Some pics

**Clarification** The mattress we've had for awhile, but after 12 years of marriage, this is our first headboard. We've always just had the mattress up against the wall.
I realized after we got it home, that it is probably intended to go in a tropical-themed room as it has pineapple-leaf toppers and a woven "wicker" type head and footboard, but oh-well. The tone of the wicker works with our dresser,the dark metal works with other accents in the room, and I like the idea of a four-poster. A typical four-poster would have been much to invasive and "heavy" for our room, but this one is just right and we like it :)

I'm not doing very well with the blogging thing again, so here are some pics to look at. Here is our new bed. After 12 years of marriage, this was our Valentine's present. We got a great deal, and it works well in our small bedroom.

Here are Shawn and Lissy working on her invention for GATE. She called it the Coat Catcher. It used carabiner (sp?) clips to hang a backpack and/or coat so they would not get knocked off onto the floor.

And here are the flowers Shawn and Lissy picked out for me for my birthday. They were beautiful!I also got rechargeable batteries for my camera, a clothing shopping spree (Shawn even went with me) and lunch at the new Red Robin.

Crazy Hair Day

It was crazy hair day at school today, so here is how my kids looked. Lots if clips and ratting, some crimping and some curling and they were happy as clams.

The First Five

I got this off of my friends Meichelle's blog and it sounded like a fun way to be creative and think of other people. ♥

The first five...
The first people to leave a comment on this blog will receive something made by me.
However there are some limitations
1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It will be done this year. (might take a while)
4. You have not clue what it is going to be, poetry, shoes, bags or a little invention of my own. I may bake something and mail it you . Who knows? Not you that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. It may blow your mind!
Here is the catch, if you choose to do this. You must post this on your blog and be ready to make something for five people too. This will be fun! When you receive the fabulous item I make you, you must post a picture of it on your blog.

Funny story

So yesterday I put 3 pounds of hamburger in my skillet to brown so I could freeze it. We had bought 10 pounds when it was on sale, and this was the last 3 (I had used or frozen the rest already). I decide to quickly go to the bathroom while it cooks a little. So, I go into the bathroom, and for some reason I actually close the door this time. So, I'm taking my time, flipping through a magazine, and doing my thing. I finish and open the door, only to be greeted by the smell of something burning. Oh rats! I forgot about the hamburger! Now my house smells like burned ground beef and onions. Yummy. Evie said, "I checked on it mom, but it wasn't boiling." Too- cute.

So today, 3 pound chubs of ground beef are marked down at Wal-mart, the sell by date is tomorrow. So, I bought 2 of them, brought them home, and browned them up. No burning this time. Now I have twice the meat in the freezer!

Friendship Group

So, about that permission slip mentioned in the last post. Jo has been invited to participate in a "Friendship Group" with the school counselor once a week for a few weeks during her lunch time. She is excited about it, but naturally I don't know how to feel. I don’t' want my kid to be the one who needs to go to the counselor, you know? I thought she was having a much better year this year (last year we heard a few times about her out of control emotions - crying, mean temper, etc.) But apparently she still has trouble making friends and she says she cries too much at school, so I guess it's not all roses yet. I talked to the counselor today briefly and she explained that it would be a fun group where they discuss how their behavior affects those around them and different ways to express their emotions - whether they are happy or sad. I feel like I have somehow failed as a parent and it makes me sad to think that she has a hard time making friends. Anyone else out there been through this?

Deep questions of a 5 year old

So, I was just reading my cousin-in-law's blog about her daughter's deep questions and it reminded me of Evie's deep question today. We're driving over to the school to drop off a permission slip and out of the blue she asks, "How do we know the church we go to is true?" Wow! I remember having that question too, but I don't know how old I was (I know we lived in the Wesley house). I think I gave her the same answer my mom gave me, that you have to pray about it, ask Heavenly Father to tell you and then listen to the Spirit. Which prompted the question, "How does the Spirit talk to us?" I answered as best as I could, saying that sometimes he gives us thoughts or ideas in our heads, and sometimes a good feeling in our hearts. She then asks, "Does he ever come and visit us? Has he come to visit you?" "No, he hasn't come to me, but he did come to Joseph Smith." She then proceeded to tell me the story of the First Vision that she had seen in a movie. The conversation continued a little more until we got to the school. I hope she always remembers the conversation and the simple explanation of how to gain a testimony like I remember my mom teaching me. I still remember when I received my answer and testimony; we were at the Visitor's Center at the Salt Lake temple watching one of the movies about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Suddenly, I just knew. There was no huge A-ha moment, no earth-shaking voice. It just all made sense and felt right. I may not have always behaved accordingly, but I have never doubted that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and restored the Gospel to the earth.