2 cups sugar

1/2 c Butter

2 Eggs

4 unpeeled apples

2 c sifted flour
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped walnuts

Sauce
1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
3/4 c canned milk

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

dash of nutmeg

Gradually add sugar to butter, creaming well. Add eggs and beat well. Shred apples medium fine, add at once to creamed mixture. Stir in sifted dry ingredients. Add walnuts. Bake in 9x13 greased pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Sauce: heat together butter, sugar, and canned milk over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently until blended and slightly thickened. DO NOT BOIL. Add vanilla and nutmeg. Serve over hot pudding.

It may not look like much but it was delicious!!!

My Blind Boy

Wesley had an optometrist appointment today. He had fun showing off his reading skills. The doctor said he's near-sighted and needs glasses. He also said his prescription is going to change almost every 6 month because he's so young. Now a kid that losses four coats already this year (lost one on Friday) how in the world is he going to keep track of glasses. Does hot glue work? Insurance pays for one a year so once the glasses are lost (next week) that will be it.

SPOTLIGHT, SPOTBRIGHT

Last year in primary we spotlighted each child, using a flashlight to find them in the room. This year I wanted to spotlight prophets. On the second and third week I will be sharing stories and playing Who am I???
This is the Who am I this week, can you guess??? Remember this is for primary aged children.

-My Birthday is December 23

-I had 5 brothers and three sisters

-One of them named Don Carlos dies at the age of 25 with pneumonia like symptoms

-I read James 1:5 that forever changed my life

-On January 18th, 1827 I married my wife Emma Hale

-In 1820 I saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ and they instructed me not to join any church

-Through revelation I translated the Book of Mormon

-On April 6th 1830 I organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

-I was the first prophet in the last dispensation

-By inspiration, I called Apostles and other church leaders, defined doctrines and taught principles and ordinances that would lead to exaltation

-On June 27th, 1844 at Carthage Illinois, I died a martyr to my faith

I AM JOSEPH SMITH

Here are the stories I shared:

“It Makes Them Happy”

On another occasion Joseph Smith had indulged in playing a game of ball with some of the young men Nauvoo. When his brother Hyrum saw it he wished to correct the Prophet and even rebuked him, saying that such conduct was not becoming in a prophet of the Lord. The Prophet answered in a mild voice, “Brother Hyrum, my mingling with the boys in a harmless sport like this does not injure me in any way, but on the other had it makes them happy and draws their hearts nearer to mine; and who knows but there may be young men among them who may sometime lay down their lives for me!”

“I feel sorry for This Brother to the Amount of Five Dollars”

When the Saints had been driven from Missouri and began to settle in Illinois, Joseph went to Quincy, where “he visited around from house to house among the Saints to see how they were situated, and gave words of strength and encouragement to them.” When informed some time later that a brother who lived some distance from Nauvoo had had his house burned down, nearly everyone present expressed sympathy for the man, But Joseph put his hand in his pocket, took out five dollars, and said: “I feel sorry for this brother to the amount of five dollars; how much do you feel sorry?”

I have a testimony of Joseph Smith. I know he was a true prophet. Every time I teach this principle or bare my testimony of Joseph Smith I feel the spirit so strong. As I'm looking at his life to find things to share with the primary I'm amazed at what he accomplished. I'm forever grateful for him in being the instrument of restoring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Doctrine and Covenants 135:3 "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it."

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me This!!!

I discovered a great secret. I never have heard of this before. Wesley and Maddie are 7 and 6 years old and they fight non stop. All day I hear screaming, tattle telling, whining, and teasing usually I just send them to their room so I don't have to hear it. But today I discovered the secret of how to get them to stop fighting and a cleaner house. You want to hear it?  Every time they start to fight they automatically get a job to do. Did you read that? No negotiating (Maddie is good at that). I love, love, love it. The fighting has almost stopped and when it doesn't a chore gets done. Someone, somewhere knew this but didn't share, so now I'm telling everyone.

Hot Date with Todd the Bod

Todd and I both wanted to Avator. The place we could see with the time we had is in XD. Tickets for the show was 14.00 (yes I nearly gagged on the price). We decided to bite the bullet because the Bod was leaving to go to work for two weeks. It was worth every penny, I loved the 3D effects. The two and a half hours flew by. Normally I would never spend that much a movie but I'm glad we did. Emma came with us and she gave it two bottles up.
After the movie we were walking out and saw across the street the "Which Wich" was selling sandwiches for .99 (no this isn't a typo). The line was long but again it was worth it. We might have splurged on the movie but lunch was free (almost).

GOOD lighting, BAD idea

In our master bathroom there is a row of about 6 lights. We have been in this house for three years now and we have only had two light bulbs in. Through couponing I got a box of fluorescent light bulbs for free. I said to myself (I do this often) "why not put all the light bulbs in my bathroom". After I put them in I looked in the mirror and to my surprise I saw wrinkles I didn't even know I had. Needless to say the light bulbs didn't last long.

Living On Top Ramen For The Next Two Months

Last night I had a dream that we had another boy. I dreamed of the pregnancy, delivery and in the hospital after. I even dreamed my nurses were horrible and I kept asking for new ones. Well today in the mail a stork named fedex dropped off my new baby.

A CRICUT EXPRESSION!! I found an awesome deal on Amazon it was their gold box deal. It came with a my story laminator and two cricut cartridges. Little did I know Todd bought me a flip camera on ebay (I didn't know, honest, I didn't, ask him). Both things I have been drooling over for a long time. Well what is a girl to do. Should she return the Cricut and get here money back? Should she try to sell the flip camera on ebay??? Probably, But I will tell you what she did do, she kept both items and lived on Top Ramen for two months.

The Elusive Bowman Family Cookbook

After 5 years of trying I finally got a hold of the Bowman family cookbook. These are rare and hard to find (I stole it from my Grandma). Last night I was looking through it and I found a recipe that Amber contributed called German Pancakes. I only had wheat flour but I decided to give it a shot. They were delicious and I'm embarrassed to say we ate the whole pan. Here's the recipe.

German Pancakes

2 Tbs. Butter

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp. salt

6 eggs

1 cup milk

Preheat 400 degrees. Melt butter in 9x13 pan in hot oven. Beat eggs, flour, salt, and milk in a blender. Pour mixture into pan and Bake for 25 minutes. Cup up and top with butter and syrup. Other toppings may include powdered sugar, fresh fruit, jam, peanut butter, bacon and cheese, (or anything that sounds good)

Primary Birthdays

Each year I try to come up something new. It's hard to find an expensive, easy to make gift. This year I came up with this and I hope the children will like it. We painted the blocks in red, black, and brown. So far we have 40 done only 20 more to go!

Before Christmas I got into a sewing mood. I found a cute baby bootie pattern from etsy and I made some shoes for Emma. If only Emma would leave them on her feet.

This is the video that I made to show in primary.

Today is a big day in primary. It's the new year and I am conducting and doing sharing time. Yesterday I spent three hours at the church preparing bulletin boards and getting the binders ready for the teachers. I'm so grateful for members of the primary presidency and all the hard work they do, it makes my calling easier.

This is the bulletin I did for primary this year. I started with an idea from www.sugardoodle.net and went from there. Each picture represents a month in the Savior's life and we will talk about it every first Sunday and follow the path until the end of the year.

For sharing time I doing a old family home evening. The children will open gifts (orange peel, empty gum wrappers, etc) and talk about bad gifts, then they will draw a picture of a good gift, then we will talk about great gifts (hugs, service, love, etc..). Then we will talk about the greatest gift of our Savior Jesus Christ and eternal life. After that we will watch a video that I put together. It has been a lot of work but it's been fun.

I'm starting this blog because I need to journal. I love my family, crafting, and creating and I want a place where I can save it all. I also love scrapbooking but with three kids and a husband that is away working a lot I don't have a lot of time. I thought if I write a quick blog I can scrapbook it later. This is my first blog so ignore the mistakes.