Who needs TV?

We got our tax refund about a month ago, and decided that top on our list of things to get was a new washer and dryer. The old ones worked OK, but we needed storage area and I think we have used up all the other spaces in our House already. Todd and I are becoming pretty creative at finding ways to store in small spaces. So yesterday our new washer and Dryer were delivered and installed. I have to admit that I like to get new things, even if they don't happen all that often, well at least not big items. Besides our vacuum and our deep freeze this is our only other big purchase of new items ( well we got a frost-free freezer yesterday as well) Everything else we own is hand-me-downs or used (like our vehicles) Which I'm not complaining at all, they have done us well and I wouldn't trade the fact that I haven't had to go out and purchase new stuff, for anything. We have been very blessed in our lives, but it is still fun to get new things. So here you have our new toys, and some fun pictures of Knightin and TJ also enjoying our new toys. Who knew that watching clothes wash could be such fun entertainment.

Our new freezer. We used our deep freeze way to often, causing our food to get freezer burnt before its time. To much food lost!
The next pictures are of the start of the shelves Todd is putting in for me. They are across from the W&D. Our freezer used to be there, and he will also build some deep shelving to the side and above the W&D. Tracks were installed on the ceiling and I will be hanging curtains to hide the shelving. I love organization space!

The kids had fun on the shelves!

My Babies learning to SEW!!

Taylar has been asking me if she could learn to sew for some time now. Like everything that she has wanted me to teach, I end up putting it off, and putting it off. Not on purpose, but life just keeps happening. So Todd and I picked up some material and what we thought would bee a simple enough first project and brought it home for Taylar. She was so very excited, and even was pretty patient with me when I told her we could probably only work on it over the weekends. It only took her a couple of afternoon and she did so amazingly well. I don't think I did that well, on my first sewing project. She loves her new apron and we have told her she can make one for TJ, Todd and I, she can't wait. She did all but a few little things, that I should her first, then she would take over. She cut it out, ironed and pressed, threaded the machine, even got to un-stitch a few things. I'm so proud of her and am excited to watch her create more things. We are borrowing a sewing machine right now, she had decided this summer for her birthday she wants to buy her own machine. Another thing, I'm proud of her with, when other kids her age are wanting cell phones, Ipods, and DS's my baby wants a sewing machine, Wahoo!

Todd picked out all the material. I thought he did an awesome job. It turned out very cute!

Massages!

In December Todd and I decided that for some breathing room money that I would try out the massage route. He had been looking for part-time work for a few months and it just wasn't happening. Then I was told by a friend that the Massage Therapist that worked at the local salon had left and that I really needed to go and work there so she could get massages from me. At first I said no, but Todd and I talked about it and decided together that I should give it a try. So I re-supplied myself. Made hundreds of flyers and some bulletins and took the leap. January was pretty slow, I think I made like $60 dollars, but slow is expected I'm brand new and know one knows me yet. The first couple of weeks of February were slow as well, but this week I was booked and last week I think I had six. I know It won't be booked every week, at least not yet, but it gave me hope that this Job will work out. I have to admit working outside for the first time since I was pregnant with Ki was a really hard thing to do, but it is turning out OK. The kids are loving having Todd all to themselves, Todd is getting to experience motherhood a little bit more up close and personal, I get a small break, and at the moment the money is all going into savings. I do fell like I don't see Todd as much, but I still see him way more then I use to and a lot more then the average couple, Life is good!I was able to sell 5 Gift Certificates and 7 regular massage to the client I massaged last night. He was a repeat customer and like them well enough to purchase 12. Now that is a confidence booster for you. I have also sold 3 other Gift Certificates as well.

This is my business card. I thought it turned out pretty good!

New Hair Color

I decided to go Red again. This time I put dark brown low lights instead of my normal highlights. I love change! The cuts a little shorter then what I want eventually, but it's all good! Switching hair up whenever I get in the mood is such a cool thing and Todd loves when I do it too!

My Scouter!

I took some picture of Ki before Blue and Gold and thought they turned out cute, so now you are all stuck having to view them! He doesn't usually where his neckerchief, shirt tucked in and his belt, so when I saw him dressed all up and looking all handsome, I made him pose for me. Ki was born To be a scouter just like his dad. He is completely self motivated. He earned his Bobcat and wolf within the first 6 months last year and then went on to earn 1 gold arrow point and 9 silver, and I think you can only earn up to 10 silver. He also managed to earn I think 7 belt loops. He became a Bear at the end of Dec., when he turned 9 and as of next week will have earned his Bear rank. He says he plans on earning all 11 arrow points, the "Leave No Trace ", "World Conservation" Outdoor Activity" badge, and the "Emergency Preparedness" award this year as well as adding to his beltloop collection. I think he actually will. He already has 2 arrow points earned and is on his way to a third. What a little go getter!

What a handsome guy!

I'll have to have him untuck his shirt next time, so you can see all his arrow points, and take a picture of the back of his belt for the beltloops! He is very proud of his accomplishments. Oh yeah he is also working on getting this badge that you can earn 5 ribbons to attach to it, that is only available this year, for the 100th year celebration. He has to do 15 different task for that one.

Cub Scouting Blue and Gold!

Todd and I have been in scouting for a little over 2 years. Todd has been the committee Chair the whole time. I have been in the the committee and then I became the Bear leader. It was a fairly fun calling, but very stressful at times. To keep 10-13 9 years in line and on task to work through their achievements can be quite challenging. I have now been released from that calling and they have put a couple in my place. I had been without an assistant for 3 months. Thankfully Todd has been around to help me. The couple idea has been working out. Both the wolves and webelos both have couples and they can support each other fully. The new leaders will do great and I get to have a break from Cub Scouting. Todd is still in it and hopes to not get released anytime soon. He LOVES the scouting program. In his position he can do things like the Pack Meetings if he wants and the cubmaster is fine with it. He asked if he could do this months Pack Night which was the Blue & Gold Banquet. So this night ended up being my last as a leader and of course I got to help out lots, since my husband was in charge. The night turned out pretty good and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. It was scouting's 100th birthday, so we did a birthday them, complete with balloons, presents and desserts, Yummy! Every cub scout received something. It was also a big award night for our group. 6 of our webelos scouts earned the "Arrow Of Lights" which is the highest award you can earn in cub scouts. That was pretty cool. We also had 9 rank advancements, a religious knot earned and many, many, many, webelos activity badges to present. We have a big group of great boys in our Pack. It's great to watch them grow and progress, but I think I'm going to enjoy it even more from the side lines.

This is the group of boys that earned the "Arrow of Light" award. Our Cubmasters wife makes these great plaques that we present to the boys along with their patch. The bottom to pictures are of my nephews. They happened to be 3 of the 6 boys up there. Good job Brendan, Brandon, and Austin!

Valentine's Day!

We got paint cans for the kids to make their valentines holders this year. They are getting very creative. We helped them glue and Todd helped cut out their names, but they created them all by themselves. Knightin just decorated his face instead of his can, got to love the stickers. The little picture of the table is Valentine's Day morning, and what we got for the kids.

Sick Babies

About 1 1/2 weeks ago, my babies went through a yucky sickness. The first day they just weren't themselves, then the next 48 hour they had high fevers and just wanted to hug and rock. the 4th day they had a little more energy, and the fever broke, but were in that whinny stage and just miserable. then for the few days had horrible coughs but seemed to have their spunk back. Knightin and TJ got them separate which was nice, because they did not like to share me when they were sick. TJ went down on Knightins 4th or 5th day, so I ended up having about 2 weeks of fun and many sleepless nights as I held them and tried to comfort them. Some part of being a mom are not as easy or fun, but I love cute sweet pictures that I get when they are sick or tired. It reminds me how truly sweet they are and that they are children of God!

This picture was taken just yesterday. I had been up at the church helping my sister get ready for an adult social that night. TJ had decided to play in the drinking fountain and soak herself from head to toe and refused to keep her wet clothes on, not that I blame her. So yes my little girl was running around the church in just her diaper and a pair on panties over them. To come home since her clothes were wet, she wore her pink boots, which she loves, and her brothers jacket ( I wish I had a picture of that). When she got home she took off the jacket only, climbed up in the chair and crashed. So Cute!!

I Didn't have any pictures of Knightin when he was sick, because unlike TJ, he wouldn't let me put him down much. So I just through in one of him being cute! You can never dislike being a mom when you look back at pictures like this. It makes the bad days worth it!

"A Nose By Any Other Name Wouldn't Smell So Sweet"

Nose Mishaps

Taylar got a scrape on her nose a few days ago. We have been trying what we can to not make it worse and heal it up as quick as possible. I sore on the nose is not a fun thing for a pre-teen girl to have to deal with. It was pointed out to us yesterday that her little sore was a perfect heart. Now that doesn't happen everyday. With it being a heart, Tay is having a little more fun with it, but still wants it gone as quick as possible.

This next one is a little gross, so for all of those who get an upset stomach easy you may not want to look at the pictures. We thought it was gross, but kind of funny all the same. We had Spaghetti last night. TJ was loving it and eating really good. When she was almost done, I look over and noticed she had a good size boogie hanging out of her nose. I told her "Nice one TJ" and went to get a Kleenex. When I got up closer I noticed it looked like a piece of a noodle, and sure enough it was was. We had a little bit of a hard time getting it out, kind of slippery and all. She would suck up instead of blow out, then shake her head and do that little shiver thing. Well we finally got it and it kept coming, it was not a small little piece. How in the world did she get that up there?!? Chalk it up as a unsolved mystery. We have theories, but don't know for sure.
Hahaha, I know she will love these photos someday!!

GROSS!!!!

Finally Updating!

It's been over a month since I have updated my blog, and I even took some really fun pictures over Christmas break of our playing, but I have been really tired and have a long bout of the feeling in the dumps. So nothing but the needed got accomplished over the last several weeks. No more though, I can't let myself get in these funks anymore. I finally sat down to the computer to go through the hundreds of pictures I took over the holidays, so even though Christmas is long time past you get to see all about the McAllisters through the many pictures I have just posted. I did at least put them in collages, so that it wouldn't take days to look through them all. Christmas break was fun and we played most of it, but I was ready for life to get back on schedule.

Christmas Eve has always been a time where we get together with my side of the family. We have a big dinner that night instead of on Christmas Day. Then we have a Christ Cake to remember Christ. This is a tradition that started in my mom's family and has been going on for 50 years or so. Then several years ago my mom made Santa and Mrs. Clause Costumes and began coming to the party as well to give out the grand kid presents, this has turned into my little Downs brother doing it. He won't have a little family of his own, so he loves dressing up as Santa Clause and giving his Nephews and Nieces the presents.This year AJ (my baby brother, and Santa) has learned how to make hats on the circle looms, he took him awhile before he was able to get the concept, but now he jams on them. He decided to make everyone a hat for Christmas. The kids, siblings, in-laws, parents and Grandmother all got them. 35 hats, you go AJ!!!This is Christmas morning, we started at our house and then finished up Christmas over at the lodge at Camperworld. That is where Santa came this year.Christmas day and all but to off the days following Christmas during the break we went up to Camperworld to 4-wheel, sled, tube, snowboard and drink lots of hot Chocolate. The kids had a blast and we got a ton of fun pictures. Most of the days we had friend and/or family with us. The next several collages are a mix of us and everyone else, and all the fun we had. Also during the break I took some family and single picture of friends and families. I have been able to edit all but my brothers family so far. I'm working on his, but I needed a break from editing, so I decided to blog instead. His pictures will probably get done in the next day or so.Aren't these girls adorable. I love taking pictures of them.Stephy and her friend Nate. And no they aren't dating they are just Best Friends. I've taken Family pictures of Mindy's family already, but my kids got a hold of my camera and were playing with the setting and I didn't realize that the mega pixels were low. So I took all of their picture on 2 something mega pixels, so not good. These aren't Mindy's favorites, the boys weren't playing nice, so we are going to give in one more try in a couple of weeks. I still think it's a cute picture though.Mindy and her girls, CUTE!!

When I took Carry's family pictures we forgot to take pictures of the 6 kids together, so here is one of the shots.

So that was break. Since then we have just been trying to get back into life. I have been busy trying to get my Massage business going. Wish me Luck on that! It is slowly picking up. Also we are trying to do better with FHE and journal writing. These are 2 of our family goals for the year. So the first activity of the year was to make journal, well at least decorate them. These are what we came up with. The kids had great fun creating them and bringing out their personalities.

Knightin's, Kelten's, Todd's on the Top. TJ's is the big picture. Then on the bottom is Ki's, Mine, and then Taylar.

I've seen this Family Home Evening Board a few places now, but when I first saw it several months ago, I told Todd that is the one I needed. We like are other one, but it wasn't cute enough for me to hang in my living room, so it was in our Kitchen. The babies destroyed it! We had a little money left over after fixing our cars so I got all the pieces and put it together a few days ago. I love it and the kids think it is totally cool.

One thing I didn't like on the ones I've seen is that the just had simple nails in them to hold the name tags, so I went on a search to find cute but inexpensive hooks. I found these hooks on Amazon. They are little handmade iron hooks, and only $0.50 a piece, which still added up for such a tiny thing, but hooks at least fun cute hooks get expensive, so this was a great deal. I finished it off with upholstery nails. I just ended up getting plain round black ones, because those little sucker were more expensive then the hooks (the fancy one). So there you have are little update and picture of what we have been working on since Christmas.


Here are a couple of picture of me from Christmas Eve and and Camperworld. They aren't that great, but it proves that I do get in front of the camera once in awhile, even if not by choice. Todd steals the pictures of me!

Me, with a mad face, at Todd for taking picture. I look so glamorous in my hat

and snow clothes.