Fun Fun Fun...and putting holes in the wall!

Nuking Ivory soap.

I saw this idea floating around Pinterest recently, so I thought we'd give it a try.

WOW!

I tried it out with Caleb first, and when Little Miss heard all the commotion, she came running. Literally. Ha!

Pretty cool stuff!

Actually, it was hot! I burned myself, twice, while scooping it out of the microwave, even though everything I read said it wouldn't be hot.

I also thought it would be harder than it is- it's squishy, and it crumbles and leaves a huge mess everywhere. Sigh.

But it was really fun to watch- and to watch their faces- as it bubbled up!

Here are simple instructions: cute 1 bar of Ivory soap into quarters, place one at a time in microwave for about 2 minutes, and watch in amazement!

Here is a before shot of our office/music room, looking oh so...how does one spell the sound I just made...blech. It doesn't look like that anymore!!! I am so happy I finally put some holes in the wall! I'll share pics soon!

I heart THESE faces- Family Fun

I'm not sure why, but I find myself thinking about one photograph in particular an awful lot these days.

It's of my boys.
When they were little and adorable and always gooey with something.

They were muddy here.

And their favorite part of this mud painting escapade was the super-frigid hosing down afterward!

I heart this picture of my little adventurers, but it's that gr-r-r-r-rowl on my middle son's face that really cracks me up, and the not-quite-sure-about-this-because-I-don't-want-to-get-in-trouble-but-I-kinda-like-it look on my rambunctious youngest as he's still trying to figure out why neat-freak Mama is telling him to paint the muck all over his body!
And our oldest, "Okay Mommy, I made the mess like you asked. Now get it off, please."
I'll never forget that one! HA!

I love that we had lots of fun when they were little!

Shoes, Straws & Trusting God

Okay, okay, so completely random, I know!

Today in church we heard such a great message! The kind where you know God is speaking directly to YOU right where you are I love that!

Our pastor has tremendous insight, and one of the things he spoke about really resonated with me: our tendency to to go after what we want when we want it after we've grown tired of waiting on the Lord for fulfilling our heart's desires. Also, the messes we create for ourselves when we do take matters in our own hands. He used Abraham to illustrate these points.

My favorite quote from this morning is:

You make the most important decisions of your life while waiting.

That seems so simple. but it isn't at all! 

I've always been frugal, but lately I seem to be holding onto my purse strings a little tighter than normal. That's a good thing, I think. 

I smile {a lot} when I look down and see these.... 

 they are bright. punchy. love 'em.

$7.99, never been worn, not so much as a scuff or mark on the sole

Thank you, Goodwill!

 Jonah, my budding photographer, took this shot for me  =)

Oh, I forgot- the gray slacks showing were a whopping $2.50!

I suppose that counteracts the extra 39 cents I spend every winter on these super-happy ultra-vibrant straws. They are totally worth it! I can't help but smile every time I see them on the countertop.

Bill and I have begun a couple of smallish house projects. I think there's something about this time of year that just screams paint me! fix me! try some board and batten on me! Probably because I'm stuck inside so much. The temperature never rose above 7 degrees today. Not counting the wind.

Do you feel sorry for me yet?

SNOW DAY

Yesterday was also a SNOW DAY! While I was writing, I was also snapping pictures of our day. I was totally lazy and didn't do anything I had planned to- I was going to clean, sew something for my etsy shop, play games with my kids, get started on a Valentine craft...all kinds of things, and I failed big time. But then after a late lunch, and Bill came home early, I got a little gumption and salvaged some things.

Lazy morning...

oh, and this boy shaved FOR REAL last weekend.

not happy about it.

 Valentine's crafts...

so this was technically this morning before school (and thankfully a 2-hour delay)

Caleb and I made brownies last night for a bake sale but they didn't turn out so hot

On a rather random note, I mentioned to Bill that I'd heard Twinkies are going to be no more, which of course, gave me a hankering for a Twinkie. Bill offered to pick me up a box on his way home, and while I was tempted to take him up on it, I graciously declined.

Then, last night, he said he needed to go out for a few minutes and would that be all right, and...he brought me Twinkies AND rented The Help for us to watch! (And Pepsi, since I'd craved that earlier this week.) Okay, now that I see my eating trends in black and white I think I should go run. Or hike. As in now, in the total dark, at 6:40 in the morning.

My husband is just full of surprises lately...he secretly put my name on the waiting list at the library for the book, The Help, and brought it home for me a couple weekends ago. It was a great book, but I'm a s-l-o-w reader and he knows I can't watch the movie before I finish the book, so....this is what he planned after I told him I'd finally finished reading! It made me feel really special.

And now, Caleb is leaning against my arm, petting two of the cats, who are laying by my legs, ha! I got The Call an hour ago that we have a delay this morning. That's a nice way to start a Friday!

And now, I'm off to do a little furniture rearranging...