Puffy Pumpkins

Last week I was a 4k teacher two different days and both classes did the same super fun art project. The kids are learning about fall, apples and pumpkins. At one of the centers we made puffy pumpkins, so fun! I've been feeling pretty bad lately about not doing projects with my boys so I decided to get out the shaving cream. They both really enjoyed it so I want to share it with you. I couldn't find a recipe or anything but just add a bit of shaving cream, glue and paint together, no special secret:)

Supplies:

-Pumpkin printed on cardstock

-Shaving Cream

-Elmer's Glue

-Orange Paint (I mixed yellow/red)
-Paper for eyes

-Candy Corn for nose

-Pipe cleaner for mouth








Coloring Eyes














Mix together
















Have fun!


















I know it's terrible but I helped Pacey so we had one that looked like a pumpkin.

Friday Funk

Normally I would say "Good Friday Morning" but lately it's been more like, "ugh can't I stay in bed all day". Really my funk hasn't just been today but I liked the way Friday Funk sounded. I don't remember being crabby with my last two pregnancies, sick and tired yes but not crabby. This time I seriously am just annoyed with everyone and everything. If you are reading this I am probably annoyed with you for some tiny ridiculous meaningless reason, isn't that terrible.

***Timeout- I am sitting in our basement play room right now blogging while the boys play. Trexen just walked out of the toy closet naked. He said his jammies were hot and hurting his chin. What is going on here!

***Ok timein- I am annoyed that I feel terrible, sluggish, and have very little motivation. I'm annoyed that it took all my power and energy to jog 1.2 miles last night. I'm annoyed that my boys wake up so energetic and ready to play, whine and cry when I need a few minutes. I'm annoyed that I paid money to have a new blog designed 2 months ago and still haven't heard about it. I'm annoyed that nothing happens in my life as far as plans unless I plan it; my husband and I only go out when I plan it, my friends only get together when I plan it, play dates only happen when I plan it which normally is ok but once in a while would be nice if I could just go to a plan and enjoy. I'm annoyed that laundry is NEVER ending. I'm annoyed that we haven't done anything on my fall fun list yet and it's mid-October.

Honestly I could probably keep going but I won't because those things don't matter. In a few weeks or months when I feel better these things will be a faint memory. The past few years I've really tried to embrace the fact that life is about seasons, brief periods of time. A couple months ago I remember saying to myself, "gosh everything is going so well, enjoy this" and I am glad I did. I am fully confident things will turn up soon and in the meantime I will try to keep my crabbiness to myself and continue to be thankful for a loving God, my amazing family, our good health, new life, friends, change of seasons and the opportunity I've been given to have a flexible schedule.

Sick for Saltines

There are only a few instances when saltine crackers seem necessary: 1. When eating chili 2. To keep kids occupied at family restaurants 3. When you are pregnant and very sick.















Well saltines are like gold in our house right now and no I didn't make chili and no we haven't gone out to eat, I am pregnant with baby #3! This pregnancy has been different right from the beginning starting with us actually tring to get pregnant. I had some issues in high school and was told there was a good possibility I may have trouble getting pregnant. So when I was 23 years old Jeff and I (well mostly me) thought it was time to ditch the birth control and see what was up with my body. A month later I was pregnant with Trexen realizing there will be no infertility issues. Then when our first born was 4 months old, extremely colicky and not reacting well to nursing we started formula. Well when they tell you nursing is a form of birth control they are correct, I immediately became pregnant with Paceler. So with a 13 month old and a new born it was clear we needed to wait quite some time before another.

Being the planner I am I decided another fall/almost winter baby would not work with already having two high-energy boys. This past spring I went off birth control and fully anticipated being pregnant the next month. Four month later and no sign of pregnancy I started to panic. What if we couldn't have another, that was something I hadn't even considered. With much prayer and patience I gave it up to God, let go of my perfect plan and the next month found myself throwing up at all hours of the day.

This pregnancy is a mystery though as I started throwing up and had a positive pregnancy test less than a week after supposed conception. An ultrasound is scheduled for the end of this month and I could be 8 weeks then, 10 weeks, 12 weeks, who knows. I am excited and anxious to find out the due date. Until then I struggle to make it through a day, throw up at the smell of things such as our chickens and rush to the couch whenever possible. Although I physically feel like I've had the stomach flu for four weeks I am overflowing with gratitude. I am so incredibly thankful for this gift, truly a miracle and if a healthy baby awaits me at the end I won't mind throwing up hundreds more times. I've had family and friends struggle with infertility and have seen the heartbreak, I know there are many out there who would give anything to feel this way right now. For those reasons I try not to complain but instead thank God every day for this baby.

In case your wondering what happens to a house when the mommy is sick, you don't have to wonder anymore. My closest is still in process of summer clothes moving out and winter getting in, at this rate I should have it switch by spring. Beds go unmade, a changing table in need of repair gets used for clothes storage and little boys stay in jammies until noon making big messes every where. Brace yourselves this isn't pretty...

Pretending to be Professional

Did I tell you I finally got a new camera? This is something I've been thinking about for quite some time since trips to professional photographers always result in disappointment. Every time I had cute outfits chosen, scheduled the shoot at just the right hour of day and envisioned stunning, tear jerking pictures in the end. HA that never happened, instead we left after a few short minutes, me sweating kids crying and somehow still spending a hundred dollars on pictures I didn't even like.



















I knew from the beginning this whole camera thing would be a battle with my husband and I needed to approach it fully armed. He just doesn't understand the photo memory thing especially when a lot of money is at stake. Another point against me was I already had a nice Kodak digital camera but the delay was driving me crazy! After a few weeks of research and gathering the facts to build my case I went to battle. As expected I was confronted with skepticism and strong push back.

























After more discussion and me closing with the argument that I would use Poplin money to purchase the camera he kind of gave up. For the next few weeks I worked hard earning enough money at Poplin Parties and through custom orders to buy the camera. With only a few days until Trexen's birthday party I clicked the confirm button and squealed with excitement.


















Now I am snapping pictures like crazy pretending to be all professional. Really I know nothing about photography but hope to learn someday soon. This weekend I had a fall photo shoot with my kiddos, in our backyard and no one left in tears or wiping sweat from their brow. I love love love my camera and the memories it is capturing. Part of this camera deal was that I need to do something with all these pictures so that is the next project...

Life Happens

I completely understand life happens and do my best to keep this in mind when planning events but yesterday that positive attitude thing was no where to be found. This past summer we started doing Mama's Night Outs and it was super fun. The first time it was just me and my besties, we invited others but none came so the four of us had a blast crafting, eating and discovering the best candy store ever. Mama's Night Out round two was quite different, a full table, multiple conversations and mama's I hadn't seen for a while, awesome. Round three a bit of the same, quality time chatting with mama's over delicious desserts.
















Before I get into last night's gathering let me just remind myself, yes life happens. As much of a planner as I am and even though I 99% of the time do what I say I will do I am not crazy enough to believe plans will never be broken. We all have kiddos, significant others, jobs, houses, family, etc. and sometimes those things need to take priority over a fun night out. BUT planning is only enjoyable when the plans work.


















Jenny Dickinson was kind enough to agree to a baking lesson for this month's night out. She loves cooking and baking so I thought it would be relaxing and something unique to have her show us how to make fall cookies, we could all ask questions, watch, learn, chat and enjoy fallish treats. As of Thursday there were eleven mama's committed to coming, Jenny was baking away and I was convincing my husband it wasn't a big deal to flip flop our dining room and play room. By 10pm we had moved the rooms, groceries were purchased, the table was set and I was giddy with excitement.


















Well life happened and in the end only five mama's came and to be honest I was annoyed and crabby. Of course I still had a fantastic time and love all the mama's who showed, we laughed, sipped hot cider and soaked in all of Jenny's helpful baking tips but inside I couldn't help but be annoyed. Jenny and I put a lot of work into the night, money was spent, my husband contributed time and everyone who didn't show up would have loved it. That's really where my annoyance and disappointment come from, so many missed out on a wonderful evening.

I am thankful for last night, the time away from my kiddos, the delicious cookies and the reminder that yes life happens.

Taste Better

Normally my belly starts to grumble and I get the shakes around noon when I realize I've yet to put any food in my body. I don't love food, I mean I'm extremely thankful for it but if there was a pill to take instead I would. When it boils down to it I don't like the amount of time food consumes, time grocery shopping, putting food away, cooking the meal, eating the meal and then the dreaded clean up time.



















Before you think I am totally whack I don't share these same feelings about candy and sweets and I do eat. I've discovered being home more I would rather wait until nap time to eat because it's quiet. Not sure what that means if anything but I guess food taste better to me in the calmness of nap time. And some days I have treats like caramel apples that are stashed away just for my time of peace.












































Today we ventured the few miles to Lapacek's Orchard and I nonchalantly added a chocolate chip caramel apple to my order. My good friend Kim and owner of the orchard didn't flinch, she knows how much I love those things but inside I knew it would be my quiet time treat today. Sweet, crisp and delicious, I welcome nap time today.

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Get Out

Whining, crying, arguing over tractors and multiple timeouts all by 7:30am. As soon as I started counting the hours and minutes until nap time I knew it was going to be a "get out" day. As much as I like the indoors and would have loved to curl up with a hot cocoa lounging in pj's well past mid-morning it wasn't going to work. Ever since Trexen was wee little and testing my patience I've said, "if I can just get out everything will be better"and 99% of the time it's true.


































Thankfully the weather was cooperating and our energy levels high making the dash outdoors quick. We got dressed, sprayed some dry shampoo in my dirty locks and called friends- meet us at the Mackenzie Center ASAP.










































Life is all about choices, I could have easily stayed in jammies, continued to referee spats but quite possibly not made it nap time with my sanity. Although it was work to get us ready, fed and in the car getting out of the house was worth it today.