Back at It

Here is is now the middle of November.  I began working on these cute advent calendars for each of our children's families in September.  I got waylaid in October helping part of the children with home construction projects.  I have painted and laid tile while Sam my sweetheart has laid hardwood flooring.  I think we have gotten the kids to where they can take over and do most everything else on their own.

So now I am back at it.  Today I am going back to my sewing project and will try and get these advent calendars done before Christmas.  The kids will just have to have them for next year.  They take so much sewing and hand work.  But I figure it will be something that they can hand down to each generation if they take good care of them.

I have made these before for my brother and 2 sisters and their families and my husbands brother and sisters and their families.  The patterns are older, but timeless.  Before when I made them, I would make one a year due to the time they take.  However, this time I am making 4 at once.  I am making 2 of each so I need to get busy and really get going to get them done.  When I get them done I will post the pictures as these are just of the pattern books and you really can't see how cute they are. 

I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving.  This year I have so much to be thankful for.  My family is doing well and they are happy.   It is the beginning of the Holidays and today I am pretty excited for them!  I know it sounds crazy, but as I look outside at the snow I am ready for this!!

Children TV Programs vs Reality

When I first got married, I thought that after your children grew up that you really didn't have to worry about them much.  This was based on my experience with my own mother.  I thought that she worried waaay to much about us.  Here we were married and making our way in life.

Well, needless to say, my own children are mostly grown up and moved out.  My youngest is serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are Mormons (click here if you'd like to know more about us), and will be home in April.  So she is still considered at home.  However, my 2 sons and our other daughter are all married with children.

So what is this post about you ask.  Well, I have to say that I am quickly gaining an understanding of where my own mother came from.  You raise your children and hope that they learn what it is that you taught.  I thought I taught my children common sense.  I guess a couple of my children skipped that lesson.  We have since been teaching it to on of them again.

This all began a month or so ago.  Our son bought a new (to him) home.  Not 30 minutes after closing on said home, he began demolishing the interior of the home.  He removed walls, gutted bathrooms so that plumbing could be moved, tore out flooring.  He thought he could be in that home in 30 days.  I think this is due to their (he and his wife's) constant watching of HGTV programs where they go in demo a house and make it move-in ready for the people in a matter of weeks.  Well, they (the TV people) have huge crews that do all of the work.  So crazy us, we have been painting, laying flooring, laying tile and cheering our son on in this work.  They have moved into the home but are without a real bathroom.  They have a toilet and sink that work in the basement, but no shower or tub, no kitchen sink, some of their electricity doesn't work, they have no cabinet doors yet, and no window coverings for privacy.  Now I know why my mother worried.

On the bright side, my son did say the other night while we were laying tile, "wow, I learned my lesson.  I would never have done this demo this way again.  I would have moved in and taken it in steps."  (Choir singing Hallelujah!)  I think our teaching is done this time.  Now it is just a matter of prayer that they can complete the huge amount of work left to do.

I love my children.  I worry about them and pray for them.  My family is my world!  They make me smile and give me so much joy.  I love to see them learn and progress.  Thank Heavens I don't always know what they are doing.  I think I would be a worried mess all of the time!!  Thanks MOM!!