Handprint Turkey

I found this idea a couple weeks ago when I was searching for Thanksgiving activities. I totally apologize, because I can't find where I found it at any more. I wish you could see the turkey they made! Shane enjoyed it, but didn't really spend much time overall putting stuff on his turkey. I encouraged more saying that his turkey was cold and naked and needed more clothes. He added a little more after that, but truly he was more into playing with the beans and noodles. I put them in his room for his quiet time and he had a blast.

I pulled stuff from our pantry and poured them into a muffin tine. Then I drew his hand print on a paper plate. Then I spread a layer of glue all over the hand portion. From there he was free to decorate as he wished.

One to live by...

“If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later. I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less. I would do less correcting and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites. I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I’d do more hugging and less tugging.“ -Diane Loomans

 I don't want to look back and think this when my kids are grown. Every day I attempt to do more with them and less with the stuff on the to do list. Sometimes the list wins because really there just isn't enough time in the day. But I'd like to hope that I can strike a balance and know that I've spent lots of quality time with them as well as kept an organized life.

On a Walk

I attempt to get us out on a walk every day during the week. I'd say 4 out of 5 days we make it happen. This fall I haven't even let the rain get in our way. I love summer, but a sunny fall day is pretty nice, too. We have some great loops we do in our neighborhood, but this one by far is the kiddos favorite. I mean, how can you beat jumping in huge piles of leaves, feeding a goat and splashing in a stream?!

 Leaf jumping and playing. 

And yes, my child is wearing his "zip-up jammies" under his jacket.

He would truly where them ALL day long and EVERY day if we would let him.

Cousin Arli and Adalyn watching the attention.

Lucky the Goat. 

I still can't figure out if Lucky is a boy or a girl, but that goat LOVES it when we visit. 

And if you don't bring a treat, Lucky turns his/her back on you.

After it rains this stream has water in it and it's perfect for splashing.

On a perfect walking day there is a horse that we feed as well. 

This afternoon though the horse was in a pasture that he couldn't get to us.

Feeding the horse is my favorite part of the walk. He often whinnies after we feed him.

No matter how the day is going, when we get out into the fresh air we all feel just a little better.

Ready to concur the rest of the day together.

New Laundry Room

Over the past couple weekends we have remodeled our (my) laundry room.

It started out like this:

That is the scary "water monster" aka: water heater that I wanted covered up the moment I saw the laundry room over a 1.5 years ago when we bought the house.

 And I wanted some storage/cabinets.
Not really a lot to ask for, I don't think. 

 And here it is all done!! 

We painted it Wildflower Honey (aka: yellow). I had envisioned this room yellow for a long time. 

I made a "curtain" for the water monster.
We put in new flooring, which wasn't originally part of the plan, but I am SO happy we (Kenny) did it.

Added a shelf for the laundry detergent and what ever else. 

And we put in 3 cabinets! 

Giving us so much more storage and making the laundry room all organized and pretty. 

Now I just need to put up some art work and it will be perfect. 

If you can't find me...check the laundry room.

Guest Post

I am honored to be a have guest post up at Money Saving Mom today. Swing by and take a peek at my Noel Blocks.

Wordless Wednesday

Baby Book

I completed the last 3 months for Adalyn's baby book last night. It makes me insanely happy to use Studio J and be almost completed with her baby book (she just needs to turn one for me to finish the last page!).

(click on each image to see it larger)

Thankful Chain

Shane and I worked on this thankful chain last week. We counted the days until Thanksgiving (which at the time was 21). I then had him come up with 21 things he was thankful for. I wrote each one on a slip of paper and stapled them together. Each morning he rips one of and we read what he is thankful for and we have a count down until the big Turkey Day Dinner at Mema and Papa's house.

What you'll need:

*Stapler
*Markers
*Paper cut into sizes of 2x10-12 inches
(I used some of my pretty coordinating Close To My Heart Dreamin' scrapbooking paper)
*Thankful thoughts

If you wanted you could hang it like a garland.

OR use it as a countdown chain like we are.

Some of the things Shane is thankful for (he came up with all of them on his own):

*I am thankful for snow.
*I am thankful for fireman that can come and rescue me from a fire.
*I am thankful for Mema and Papa letting us go to their house for Thanksgiving.
*I am thankful for God making me.
*I am thankful for my toys.
*I am thankful for pumpkin pie.
*I am thankful for being a big boy.
*I am thankful for new cabinets.
*I am thankful for our house.
*I am thankful for God loving us forever.

Leaf Sensory Table

During the winter I bring in our water table and turn it into a sensory table. Last year I kept a mixture of rice and beans in it during the cold months. This year I am trying to spice it up. After taking a walk earlier this week where there are leaves every where I thought...Heck, why not bring the leaves inside. It was a hit!

Shane (4 years old) and our Cousin Arli (1 yr) checking out the leaves.

 Shane enjoyed having containers to put the leaves in. He also spent some time sorting by color and size.

Adalyn (11 months) watching the other two kiddos playing.

Earlier this month I had pumpkin seeds in the table, which was a huge hit during our Halloween party. I did have to keep the pumpkin seeds away from Little Sister though...to much of a choking hazard. She took a few bites out of the leaves, but I was able to keep an eye on her while she played with them.

Do you have any fun items to put into a sensory table??

I've Been Featured!

It's a big deal in the blog world to be featured. I am so excited to say that I was featured over on Close To My Heart's Studio J Blog.

Check out the post on how I used Stuido J to scrapbook Adalyn's baby book. I guess if any one is famous now it's Adalyn...that is okay with me...she is the cuter one.

November's Workshop: 5 Fall Cards

 For this months workshop we'll be making fall themed cards using the new  

Dreamin' paper packet from Close To My Heart. 

We'll also be using shapes cut from the new Art Philosophy CTMH Cricut Cartridge. 

You'll make 1 of each of these 5 designs.

Photo Credit and Template Design By: Nona's Pearls Of Wisdom

Cost: $7 for 5 cards including envelopes

Tuesday, November 8th at 7pm
Greater Seattle Area


There are currently TWO open spots left. 
Email me to reserve your place at this workshop.
(jessicadbooth@hotmail.com)  

Halloween 2011

This was Adalyn's first Halloween, though I swore last year she did her best to scare me and act like she was going to arrive on Halloween. I DID NOT want a Halloween baby. After the 31st she quieted down and then ended up arriving a week late.

She also had a pretty lame costume this year. She was a fairy. When I got it for her she was crawling and I figured at the time it would be simple and easy and doable for this wiggly kiddo. Which it was. 

 I also realized that I don't take many pictures of her as of late. She is on the move so much and fast that getting a good picture of her is just about IMPOSSIBLE. This is pretty normal for Miss. Adalyn...to have multiple things in her hand and often those things are also in her mouth, too.

 This is what it looked like when I attempted to get their pictures together.

 I had to be in these pictures, just to get the little girl to hold still. She was checking something out in the street that had her smiling.

 Shane the turtle.

I took Adalyn trick-or-treating at a retirement community Halloween morning. She had a great time walking the hallways, seeing the kids dressed up and grabbing candy.

Shane went trick-or-treating in the old cul-de-sac neighborhood with the gang Halloween night. He started out with me walking him to the doors, then I slowly moved back and by house #7 or so he was all on his own (well besides the gang of kids we were with). It was HUGE to have him run around with everyone and go to the doors by himself. I mean HUGE!!! I was so happy and proud of him.