Christmas in July..... REALLY!?!?!?!?

Ya know... 

It's been a rough.... shall we say... several months.... (ok - year!).... I've tried to put on my happy face and make the best of it - and up until the past few months - I think I did ok - BUT the last few months... have not been oh so pretty..... So!  it is TIME to get back on track and pull up my britches and get down to business!

I found myself just today thinking... "I really need to get out of this rut!".... It has been a LONG - way LONG time since I've felt "HAPPY" about the future... and as I thought about CHRISTMAS... I became VERY happy.... I found myself "smiling" as I started reviewing the plans I started several months ago... It is TIME to get my groove back :)

Life just has a way sometimes of dragging us down... making us feel that we "just don't get it"..."just don't fit in"... "just have no purpose"... .. ok maybe not everyone... ok... maybe just me.  This is were I have been the past few months. ..I don't get it, I don't fit in, I have no purpose.... I'm in a rut!

I miss being busy.  I miss having "things" to do... ok let me rephrase that... "I MISS NOT DOING THINGS!" (I'm sure I have plenty to do...) I just have no "UMPH" to do them... because of the "I don't get it, I don't fit in, I have no purpose" feeling.... 

So, today - It's a new day! It's a good day! 

I've decided to clean out the decoration boxes... HOLY COW! WHY do I keep the things I do? I mean seriously!  It's not like I've ever "FIXED" them... and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to fix them! So WHY - why do I keep them?  I discovered that I have 2 completely FULL tote bins full of "CRAP!" Busted, broken, missing pieces, chipped, cracked... you name it - its in there... so! OUT THEY GO!  

And as I was sitting here trying to come up with "new" themes and "what" I may need to accomplish my new themes - I popped on over to read Natasha's post on "CLOCHES" ... I had NO IDEA what they were .... but I'm IN LOVE now!!!  I'm so excited!  I need to gather me a few several!  Such talented people!  Such amazing people!  I'm in love!  Thanks Natasha! 

Well, I've gotta run- but I'll be back because we've got a lot to discuss!  But I've gotta catch some shut-eye.... morning is going to come AWFULLY early! 

One special little boy...with one BIG mission.....

GAGE OLSON

Gage Brandon Olson 2006- 2011 Gage Brandon Olson passed away tragically on Father's Day, June 19, 2011 from injuries sustained in a car accident in Provo Canyon. Gage came into this world on October 23, 2006 born to parents Brandon Rick Olson and Jill Topik Olson. He was truly a miracle baby as he was the only survivor of triplets. Gage brought so much love to his parents, and they cherished the moments spent teaching him about the world. Gage was full of life, rarely sat still, and was always on the lookout for his next big adventure. He loved playing with his dogs, dinosaurs, dancing, playing soccer, hunting and fishing with his Dad "his best bud", and getting spoiled by his Mom and walking in the park. Gage attended preschool at Roy Elementary, and J.R. Smith in Heber City. Gage loved preschool and riding the big Yellow bus. In just four short years, Gage touched many lives. We will miss his contagious laugh, beautiful blue eyes, and his loving personality. Gage is survived by his parents Jill and Brandon Olson of Heber City, Utah along with a baby sister Gentry. Grandparents Rick and Kim Olson of West Haven, Utah. Vickie Topik of Perry, Utah. Great Grandparents Duane and Maris Olson, Marcia Peay, Clark Mayfield, and John and Shirley Valcarce along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Life Flight, and the doctors and staff at the University Of Utah for their wonderful care and compassion during this difficult time. A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 30th from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the Country View LDS Ward 4770 S. 4875 W., West Haven. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 1st at 11:00 a.m. at the Country View LDS Ward, 4770 S. 4875 W., West Haven with a viewing one hour before. Interment will be in the Roy Cemetery.

We send our prayer, love, hope and sympathy to the Olson family.  They are an amazing family with a long healing road ahead of them... both physically and emotionally. Bless you. Always remember you are a SPECIAL family with 3 special angels watching over you now... Families are Forever.

Prayers.... Faith.... and help......

Just as I was getting ready to post my June Christmas goals...

my failures and maybe a success... maybe...

You know - the 1/2 way to Christmas mark... 

My life was interrupted....

again...

brought back to "reality".... 

but this time...

I just don't feel so much in the "Christmas-y mood"... 

I've debated on whether to share my worries and such, or just let you think that I'm a slacker.... 

In all honestly, you can go ahead and think of me as a slacker - 

I kinda am.... 

It really doesn't matter much anymore.... 

not in the grand scheme of things.... 

I'm behind... I am admitting that....

It has really been a few VERY STRESSFUL months around here....

But now, my "pity-party" is completely irrelevant...

I have absolutely NO BUSINESS hosting a PITY PARTY! 

Ever again! 

So, "PITY PARTIES" are now closed.

There will be no entering and 

absolutely NO entertaining of even the very idea of a

PITY PARTY ever again! 

Instead....

my heart is ripping out...

it is being torn apart....

aching....

feeling completely helpless

even angry.... at myself....

for even THINKING "I" had the rights 

to even ENTERTAIN a PITY-ME-PARTY!

Because....

Life could be worse....

SO.... much... worse! 

Jill & Brandon  

This past Sunday (Fathers Day) our cousin and his family were involved in a head on car collision as they were on their way to the Fathers Day Family BBQ.  Their little boy, 4 year old Gage was killed. Brandon (the dad) is in critical condition.  He had to have some of his intestine removed, has pins from his hip to his foot and   bleeding in his brain.... he is going back into surgery tomorrow.

Jill (the mom), has mostly external injuries, along with a crushed foot and knee .  She has lots of bruises and cuts, and is also going back into surgery tomorrow for knee repair.  Their 7 month old little girl, Gentry was uninjured ~ amazingly.  She is being cared for by her aunt right now.  It is going to be be a long recovery road for this sweet family - a very challenging recovery as well.... both physically and emotionally... 

They deserve the "PITY-PARTY"... not I! 

So, may I interrupt my "CHRISTMAS BLOGGING" and instead ask for you prayers and blessings? 

You can read their story here.... it is a sad one with very little information however.

At this time there is an account set up for Brandon & Jill - to help with medical expenses and funeral costs... Mountain America Credit Union Acct#9237216 or any Co-Op credit Unions ( not just MACU) Just check with your local credit union and ask if they are a Co-op member.) All you need is the account number and the funds will be easily transferred within the co-op.

They are also in the process of setting up a website in which you can make donations via PayPal, which is a secure site.... I will list that information as well, as soon as it is available. 

Anything you can offer will be greatly appreciated... even just a dollar, it will go a long way.

Also, if you live in the Ogden area (where they are both from) a good friend of Jill, is offering a 

CUT-A-THON fundraiser - you can contact STEPHANIE DAVIS

at 801-458-6336 or 

jamkenmom@gmail.com
for more information.

Basically all hair cuts this week she will be donating 100% to Brandon & Jill...

This family has been through so much already, in such a short time...

Gage is a triplet, and the only one that survived birth... and now he has joined his brothers, but leaves behind a family that adores and loves him immensely!

Please pray for them.

Keep them in your thoughts.

Send them well wishes, here on Facebook as well.

Anything you feel you can offer, will be put to good use, and greatly appreciated.

Little Gage

What an adorable little boy! 

We surely love you!

Please bless over your parents and sister...

Little Gage

Whatcha been up to?

I hope you're doing a bit better than I....

Do you see little Santa over to the right???

Do you realize it is just 6 months and 5 days til Christmas REALLY counts?

OH MY!

(How many times must I say that????)...

You would think I could just kick it into high gear and get it together....

BUT....

Every time I turn around ~ WAA-LAH! there is something else there just WAITING! and sometimes, not very patiently I will add.

Although the sun hasn't shown much the past few months...

and the rains just keep on coming....

I've been BUSY! Not sure just exactly with what...
well, that's not entirely true...
I had a "WILD HAIR" a while back and in my MIND it only took a couple days from start to finish... and yet... HERE. I. AM.... 5 weeks later... and STILL not done!  WHY IS THAT!?!?!  My magic wand losses it's power before the game even begins! I think I want a new one!

EXTREME MAKEOVER has been my focus!  I am really trying to get my house organized and get a place for EVERYTHING! (I will tell you - this is NOT a easy task... and it is NOT a very QUICK FIX task... and it for sure IS NOT a CLEAN task! .... WARNING: You WILL make a bigger mess before you even start! -now, fair warning has been given!) ... We decided to start with the downstairs bedrooms... ORGANIZE THEM RIGHT!  Well, with that organizing came AGONIZING dis-organized, dis-functional mess! Just empty 3 rooms and see what happens... it ends up EVERYWHERE! And I mean EVERYWHERE! .... but we are nearly done... yeah!!!! 

One thing that most people find "weird" about me is that every room has a theme.... BUT I try to make the "theme" colors flow... is that legal? ... hmmmm... And unfortunately, I've passed this along to my children... and now they get "crap" for it too... but it's all good!
So, keeping that in mind... here is what has happened in our "Extreme Makeover".... 

Bedroom 1 - Spare bedroom - theme "WILD BABY ANIMALS" ... 

(Pictures are on their way - so there are bare walls... but not for long.... 

Paint, carpet, bedspread, missing curtains (they are coming!), wall hangings... and a few more pillows... but it is coming along... hope to be done by Thursday! (guests are arriving!) 

 I just fell in LOVE with the Llama and Zebra at Kohls!

They were perfect for this room!

 Added the bookshelf from the hallway,

and loaded it with books for the young and old....

AND.... the best... an empty DRESSER for my GUESTS!

Bedroom #2:

Theme: PARIS

She LOVES it! 

A few more shelves to hang and some pictures

but... the lime green and purple are gone 

(THANK GOODNESS!!!)

Paint...Paint and PAINT! 

mop boards, door trim, door knobs,

Carpet, curtains, bed, wall hangings!!! 

and WAH-LAH! 

We are almost there! 

Bedroom #3

Theme: INSPIRATIONS

These cute little jars are what started the INSPRIATION

BUT, what better for a "teen" room then good, happy, fun, inspiring and encouraging words?!?! 

So... that theme has trickled onto her mirror

(which I bought on KSL for $10, with a head & foot board...

but those projects are not yet complete... so be patient they will be coming!)

And then...

I took the theme to the "drop-down" ceiling (venting) 

Turned out a lot better than I thought it would... 

Kinda fun! 

Then we made her a "photo-board" out of a "foam-poster board".... 

Paint, Carpet, Mop boards,

door trim, door knobs,

bedspread, curtains, 

wall decorations...

and YEAH!!!

They LOVE their rooms! 

 And they are POOPED! 

It's such a great feeling!

Sad part... it has taken 12 years to get this far! 

Not one room downstairs has been FINISHED...

(so embarrassing to admit!)

Never finished the mop boards or door trim, never had door knobs or curtains.

Paint and carpet well... let's just say... it was just time to replace!

And... they've never really been decorated! 

 

BUT OH MY! Such a good feeling! 

Organized you ask?? 

Well, just from one room, we de-junked 15 bags (LARGE-BLACK GARBAGE BAGS) of clothes (GIRLS!), 3 bags (LARGE BLACK GARBAGE BAGS) of shoes, 4 bags (YEP! LARGE BLACK GARBAGE BAGS) of toys, stuffed animals, and such..... and then..... 4 VERY VERY VERY large BOXES filled with CRAP! GARBAGE!  AWH! Such a good feeling to be rid of! (I think we have about 4 more bags of garbage left to dump... and we'll be back on track and ready for the organizing of the "CRAFT ROOM!"..... YIKES!!!!!  Could be scary!  :)  BUT .... OH! SO! WORTH! IT!  I just can't wait!

Hoping to have the house all DE-CLUTTER - DE-JUNKED and ORGANIZED by the end of JUNE!!!! 
BECAUSE...........
I have to get to my craft room soon!!!
I've got THINGS to do!!!

"TIS THE SEASON" is COMING!!!
SUPER FAST!

Easter

This year we had Easter Dinner at home.

It was really nice.

We had my parents join us for dinner and my daughter provided "entertainment" for us.

I can honestly say... I'm pretty sure I have not laughed like that in years!  My stomach muscles (and then some others) got the work out they were not expecting on a Sunday.... oh it was good!

Here is just a "peak" at a few of the things we did for our dinner... and OH MY! I don't know WHY I didn't get a picture of the "FINISHED" table.... not so smart was I!  Oh well... just imagine... :)

 I made these little EDIBLE birds nests

Chocolate, shredded wheat and Cadbury eggs.... 

Can't go wrong with that can ya?

 And then about 11PM Friday Night, I got this IDEA to make these bunnies...

Ended up making 30 wash cloth bunnies....

I decided to use some for the EGG HUNT 

and some for the dinner table on Sunday...

Then we filled a basket with some for a friends family.... 

They were so much fun! 

Well....

There ya have it....

Easter.

My second most favorite holdiay...

Not because of the "chocolate" bunnies
(I'm SO over them :) ) 

but because of the Atonement.

So humbled... to know that someone loved me so much that He literally gave His life for me.

So humbled... to know that someone suffered more than I can even comprehend for not only "MY"  sins, but for all of our sins... I can't even begin to understand the suffering that would have been.

So humbled...to know that "YOU and I" were worth every drop of blood...

I can't even imagine. 

I'm just so humbled.

I hope you all took the opportunity to reflect on what Easter really means to you.

Bless you all.

I've got chicks..... their multiply'n

(can you tell I just watched "GREASE"...)

Hee hee hee!!

Well..... not only have I been CHRISTMASING all week, but I've been a little busy with
CHICKS all over my craft room, I mean area.... OK table.....

I got a WILD hair the other day...

got up at 4 am because I couldn't "SLEEP" until I drew it up...

THEN had a HECK of a time falling back to sleep

because I was SO EXCITED and just WANTED to RUN to the fabric store

right then, so I could get started!

BUT... I finally started counting sheep.... "CHICKS" and I FINALLY fell asleep.....

ONLY to wake again at 7 so I could
"PERFECT" my pattern,

TRY and figure out how much fabric I would need

THEN take a minute and meet up with my "NEW LOVE" Mr. Fab....

so I could start on my cute little CHICK-A-DEES!
Even with all the excitement,

I wasn't able to start working on them for another WEEK!
OH MY! Life is killing me sometimes! :)

BUT NOW!

WOW!
CHICKS EVERYWHERE!

So far...

12!

SO....

Are you ready?????

You better take a seat....
because you are sure to be SURPRISED....
because this is from
"If it ain't hot glued I don't do" gal....

SO..... SURPRISE!

WELL!!! What do ya think?

my little CHICK-A-DEE baskets....
HIS and HERS.....

AND....

I will mention...

NOT ONE ITTY-BITTY-SMIDGEN-DAB

OF GLUE WAS USED!

(very gentle pat on the back :) just kidding!)

ALL SEWN!

AND...some even by hand!!!

WHAT!?!?!

UNHEARD OF!!!

(Shhhhhhh- don't let my husband know...

Then he'll be all over me to get his JAR full of BUTTONS sewn onto his shirts....

agh.... THAT IS SO NOT FUN!

I just keep telling him I don't know where a needle and thread is....

DO NOT TELL HIM I FOUND ONE!

We can't be friends anymore if you do.....)

Can you believe it????
I know... not perfect... they have their flaws...
but for a non-sewer... not too shabby...
well, in a "non-sewers" eyes, that is....

I'm thinking cute little "girlie" chick needs to hold a egg or something...

Maybe if I get time, I'll venture down that road...

Maybe it will be a ADD on for next year...

I will say however....

The last ones were a lot easier than the first few!
(First one took FOREVER and even some UNPICKIN')

I finally figured out what and how to do it all....

Finally got a "order" of putting them together...

WHO KNEW sewing could be such a "THINKING" craft...

LOL!

Thank goodness they were patient with me!

The more they hang around though....

the more I think they look like a MINI-BIG BIRD! LOL!

Oh well....

I tried...

And hopefully, the kido's will enjoy them Easter morning...
(NO!!! I do not have 12 children.... but with all the "ADD-INS" to the family, spouses and grandkids... we're just multiply'n too! hee hee hee!!!!)

If anything... at least they will enjoy the "candy" that Mr. Bunny leaves...

IF they are lucky!

:)

Thanks to my sister for being a "GOOD SPORT" and cutting all the felt out...

while I "tried and tested" the pattern....

YEP! I relinquished 2 chicky's to her... hopefully it was worth it to her!

NOW.... back to Christmas-ing I go!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!
Cost...
One and a half yards of yellow felt
plus a few scrap pieces of orange and black
=5 Chickies...
COST.... approx $2.00 per basket
Not too shabby....

Ahhhh..... I'm in love.......

OH!!!! I can't BELIEVE that I'm even stating such a thing! 

I have a NEW love....

Well.... I'll give you 2 clues.... 

ONE.

and TWO..... 

Now... I know what you are thinking.... 

BIG STINKIN DEAL! 

THAT IS NOTHING! 

Well... Let me just defend my problem.... addiction.... NEW LOVE.....

my cupboard.

This cupboard USE to be filled with board games and videos... 

YES! the OLD VHS'S that are just ANCIENT...

Well - they got the boot

and Mr. Fabric moved in.... 

I know..

I know...

YOU all have MUCH MUCH MORE than I... 

That's ok... 

My New LOVE and I just met.... 

And we are SO IN LOVE! 

When I'm having a bad day... 

I stop at the local FAB SHOP

When I'm feeling sad....

I stop at the distant FAB SHOP

When I'm feeling HAPPY.... 

I spend HOURS with my new love, in the FAB SHOP! 

I've even contemplated putting in my application...

Just so we can spend MORE time together, 

and perhaps less suspicion.... 

I mean...

WHO KNEW?!?! 

The queen of philosophy....

"IF IT AIN'T HOT GLUED...

I DON'T DO IT!"

would EVER fall in love with MR. SEW-ME! 

Awwww.... 

OH! Did I mention... 

I do have projects in mind for all of this...

AND they will be completed SOON.... 

(MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!) 

OH!! and the best part..... 

I have 9 - yes 9 YARDS on it's way to me this VERY minute!
Wanna see?

Here's just a SNEAK of some that are on their way!

Aren't they ADORABLE?!?!?!?!

And I'm soooo excited!!! 

I can't even sleep! 

It's beginning to feel a bit like CHRISTMAS!!!!

OH!... and I'll just add...

I'm over 1/2 done with my Christmas shopping!
Couldn't be MORE happier!!!!



Visions of SUGARPLUMS are dancing in my head....