Halloween Party

What is up with the lack of posts?

So, I have been semi-busy with something new and exciting...refinishing & painting furniture! I think it is fun and I have been checking out every blog and book available to learn what to do and how to even turn a profit. So, I can officially say now that I have a small mini-business of redoing furniture. It's called "Preloved Furniture" and you can check out my projects on my personal artsy blog at creativejojohnson.blogspot.com.
So Calder has been enjoying school and soccer this fall. I signed him up for a program called SoccerTots that teaches skills and coordination with soccer, but they don't compete or have to wear soccer gear. It was a really good program for his first "real" sports experience which make me much more confident he will excel next year on a soccer team and not have to learn skills and the rules in one season. Here are some photos of his last practice.

The boys also did a lot of yard/garage sales this summer and two items obtained at these yard/garage sales were finally nice enough to be placed in each of their rooms - with pride from the boys and disdain from me.
(Note: no animals were harmed by my children in the production of these decorations)

Yes, that is exactly what you find at yard/garage sales in Montana. At least my children didn't want any with faces on them - so not allowed in my house.

Sister Swap - and my super lateness

Okay so our month has been a little crazy with moving and all and I am just getting around to doing this "Sister Swap" recipe thing. The theme for September was BBQ so here is a chicken winger/thigh recipe that we really like and you can freeze them in bags and save them for another time if you don't eat all of them in one sitting - like Jeff does.

Oven BBQ Chicken
2 1/2 lbs. chicken w/ bones (we like to do the mini-thighs)
1 Tbsp. oil
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic
3/4 c. bottled sweet chili sauce (found the in asian section of the grocery store)
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. soy sauce (we always buy the reduced sodium)
1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
1/4 tsp. red pepper

- Put the chicken, oil, onion and garlic in a BIG pot/pan and brown the chicken a little just by stirring it up every once in a while
- Then add the rest of the ingredients on top of everything and bring to a simmer then remove from heat
- Take some tongs and place the chicken on a broiler pan or a cookie sheet lined with tin foil
- Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes (serves our family of 4, so if you want to save any for later you should make some more)

There you go Kricket, April & Bethany! I wonder what October's theme will be?

We moved!

Sorry we have been quite MIA lately but we have been really busy with Jeff's new job, Calder going back to school and moving into our own apartment! Here are some pictures - we'll post new photos of when everything is in its proper place.

 Front (we have made it look this nice)

 Entry way (left)

 Family Room (our room for now)

 

Back yard

 Entry way (right)

 Living/Dining/Kitchen area

 Laundry room (and our new W/D mismatched set)

 Calder's room

 Phaelen's room

 Living/Dining room again

 Master bedroom (under construction)

 Master vanity (well it will be)

 Master toilet (no worries the pet door in the wall will be gone)

 Master tub/shower

The semi-happy boys of the household

So there you have it...apartment C in Lolo. We will give everyone an updated address and phone number probably next month when our landlord gets the mailbox up for us and we get our internet and phone figured out as well. A huge bonus about living here is that the two neighbors upstairs are both in our ward at church and have young kids. It is great to be living on our own - but it's even better to have Jeff working his dream job everyday!