Monday Makings...Belated

Alan gets all the credit for this weeks project! I knew I wanted us to make witches. I thought and thought all week of something cute to do but just couldn't think of anything and didn't see any ideas online that I really liked. So my creative husband went to the store for me and half an hour later came home with all the fixins' to make these cute styrofoam witches! (If you're interested in knowing how to make them, just leave a comment or send an e-mail). The kids had a great time making them and coming up with their own ideas to make theirs original. I assisted Brikelle in making hers...she kept taking it apart so I had to put it all together while she took a bath! This is the last week in October and we have all really enjoyed our Halloween Monday Makings. Next week we move on to Thanksgiving crafts!

RANDOM THINGS...

I know there are a lot of pictures on this post (I don't know how to make a slide show or put pics side by side), but I wanted to post about some random things. I hope you enjoy!
*FYI: Due to a rescheduled soccer game, we won't be doing our Monday Makings until Tuesday evening*

Here is what our little scarecrow looks like on our porch...
Yesterday was our ward's Primary Program. Here is a quick snapshot before leaving for church. This is Braden's first year in primary but he didn't participate in the program due to being very much under the weather since Thursday. The Sunbeams didn't have individual parts so it wasn't too much of a loss...would have been cute (or funny, or embarrassing) to see him up there singing (or trying to) though! Bailee did a good job and was excited for it. Last night she told me that she loves when it's the program for sacrament. Hey, the more power to her right! She likes getting up there and saying her part. You all know she doesn't get that from me!

Since it was the Primary Program and our church doesn't start until 11:30, I decided to make pancakes for B-fast. Then I decided to use my tiny pumpkin cookie cutter to use on the kids' pancakes. They thought it was pretty cool!

Brikelle is growing up so fast...too fast. She is our earliest talker and amazes us when she says something new...a lot of times she will repeat the last word you say when you're talking to her. Her two new phrases and also our favorite of hers are "Hi! How you?" She says that whenever she sees you, mainly in the mornings, after nap and when Daddy gets home. Her other one either right before she cries, while she's crying or right after she's done crying, "I cry". She is so lovable and fun!

Braden is a character and keeps us laughing with things he says and does. He is definitely our comic relief! He has always been one to keep himself entertained and he is very creative. You don't need to spend money on toys for this kid...he is very easy to please with simple things! What would we do without our Braden Boy!

These are his Buzz Lightyear wings! He drew them and asked me to cut them out and tape them on his back. He also colored a little red circle and wore it on his front (you know, the button to make the wings come out!). He keeps his wings taped to his dresser so he can use them often!

This is when he wanted to be a cowboy with a mustache. He also drew these and then asked Dad to cut them out. Then he put tape on them and showed us that it was his mustache! He always tells me he is going to grow a mustache when he gets big.

Here is his homemade doctor kit. It started with a craft stick that he colored red and yellow for a thermometer. Then he told me he needed a hat with a light, then he said he needed a shot (the medicine syringe), then he drew a bottle of medicine and had me cut it out. He kept saying he needed a stethoscope, so after a lot of thinking, I finally came up with the idea of a piece of paper and some string...he was thrilled! He also has paper band aides! It's been about a month now since we made all this and he was entertained with it for a good 3 or 4 days. He still has all his stuff and gets it out once in awhile to be a doctor!

This is his superhero stuff. Thankfully Alan is pretty creative himself...he made the belt and arm bands out of cardboard and tinfoil. He made one for Bailee back when she was 3 for a playgroup we used to attend that had different themes. Bailee still has hers and eventually Braden wanted one for his own.

This here is his "army guy" house. He has tons of army guy action figures and awhile back told us he needed an army guy house. I told him to go tell his Dad! So here it is...complete with a door, a window, a t.v., two chairs and a bunk bed!

And once he had an army guy house, he needed an "army guy" boat. This one was easy enough for me to do!

I don't have a picture to go with it but just a few days ago Bailee finally learned to tie! This is a major milestone for us and she is very excited to have finally mastered it! Bailee is a great helper and best friend to her baby sister...they have lots of fun together. We love our Bailee Girl and are so thankful she is such a good kid.

Our family was invited to one of Bailee's good friend's B-day party on Saturday at a place called Monkey Joe's. It's an indoor place with all different kinds of blow up jump houses and slides. Because of Braden being sick, just Alan and Bailee went. Bailee had a really good time playing on all the different things.

Bailee in the chair with Monkey Joe

Both Bailee and Braden have become addicted and quite good at playing games on the PS2 and Alan's PSP. It's so funny to watch them...they are so into it and concentrate so much! And I believe that playing these games has given Braden really good hand/eye coordination!

All in all, I just want my children to know how much their mom loves them. I know there are times when mom isn't the happiest in the world and lets her frustration get the better of her, but I love being a mom to these 3 wonderful blessings and I'm so grateful for them. I love you kiddos!

Monday Makings

This weeks project was making a scarecrow! The kids were so excited when they found out what we were making (I never tell them until it's time to do it...all you mothers out there I'm sure understand why!). So thanks to daddy and an old uniform, a ton (literally) of packing paper that we've had in boxes from our move over a year ago, and a $1 pumpkin bucket from good ol' Wal-Mart, we managed to make a scarecrow good enough to please the kids! He turned out pretty cute I think...he doesn't have a name yet. Brikelle absolutely LOVES this thing! Once he was all made she sat on him and gave him hugs and kisses the rest of the night...she would not leave his side! I think she's going to love Halloween this year because she loves anything that's dressed up.
Our camera is having some issues the last couple of weeks with taking good pictures inside. It does fine outside but the inside ones turn out dark and blurry. Maybe it needs a new battery or something. A new camera is in our near future. Until then, this is the best we can get...

SOCCER

Just thought I would put these soccer game clips up for the Grandma's and Grandpa's to see (and anyone else who wants to watch!). The top one is of Bailee playing goalie which she really likes doing and is actually pretty good at. At this particular game (18 Oct), she blocked the ball a bunch of times. This clip is of Bailee kicking the ball away from the net and a teammate getting it and kicking a goal. It was such an awesome game and so fun to watch...the best one so far! The weather was windy and chilly and the field was very wet and muddy from raining the night before...I think the kids thought that was just great! The bottom one if from the week before (11 Oct). Don't mind Alan's yelling in the top clip...he was a little excited!

Birthday Pictures

Here is a picture of the kids helping daddy open his gifts. He got to have them wrapped in Thomas paper!
This is the cake that Braden picked out for Alan! I must say it was yummy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to our wonderful husband and daddy! We love you sooo much! Thanks for everything you do to make sure that we are all taken care of and happy. You're the best daddy and husband ever! Have a great birthday! Love Your Family.

Alan doesn't like his birthday much but we do everything we can to make it special for him! Tonight we will be eating his favorite dinner at his request...Ribs! I was going to be a good wife and bake him a cake (from a box of course), but a certain little boy saw a certain cake at the store and REALLY wanted to get it for his daddy. Less work for me so it didn't take too many "Please Mom" for me to say yes! I will definitely post pictures of it and other pictures of Alan's birthday later.

Monday Makings

Tonight we made spiders! As soon as Brikelle saw the paint she stuck her hands out and was ready to get messy! And of course Bailee and Braden enjoyed getting messy too. To make these spiders, just paint your palms and fingers but NOT your thumbs. We added googly eyes for extra cuteness! Even Mom and Dad joined in on the messy fun!
*Note: These craft ideas are not my own...I have gotten ideas from the Internet and just put our own touches on them!

Hayride, Pumpkins, Jam & Honey!

On Friday after school we headed up the street to our favorite little farm to have a hayride and to buy some of the best tasting jam and honey! The kids love going and playing in the "Farmers Market" and seeing the animals. The weather was perfect so it made for a nice Friday evening activity.


Milking (or actually watering) the no kick cow!

Bailee and Braden picked out their own pumpkins, Brikelle had a little help from mommy. She wanted to take ALL of them home!

Too busy exploring to pose for a picture...the best I could get, although it is cute!