Shhhh, it's a book

So ever since I joined Pinterest, I have wanted to make a felt book, a quiet book, a busy book, whatever you call it, but the birth of my Nephew provided impetus to actually do it, I sketched out some ideas and cut out some felt, let the kids help stitch together the edges, and after several months of sewing a little here, and a little there,  here is the result,

Oliver is soooo smart, kind, fun, creative,etc. He can be anything...

He might be a builder,

 (mounds of dirt dump of out the truck)

 He could be a teacher!

 (students can be rearranged, or at least their heads can)

 He could work in publishing

( He can read books in a number of interesting spots, while wearing a helmet similar to one his father has.)

 He could be a farmer (and pick all home grown  sewn produce)

 He may even become President of the U.S.A

   

 (And give interviews in front of finger-puppet cameras that can be put in number order then tucked away under the stage)

 Oliver is SO Super that He can be ANYTHING! but we know he will be this

 (finger puppet fits into super body suit and snaps off for flying adventures)

 LOVED
(by his parents, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof, crafty I am, realistic not so much)

 And the last page I really love because each of my kids designed to cover of their "peek-a-boo" flap,

 and actually stitched their own name and design on the revealed page, well I helped the 3 year-olds with their names, but their stitches actually turned into really cool little abstract line "drawings"

All in all I am very pleased with the result, pleased enough to want to do it again for another niece or nephew, but maybe later...., when the kids are back in school and I have a few minutes to myself here and there, even if it's only while I am waiting to to pick them up from something, 

I was thankful on Facebooklast November but I guess I never found the pictures so I didn't publish this here, I will bravely post it anyway

Praying for light to come into the dark places, grateful that so far my loved ones are all safe and weathering the storm and the aftermath.

ThankFULL November, grateful my brother has such great in-laws/friends to shelter him and his beautiful wife while their apartment has no power or water.

Thankfull November day 3 grateful to know that I am a Daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves and loves each of us. Glad we live close enough to attend my Nephew Ethan's baptism today. Good job Buddy, you are a great kid and a great example for my little Buddy.

Thankfull November, #4 Grateful that my children know their Grandparents, all of them!
We spent yesterday with Eddie's family and this evening with my Mom and Grandma, and a whole bunch of Aunts and Uncles and cousins, such a great thing in life to see the generations connecting!

Thankfull November #5
Grateful for modern technology, from the generator (that is bring warmth to my sister Mary and her family), to the Internet (that allows her to keep me updated across the country.)
Also grateful for the LDS church Specifically the organization and orderly infrastructure that allows it to answer so many needs so quickly, that's where the generator came from :)

Thankfull November #6 grateful for the impending end of political insanity and really grateful that this is the only "political unrest" we have to deal with. As annoying as FB posts can be free speech is so much better than the alternatives, things like martial law, warring clans, daily terrorist attacks.

ThankFull November #7 Thankful for my healthy children, we all have our struggles, but as I feel stretched with the ins and outs of 5 kids I am grateful for smart brains, kind hearts, functioning limbs, healthy kidneys, even gassy little tummies, runny little noses and sweaty little toes. If your struggles include the above please know that I am in awe of you and grateful for the many examples of compassion, empathy, endurance, hope, and determination that I have to learn from in my friends and family members.

ThankFULL November #8 - Tonight as I frost cupcakes, stuff goodie bags, and sew 8 tutus for Nina's "Pink Ballerina Birthday" I am grateful for my mother. She taught me to sew and that my own hands can create great things. Also she was the

re 5 years ago to take care of my "big girls" while I went to the hospital, and she was there when I came home post C-Section to make recovery possible. Grateful for Cheryl Ferguson who always made me the cake I wanted cake even though it was her birthday too.

Thankfull #9 Grateful for my Nina, my spunky, thoughtful, funny, kind hearted, spitfire, I am glad you are my middle daughter, you have such a strong personality and you know how to get attention, helps me make sure you don't get lost in the shuffle.

ThankFULL #10 grateful for couches and pillows and 5 fun kids who know what they are meant for.

ThankFULL #11 Electricity.
After so many loved ones on he East coast went without for so long we decided to go a day without, both to help the kids have more empathy, and to try out some of our emergency supplies. We did pretty good, ate w

ell, played board games by lantern light, bundled up against the 60 degree weather ;). We had a good day, of we had to go without I would miss the furnace and microwave most of all, but I am thankful that we have some good supplies and some better ideas of what else we need. Especially thankful to Eddie who keeps track of it all.

ThankFULL #12 Remembering Veterans on this day, Vets of all kinds.
Those who served along with their brothers and came home to build their country.
Those who died in service to our nation and it's freedoms and ideals.
Those who left behind parts of themselves behind in the battlefields, whether physical, mental, or emotional.
Those who came home, but never made it home because they were so changed they could no longer fit there.
And those who watched their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, their loved ones, leave, and sacrificed all that comes with having them gone.
Grateful for the service,
Sorrow for the sacrifice,
Prayerful for the future.

ThankFull # 13 my Hero my Husband Eddie who spent his day off yesterday getting my van all tuned up and re-tired so we can visit my parents and brothers family in AZ next week, not only did he make my vehicle safe but managed to foil a would be gang of thieves in our neighborhood,... Yeah he's kind of awesome that way 

Thankfull #14
Thankful for washers and dryers and not having to actually washboard or wring out my clothes.....and more to the point the clothes of my children, 4 outfits for the youngest girl alone.

Thankfull #15
I opened today's gratitude up for suggestions from the kids, here are a few suggestions;
Birthdays
Chocolate Milk
House
Chocolate Spider milk
Mommy
Daddy
Sisters and brother
Relatives are safe, and.....wait for it......
POTTY TALK (Bursts of laughter resulting in milk snorting out of noses)

Thankfull #16
Grateful for this little mouse who wanted a bedtime snack....of cauliflower! 
"cuz it my faybrit"

Thankfull #17
Grateful for a clean house, even if it doesn't last.

Thankfull # 18 Grateful for DVD player in the car and children that still sleep in the car, and Grandparents that love to have their grand-kids visit.

ThankFULL #19
Grateful for Grandparents who took the kids to the zoo so my hubby could take me on a hot date Horseback riding! grateful for strong horses and beautiful weather, and my hot date!

Thankfull # 20 grateful for the animals of the desert and that I don't have to live with them, 

(visited the Desert Museum today) 

Thankfull #21
Glad that I am not
-living in the 1800's
- living in a mining town
-a prostitute
(visited Tombstone AZ today)

Thankfull #22Grateful for two parents, two grandmas still with us, 6 godparents, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, 5 brothers in law, 6 sisters in law, 5 children, 24 nieces and nephews, 2 more on the way, too many friends and side dishes to count, 1 turkey, and 6 pies!

Thankfull #23 my (almost) 8 year old learning to fish from her Grandpa, and as a bonus, actually catching a fish!

Thankfull #24 an uneventful ride home

Thankfull #25
Grateful that God in His wisdom did not create individual planets for each of us, but rather put us together and told us to love each other, grateful for church organization that helps an insecure gal such as myself to make friends, be a friend, and serve others.

Thankfull #26
Glad my kids have fun together, we played famous people charades tonight, wish I had my camera running, highlights included Eddie as Dora and AJ dancing Gangnam style.

Thankfull #27
Loving this boy who prayed for me tonight, sweet thoughtful boy, his exact words being;
"Bless mommy to safe to dragons" (safe from dragons)

Thankfull #28

Grateful for my siblings who have been a constant in my life, even though we are separated by miles and time zones, they  are there for me and have often come here for me too.

Thankfull #29

Grateful for teachers that support my kids in learning and challenge them to improve

Thankfull #30

Grateful for family friends, people who I can call to help in a pinch, and feel comfortable to call on my family for help as well.

These little people.

There are these little people in my life, and I tend to blame things on them, things like;
"they are the reason I never blog, every time I sit down to type two of them literally climb up on my lap and or back."
OR
"they are the reason I never exercise, every time I do downward dog they go in the tunnel, and every time I try to swan they lay on my back, if I try to do Pilates they climb in my boat and beat down my hundreds."
OR
"They are the reason I never exercise, every time I get in a groove someone gets sick and throws off the whole schedule again."

Really and truly they are the reason for many of the things I do, or at the very least the manner in which I do them, but lately I have been forgetting the other part of it.

Mothers Day reminded me of some other things,
Amalia is the reason I smiled during church, when asked what special thing she did for her mom she answered "We boughted her a leotard."

A.J. is the reason I smile and giggle at bedtime, because he loves to squeeze my earlobes.

Nina is the reason I stop doing "Things I have to do." because she literally gets in my face and says things like "Mom I really just want to something that is fun with you" or When can you ever teach me a new song on the piano" or "Mom, watch me spin/dance/pose/stand on my head with no hands!"

Liana is the reason I look around and say Where is she? and then go looking for her only to find her playing with the smallest of toys, using the greatest intensity, to achieve the most fun, in the quietest of ways.

Ella is the reason that i take a breath and remember how fast it is all going, how she used to be tiny and now she is big, but only halfway to the big she is going to be. She is also the reason I take note of these tiny people who change so quickly but remain so much the same, she is still the same little girl who got mad at herself for not perfecting things on the first try, and the same little girl who went back to perfect her frustrating task after she said she was going to give up.

I forget so many things, it's good to remember the reasons for my life, I am here on this earth to become a better person, to become more like Christ, I am here to be Eddie's partner, I am here to be my children's mother.

If I remember the reasons for my life, it makes it easier to forget that I am tired..