Friday Fun Stuff

Here's a tour through some of the interesting things I found in my Google Reader this week. I hope you will enjoy them, too.

4 Moms Storage Solutions - Because I love all things storage related.
Sara's Art House - The Yellow Chair - Because I must know where she gets those awesome tights for her daughter.
Soule Mama - For so, so much DIY inspiration.
Silly Bands for Geeky Kids on Geek Moms - Because silly bands are fun and someone should really make these shapes.
Mark Beeson - Our church's Senior Pastor is on sabbatical and posting some amazing photos along the way.

What did you find on the internet this week that was interesting? Leave me a link in the comments so I can check it out, too!

Gather Arts Organizing Logo

Hey. If you're stopping by the blog today you'll notice that I'm messing with stuff and trying to do new things. So if things look messed up please try to bear with me.  The icon above is the new logo for my business. I'm trying to learn how to make a blog button and do other things.  Thanks for being patient with me.

I'm channeling Peter Walsh today

Today I asked the boys to make a list of the things they ABSOLUTELY must have in their lives to be happy. Just to be clear at the outset, we're not talking about people, or faith, or anything like that. Today's mission encompasses the stuff of young men's lives. Here are the lists they came up with.

Evan

1. Computer

2. Game Boy & Games

3. Harry Potter Series

4. Wii

5. Zelda Series

6. Board Games

7. Nintendo DS & Games

8. Stuffed Guys

9. Nerf Stuff

10. Pokemon

Jason

1. Computer

2. Nintendo DS

3. Ipod

4. Wii

5. Eragon Series

6. Naruto Series/Shonen Jump

7. Zelda Series

8. YuGiOh Cards

9. Stuffed Guys

10. Bouncy Balls

11. Tornado Toy

Some interesting stuff on those lists I must say. A few things I was surprised by but overall pretty accurate given what I see them doing on a daily basis. So, we went about purging the bedrooms of all things not on the list. And the rule was, for example, the board games must fit in the allotted board game space. If there were too many, then some had to go. Same with stuffed guys, nerf stuff, etc. There was some fussing when we came across stuff not on the list, but they got over it quickly when we referred back to the list.

Sometimes it helps to have focus. They focused on those things they appreciate the most, and the others are going away. Now they will be able to keep their rooms straight and clean. When relatives ask what they want for their birthdays, they can answer with the list in mind. I'm sure the list is going to change over time, people keep telling me they will grow out of Pokemon. Still waiting for that day.

Now, as for the dining room table. Hm. Think it's time to call Goodwill and arrange a pickup.

Time Flies

Ugh. It's been too long. Really. We should talk more often.

So, we have participated in four Christmas celebrations, a birthday party, Christmas Eve church service, a trip to South Dakota and back and various other activities since we've updated here. And since then we've been doing laundry, laundry, laundry, and laundry. Oh yeah, and I forgot, Jon finished painting the kitchen and putting up new trim near the ceiling. It looks wonderful!

I've also been knitting since we've been back. I decided I would just make my favorite items as I have time throughout the year so they would be available when I wanted to gift them or have opportunity to do some selling.

I accomplished some holiday scrapbooking this Friday as well. I get much more done when I focus on current events and then go back to the ancient history when I have the time or the interest. For example, vacation from this summer is already complete and I'm almost done with Christmas for this year. However, lots and lots of previous birthdays and other stuff have yet to be even thought about. All in due time.

Oh yeah. The boys return to school tomorrow. Ahh. Yes, that is a huge sigh of relief. It is time. They need to hang out with some other kids. They are about to tear each other apart and I can only say "knock it off" so many times and still have it work.

The photo above is the dads and the kids walking on the lake after the big snowball fight. It looked like fun from inside the warm house where the moms were. They're great dads. And really good picture for being taken from inside the house, eh? We had a great time in South Dakota. More on that later.

Sarah puts e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in her mouth now. Don't get your fingers too close. She will put them in her mouth. Really. I'm going to have to step up the vacuuming around here.

Oh, I also helped some folks with some organizing projects. What fun that is. I finally found the thing I would do even if I didn't get paid to do it. Maybe some day I will get paid to do it. We'll see.

Guess that's it in a nutshell. We've been busy. And it's been great.

Today

Today was a day. Boys in school, S. at home with me. I'm still working on knitting her a shawl. It's about 10 inches long and it needs to be 26. Gonna take me a while.

I'm trying to decide whether I want to join the knitting club or take a quilting class. Obviously I'm already a knitter but I would really like to try quilting. Maybe I'll try it on my own with a small project first. I have my Grandmother's old handkerchiefs that I think would make a great quilt.

Feeling very crafty lately. Not sure what's up with that.

I get to teach about ORGANIZATION and clutter on Sunday in the TLC class (that would be Transforming Lives through Christ). We're meeting in the MC3 building which is the first time I will have stepped foot in the place. It's interesting because we talked and talked about it all and now it's really happening. Of course, it's been happening for the past two years through all of the hard work by people at GCC but I've been out of the loop. Time to jump back in.