What to do....

I had a problem.... this basket next to our back door. It holds some extra keys, and for the most part... junk that we throw in it. It is ugly, BIG, and broken. So, I did what I always do on a {limited crafting budget} and looked around our home.

That is when I spotted this beauty...

OK, not so great looking right??

So, with a coat of paint, some fabric, "vintage looking"

lace, ric rac, a couple hooks, a flower and walla....

I made this fun little thing. First I painted over the words. Second I covered it in fabric...{a shirt that I washed once and shrunk!!}. Third attach some fun ric rac. Fourth attach the lace for a pocket {this was from something else that was washed wrong.} NOTE TO SELF: Don't ever by anything again that says "hand wash only" .... it is just a recipe for disaster. Fifth attach two hooks to the bottom to hold keys. Lastly make a flower out of some linen I had laying around.

Total cost for this project...... 0$$$... I KNOW!!!! I love my little key holder... board thing. wink! It looks so much better in person.....my cheap little camera just doesn't do it justice. :)

Because she is one of my favorite Valentines.....

{I made her some fun Valentines inspired hair bows this afternoon.}

Let me know if you want me to make your Valentine some hair bows. I will be working on them this weekend... So, place your orders now.

Do you believe in Miracles?

{I do!}

Happy Wednesday! :)

Put your Armor on ...{FHE}

I Love Monday's. Regan will ask me "Mommy, is today Monday?" ...."Oh, what are we going to do for Family Home Evening?"

Tonight our lesson was about putting on the whole armor of God. {D&C 27: 15-18} I found some fun children's illustrations about our spiritual armor and real armor and the comparison. Then we discussed how each of these things would help and protect her in her life.

Then it was time to put on the real armor......

Can you tell she was just a little excited?? Oh, and don't you love the tinfoil on the rain boots.... hey, I had to improvise. wink!

Then we had an activity....

We took these balls {or temptations} and throw them at each other and we saw how our Armor protected us from....Bad words, lies, Stealing..etc.

Regan was READY.... bring it on!

Then it was Bubba's turn.

Daddy was the last one to suit up.....

and well, he needs to work on his defensive skills.

Regan's first throw managed to knock his helmet right off! wink!

I LOVE Mondays and our FHE nights together.What are your some of your favorite FHE ideas?? I am always looking for new ones. Oh, and if any of you wants to borrow this one just let me know... wink!

{Trouble Maker}

"I am sorry Mrs. Presley but I don't think he will ever sit up, walk, talk... or well do much."

This is what a doctor told me when Collin was little. If only that doctor could see him now. No, he isn't walking or talking BUT he has learned to adapt and do so much more than I had ever dreamed!!!! I will never forget the first time that I was telling an aid in Collin's pre-school class how he had gotten into trouble the day before. She looked at me and said "isn't that wonderful!!!". For most kids it is awful to see them have a temper tantrum in the store over a toy or do something that they know they shouldn't BUT with Bubba it is wonderful. Something as simple as getting his little hands to manipulate a lock is AMAZING!!

I LOVE my little Trouble Maker {and his side kick!}

Some much needed therapy.....

{Crafting therapy that is!}

This week has been hard. The other night I was attacked...{verbally}. It was hard and it completely took me by surprise. I thought I was going to a PTA board meeting only to find out that I was walking into an ambush. I am not going to go into all of the details. {Just in case by some crazy chance this woman happens to read my blog.} I have forgiven her.

With all of this going on I NEEDED some therapy. Good thing my sister {one of my VERY best friends} and several other friends are pregnant with girls. So, I got to work making some fun things for these sweet little newborns. I can not wait to see them in their outfits.



I also made some flower clips. I have been promising another wonderful sister that I would make her some flowers. Well, her FAVORITE color is navy. So, of course I had to stick with my typical crafting style... one for you ... one for me... one for you.. wink! {Now, let's just see how long it takes me to get them in the mail!}

Richard G. Scott
"God intended that it be so to forge your character. The more your character is fortified, the more enabled you are to exercise the power of faith for yet stronger character ."

The other night my character was tested and I walked away...It was hard BUT I walked away. At the end of the day I know who I am and I love who I am. I am a daughter of God who loves me very much and knows my heart.

She has a.....

Heart of Gold.

Last night I was giving Bubba his medications and he was not enjoying it. I don't blame him nine years of medication after medication... I would get tired of it too. I think we were on medication 4 out of 9. :( Regan disappeared and came back with this note for Bubba.

Then she proceeded to cheer him on... ONLY 3 MORE MEDS BUBBA... ONLY TWO MORE... YOU CAN DO IT .... LAST ONE BUBBA...LAST ONE AND YOU ARE DONE!!!! I can not even begin to explain in words her love for her brother.She is a wonderful BIG little sister. She is one amazing little girl and I am one VERY lucky mommy to have such incredible children.

She comes by it honestly.....

and for now she thinks it's cool!
{Some day she might not but for now I will take it!}

Bring on the RAIN....

It is raining and we LOVE it at our house!!! Puddles are the next best thing to Disney Land in Regan's eyes. We can not pass a puddle with out her insisting on jumping in it! I think it is great! .... You are only young once... trust me when you try doing it when you are older you just get funny looks! wink! What better to do on a rainy day than have a Rainy Day play date. Our sweet little friends walked away with a new umbrella.{I stalked up on umbrellas when we found that awesome Duck one for 2$....I just couldn't resist and I knew they would come in handy one day} We had bought Mr. Ty some rain boots at Christmas and it just worked out perfect that we hadn't seen him until today. Regan insisted that Belen have one of her eight.... yes eight pairs of rain boots since she didn't have any. Heaven forbid you not have the proper rain gear on a rainy day. I think that accessorising is Regan's favorite part! wink! We had a BLAST with our Rainy day friends!

{Sunday} the day of .....

{REST} and {BUNNIES}.

Today was our Stake conference. Collin and I stayed home while Regan and Daddy went together. {I should say that I did get to go on a HOT date to dinner followed by the Saturday evening portion of Stake conference last night.} Collin has not been feeling so good, LOTS of pain. This means NO sleep. :( We typically don't take Collin to Stake conference anyways just for the simple fact that it is just to much to expect of him and his sweet little body. Jason and I take turns as to which one gets to go. It was Jason's turn. On his way home he sent me a message: {we should go feed the bunnies today} I checked the fridge for lettuce and then responded {sounds perfect}. It was beautiful and cloudy.... a perfect kind of Bubba day. Collin was restless and ready to get out of the house. So, after they got home, changed, and put some food in their bellies we were off to one of our local community colleges. I am not sure how or why.... BUT they have TONS of bunnies on the campus.

Regan is such a little bunny whisperer.

Collin still wasn't showing us that sweet smile. So, I took him for a little jog around the quad and sure enough... WE FOUND HIS SMILE!

Dear Teachers.....

Please let me explain why my children were absent from school today. You see, we had.... ummm a family obligation. Thank you very much for understanding.
Love,
Their Mommy :)


This morning when Regan woke up I let her know that I had a surprise for her and Bubba. "Guess what... we are going to play hookie and go to Disney Land as a family!" Then Regan asked "You mean, no school??....Yeah!" She was excited to see that instead of laying out her uniform in its place were fun Disney clothes. We let Daddy sleep in a little. When he woke up Regan ran in saying "DADDY, DADDY, WE GET TO PLAY HOCKEY TODAY!" We all needed a happy day.

If the school is upset that we played "Hockey" today maybe if I tell them that I gave blood once we got home it will make up for it! wink!!!

{friends}

Today I got to catch up and see friends I haven't seen in a while. Stephanie( http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/) was in town and Rebeca had us all over for lunch so that we could catch up and have some fun! Oh, I miss the game nights, play dates, and fun that we all had together. You have people come into your life for different reasons and all of these women are wonderful and strong. I am so proud to call you all my friends. :)
Isn't he just the cutest thing?? I was so excited to meet this sweet little guy. Noble has such beautiful eyes and is one big Momma's boy!!! Too cute!!!

Until next time!

One Tattered Angel

I am reading a book, One Tattered Angel by Blaine M. Yorgason, right now. It was given to my mother-in-law by a woman that she works in the temple with. She gave my mother in law a copy and also a copy to give to me. This was a very thoughtful gift. This books speaks to me... to our lives. It makes me think about my own little Tattered Angle and all that he has gone through in his short little life. Like the sweet little girl in this father's story, Collin was given very little chance to live. To make it past a year. Collin was born completely blind, unable to breath on his own, hurting, tiny, and RED. No, don't adjust the color on you screens. This is what my sweet little baby looked like when he entered into this world. He looked as if he had been burnt in a fire. His skin was so tight, it was hard for him to move his arms or legs. I couldn't touch him. I couldn't hold him.

Then I look at this picture, notice the writing on it. I am Champion! I had this picture on my fridge to remind me how strong he truly is. This picture was taken just seconds after his birth. They had barley even cleaned him up. They were helping him breath and trying to get him to a point were they could transport him. Collin showed the doctors how strong he was soon after. He pulled the VERY long tube out from his throat, ext abating himself. He was breathing on his own. The doctors were amazed! One, this is usually a long and slow process of weaning them off of the oxygen and two he could barley move his little arms. At that moment I knew that my son was a fighter, a champion, and that he was stronger than anyone had imagined.

Like the father in this book, I also believe that my sweet little boy willingly accepted these challenges to be able to come to us. He is an incredibly righteous and powerful little spirit. Collin's smile is a testament of God's love for us. If I can but endure with my sweet little Tattered Angel here on earth the rewards in Heaven will be great.

My heart is breaking.....

tonight because Bubba is in so much pain.

Today when I picked Collin up from school his teacher told me “Collin was a little out of it but we think it was just because of the new medication…. Just thought I should let you know.” Yes, Collin has had some miner side effects from the new medications BUT he had not had a seizure since starting them and has been sleeping better. No, not as good as I posted about the other day BUT good for Bubba. I don’t know if his sweet little body will ever let him get a full nights sleep.


While we were grocery shopping Collin started fussing, I looked in his eyes and I saw it. Oh, no it is coming. He could feel it and I could see it. I hurried through the store carrying Collin in my arms and pushing the BIG car/shopping cart with Regan and our much needed groceries. I have been known to leave a full cart in the middle of the store when this happens BUT we NEEDED these things. We got to the front and quickly checked out. I snapped at Regan , for no good reason. I CRIED and then apologized. I finished loading the car and drove like a mad woman home. I carried Collin inside and sat him on the ground. I asked Regan to sit next to him and let me know if he started to seize. I RAN , as if I were in a sprint race, to and from my car to get the groceries out. I made it back in time to find Collin hysterically crying. I scooped him up and then it started…. He started seizing, vomiting, and crying out in pain. I cleaned him up and then looked over to see all of this food sitting by my front door. I CRIED.


Regan asked me “Mommy do you want me to put the groceries away?” Then with out me even responding she jumped into action. My sweet five year old little girl put EVERY single thing away. I CRIED…. She has so much responsibility with out even knowing it. She is amazing!

Jason came home with Taco Bell in hand and ready to relieve me.

Collin’s sweet little body has been in TONS of pain. It breaks my heart. As I was holding him he SCREAMED out in pain. I CRIED…. A lot. I told Jason how unfair I felt it was for him. Then Regan walked over and asked me if I was ok. I told her that I was sad that Bubba was hurting. She kissed my cheek. I CRIED.


We were hoping that these new medications would be the ones that would help him escape days and nights like this. On February 4th Bubba will be sedated and they will look at his sweet little brain. They want to see if this horrible illness is progressing. I AM SCARED.


Please pray for my little man tonight.

UPDATE: After a very long night Collin woke up feeling better. Thank you for your prayers. He is one tired and "out of it" little guy. I am sure it will take a couple days to recover. Thank you all for your prayers. BIG HUGS!!

and I wonder why I am so tired.....

Over the break we managed to stay busy in between all of the holiday parties and Christmas fun.

We went with some friends to the Aquarium.

As we were leaving the kids were treated to stuffed

animals by the fire fighters!! Too sweet!

We went to see my Mom and Coach....

and said good bye (tear) they are moving to Texas. :(

We took the kids to see another mouse (Disney was blacked out)

We saw Chuck E Cheese!

Collin LOVES this ride and would ride it five times in a row.

It was so fun to watch these two. At one point I

couldn't tell which one was the child! wink!

We went to the Santa Ana zoo one day.

Nana was the brave one and went on this one with the kids!

and... one more trip to the Aquarium.

And I wonder why I am tired..... hmmm... I think I do it to myself!!!