The Low Down

What have I been up too?  Here's the skinny:

• I started a part-time job as a "mommy's helper."  I basically go over to a sister's house in our ward and help her with cleaning, cooking, and babysitting.  She's nice and I enjoy working for her.  We have a symbiotic relationship-- I help her so she can spend more time focusing on her two adoptive son's whom have special needs and she helps me have some extra spending money.  I've also found working for her to be a blessing. She is a great organizer and I've gleaned a few ideas off her.  Working this job does have some challenges.  I have less time to spend cleaning my own home, and the kids seem to miss me when I'm gone.  Over all, it's worth it and a certainly a blessing.
• I've found my old self!  I bet you didn't know it, but I lost something very important to me.  The past 7 years or so, I've found myself wanting to be creative, but I didn't have my spark.  My creative self was gone! Everything just seemed too time consuming and I never could narrow down what I wanted to make.  I don't know what changed these past few weeks, but I am thrilled to be creating!  I've made wooden pillars, wooden candy corn, a FHEs  board, spooky blocks, and another board that says, "I do believe in Spooks."  I have so many new ideas running through my mind, I can hardly tackle them fast enough!
• My latest obsession is with my new laminating machine.  It was so cheap...somewhere around $25 and it's been so fun!  I've been spending countless hours printing fun things for my kids and laminating them.  They love it as much as I.  If you're on my Christmas list, watch out!!!  (JK, Dad Barry-- I'll make sure to get you a real present.)  ;)
• The kids are on break!  We went camping which was ok.  Not the best trip, not the worst.  It was just too hot, we were tired, and the kids got plenty dirty.  The 2 highlights of the trip were: no technology and the card game I picked up-- "WAR."  The kids wore those cards out!
• We're cleaning a lot, and organizing.
• And lastly, our washer just died!  I'm currently washing clothes in the tub for now, anyone have a washboard handly? Oh... and can one of you let Aaron know that I really need him to take a break (from work) so he can fix our lame-o washer!

Well, that's about all folks!  Night y'all!