18 month Canvas

So remember this:

And this:

For those of you who don't when our children reach 18 months- I'm not quite sure why we choose that age but we did- we let them paint on a blank canvas and create their own masterpiece. Kyler did it:

Eldon did it:

And today Isaac did it:

The blank canvas- yes those are his fingers- he couldn't wait to get started.

The colors he picked out:

Isaac was soo intrigued by the colors and how they mixed.
Isaac was by far the messiest! But it was so fun to see him paint his hand and then stick it on the canvas.
Here is Isaac's final result:

It's just so funny how different they each turned out and how different they all painted. Anyways it was super fun as it always is.

5th Birthday, Home Improvement, and Rantings of a Pregnant Lady

Kyler turned five today. 5!!!! I can't even believe it. He is my boy and I adore him. Seriously I don't know what I would do without him. He decided that this year he wanted a Superhero themed birthday and all his friends to come over and celebrate. We have had a fun day!The Decor- balloons, crepe paper, superhero "Pow", "Wham", "Slam", "Ker-plunk" signs, and of course the Transformer pinata. (We also decorated our Christmas Snowman- yes we are white trash and still have our Christmas lights outside . . .at least I finally unplugged them- as a superhero. Sorry no pics as of yet.)

The cake . . . didn't quite turn out as planed and there are no pictures of the back . . .but Kyler loved it and that's all that matters!

Both boys were soooo excited for the Birthday Party!!! They even wore their Superhero shirts in honor of the occasion!

Party!!!
Drawing on a shower curtain with permanent markers.
All the Superheroes that came to the party! They are all such great kids!
Gunnar, Luke, Eli, Kyler, Cole, Brody, Lily, Britt, Madi, and Aiden

Playing Don't Eat Pete! And notice how I am holding Eldon's hand, he was fast at snatching up a cheese ball and eating it though it wasn't his turn!

Eating some cake

The "Thank You" Goody cups!

Thank goodness for Travis who was my right hand man the whole party. The kids really liked him too!

After the party we opened gifts from family. Isaac took it upon himself to hand Kyler his gifts. It was very sweet!

Eldon was so pleased to be involved in the party but he couldn't hold out and feel asleep as Kyler was opening gifts.

Kyler with all his loot.

And though there are no pictures of it, we are on our way to eat Taco Salad and Potato Salad- what the Birthday Boy requested!

Home Improvement

So we have been trying very hard to fix up our basement. For a while I have wanted to paint our main floor bathroom because no matter how hard I scrubbed those walls they were filthy from previous owners. So I told Travis about it on a whim a week ago and then one day I snapped and just started it. I am proud to say that all the painting I did myself- don't look close at it. And I also wanted to do something with this beauty:

First I had to dis-assemble the frame.
Talk Travis, who actually was very onboard with the idea- to make me a new frame from some left over chair rail we happen to have downstairs. And pick a paint color. I choose this beauty:
Then I sanded it down some more and then antiqued it:
This doesn't quite do it justice but this is the final result! I am very happy with it.
Rantings of a Pregnant Lady-

Alright you can stop reading now if you would like. But I thought I'd take a minute to write a few lessons that I have learned so that I don't forget them . . . again. So the other day I went to pick up Kyler from a friends house. I love that he has so many great friends! Anyways I picked him up and as we started driving home Kyler said "Mom, when are we going to move? Because I hate our house." I was so surprised! I didn't think my children would start hating our house and stuff until they were at least in fifth grade or something. Anyways I said "Why do you hate our house?" "Well it's too small and I don't like my toys and we don't have a garage or a dog." I knew exactly how he felt. Everything . . . except the dog, were feelings that I have had for such a long time. It was hard to leave an actual home that we had in St. George and move into a townhouse. It's hard to know that we could finally have a nice house if we didn't still have that house in St. George. And yes I admit that when I go to friends homes I leave a little envious and down hearted even. But it's different to think them in your mind then having your child say it to you. And so I pulled over the van and with a lot more emotion then I expected said with tears running down my face, "Kyler I know how you feel. But do you know what? I love our home. Do you know why? Because you live there, and Papa, and Eldon, and Isaac. Everyone I love is in that home. And it keeps us dry and safe. And the things we have are not so new but they are things that we did work hard to have and we have so many memories with them. So Kyler I do understand but I love our home because it is filled with things I love."

So though my house isn't idle and I am far, far, far from perfect, my recent lesson I have come to learn and appreciate is that life is what you make it. And it all has to come from our perspective. I am not a brilliant crafter. I don't have style in any sense of wardrobe and home decor. I don't have a huge house, car, or TV. I am not a charming conversationlist with a gazillion friends. But I have a family who loves me. I have three healthy boys and a little gal on her way. I have a husband that adores me and who makes all the time in the world to be around me as much as possible. I do have friends who teach me new things all the time. And I have the gospel. So truly what more does a girl need?

Things that have made us SMILE of Late

First of all Travis went to Florida . . .
Yep the real Back to the Future car!
Yes this is Travis in the cockpit. He is the only person I know that could get himself into this situation. He was talking to a flight attendant casually who then asked him if he'd like to see the cockpit. After checking to make sure he was a legit passenger and everything, he met the pilot, sat in the cockpit with him, and even sat in the pilot seat.
Alright now on to other things. In an effort to create in my children a work ethic I've created this: Nothing fancy I know and I think that I created this up a few years ago but it is new and improved idea. See Kyler hates chores . . .who doesn't? So I was talking to some friends and one told me of an idea to take ping pong balls and write a different chore on each and every day they choose one and then once they have enough gathered they get a prize. Loved the idea! But then I started thinking . . . a bunch of ping pong balls and three boys . . . yea right. I'd be finding them all over my home. So instead I made the Chore Jar of Love and Happiness. Every morning they pick a chore- well now they love it so much they pick TWO! And after breakfast they do their chore. Then once they've completed it they put it in the other jar. Jar number 2 is used to persuade them to get their chores done. See once Jar 2 is filled they get to do something extra fun with me! Like go swimming (yikes no one go to the pool on that day!), extra fun craft, go to the museum or something out of the ordinary fun. Anyways it's working great!

Then in an effort of craftiness I made this:

It is a coat/jacket/swimsuit hanger for the children. We had a spare piece of wood hanging around the house and with some paint and hooks came together. I know it's nothing amazing but I was pretty darn proud of myself. Now I'd like to add a cute little saying on top but can't think of anything so if anyone can come up with something I'd be very grateful!!
Alright so although this is not a very flattering picture of me . . . it does make me smile. I love how Eldon is just cuddled up against his baby sister! It also makes me happy that I have a healthy little gal in there that is only eight weeks from making her debut!
My boys have been extra funny to me lately. For instance; the other day I was getting ready to go somewhere and I was wearing a cardigan. I came out and Kyler said "Mom you look beautiful. But that pink shirt is too small for you. Now I'm not saying you are fat, I'm just saying you've gotten bigger."

Eldon the other day was trying to get out of eating all of his dinner. I told him he couldn't get down until he ate it all. He then said "You're a mean mom!" "What?" I responded. He looked up and shrugged his shoulders and said "Nothing. I said Bad Guys are mean!" Since when did he learn to change words so that he didn't get into trouble?

And Isaac smiled like this when I pulled the camera out and that just made me laugh.