Christmas Moments!

Having kids makes Christmas 100 times more magical! The anticipation, excitement, and pure joy is something only children can create with sheer innocence. Here are a few of our favorite moments over Christmas this year!!!

Owen's first gift of Christmas: a special Ninja Turtle Drawing and Activity book!

Elijah's first gift of Christmas: A Batman watch!

Lunch with the kiddo's Great Grandparents!

A game of Checkers with Aunt Jenny.

Uncle James shows Owen how to play pool.

A couple of cold sisters huddled after seeing the eagles soar over the lake!

 We live in an amazing place!!!

Christmas dinner!

Christmas dinner at the kid's table!

Cousins in their Jammies!

Green Lantern became an instant beloved gift!

My littlest critter, reading Little Critter with his Little Critter!

William (and all the other kids) really loved this toy!

Me and my three boys!

We had William open the pots and pans first... and then showed him where he could put them... Check out the cuteness!

What a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Toddler Kitchen DIY! Merry Christmas!

A couple of months ago, when I started thinking about Christmas, I decided William (our 2 year old) would really love a little kitchen. He is always at my knees when I am cooking, and sometimes can be kept occupied by a box of spoons and pans, etc. But how much better would it be if he had his very own little kitchen to play with!

Of course, I wanted to make it myself! Knowing my boys, those plastic ones wouldn't last long, and just aren't as cool, (or as boy friendly). I wanted to make a kitchen that was built for boys, sturdy, fun, and with everything a kitchen needs!

I will take you through some pictures to tell the story of how our lovely little kitchen came to be.

After searching craigslist... and a few contacts falling through (can't rely on strangers, I guess... ha ha) we found this table for $20. It was a little more than I wanted to pay, but it was the perfect size for this project, and it worked out for us to get it.

Step one: we cut a hole for the "sink."

Here is what it looks like with the sink in the hole. We found this metal bowl at the thrift store, and made the hole just barely smaller than it. I like the effect!

Note: keep those extra wood pieces in mind for the last picture I am going to share with you.

For the faucet:

We looked at several options, including a real faucet, but all were too expensive, even at thrift stores and used places. This is a plumbing part. I thought it looked like a faucet... especially after we spray painted it metallic silver! (which works really well in a paper bag, by the way)! It won't move like a real faucet, but it does the job!

The oven door!

I was so excited to find this perfect piece! It was on a coffee table of some kind looking like it was headed for the dump, outside a thrift store. Yep, they were going to toss it, and gave us the whole table for fifty cents! I love a good deal! I kind of wanted to keep the original hardware, but that little knob thing wouldn't open and close like an oven, and I thought would be too complicated for a toddler. So it had to go.

After taking off the hardware, I taped the sides of the glass, then taped a paper bag over the glass to prevent any paint from getting on it.

Here's the fabulous silver metallic spray paint job!

Back to the table itself... we sanded it, and decided to spray paint it a plain white. Boring, I know. It was tempting to do a real pop of color, but we agreed on white. It is classic.

I have to say, it looks pretty great all spray painted!

Here are all the parts layed out before we put them on. We found most of them at the Habitat for Humanity store for very cheap. Two sink knobs, two stove knobs, the oven pull, and three hooks for the side to hang things on.

This is just a close up of where things are going. I found it helpful to mark each thing, so hubby knew where to drill. We worked as a great team on this, which made it even more exciting and special!

Here is a close up of the top before the faucet it on. I traced a small bowl to get the burner sizes, and then used some grey paint to give it a swirl design. The knobs are on. I left them a little unscrewed so that they can remain moveable- to turn "off" and "on."

Ta-da! here it is all finished!!! The front view! Doesn't the door look great?

the sink shelf has some storage space so I put a few bowls with play-food on it.

I had to have a magnet board on the side! the kids love playing with magnets, so it seemed the perfect thing to add! The hardware store sells small sheets like this one for pretty cheap... $4 or $5?

I made a few little pot holders to go on the hooks out of placemats from the dollar store! And I love this little cream cup that we found at the thrift store! So cute, right!

And now, if you remember those extra pieces of wood that I referenced earlier... this is what we used those for! The hole that was cut for the sink, left us with the pieces, and I just saw pizza instantly! A little red paint, and some white puff fabric paint, and you've got a cheese pizza! I added some mod podge just to coat it. I think it all turned out pretty cute!

I cannot wait to give it to our little William on Christmas!!! We also got a few extra pans and wrapped them up for him! Now he will have the perfect little spot to play.

I may have to post a few pictures of him using it!

The baby Weight... uhg!!!

Two years, ago Martin found me crying in the closet. It was a Saturday morning, and I was trying to find something to wear. Nothing fit. William was only a couple months old, and it was getting too cold for my summer maternity clothes, besides the fact that I wanted desperately to be done with them! The frustration of it all mixed with my crazy hormones had me in a puddle on the floor, completely hopeless.
Then my sweet, good intention driven husband suggested we get some new clothes that would fit. To me that felt like more defeat. I wanted to fit into the clothes that were already in my closet, the clothes that belonged to my previous body. That however, couldn't possibly be a reality. The body I was in had other requirements. Constant access to the boobs, for one. Let's face it, not every shirt allows for that. Some of this was familiar, obviously. This was my third baby, it should be "old hat," right? Wrong. The emotions that came with dealing with all of this felt brand new, though I knew they would come and I knew the frustrations of nothing fitting, and wanting to be back to a size that fits into something with a waist. Still, the hopelessness was overwhelming.
Finally, I allowed Martin to coax me into going to a thrift store to look for something to wear. I felt too guilty buying new clothes for this weird in-between phase that my body was going through. This is by far the worst body phase. No longer looking cute pregnant, but kind of fat pregnant because the belly is still there and the extra pounds that have distributed themselves... everywhere haven't gone away.
The thrift store didn't really help. I actually felt more depressed, because I had to buy a size larger than I had ever bought before. I obviously couldn't shop in the maternity section anymore, so moving up in size was the only option. oy. that was tough! but I got through it. I guess I have always had some body issues, what woman doesn't?
On the good days, though, the days when I could stay in my sweats and recognize the beauty and the miracle of what my body had gone through, those were the days that got me through. I reminded myself that my body was strong, that for ten whole months it provided the perfect place for the little life that I now snuggled in my arms. The body that fit into nothing, also provided important nourishment all day long for the newest love in my life. After that, it was about giving myself grace and time. I let myself off the hook, forgot about what other people might be saying or thinking, and just loved being at home with my baby.

Eventually I started to fit into things again, but it has been a long, hard road. It has taken so much longer than it did with my other two! After Elijah, I hardly tried at all, and I was back to my high school weight before getting pregnant again with Owen. I guess, with each kid a little more weight hangs on to those hips and middle. After William, I stayed at the same weight that I was when he was six weeks old for nearly two years!

I wish I could go back in time and give myself advice. I guess that is why I am writing this post, and also in hopes of encouraging other women that it can be done, but it doesn't have to be done instantly! I would go back to that morning, that terrible morning when I felt like I would never again fit into anything, and I would sit next to myself and say, "you are a strong and beautiful mother, and you are exactly what you are suppose to be right now for your children." Sometimes, I think that is all we need to hear.
I think we also need to give each other a break. Why do we even think about making an effort to lose any weight in the first year after having a baby? I have found the best way to spend that year, is tackling all of those firsts with your baby, learning how to breastfeed, keep a sleep schedule, and your sanity. I wish that we didn't live in a society that cares so much about weight and appearances, because I too, am susceptible to it.

I am proud to say that two years later... I have decided to get my act together. About 6 weeks ago I changed my eating habits and I am on my way to a goal of health and fitness that I now feel is attainable. I have lost a few pounds, and I would love to sit next to that past self, and tell her the good news... just hang in there, two years from now you'll fit into those jeans, I promise!!! Ha ha ha!

Though some days we all feel bad about ourselves, that's only human, I think we can always encourage each other about our purpose, about the things that matter far more than fitting into a pair of jeans.  Wherever you are on your motherhood journey, I wish you luck, and hope you won't ever have a morning spent crying in the closet over your beautiful body that has given life to someone. but if you do, I want to let you know, that it's okay. And it only gets better.

The Gift of Christmas (yes, I'm talking about Christmas in October)!

What is it about Christmas that makes us feel all warm and cheery? I saw a row full of "Christmas" at Target today, and it unexpectedly made me long for that time of year that is just around the corner. The wreaths and the mistletoe, the red and green everything, the sparkly letters spelling out "Joy" or "Peace," it all made me sigh with sentimental delight.

Then I thought about why I love Christmas so much. For me, it's the time when everything slows down, for once. In my family growing up, Christmas break was really the best time of year because we were ALL on Christmas break. My parents taught school, so our breaks, were there breaks. It was truly a time of relaxing for everyone.

Some nights we would stay up eating ice cream out of jam jars and watching a good family movie, or playing one of the new board games we got for Christmas. We could sleep in, or wake up early to watch some cartoons, but whatever we did, we were together. The years that it snowed, we would take advantage. We didn't have all the gear that my kids get the privilege of having. I remember layering socks and pants, and then using a garbage bag to slide around on the snow. New Mexico rarely had enough snow to make a snow man, but one year, we got so much snow our Labrador got lost jumping in it! We built tunnels in the snow that year!

What else is it about Christmas that warms our hearts? Christmas morning is the best! Now if you try to think back to all the Christmas mornings you've had, I bet you can't remember every single gift you have received, but I bet you can remember how you felt. It's not really about the presents, despite what my kids tell me, it's the faces all around the room lit up with joy and love, those same words I saw sparkling back at me in the store this morning. I remember that slowed pace of Christmas morning. For our family it was never a rushed thing with paper flying everywhere. We gave each person a turn to be the center of attention. For some reason this made it seem more special and important. I especially loved watching my dad give gifts to my mom. One year he got her a new comforter for their bed. I think she was surprised, and I will never forget the blissful look on her face, like, wow he got it right this year... I love him so much!

I love pretty much everything about Christmas. The movies that come on every year that I have seen a zillion times. The music, which I might be listening to as I am writing this. The decorations!!! The snow, that comes at just the right time in this part of the country. The cozy days with a warm cup of something... coffee, cider, oh the possibilities! And of course, the opportunities that arise. Sometimes it's just an opening to talk about the greatest story ever told - our Savior! Sometimes it's the opportunity to help someone who's heart has been softened by the season, Sometimes it's those priceless conversations with my kids that happen because of something going on, or something they have heard.

I love the old traditions of my family and the way we grew up having Christmas, but I also love making new traditions with my little family. Sometimes it's hard to balance that, and fit in a visit with all sides of the families too, but in any case I can't help feeling the glow when I see those little hints of Christmas start to pop up. Some of you probably feel quite the opposite, and that's okay too. I'm home alone right now, and no one knows I'm listening to Christmas music and fantasizing about skipping right over Halloween and Thanksgiving just to get to that little piece of peace.

Someday my kids will look back the way that I do now, not remembering the gifts of Christmas, but I think they will remember the Gift of Christmas, and that is what really stirs up longings in me.

Happy Eighth, Elijah!

This boy turned EIGHT, last Thursday! It's the same every year, it always feels impossible no matter which child it is, and no matter what age they are turning. Eight seems big to me. Now he's in a whole new age bracket... and only one age bracket away from the teenager one! Eek! You know, 8-12. It's a fun age bracket too, though. I was very excited to put some things together for his birthday, some of which he won't appreciate or fully enjoy until he is much older. But I feel like this age is the beginning of true independence. searching, and a journey into becoming a young adult. I wanted to help him start his journey off right through a few special gifts. 

This is him opening his lego tool. For a long time now he has been using his teeth to separate the blocks, which drives me crazy, so this is a brick separator tool.

This book (above) "The Dangerous Book For Boys," is awesome! Okay, I have been eyeing it for some time, and knew that I wanted it for my boys, but once I brought it home, I almost wanted to keep it for myself! It has a little bit of everything in it from science experiments, to adventure stories, to how to master morse code, and speak Navajo. It has key history stories about our country, games, and poems that every boy should memorize. I realize that it may be a little hefty for an 8-year-old, but I think as the years go on, he will really learn to love it!

So on the very first page, there is an essentials list... things that every boy should have. It gave me an idea to collect all of these things and put them together as a gift to go along with the book. Finding everything on that list was a little trickier than I had first thought, but I got it done, after searching all over town and online. We even found this special lock box, to store it all in. 

Here is what the box included: a swiss army knife (I was a little apprehensive about this one, but we figured since it will be locked up, and rules made, it would be okay), a compass, a flashlight, bandaids, a box of matches(again, I know giving matches to a little boy -eek-)! a handkerchief (I love the idea of this, and all of it really, being so traditional)  a needle and thread, and a marble shooter.

He was so excited about all of it! And really he is a very responsible kid. I'm more worried about his little brothers, hence the lock code on the box.

After we gave him his essentials kit, daddy had a special few words to say to him about what is truly essential and important in life. He read a verse from the Bible, and added it to Elijah's kit.

This is the face of getting something he actually asked for... you would never guess... an electric pencil sharpener. Yep, he's a little quirky. I guess all that manual labor of turning the pencil over and over was really getting him down!

This was sweet. Owen had drawn him a few pictures for his birthday, this is him explaining them. I think he drew Elijah as a panda or something. He really loves his brother.

Oh yeah, it's my birthday! There are way too many candles on that cake!!!Right?! He can't really be eight! Which, it's not really cake, it's egg-free, dairy-free pumpkin bread. I knew Elijah wouldn't mind, I made it so that William could have some, and I wouldn't have to make a separate one just so that he could have something to enjoy, due to his allergies.

He blew out all the candles. He's officially an eight year old!

So, the next night after his birthday, he got to have a camp-out sleepover with his best buds and their dads. I was tempted to stay and spy on them, but instead William and I stayed at parents house so they could have their boy bonding time without a nose-y mother hanging about.

 

They had a great time roasting marshmallows, and twinkies, I am told.And telling stories deep into the night, and whatever else boys do...

Ha ha ha!

Eight. Wow. I feel too young to have an eight year old, but it's true! I think he will remember this weekend forever. And the journey begins!

September HIghlights!

It feels like September came and went with the breeze. It has flown by so quickly with busy-ness and life, that I can't believe we are about to welcome in October. It think it is my favorite month, weather wise, at least here in North Idaho. The mornings and evening are cool, and refreshing, and the afternoons are sunny and perfect for a bike ride or a little yard work. 

Since the month has gone by, so fast, I thought I would summarize a few of our favorite moments.

William is not the easiest one to get to sleep, so daddy usually gets tasked with that job while I read to the older two and put them to bed. On this particular night, however, I had put Will down, but he kept waking up, Martin had fallen asleep on the couch (we do have the most comfortable couch in the world), and I was trying to watch "Downton Abbey," so I asked Will if he wanted to lay down by daddy. He said "yes," and everyone was happy. What could be sweeter? He even gave daddy his baby to cuddle. I thought that was super funny.

Just before school started, I bought this new, very soft rug for our living room. It is everyone's favorite place to lay down. As soon as we got it all the boys couldn't helping laying on it. I especially love to catch William like this... Just relaxing looking through a book. It really does make the place more cozy!

One of the things I cherish, is my time with Owen before Elijah is home everyday. We get a few precious hours together... and it's our last year since next year he will be in 1st grade ALL day! We usually sit at the kitchen table for a while and chat, or work on a project. Many days he likes to go outside and explore. One afternoon, he found this praying mantis near one of our rose bushes, and spent nearly an hour playing with it. He made it a little home out of leaves and grass, he let it crawl all over him, and he talked to it. He is such a joy. 

I love this boy's baby blues! He cracks me up a lot these days as he is learning lots of new words everyday and trying them out. His latest one is sorry, which sounds more like "soddy." My favorite, though is when he says, "okay." He really draws out the "a-ay!" Adorable!

Okay... the pig race at the Spokane fair was pretty entertaining!

Here come those pigs!

William was ready to embrace them with open arms!

It wouldn't have been half as much fun without Papa... and Grandma too!

These bandits are always hanging around my place!

I love this one of Owen with daddy! He looks like he's really about to lasso him!

I couldn't resist having Martin hold up this prop! What fun we had at this photobooth!

 These awesome superhero cars were also at the fair.. so naturally, we needed a picture by them.

I particularly liked the cape for the superman car.

Picture day at school!!! Don't they look handsome?!

Owen looks so grown up here! They like to wait outside sometimes for their ride to school.