{Out of our Hands}

What is happening in Arkansas right now is completely out of our hands.  We woke up to this yesterday morning:

School was canceled for both of the kids.  For most of you that would be a tremendous blessing, but for our family it made us all a little on edge.

You see, we were supposed to go to:

THE GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH yesterday.  For those of you who don't know about the Greatest snow on earth, it can be found in the greatest state of

UTAH!!

All flights were canceled.

It was rescheduled for today...

That flight was canceled.

My sister is blessing her new little Luke tomorrow, and we won't be there.  BOO HOO!! I have cried all morning, but...

it is out of our hands.

Yesterday, was a little out of control.  I had already packed(for 6 people), cleaned the house from top to bottom, and had done all the laundry.

By last night, this is what our house looked like:

I didn't have the energy to stay on top of it  so....

we had a giant cookie for dinner.

That seemed to help, and then...

I woke up this morning, and it all fell apart.  My mood was sour.

I think I am in control again.  I finally decided that I must do what I have been putting off...

I unpacked the bags.

We are not going to Utah.  We will not see Luke on his blessing day.  I will not get to take pictures of him all in white.  Jonathan's family will not have the get together that we had planned.  My sisters will not see Tessa for the first time.  My Father will not get to hold her for the first time.  Our kids will miss being with their loved ones, but...

it is out of our hands.

So... we did all we could do.

We bundled up, and took it outside.

You see, the snow is so bad that we can't even get out of our neighborhood.

Our neighbors took their four wheeler down off this mountain that we live on to the Dollar General to buy us some milk. 

Why buy milk when you are going to Utah?Lets just say I was not prepared.  I am Mormon, that is our motto... but I did not live up to that this time.

Thanks to Summer and Chris, we now have milk.

I think the kids enjoyed the snow, and it took their mind off their disappointment.

Our neighbors came over with their dog who loves the snow.

This is their beautiful daughter Emma, and dog Zoe.

When they came, they came with their make shift sled, and...

the daddies pulled the kids up and down the road.  The dog followed along.

This brightened their day for about an hour. 

Then their piggies got cold.  Mine did too.

Tessa seemed to stay warm.

I kept telling her that her tongue might freeze if she didn't keep it in her mouth, and then...

she fell asleep, and was comfy enough to sleep in her crib like a puffed pink marshmellow.

Our trip to Utah is out of our hands this time.  Hopefully there will be a next time, in the next few months.

As for today... I am just going to feel sorry for myself, because I want to and...

that is in my hands.

P.S.  Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins: I am hoping to get a video of Tessa soon.  You just need to see her at 3 months.  She has the most adorable smile.  Stay Tuned!! 

{Blessings}

Sunday was my blessing day.

That means I got to get all dressed up in this beautiful white dress.

It was made by my Great Grandmother Louise.  My mother wore it on her blessing day.  My sister Stella also wore it.

  

Stella Grace Swenson September 2004

These pretty little booties were also my mothers.

My blessing was given to me by my father, Jonathan.

A blessing is given to you by someone who holds the priesthood. 

My blessing was to give me a name,

Tessa Mae Swenson. 

My father also granted me blessings that I will receive throughout my life if I am obedient to Heavenly Father's teaching.

There were many things he blessed me with.  One in particular that I would be a virtuous daughter of God.

I got lots and lots of kisses on my blessing day.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and that I am one of his special children.

He sent me to a family that loves me.

Families are a blessing.

Photos taken by Krysta Moes.

What have I been up to?

What do you think I have been up to?  Decorating my house of course. 

Actually, I just had   to add my new treasures to the mix.  You see, the Moes's came for a visit, and I just had to take Krysta antiquing.

We used to take trips to Mckinney, Texas once a year for just that sort of thing.  That was what seems like a lifetime ago;  that was pre-eight children.

Now that I live in what seems to be the antique capitol of the world, I was able to take her to some of my favorite spots.  Actually, one spot; I have many, but we spent five hours in one store and still didn't make it all the way through.

We have the same taste in so many ways, so it was like two sets of eyes.  She found so many things for me that I probably would have not spotted, and vise versa.

Are you ready to see the finds?

Needed some Color and Whimsy

Adorable Cherry Plates... These are my new inspiration for the laundry room.  I want to make some polka dotted curtains for my pantry now.  The basket is also a find.  I added a tag with a No.6(inspiration Pottery Barn, and the six is for how many is in our family), and then a few magazines.  It will also house anything that needs to go somewhere. ie: library books.  This room is still a work in progress.

Liven things up with photos

This entire wall is full of new finds.  I didn't replace anything in my house, I just added this to an empty wall in the Master.  I also plan to add more photos.

They are attached with clips, and ribbon.

Accessorize

I have been wanting to accessorize my picture wall, so when I stumbled upon this clock and pear I knew I had to have them.  Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference.

Two for the price of one.

I love anything that you can use for decorating, but I also like to have neat little trays for party hosting. This little platter will work both ways.  I believe it used to be used for sewing, but now it is my new party platter.  Can't you just picture this with treats on it?

Oh, and the silly little bird you ask?  $2.00, and I just had to have her.  Her name is Gertrude, and she makes me smile.

Can you say BLING?

You see that lamp?  Yes, I am the proud owner of this unique little piece.  I just had to have it.  I have been wanting a glass lamp, and had planned on the ones that are everywhere.  When I saw this I knew that this would be one of those special finds.

You see that reflection.  Isn't it to die for?  You should see it at night?

Isn't it magical? It looks so nice next to my glass candlesticks, and vintage mirror.

A new home

This was on the wall where my new cherry plates hang.  This is it's new home.  Isn't it fun?

Memory Keeper

Not only is this little filing cabinet so adorable, but it holds some of our family treasures; our memories. We are using it to record some of the little everyday events.

{I have an index card for every day of the year.  Each night at dinner we write down something that happened that day.  Then we place it back in the filing drawer.  Next year on that day when we pull out the card we will read what we wrote, and add to it.}

ie: January 24th: We blessed Tessa today.

This is the perfect little family journal.  It is so simple. 

The drawers make it even more fun.

Antiquing is all about the hunt, and the price.

Isn't Antiquing great? Take the time to check out your local antique stores.  You never know what you might find.

It is even more fun when you do it with your best friend.

A little late night project for the girls

Don't look at the time.  I know it is late, but I had to finish these for the girls.

I felt like a sewing project today.

I hate sewing when my kids are awake.

Hence the reason for the late night.

Here is what I made:

Matching Pillowcase Dresses with coordinating headbands.  So adorable!!  Imagine them with cute pink leggings.

While all my sewing gear is out, I plan to make aprons for the kids tomorrow.  I plan to use up some leftovers from other projects.

Nighty-night.

 

Winter

Winter Schminter... I hate Winter.

At least it is 60 degrees here today, and I don't live in a really really cold place.

I do have things to be grateful for like:

A warm home

A garage to park my car in

and a place that hardly snows.

You see I don't really like the snow.

I think it is beautiful to look at, until it turns black from dirt.

I like to play in it, until my hands get cold.(that last about 5 minutes)

I prefer basking in the warm sunshine, then a cold dreary day. 

I do however like to add a little bit of winter to my decor.

Here is a little trick for doing that.

Keep out some of your Christmas decorations.  Particularly the ones that remind you of Snow.

Here are some of mine:

These glass jars have snowflakes, glittered pinecones, and silver balls.  Oh, and you can't forget the fake snow at the bottom of it all.  (I like fake snow)

I added them to my mantel, and a few bowls around the house.

I also think that anything silver goes.  I enjoy having my little piece of winter inside my warm home.  It isn't cold, it doesn't melt, and it always sparkles.

I also have to share a few of my new favorite Flea Market finds:

I found this adorable lamppost for   $15.  Isn't it so cute?

...and the pinecone wreath for $8.  I have used this on my table as a centerpiece, and now it adorns my door.

I also got this cute trunk.  You have already seen this here.

It is not just for photo shoots, but it houses my kids toys.  You would never know would you?  Isn't it adorable.  I love it.

I told my friend that I wanted a trunk while we were out looking, and they were all outrageously priced.  Then we found this little number.  The color was amazing, and the size perfect.  My friend looked at the price tag, and my heart dropped.  I knew it was going to be as high as the others.  Then her face lit up.  "What?", I said.  "ten dollars!!", She replied.  "No way!!", I exclaimed.  And that is how it became mine.  I had to do a little rearranging to make it work, but I actually like the change.

One last little addition.  This treasure was my Christmas gift from The Bradfords.  The first of my collection.  An old vintage camera.  I want more. 

   

I love looking at is on my desk.  It makes me think about how much photography has evolved.  It is amazing to think that it was done completely without the technology of a computer. 

What new changes have you made to your home this New Year?  Does it involve any winter decorations?

I hope for those of you who love winter that you are in a blizzard (I mean some fresh white powder), and for those who don't I hope you find yourself curled up next to the fireplace.

One down

I finished one of my many projects for the year.  I have been dying to make this wreath.

Are you wondering what it is made out of?

Those are pages from the 1981 Almanac.  I picked it up for $1.50 at the goodwill.  It looked nice and aged.  Perfect for this little project.

I planned on hanging it on my laundry room door, but it ended up larger then I expected.  Advice: if you plan on making this remember that it will be almost double the wreath that you put it on.  I put mine on a straw wreath.

I found the tutorial here.

Final Project cost me $ 4.50

P.S.  Have lots of glue gun sticks on hand.  Oh, and 3 hours to kill.

Fat Free and Tasty

I joined the band wagon that most Americans join as the new year begins...

I am trying to loose my baby weight. 

I have already lost seven pounds, and I owe it all to these little babies.

Fat Free Chocolate Muffins.

Here is the secret recipe:

2 1/2 Cups of bran flakes

1 Cup Apple Juice or Orange Juice

Bring the juice to a boil and then add Bran and let it sit until it becomes mushy.

Add:

1 box of Low fat brownie mix

1 tsp. Baking powder

1/3 C. water

Beat well, and divide between 24 muffin cups.  Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.

I love these, and so do my kids.

They are keeping us all regular that is for sure.  Isn't bran a wonderful thing?

Any-hoo here is the nutritional info:

Fat 0

Calories 111

Fiber 3.5

WW points 2

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. 

I haven't tried this yet, but you could add some chocolate chips to the recipe.  A few in each muffin would not add that many calories.

Let me know what you think.

Ready Set Actions...

As many of you know, I am soaking up as much Photography knowledge as possible.

I have read about actions and always wanted to try them, but have never taken the time.

I took the plunge today, and I am in love.

It is so easy, and look at the results.

I followed this site for instructions and downloads.

One more thing for you to add to your TRY OUT list.  You must have Photoshop to achieve this.

Meet our Children

This year for Christmas, I got a new lens for my camera.

I got a new camera last June when ours died.  (it has decided to work again)

I am glad it died for a short time. That gave me an excuse to buy my dream camera. It has allowed me to find something that I love.

Now that the baby is here, and my brain is working again....

I am doing lots of work trying to figure out my new camera. 

I am doing lots of reading, and gathering knowledge from all four corners of the internet.

I have been learning so much.

My new lens just came in the mail... and I couldn't wait to try it out.

Yesterday was a day of practice for me.

Finally putting to work the knowledge that I have been collecting.

Here is what came of it...

You must meet our kids.  You see they are the only subjects that I have to practice on.

We have four beautiful children.  I can't believe that we are a family of 6. 

It struck me as a pretty big thing when I realized that we don't fit in just any vehicle, and we take up an entire pew at church.

This is Jex.  He is Seven Years Old.

He is our loving, helpful, sensitive, and patient child.

He is also pretty RAD if I do say so myself.

This is Stella.  She is five.

She is our inventive, talkative, shy, snuggly child.

She is also adorable, if I do say so myself.

This is Isaac.  He is two.

He is spirited, silly, loveable, and crazy.

He has the most beautiful eyes, if I do say so myself.

This is Tessa.  She is 2 1/2 months.

She is all smiles, calm, patient, quiet, and very very kissable.

She is the best baby if I do say so myself.

I just love my kids, and new hobbies.  I am thankful for something to take over my mind.  I hate thinking about the dreary winter.  I will push through and keep learning about this fun new hobby.

Now I just need some new subjects to practice on.