my sickness...

for those of you who have been wondering. I have been sick since the beginning of September. I was the first one with this nasty cold, with dd-S, then, I believe it was taken to NY with Mike and ds-J, then dd-A got it. Luckily ds-D has been spared. But it appears that everyone else has gotten over it, but for some reason, I am holding on to this awful cough.

So today I saw the doctor and guess what? She told me that she thinks I have coughed so much that I think I just have to cough. HAHAAA! Mike has been telling me that it is in my head. (I totally got an "I told you so" when I came home from the doctors) Now, it is not totally in my head, but she told me because I have been coughing so much I have hurt my chest and throat a bit and now I feel like I have to cough all the time. she has me on some asthma stuff to help heal the insides. ANd she believes I will be better in a week. YAY!!!

Mike always knew I was a headcase! HAHAHAA!!

Our last round of visitors

We were so happy to have been able to spend a day with Jens. Chris, Vanessa, and Bobby came up as well. It was fun to catch up and hang out and talk. We have so missed their family--it has been far too long and we REALLY look forward to spending more time with them all this summer.

Honestly, after a few weekends of a house full of visitors it was nice to be able to veg out last weekend and not have to do anything. Don't get me wrong, we absolutely LOVE having family near by and having them pop in and play, but sometimes it is nice to walk around the house anyway i want, and to just let the dishes fill up in the sink, and to just say, "cereal for dinner". So this last weekend we just chilled. and it was nice. Mike went fishing, but he didn't bring home the salmon he caught. HUMPH! I went to Olympia and went to Jaoannes's. I have decided that I want to start actually painting again. So I needed to buy a few new things, like gesso, paint brushes that my little lovelies haven't ruined, some walnut ink, some sketch pencils, and well a few other things for fun. :)

Now I just need to get the courage up to actually try something again. It has really been a LONG LONG time since I have painted. It makes me nervous. hahaaa!

my new little crafty obsession...

So I have come across these adorable little felty food (play foods for children) and I decided that my girls need some for their tea parties. so I made some this weekend. I TOTALLY plan on making some more. But here are my first few donuts. :)


I plan on doing some sugar cookies, some cupcakes, and some chocolates. After that, if I am still into them (LOL) I will do some fruits and veggies. :) I know--I am a total DORK!!

EDITED to add some quick and easy instructions:
I didn't follow a pattern, but they were easy though

1. Cut two four in felt circle out a donut color and then cut a tiny hole (a little less than an inch) in the middle.

2. cut the frosting wobbly-like and a little smaller than the brown felt pieces.

3. I sewed the frosting on the top piece of the donut.

4. I sewed the donut top and bottom together.

5. Then I added the beads for sprinkles.

and then they are completely, adorably finished.

For my Ellis nieces

Guess what little D is going to be for Halloween..........


This isn't the whole costume, but we were trying to get him used to the hat and ears. (that shouldn't be too hard for him. :) )

Love you guys!!! And I am glad you are enjoying reading the blog. HUGS!!
Aunt Amber

A layout with a photo from my lil photo shoot

So, isn't he just the cutest! :)

Credits here

And I believe that is all! :)

Very deserving of it's own post!!

On Monday, dd-A scored her first soccer goal ever!!!! It was like something clicked this game. her first goal was a shot that wiggled it's way through four or so players and trickled into the goal!! YAY!!!! It was so fun because Misty and Phil were there to see. She was so pleased with herself. After she scored she immediately looked at me and put up her five fingers because I told her when she scored her first goal I would pay her five dollars. The rest of the game she was an animal. She stole the ball away, she dribbled and shot, nearly scoring two more times. Like a foot outside the goal. It was a fun day for her!

visitors, conference, more visitors, hunting, and more visitors. :) (did i mention sickness)

Yes, we are still here, but busy!! We have been fighting the back to school bugs, sinus infections, and a touch of some flu (or something that causes flu-like symptoms).

So, on conference weekend we had Chris, Vanessa, and Bobby and Misty, Phil, and Ty. So the weekend was filled with conference, laughing, smiling, crying, fighting babies, videos games, and a little rock band. My sweet dd-A threw up on Sunday while everyone was here, so she was banished to the corner on a foam pad. It was so hard for her because she LOVES her baby cousins, but she did a great job and in a day and a half was tip top again.

The week proceeded normally (other than a surprise trip to Cabellas and then to Chris and Vanessa's house). Then Friday Misty, Phil, and Ty came back up. Mike and Phil took off early Saturday Morning for a bit of hunting. This trip includes new mountain bikes, and seat pads to go with them, and about 17 miles of riding into the deep wooded area or the northwest. They had a touch of success: Phil saw a doe and two butts (EDITED--yes, two deer butts :) LOL!).

While they were visiting dd-S threw up (on the way to church). She had been complaining of her tummy hurting, but I was having "NONE of that nonsense". She often complains and whimpers around in the morning, so I figured that was what was going on this morning. Mike was already at church for his meetings, and I was hustling around getting my four kiddos ready. dd-S even told me that her belly was hurting so she didn't want to eat her Cheerios. I am such a horrible mom, LOL! I told her, "you better go a eat your cereal or your belly is REALLY going to hurt at church when it growling because you are so hungry because you didn't eat your breakfast."(OOPS!!) I was wishing she hadn't eaten those cheerios when her little episode occurred in the van on the way to church! YUCK!! Mike went home with her, so I could stay and teach my lesson.

The boys hunted again on Monday. I wasn't sure they were going to go because both of their bottoms were so sore from riding their bikes. HAHAAAA! but the went and rode another 13 miles or so. They saw about ten deer and 2 were bucks, and one is no longer in the forest. They FINALLY, they had their first deer in WA. Phil shot a little 2 pointer, and was just happy to have finally got a deer. Mike is holding out for something a bigger, but they had a good time and are feeling better because they are figuring out the hunting thing here.

While the boys were off hunting Misty did 18 gajillion loads of laundry. And she even folded it. WOW!! I am thankful, but now I really wish I had a dresser. :) LOL!!

We staged a little photo shoot. We tried to get some cute photos of the two of them together, but with Tyler having just woke up and D needing a nap, we had little success of the two of them together. HOWEVER, I got some super cute ones of D and some pretty good ones of Ty that I will edit and stick up here hopefully tomorrow.

here are the ones of D.





I'm telling ya!! He is so stinkin' cute!! :) I have some video of him walking that I need to put on here, too. He has the funniest little walk.

Also, we are thrilled that we get to see Jens tomorrow. :) that also means that Chris, Vanessa, and Bobby will be here again. And we will fit visiting with them in with cub scouts, and dd-A's last soccer game and pizza party. Life is good!! :)

g'night ! I am pooped!