Craft Day Wednesday

Sometimes I feel like I am not being the best mom (I actually feel that more than I'd like to). One of my big things is that I am not always the mom that takes the time to plan things to do with my boys to get them thinking or being creative. I feel guilty that they watch TV more than what is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics - (FYI: kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming). I do always insist they watch things that teach them, but when I am cleaning, getting ready or trying to get things done that 1-2 hour limit is easily broken.
So.
In an effort to be a better mommy, they boys and I are starting Craft Day Wednesday. Each week we are going to plan and do something, anything that gets them away from the TV and being creative. And if my dishes don't get done, or we make a bigger mess than was there before, at least I will feel better about my role as a mother and the boys will have some fun memories.
Here is what we did today:
I have been saving cereal boxes, toliet paper rolls and scrap peices of paper - probably to the point that it is beginning to irritate Kyle (sorry, sweetheart). So, we pulled them all out with some tape and they boys created their own robots. Thet loved it. And the boys even did great helping me clean up the mess (a threat of not having Craft Day Wednesday again gave them plenty of motivation). The only small problem left is that they want to keep their creations forever. Oh well.
Here are their masterpecies:

Ikaika: My Sunbeam

With the new year, Ikaika finally graduated from Nursery to Primary. He was so excited to go with Kekoa. He brought this cute little handprint home this last Sunday and told me he wanted to hang it in his room. I love things like this to remember the sweetness of childhood. A couple other things I want to remember:

• Ikaika calls Sunday, "turch-day" and the other days of the week "store-day." He will ask me, "Mom, is it Turch-day or Store-day?

• Kyle and I have this inside joke that Ikaika is our Sunbeam or Sunshine boy. For some reason he is always the one who ends up sitting in the sun when we travel in the car.

Thomas, Thomas and more Thomas

Are you ready for this post? The pictures are going to do most of the talking. Here we go . . .

It was a fun, busy day celebrating Sepa's birthday.

Below: I love this picture - he found his little friend on his birthday hat. I can just hear his little voice saying, "Thomas."

We had a couple of activities for the boys to do: a foam Thomas and a box Thomas for the boys to sit in.

When Sepa was taking his nap, Kyle put together the train set we got for him. We got it on sale, opted for the less expensive Imaginarium brand, added a Thomas train and called it good. He and the boys love it.

The birthday cake was the pain in my side for the day. I have decided I am not a cake decorator. And for sure not when I am in a hurry to get things done. With some help from my sister's roommate, Keisha, and cut-out pictures we got something together.

When it came time for blowing out the candles, Sepa knew just what to do.

Afterward, the boys took a bite of the cake. . . we laughed that they were eating the train's bum-bum.

Sepa's best friend, Daddy.

It was present time. Of course the majority of his presents were Thomas things. . .

But the last gift was a toy drum set from Kyle and I.

Yes, we did actually buy this noise maker. I think it is awesome.

Happy Birthday Sepa! Hope you felt the love : )

My Cute Little Conductor

Here are some pictures I took of Sepa to remember him at 2 years. He did pretty good for a two year old in my studio. The candy bribe went a long way. I like the different expressions we got. It reminds me of his personality and what I see all day long. As you can see we are having a train theme for his birthday party. He loves Thomas. When I sing Happy Birthday to him he always wants me to follow up with singing Happy Birthday to Thomas. It's too cute to see his love for his little friend.

Happy 2nd Birthday Sepa!

I cannot even begin to put in words how much I love this little boy. He brings so much joy to my life. I can't imagine our family without him.

Things I love about Sepa

• his happy disposition
• the way he loves to wiggle his body - almost like he hears music all the time and just has to dance
• his pouty lip when he doesn't get what he wants
• the way he has become a part of our family - without and reservations or hesitation
• his many expressions that entertain me all day long
• the way he is totally a daddy's boy, but still has a special place for mommy
• his love for the gospel - he loves to be the one to say prayers and help with FHE
• his heart warming hugs and kisses
• how he climbs into bed with me early in the morning to cuddle
• his love for food - he's the only boy who eats anything I cook
• his love for his brothers - he loves to wrestle and play with them
• how he is such a helper to me - he is always there to help me sweep, get a diaper or throw something in the trash
• the way he acts as my little shadow, following me everywhere in the house
• the love and joy that just pours out when you are around him


Though we will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday with a Thomas the Train theme, we had to do a little something on his actual birthday. So for dinner we went to In-N-Out. Here are the boys:




Afterward, we went to Aunty Celeste's house for brownies. He's been practicing blowing out his candles for a while now - so when the moment came he knew just what to do : )

Happy Birthday Sepa! We all love you sooooooo much!

My Reign Coming to a Close . . .

I have 8 weeks left in this pregnancy. I am trying to enjoy the last few weeks as being the only girl in the family. I do wonder how much will change with a new little princess. . .
This week made me feel like a princess with some flowers from Kyle and a "heart crown" handmade from Kekoa. I needed a little pick-me up after a hard week and Kyle brought these roses - I loved them as they reminded me of my boys with one large, medium and smaller rose.



And then, this afternoon Kekoa told me he was making some surprise for me. After about 15 minutes of him upstairs in the toy room, he brought me my surprise. As I closed my eyes, he said, "Awww, Mom, you're going to love this!" And then he presented me with this "heart crown." Kekoa insisted I wear it the rest of the evening. So sweet. He was right, I did love it. I dread the day I am no longer the queen of his heart.

Prego Pics

Before Christmas I had one of my good photography friends do some pregnancy pictures for me. It was so fun to get together with her and admire her awesome set up for her studio in downtown Salt Lake. She is the sweetest gal ever - here's her blog.
So why do pregnancy pictures? I only remember seeing a couple pictures of my mom when she was pregnant with my siblings - and I think they are beautiful. I love motherhood and the miracle of what our bodies do to create life. I want to remember what I looked like to remember the experience. Though the first few months of morning sickness is absolute torture to me, I really love the process of feeling a little one grow inside me. It is truly a miracle and I know one day - when my child-bearing days are over, I'll miss it. So here's to remembering.

Pretty in Pink (and Brown . . .)

I seriously need to get better about blogging. I know I will regret it one day when I can't remember very well these days of having three young boys running all over the place. I will do better . . .

So here's a picture of some fabric I've collected for a quilt for the coming baby. I have made a semi-nice baby quilt for each of the boys when I was pregnant with each of them and am excited to make a pretty pink one this time. Hot pink, pink and brown. Fun, vibrant colors. I'll post again the picture of the finished product : )

Fort Koa

Last night, Kyle and I watched the movie, "Julie and Julia." It inspired me to be better at my blog. Not that I think there are people dying to read my blog, I just want to remember the everyday a little more. So here we go . . .

Tonight after dinner Kekoa decided he wanted to build a fort out of the couch cushions. Here is his masterpeice. He has so much fun building forts and castles. And taking a picture of it is one of the ways to bring him peace enough to clean it all up. I love the shaka he threw in the first picture. He also wanted me to take pictures of the inside where he made a place for the dishes and food. Fun creative play that I want to remember.

Re-connecting

Tonight we had dinner with the man who baptized my step-father, Joel. It was a random facebook message I got a few weeks ago asking me if Joel was my father that got us in touch with Brother Lybbert. My step-father passed away nearly 6 years ago from cancer. He was really the only father I knew growing up. For whatever reasons I never really knew about his conversion to the church. It was neat to meet the man who taught him the gospel and baptized him. Brother Lybbert sent our family this picture he found of Joel on the day he was baptized, July 4, 1976.


I was especially happy to have my mom, brother Jared and sister Jessica in town for the holidays so they could meet him as well. It was an enjoyable meeting making connections and realizing it really is a small world.