Yard Sale Challenge

As I was gathering stuff for our yard sale, we came across these lovelies. They held 2 oz bottles of paint used for toll painting. I didn't think they would sell at all. My sister-in-law Julie Marie thought we could totally get someone to see them in a different and useful light. That became my challenge: to see if anyone bought these racks. People sure asked a lot about them, but we had no takers for most of the morning. I did sell one right at the end. I met the challenge only a third of the way.

Emma helped us man the cash box.

We were selling one of those Host a Murder games from my sister. We thought it quite funny that the Deputy was selling such a game.

Gearing Up

We were putting price tags on everything today. Of course the kids wanted to see all the cool things that we were getting rid of. Here's Ben gearing up for the big sale.

Tumbleweed Race

We drove through a nice dust storm on our way out to Mattawa today. Tumbleweeds were rolling everywhere. These looked so funny to me - like little furry creatures in a race. They were just rolling so fast in such a tight cluster. It made me smile.

Fashionable Organization

Emma was getting desperate for another craft project and I was getting tired of her flower clips just being piled everywhere in her room. So this is what we came up with. I've seen plenty on other blogs (which I can't seem to find the links for at the moment) and because of this yard sale we're having I had an old frame I didn't want. Emma picked the paper and the ribbons and voila.

"Ga-lue"

Ben's been busy. Last night he decided to try his hand at some sharpie art. Only he used this quilt for his canvas. I know, I know. Some of you may think the orange thing was actually improved by Ben's ministrations. But we love orange in this house and this blanket stays so cool on your skin when you're using it.


Today he decided that he wanted to have some fun with the slushy flavoring. We had shaved ice for our home-tel and so the flavoring was still out. I told him to put it back twice and I turned my head for a minute-OK probably two- and this is where the 3/4 full bottle ended up. Blue raspberry was my personal favorite too. The only thing he said to me when I was cleaning it up was "Ga-lue" as he pointed at the mess. That's his way of saying blue. Yes, it is indeed blue. I guess I can be grateful that he's learning his colors. :)


Look at that little sad face with a drop of slushy syrup on his nose. He probably tried to sample the syrup once he'd poured it out onto Emma's rug. Silly boy!

memorization mesmerize-ation

One of the notes I have from Elder Perry's talk in Conference is: Exercise your mind- Memorize scriptures (not a direct quote). I remember the thing about memorizing scriptures popping out at me several times during conference. It's something that I have wanted to do in order to expand my store of familiar scriptures and just to keep my mind working. In preparing for a talk this upcoming Sunday (laugh all you want, your turn will come) I came across these scripture lists from my mission binder-one is from the discussions and one is just other scriptures I chose on my own. So I have evidence that I've done this memorization thing before and I can do it again.

Conference Coloring

This is how I took notes during Conference. Doing it this way is so much fun. I started last year by just coloring with Emma to keep her occupied. Now I think of the good quotes and sound bites I hear in the talks and how I can mix writing and pictures to remember them better.

Broken Courage

This was my courage angel...before Claire knocked it off the shelf and it broke. Bummer because I sure needed that angel watching over me. But look, even with broken arms we can still reach upwards.

Sleepy Ben

Ben just runs out of steam and crashes where ever he may be.

Events of the Home-tel

We started the Home-tel off this morning with waffles, whip cream, and strawberries for breakfast. They were a big hit all around.

Then we had craft hour. I picked up some colored sand at the dollar store and we did sand art Dora pictures.




We then held a showing of Little Rascals in the Home-tel theater complete with movie theater candy. They really thought that was cool.


We had home made pizza for lunch - always a big hit. We were even treated to Grandma Zirker's specialty for dinner - French Toast.

After Lunch we opened up the Home-tel Souvenir Shop and let the kids get some mementos of our trip. I picked up the shop items at the dollar store, Target dollar center, and Walmart dollar section. It was almost more fun for me to collect the items for the kids to buy as it was for them to buy the items. The little books I got at Costco.