The Meanest Mom in the World

I was given this honor yesterday by one of my children. I won't name any names, but her picture is below.

And she didn't just leave it at that. "You've never been nice to me since the day I was born!" And a few hours earlier, when I asked her to bring me a diaper to change her baby sister, she said, "I always get you diapers. I always do everything for you. You never do anything."

So I'm not only mean, I'm lazy.



Don't feel sorry for me. It's quite a compliment if you look at it the right way.

By the way, what is the proper response to such comments? Mature response, that is?



All is not lost with our family's rising generation. Today was different. This same child has been delightful, playing all day with her little sister: school, puppies, bubble bath, snacks under the table.

I love you, Sicily.

Amateur Artists

My sister, Amanda, and I needed art for our houses. So we decided to make our own. We copied an idea we saw in a magazine a long time ago. An art canvas from Michaels, some Modge Podge, a box full of our grandpa's old maps, and one full day of work produced this:

We cut the maps up in pieces and used a LOT of Modge Podge.

Here's the canvas covered with the base layer. I chose white portions of the maps for the base; Amanda chose blue.

I added some shapes in plain colors, copying a Rex Ray piece. Amanda put an "m" on hers (for her last name, Morton), using the green parts of the maps. When Amanda posts her pictures, I will link to those. Hint, hint, Amanda.

I hung it in my basement. There is a spotlight aimed right at it, saying "This is ART. . . just in case you thought it looked like my kid's grade-school project." It goes perfectly with the pool table, doesn't it? Super classy.

One Weekend of Sun

Jason and I went to Santa Monica for the weekend two weeks ago. We had perfect weather. We walked on the beach. We hiked and shopped. We went to the Getty art museum and a Lakers game. We ate great food. It was so fun.

We're clearly not used to the sun or taking self-pictures.

We stayed at the Oceana Hotel. I think it was an apartment building turned into a hotel. It looked like Melrose Place (as in the TV show).

We felt right at home, because our room looked just like our house!

This bottom one is our house. I guess it's just the colors that look the same, but it made us laugh.

We found a trail that would take us to the Hollywood sign. Ha!

Since it was such beautiful weather, the trail was packed with locals.

I look like such a tourist in my jeans. I should be wearing spandex.

I'm ready to go back.

Broom Shame

Monday my mom came over with a gift: a new broom. Apparently my old one was pathetic.

Can you tell which one is the old broom?

Maybe I should be embarassed about this. I probably would have kept the old broom for who knows how long.

To the Rescue

I just finished reading this biography on Thomas S. Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and our prophet on the earth today.

He is an amazing, charismatic man. I would love to know him on a personal level. Did you know that he still breeds and keeps show pigeons in his backyard, a hobby that began when he was a boy?

His secretary says that he has given away an average of 10 suits a year over the last 40 years. He would give them spontaneously to men he had just called or interviewed, who either had threadbare suits or no suit at all. A story tells of President Monson interviewing a young missionary and being told that the suit he was wearing was one that President Monson had given his father years ago.


"[President Monson] has this energy, this liveliness and bounce. He goes through the halls like a whirlwind; sometimes the paintings have to be straightened after he has gone by."
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Don't you just love this man?

Peter and Anne, Sitting in a Tree

"I'm going to be Peter in the play of Diary of Anne Frank we're doing in English class," Ethan announced to us the other night at dinner.

That sounds fun," I say.

Then, grinning ear to ear, he says, "Peter has to kiss Anne in the play."



"You mean you're really going to kiss her in class?"

"Yep." Did I say grinning ear to ear?

"What!!?" This is Dalton. "Mom, you can't let him do that! He's not supposed to kiss anyone until after his mission!"

I'll admit, we have always told Dalton this small fib. But only because he's been girl crazy since kindergarden. And we're just joking, for heaven's sake. Although I'm fine with him believing it a while longer.

Girls' Room After

I'm tired. I posted the before pictures yesterday, making it look like I did this in one day. Then I really would be tired. It took a week.



The hardest parts were the canopy and those self-covering fabric buttons on the headboard. The headboard itself was super easy - 15 minutes. The funnest part was the salt and pepper collage art over the bed. Get it? S and P for Sicily and Piper.

Piper in her rocking chair. You can see the edge of the roman shade. I used Little Green Notebook's tutorial. Easy.

This bulletin board is actually enormous, 86" x 48". It was hanging behind a dart board in the house when we bought it; I just recovered it. It's pink; my camera makes it look brown.

I love the polka-dot lining on the curtains.

I thought I would be done with projects for a while, but remember that bulletin board that I took down. Now there is a 86" x 48" area next to our TV that is covered with dart holes.

Think Pink

This is my first attempt at a whole room makeover. I'm playing it safe: it's the little girls' room in the far corner of the basement.


This is my inspiration picture:

This is the room before, half torn apart:

These are the fabrics I'm using:

I have nothing pink in my house, so this is a big leap for me. But the carpet is dark pink, so I thought I'd stick with it.

Abie, Where Are You?

At approximately 2:30 this morning, Piper stood up in bed and called, "Abie?....Abie?....Abie?"

Piper, Abe, Amanda

Then she sat down and jabbered earnestly for a few minutes, punctuating her comments occasionally with "Abie." She had important things to say to you, Abe.

Abe, Piper, Holly

You may ask how I know this. I was lying beside her in her newly-acquired Big Girl Bed [translation: a twin mattress on the floor].

Note: Abe is Piper's cousin; son to my sister, Amanda.