{ Random Organization }

How has it been a month since I last blogged about nothing?

we've had the plague here at our house for 

what seems like months.

I hate vomiting, but the weight loss was a small perk. :)

I have no crafting desire what-so-ever.

I want to craft.

I need to craft and actually sell things, I have bills to pay.

I'm trying to get more organized so i started with my small hoard of Washi Tape. 

the colors make me happy.

i need more color like this in my life.

*The cigar box I paid 50 cents for at a local thrift store.

Then I moved onto my ribbon.

I learned i need a BUNCH more clothespins.

But where to find them?

seriously? where can I find more?

Cupcake liners...

Yes, I hoard those as well...

I rescued these doorknobs from my grandparents/parents old grocery store.

i found them in the basement in a very dirty box. 

i took them all. 

I will have to take pictures of that place one day and share them with you. 

It's a cool OLD building, with lots of treasures as well as a bunch of old crap, I mean stuff that needs thrown out.

I love the rust and the hint of blue color.

So that's my organization for today.

Dinner needs made, again.

i think i will make these, they are so DELISH and I actually have all the ingredients. ;)

photo via RealMomKitchen.com 

Oven baked chicken fajita's, recipe can be found HERE

Are any of you fellow bloggers doing any spring organization?

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{ Looking for Spring.... }

I'll be the first to admit it, I get the winter blues. 

I find it to be a really depressing time of year. 

My checking account is always tight, my utilities, high, my spirit low. 

I do love "The Holiday's", BUT I find there are just one too many during the fall/winter months.

I dislike snow, I know we need it, but I hate the mess it brings inside and out. 

I yearn/need sunlight and the warmth that it brings.
I am thankful that we have had sunny days, but when you see sun you would think warmth would be with it.. Here, that's not the case it's sunny and freezing.

This time of year, all I want to do is have pajama day and do nothing... (which happens more than I'd like to admit)  I find my creativity goes in the crapper, I want to create fun new things. But the drive to actually bring it into fruition goes away.

You could say I am over this winter, and she is more then welcome to go on her merry little way.

Am I alone here?

Does anyone else feel this way?

Photo taken by me in June 2011 

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{ 9/11 }

Our family will NEVER forget.

The following pictures were some I took with my phone at the
Tri-Cities  9.11 Memorial in Kennewick, Washington last month.

Seeing a part of what used to be one of the Twin Towers in tangible form is incredible.

To know that people built & walked among these pieces.

To know the strength that building had.

Then, to remember the hate that brought it down.

But being able to watch via the internet The National 9/11 Memorial being built from that hallowed ground in New York City, just goes to prove that the human Spirit may bruise, but it can never be broken.

Our thoughts & prayers go out to all the families affected by 9/11.

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{ ♪♫ You Make Me Feel Like Scratching ♫♪ }

You know that song 

♫ You make me feel like dancing by Leo Sayer? ♫

Well, with a little switch-a-roo of lyrics, this is the song that is going through my head, 
all the live long day (several days for that matter) because...

Drum roll, please

We are dealing with a bit of this in our house at the moment:

Photo via web

2 of my 5 kiddos have this...

It makes me itchy just thinking about it.

(which is awful because I think about it all the stinking day long!)

It also makes me feel dirty for some weird reason.

Hey? Maybe it's because we have a 

DISEASE!!!!

I'd like to take this moment and personally say thank you.

Thank you, to whomever it was that shared this;

Little. 
Red.
 Bumpy.
Itchy.
 Nugget.
 With us & our county, yes I said COUNTY!

Seriously, you rock.

(no, not you Christian D.)

Well, off I go to wash my hands for the 964,541,235th time.

For your viewing pleasure:

I know, it's freaking awesome right!

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{ Yup }

Yup, 

we are that kind of family! :)

2.25.12

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{ I Think It Might Be Snowing! }

I think we might have a little bit of snow! 

We woke up to more this morning. 

Kids thought they would get a snow day, but nope, just a 2 hr delay. 

Bummer is tomorrow we are supposed to get rain showers mixed with snow. Yuck!
This post is technically for my hubby who is enjoying humid Houston Texas weather...

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{ Remember Me? }

It's me Rachel Berry, long time no see! 

Yes I know I've been gone a while, too long in fact. 

Let me start off by saying that I'm under the influence so if this post doesn't make sense I'm blaming it on my current state of health.

Okay, I know I say it all the time, but we have been busy. 

Like back to school busy with 2 boys in football everyday after school until 7:30. So I spend lots of time in my car, I do believe my Excursion and I are now dating. Yeah, it's a real treat and to top it off right now 

I am S.I.C.K. 

Yup, the flu came to our house & most un-welcomed might I add.

So I'm on day 2 of being totally worthless. And while feeling like complete crap yesterday I got to take Mr. Parker to the Dr.'s to have his knee checked. You see while at foos-ball practice he got plowed into by another boy who ironically is named Parker as well. 

Needless to say my Parker came limping off the field. 

So I took him in and he got 2 sets of X-rays and since they couldn't see all they needed too the DR. sent us up to the Hospital for a super inexpensive MRI. Luckily the MRI came back clean. Now he get's to walk around like this for a while until his knee heals from all the extensive bruising.

I tell ya, Foosball it's the devils game (name that movie).

I've never been a huge fan of football and having one of my own get injured doesn't help my love toward the game.

 I do have to say I am grateful his injuries weren't any worse & that I didn't have to use the zip-lock bag I had stowed away in my purse in case of emergency. 

Well I'm going to grab my bowl and go back to bed. 

Yes, I know, I lead such a glamorous life.....

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{ The Summer Blur... }

Okay, I have to admit that when school got out for the kids I actually thought that things would slow down (enter laughter here).

I had big plans to do outings with the kids every other week.

I thought I would be able to get together with my girls and we could bang out some amazing summer crafts.

I also had the insane thought that we might be able to finish our office and laundry room, which have been torn apart for months.

Boy was I wrong!

I've decided that Summer Break with 5 kids is like giving birth.  You know that's it's going to be hard work & painful, but you forget about the work and pain after your sweet baby is in your arms.

Or in our case, when summer ends and the new school year begins.

Enter the Summer Blur. One of the main culprits this year is soccer.

We have 4 kids playing this year (all on different teams) yeah, yeah I know.
What were we thinking?

I'm a terrible parent, I never clicked any pictures of Jentry playing.... Sham on me, I think he's forgiven me though.

And the real kicker is when Addison is old enough she wants to play too.

5 playing soccer?!?

The thought alone makes me want to curl up in the fetal position in the shower and rock back & forth mumbling to myself. Oh wait, I already do that. 

So instead what I though would get done,

here is what we've been up to:

 Running to 9 games, 4 days a week.
3 kids with soccer practice in between games. 

Eating dinner @ 9pm instead of our regular 6 pm.

The 2 older boys had a substitute paper route for a couple weeks (never again).

Building Cluckinton Palace

She still needs: paint, doors, more roofing and a run. Please don't mind the construction mess.

I've started canning (again)

Super Saturday craft samples are being finished after changing my 2nd craft five times. Yes I have 2 crafts to teach. 

My little Daycare peanut Kendall comes M-F.

My husband is never home.

My house seems to always have some horrible hangover aka;
I have 6 kids everyday so my house is dirty syndrome.

Can you tell I'm ready for school to start?
I need to get back to our regularly scheduled program.

Don't get me wrong I love being with my kids but after the umpteenth fight/argument between the oldest 3.
 I'm ready for the sweet bliss of school filled days and homework nights.
(remind me of that last sentance when I'm yelling at my kids to get their homework done)

2010-2011 school morning picture from last year.
School starts in 24 days, not that I'm counting or anything.

If you made it through this long winded post, I'll bring you a jar of freshly made raspberry jam.

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{ Our Chickens.... }

Way back in April we purchased some Baby Chicks that were about a week old.

and last night an animal (we don't know what kind) came and tore the bottom of the nesting box off and killed them.

Why do chickens have to be so delicious?

It's been a sad day at our house.

Don't mind the chicken poop. 

Some of the kids are taking it harder then others.

They've all decided that we need to get more chickens and hopefully we will someday soon.

Rest in peace Shelly, Yoko, Penny, & Eggbert.

The kids miss you already......

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{ Maybe It's The Weather..... }

Do you ever feel like the above photo?

I feel this way today, are you sure it isn't Monday?

So far today I've had 1 continuous whiny 3.5 yr old that speaks Whinese fluently, if only I did.

1 sweet 8 month old baby who's diaper decided not to hold and got all over my left leg and all over the baby. This same baby is also not feeling so hot as she is teething and is letting me know about it.

I ran outside for a minute and lucky us, we've had a mama bird nesting right on our porch and she is making a MESS! And when I say mess I mean poop, yes more poop and it's everywhere. If she and her 2 babies don't get a move on quick they will be getting evicted.

Yup, I'm to that point. 

Then I made lunch for the kiddos

my 6 yr old ate all of his, my 3.5 yr old decided she didn't like anything I made her even though it was what she wanted. And yes she spoke Whinese the entire meal.

So I clean up lunch and go grab the little bowl of ranch and guess what? It slips from my fingers and goes all down my right leg and clean jeans mind you, right along with the kitchen floor & rug.

Okay this is the point in the program where I stop and count to 168.......

I tell the kids it's time for naps, then my 3.5 yr old tells me over & over that she isn't happy and that she doesn't like me anymore.

FINE BY ME!

Yes this is how I said it in my head.

I manage to get 2 kids down for naps, I called in the other babysitter I like to call her Sony, she is entertaining the 6 yr old with Star Wars episode II and I finally got to take a much needed shower even if it was after 1:00 pm.

I was going to get dressed but decided what's the point. So I've crawled into a clean pair of PJ's instead.

I don't plan on going anywhere today.

I'm afraid if I do something else will go wrong.

There is hope on the horizon, I have the day off tomorrow and I know that for the rest of the week things have to get better.

Edited: I know it's stupid to complain about little things like this when there are so many other people going through so much worse. But sometimes you just have to get it off your chest and say it.

And you know what... I'm feeling better already.

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{ I'm so Busy, Oh so Busy......}

Yes it's been a little busy around here due to the following:

After 13+ years of changing diapers we are DONE!

Addison is my oldest child (age wise) to potty train, but she did it when she was ready and is doing fabulous!  

Refinishing a desk for our office, the primer is done now on to paint, bead board, & Formica.

 Trying to get my giveaway away stuff figured out.

So far I like what I see..... 

And so I don't forget 

here is all the other stuff that has been going on: 

Scouting

Choir Concerts

Basketball games

Daycare kids everyday

RS birthday handouts

Etsy family stitchery's x2

Baking

Sick kids

Egging with my girlfriends - let me clarify this is a craft :)

Never ending cleaning

And more Phew!!!

Have a Fan-Tabulous Weekend 

I'll see you on Monday!

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{ Work Widow }

I am officially a work widow this week, the mister is sitting in the Boise Airport waiting for his flight to take him to Dallas Texas where he gets to stay at the Gaylord Texan and do "work related stuff" for the week.

Yes it must be rough... :) 

So I will be a single mom to 5 this week, well until late Saturday night. The kids and I get to celebrate Jentry's 13th birthday on Thursday and then Miss Brinley turns 9 on Sunday. 

Needless to say it's going to be a busy week and after this is all over I may need a getaway of my own. 

Wish me luck, I just may need it.

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{ Simplify }

SIMPLIFY

It's my word for this upcoming year.

We had a more "simple" Christmas & New Years eve where we didn't have 150 places to be and things to do, we just stayed home and enjoyed being with each other.

 and now I'm starting to simplify my home and it's starting in the living room. 

I've did some major spring cleaning and furniture moving on the 1st and this is what I have so far. 

A Fresh & Simple living room.

Now it's onto the rest of the house, we need to finish all our unfinished projects, & even make a few furniture pieces to help clear up some clutter. 

When you have an old farmhouse with no closets, storage can be interesting at times.

Yeah, it's time to Simplify and I am ready....

What's your word for the year?

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{ Doing The Happy Dance!! }

I'm happy to say that the above family-mobile is officially PAID FOR!!!!!
Yes it's a good day around here, and it's oh so lovely being free of the old car payment!! Now we are concentrating on paying off our debts so we can someday build a home of our own.
Hopefully Dave Ramsey can show us the way & that we can be diligent enough to follow his steps.
Hello Budget here we come!

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{ Will I Ever Craft Again? }

That's the question I have been asking myself for the past 2 weeks.
I feel with all the whirlwind of things going on it's never to happen. Today's my kids official last day of school, technically it's tomorrow but we have a Graduation to go to so we are on our way back to Idaho American Falls this time. Then we are spending 3 days up at Wallowa Lake with my husbands brother & his family.

So between my kids, photography editing, daycare, Etsy, and everything else I feel like I can't catch my breath. Hopefully now that schools out things will slow down a little. Maybe that's just wishful thinking..... All I know is I HAVE TO CRAFT AGAIN & SOON. I can't take my projects staring at me from the corner of the room anymore.

Here's what I've been doing in the mean while.

Well I better get moving, I have an awards assembly to attend in 1 hr and then 2 student led conferences. Then I'm running to the store to get travel snacks & home to meet up with the Direct TV man and I get to finish packing up the car.

Have a FANTABULOUS WEEKEND!!

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{ Out Of Touch }

Captains log day 2

We have been without Internet for 2 days due to a storm we just had or maybe it was just Verizon messing with the phone lines, who knows. I am getting tired of hearing other voices on my telephone along with all the static. Hopefully my connection to the outside world will be restored by 7:00 tonight, at least that's what they tell me.

Right now I'm typing from my husbands laptop which is plugged into his Blackberry, it's not the fastest way to surf the net but I'm grateful to have it.

The Mister has promised me that one of these day's we will have 3G.

Okay I have a 2 yr old telling me she reeks and I would have to agree with her.

Have a Fabulous Weekend! :)

photo via web images

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{ Getting Organized & A ? }

Yes I'm "trying" to get organized with all my craft/scrapbook stuff. We out grew this house about 2 kids ago which means I no longer have a craft room, and having my crafts in 3+ different areas is driving me to drink, or at least making me want to drink unhealthy amounts of caffeinated Dr. Pepper.
So I have bit the bullet and have designated one end of my bedroom (yes my bedroom) to all things crafty. I hope that being organized will help me get more things done. My husband isn't thrilled with the idea of having my crafts in our bedroom but in the words of Tim Gunn who says "Make it work" that is what I am doing.

Here is a sneak peek of what I have done so far, it's not much..... The red shelf will be painted white (thanks for the tip Tausha) on Saturday and sanded to death so she's more shabby chic.
Hopefully she turns out how I see her in my head, things are always prettier in there.

And while I try to get my life in order I am stitching like a mad woman trying to get all my Stitchery orders out the door. Man these babies are time consuming......
Don't worry ladies they are coming.

One bloggy ? for all of you out there.... 
How do some of you blog everyday?? 
Do you have actual magical powers that I don't? 
I can't seem to find the time to blog twice a week let along daily. 
Sometimes it feels like blogging is a chore and trying to come up with something to blog about that is super cute & cheap, yet completely awesome seems so daunting.
 How do you get it all done?

Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but I don't think I am alone here. Do any of you ever feel this way? Anyone.... Anyone......

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{ Farmhouse Bed Part 1 }

Long time no post!!! Sorry about that we have been B.U.S.Y. for the past week. Here is a sneak peek at just one of our many projects that we have going on. This is the Farmhouse Bed that I loved from the Knock Off Wood Blog. We are building it for our bedroom. I still have to paint her but oh she is oh so pretty.... I think I'm in love! The kids have already placed their orders for new bunk beds.

Here is a small list of all the other things that have been going on:

*Putting in a new laundry room window
*Dr. Appointments
*X-Rays
*Brinley badly sprained her ankle & is currently on crutches
*I had a dentist appointment thanks to loose filling.
*I also had a hair cut, & I'm talking a completely new look!
*Parker has basketball games
*Spaghetti feed at the church
*Scouts, scouts and more scouts
*Daycare kids
*Etsy orders being stitched like mad
*School Rock & Roll Concert
*Sick kids, gotta love this cold season

I could go on but I think I'll stop here. I'm getting tired just thinking about it all. Okay my Etsy stuff calls, I better get back to work & I hear the bus so that means the kids are home. Have a great Tuesday!

Oh and YES I did get new couches I will post soon.

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{ Photo Of The Day }

This is all I can say that I accomplished today. 
The Christmas tree is put away for yet another year and our house is slowly looking back to normal. 
I had a twinge of sadness putting the tree away as I found the holiday just came and went a little too fast for my taste. 
Don't get me wrong I am happy to be done with all the holiday "stuff". 
But it zoomed by so quickly.
Now we get to move onto birthdays & a baptism in just a couple weeks. Tomorrow I hope to get one of Brinley's baptism items checked off my list. I'll be sure to share.

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{ Happy Thanksgiving! }

Sorry I've been MIA for almost a week, where does the time go?
I have been busy with my kids this past week
(which is the perfect busy to be in my opinion).
We have gone to a School Play.

A Middle School Concert.

The Christmas tree went up
(still needs to be decorated & straightened apparently!)
plus we have had lots of playtime as the Lincoln logs/Lego's proof below.

The kids & I are busy making lots of turkeys with our hands and feet.
Tomorrows turkey will look much more appetizing. :)

And getting ready to host Thanksgiving Dinner for Lloyd's family. 

I hope everyone has a Wonderful Thanksgiving
And THANK YOU
to all my Family, Friends and Blogging Friends for being so Fabulous!
Okay my playtime is over I better get back to work. ;)

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