Making something old....'new'

So here is one of our Lazy Boy recliners. They are 5 years old. Microfiber (big thing back then) that I will never get again is now worn and from wear and oils from hands and head. They are still in VERY good shape....comfy, sturdy....just ugly! $60 a slip cover.....times 2! I figured I could do something myself for cheaper. So I was only half right. I did do it for cheaper ($25 a chair) but not by myself!

Here is my friend that told me I better not post this picture Daniel took of her....OOPS! (She looks great, doesn't she?) So Terra came over expecting (as did I) a simple 2 hour make over......5 hours later we have.......drum roll please!...............

(Kids got a hold of the camera some more!)



TA! DA! Doesn't it look FABULOUS! I am amazed and Terra's many talents! Now I can add this one to her list! I thought Kevin and I could do the other chair, but when do we have 5 hours together other than Sunday? I might have to bribe her to come back and help me. (I know you read this, Terra....so prepare yourself with an excuse!) :-)

I want to be more hands on this time so I can do it in the future. I made the mistake of throwing 2 pressure cookers of beans on to can during all this. So I kept jumping up and checking the psi!

THANKS TERRA! You are an angel! We LOVE it!

Done with Biopsies!

So Kevin, Daniel & I left for Palo Alto for the last time Sunday! (Unless some kind of surgery is needed in teh furture.) Anyhow, he had is last biopsy Tuesday! YAY! Monday morning was his clinical (doctor's visit) where he was just awed over at how well he has done the last 2 years and how great we have been at taking care of him. We know that has a little bit to do with it, but we also know he has been VERY blessed! Prayers have been answered! They did a routine ultrasound on his kidney. No signs of reflux (urine going from bladder to kidney) so we are hoping to get rid of one of his meds leaving him with 2! Wednesday we didn't have to arrive at the hospital until 9:30 am. THey didnt' require hydration via and IV this time, so we didn't have to show up at 7 am! Biopsy went perfectly.....20 minutes. Normally takes about 30-40 minutes, but they got it quick! We were up in the Short Stay Unit (SSU) after a quick recovery time....and the wait began. We have NEVER gotten out of the hosptial before 10 pm. The fellow nephrologist came in and said, "Since he has done so great in the past and is eating and peeing so well, we're gonna let you out early....how does 7-ish sound?" We were BEYOND thrilled! Kevin's parents were watching the kids for us. For those that don't know they are just starting a 3 year mission in teh Reno Temple Presidency and had to be at the temple Wednesday afternoon. So we had planned to drive as far as Sacramento at whatever time we were released from the hospital and drive the rest of the way Wednesday morning. (We are 3 hours from Sacramento.) Anyhow, we ended up driving all night and got here by 1 am! He is doing really good. Complains periodically of a little pain. That is due to the fact they they made a small incision in the skin before biopsying this time. They hve never done that in teh past. So I think it bothers him a bit.
We have now been approved to start seeing Dr. Elizabeth Talley in Oakland. It's about 45 minutes closer for us and for those of you that have followed Daniel's things all along remember she was the fellow doctor we started seeing 4 years ago. We LOVE Dr. Talley! And can't wait to see her again!

It's been a LOOOOONG time!

I am not going to try and catch up for the last few months....just the last few weeks. For Nevada Day (Halloween), since it fell on Friday and we had the day off, we went camping. Thursday was half day at school, so we had a few nights to try out our travel trailer! Kevin's parents were called to be in the Reno Temple presidency, so we camped over at Davis Creek near Reno so we could help them move in. We had such a great time! There were only about 6 other campers at the campground. And the weather wasn't too bad. Of course it was nice to have a heater and showers! We decided to "Trick or Tree". The kids would run around and find the tree Kevin was hiding behind. Then yell, "Trick or Tree", while I hid behind a tree. Then they would come find me while Kevin hid. Get the idea? It was fun! Not a TON of candy, but enough to make them happy!

Kids with their spoils!

Sammy & Daddy on a morning walk. We had to follow the dear we saw. Kids were too noisy to see more!

My cute little Daniel! I love the hand in the pocket and tip of the head. He gets his picture taken often, doesn't he?

YEP! Here is another one! His is a reindeer! See his antlers?

My goofy boyz on one of our hikes! It was in the upper 50s, so the weather was perfect!

Drop stick in on one side.......

Watch it come out the other side...... (we did this a lot!)

I caught Daniel outside the trailer standing on this rock.....recognize the movie? I'll give you a hint....that is a baby Simba stuffed animal he is holding. It was SO cute! Wish I could have recorded "The Circle of Life" song he was singing, too!

We bought those HUGE marshmallows that Wal-Mart is finally carrying. They aren't as expensive there. Anyhow, had to make HUGE smores, then. Sammy was in heaven with all that chocolate. I don't know where he got that from! (Seriously...I don't know! I dont' like chocolate!)

Anything with sugar makes Comptyn happy!

Gotta get another picture of Daniel in!

Older boys sitting aroudn teh fire! We had a great time! LOVE the new trailer!

I need your help, again

So I have a son who is a verocious reader! If anyone is familiar with the AR (Accelerated reading) program some schools use, you will undertand the C (9 years old) has over 200 points! (Each book is based on a Book Level and Point are assigned. They take a test when they have completed the book and are awarded accordingly) ANYHOW.....C has finished Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Hunger Games, Chronicles of Narnia and miscellaneous other single books. I NEED SETS! He has started Lemony Snickett.....finishing 1 book per day....he'll be done in 2 weeks! I have a few series that I will be giving at Christmas (Leven Thumps, some MacGregor series by Suzanne Collins and Fablehaven)

But I need some more ideas! He is not even 1/3 of hte way thru school yet and AUGH! I like the series books because of the fact I get a reprieve of trying to find another book for him! I just thought of the GIdeon Trilogy! Ryan has that set. And also the Eldest series. But I would LOVE any books that your children have read that are good. I like the already been tested and kept a kid's interest kind of books!

Thanks!

OH....the reason he reads so much is that he gets up WAY before everyone else does (6 am) so there is no one to play with. Kevin is off playign basketball and I am back reading scriptures. I have invited him to come read with me, but he said that reading scriptures at night is enough! :-) So he gets a good 30-45 minutes in every day.....plus reading time at school and sometimes they go to bed early to read in bed!

Calling all muffin recipes!

So my kids LOVE muffins, but I HATE paying for mixes! I have to make 3 boxes of muffins to feed my kids....granted it's only about $5, some of you may say, but that is WAY too much for a meal in my house! Does anyone have any great muffin recipes that are from things already in my house.....for example, I don't want ot have to go buy All Bran.....$5! might as well buy the muffin mix and just add water, egg & oil! So, I'd love to hear of some recipes! Just stick them in comments or email me at amylords@gmail.com. Thank you! My kids will thank you, too!

And I DO intend to get blogging again! I have a TON of pictures and things we have been doing. Luckily I am keeping up my journal, so I'll remember what the picturs go to! :-) Have a super day!

PS The muffins don't have to be healthy.....just delicious!

Tasting Table...my house!

So I have a home based business, for those of you that don't know. It's called Alison's Pantry. It is like walking into Sam's or Costco and buying food and other products. Anyhow, I am having an open house Friday, Nov 19th from 6-8 at my house for anyone interested in coming to try some of our products. There will be LOTS of door prizes and food to sample. Please don't feel obligated to buy anything...just come by and sample some of our products. I went to a food show in Utah in September and tried a LOT of new things that I am going to have at this year's Tasting Table. Anyhow, hope to see you there! Let me know if you have any quesitons!