Ben Franklin Addict...

Yes, I admit it.

I have been trying to go to Ben Franklin nearly every day this week. The first day I went by myself with the kids and Molly cried nearly the whole time while River ran around touching stuff. Too stressful to get real shopping done. Then I tried to go Wednesday night with Alaris, and we got there at 7...but it had just closed. When online it had said it closes at 8! (they changed it for going out of business) Then last night Joan and I went, and we were stopped on the freeway for an hour! It is 12 minutes away normally...but at Hill Airforce Base there was a plane that jettisoned its fuel and munitions. So, we were able to look around for only 20 minutes before it closed. Today, I am going to take my girls again...and try to have Joan come along with me, or watch River. That way I can actually really look around and get some things for Christmas gifts. I hope that it works....

I got a cute little table last night that I am going to turn into the girl's art table. It was one of their fixtures and it was only $5. So, I am going to paint it and make some holders for things to use for River's stickers, crayons, paper, coloring books, etc. I think it will be really a great thing for her to have in the room downstairs for when I am doing my crafts.

This past little while Deric and I have been in a slump. I have tried not to be for his sake, but I am getting worn out on being a Mom. We have been SO busy every night and day this last few weeks, working on the basement, canning, doing our callings, etsy, and doing our jobs for the snowmobile club. Plus, Molly was screaming every night from 5:30-11 because I ate chocolate. So, I have now given that up. :-( Sadly, Halloween is just around the corner...Ah well, she goes down at 9 and wakes up only once (at 4am) when I don't eat it...which is wonderful! So, here goes sacrifice. I have just been craving sugar so much! And chocolate more than I ever have in my life! Weird how pregnancy and birth changes things...

I have been pretty proud of my cooking recently. I got this "Church Supper" magazine that has something like 300 recipes for potluck dinner items! Nearly everything we have tried we have liked, there have only been a few "ok" dishes, and one "yuck". It is the greatest magazine I have ever gotten. I have been making notes in it as I try each thing...but we probably won't have the same thing again for a LONG time.

I got the girl's costumes done yesterday. They are going to be mermaids, and I think it is going to be adorable! Well, toodles for now!

Long time since the last time...

Hi there all who might read this...

I wanted to update you all on the progress of our BIG project. We started on the basement and so far have finished the framing of the bedroom, hallway, and most of the bathroom(we are waiting on the shower or bath to get the rest of the framing finished). We installed all the electrical outlets, switches, and light fixtures in the hallway and bedroom. We are now waiting on some money so we can go buy the insulation and drywall/mud/tape.

We just refinanced our house to 4.875% so that we have an additional $180/month to put toward paying for things and paying things down. Plus, this gives us more "emergency" money for each month--ie. more wiggle room. Which is a fabulous thing. We also subtracted 2 whole years from our payoff time frame and are under 10 years for complete payoff of everything including the house. I am really proud of how we are taking care of everything. We are putting much more than the minimum payment each month toward everything. Yay!

Because we refinanced we get November "off" from paying mortgage. So, we have about $900 to put toward the basement finishing. This means that we can finish the hallway, bedroom, and start framing, electrical, and insulating in the theater room. The bathroom is going to be our "drawn out" project. We think it will probably be able to be done by summertime however. I am really excited to have the basement finally becoming finished usable (useful) space! The bedroom down there will serve as Deric's office (and a guest bedroom) until we plan on either doing carpet and paint in my craft/guest room, or we move River down there. Which could be about 2 years.

Molly is having a tough time the last little while with getting to bed. She has always been kind of hard to get down...staying up until around 11 each night. But, I think she may not be able to handle me eating chocolate. Which is really sad, because it is Halloween month...and I love my reeces and butterfingers! :-( So, I am off chocolate as of today to see if it helps. We are going to put away the bassinet (which she has never liked sleeping in--just our bed or the floor!) and get out the crib tonight too. Which means we will be moving her into River's room with her soon. I also think I will put away the swing, since she is not a fan...

She is smiling like mad now! It is the cutest thing! She just melts your heart whenever she gets excited that you are around...even if you are sooo tired and frustrated from the fussiness it makes it all go away. :-)

River is starting to really show an interest in potty training...I just don't know what to do...it is a daunting thing to start. Plus, then we have to make bathroom runs wherever we may be!

I got all my new stuff up on Etsy. I am really excited about my Tie Tree Skirts and hair clips. :-)
www.FromEveryday2NewLove.etsy.com

I did a bunch of canning: Plum Jam--7 jars, Applesauce--10 1/2 quarts, Pear slices and halves--27 pints, Peach jam--6 jars, dried apples--3 large & 4 small containers, Dried banana chips--1 sandwich bag full