Quick DL catch up and a BABY!!!

 First off..see this spider man?

 Aiden was sleeping just like this toy!!  Darling huh?!

 Last night we made play-doh and it is the SOFTEST play doh ever!  I wanted to play with it!  The next day, it was just as soft!  Aiden decided this is what all the cousins are getting for Christmas!  Thank goodness....because it's quite easy too!

 What an angel!

One of my friends from work is adopting a baby boy in November!  I am SO excited for her!  She is going to make such a great mom!!  This is part of her gift.  The rest is gonna be for her gift at her baby shower next month!  I'm so excited!

 Here's the blanket...it's unfinished, yes but I am finishing it tonight and most likely won't take another picture before giving it to her tomorrow.

 The DARLING diaper bag!  I have 2 myself, so I really don't need another one, but I am IN LOVE with this one!!

 A cute picture from for her to display her ultrasound pictures in (and she better!!)

 And 2 darling burp cloths!  I am excited to give these to her because this vintage style fabric is TRULY vintage.  My grandma had this in a box at her house, so it's at least 40 years old and I LOVE it!

 And, obviously, one of my homemade cards.  This one is super simple, but perfect!

 Okay...the time out jar!  I finally got it done.  Here is what it looks like when it's all settled.  The idea behind the time out jar is actually a meditation thing.  Basically, when your young child is feeling upset, anxious, frustrated, etc. they shake the heck out of the jar, then sit still, breathing deeply, and watch the glitter settle.  It takes about 5 minutes for the glitter to settle, which is the perfect amount of time for a little guy to settle down and collect his thoughts.

 Here's what it looks like all shook up.

 see it starting to settle?

 It's up on the shelf, so when Aid is getting upset, he can just ask and it's his!  Just FYI on how to make this if you are interested is a plastic bottle w/ lid (this was actually a bottle that held crafting sand in it...yes it was quite big!), fill it about 7/8 full of water, add 2 small bottles of glitter glue (I used red and silver) and 1 jar of glitter.  The glue thickens up the water just enough to make the settling process slower.  You can always use less or more depending on your child.

 Also...Monday's craft was SOCK PUPPETS!!  Since Monday is my long day at work, Ry made this with Aiden!  He loves it!

Tonight we're decorating a notebook!  We have paper and fun stickers!  It's gonna be awesome!

Hope everyone has had a great beginning of the week!

Sweet Potatoes & Chalkboard Rocks

 Today little man tried sweet potatoes...and boy did he LOVE them!  He liked them so much it got all over him...even his forehead!

 Aiden's countdown link today was "Rock Painting".  He went outside and picked up a few rocks...

 then we painted them black.  This isn't just any black paint!  It's chalkboard paint!  Tomorrow we're going to the dollar store to pick up some supplies for the rest of our chain projects, including some chalk to decorate these awesome rocks!

 I love the tongue!  He has done that for as long as I can remember when he concentrates.  It's adorable!

 Not too happy it's on his fingers...

 And now to leave you with a couple of darling pictures of my cuties!

Happy Sunday Y'all!

Countdown to Disney Land & some catch up

 To start off with...look at that adorable little face covered in peas!  My baby is FIVE months old already!  I cannot believe it!  He eats rice cereal, peas and carrots.  This week we're gonna try sweet potatoes!  Yay!!

He is SUCH a big boy!  He's in 6-9 month clothes, but a lot of them are getting a little snug on him.  He's super tall too!  He has to wear 12 month PJ's because he's so tall!

Last week I was looking all over for Aiden, and couldn't find him anywhere!  I was starting to get a little worried, until I went in my room and found this....

How freaking sweet is this?!  I absolutely love my little guy!  I've heard that if you are having a hard time with your child, you should look at them when they're sleeping.  It's so true!  Look how perfect and angelic this little dude is!

 Plus, who wouldn't wanna fall asleep on my bed?!  Big marshmallow body pillows and a double pillow top mattress?  Yeah, you're jealous huh?

 Aiden is my little "art" man.  This means anything artistic, including dancing, singing, making up songs on his guitar and keyboard, taking pictures, coloring, painting, cutting, gluing...basically anything that could be considered artistic...this boy likes to do.

 So, obviously we had to make toilet paper roll binoculars!

 He LOVED these!! (and yes...Ry and I are 70 years old and watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy every night...)

 Classic Aiden pose

 Also...We are packing up and heading to Disney Land in T-Minus 24 days!  We are so excited and cannot wait!  To help with the excitement (and the crazy, jittery energy) we are doing a chain countdown and each link has an activity of some kind that we'll do (excuse the cinder block walls and the fire extinguisher that is a permanent piece of the kitchen...9 months...that's what I keep telling myself.)

 Anyway, today's link was making finger paint!  It was so easy, and Aiden loved it!  Best part...it cost like $.10 to make all these colors!  Just in case someone wants the recipe, it's 3 cups of water and 1 cup of cornstarch.  Boil about 2 & 1/2 cups of water, dissolve the cup of cornstarch in 1/2 cup of super hot water.  Once the water is boiling REMOVE FROM HEAT (super important step...I didn't do this and my finger paint was all lumpy...) pour in the cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly, return to hear, boil until clear and thick (about a minute) pour into multiple dishes (I suggest going to the dollar store and getting a bunch of the little containers with lids...), add food coloring...stir, get creative!  Super easy and makes for HOURS of entertainment!

 Also, we're trying a couple of new behavior modification techniques.  I haven't put together a few of them yet (I'll share those with you as soon as they're ready) but we're very excited!  This first one is the "Reward Jar".  I didn't know what else to call it...so there ya go.

 Basically it's a rewards/consequences jar based on his choices.  If he makes a good choice, is obedient, helpful, etc. etc. then he can earn a "marble".  Once he get's to a line on the inside of the tub he will get to go pick out any candy bar (I can always hope he'd go for apples and grapes, but he is a 4 year old little guy) at the store.  He has done AWESOME today!  Toward the end of the day he got quite out of control, so he had to take a bunch of his marbles out of his jar, but I think it'll be successful!

Okay...he lost A LOT of his "marbles" tonight, but it was the first day.  I think the best part of it is that HE puts his marbles in and HE has to take them out.  And we always say "I'm so happy/sorry that you made that choice!" and then he puts one in or takes one out.  There was NO arguing with him to put his toys away, getting ready for bed, eating lunch and dinner, etc.  So, I'll have to let you know how it turns out later!

Tomorrow we're painting rocks and introducing the "Time Out Jar" or as Aiden calls it..."The Angry Jar".  I hope y'all are having a great beginning of Fall!!

Bike Ride & Messy Eating!

 This little monkey is the sweetest guy ever!  I absolutely adore him and I am truly enjoying the infant/baby stage with him completely!

 He is the messiest eater ever...and he can never seem to stay sitting up straight...ever!

 Can you tell he's eaten until he absolutely cannot eat anymore?  Where were my other 2 boys while all this cuteness was going on?

 Outside practicing how to ride a "2 wheel tricycle" haha

 What a wonderful dad Ry is!  I know he didn't wanna walk all the way down stairs (and yes it is ALL the way down stairs and around the complex...)

 But can you see how happy Aiden is?!

 Fuzzy, yes but check out the random hole in the yard haha

This picture melts my heart!  Ry is truly happy to be a dad...and Aiden is, well, Aiden haha

I am a truly blessed woman to have all of these wonderful boys/men in my life!  My life would be extremely dull without them!!

From the mouth of babes....

Today when I was at working, missing my boys, I get this exact text from Ry:

"Me and Aid were talking about how awesome mommy is and then he said but she's really mean when you try to watch her exercise huh dad? :)"

Sad thing...this is completely true!  Ry & Aiden always tries to peak in on me and I HATE it! :)  Needless to say, this really made my day and put a big smile on my face!