The Houchin Hearth

Frugal Simplicity

2011-04-25T19:38:00.002-06:00

I know, I promised updates... but I'm just not feelin' it. It's old news to me, ya know?

So, I'll keep you hanging by posting something that's of recent greater interest to me.

In light of the increase in food prices, gas prices, and unfortunately, utilities, I am on a renewed quest to live better on less. For a while I entertained ideas for increasing the amount we have in our budget. While some of these ideas have not been completely crossed off my list, I have come to a few conclusions.

First, any avenue for increasing our monthly income, short of me going to work full time, will take a little while for us to see that increase. However, spending less will give me results NOW... and that's when I need them!

Second, spending less will mean buying less. Less equals more simple. Simple sounds good. It's complicated, frustrating, and exhausting always trying to provide for your WANTS. I do recognize, however, that simplicity will require a retraining of the mind that is so primed to find ways to get what it wants. But, it will be a challenge, and I'm counting on that factor to fuel me forward!

So, I will be sharing any fabulous ideas I come across, as well as those to which I recommit myself. Our food budget is already stripped to the lowest I am willing to go. Our monthly food budget is just right at the three digit mark, and going any lower would begin to hurt us nutritionally, I think. So, any great ideas you want to share? Who want to join me? Anyone?

Homeschool Cirriculum Giveaway!

2011-04-19T10:38:00.002-06:00

Alright, alright. It's been FOREVER. Get over it... we've been crazy busy! :)

I promise to catch-up, but I wanted to post this awesome opportunity! Homeschool Creations is hosting a homeschool cirriculum giveaway! I generally don't think "giveaways" are really worth my time, but this might just be the exception! Here's, roughly, how it works:
Followers of Homeschool Creations will go through all of their cirriculum materials and post items they have to give away. Anyone can put their name in a drawing for each item. There should be TONS of stuff!

If you've never checked out Homeschool Creations, do it! I use them for lots of ideas and materials for the preschool activities I do with Wyatt!

http://http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2009/07/curriculum-clean-out-details.html

Installing an Indoor Swimming Pool

2011-02-12T15:24:00.002-07:00

I thought I would pass along some exciting, newly acquired information and personal experience. You see, until recently, I thought that a personal indoor swimming pool was a luxury reserved for the independently wealthy. Not so, my friends! An indoor swimming pool can be yours at very little to no cost! There are a few simple steps you must follow:

1. Send your husband/free-labor handyman away... make sure it would be impossible or at least very difficult for him to return home until the swimming pool is complete.

2. Break the seal on the wax gasket underneath your toilet. This may require loosening the bolts and sliding a knife between the toilet and the gasket. If you are lucky, like I was, this step will require no action on your part.

3. Replace one of the gaskets in your bathtub faucet with an old, leaky one. If you have an old faucet, just wait awhile... it will go out on its own.

4. Loosen the connection from pipe to the water supply hose for your dishwasher. This may take awhile before progress is seen, but if after several days you see water dripping from the ceiling in your laundry room (which is located under the kitchen), you'll know your swimming pool is on it's way to completion!

This DIY project is nearly fool-proof! Within a few days, you should be able to break out the swim suit!

Headed in the RIGHT direction!

2011-01-23T22:58:00.002-07:00

So......

I've put off blogging for quite some time for a couple of reasons.
1. We've been BUSY! I made a trip to Minot back in October to for the birth of my very good friend's baby. I came home in early November, and we began reving up for the holidays. They came and went very quickly, in all their wonderfullness, and we've been trying to catch our breath ever since. William is at the Academy, I'm working hard at developing a cirriculum of sorts for Wyatt, we're still working on about 10 projects with the house, and we're slowly working towards an adoption! Whew! Like I said... We've been BUSY!

2. A lot of what is happening in our life right now is somewhat personal, generally emotionally charged, and somewhat controversial. I needed some time to find my footing on several issues before I started sharing and announcing to the rest of the world... but I think I'm about there! So, at the top of our current undertakings list right now are the issues of preschool and adoption.

Preschool:
I am keeping Wyatt home rather than sending him to preschool. This decision has been met with raised eyebrows on many occasions (and at times, those eyebrows were my own). However, I am sure of my decision for several reasons. First and foremost, I am his mother, and I am not only capable of but also responsible for what this beautiful little boy learns, whether at home or in a classroom. Teaching him at home puts me fully in charge of what he is taught and what he is exposed to. And though I firmly believe all mothers have the potential to teach their own young children, having my degree in child development doesn't hurt either.
Second, it would be ridiculously idiotic of me to pay someone else to teach my child when a) we'd probably have to skip a meal each day to afford it, and b) THIS IS WHAT MY DEGREE IS FOR!
Third, I believe in childhood. I believe our children grow up much too fast in this society, and that the demands we put on them at such an early age is detrimental to them. I intend to provide Wyatt with as much education as is beneficial to him and that we can fit INTO his childhood, rather than replacing it.
I didn't think this would be such a difficult issue, but I have met a lot of disapproval, which caused me to question my own judgement. In the end I feel confident about my decision... good thing, 'cause I'm sure I'll get a LOT more of those raised eyebrows if I decide not to send Wyatt to Kindergarten! ("What?!" you say. YUP, you heard me)

Adoption:
We have decided to begin the adoption process. It has taken quite some time to reach this place where we find ourselves. Our original plans were vastly different from the route we now plan to take, and it has been an emotional journey. At this point, we plan to adopt waiting children, most likely Wyatt's age or younger. We would prefer a sibling group, which will probably be just 2 since we cannot use our downstairs rooms until egress windows are put in ($$), and they have square footage requirements for how many children can share a room. Because they will share a room with Wyatt, we will only be approved to adopt boys. While we do not feel that we currently have the resources to parent a child that would be totally dependant upon us for life, we do not have any other "limits" for the type of child we will be willing to accept. We will look at each case presented as an option, and we have faith that we will know we when find our
child(ren). This part is a little scary if I focus too much on it. We are starting on a path that may lead us in directions we have very little experience with and that will definitely differ from the "perfect" picture we had formed when we started our life together. But, we have already had the opportunity to have our minds opened to new possibilities and different types of life experiences, and we are excited to see what is in store for us!

So, there you have it! In all my bravery, I've let you in on our off-the-beaten-path decisions!

Living vs. Posting

2010-11-03T22:28:00.002-06:00

I have a confession to make...

I am a blog stalker.

Yep, I stalk people through their blogs... even people I don't actually know. I know, I know... it's kinda creepy and the bathroom floor needs my attention much more desperately (and so does the laundry in the dryer, the cheerios crushed into the family room carpet, and the ants Wyatt has rehomed on my couch). However, I find inspiration from several women I follow, and for a moment after I've read their posts, I can pretend I have the energy, organizational skills, and self-discipline to be THAT kind of mom/wife/sister/daughter/superwoman.

But, I'm not. I don't even get all of what they accomplish ON my to-do list, let alone check it off! And I think I'm okay with that. I wasn't... but amid one of my late night pontification sessions, I realized several things: 1. They can paint whatever picture they want on their blog... it doesn't mean their life isn't chaotic sometimes; 2. I don't want to be as busy as I'd have to be to get all that done. I'd like to have time to cuddle my little man while I still can and read him a book; 3. If I would like to incorporate some aspect of what I find inspiring, I've gotta make room for it!

Basically, it all boils down to this: I have a choice. I can either live my life to it's fullest, or I can spend ridiculous amounts of time writing about it! I choose to live it, to have memorable moments and record those I can, when I can. I can be a real-life superwoman... I'll take that over BloggerQueen!

So, to those of you who are truly talented enough to do it all... kudos. The line for the gold stars is to your left. For those of you who are a little more like me... I'll do my best to post updates before they are no longer updates. Just think of all the free time you'll have now that you know you don't need to obsessively check my blog several times a day!

A peak at our home

2010-08-07T19:34:00.003-06:00

While we feel like our progress with the house is going painstakingly slow, we do have some space that is presentable should guests stop by. That is not to say that we are finished with it (not at all!), but it's at least presentable for the time being.

Our living room space is a rather long space, with the distance on either side of the front door being longer than the distance from the front door to the opposite wall. This means the room is somewhat split, so there are two different seating areas.

This is the area to your right when you enter the front door (though the pic. is shot from the wall opposite the front door).

And this is to your left.

Like I said, we are not finished with the rooms, but they at least resemble a home! We plan to take down the wall paper (I love that it's vintage, but it's worn, stained, and very discolored from the sun in some places), texture the walls (they're plaster, so a Venetian plaster effect), strip the paint off all the woodwork, and put up crown molding. We also plan to take out a door way that leads straight into our room, since there's another door from the hallway. (We don't really like a walk-through bedroom).

Oh, ad did you notice the floors? Didn't William do a fabulous job?! I can't begin to describe what a mess they were!

Anyway, that's just a peak for now. The dining room is pretty much presentable, but I've still got a few things left to accomplish before I post pics.

Plodding Along

2010-07-31T21:04:00.002-06:00

I realized today that it has been almost a month since my last post (gasp!), and was severely depressed to realize I don't have much to report. But, in an attempt to keep everyone informed, I'm hoping there will be a few noteworthy events in the blabbering that follows.

I spent two weeks this month visiting my mom, sisters, extended family, and friends. It was wonderful to see everyone, and I really didn't want to leave. We have been doing wonderfully since we moved to Wheatland, but I've been so busy that I haven't allowed myself much time to think about how much I miss having family close by. I came home with a renewed determination (as I usually do) to move back to the Big Horn Basin as soon as we possibly can!

I was able to make a quick trip to see Miriah and her beautiful family (including my new nephew!), and I was so grateful for that opportunity. Let me take a minute here to gush... Their house is adorable, their children are angels (yes, Miriah, even Ethan... seriously, he is NOT a screamer, so don't even pretend), and their happiness with their life is apparent to everyone around them! I'm so glad I was able to be immersed in their personal world in the short time we were there!

While I was away, William worked hard on several projects. He got a LOT of rewiring done, with no trips to the ER, which is a MAJOR, unexpected plus! He also raised my countertops, which is a drastic improvement... I no longer have to fold myself in half to wash dishes or appear as though I'm praying to my vegetables as I'm chopping them! Now we can begin to pay a little more attention to cosmetic details in our kitchen, though even that will take some time. We're working really hard to be a frugal as possible with our rennovations, so we have to wait to find the killer deals. That then leads us to begin new projects while we're waiting, which leads to our little family living among construction rubble! *sigh* It'll be worth it once it's done, I suppose. I just need to do a lot of yoga and that weird chanting/humming crap, I guess.

We did manage to make some headway and clear some space today, however. There were a lot of "extras" that came with the house when we moved in (most of which were a surprise to us), and we needed to clear out extra appliances, furniture, household goods, etc. So, we had a yard sale. We made over $300! Wahoo! So, of course, I visited a few yardsales myself (yes, I attend meetings for my disorder... they don't help), and was able to score a new memory foam mattress for William & I! It's the type with the pillowtop to give some extra firmness and support. I got it WAAAYYY cheap, and we're excited to see how it works for us.

Well, that's about all. Did you find anything worthy of the publication I gave it within my ramblings? No? Well, then next time quit reading sooner and you won't deserve the boredom induced stupor you're experiencing.

Kitchen Progression

2010-07-09T19:31:00.011-06:00

So, this last week, with my MIL's help since she was here (Thanks, Carol!), we tackled some big jobs in the kitchen. I don't know if you remember what it looked like, so here's a reminder!

The yellow looks bright and sunny in the pic, but in reality it was harsh and garish... YUCK! You also can't see the horrible stick-on copper tiles done as a backsplash over the counters and covering two walls! Double YUCK!

And then, there were the floors...

I know... I'll wait while you puke.

Finished?

The previous owner had ripped up carpet (who puts carpet in the kitchen? DUMB!!!), but hadn't gotten any further with the renovation (that happened with A LOT of things in this house). So, this is several layers of linolium (and yes, that is the correct spelling. If your spell checker says otherwise, you may want to get a new one) with carpet adhesive that is no longer sticky (a.k.a it's so full of dirt and crud it can't possibly stick to anything else). GROSS!

So, we pulled all of the linolium up.

Now we had hardwood floors covered with the adhesive for the linolium. Of course, we would love to refinish the hardwood floors, but, um... IT'S A LOT OF WORK!!! Anyone willing is more than welcome to tackle the task for us! William said (after 5 weeks of work on the hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms) he's not touching anymore hardwood flooring projects for at least a year.

Anyway, after cleaning up the wood foors, we laid down new tiles, and now we have this:

Ahhhh... pretty, huh?
(Notice, I also painted! Much better!)

We also decided to rip out a few (stupid) cabinets that didn't make much sense where they were.

Yeah, I forgot to take the "before" pic until William started taking it down. But, you get the idea. A coat closet in the middle of my kitchen. We took it out...

To make room for my Hoosier Cabinet knock-off (designed by me and built by hubby!).

We also removed this little number:

Stupid placement... it covers most of the door frame! We plan to cut it down to counter height and make a little nook for all the mail, phone, phone books, etc.

So, I know there I don't have a whole lotta "after" photos yet, but I'll get 'um. It's a work in progress, but at least I can walk through my kitchen without feeling like I need to borrow William's combat boots!

Swimming, Swimming, in the swimming pool

2010-06-30T09:57:00.003-06:00

It seems that Wyatt has overcome his hesitations concerning water, so we have taken full advantage of every opportunity to play in the water this summer. Yesterday, we went to the town pool for the first time, and we were quite impressed.

Wheatland is a small town, and it's an outdoor pool, so we didn't expect much. The pool was awesome! They have three water slides (not huge, buy hey, they're water slides!), a regular diving board and a high dive, and a LARGE wading pool for the little ones. Wyatt was so excited! We played in the wading pool for a while... until Wyatt saw the waterslides. He ran straight to the smallest one, and climbed up while William and I were jumping into the pool to try and get to the end of the slide to catch him! We thought for sure he wouldn't like it after he went under water, but he loved it! Of course, William did his best to keep Wyatt's head from going under. We spent over an hour playing on that slide... and then Wyatt spied the diving boards.

No, I did not allow my three-year-old to jump from the diving board, but it took some MAJOR convincing! He wanted to jump off the high dive (groan)... of course. Sometimes his fearlessness frightens me. Okay, MOST of the time it frightens me!

Anyway, we had a great time! Here are a few pics of my little man having a blast in the water!

Back in the saddle, er, computer chair again!

2010-06-29T11:59:00.006-06:00

I know you've all been waiting patiently (i.e. complaining incessantly), so I'll do my best to bring you up to date!

The House

We've been working hard on lots of projects throughout our new home, doing our best to respect the history of this house while making it a functional home for our family. We finally got the floors refinished (pictures to come later), and we have decided we don't ever want to buy a home with hardwood floors again! We did some research, and seriously planned on a three day weekend to get the floors done. HAHAHAHAHA! I would like to find whoever touched these floors last (it's not the people we're buying from), and choke them with the cord of the floor sander! We knew the floors looked bad, but HOLY CRAP! WHAT WERE THESE PEOPLE THINKING?! The floors had been waxed, AND THEN gallons upon gallons of lacquer were put over the top. This resulted in the lacquer and wax simply melting to the sanding pad, rendering each one unusable after just a few minutes. 150 sanding pads and 5 weeks later we finished! Our $150-$200 dollar project became a $500 BEAST!

We are still working on the kitchen. The walls have been painted, as well as (most of) the cabinet doors. We plan to redo the counters, put in different appliances (including a dishwasher! Yay!), lay down new floors (forget pulling up what's there to refinish the wood!), and put in a few new cabinets. Oh yeah, and we also have to rework some wiring. Good thing we have an electrician who unwittingly offered to help us!

The Job

William's job is going well. He is in his second phase of FTO, and has been doing very well. In about 5 weeks he'll be completely on his own, and hopefully working a little more predictable schedule. The shift work hasn't been bad thus far, and the people at the department have been great!

This was William's first day in uniform. He REALLY didn't want to take the picture, but I reminded him that Dad wanted one! And we all know the answer to a request from Dad... "Okay, Kurt!" (And yes, Dad, you know it's true!)

Church

Our new ward is wonderful! They have been very welcoming and helpful. I have already been assigned visiting teachers and have been visited. I haven't had visiting teachers come visit me in a LONG time (Tia and Nikki, you were the last!), so I was impressed with and grateful for their efforts!

Our ward is small but full of wonderful people. Wyatt doubled the nursery size (literally) when he began attending. However, we have a very active ward with lots going on. It's a good place for us.

Overall, things are going very well for us! We LOVE Wheatland, and feel right at home here. I'll post further details (along with more photos) soon.

I am a blessed woman!

2010-04-28T08:37:00.002-06:00

Like many women, I often find myself slightly frustrated with the differences in habits, priorities, and thought processes between my husband and myself. While I try not to let these issues obstruct my vision, I sometimes overlook what a wonderful man I share my life with. This past weekend, however, I was reminded.

We recently were in a position to obtain an item that would have been greatly beneficial for our family. The original owner no longer wanted this item and had asked a friend of ours to dispose of it. The friend then offered the item to us, knowing we could use it. We were thrilled! However, during a conversation while we were preparing to make the item more usable for our family, it became apparent that not only did the original owner have no idea that we were going to take it, but that the original owner would most likely not be happy about not being asked.This wasn't something we had really thought about. If we were in the owner's position, we would have loved for our unwanted item to go to someone that could use it. But after the discussion with our friend, we felt it was something we shouldn't broadcast. The secrecy of the situation immediately made me sick to my stomach, so we discussed our options.

There wasn't much chance the original owner would ever find out what had happened to the item, but I didn't feel right about it. We could have called the original owner, but it was already several days after the item was supposed to have been disposed of. William and I did not want to make things difficult for our friend who had simply tried to help us. So, that left the only other option of disposing of the item as the original owner had asked. I really felt as if there was no other option, but it was a disappointing option. We really would have benefited from keeping the item, as it would have solved a dilemma we had been working on for a while.

My wonderful husband listened to me explain my concerns, chief among them being I didn't want to regret keeping the item and feel guilty every time I used it. I also didn't want to see Wyatt using it and know that I had put him in a position to be using an item acquired by anything less than the most honest means. Even as I was explaining myself (and as I type it now), I could hear how corny I sounded. But that wonderful man I have been blessed with as my husband simply sighed and told me he didn't want me to feel that way, so he would take care of it. This was no small feat for him. It actually required some work to dispose of the item the way it was meant to be, but he did it so that his wife could comfortably stand by her convictions. He very easily could have argued with me. The item was being tossed, and the original owner didn't want it. Instead of arguing, though, he supported me.

I truly am a blessed woman. My husband works hard to take care of our family and supports me in those little moments when no one will see but me.

Ode to the Queen of Procrastination

2010-04-19T17:45:00.003-06:00

I am, admittedly, a procrastinator. I proclaim my procrastinating abilities, for that is truly what they are, not with my head hung in shame, but with a toss of my head and a smile on my lips. It takes great talent and skill to pull together a final outcome of such high quality as I do, and I felt I should share some secrets of this unnoticed art.

To truly master the art of procrastination, you must fully understand the reasons behind it. Amateur procrastinators lack substantial reasoning skills and must be called as they are... lazy. Professional grade procrastinators, such as myself, find personal meaning in their sluggish design. Each must find his/her own drive. For me it is simultaneously the contradicting desires to plan and be flexible. You see, life has taught me that very little is a "given." Courses change without consideration to your goals, ideas, dreams, or plans. In that aspect, I have developed an appreciation for the flexibility my procrastination allows me. If I have not yet acted, I do not have to undo my actions when things change. In the same respect, allowing time for those changes gives me ample opportunity to plan for them. I can ensure doors are left open in the event things do not pan out as hoped for in plan "A." Thorough planning and reviewing allows me to then act more efficiently as the deadline draws near and produces a complete, spectacular outcome.

So, put those projects off a little longer. Spend a little more time planning and accept those curve balls with grace.

Now, I must go procrastinate my packing.

I'm signing up for remedial blogging classes

2010-04-13T09:16:00.003-06:00

This past weekend I was thoroughly chastened for my lack of committment to my blog. I have been adequately humbled in my shortcomings, blah, blah, blah. I know, you've heard it all before. However, since my parents have decided to uproot yet again (aparently at the most mercurial phase in our lives, we, as their children, are expected to provide our own sense of stability), I am forced to turn to my witty literary skills to keep them updated.

So, updates:

William was offered a job with the Wheatland Police Department and will begin the second week of May. We are so excited about this opportunity, and we really like the community. Of course, we thought it was going to be absolutely perfect because it's only an hour away from here, where we believed my parents were still going to be located... Silly me, thinking they would like to keep things simple.

We have decided to buy a house in Wheatland... a BEAUTIFUL house! It's an old home, built in 1923, with a LOT of charm. We are going to do some work, but most everything we want done is cosmetic. We plan to refinish the floors, do lots of painting, and spruce up the kitchen. We also want to redo the bathroom (we're putting in a claw foot tub we got at a KILLER price, and a seperate shower since it doesn't have one), and we're going to finish the basement. The two rooms in the basement are finished, but the main area (which will be our family room) isn't. We also want to put up a fence around the front yard, since we are getting a dog as soon as I feel settled enough to take on that task! We'll definitely have a busy summer, but we're excited!

Front of our house. It's on a corner lot only 2 blocks from the PD!!!

My beautiful, sunny kitchen! The countertops are going to be replaced (we're doing it ourselves!), but I can't decide about the yellow. BTW- the wall is NOT lavendar as it appears here!

This is looking at the front door from the dining room. The kitchen is behind you. Again, the coloring is WAY off in the picture... the walls are actually light green, not pink!

The dining room, and looking into the kitchen (the front door is behind you). As you can see, there's LOTS of space. The house is HUGE (over 2900 sq. ft.)! The 2 upstairs bedrooms are located off to the right from here, as well as a bathroom. Downstairs has 2 more bedrooms, a 3/4 bath, a laundry room, and a large walk-in storage closet.

I will take "before" pics as well as "after" pics for each project that we do so you can see our vision coming to life! We will be in this house for at least 3 years (have to stay for 3 for the tax credit), at which point we will re-evaluate. We would like to be able to move out of town, so we'll see if it's reasonable to do at that time. We've looked at similar homes in the area that have been fixed up the way we plan to do, and I think we'll be able to make quite a proffit when we do decide to sell. Of course, I plan to be as frugal as possible in our updates, which will make our return even bigger!

Hopefully, that was enough of an update! Things are going to be hectic with the move and the job change, I know, but I will try to continue to post regularly, even through all of that. Of course, you, my adoring fans, deserve more posts, but my new found determination stems from a desire to keep my dad informed while he is in Afghanistan. It's been such a blessing to have my parents right here this past year. I was so confused about the way things turned out when we left the Air Force, why the job we wanted didn't work out. But this past year has been the greatest gift I could have been blessed with. It gave us a moment of cohesion and stability during a very difficult transition before we all split in different directions again. I am so proud of my dad for being willing to go when he feels the call, and I'm proud of my mom for being the strong, steadfast woman he needs. It will most definitely be rough, but we'll be alright.

Way too busy!

2010-03-18T18:50:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. My life is crazy right now... seriously, on overload. So, be patient, my adoring fans. Details are to come!

A few more details...

2010-02-08T20:26:00.004-07:00

Alright, I'll give a little more explanation, but only because I'm SURE the rest of your life would have to remain on pause until I did.

The weighted blanket is not a huge hit at night... though he does love to cuddle with it during cartoon time (yep, we have cartoon time. He watches a cartoon while I fix lunch and I feel absolutely no guilt about it). I'm going to try reducing the weight a little, since it feels a little on the heavy side, and my scale is notorious for lying (it really is rude, and I've threatened it with replacing it with one of those sleek, little smooth-talking digital models. It usually pouts for a few days, but then resumes its naughty little tricks!).

Anyway, for those of you who want to know, which I assume is everyone (including those who don't follow this blog, but just know there is someone of my awesomeness caliber out there with all the answers they have been seeking), I will give you a breif discription of how I made this blanket.

The general guidelines for a weighted blanket include that it must be big enough to fully cover the child, and the weight should equal 10% of the child's weight +1 pound. So, I happened to have two matching blankets (thanks grandma!!!) that are the fleece throw type you can buy for fairly cheap around the holidays. I used these since they were the right size and already had finished edges.

So, first I cut 15 squares out of some scrap material (I believe it used to be a sheet). The size needs to be determined by the size of your blanket, as the squares need to be spread evenly over the fabric, with a little extra room on all sides. I then cut strips of velcro and sewed them onto one side of each square.

Next, I sewed strips of the other side of the velcro onto the blanket. I then attached the squares to the velcro on the blanet, and sewed around the three loose sides of each square. This made the inside of the blanket look like this:

Then I simply sewed a long strip of velcro on the top of this blanket, and the opposite side of the velcro on the top of the matching blanket. I pressed the velcro together, and sewed the two blankets together on the three open sides.

So, the blanket opens at the top by peeling apart the velcro (I reccommend using very heavy duty velcro), and inside are pockets that are also held closed with velcro.

I then measured out 5lbs of rice and seperated it equally into 15 ziploc baggies. I taped them shut (duct tape) and put one in each pocket inside the blanket. This allows you to take out the rice (or beans, wheat, or whatever) to wash the blanket

(And yes, yours will lay funny, too... it's just the weight of the rice.)

A few notes:

I would make the squares bigger than I did to give the rice a little more room to move and lay evenly.

This can be made with poly-whateveryoucallit beads (like they use for heavier stuffed animals), and sewen in channels instead of pockets. If you use these beads, you can just toss the whole thing in the washer and dryer. However, these materials are quite expensive, and I was determined to just use what I had (I'll detail my frugal quest in another post).

So, that's how it's done! Like I said, we will continue to play with the weight, because I really am convinced it could help my little stinker!

And the result is....

2010-02-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

HE HATES IT!!!

Sleep Solution #593

2010-02-04T20:37:00.002-07:00

I have a secret.

My son doesn't sleep through the night most nights.

There, I said it!!!

For a long time, I seriously thought it was just my parenting. When I mentioned it at his appointments, the doctors would just tell me I had to be better about a routine. I became a fanatic. It didn't work. I searched the web, and tried adding new things and taking things out of our routine. It didn't work. I became obsessed with watching everything that went into his mouth. It didn't matter... he still rarely slept through the night. I thought I was alone in this, and quietly nursed my shame at my inability to get my child to sleep like a normal person. Then I stumbled upon a discussion thread and found hundreds of parents like me, dealing with children who just wouldn't sleep. I found lots of ideas, some of which have helped improve our situation. However, there is one more we are trying for the first time tonight.

For anyone else dealing with this seemingly shameful issue, let me share what HAS made a difference after 2 years of battling this problem.

Nightlights- he picked them out, and they help him feel safe when he wakes up at night
Keeping the door open- we keep the door open until he falls asleep. He knows we're right there if he needs something.
Daylight Rule- We have established that if it is light outside, he may come snuggle with me. This way he knows that he is allowed that time, but Mommy doesn't have to fight little feet in her back all night.

There were lots of other suggestions we've tried as well. He has a "bedtime chart" that has pictures of what he needs to do that are turned over as he accomplishes them, and he REALLY likes it. However, the bedtime process has never been an issue. He just has a hard time falling to sleep (lots of tossing and turning... sometimes for 2 hours). Then he doesn't stay asleep. He usually wakes up after about 3 hours or so, and then has the problem of falling back to sleep again. I've finally accepted that this is just how he is, and that it's not my fault! While it's great to feel that relief, we still have to deal with his problem. I seriously wouldn't care if he just stayed in his room and played quietly, but he's also a little afraid of the dark. The nightlights keep him from screaming to wake us, but he does get up and wander around, sometimes deciding that watching cartoons would be a good idea.

Anyway, I read a post from a mother who tried a weighted blanket because her son was so "fidgety" at night. What she was describing sounded exactly like Wyatt! He is definitely a sensory seeking child, and so a little constant deep tissue pressure may help him. I felt a little dumb for not thinking of it sooner, as this type of therapy is something I've used in classrooms, but it's usually restricted to children diagnosed with disorders. Wyatt doesn't have a sensory disorder, but he does have behaviors that are indicative of sensory seeking. So, why wouldn't this work?!

I did some research about how weighted blankets are made, and found some suggestions for making your own. The retail price for a child's blanket is over $100. That's not happening. So, I made my own! Tonight will be the first night with it, so I'm crossing my fingers it will help. I don't expect it to be a miracle blanket, but anything that will improve his sleeping is appreciated! When I've got another minute, I'll post more details about how I made it, etc. I was just so excited about the possibility with this, that I just had to share!

Family Home Evening

2010-02-01T19:57:00.004-07:00

Let me start by saying I am not huge on New Year's Resolutions. I only make one or two, in an attempt to actually accomplish them. I also usually don't make them until a few weeks into the new year... I figure I have a better feel for the year by then! :) Anyway, I decided that this year I wanted to do better (much better) at having family home evening. Prior to this, I felt like it was kind of a waste... Wyatt was so young, he didn't understand, blah, blah, blah. However, I realized, much to my dismay, that he will soon be three and is quite capable of gleaning something from FHE.

So, tonight was week #3 for us. We decided to do Noah's Ark as our topic. Let me interrupt to explain that FHE in this house is NOT the formal event it is for many. The cute little charts that keep track of what each person is in charge of (prayer, song, lesson, treats, etc.) quite honestly make me want to puke. If that works for you, great! I need things to be a little lower key. We say a prayer, and then usually do an object lesson. I'm all for object lessons that create the treat we are going to eat as well!!! The more simple, the better! We sing as we mix up the treats, and call it GOOD!

Ok, back to Noah's ark. We pulled out one of Wyatt's story books he is familiar with, and opened the scriptures to the story of Noah. We started with the story book, then I read a few verses out of the Bible, and then back to the story book (the book stays pretty true to the Bible's account). Then we made an ark out of grahm crackers, filled it with animal crackers, and placed it in a bowl full of "water" ( blue-colored pudding). Wyatt LOVED it!

Here's our (sad) little ark with Noah and his animals. (Yes, I know the water looks a little green. You're more than welcome to try and make blue pudding yourself!)

Of course, we ate it, and Wyatt adapted the story's ending more to his liking. In Wyatt's version, all the animals drowned in the water, with Noah sailing his 'boat" over the top of them!

Anyway, that was our night! I'll be posting any fabulous ideas I have (which should be plenty because... well, isn't it obvious?), and I hope you'll all share some too!

Catching Up!

2010-01-22T09:00:00.002-07:00

Sorry it's been so long! Despite my best efforts, things got really busy over the holidays, and I feel like I'm just starting to catch my breath!

William has started his Spring semester, and it looks like it will be the busiest yet! This past Sunday I was called to serve as the YW Secretary (Yay! I'm very excited!), so our house will be BUSY! I'm still working on my doula certification and doing my best to keep up with Wyatt. Needless to say, I've got to get my butt organized!

Anyway, I'll post more detailed updates soon!

Catching up!

2009-11-02T10:00:00.003-07:00

Alright... I know I've been slacking. Things have been a little hectic and somewhat distressing. I tend to "clam up" in such times, hoping that things will get better faster that way! So far it hasn't worked, but I'm stubbornly determined! :)

So, a few weeks ago we had to put Magnum down. He had gotten really sick, and there wasn't much that could be done besides exploratory surgery. We put him on a special diet and hoped for the best. He seemed to be doing a little better, but then he was bitten by a rattlesnake. In his state there was no way he would have made it, and no way I wanted to put him through anything more. So, we put him down. I still cry every day. I know... he was a dog, but that dog got me through a lot of really rough times. I spent lonely nights cuddled up on the couch with him while William was deployed (both times). He sat patiently, and whimpered his concern while I cried my way through the difficulties of infertility. He was part of the family, and I am truly grieving the loss.

On another note, I have really been struggling with my body's inability to function properly. Many of you know that I have thyroid issues couples with PCOS. This dynamic duo is incredibly frustrating. To give you an example, let's go back to 2005. I was diagnosed with PCOS and hypothyroidism in late January. They first wanted to address my thyroid issues and put me on synthroid. It was HORRIBLE! My symptoms got MUCH worse. I was so tired I would sleep for 14-16 hours, and even when I was awake I couldn't focus. I gained over 50 lbs in less than 8 weeks! When I went back, the docs said it wasn't my medicine!!! Really? I'm just being THAT lazy? I didn't know that was physically possible!!! Anyway, my PCOS only contributed to the problem, by helping me sport a patchy mustache, brightly glaring pimples, and radical mood swings! I was gorgeous AND pleasant!!

Anyway, after I had Wyatt, my problems came back full force, and I haven't been able to get them under control. However, I am on a determined mission to take the control back! :) After a LOT of research, I am on a new regimen of natural alternatives to help me balance myself. I am also on a mission to get into better shape. I'm hoping the stuff I'm taking for my thyroid will help balance out my metabolism. So far, I've lost 10 pounds and just over an inch! I hate devulging things like this to other people, because I worry that they will constantly "judge" how I'm doing ("Looks like she missed a workout or two!"). However, by posting my results here, I will be somewhat more accountable. So, my loyal family and friends, if you have similar goals, post your results and let me know I'm not alone!!! :) Hopefully, next time I see each of you, I will be in my skinny jeans, and will be a balanced, normal individual!

Secret Admirer

2009-10-08T08:13:00.002-06:00

So, most unexpectedly I have begun receiving anonomous gifts on a fairly regular basis. The first gift was left on the porch, and I was certain it was a mistake, that it wasn't really meant for me. With the second gift, however, there was no misunderstanding. It had been positioned so that I would find it when I got in the truck the next morning. On the off chance that this had been some scheme of my hubby's, I questioned William. He just stared at me with that look that means he truly has no idea what I'm talking about (by the way, that look simultaneously says "honey, have you gone off your meds again?"). So, that leaves me with two other possiblities. While I'm flattered by the thought that went into these gifts (what woman doesn't enjoy a random gift every now and then?), I find them slightly inappropriate. I'm just not sure how to react to this. I'm still not sure which of the two individuals might be guilty (and I'm sure neither will admit it), but I intend to speak with them both. It needs to be made clear that it is inappropriate to be leaving such gifts for me, at my own home! I just hope that feelings won't be hurt too badly. Obviously, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to keep the gifts, either, so I will have to return these:

Gift #1

Gift #2

WASHABLE Fingerpaint!

2009-10-02T12:41:00.007-06:00

I found a new recipe for fingerpaint, and I wanted to pay homage to the brilliant woman who decided to put soap into the paint! Simple, clean fun!

I scored a HUGE roll of butcher's paper at a yard sale for 50 cents, so we're set for hours of indoor fun this winter (I'm gathering an arsenol of activities to keep this crazy man busy!)!

As you can see, Wyatt managed to get the fingerpaint everywhere, including his white socks (really, though, is there any other way to create a fingerpaint masterpiece?). It rinsed right out without a problem!

New Bathtime Fun!

2009-09-27T19:00:00.002-06:00

So, I believe I've mentioned that the bathtub is my
favorite babysitter, and lucky for me, Wyatt loves to spend time in there as well. While the watercolor paints are still fun, some of the excitement over his new bathtime activity had worn off. Never Fear, mom's creative ingeniousness to the rescue! A few drops of food coloring, and he didn't want to get out for hours! His new blue water was so exciting! When blue gets old, we have lots of other colors and combos to choose from! And no, it doesn't stain anything... it's too diluted. Just one more success on the ever-growing list of Mom's Sanity Saving Boredom Busters!

BUGS!!!

2009-09-25T13:21:00.003-06:00

So, let me preface this post by admitting that we did live on base for 6 years, and thus became accustomed to the benefits of living "in town," including the reduced number of pests. However, I did grow up in the country, so it's not like I'm completely clueless about what to expect. And yet, I was completely unprepared for the plethora of creatures we would share our living space with when we moved out here. We had only been here a few days when I saw a six foot snake slithering across my driveway. It was just the first of many, most of which were thankfully bull snakes, and as large as they were/are, they really don't bother me much (the rattlesnake next to the porch was a different matter!). What I find the most difficult to deal with are the plagues of biblical proportions we have been experiencing!

First came the frogs. Our front yard had hundreds of them, literally. Wyatt and I thought it was fun at first to go and catch them in the afternoons. It quickly became unnerving, however, when we couldn't go anywhere without nearly squishing several frogs with each step we took! Then came the grasshoppers, which are still in abundance. I don't care for those creepy little insects anyway, but when they're large enough to actually take a chunk out of my leg, I have a serious problem. And don't bother arguing that they don't bite... yes they do. I know it.

See? Isn't that terrifyingly disgusting?!!! I HATE GRASSHOPPERS!

Now that we have moved on to flies, I've decided I've got to refocus my scripture reading so that I can prepare for the rest of the plagues from the story of Moses!

Cheap Entertainment

2009-09-25T12:37:00.002-06:00

Wyatt has developed an enthrallment with flashlights, and we have been thrilled with his choice of entertainment as it only costs us the occassional battery. He recently developed a new game to occupy his time and include this new found toy, so I thought I would share!

WHAT??!!!

2009-09-11T11:41:00.002-06:00

I know it's been awhile, so my blog isn't exactly updated. I promise to get to that ASAP. However, I received an email this morning that left me nearly speechless. Now that I have found the words to describe my appalled outrage, I'm going to share them! :)

So, for those of you who don't know, I am currently pursuing my doula certification. It has been fantastic so far, and I am learning so much! The information is empowering, and I am so excited to begin attending births! Anyway, this current pursuit has lead me to seek out resources and connections with other individuals and organizations with the same interests. In a discussion forum email from my Birth Arts International discussion group (BAI is the program I'm getting my certification from) there was an announcement about a new technology being introduced into labor rooms. The Labor Pro and the Birth Track are two machines (nearly identical) that allow for continuous internal monitoring. While I'm not a fan of continuous monitoring, what appalled me most was the method used.

The company describes the technology as providing a "non-invasive" method of continuous trans-vanginal monitoring. What they consider non-invasive, however, is hysterical! First four small probes are attached to the mother's pelvis (not so bad). Then probes are SCREWED INTO THE CERVIX AND THE BABY'S HEAD! This is for the ENTIRE labor up until delivery!!! I'm wondering what exactly qualifies as invasive?YIKES!!!

There are so many problems with this! Let's name a few... increased pain, increased risk of infection, increased impersonal approach to labor, decreased mobility for mother, and further undermining a woman's ability to give birth on her own!!! AAAHHHH!

Of course, women may "refuse" the use of this technology. Anyone who has ever given birth in a hospital knows how impressionable you become to the hospital's "suggestions." Women shouldn't have to fight off something so horribly unneccessary and INVASIVE!!!

Alright, I'll get off my soapbox.

Finally... A Bedroom!!!

2009-06-24T20:05:00.003-06:00

So, William has been so insanely busy that he just recently got around to putting our bed together! For the past 6 weeks, we have been sleeping on the floor... well, on the mattress on the floor. William built our bed, so the pieces are too large for me to put together all by myself. So, while the announcement of our newly furnished bedroom may not make tomorrow's headlines, I am certainly excited!

Pop goes the... appendix!

2009-06-22T12:18:00.002-06:00

So, last week William started complaining about his stomach. He blamed my cooking, and I loaded him up with Pepto after threatening to make him fend for himself from now on (which would most likely lead to starvation). The next day, he was sent home in the middle of the afternoon because he hurt too badly to do much work. By that evening, we decided to make a trip to the ER. After a short evaluation and a CT scan, they asked, "How would you like to take your appendix out tonight?" William was all for it... I was wondering if the good doctor might feel inclined to do it pro bono!

Anyway, it all went fine, and William is back home recuperating. Our Tricare insurance had just expired two weeks prior to this little adventure (of course!!!), so I'm preparing to deal with the hospital finance department! OH JOY!!!

"Water" Colors

2009-06-12T16:42:00.005-06:00

I really needed to get some work

done in our house today, and Wyatt refused to entertain himself. So, I filled the tub, gave him some watercolor paints, and left him to his own creative devices. It worked like a charm!!!

Our New Home

2009-06-09T17:23:00.002-06:00

Our new little home... it needs some work, but we're so excited about the potential! The picture doesn't show it, but the log siding still needs to be finished, and there's no established lawn next to the house. We just brought in new dirt and got some seed down this weekend, so hopefully we'll have an established lawn before summer is over!

Catching Up!

2009-06-09T17:03:00.000-06:00

Alright... It's been a while. Our crazy life got a little too crazy, and my blogging suffered. I've seen the error of my ways, however, and have renewed my comittment to you, my faithful followers!

So... William completed his 6 years with the Air Force, and we are settling into our new home outside Yoder. We are loving being so close to my parents (they live just one road over)! Wyatt loves to visit Grandpa and Mima, and he's loving all the room outside!! William is loving the ranch work, and I have been incredibly busy with all the work to do around here.

We ordered 34 chicks that will be laying eggs for me this fall, and we plan to get a couple of piggies and maybe even a milk cow! We finally have our (HUGE) garden in, and I've got my work cut out for me once the veggies start coming on!

All in all, we're loving our personal reenactment of Little House on the Prairie! :) That's the short of it... if you need more details, it's probably been awhile, so pick up the phone and give us a call!!!

First Snow!

2008-11-07T16:05:00.001-07:00

Well, winter is here! We got 8+ inches in 24 hours, and Wyatt thought it was fantastic! We played in the snow while William shoveled and had a great time! Wyatt's coat makes him a little top-heavy, so we'll have to work on our balance!

To commemorate our the beginning of our annual hibernation, we're going to make Snow Ice Cream. YUM!

Halloween!

2008-11-07T15:44:00.001-07:00

Halloween was so much fun this year! Wyatt loved his costume and had a BLAST trick-or-treating! He ran from door to door holding out his bucket and saying, "treat-treat!"

We thought Wyatt would get tired after visiting the houses in

our neighborhood, but he had us trapsing all over our side of the base! We were out for almost an hour and a half before we convinced him it was time to go home!

Since he was the cutest lil' batman EVER, everyone let him take as much candy as he wanted... as you can see, he got WAY too much! Now to convince him that he doesn't get to "treat-treat" everytime we visit someone!!!

Lil' Man

2008-11-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

The haircut "after" shot

First Real Haircut!

2008-11-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

I had put William off as long as I could, but he was determined to get rid of Wyatt's baby locks! (He also squishes ladybugs and butterflies, kicks kittens, and all sorts of horrible things!)

So... on Thursday, October 30th, my baby lost his last link with babyhood. (Sniffle, Sniffle)

I bawled, and William asked me why I needed Wyatt to remain a baby when I obviously had that covered!

2008-10-27T19:10:00.000-06:00

Wyatt was enthralled with the candles inside the pumpkins! He just layed in front of them watching the light.

2008-10-27T18:54:00.000-06:00

William and I carved pumpkins while Wyatt painted his on Sunday night. They turned out so cute!

2008-10-27T18:46:00.000-06:00

Posing with the Pumpkins!

2008-10-27T18:39:00.000-06:00

This weekend we went to the local corn maze, and had an absolute blast! Wyatt thought it was hilarious to hid in the corn! This is the last year we'll get to go, and we're definitely going to miss it! We'll be on the lookout for one wherever we are this time next year!

Busy, busy, busy!

2008-10-06T20:29:00.000-06:00

In an attempt to keep everyone up-to-date with our busy, hectic life, I've given in and started a blog (gasp!). I'm convinced you'll all thank me in time, as this is the only way I can foresee keeping everyone updated. Oh the price I pay for my popularity!

William began ALS today (I'm so proud!), so a new element has been added to our juggling act. We're both in school full time (thank heavens for online programs!) which should keep us busy enough, but thriving on stress as we do, it doesn't. I'm fulfilling multiple church callings, and running after Wyatt full-time. William has also taken on a few furniture building jobs and somehow manages to get the projects finished on time. We decided we had just a little too much wiggle room in that schedule for comfort, so we signed up for the 100 mile club at the pool here on base! That should tighten it up quite nicely!

I figure this schedule is just a warm-up for what's to come starting in January. At that time, I will begin my internship and continue taking other courses, while William begins his internship as well. At the same time, we will be interviewing for civilian jobs (yay, yay, yay!!!!), house hunting, and packing up to move! Throw in two birthdays, several ward functions to plan, a visit from family, and a rush to meet our 100 mile mark, and we'll be cruisin' on fumes by the end of it all!

Well, that's it for now! Welcome to our crazy life... hang on, "things are gonna get a little western around here!" :)