"Snap.....the job's a game"

Old Disney movies like Mary Poppins inspire me. I love the part where Jane and Michael have to clean up the nursery and Mary Poppins shows them how just a snap can get the job done. I shared a room with six sisters and in those days we generated some severe storms with all the clothes, books, toys, and treasures. We snapped our fingers repeatedly hoping our toys would come to life and the room would be cleaned effortlessly. It never worked but I’m about ready to give it a try again. If I snap my fingers hard enough this house will be sold and may be able to pack its self up.

In the meantime though I have enjoyed a bit of a distraction. A very talented friend organized a sewing service project group to make “Goods 4 Girls”. One of my nieces and I got to participate remotely by attaching all the snaps to these goods. We got the job done in no time with the use of my industrial snap press and we giggled as we tried to keep the little boys from asking too many questions. It was fun to use the press as it actually reminded me of the same type of tools I would help my Dad use for reloading bullets. It was even more fun to spend some time with my niece. But best of all was the joy of doing something for someone else.

Someone had to hold the babies

Becca took this picture of me when she returned from wake boarding and tubing with the kids. I'm not a huge water sports gal so I gladly volunteered to stay on the beach with the infants and toddlers. It was no problem with the help of the moby wrap. I also got to finnish Becca's book while she was off.

2008 Tie Dyes!

We finally got to it! To make it especially fun this year we added a few new colors to our collection including chartruese, bright green, strong navy, and caribbean blue. They were bright and added just the right amount of contrast. Just like last year all supplies were purchased from dharma trading co. I especially like the quality of their boys t-shirts but did not have the best luck with last year's dresses for Maryanna and Clara. Instead, Becca and I have been working all year on collecting and saving all sorts of old stained white clothes that were tie dye worthy. Some were from garage sales and others just old hand-me-downs. Even the dirtiest of whites are worth saving when you are a tie dye addict. This year's theme was "nothing goes home white". Becca put herself to sleep one night just trying to count how many we did - I'm guessing 30+ but I'm sure Becca will correct me on it later.

For the most part we are happy with the results. One problem we faced was running out of the key secret ingredient, Sodium Alginate Thickener which prevents bleeding of the colors. So we did mostly tied scrunches with random color application - that is our no fail technique.

Here is the process:
1. mix dyes (Becca and James especially enjoyed this mad scientist part)
2. dampen garment and then twist, fold, scrunch, tie or sew in any design you wish
3. soak in soda ash
4. carefully apply dye (Becca had to tie dye her sweatshirt after this process)
5. wrap in plastic and let stand over night
6. wake up early (that is easy to do when you have tie dyes waiting - it feels like Christmas morning) and start rinsing and untying your creations
7. Run through a rinse cycle, hang dry and enjoy the color!

There is actually a bit more detail to the process but no need to bore you with the details. If seriously interested though please email me and I'd be happy to share. One more important tip: it is not a good idea to do tie dying when there are 12 young children awake and running around (see Bear Lake lowlights). It is a good activity for kids when there is a higher adult to child ratio if not wait until they are asleep or > 8 years old.

Bear Lake Olympics

The kids missed the last week of the Olympics but found their own type of competitive fun jumping, flying, diving, and somersaulting across the 4 matresses up top in the kids quarters of the Bear Lake farm house.

It reminded me of all the fun us sisters had growing up and sharing room - at one time there were six of us together. We would do all sorts of tricks off the bunk beds and jump from matress to matress. The most fun was riding the crib matress down the stairs! I'll have to keep this all in mind as we go to look for a new house. No need for several bedrooms - just one that can accomadate several matresses.

You just can't buy this type of fun anywhere - not even at Disneyland.

Back to Bear Lake

The kids and I spent another week up at Bear Lake. This made sense since we just started showing our house. Becca met us up there and we brought a few cousins along with us. In total there were 12 kids 8 and under. It was a great time and I'm starting to really like it up there in Idaho. Besides playing on the beach here's what made the week memorable:

Highlights:
-Tie dying!
-Climbing trees and swinging on the tire swing
-Becca's cooking
-Watching old movies
-Meeting up with our neighbors the Plumbs at the Oregon trail museum
-Reading Twilight over Becca's shoulder
-Oma and Opa's visit
-Inflateable kayaks

Lowlights:
-Maryanna getting into the dyes
-Maryanna locking herself and a cousin in the bathroom and then eating hand soap and spreading it all over the bathroom
-Becca and I trying to disassemble the doorknob
-Dead animal smell coming up from some vent
-Going to the Mt. Pilier grocery store with 7 kids (2 of which were overtired and screaming)
-Misquitos
-Strong winds that blew our chairs and umbrellas over
-Forgetting to pack my kite

Inner Beauty

Anyone can stage a beautiful picture. That is what I tell myself as I flip through Pottery Barn catalogs and Domino magazine. That is what I thought as I cleared junk and clutter away for my house photos. The pictures turned out great and are now listed online along with the mls. The pictures themselves display a very beautiful home.

But what makes our home great cannot be captured in a photo. It is the life and energy and love that percolates 24 hrs. a day – it is the echo of laughter, running feet, and cries that need comforting . Even when not perfectly clean our home swells with this inner beauty. From the words of the hymn that I sung each week with my own family growing up,“There is beauty all around when there’s love at home”. I may leave behind my granite countertops and marble backsplash but the real beauty in my home will be packed up and transported with me no matter what style of dwelling we choose to settle in.

I know a few of you have expressed concern for me leaving the home I have worked so hard to remodel, especially my kitchen. Here are a few more of my thoughts: any kitchen covered in fingerprints is not a beautiful kitchen no matter what the colors and finish. I just may take this chance to celebrate the reality of the childhood years in an outdated kitchen. Now if my bagelsand baguettes start to burn…. that is a whole ‘nother story because a well calibrated oven is another type of inner beauty worth living with.

For more on wordful Wednesday check out this this blog. I know it is Tuesday but I'll be far from any internet connection on Wed.

Babies wearing babies

Well I guess she technically is not a baby anymore but it is still kind of funny to watch her play and complete all her kid tasks with her baby secured to her. This mini hot sling was whipped up the night before Maryanna's birthday and presented with her new bike. I knew she would need two hands to ride it just like I do for laundry. Now Peter wants me to make him a camo or sports fabric sling for carrying his favorite stuffies.