fabulous fabric flowers

Linsey at Voila is to blame for this new obsession.

The perfect corsage for Fall:


I've seen pillows at Anthropologie like this:


To adorn my daughter's head:


The fabulous thing about this project is that it takes very little material, so if you save your scraps like I do it costs nothing at all to whip out several of these at a time! The one on the bottom, left, is actually made from scraps of handkerchiefs!

If you want instructions on how I made these, let me know. There are also instructions at Linsey's blog, although I changed a few things in the way that I did mine. :)

family value wall

I've seen several versions of this idea, all of which I have loved. It's taken me a while to come up with my own rendition, one that I felt was beautiful and artistic and meaningful to our family. So we discussed what things we wanted the "Rogers Family" to be known or recognized for. As the kids tossed out their ideas we found some scriptures to support them and made a list.

Here's how the wall turned out:



It's in my stairwell where the kids see it each morning as they descend, close to THIS picture display of their ancestors, which I also feel is important for them to see regularly. (I couldn't get a better picture of the wall in context because of the way our stairs wind, it's quite large - about 3x5 ft.)

They comment on it from time to time, to tell me of ways in which they've represented our family well. I'm so happy they see the importance in having values and in standing for something.

Thoughts on General Conference

I loved Conference, as always. The talk that has stood out in my mind is Elder Eyring's talk on family. He talked about the importance of love - husband for wife, child for sibling, child for parent. He didn't say "The perfect family has no challenges. The perfect family has perfect children in it and perfect parents." He indicates that the perfect family (or one striving for perfection) is one that is built on love. I don't know why that struck such a chord with me, I guess I have been feeling discouraged by my willful children lately, and ashamed of my heated reactions to them. But the Lord knows how I love those children. Aside from my husband they are my life. I would give anything, do anything - for them, for my husband, for my family. It is comforting to know that even with all that love there are going to be challenges, and that's okay. So long as we continue to show our love for one another.

Just the reassurance I need right about now.

The value of friendship

I'm really enjoying a time in my life when I can cultivate close friendships again... not the kind that's based on the fact that your kids get along well, but the kind that's based on enjoying the same things, on having the same interests and goals. You know, those things that you tend to let slip away when you first become a mom?

Finding friendship again has been such a blessing in my life, and I wonder how I got by for so long without it. It was very important to me as a child, I was kind of shy but I adored my friends. Came out of my shell finally in high school and then began forming my best, most lasting friendships. Staying in touch with friends has always been important to me, I not only loved writing letters but also calling them on the phone. Sunday nights my freshman year were for talking to friends and family. I looked forward to it so much! But I've written and called less and less, especially with those that did not go on to have children. Because motherhood is all consuming and for a good few years it really is all you can think about. So relating to others in your shoes is very important. And being reminded of your "former" life can be very discouraging, at least on the difficult days. But I still appreciate, am eternally grateful for, the value those friendships added to my life at that time, and in that season.

I think online forums, facebook, twitter, blogging and all those new forms of communication are so popular among young moms because it is much easier to sit down and type out a sentence or two at a time about what you are thinking than to actually get through a real conversation. As sad and impersonal as that sounds. Any mom knows how frustrating it is to get on the phone for 15 minutes only to discover that in that time your child has dumped an entire bottle of shampoo out on the bathroom floor. It's just not worth it.

But my children are older now, they are all in some from of schooling and I have time to myself again. They are also more independent, so if I want to go out on a weeknight with my friends my husband doesn't feel like I am dumping on him. There is a sense of freedom that comes with older chidlren, although it doesn't get any easier being a parent. Your focus just shifts from the physical needs to more of the mental and emotional needs of your children. And you can then put more physcial energy into yourself. I'm really loving that.

So to my sisters who are still in that phase of mothering where they feel like friendship has been squeezed out of their life, or that motherhood dictates where and to what extent their friendhips exist, hang in there. I know you know that it's worth the sacrifice. I know you are grateful for your children and that you love them. I know that you appreciate the women in your life who are going through the same things that you are. But I also know that you are wondering when the time will come again that you can run off for the weekend with your peeps. Your soul sisters. The ones that like to do all the same crazy things you do, read all the same crazy books you do, and listen to all the same crazy music you do. The time WILL come, and your conversations will stimulate your intellect and your creativity and have nothing to do with lack of sleep or potty training! And to my soul sisters, they know who they are, you are such jewels. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for listening to me, encouraging, inspiring, stengthening, and reassuring me. Thanks for making me laugh until I cry. Thanks for the fashion advice. ;) And thank you for bringing true friendship back into my life!

Disney World!

Last week I gave my 3 year old the surprise of her life by taking her to Disney World. She's going through the princess phase, so this was a huge deal for her (and me, I was on the verge of tears watching her take it all in). We had a wonderful time, it was very hot, and we got caught in a downpour our 2nd night there, but we had so much fun. Fortunately I have a cousin with a daughter Sasha's age that lives in Orlando, so we all went together and breezed through the parks and rides due to their familiarity with everything. Otherwise I might not have been able to pack as much in as I did!

Here are some pictures!

Sasha and Angelina looking at their matching shoes... and ready to leave for the park!



First stop, the carousel! Look how happy she is. :)



Listening to Belle tell her story...



... and then getting her autograph!



Posing with the teapots by the Mad Hatter Tea Cup ride.



Alas, she meets the princesses!







We waited a while to meet Ariel, and it was very dark so the pictures were awful. But she sure is cute in her Ariel costume!



She was in awe of Cinderella's castle.



Day 2, not as many pictures, but we HAD to go back on the carousel!



So tired... (and hot, and sweaty...)



I enjoyed spending this one-on-one time with my "baby"!