Plenty of Projects

Well, I didn't realize it had been nearly two weeks since the last time I wrote anything. OMY! I am such a slacker. We've been busy, and not busy, but mostly I needed a break. Where do I start?

Last week we took Cohen to Disneyland. It was such a good time. I wish I had a picture to go along with this post, but I am staying at my parents house for the weekend, so just words today. I could probably dig through the eight million pictures in my brothers "MY PICTURES" folder and find something, but I'll save myself the agony. Anyway, Cohen was the perfect age for Disneyland. It was all 150% magical. He was such a trooper, too. He was so patient in every line, telling us the entire time which color of flying elephant (Dumbo), teacup, or rocket he wanted to ride in. He would point out the different colors and blabber about each of them. He is such a stellar kid!

When we made our way to the back of the park to Toon Town, and waited in line to see Mickey Mouse. When we finally got there he was so starstruck that he didn't know what to do. Haha! Mike was holding him and he just giggled. Mickey gave him a high five and Cohen looked at me like, "OMIGOSH MOM!!! Did you see that? I'll never wash this hand again."

He fell asleep in his stroller after lunch which allowed Mike and I to go on Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad. Mike's parents came with us and it was so nice to have them close. They are wonderful in-laws (I know not all of us can say that) and stellar grandparents.

The rest of the trip was great, too. We spent a few hours lost, or turning around to find missed exits in the beautiful LA traffic. BLECH! We visited Newport Beach and made sand castles by the pier. We went to IKEA one last time before the one near us opens. I guess our days of introducing our Utah buddies to IKEA is over as the store in Draper opens in May. Oh well. I can't wait to have it close. We also spent two nights in Las Vegas with my older sister. Cohen loves his cousins. It was a wonderful trip and everything was perfect.

Well then, Monday morning I went to work to find horrible news. The company I worked for was shutting its doors after 8 years of business. The debt accrual just wasn't going away and we could no longer dig out from under it. This came as a surprise to all of us. Three of my coworkers were asked to stay for two weeks and close out accounts and sell of the remaining inventory. The rest of us were told that we'd be paid through the end of the week and to clean out our desks. How weird!

To explain our situation a bit, Mike has been a stay-at-home father for the past two years. He finished up his degree last year and has been interning with the Utah Children's Museum about15 hours a week since then. He does work part time in our apartment complex office and works off our rent. It has been a great situation for us. Mike has been on the job hunt looking for a career in Graphic Design. Unfortunately, every one else in Utah is looking for the same thing. Every interview he goes to has 50+ applicants interviewing and the pay is low. How sad!

So, we've got a lot of decisions to make. We do not want to put Cohen in daycare and prefer he is at home with one of us. However, maybe this is just a dream and not a reality. Should I go back to work? Should Mike go to work? Who knows?!? We're praying about it. Mike had some great interviews this week and will know today if he has been hired at a company that he really respects. Cross your fingers. If he gets the job, I think we'll have our answer. I think I could get used to staying home. ;-)

I thought I'd get a lot of crafting done this week, but I've mostly been numb. I've finished a few things for a swap, but that is all. I've done the dishes a lot and made the beds. Gotta love those chores. I guess I just need a week to sit around before it all really sinks in. Luckily, Mike's cousin, who writes curriculum for online schools, has some contract editing work for me to do that pays pretty well. If I can do that during naps each day, I can make a little extra on the side.

We'll make it through it. At least we had a great vacation before the bad news. :) I promise my next post will be full of pictures of projects. I've seen so many cute Easter crafts out in blogland that I am dying to try. Until next time...

Craftmania!!

What a weekend! I cannot believe how productive I've been. Well --- my bathroom still needs to be cleaned and the living room needs to be straitened. BUT, my poor sewing machine has been worked to the bone and has burned THOUSANDS of calories.

First, I finished all of my owls in the wee hours of Saturday morning. *Side Note* Waking up at 5:00 am all week ruins sleeping in on the weekends. I guess that is good, because I wasn't too affected by the time change today. *end of explanation* So, I made these little guys. I'll get them all packaged up and ready to be shipped as soon as I get my partner list.


Then, I made these wall pocket organizers for another swap. My partner lives in Croatia so I needed to make them light enough to ship and flat enough to not raise questions in customs. If I may pat myself on the back, I think they are fabulous and I really hope she likes them as much as I do.


One of the organizers is sewn to hold her knitting needles. She is a knitter and is making me a Panta (yay!) in return. The other pockets are big enough for journals and pens and whatever. I want to turn an entire wall in a giant fabric wall pocket, that is how pleased I am. I promise they are all strait and will hang even on a strait bar. All I had was this warped old bamboo to model them. I feel kind of cheap not sending her something to hang them on, but it will cost too much to send at $1 dowel. She said she'd cover that.

I helped Kim make some headbands for her niece and I covered some match boxes for Leah. I've been crafting a lot for Leah, but I can't post pics until I send her GIANT package. We are partners for the April Affair swap and our goal is wow the crowd. ;) We're so vain.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your lovely weekend. I am off to dinner with my in-laws and then Sunday night treats at great grandma's house.

At least my sewing machine is getting a workout...

So, a loyal reader ***Hi Honey*** was quick to let me know that I had not posted in awhile. How nice... thanks. I've been busy. Really busy, and I haven't taken the time to photograph my work. Last weekend I worked until I could go no longer. Over the weekend, I finished a blanket for the Bowen's baby, sent some felt to dear Leah, and FINALLY got off Tara's winner package (sorry for the delay. No photos of it anywhere. Woops!


I took the afternoon off from work because I was feeling awful (girl stuff). I came home and made these totes for the Sweat Shoppe Swap 8 that I just signed up for. I don't know what is wrong with me. I can't go a week without a package in the mail. I'm an addict! I know I've mentioned that before, but I'm admitting it again. I am also offering the little owls that I made and posted about a few posts ago. It will be a good one.

Oh, and by the way. I am still doing my 5:30 am workouts every morning. I just counteracted a few weeks of work by eating a bowl of Cadbury Mini Eggs while finishing those totes. Woops!

Sorry for the short post, but I need to get back to the machine before my boys get home. Looks like we'll be having pizza delivered for dinner. I am SO going to be better tomorrow.