Easter Word Art

Subway art. I love it.  I finally decided to use it in my home with St. Patrick's Day and I really like it.  So, now I've got to find something for the many holidays thru the year.  The next is Easter. In my search for some Christ centered word art for Easter I only found one.  It was okay, but I wanted something with more meaning for me personally.  So, I made my own. :)  I've always loved the hymn, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" so I decided to use the last verse from it.
The boys were asleep by 8:30 and so was my husband (go figure), so I decided to get to work.  Here is what I came up with.  (I did it in green because it is the neutral for my home and still reverent, yet happy, enough for Easter.)

If you'd like the file to print for yourself here's what you need to do:  click on the image to view it, then right click on the image that pops up and select 'view image'.  That should open the picture in its own window with zooming capabilities.  Now, just right click, save and print!

(Printing Tip:  I print mine as an 8x10 photo.  When you're uploading yours to your favorite photo printers make sure you select "full resolution" for the upload, otherwise it won't print well.)

St. Patrick's Day Decor

So, in my effort to decorate more for the smaller holidays, I found a few ideas on Pinterest and turned them into my own.

Leprechaun hat full of gold

I made it from a bowl I found at the thrift store which I painted.  Then I cut a piece of heavy cardboard in the shape of circle to fit in the hat.  I hot glued a mound of big cotton balls to the cardboard to make a hill.  Then I hot glued pebbles and rocks to make the mound and painted them gold.  Add a sash around the hat and a buckle and there you have it.  It's sitting atop one of my many candlesticks (this one happens to be from a re-purposed table torch lamp). 

 

Mossy Wood Shamrock
& Subway Art

My shamrock I found again at the thrift store and hot glued moss to it.  The subway art I found for free online.  The frame I pulled out of my box of extra frames and repainted it cream and distressed it.  

 

 


 
Decorative Vases

Bought a couple vases from the dollar store
and candles to fit inside
and split peas from walmart.  

Total spent : 5.00 

How easy was that? 

 Moss Rock Topiary

This topiary I made from a dollar store styrofoam ball and 3-4 packs of moss rocks also purchased at the dollar store.  The cracks between the rocks are filled in with moss.  The trunk is made from some apple tree twigs twisted together and glued at the top and bottom.  As soon as I find some more cheap moss rocks I'm going to add another tier to the topiary. :)

 



Mossy Felt Shamrock

I decided I didn't like this shamrock just plain felt. 
(I got it from the dollar store)
So I glued . . .

yep you guessed it, I hot glued moss to it.  

 The finished mossy shamrock :)

Goofy, goofy boy

I quite possibly have one of the goofiest boys in the world.  My Sawyer is such a goofball.  I was letting him play with a little water and a few toys in the bathroom sink the other day.  I went out for a few minutes when he asked to take off his clothes.  I went back in and he had taken off everything and climbed in the sink and was 'washing' himself with his underwear.  Awesome.  What a goof ball. 

Sawyer is getting to be a better boy, but he still has his days.  A few new things:   He's started threatening me to do something bad when he doesn't get what he wants.  For example, the other day before church he was all dressed and decided he wanted a messy chocolate muffin.  I told him not until after church.  He threatened to take off his tie and mess up his hair. 
But, he has started telling me randomly that he loves me so much.  He just said it out of the blue for the first time a couple weeks ago, "Mom, I love you so much." It was so very sweet.  I love him so much too.  He's the sweetest boy.  I just have to remind myself that sometimes. :)

Primary Thoughts

About two weeks ago I was released as Primary President.  I have been serving in primary for about 7 years now (with a 6 month break when we moved).  I started in the 7th ward in the presidency and then was secretary after we moved into the 5th ward and then president for the past 3 years.  When I first started in primary it was honestly the hardest thing I've ever done.  It took me a while to learn how to deal with and teach the gospel to all the different ages of children.  I've never learned so much! What a blessing it is to be able to serve and learn skills that are so important for a mother to have.  All those young couples that serve in primary in our ward have have the great opportunity to learn how to relate to and how to teach children before they have their own.  I have loved primary so very much.  Granted, I wont miss all the administration aspects of serving in the primary, but I will so miss all the kids, the music, the wonderful teachers, and the sweet spirit that is there.  I love primary :) I hope you do too!!

Valentines Day

I decided to do something a little more fun for Valentines Day this year.  We started with heart place settings, plates decorated with syrup and whipped cream hearts, heart pancakes, and milk with heart shaped ice cubes.  The ice cubes were strawberry flavored milk and didn't float :(  Oh well, they were cute anyway. 
For lunch Landon got a heart shaped pb and honey sandwich, heart shaped cheese cubes (carved by hand) and a little valentine note from me.  Sawyer had a heart shaped hotdog and heart shaped cheese as well.  Nate got heart shaped cottage cheese on his spaghetti, hahaha. 
The boys got me some beautiful red tulips and a sweet card with chocolates.  I think we all had a special Valentines day together this year. 
For teacher gifts we made Rollo dynamite that said "U R the Bomb"

I'd like to try and make each smaller holiday a little more fun like this.  We don't do enough little fun things in our lives.

Catching up since Christmas

Christmas Cookies

we made some pretty darn cute gingerbread cookies this year and had lots of fun with sprinkles - and yes, the cookies even tasted good too!  

 Ward Christmas Party

 

Landon and his best bud Ethan

 

Photography 

I found some super cheap wood flooring at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.  I got enough to use for a floor and a background for only 10 bucks.  Score. 

 

  

Pinewood Derby 

Nate and Landon had fun making Landon's pinewood derby car.  They scored a super cheap batmobile kit at Roberts on closeout.  

 

 

 Stay tuned for more Derby pictures!