A Flop

I set out the other afternoon to complete a gumdrop turkey project with Shane. 

This is what I was aiming for.

This is what we ended up with.

A mess! And frustration from Shane and myself. 

The silly things kept falling over and just weren't working for us AT ALL. 

We walked away from the project with hopes of returning, but we never did go back to it. 

We had lost interest after all the frustration.

Sometimes it just doesn't work out. 

Good lesson in life though. 

 

Even if we don't have any cute gumdrop turkey's to decorate with.

But we do have some gumdrops now for Christmas decorations.

Wordless Wednesday -- A Box

Turkey Crazy

I think we are a little turkey crazy over here. There seem to be turkey projects coming out of our ears.

There is a fun turkey sandwich all over the crafty/mommy blogs that I've seen over and over again. It seemed like a quick and easy thing I could do for Shane at lunch time. There is a huge trend in crafting cool images with food these days. I haven't jumped on that band wagon just because I don't want to spend even more time making Shane food that he turns his nose up at.

BUT after our experience yesterday afternoon I may be rethinking that thought!!

I made his sandwich into a turkey. Ok...so the other turkey sandwiches out there look a little more turkey like. I am new to this whole food image thing.

His face light up when he saw Mr. Turkey Sandwich. He instantly started eating his feathers. (NOTE: peppers are one of the few veggies he does currently eat and he loves olives). Within a minute of eating his lunch he said "Can you make me this again tomorrow!?".  This is huge for my none eating child. He would prefer to play then sit down to eat. He plain isn't interested in most food right now. For him to sit down and eat EVERY bite of this lunch is HUGE. His plate was 100% empty after lunch.

I may just be making more lunch images after this very successful lunch.

Menu Monday

Monday -- Chicken Broccoli Braid (I found this a couple weeks ago and can't stop thinking about it...must make!!)

Tuesday -- leftovers

Wednesday -- Turkey and Parmesan Pasta (had this on the menu, but still haven't made it)

Thursday -- leftovers...if Mema is up for that??

Friday -- Adalyn's Birthday Dinner!!! I wonder what she would ask for if she could talk....I think she would say she wants Scrambled Eggs! That is what we are going to have for dinner in honor of the newly 1 year old.

Saturday and Sunday -- It's going to be a busy weekend with the big birthday party on Saturday. We also have Santa pictures AND holiday/1 year pictures on Sunday. I may pull from my freezer stash I've been creating the past couple weeks.

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)