"I see dead people".....

Who could ever forget that line from the movie The Sixth Sense. We woke up on Friday morning...not seeing dead people....but definitely seeing our breath (remember it always got cold anytime someone "dead" came around). Hhmm, what does that mean? Our heater....busted! Well, not exactly busted...just a little confused! I think it wanted to go on strike. I can only imagine the conversation between the heater and its little heater brain went like this:

"These people don't even appreciate the work I do for them. All winter long I keep there home at exactly 68 degrees...never lower...rarely higher. On the other hand, Mr. A/C gets tons of acclamations of appreciation. When its hot outside, they indulge in the coolness he provides. I know, maybe I should try becoming Mr. A/C and blow cold air...then we'll see if they appreciate me!"

Moral to this post: Never try and be something your NOT!

Egg-stra special

I saw a version of these eggs here. I really wanted to try them. They were fun and cheap. I think I spent $4, and $2.50 of that was for the stuffing. It made about 24 eggs. You can find the tutorial at the link above.

I don't feel they turned out how they "looked" in my head (that is what you get when you combine a wanna-be seamstress with a pattern and tell her she has to do it on her OWN with no help!)...but my kids love to play with them and pretend to have Easter Egg hunts all over the house. And, the best part of that is...they won't break if they're dropped and they won't hurt when thrown at each other (but that never happens at my house!).

Strength from a stranger

I was at Wal-Mart on Saturday...I know, I know...stupid mistake, especially on a weekend. Maycie was at a birthday party and dad was busy doing his own errands. It was just me and "buddy". The trip was going as usual, running into people with carts and trying to manuver in between the aisle's while trying to dodge other customers. Pure chaos! But, I was enjoying the simple conversation I was having with a cute, 2 year old toe head...aka "buddy"...who had a short little story for many items in the store. Example: ball...."mommy ball...daddy shoot it...pitch it....etc." I was really enjoying the one on one time with him.

And then it happened,


The random flip of a switch that unleashed the inner demon of a two-year old. Our sweet conversation turned into screams, demands, and harsh words..."No! Stop it!...Jaxon don't want it to (his favorite saying these days. He combines two sentences in one...don't want IT and don't want TO)!" Oh my, help me! The annoying cart clashing with other customers turned into the enjoyable part of the trip.

Four minutes goes by....five minutes goes by....(yes, I am still shopping while trying every resource I have in my purse to get him to quiet down).....

And then I pass a sweet elderly lady. She stops. I knew what was coming..."oh, poor little guy seems upset!" No, ya think!

But, to my surprise, she pats ME on the shoulder and says, "YOU are doing fine!"

That was all I needed...in one small simple sentence she recharged my patience tank...good thing or that boy would of seen the wrath of ME! Trust me, the patient momma Anderson is so much more pleasurable!

Hey, I can do that....

I was at my sister's house a few weeks ago, and seen this cute little ball on her table. She said she BOUGHT it somewhere. I picked it up and knew that it was something I could recreate.

So, I went to JoAnn's today (WOW...what a great new store!) and bought this two pack of styrofoam balls. They were $2.99. I had a 50% coupon, so it came to $1.50.

Using paint and supplies I already had, I went to work. First, I painted a base layer of paint with a dark tan.

Then, I cut a corner off of a new dish sponge and sponged dark brown, black, then cream.

I used my cricut machine and cardstock to make a star stencil.

Stenciled stars in burgandy and sage green.

Bought these to accent them (the colored ceramic balls I got at Craft Warehouse today for $1.99 a piece...the wicker plate thing was $6.99).

Placed them together, and wah-lah! I think I paid a total of $13 for the finished product. GREAT!

Hear ye, hear ye...

I am a Princess,

Mommy is a queen,

and Daddy is around here somewhere!

Mini vay-kay

We snuck down to Salt Lake to see the Disney on Ice show.

One word describes it:

SPECTACULAR!!

Maycie anxiously waiting for it to start!

....watiting...waiting...waiting...patiently for it to start!
(We had GREAT seats too!)



Peter Pan and Tinkerbell


Lilo and Stitch


Ariel and Prince Eric


Sebastian



Simba and Nala doing the "Cutting Edge" move!


Disney truly is magical! We all enjoyed. (Con won't admit it, but I know he liked it!)

Don't blink....

...this moment only lasts....well, never mind...it is already over with. I told you not to blink. That's how fast moments like this come and go around here!

You know...keep your friends close, but your enemies CLOSER! Yup, that pretty much describes it!

Still melts my heart though!

Can't even hardly wait!

I have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting...and, well...you get the idea. I have been so excited to complete and share this picture. My SIL called me a few weeks ago and asked me if I wanted this shutter frame with a mirror in it. I asked how much (it was being sold at grandparents furniture store), and when she told me I was indecisive because of the price. Well, the very next day she calls and says that Grandma broke the mirror and wanted to know if I wanted to purchase it for 1/4 of the original price...so 75% off. Hhmm...let me think...


HECK YEAH!!!


The before:

Added a little TLC (black paint)....

Added a picture of my two favorite kids...and



Wah-Lah!!!!

I think I am in LOVE!

He loves me, he loves me not....

He definitely LOVES me!!!

For my birthday last week, Conrad out did himself again. He got me a new lens I have been wanting for my camera. Happy Birthday to me! Thanks, Babe!...you're the greatest.

My GREAT visiting teachers/friends brought me these roses with a balloon, sparkling cider, dove chocolates, and a special fruit tart from the Fred Meyer's bakery...(you know those cool desserts they have behind the glass that look too fancy to eat!). It was as delicious as it looked...and I didn't even share. I put the kids to bed, prepared a bubble bath...in the dark of course (seeing myself nude would totally ruin this moment), and savored every bite of my fruit tart. Know what I did when I got out? Yup, you guessed it. I spritzed up with a little Victoria Secret Appletini! Happy Birthday to me!

Since Conrad's Birthday is just a few days before mine, we had some friends cook us dinner...Salmon, Halibut, baked potatoes, homemade rolls and cheesecake for dessert. We were definitely spoiled! Happy Birthday to us!

Inversion Conversion

My cousin emailed this picture to me. A lady had taken it from the top of the Joseph Smith Building. I LOVE it! It so explains my life right now....

...the fog is so thick that we feel lost and don't know what decisions to make, but, even through the thickest of trials, the Lord's love and guidance is still brighter and more profound than the darkness!

Long week....

My friend, Melissa, posted this haiku on her blog a few weeks ago. It sums up my life over the past week.

The mattress is damp
Tummies keep emptying, sigh
Maytag is my pal

One thing I HAVE learned this week...it is much easier to clean throw up than it is to clean up poop (diarrhea)...poor little buddy!

Latest craft I've been working on...

I seen this idea on Tip Junkie or Be different Act Normal...I can't remember. I had a bucket lying around and wanted to try it. You turn an ordinary bucket:

Into this:

I just modge podged scrapbook paper on the outside. I am going to sew a liner to match this week. If I remember, I will post pictures when that is finished so you can see the final look.

I want to make a couple of these for each of my kids' rooms for toys, shoes, etc. I got this bucket more than a year ago at D&B Western Supply for around $8. Does anyone know of anywhere else to get them? Possibly cheaper? (This is a new opportunity to be my best friend!)