Throw Me a Freaking Bone, Here!

This morning, I went to NWACC, registered, got my book, and paid for my LAST class.
That felt good.

When I got home, I logged onto my BoiseState student account to register for a 1 credit class, the only thing that stands between me and a degree.

You are not authorised for enrollment at this time.
What? Why not?!

My graduation application has been denied, and my account suspended.
What the-!?! Why? Why!? WHYYYYYYYYYYY!!!???????!!!

Evidently, when I re-applied to BSU there was a mistake in the registrars office and when I was re-enrolled as a student there, my status was re-activated as "non-degree-seeking" so I could enroll in the 1 credit online course I need in order to graduate. She thought she was doing me a favor by accelerating my re-enrollment process, but unfortunately, I can't freaking graduate if my enrollment status is NON-degree seeking! And now, the deadline has passed for me to re-enroll as degree seeking for this semester. I don't blame the woman who helped me. It is my fault for not paying closer attention to the re-enrollment process. But it still sucks.

My options:
1) I can file an appeal to allow my status to be changed, then if it is accepted, I'll have to file an appeal for late graduation because by then the deadline will have lapsed for that, then if that is accepted, reapply for graduation.
OR
2) I can just wait until May, and re-apply to BSU AGAIN (yup for the third time) as degree seeking, and apply for graduation in December.
That's like a year from now. Another YEAR because of ONE freaking credit that I have to re-apply to the university to take. And I'm not taking it because I need the credit (I've got plenty to spare), I need the one credit from BSU so I can reestablish a catalog year to graduate under, because my catalog year expired in Spring of 2009.

I've cried a lot today.

At this point, all I know is that when I DO get that degree, (whenever that may be) I'm going to frame it. Yeah, I know most people don't frame their "useless" Associate's Degrees, but I'm going to. I'm going to frame the crap out of it, and then I'm going to hang it on the wall next to Aaron's Bachelor's Degree as a shrine to his hard work and my scrappy determination.

Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?

Aaron: Hey girls, who locked this door? Was it you, Reese?
Reese: Me? Noooooo, [laughs] I think Quincy did it.
Aaron: I think it was you.
Reese: [smiling] nope.
Aaron: Reese, tell me the trutth
Reese: What? I a-am.
Aaron: If you're telling the truth, then why are you smiling so big?
Reese: Uhhhh...."I just like smiling. Smiling's my favorite".

I'm starting to think Aaron's gift of perfectly coined movie quotes is hereditary

Reminder

Dear kids,
We love you a lot.

Love,
Mom and Dad

"Oooooooh In Ma House"

This is the home I grew up in
Isn't it beautiful?
Houses have been on my mind for weeks.

My parents moved into a new home last week. I am so excited that they are happy and that they are getting settled someplace that they love.

Today on the phone, my mom said, "oh Meg, I can't wait for you to see my house. It's really cute and it has a craft room. You'll love it."

Of course I will love it, my mom is the queen hostess. It will be no surprise to anyone who's met her that her new place is just darling.

I lived in the same home (shown above) from birth until I left for college when I was 18. My parents did an excellent job of creating a home where everyone felt welcome, safe, and loved.

Since then, they have lived in large homes, small homes, rentals, and their RV. Even in stages of transition, their homes have all housed a Spirit that can be felt by anyone who enters.

I'm striving to develop this same feeling in my home.

The talk, Building Your Eternal Home by the Prophet, Thomas S Monson was just what I needed to read, today. It is right in tune with many of the recent thoughts I've been having about my home and what my aspirations as a wife, mother, and homemaker are for this new year, and forever.

Here's an excerpt from the intro
"the Master counseled, 'Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.'

Where could any of us locate a more suitable blueprint whereby we could wisely and properly build a house to personally occupy throughout eternity? Such a house would meet the building code outlined in Matthew—even a house built “upon a rock,” a house capable of withstanding the rains of adversity, the floods of opposition, and the winds of doubt everywhere present in our challenging world."

Just what I need for my little family.
My goal is to create an environment that both envelopes and projects love.
I want my children to grow up feeling the same comforts of security, acceptance, affection, and safety, that Aaron and I were both blessed to be raised with. I found inspiration in the words from our Prophet and the scriptures he cited. The entire talk is wonderful.

"Organize". "Prepare". "Faith". "Learning". "Order". "Build".

These words are literary nuggets of chocolate to me, right now, and I cannot wait to begin my feast.

Happy New Year!

Finished Projects

I know It's kind of a buzz kill to post these Christmas crafts post Christmas, but I didn't actually finish them until after Christmas, so there you go.

I made two of each, so I could give them as gifts, but gave other gifts because I didn't finish these in time. Oh well, at least I have a head start on next year!

My friend, Katie, and I get together about once a month and make something crafty. Or sometimes we just sit, talk, laugh, and eat good food while our kids play. Either way, we always have fun. Here's what we made this month:

I love the double meaning of the word, "believe" at Christmas time. I can't wait to put this on my piano next year, and tuck little sprigs of greenery between the letters. Katie used different paper, and hers turned out super cute.

The best part about these crafts is that aside from the 3 sheets of paper I purchased, they were free! And how cute is that crusty weathered picture frame? I got it for free from someone's garage sale leftovers. I've got big plans for that bad boy. I might drill a few 1 inch holes in the top of the Merry Christmas block, so it can hold candles...but I dunno....it won't seem right if my "Merry Christmas" block ends up looking more like a menorah. I saw a craft on a decorating blog where there were holes drilled and numbered sticks stood inside them. It was used as an advent for the kids, with the number written on one side of the stick, and a christmas activity to do written on the back of each. Or, maybe I'll hammer a cute old fashioned nail or hook to the front and hang numbered tags from it to use as an advent. Not that the Merry Christmas message and cuteness aren't enough, but it seems like the block itself is big enough that it should serve an additional purpose if it's going to sit on someone's countertop. Any suggestions? It needs something.

Well this is good.

Meg: Come on girls, pick these toys up so I can vacuum in here.

Quincy: I'll vacuum for you, Mom! [runs to the kitchen and grabs the broom]

Reese: No, no, no, Quincy....that's for sweeping. Mom is going to vacuum. It's the big vacuum. The one she never uses.

Orderly Conduct {1}

1) Headbands. I kind of (really have a problem) love them.

My bathrooms are lacking in drawer space (meaning drawers are practically nonexistent) and there are too many of them to just leave them lying loose on the bathroom counter. My friend Jerushia suggested using a large oatmeal container. I was skeptical, at first, but found that the containter can't even be seen once the headbands are on it. And I love being able to see all of my options without having to dig through a drawer, so much, that I wouldn't care if the container showed.

I received about 7 new headbands as Christmas gifts and this one is getting a little crowded, so I'll probably start another one, soon. The photo is kind of washed out, but it's actually a cute little accessory on my dresser. I am thinking of covering one with cute paper to match the girls' bathroom and putting all of their headbands on it, and storing their loose accessories inside the container. The oatmeal container is the perfect size to hold the headbands so they don't slip, but not stretch them out, either.

Large oatmeal tubs for headbands.

As my nephew, Brock, would say, "See? It's Pohfect!"

Thanks, J-ru!

2) Baby Gear

The other day I was pulling the sheets from all of the beds to launder, and I discovered a sweet little hidey hole under Quincy's bed. The drawers on her captain's bed only go halfway under her mattress, leaving an 18in x 6ft pocket of wasted space behind it. It isn't super accessible, since I have to remove the mattress to get to it, but it is the perfect place to store the items I only need to get to every couple of years, like infant gear.

I busted out my mad packing skills that I inherited from my dad...the true Master Packer, and in that tiny space, I managed to squeeze in:

-the Jumperoo

-the bassinet and changing table attachments to the pack n play

-the cradle swing

-the infant carseat and base

-the high chair

-the boppy pillow

I'm mostly excited because zero of these items easily store any other place in my house. They are odd shaped and bulky, and end up floating all over the garage, blocking the way to things I actually do need to get to from time to time.

Have a captains bed or daybed in your house? The space below it is bigger than you think!

Do you have a storage tip you'd like to share that's "just pohfect"? send me an email