September Happenings

Y'all, fall is finally here.  

Right now I'm sitting at my kitchen table with all the windows and back door open feeling very...content.  Not in a "my life is perfect" kind of way (cause it's obviously not), but in a "life is good" kind of way.  Who says life has to be perfect to be great, anyway? 

This is all sounding very rainbows and unicorns, I know, but bear with me.

I love the changing seasons, but especially summer to fall.  I look forward to the excuse to make pumpkin bread (although I'm the only one who eats it), visit pumpkin patches, burn spice-scented candles, layer my clothes, change the decor around the house, and start planning for the three holidays coming up.  

Of course with our growing family, fall also means a huge change in our daily routine.  That has been a welcome change as well, for the most part.  Boston is thriving being back in school, and I am settling into a nice daily routine with just the two little boys (for now!) at home.  Both big boys are playing t-ball, Jamie recently got called to the Young Men's presidency so he has activities every week, and I am nesting like a crazy person.  Baby A will be here in just a few weeks (if she comes early like all of her brothers...heaven willing!) and I feel both ready to not be pregnant anymore and not at all ready to have four children at the same time. 

And in phone-dump style, here are the day-to-day happenings lately:

Hudson learns to climb

At 14 and 1/2 months old, Hudson is still not walking.  He takes after both his brothers in this area! He is a speed crawler and can stand on his own (even standing up in the middle of the room), but isn't ready to take a step on his own yet.  He can, however, climb any object with a ledge.  

Exhibit A: the kitchen chairs

 

Exhibit B: the podium at church.

Exhibit C: the windowsill 

Not pictured: the changing table bottom shelf, Cade's bed, the dishwasher, the bottom drawer of any dresser, and the most impressive (and frightening): the kitchen counter.

Often his climbing escapades are not witnessed, but in every case he climbs up and then immediately starts yelling for me to come rescue him because he usually can't get down.  He's not too happy about me snapping his picture instead of retrieving him right away.

Hudson eats everything in sight
He out-eats his brothers sometimes.  He is getting picky about what he likes, but if he likes it, he will eat it in large quantities.

Cade and T-ball
Two things:
1. Is there anything cuter than little boys in over-sized baseball pants and caps?
2. Cade is not a fan yet.

With one practice and one game behind us, I am learning this:  It's hard for me to see my children upset.  It's hard to know how much to push them outside their comfort zones for their own good.  Trying new things is hard for Cade until he feels totally comfortable with them.  But it's through trying new things and succeeding and conquering fears that we stretch and grow.  Cade needs a lot of encouragement to come out of his shell, but once he does, he thrives.

The first game went about as well as the first practice...lots of resistance and tears at first, but little glimpses of this may turn out alright in the end.

With lots of moral support from his Daddy, he did eventually come out of the dugout for one inning and cautiously went up to bat.  He hit the ball and walked the bases with Jamie.  (Actually, technically, Jamie had to kind of drag him to first base, but after that each base got a little easier!) I wish I would have gotten video of him coming home.  He was actually running and smiling! I was too busy chasing Hudson around!

I was proud of him for participating in spite of his fear, so we went to QT for icees on the way home.  That definitely erased any bad feelings about t-ball!

Let me just say, thank goodness we decided to put off pre-school for now.  I think we can only handle one major new thing at a time! 

First Grade

Boston told me recently he thinks 5th grade will be the best grade.  Why? Because first grade is even more fun than kindergarten, so each grade must be better than the last! I love his enthusiasm for everything he does!

Last week he got to bring a teddy bear to school on Friday, and the parents were invited to attend their "teddy bear parade"as the culminating activity in their unit on teddy bears.  The unit focused on families, communities, being good citizens, etc.  Part of that was practicing both public speaking and being a good audience member, so each child got to go up to the mic and introduce himself and his bear.   

 You would have thought bringing that bear to school was the best thing that ever happened to him, the way he talked about it all week and debated which bear to bring.

Nesting

I think it's a combination of the changing seasons and my due date growing closer...but I am definitely in full blown nesting mode.  August brought some serious purging and organizing of all the closets in the house.  September has been all about cleaning, projects, and decorating.  

Printing off pictures from the last few months and updating some frames around the house:

Baking (these brownie bites with Reese's peanut butter cups did not last long):

Going through piles and piles of baby girl clothes from my baby shower and hand-me-downs from Erin:

Making a mobile for Baby A, which hung over her cradle for half a night before Jamie ripped it down because he could not tolerate the rustling noise...now it's over the changing table in Hudson's room!

Getting the cradle and changing table ready (and organizing all the bows and headbands...because sister's going to be wearing an accessory at all times, of this I am sure.)

Jamie was there too

Whenever I write an update like this, I always feel bad leaving out the hubs.  He is, of course, around too! He is serving with the youth now and learning to love the boys.  He has been the driving force behind the boys and their t-ball teams.  He is an assistant coach for Boston's team and basically Cade's personal coach=) He tolerates all my projects without too much complaining when I get rid of something important or ask him to get something out of the attic at 7am.  He's just not around during the days for me to photograph and document!

It's going to be a good fall, for sure.  

July 8

Me: "Hey boys, want to play with this box? Won't that be super fun?"

Jamie:  gathering 4 larger boxes, duct tape, pocket knife..."Stand back everyone." 

The result: hours of fun in "the rocket ship," which features a flap door, 2 turns, and a periscope with 3 windows.

The mother of all box forts.

That's why he's the favorite.

{I'm posting an iphone picture each day in July.  See them all here.}

July 5

The best thing that has happened to my house this summer:

4:15pm: The swimwear was hung by the bathtub with care, in hopes that this mama soon would never have to see wet towels and suits all over her bathrooms again.

(Idea totally stolen from this creative friend.)

{I'm posting an iphone picture each day in July.  See them all here.}

New Bunk Beds

After downloading all our Utah pictures, I found these pictures were still on my camera from last month when we got the boys bunk beds! In preparation for the new baby, we've been wanting to get the boys new beds to free up some space in their small bedroom. They were so excited when they came in and Daddy put them together!

Boston helped by dust-busting as we moved things around. {check out the dust and cobwebs in the window...yikes!}

Patiently waiting while Dad started to get the pieces out...

Now the real fun begins, playing in the trash! (I would later regret letting them demolish all that styrofoam...it was literally everywhere!)
Love this mid-air shot! A bunch of boxes and a pile of styrofoam trash really does make the best playground!
So excited for their new beds!

Projects

I love doing projects with the boys. Project days usually mean lazy mornings staying in pjs well past noon, making big messes and sweet memories. They usually slip seamlessly into quiet afternoons drawing pictures on the driveway with sidewalk chalk and riding scooters around the block. They are sweet days that I'll cherish when my little boys are much too old to sit at the kitchen table and paint, or stand on stools and cook with me.

On this day, Boston had one of those kits that included a bunch of unpainted wooden pieces and some paint and glue. After all was said and done, he had globbed so much paint on each tiny piece, we couldn't really get it put together {I think it was supposed to be a cannon or some kind of weapon...} but the fun was all in the painting!

Cade was content to play with markers while Bossy painted.
Boston concentrates so hard when gets in the zone=)

Over this last weekend, we all had the plague. {the plague=fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or for the really lucky ones, all of the above!} The boys and I were sick on Friday and Saturday, while Jamie had it the worst on Sunday. So while Jamie was quarantined in the bedroom, the boys and I stayed in pjs all day, read stacks of books, and baked cookies.

Boston made this funny chef's hat at pre-school for a cooking lesson they did, and now every time he cooks with me, he wants to wear it along with his apron. Occasionally he lets little bro borrow the coveted hat so they can both be chefs! Quite the dynamic duo.

Cade loves pointing out the animals on this placemat.

Boston: "Mommy, take a picture of me with my eyes closed!" (weirdo...like I don't already have enough pictures of him with his eyes closed!)





When we got started baking the cookies, Cade pretty much immediately got tired of that and decided playing in the sink was way more fun!
And he quickly lured Boston into joining him!

Siblings are so fun. These two are getting to be so close, and it reminds me of my sis and I when we were little: inseparable. They are best buddies. It's really nice that the older they both get, the more they play together and the less they need me to entertain them. Although I do have to act as referee sometimes, they usually play nicely together. Actually what happens more often than not is they will play in the same room, but independently. Each in his own little world of trains or Toy Story or store, but playing side by side in case a partner in crime is needed!

So to summarize: love my boys, love projects, love my life.

Nighty night.

Penguin Cookies

Boston was asked to bring the snack to preschool today. They have been learning about penguins all week, so when I found the idea for these penguin cookies made out of oreos and candy, I knew they'd be perfect! They were so simple, and Boston had fun helping me decorate them. Check out our cute little creations!

Family Home Evening Revamped

I remember being touched by Elder Bednar's talk in General Conference a few years ago, entitled, "More Diligent and Concerned at Home" (read the whole thing here). I especially liked this analogy:

In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.

Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes.

We struggle with having consistent Family Home Evenings. I have a few excuses, but I'm not going to list them because they are just that--excuses. After being reminded of this talk and the importance of being consistent in Family Home Evening, I have set a goal to make that a priority in our home again. Even if our "lesson" is just one verse of scripture and our song is ABC's, I know we will all benefit from the consistency and the time dedicated to being together.

Tonight we had a great Family Night (I work almost every Monday night so we are doing our FHE's on Wednesdays for now). We sang ABC's, I read the quote above, and then we did a craft project. We made a Family Home Evening assignment board of sorts. I want everyone in the family to participate in their own way, and I think this is a visual reminder throughout the week so we can be thinking about our assignments. This is on the side of our fridge and our faces have magnets on the back so we can rotate jobs.

I like mine the best. I think she looks sassy...

Boston got to glue all his pieces on (thus the crooked hair) and Cade got to help with his eyes too. Afterwards we played hide-and-seek in the dark with flashlights. Everyone was giggling by the end of the night. And that what it's really about. In the past I have slacked on FHE because I felt like I had to prepare a big lesson. Then when I didn''t have time to prepare anything, we just ended up not doing anything at all. But I think it's nights like these--Cade squealing when he finds Daddy curled up in his crib or Boston finding me thanks to Cade yelling, "Bossy! look!" from our hiding spot--that we'll all remember!

Family Rules...with instructions!

I go through phases of crafting. Lately I have been feeling kind of gloomy, so I decided I needed to keep busy with a new project. I have been wanting to make this Family Rules board that I've seen before. So yesterday I went for it! The best part was that I already had all the supplies except the brown paint I needed for the canvas.

I asked for input from the family on what rules we should put on there. Jamie wanted "Always scratch Daddy's back" and "No whining." I asked Boston what some of our family rules are and he said, "don't have your shoes on in the house." That one didn't make the list, sorry!

These are the rules I picked (some I made up and some I copied from others who have done this project)

Love the LORD thy God

It's okay if things are hard-we can do hard things

Always scratch Daddy's back

Use your manners-yes, please...no, thank you

Always help Mommy-many hands make light work

Sing silly, dance crazy, hug often, say I Love You

Be creative at all times

Share everything except bad ideas

Support eachother-no whining

Be clean, Be smart, Be involved, Be positive

Always tell the truth. Keep your promises

Say your prayers...Thank Heavenly Father for this family

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PS: I made this on a 20x24 canvas. I painted it, then wrote the rules on strips of scrapbook paper and modge podged them on. Since I was using 12 x 12 paper, I had to piece two strips together, but you can barely see the seams. If I had a Cricut or some other way to get cute fonts on there I would have used that, but I don't so I just printed the words off and then traced them on to my scrap book paper strips. (Yes that part was tedious but I survived.) If you have good handwriting you could just write them on there but I don't trust myself!

Here's the link to the instructions I followed. She has lots more details and suggestions. I told you I copied! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

Family Rules Board Instructions

Chore Chart from Hades

I have been wanting to make Boston a chore chart for a while now. (Actually it was just a few days ago that I came up with the idea, but I have been on a project frenzie lately so I had to just get it done and get it out of my mind so I could check at least one thing off my list.)

This little diddy took me 2 and 1/2 hours to make. Oh how I wish I was kidding about the time it took. I usually consider myself pretty competent when it comes to the computer. Not necessarily computer-savvy, but I can pretty much do what I need to do.

Well...I spent nearly an hour searching various customizable (is that a word?) chore chart websites, but couldn't find one that had pictures quite like I wanted.

Then I abandoned that search and just decided to search for clip art and put them in a Word document. My stress level started to climb as I struggled to format it exactly how I wanted it. Then I tried Excel, thinking it would be easier to format. I'm not even going to go there because just thinking of the frustration makes my blood start to boil again.

So the final product is a low-tech, ghetto version of what I had pictured in my mind.

Good ol' cut and paste onto cardstock! I took pictures of the things he and I wanted on the chart, then I printed them off in thumbnail size and glued them on. Yes, it took 2 and 1/2 hours and (probably 5 years off my life due to the stress ) but it's ALL worth it because right now Boston is in the bathroom brushing his teeth by himself, and he just yelled to me, "Mommy, after I brush my teeth we need to do my schoolwork!"

Boston, you're my favorite child right now.

(Oh, and see how today's stickers are in Sunday's column? He couldn't grasp leaving the first three columns blank and skipping to Wednesday. Maybe during schoolwork today we'll talk about days of the week!)

We are Grateful

This year it has really been important to me for Boston to start learning and applying gospel principles and values that will stay with him for the rest of his life. For the month of November we did a family gratitude tree. It was such a big hit, we will definitely bring it back next year. I found a small branch with lots of "character" and stuck it in a flower pot with sand and then put beans on top to look like dirt. Throughout the month, usually at mealtime, we talked about what we were grateful for and wrote it on a tag to hang on our gratitude tree.

The first day when I asked Boston what he was grateful for, he said, "I know! Heavenly Father!" He was so excited for me to write it and hang it on our tree. Then the next day when I asked him again what he was grateful for, he said, "Mom, I already told ya...Heavenly Father!" (like, seriously mom, keep up!) So I was worried that he wouldn't really understand, but once he realized it was about recognizing all our many blessings, he really got into it. I was really impressed each day with the things he came up with. Although he repeated some, he mostly thought of new ones each day, and we never had to give him suggestions.

So for the sake of record-keeping, here's what was found on our gratitude tree:

Boston is grateful for...

Heavenly Father

Taking baths (but not getting my hair washed)

President Monson

My family and Manny & Papa

My brother, Cade

my mommy

my food

Mawmaw and Grandpa

Sister Beal (his nursery teacher)

my trains

my Dad

going to the zoo

Jace and Bear (his friends)

Ashley is grateful for...

eternal families

two healthy kids

babies cuddling and falling asleep in my arms

parents who taught me the gospel

a comfortable, peaceful home

my talents

technology, most of it

time spent with family for the holidays

beautiful fall weather

Erin

my education & a good job

Callie (a good friend of mine, Jace and Bear's mom!)

a supportive husband

Jamie is grateful for...

My smokin' hot wife (I promise he wrote that, not me!)

our house

my talents

the gospel

my family

health

my two little buddies

Obviously we didn't do it everyday, but it was a great way for us to reflect on the many ways we have been blessed. Our tree was full!

Creating

I have been a lazy blogger lately! I worked 3 days last week, I guess that's my excuse. I am loving the changing seasons. It always makes me feel refreshed and have a renewed desire to make my home and myself better. I love the talk Elder Uchtdorf gave last year at the Relief Society Broadcast, where he said "As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you." I have been wanting to get some area rugs and/or paint some more rooms in our house, but since none of the above grows on trees, I just settled for doing some organizing and redecorating. (And by redecorating, I mean I just moved some things from room to room and revamped some old Halloween decorations.) I love having a simple, clean, tidy, peaceful home. Of course this is not always possible with 2 little ones messing things up faster than I can clean them! After I finished a few projects this morning, I took a few pictures just so I'd have something to put on my blog, like this:(Copied this from a display at Michaels-just put orange paper in a glass vase and put a jack-o-lantern face on the front...I LOVE easy projects!)


(I bought some Halloween paper at Hobby Lobby last week when it was on sale so today I covered a mat and then cut out the letters to make this from an old frame I had in the hall closet)

And then when I was putting the pictures on the computer I found these pictures that Mom took Saturday morning while I was sleeping. Much cuter than my projects, I'd say!






And then I realized there will be years for having a nicely decorated house. There will be a time when everything is more organized it because there are no babies around to mess it up. There will be a time when we can afford to have a house with colored walls.

But for now, my house is mostly decorated with toys and sippy cups. I spend my days looking for misplaced trains and Elmo's. My walls are mostly white with a few scuffs and handprints.

For now I focus on shaping two precious little lives. Teaching them, making sure they get enough exercise and eat enough vegetables, and trying not to let them watch too much TV. It's just the season of life I am in.

And I love it.