What's Up?

Have you been wondering, "what's up?  Why is Jessica posting old blog posts?" 

The answer won't surprise you.  I am trying to put some of the ideas that I've had over the years onto this blog so that I can share them with the world.  No, I'm not trying to build up a money making blog.  I just think that if you have a good idea it should be shared.  Now with pinterest it's easy to spread the wealth.

Thanks for reading!

Build-a-Bear

Doug and I started a tradition when we were expecting our first baby.  We obtained a recording of her heartbeat.  Then we went and built a bear with a sound box in the chest.  Every time you press the button you can hear her heartbeat.


The idea was that the next time we got pregnant, the first child would be able to help make the next animal.  It was with mixed excitement and grief that we went to the Build-a-Bear workshop in 2009 to make an animal for our second child.  (Our first died from complications from a rare form of dwarfism after only 6 days.)  Again, we obtained a recording of the baby's heartbeat to personalize it even more.


So on January 22nd 2011 we returned for the 3rd time to build a bear for our unborn child.  This time our daughter took a leading role in helping make this special toy for her baby brother.  She took her time and inspected all of the options.


We helped her choose a little dog for the baby.


And we allowed her to choose a new teddy bear for herself.  It's hard for a 1 year old to make a toy for someone else and not get to play with it.
 

She loved exploring the stuffing machine.
 

She kissed the heart going into her brother's puppy.  Then she watched as her teddy and his dog were brought to life.



We were thrilled to have a 3rd heartbeat to add to our collection.


Aren't they cute?
 

Potty Training

On April 2, 2012  I started potty training my daughter.  (Now that isn't completely accurate.  We've been practicing sitting on the potty and talking about the potty for months.)  That day we had a poop fiasco.  I'll spare you the details but my daughter was traumatized and I was happy to let her go back to diapers for a while.

Fast forward to June 30th.  Sweet Pea walked into the bathroom and announced that she wanted to use the potty.  I dropped everything for the day and we started potty training.  Within a couple of hours I had a reward system in place and she was doing spectacularly well.  Every time she tinkled she got 2 rocks.  Every time she pooped she got 11. (No rhyme to the number of rocks it's just what came out when I was talking to her.)  She immediately began earning rewards: a new box of crayons, a bowl of popcorn all for herself, etc.  Her main goal was to get her very own tricycle.  My goal was to keep her motivated long enough to build a habit.  This was perfect.  She didn't want to miss any opportunity to score rocks for the jar.  Pooping was the most exciting because it paid off with the biggest rewards.


She was victorious and has been almost completely accident free ever since that fateful day in June.  And yes, she earned her tricycle about 20 days later.

Daddy's One Stop Pop Shop

I wanted to do something truly special for Father's Day.  I started by taking the kids out in the yard wearing Daddy's ties and suit.

Now what to do with these pictures.  I LOVE these little pop top cans I found via Pinterest Here.  Once I started making them I just couldn't stop. Pretty soon "Daddy's One Stop Pop Shop" was born.


My Daddy Rocks! (Pineapple Can)



Daddy Emergency (Small Fruit Can)


 Nuts about you Pop! (Larger Fruit Can)


"I'm so glad when Daddy comes home!"  But, when he's at work or church he can wear this beautiful tie.  (Larger Fruit Can)


Father's Day Soup  (Larger Fruit Can)




Giant pop bottle bank


I went to a lot of work to make these.  So I wanted to share.  Printables make things so much easier.
Pop Shop Sign
My Daddy Rocks
Daddy Emergency Label
Corn Nuts Label
Daddy Comes Home Label

Father's Day Pop Top Label   (Not pictured)
Giant Pop Bottle Label

Father's Day Soup Label - Blank
Father's Day Soup Label - Not Blank

Eating Elephants

Every month I publish a newsletter for the Relief Society in my ward.  On Saturday, December 1st, I was working on the newsletter and looking over some older ones.  February 2012 caught my eye.  I had written a message, which it seemed to me, must have been a time capsule meant for just for me.  

I wrote:

"I’ve put a lot of goals into motion over the last few months.  I have more goals I’m plotting daily.  I have projects and ideas that overload my brain and litter my desk with little yellow post-it notes.  And I am exhausted trying to make and keep up with all the changes.  Chances are that you can relate.  King Benjamin taught in Mosiah 4 that “all these things” should be done “in wisdom and order.”  “for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.”

They say that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  It’s so easy to look at how far the journey extends and be paralyzed by it.  At times, it seems, it would be easier to stay where we are than to walk the rocky road in front of us.  Sometimes we watch the other travelers’ form and grace and think that we pale in comparison. 

We have extended a challenge to each one of you for 2012.  In spite of the outward appearance, every booklet is different.  They are different because each sister is unique and special.  The goals that you choose to set are going to vary.  Even the goals that the presidency outlined can be accomplished in a hundred different ways. 

As you begin this journey I want you to remember a few things.

1. Each person’s journey is unique.  The finish line is the same but the path’s dip and turn in different ways.  Do not compare your abilities or shortcomings to those around you.  Take time to have joy in your individual journey. Remember both the tortoise and the hare reached their intended destination.  How much nicer would it have been if they had congratulated each other at the finish line.
2. Break larger goals into smaller pieces.  I’ve heard that you can eat an elephant if you take it one bite at a time.  
3. Don’t give up.  Be courageous.  These goals aren’t “New Year’s Resolutions” to be discarded after a couple days of discouragement.  “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  Then try again and again and again and again.  President Monson says, “Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.’”

I know that if we keep walking (whether it’s fast or slow) and continue to keep trying we’ll find we can accomplish great things."

End of quote.

I just finished eating one of those elephants.  I, with the helps of friends and families, donated a Christmas tree for the Festival of Trees in honor of Elizabeth.  Otherwise, I must be on the tortoise track because I joined Weight Watchers in February 2012, and I've only maintained a 5 pound weight loss.   My house is less organized than it was a year ago.  I haven't blogged in months.  And I feel like the room is filled with elephants.  But I find my words from the past very encouraging.  I will be courageous as I approach the end of the year.  I will start with one single blog post, one room, one letter, one habit, one pound...one step.

Toy Control

One of my friends suggested splitting toys into different boxes then trading the boxes periodically.  The idea is that when the toys get old you switch for a different box.  The kids get a fun new set of toys every time a new box comes out.  Plus, there are fewer toys to cleanup each day.  It's a great concept.  But I was struggling with where to put the boxes.
 

Solution!  We brought these two cheap Home Depot cabinets up from the basement.  Doug screwed them to the wall so that they won't fall over.  I put the vinyl decals on.  Isn't it cheerful?


The big reveal!  Look at those beautiful boxes!  You can see the space on the left for the toys that are out in the family room.


This has worked wonders for parental sanity.

Nounitis

My brother Facebooked, "I have nounitis.  It's when you want to say something and can't... um... what was that word?

This is not only an illness, it is an epidemic in my family.  I am plagued by nounitis hourly.  The harder I try to hold onto a noun the harder it is to pull it from the recesses of my brain.  If my stress level increases the number of nouns that disappear increases too.  It plagues my existence.  Children don't wait for you to come up with what you are saying.  And you just look like a crazy person as you stumble trying to find the words.  I regularly feel like an idiot.

 Anyway, I thought you'd like to know.

Hello.  My name is Jessica.  And I'm infected with nounitis.