I got crafty again!

Isn't this super cute? I LOVE how it turned out. I made it mostly from scraps from other boy blanket projects I have done for mine and other's kids. I am now so glad I hung onto those seemingly small pieces. I still have enough scraps to do another one. I was going to donate it to the ward auction too, but maybe I'll send it to Japan instead. Wouldn't that be cool?

Wasting time

So today instead of folding the laundry and doing the dishes I wasted time on the internet and came across this article and this article. I have contemplated similar ideas over the last several years of my "mommyhood," and after seven years, I think I am just starting to find my groove. Both of these articles made me feel a little better as a busy mom, and I realize sometimes it really is okay to take a few lazy minutes for myself and ignore the kids for a bit. I find it has gotten a little easier since Ammon started school, and having a third child has not been overwhelming at all. But our struggles are definitely different than they were seven years ago, and finding a good rythm has been a challenge. So enjoy these two perspectives, and think about your own. What kind of Mom are you? Have a fabulous day!

Chubby

One hour old
One month old

Two months old

Gideon celebrated his 2 month birthday on our way to Disneyland. He had his checkup and shots yesterday. He weighs 10 pounds 13 ounces and is 21.5 inches long. At his one month checkup he was 9 pounds 3 ounces and 20.5 inches long. I can't believe how fast babies grow. It's amazing! Pretty soon he'll be rolling over too, I think. I have also noticed his hair has a red tint to it like mine. I hope he keeps it! It would be awesome to have a son with my hair color. It also looks like he might have Brady's blue eyes. He started smiling about a week ago, and a few days after that I heard a real giggle out of him while he was sleeping. It was so cute. I can't wait to make him laugh by tickling him and doing silly/dumb stuff to make him laugh.

DISNEYLAND!

We were planning a trip to Disneyland over Spring break in the middle of April, but Brady didn't have any work earlier this week, so at lunchtime on Monday we decided to go right then. It took way too long to pack for everyone, so we got on the road pretty late in the afternoon. We arrived at our hotel around 8 pm. The boys really wanted to go swimming so they could try out their new life jackets. Then it was bedtime so we could get up and play our hearts out! Disneyland was WAY crowded both Tuesday and Wednesday since other schools around the nation are out for spring break right now. I made a mental note not to go to Disneyland ever again during a holiday of any kind. Ammon was tall enough to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and he got really scared. He even cried. I felt bad. And then I wanted to go on it again. Maybe next time. He and Zenock are tall enough to go on Matterhorn, so we did that the second day. They both loved it so much they each wanted to ride again. The line was too long. Both days they got to ride It's a Small World, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and Astro Rockets. We did Pirates of the Carribean, Jungle Cruise, everything in Fantasyland (our favorite general area of the park because all the rides are fun), Nemo Submarine (our first Disneyland ride), and Toon Town was kinda lame, even the kid roller coaster. Zz was having a meltdown and DID. NOT. WANT. TO. RIDE. THE. ROLLER COASTER. AT. ALL. Ammon, of course, had to go to the bathroom when we where almost to the front of the line after waiting for over 45 mintes. We got out of line and went potty. Came back to the exit to do a switch pass so I could have Gideon while they went. Zz was FREAKING OUT! Brady tricked him into riding and I could hear him screaming the whole time. Poor kid. I felt bad. Almost. Ammon got to ride with Brady after they got done. Switch passes are AWESOME! You stand in line and ask for one before you get on it. The ones riding go, and when they get back you switch kids, and the others get to go without having to stand in line again. Works GREAT! That way only Gideon got left out...but he didn't mind. He slept almost the whole time anyway.

We were another attraction in the park; at least I felt like that sometimes. Gideon got a LOT of attention from a LOT of people passing by. He was ooggled at my kids and moms in line, while eating, while waiting, and while breathing. It was kind of funny. Tons of people asked me if he was my first, and then shocked to find out he was my third boy. Heaven forbid I have more than one boy! Sheesh! We met some really nice people, several who were LDS. Brady helped a German family by translating for them so they could order their food. That was fun. We met some people from Australia too. We loved Disneyland, and we are already planning our next trip there...whenever that will be.

Springs Preserve

Last Saturday we met Brady at the end of his shift at work and took the kids to Springs Preserve. It's a museum of the desert life in Nevada. They have an outdoor playground, ampitheater, gardens, and museum. It was fun for the most part. I think the boys got a little bored near the end, at least until we got to the animal part. Zz kept getting concerned that the lizards, snakes, and spiders would come out of their cages and get him.

Help a friend

I don't know how many people read this other than my parents and sisters, but I wanted to share this anyway. We have some friends we met back in our first year of marriage. They now live in Southern California, and they have two beautiful kids. Their son, Austin, had e-coli poisoning during the summer last year, and it destroyed his kidneys. His mom is his most likely donor, so this month they have both undergone extensive testing to make sure she is able to give Austin her kidney. Check out the button to the right, their blog, and website to find out how you can help this wonderful family. We are showing our support by ordering shirts for our family. What can you do? Thanks for reading, and have an awesome Sunday afternoon!

My boys

Ammon insisted on taking a picture of Gideon

My boys cuddling on the new couch.

Crafty Crap

Since my fabulous husband has been wasting his time drooling over AR 15's and AK 47's, I decided to be more productive and make some fun stuff for super cheap! As much as Brady loves guns and blowing things up, I love making quilts and crafts to make my home have some personality. I would even go as far as purchasing some power tools for me to use for crafts, like a chop saw to cut 2x4's and 4x4's, etc into blocks for some word art decorations. I am working on building up a nice fabric stash by checking out Joann's reminant section each time I walk in the store. I have found some awesome stuff in those bins! And I just have to say a quick, THANK YOU MOM!!!! She got a new sewing machine, so I got lucky and inherited her "old" one. Old meaning like at least 10 years old, but oh, so new to me since it has a computer in it with some really cool options like automatic button holes, and cool stiching designs like penguins, flowers, and airplanes just to name a few. I have sewed on her machine off and on since she got it all those years ago, so I am very familiar with the basics of it. Yesterday I tried it out for the first time at my own house. I didn't do anything fancy, but I sure to like how smooth it is. I whipped up these two baby quilt tops in about 30 minutes each. Today I made a pillow case from a cute kit I found for $1.50 at Walmart.
I found the fabrics in packages already cut in 1 yard lengths and matched to another corrdinating print. Each of these tops cost me $5 to do, including the binding. Tomorrow I am hitting an awesome deal at Joann's for flannel for the backing. All together I'll spend about 11 bucks per baby quilt. The last few I have made with this design have cost about $15 -$20 for just the top since I didn't get any of the fabrics on sale. Oh how I love a good deal!!!
This year I decided I wanted to have a door hanging for each month. Whether I make one or find a cute one on sale, I don't care. It's just something fun for me to do. I got a 14" straw wreath -left it in the plastic wrapping-, a green piece of fabric from the reminant bin, some gold coins, and a shamrock shimmery thingy to wrap around the wreath. Total cost: about $6. And I have enough coins and fabric to make another one. Now to think up a good way to store all these wonderful wreaths I am making throughout the year.

Mormon Drama

Today in Primary Ammon learned about the Word of Wisdom. During the lesson he was taught what kinds of things were bad for his body and what was good. They must have showed pictures of some of the bad foods and drinks because he came home and was very concerned that we drink alcohol. When I questioned him about it he started to cry because he was worried that we had made a bad choice and given him alcohol to drink. I assured him we would never drink alcohol, and we would certainly never give an alcoholic drink to him or his brothers. He was still concerned that we had broken the rules. Brady talked to him some more, and it turns out that Ammon thought Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider was alcohol. (Which lead me to believe his teacher showed them pictures of wine bottles since they look the same). I just have to take a second here and laugh hysterically……ok, now I’m good. So we had an extended lesson about what is good and bad to eat and drink after church today. My hand goes to his teacher for being so thorough. Maybe we should have specifically mentioned the Word of Wisdom to him a while ago, but really it was so funny to see him get worked up because he thought we, as parents, were making bad choices and that means we were making him make bad choices too. Oh to be a fly on the wall at our house sometimes!