○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Um, here we go again. I have really been slacking in the blogging department. I was supposed to finish this yesterday—but it didn’t happen.

Day #23: A Picture of Your Favorite Book.

This would have to be an all time favorite. I really need to read it again.

Day #24: A Picture of Something You Wish You Could Change.

Well that would have to be the amount of money I had in my bank account!! :)

Day #25: A Picture Of Your Day.

My day starts with getting ready, taking care of kids, going to work, taking care of kids, coming home, taking care of kids, doing housework, while taking care of kids, and if I am lucky relaxing.

Day #26: A Picture of Something That Means A Lot to You.

This ring belonged to my Grandma. When she died my Mom gave it to me. It was my 20th birthday gift. I love it because it reminds me of my Grandma. It also reminds me of when I was a little girl and I would dress up in her jewelry.

Day #27: A Picture of You and A Family Member.

I couldn’t pick just one family member. This picture has several. My Dad, Step Mom, Husband, Brothers, Mom, Aunt, Uncle, and myself. We were at the temple together. It was a nice time to see David prepare for his mission.

Day#28: A Picture of Something You Are Afraid Of.

Normally I would say that I am afraid of the Unknown. Which is true—I hate not knowing. That was kind of hard to take a picture of and the internet pictures were freaky. So I picked the next thing: one of my biggest fears is that Clint will give up on school and will never graduate. I think it also scares me that I will never be able to finish my degree. It’s for sure something I plan to do, just when I will have time is the fear. Maybe I should just quit being wishy-washy and just do it already!

Day#29: A Picture of Something That Always Makes Me Smile.

Pictures of my kids. They always make me smile. Always.

Day #30: A Picture of Someone You Miss.

My Grandparents. I miss them so much. I wish they were still here with us. They both died of cancer and it was very hard to see them go. I have complete faith that I will see them again one day. Laugh with them and talk with them.

A Sweet Deal!

A few posts ago, I was complaining, because I couldn't decide on what to do about bunk beds for our girls. It was really a fight between a cheaper set or the set I really wanted. We have had money set aside out of our tax returns to get the girls a new set. However, with Clint still not working I was having a hard time wanting to spend that.

On Monday I was searching KSL and came across an ad for white bunk beds and 2 mattresses. It was only $260 which was better then the $800+ I wanted to spend. I called the lady and she never called me back. When I checked the ad later in the evening the bunks had been sold. I was heart broken. Okay, not really. It was very disappointing though. On Tuesday she called us back and said the people never showed to buy it and if we wanted them we needed to come first thing. Luckily Clint was home and was able to go and get them!!

They weren't the exact style I had wanted, but they weren't the cheap set either. They actually look like the ones being sold at RC Willey right now for $400.00 (which was just for the beds not the mattresses). It was the set I was leaning towards (it was the in between set). I figure buying the beds this way saved me a little over $600.

The mattresses didn't end up being that great--so we will keep searching for new ones. (Probably after Clint is working full time again.) They aren't icky...they are just more like a thick pad. The girls are little enough right now that they have no idea and it will be just fine.

A while ago I bought a comforter identical to Addy's and put it in storage. I knew this day was coming. I am really glad I did that now! I even got the second one on clearance. Their cute little bedroom is coming together.

The first night in the new bed was a little rough! Once she fell asleep she was fine--it was just getting her to stay in bed that was difficult. I think Addy was a little more naughty then usual, since it was her first night in a new bed too. She has been so excited about getting bunk beds and having Kaitlon move in with her. It may sound silly, but I am counting this as a blessing. We were able to get them the beds they needed in the amount that was more affordable for us. I think they will last us a long time too.

Easter Block Tutorial

My friend, Susan, requested that I explain how these are made. So this post is for her! They are very easy and fun to make! You will need a 2x4, craft paint, scrapbook paper, vinyl, sandpaper, mod podge, a hot glue gun and any embellishments you want. It all starts with the 2x4!! I had Clint cut mine so they were; 8 inches, 7 inches, 6.5 inches, 6 inches, and 5 inches tall. Then you paint them. Craft paint works the best. I decided white would be the best for this project. When your paint has dried, trace each block on it's piece of scrapbook paper. Cut the paper out. Lay a medium-thin coat of mod podge on the block and put it's paper on. After it has dried, sand the edges. (This also allows any extra paper hanging over to be sanded off.) I use my cricut machine to cut the vinyl lettering, but I know lots of people sell vinyl lettering now. You can always have someone cut the letters of what you want. Put the lettering on each block, then mod podge again. Once it has dried then you can embellish using your hot glue gun. I use buttons, ribbons, flowers, and other things. I always think that is the fun part. They really don't take more then 2 hours to complete. They're cute and cheap to make! I hope this helps. If you have any other questions let me know! :)

Our Week...

Wow! This week has been a doozie! I am not even sure where to begin.

Clint did work this week. Yay! However, he is not full time yet. They can't bring him on full time until all their certifications have come through. This has absolutely nothing to do with Clint, it's just how new businesses start. So things are still not normal around here. It's kind of frustrating. I am glad that he has a job, but I am so ready for him to work the 9 hour day then come home. You know...like a normal life?! Yes, normal. That would be nice. Since he isn't working full-time we still do not have a full-time income coming in, so I have been pulling crazy hours again at work. I am exhausted, more then usual. I think the stress of all of this is catching up with me. (But I guess I have been saying that for a while.)

We did have some fun this week, though.

Monday: We were busy! Work. School. An appointment. Then I found a killer deal on a dress at the Down East Outlet in Ogden. I am really starting to LOVE that store. It was on the clearance rack for $7.00. So I tried it on, loved it, checked out, and it was an additional 20% off. I only paid $5.98 for it! That was exciting.

Tuesday: Work. School. Cub Scouts. Babysitting. I hate loading all 6 kids in the car to take Preston to scouts. Just to come home and unload. Then turn around and do it all again in 45 minutes. It's really annoying! Since the weather is warming up (hopefully) I think we are going to make this our Tuesday routine; Take Preston to scouts, hang at the park! It's so close to his scout leader. It was so nice to get the kids out of the house too! We played tag--and even I had a blast!Wednesday: Oh, that day was fun! NOT!! One of my co-workers didn't show for work. Which meant they had to cover her. I spent all day at work--literally. I even had to pick Preston and Tyson up from school and take them back with me. Which never happens. Oh man! I was tired. After work, I had to help a friend pick some things out for a project, so I didn't get home until 9:30pm.

Thursday: Same thing...work. School. St. Patrick's Day! We had a little Leprechaun visit our house. He got green paint all over my floor. I haven't even mopped it up yet! He left the kids little pots of gold chocolate and green candies. The kids all got to wear green and have class parties. We had broccoli cheese soup and homemadeLee's made green oreo cookies. (Don't judge---please. I really wanted to do festive green food. I was even going to make it. It just wasn't happening this week!)

Friday: More work. School. Craft Night!! Okay, so that project I was helping my friend with...turned into craft night. Some co-workers came over and I was able to teach them how to make those cute blocks. The ones with scrapbook paper and vinyl. She was making them for a baby shower gift. They turned out adorable. With everything we made for the baby shower...we were up until 2 am. I am too old to stay up that late! It was a lot of fun. Her blocks turned out great and so did her other projects. I didn't have a chance to finish mine until Saturday, but I still loved the way they turned out. I am addicted to those things. I think I am going to be making more!!

Saturday: Relax. Well sort of. I had a huge mess to clean up from craft night. I babysat. Then we spent Saturday evening searching for white bunk beds for the girls. I hate how expensive furniture is. I just don't know what to do!! Spend a little more for better quality and cuter style VS. Cheaper and uglier. It shouldn't be that big of a debate...but in my head it is!

Sunday: Church. Babysitting. Catching up on this blog of mine. Can't wait to watch a movie and lay in bed!!

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Day #22: A Picture Of Something You Wish You Were Better At. That would have to be losing weight! I don't know why it is so hard for me to just stick to eating healthy and exercising regularly. I have done better the last 8 months, but I still don't feel like I always do my best! I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we are ALWAYS on the go.

~Subway Art~

I hadn't ever really heard of Subway Art until my friend, Shannon, posted about it on our Mommy Blog. Then I started seeing it everywhere! I thought it was fun, different, cute, and that it couldn't be that hard to make--right?! So I sat down and attempted to make my own. With St. Patty's Day this week--I figured I would go with that theme. I read a TON of tutorials on how to do these. Some used vinyl while others used a program like Photoshop. After some quick advice from Shannon--I was able to create mine using Photoshop and Picasa. I had to use photoshop to create the background. I just did the background in white for the first attempt. There is a great tutorial on how to do that on this blog. Then I was able to create all the words, fonts, and sizes in Picasa. Since I created it in Picasa it saved as a picture and I was able to print it out. (I was out of photo paper--but that is the best way to print them.) I found a cute frame for $2.00 and some cute green ribbon for $2.00. For more Subway Art ideas check out this blog. There are some WAY creative people in this world!! :)

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge

Day #21: A Picture Of Something You Wish You Could Forget.

I wish I could forget about being stressed! :)

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Um, I got a little behind. Here we go again….

Day #14: Someone You Could Never Imagine Your Life Without.

I have so many friends. All types of friends. I couldn’t pick just one. Now a days I spend most of my “keeping in touch” with them through facebook. However, I couldn’t imagine my life without friends.

Day # 15: Something You Want To Do Before You Die.

This is so ironic, because I just watched The Bucket List for the first time. (Loved it, too!) I have started making my “list”. Honestly, I would love to write a book before I die. I have several topics in mind to write about, too. I don’t know maybe it will never happen…but at least I have written the story about daily life around the Ferguson household.

Day #16: A Picture Of Someone That Inspires You.

I think there have been many people in my life who have inspired me. Young Women’s leaders, ward members, friends, family members, etc… I think those people have always been in my life at the right time and place. Someone who inspires me today, would be, my brother David. He is serving a Full-Time LDS mission. I love hearing his stories, about his mission, the baptisms. He is not a powerful man, just someone setting a righteous example. Someone who is trying to share the gospel and teach what he believes. I wish I could be more like him and be a better example to people. I am so grateful for the blessings of getting to be a “missionary mom”. (I say that because I have spent several years raising/living with/and teaching David) I am so grateful for his work, dedication, and love for the Lord. He inspires me to do better.

Day #17: A Picture Of Something That Has Made A Huge Impact On Your Life Recently.

Definitely the ECONOMY! Between unemployment to rising gas prices…this makes a huge impact on life.

Day #18: A Picture Of Your Biggest Insecurity.

Obviously if it’s my biggest insecurity I’m not going to take a picture of it! I will tell you though. I hate the inner tube that sits on my waist! It can be a huge factor in how I feel from time to time. Other times I am more patient and know…There is always surgery! Hahah! (Just kidding)

Day #19: A Picture of You When You Were Little.

This is me with my cute baby brother, A.J. I think I was probably 3 1/2 or 4…it would have been sometime in the mid 80’s.

Day #20: A Picture Of Somewhere You Would Love To Travel.

Again, Hawaii! I want to go there so badly. Most people want to go to Paris, Italy, Africa. Not me. I am content, at least for now, going to Hawaii. Or even different States. We have so many cool things to see and do in this country!

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Day #13: A Picture of Your Favorite Band or Artist. I don't really have a favorite band or favorite artist. I love all sorts of different ones and different types. The CD's in my car right now are; Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Glee, and the 2010 Primary Songs. My ancient i-pod has everything on it too. (I say ancient because it wont play without being in the i-pod dock) I have a great love for music.

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Day #12: A Picture of Something You Love. I love interior design. I can't even tell you when this obsession started. I believe it was at a young age. I would sit in my classroom, friend's rooms, other peoples homes, etc... and I would re-arrange them in my head. I would think of things, random things, of how to make that space better. Maybe if I wouldn't have done it in school--my grades would have been better. Then my senior year I was able to take concurrent enrollment interior design classes and knew then it would be one of my greatest hobbies in life. I do not by any means think I have a beautiful home, but have enjoyed the challenge of making things functional and creative with 4 kids, a husband, 2 brothers, and myself. I think if we weren't on a budget I would go "HOG WILD". One thing I have loved about living in my Grandma's house is watching it go from "their" style to "mine". I think she would have loved it, too. I also love to go to Lowe's/ Home Depot-- I go to the back and look at the cupboards, tiles, paint ides, appliances, and idea books. I just love it!

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Day #11: A Picture of Something You Hate! This picture is just a symbolization of how my closets and cupboards look. And I hate. HATE. when they get left open. I think it's a little bit of OCD I have. It makes me crazy. I think I like them shut, because then I don't have to see the mess. Therefore the mess does not exist. :)

○Thirty Day Pciture Challenge○

Day #10: A Picture of the Person You Do the Most Messed Up Things With.

Ding-Ding! We have a winner...it would with out a doubt be my brother, A.J. When we get together...it is trouble! I have the most fun with him though.

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!"

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! How did we celebrate?? We celebrate in style.... The boys got to dress up at school again this year. Preston was so excited and had planned what he wanted to do. He was going to be Thing 1 and Tyson was going as Thing 2! We worked really hard on getting the costumes put together. (Including the blue pom-pom hair) Then on Tuesday Preston came down with Strep Throat. What a bummer!! He was miserable and couldn't go to school today. He was a good sport though and put his stuff on long enough to get a picture with Tyson.
It was also early out day today--so after school Tyson watched "The Cat in the Hat" and popped popcorn!! Then he requested GREEN EGGS & HAM for dinner!! We actually found several of the movies on a website. So the kids watched their favorite Dr. Seuss stories come to life!

Oh yes, we did have GREEN EGGS & HAM for dinner. Preston doesn't not like green eggs and ham! The rest of the kids ate them up!! I didn't color the ham, I was running out of time. The kids have been so hungry lately. If I don't have dinner on the table by 5:00--the WHINING starts!! It was a pretty fun day, minus the strep.

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."

Oh, psst...Macey's Grocery Store is doing a Dr. Seuss Celebration this Saturday. From 11-1. Cookie decorating, stories, and more.

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Day #9: A Picture of the Person Who Has Gotten You Through the Most. EEK!! This picture is and isn't my favorite. I love it, because my Dad and I are taking one together. I don't love it, because camping just makes people look weird! ;] I decided that through my 27+ years of life my Dad has always been there for me. I am a huge "Daddy's Girl". Clint often tells me, "You need to cut the umbilical cord now." I miss my Dad so much--it's only been a few weeks since he left--but we talk almost everyday. He inspires me to be better, to do better, to love everyone, be forgiving, and to remember what is truly important in life. He has influenced my life and is my Hero in sooooo many ways. I love you Dad!

○Thirty Day Picture Challenge○

Day #8: A Picture That Makes You Laugh. This picture always makes me chuckle. It was the summer of 2008. We were having family pictures done with my Mom. Clint, the boys, and myself got a little bored and we started to wrestle. The photographer couldn't help but snap a few shots. It is the picture that sits next to my bed--I always see it. It reminds me to try to keep life light, filled with fun, and to be joyful.