Hand Print CANADA Flag Shirt

Tomorrow is July 1st! CANADA DAY!! So, I had to have something for my Sweet Pea to wear for tomorrow too. I found these cute hand print flag t-shirts. I thought they would be really easy to make. I already had all the supplies, so it really was simple.

See:
I decided I wanted to add a little bit to the onesie I used. So, I just took a little bit of red crochet thread and put a little stitch around the neck. I really like how it turned out.

I know that the Tutorial is done with regular craft paint, but I had fabric paint already and wanted the softness of the fabric paint. AND mine had sparkles in it. What little girl doesn't like sparkles?

Toddler Jean Skirt

I have been having a really hard time finding a cute 4th of July Outfit for my Sweet Pea. You know, one that isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg. So, I decided that I would try to make my own. WITHOUT A PATTERN!! I have never sewn clothing in my life. (aside from trying to do my witch costume last year. It's still not finished) AND I used an old pair of my jeans and pajamas to do it.

Here is what I came up with:

A cute little jean skirt with blue and red ruffles on the bottom.


And she loves it. She just wanted to wear it all afternoon.

Eye Spy Book Finished!!

I know it's taken me FOREVER to get this finished! But I have been forbidden by my Hubby to start any more crafty things until everything else is finished. So, I hunted around my house to find things to put into the Eye Spy Bag. I found some great buttons, pompom, stars, and other things. I think it worked out great.

Here it is:
The little tag is there so I can attach a laminated list of what is in the bag to spy. Yea for completing crafts.

Oh, and I made this out of an old shirt that my Hubby absolutely LOVED when we were dating. I LOVE reusing old clothes for new things

Mission Stories and Sunday School

I have this pet peeve. It's when I go to church and we are listening to a pretty well prepared lesson and the teacher (usually male) decides to share his "personal experience." Now this is not just any personal experience this is a "Mission Experience." This act of sharing wouldn't be so bad if the story actually had something to do with the lesson and wasn't just tooting his own horn. AND it's even worse when they have to share multiple stories in one lesson! I get REALLY irritated.

Today in Sunday school this was the case. The guy teaching had obviously prepared. He started off well. His lesson was running smoothly. It wasn't making me want to rip my ears off. But then it happened. The Mission Story. And you could stretch it to make it work with the lesson, so it wasn't horrific. BUT then came another Mission Story, AND then ANOTHER!!!

I mean really! You can't come up with ONE experience that has happened to you in the last how-many-years since your mission? NOT ONE!? There isn't one happy moment in your life since you left "the mission field?" You couldn't have related the lesson to life NOW. The life you are currently living with your wife and children? Life that we all experience EVERY SINGLE DAY. You know relate it to the audience you are teaching. This is NOT Mission Prep Class. This is the Adult Sunday School Class.

There are great experiences that we all have in this life, but we have to keep having them throughout the years and not just live in our past. Don't ya think?

Eye Spy Bag Preview

Here is the Eye Spy Bag that I was working on. I have it all put together. I have the filling. I just don't have all the little things to "spy" in the bag.
What would you put in it?

Quiet Book Preview

Since it's taking me so long to get this thing finished and I just haven't been able to get back to it in a few weeks, here is what I've done so far:


Pages 1 & 2:

Page 1 is a beach ball with stars, circles and hearts that you can shake.
Page 2 is a pair of shoes where my little ones can thread the laces (not there yet) and practice tying their shoes.

Pages 3&4:

Page 3 is a set of pockets with snaps. They can practice doing snaps. (I haven't decided what to put in them yet. ideas?)
Page 4 is 4 hearts that flip open. I am going to place a picture of each member of our family in each heart.

Pages 5&6:

Page 5 is an apple tree. The apples velcro to the tree.
Page 6 is a pond with 6 Ducks. (I think it's a little bare, but I didn't know what else to add)

Pages 7&8:

Page 7 is a set of balloons. They all velcro to the sky, but are still attached to the book so they don't get lost. (Sweet Pea HATES that they don't come off the page)
Page 8 is Stars.


Page 9:

Page 9 is a bunch of flowers with buttons as their centers. Three of the flowers come off. They attach by the buttons, so Sweet Pea and Green Bean can practice doing their buttons.


I haven't decided what I'm going to do for the Cover of my book. We'll just have to see. I have also not decided how to bind the book. Ideas?

What Happens When I Make A Phone Call. . .

On Friday, I needed to make ONE phone call. My Sweet Pea was playing well by herself, so I figured I had a few minutes. When I finished this is what I turned to find:






She LOVES stickers. But she has never put them all over her head. So funny.

Happy Father's Day!

It's Father's Day and for the first time, we are spending it at home just our little family. I got up this morning and was happy to be in my own home, but sad that it would be my first Fathers Day away from my Dad. I wasn't prepared to feel like I wanted to drive back down to Happy Valley to see my Dad, but I did. (We aren't going, but I wanted to) I guess I just didn't know how much I liked to be around my Daddy. I do.

He is a fantastic man. Busy. Hard Working. Silently evaluating the people around him, then adding his profound two-bits of advice (or sarcasm). He puts up with all of us monkeys. Understanding. (even if he really doesn't, he pretends that he does) Happy. Competitive. Fun. Loving. A great teacher.

I am so lucky to have my Dad close and accessible for questioning/advice.

I am also very lucky to have a loving Hubby who is there through all of my whining and moaning about everything. He is a great Daddy for my little Sweet Pea and Green Bean. He plays, kisses, reads, sings, and loves them both so much. (yes, he does these things to my tummy) I'm glad my kids have a great Dad just like I had.

On A Mission To Find The PERFECT At Home Vacation

I'm on a mission to find the most fun "At Home Vacations" we can do this summer. Since I can't travel too far because I'm in my third trimester, we have to find other ways to take a break from our everyday life.

I was thinking about doing things such as:

The Hogle Zoo
This is the Place
The Aquarium
lots of swimming
Red Butte Garden
free Friday night movies (all around the city, so we can pick the movie we like)
free weekly outdoor concerts


But then that still leaves us not leaving my disorganized mess I have as my house right now. So, do you have any ideas for close vacations that could be just a couple of days/nights in the Salt Lake area?

Feelings. . .Nothing More than Feelings

I remember my last pregnancy getting better by the end. This one is completely different. I am nauseated ALL the time, I have a herniated belly button (no, not just an outie. I can feel my innards and push them back through the hole.), the heartburn is HORRIFIC, my back actually hurts this time, and my joints hate me. None of this happened last time. Well, at least I'm getting closer to the end.

I go in next week and I get to set my date. Soooooo excited. There actually looks like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

The sun finally came out. Yea!! Happy days are here again! Now, my Sweet Pea and I just need to get 100% better and everything will be wonderful for outside playing.

We have been sick with who-knows-what kind of virus. But we seem to be getting over it. Slowly, but surely. I really hope that none of you get it. It's got a nasty cough, and all the symptoms of a cold, but isn't.

I have been doing some "Spring Cleaning." Yes, I know, it's June. And summer time. But I just didn't have the motivation for the last couple of months. So far, I have tackled the linen closet, a shelving unit, and my desk. My desk still needs some work, but it's looking a TON better. It feels so good to get rid of things that we don't use and make room for everything else in our life. Like I can breathe a bit easier. You should try it.

I just looked out my window and noticed some people walking back from the pool. I had forgotten we even had a pool at our complex. We might just need to go.

Have a great day!

Dairy Free Whipped Topping!

Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE this place:


Well, I do. I LOVE Harmons. They have everything for my never ending dairy-free needs. Last week, I found this:

source: veganbaking.net

It has made my life so much easier. When I want cream on something I'm eating I don't feel so badly when Sweet Pea cries that she isn't getting exactly what Mom is eating.

No more crying:



Our banana pancakes topped with strawberries and Soyatoo! It tastes pretty good.



Yea for Dairy Free finds!

HELP! The Mommy Slump Has Engulfed Me

It's been a busy busy week.

Wednesday- Les Miserables at the Capitol Theatre
Thursday- visiting family
Friday- My youngest brothers High School Graduation (I am feeling pretty old right now)
Saturday- Car in the shop until Monday ~bleh.
Sunday- Walked to church. (I think this will be an every week thing. It's so beautiful. AND I get to be "green")
Monday- FINALLY get the car back. (Oh wait! I never get it anyway.)

So, my busy week. It's also been a blah week too. I had forgotten just how many dreams and aspirations are flying around when you're 18. Going back to my High School to see my brothers graduate reminded me. I know that goals change and evolve over the years, but it wasn't until I was sitting in commencement that I realized the "Mommy Slump" was upon me.

The "Mommy Slump" isn't the restrictions of your kids or the loss of self because you're doing everything for everyone else. It's the lack of journey and adventure. We get stuck in the same day to day routines. Not really working towards anything.

I am there. I realize that motherhood is in itself a huge journey/adventure. (maybe those are understatements) But I am not just a mother. I am Phannie. I am a runner. I am a quilter. I am a massage therapist. I am . . .

Feeling a bit like something is missing right now. For the past few years all I feel is: I am pregnant. And it wears on me. I think I need a goal. A finish line. (NO, having this baby doesn't count) There isn't really anything that sparks my interest. Within that great adventure of motherhood I need little journeys. Something to keep my individual spirit alive and kicking. I just don't know what.

My Hubby is so wonderful. He tells me all the time that he doesn't want to keep me from doing anything and we can find a way for me to do ANYTHING I want to. I just have to remind him that he isn't the problem. I am. I don't know where my next ambition is. It's lost and I'm not quite sure how to find it. Or get out of the "Mommy Slump."

Suggestions?

Beauty Lesson #4: Nail Polish

I am not so much of a nail polish kind of person. For whatever reason, I have never been able to wear a color on my fingers. It distracts me from what I'm doing and drives me nuts. I have to remove it within hours. I find this strange since I LOVE acrylic nails. Oh well.

I do, however, LOVE to wear nail polish on my toes. It makes this very athletic Tomboy feel more feminine. I also think toenail polish is completely adorable on little ones. So, since my Sweet Pea was a baby I have been trying to paint hers. This didn't work very well when she was a baby because she would wake up when I was painting and smear it everywhere. I gave up for a while.

But last week, Sweet Pea found the nail polish and wanted it "ohp." (open) I asked her if she wanted to paint her nails and she said, "esss." (yes) So, I ventured into painting her nails again. I told her to hold still and NOT move. She didn't the WHOLE TIME. She sat perfectly still, watched me paint, and then even waited for me to get the Q-tips and polish remover to clean up my mess on the little toesies.

So much fun. AND SHE LOVED IT!!