Who woulda thunk?

I watched a cowboy rope a calf earlier this week.  Who knew there were still cowboys, and that I'd see one during the "get the kid to volleyball" run-around?  No lie...it was poetry in motion.  One of the most beautiful dances I've ever seen....the rope sailing through the air, and the cowboy (chaps included) sliding off his horse in one fluid motion, throwing the calf to the ground......  Wow....it made me want to pull the car over and just stand there with my arms over the side of the fence and wait to see what else I could see.  Didn't realize how that would effect me. 

In other news, Our 10th anniversary and Mario's birthday are coming up later this month.....I wonder if he'd like some cowboy boots???

(photos courtesy of Ree Drummond{cows} and Mary R. Vogt {cowboy})

LDS Blog Train: Called To Serve

You can start to collect all the gorgeous pieces to this missionary themed digital scrapbooking kit by visiting my blog:
http://dancingprincessdesigns.blogspot.com/

 And for those of you who want to make soap......check it out here:
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

This morning has been crazy, as the Spanish Immersion applications were due, and the competition is quite fierce and it's on a first come, first served basis.  While some people were there at 4 am, in a freak winter snow storm, I might add, I arrived at 5:45 am, and shortly after, the janitor had pity on us and opened the doors to the school so we could wait inside.  Ellie was #5 for the girls, and has a pretty good chance, since her teacher is all in favor of it...thinks Ellie needs the challenge, LOL..imagine.

I'm so tired....I may have to go take a nap.

Have fun!!

Soap Making...

Ok, now I realize I shoulda taken pictures.....next time.
Laundry Detergent Soap Making.....went great! It wasn't too hard, took less than an hour, and the hardest part of the whole thing was the strong smell of the soap (my nose is rather delicate right now).
Been using it for 3 days and I think it's great....the clothes are clean and smell good, and that's all I want.  For a fraction of the $$$.

Haven't been on the computer in a few days...Mario had surgery on his head yesterday and had a lump removed from the back of his skull.  They don't anticipate it being anything more than fatty tissue, but the surgery ended up taking an hour longer than they'd told me, because it was so deep. I was a little freaked to be sitting in the waiting room for over two hours when they told me it was only going to be a 1/2 hour procedure.  And then Mario took a really long time to wake up from the anesthesia.  So I was at the hospital a lot longer than anticipated.

But it's all good.  He's still alive. 
Ahhh, now if I could just get some good sleep.

Shopping at DI and making laundry soap

I actually went to DI of my own free will, and bought a pot for $2.00 and a wooden spoon with a really long handle.  Why would I buy a pot at DI?  Well, I'm going to be making my own laundry soap, and I didn't want to use any of the ones I use for cooking.  I've got all the soap bar shaved into tiny bits, and I think I'm going to wait until Saturday to do the actual cookin'.

Kinda excited....it's kinda fun to get back to our "roots" and away from all the commercialism...(being a Tide-a-holic..I hear that laundry actually DID exist before Tide did).  I'm excited to do something good for the budget and the family.

I may even try to make other things, too....like....bar soap and other stuff...

Holy Cow

Really, at this moment, that's all I have to say....

On Your Mark........

Get set.....GO!
And we're off!
This week we are focusing on a couple of new concepts.  The first is Weekly Couple/Family Meetings...novel, I know.  We'll add in Parent/Child Mentoring sessions at some point, but you know, you gotta start slow.
We're also learning the first of four basic skills: Following Instructions, Accepting Criticism (positive and negative) Accepting a "NO" answer, Accepting a Consequence, and Disagreeing appropriately.

Here are the steps to following instructions:
1. Look at the person
2. Keep a calm voice, face, and body
3. Say "okay" or ask to disagree appropriately
4. Do the task immediately
5. Check back (tell the person you're finished)

My personal goals for the week are learning to be assertive and teach that skill through example to my kiddos. We've got far too many aggressive and passive-aggressive dynamics going on here. Also to look for answers/parallels in the scriptures. Staying calm no matter what.  (I've already had a couple of boo-boos, but I'm getting there.)

Here's the rundown:

In my Kitchen: Just made whole wheat bread.  Was out of salted butter, but made do with unsalted butter and a little sprinkling of sea salt....I'm flexible like that. ( Can you eat fresh bread without butter?  Probably, but I'd hate to try and prove that theory) Note: Kirkland Mac N' Cheese, no matter HOW much they claim different, is NO WHERE NEAR to Kraft Mac N' Cheese....sorry but even Western Family Mac N' Cheese is better than Kirkland.....so disappointing...I was beginning to think Costco was the answer to all that was wrong with the world.

With My Marriage: Well, working on setting up couple meetings once a week, and practicing assertiveness.

With the kids:
Had a major meltdown of teenage proportions over the weekend, but held my ground and stayed calm.  Seemed the calmer I was, the more out of control the meltdown became (trying hard not to smile here)....WOW, I had no idea simply staying calm was so effective.
Alanna and Isa are working the elements of the system pretty well, so far.  Ellie is pushing the limits, as is to be expected.  Samm and Gabby are learning how to ask for things/ say things politely....even some grown-ups haven't mastered that one...believe me, I know! Can never start too young.

Around the homestead:
Well, working on making a poster of the Steps to Following Instructions.....what's that  you say?  That everything going on in my home is centered around this crazy "self-government" idea? Why yes, yes it is, thank you :)
Working on getting and keeping the kitchen clean.....haven't had any luck and getting my fix-it-guy out to take care of some little things, so I'm going to try my hand at fixing the drawer under the stove that the kids broke AGAIN.  AND start a dream journal.  Getting some ideas on what I ultimately want to do in each room of my house, so that as I have time, energy and resources, I can slowly turn this house into a home (that I'll probably never end up leaving). Might as well make the best of it. I have to say, I LOVE the Flylady.  I may delete most of her email reminders, and sometimes only say "hmmmm, that's a really good idea" and then delete some of them, but I know that perfectionism is counter-productive and that I only have to do anything 15 minutes at a time.

Inner Man?:
Well, mostly talked about that above....but here's a little story to illustrate my focus....

Once upon a time, there was a boy who ate too much sugar.  His mother, who wanted him to stop, thought that if the boy wouldn't listen to her, then perhaps he would listen to his idol, Mahatma Gandhi.
So she walked for many miles through the scorching heat to ask Gandhi, "Would you please tell my son to stop eating sugar?"
Gandhi replied, "Bring your boy back in two weeks.  I will speak to him then."
Confused, the mother left, then brought the boy back two weeks later.
Gandhi looked the boy in the eye and said, "Stop eating sugar."
The boy nodded, and promised to stop.
His mother of course was grateful, but still confused.  "Why did you want me to bring him back in two weeks?  Couldn't you have said the same thing to him then?"
"No," Gandhi replied...

"Because Two Weeks Ago, I Was Still Eating Sugar!"

 Love and blessings to all!

Amazing Digital Scrap Race #5

I am racing for my life....not really...just my mojo. This is the second year Liz and I have been partners for the ADSR....and I'm LOVIN' it!  It's good to have challenges every once in a while, and these ones, while challenging, are also FUN!

 

  

  

  

I'll try to post credits later, as I am on the run to volleyball!