Easy Christmas Ornament Project

I wanted Miles to make some Christmas ornaments for his teachers.

So this is an easy project, and even James got to have a little fun!

I got a large bag of colored puffs in a variety of sizes.

And some clear glass ornaments.

Then Miles stuffed puffs into the ornaments.

He really likes purple and pink, so they seemed to dominate.

I put the tops back on...

...we'll add some bows, and there they are!
EASY!

Since I didn't dare trust James with glass ornaments, I took a juice container, stuffed some puffs inside, gave him a bowl...

...and it made for one very impressed little boy.

He LOVED dumping them out! Some were too big to just fall out so he had to use his little fingers to pick them out, a great way to strengthen his fingers for future writing!

We have more projects on the way!!

How now brown cow...

We've recently entered a new phase of preschool-hood...

QUESTIONS!

Most questions and inquiries I know how to answer without a problem.

Today was different. I definetly wasn't on my "A" game. I like to think I'm careful with my answers, but today...

Miles: "Mommy, do brown cows make brown milk?"

Mommy: *remember, I'm a city girl, and was doing laundry "No, black and white cows make white milk. Brown cows give us meat, like hamburger."

*omg, WHAT???? What was I thinking??*

Miles: After several minutes, "does it come from their butts?"

Mommy: After laughing uncontrollably and more aware of what I was saying, "No, it doesn't come from their butts."

Miles: "Then where does hamburger come from?"

Mommy: "Umm, let's call Tami, she grew up on a farm with cows!"

Thank GOD for Tami!!

She informed me that brown cows also give us milk. Enough said...

Mommy: "Tami, says brown cows give us white milk too!"

Miles: "Oh. So where do hamburgers come from?"

Mommy: "The store."

Miles: "Oh, right, the store."

I have got to be more careful!

Hide and Seek

Miles always likes to play hide and seek.

And recently James has decided to play...

What I've been up to...

It's been a little while, well, maybe not, but seems that way.

Besides having a mild dose of the plague, I have managed to get some things done, and have so much more planned!

We went back to Blue Earth this weekend and took some more things from the house. For those that don't know we have a house for sale there and are currently in a rental in Marshall. I wasn't going to do any decorating in the rental, but it was starting to drive me bonkers knowing I had these cute things I wasn't enjoying.

So on the wall they went. And I swear they are not all crooked like they look in this photo!

This sweet little thing makes me smile. Bringing this back was a special request from Miles. He LOVES making up songs while playing. Just hoping someday they sound a little better.

And on my night stand are my current reads. Yes, two books at the same time. And there's always a magazine if I need a lighter read.

On my dresser I have a couple second hand store finds.

On a completely different note, I decided to hit the deck and get a kids eye view. The boys spend so much time playing in the floor, especially Miles, he'll set up these farms over and over again.

I think he has to because James ends up sitting on them.

And plans!! I'm making turkey chili tonight, then after supper Miles has floor hockey.

I also baked a pie pumpkin which I'll use to make my first ever pumpkin pie later this week. I volunteered to make the pies for Thanksgiving so I better test out my recipe!

Wednesday I'm off to Sioux Falls for an appointment and finish up my Christmas shopping. Then Thursday evening I plan to work on a couple gifts for the boys at the fabric shop.

I have a TON of cookie recipes I'm dying to try out, some more photos to hang, and the usual never ending mountain of laundry and cleaning.

What are you all up to??

New spin on bunk beds!

We have this built in entertainment center. Too small for our giant TV, so we store toys in it. Well, I guess the boys got to thinking they'd like bunk beds, because this is where I found them the other evening.I supposed it may be frowned upon if I had them sleep there, so we'll just let them play.

And don't worry that cable line is disconnected. And they are supervised while play in there.

I was especially amazed at the last photo. They both fit on the top shelf! Yep, little contortionists! James was folded in half!

I love that they're playing together so much! Our current "problem" is Miles bossing James around. And when James doesn't do what Miles wants, Miles just keeps telling him over and over again in a louder voice. And it quickly escalates to two screaming kids. Augh!

I am battling a nasty cold, which makes me thankful the weather has been to icky to go outside. But I think the guys are getting a bit tired of being inside.

Prayers Please!

There is a sweet, beautiful baby boy that needs some extra prayers!

This is Ethan Williams, the grandson of Ben's Godfather, Frankie Bly.

Little Ethan was born Saturday, November 8th with a left sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia. He is currently on a heart-lung bypass allowing his lungs rest and in time will attempt to be weaned off the bypass onto a ventilator.

This precious boy needs everyone's prayers, so when you have some extra time, please think of him.

You can check for updates at his caringbridge site!

retreat...

I went to a scrapbooking retreat a few weeks ago, and here are some of the pages I completed. I am really loving simple pages, like this, the bird is from a chipboard album.

It's just too bad I don't get these "simple" pages done faster.

I went out of my comfort zone with this one, TONS of doodling...

...had to put it aside for the night and come back to it, but I love hove it turned out!

I'm also trying to journal more.

Some of the journaling I took off my blog!

Made it a ton easier.

This is another favorite!

I like the simplicity of the colors.

These two were part of a challenge.

We're given the paper of both pages, and only the layout of the second page.

These were my favorite of the whole weekend!

I now have a crazy amount of pages done, but not in books, so I really need to focus on that before my next retreat in December.

These just get me so excited to create more!

Not just scrapbooking, I had Bob bring me my sewing machine from Blue Earth.

I'm going to attempt to finally sew the baby blanket I wanted to make for Miles. I bought the apple green, and blue flannel, cream chenille and minky while I was pregnant with him and never got around to it. He's really excited about the minky...was rubbing on his cheek!

I'll be sure to post photos! That'll motivate me to follow through!

And two more to get you all excited for the holidays!

Happy crafting!!

"DANDY!!!"

James learned he REALLY like candy this Halloween!

And now, we have a monster!

These are his super excited eyes right after I asked if he wanted some candy!

And his smile while eating it!

I HAD TO SHARE!!

Snow Wonder!

I knew it was coming, and here it is!

SNOW! Miles was excited, "I like snow!" he told me. He couldn't wait to get outside.

James doesn't remember snow from last year, so he stood at the glass door in broken record mode, "no-ss, no-ss," his way of saying snow.

I grabbed a little snow ball and gave it to him. He wasn't too sure at first, then I let him eat some. I'll probably kick myself for that!

When we finally got all dressed and outside to run some errands, Miles was all over, and James just wanted to be held. I think it's too noisy, cars on the wet streets, he wasn't too impressed.

So I'll take Miles out later, maybe when James is napping, although it's already melting!

I know it sounds crazy but I don't want it to melt! It's so pretty, and makes me want to put on comfy sweaters, cook chili or soup, drink hot chocolate. Gets me excited for, dare I say, the HOLIDAYS!!

I Almost Peed!

Okay, be warned, if you have a weak or leaky bladder, take caution!

Or maybe everyone else won't get as big a laugh out of these photos I took with the fish eye lens as we did.

hee hee!

Okay, seriously if your not laughing you need a vacation!
That one is hilarious!!

Little PB&J actions there!

And how come he still gets to look so cute??

Hope you got a laugh, or at least a giggle today!

Farming 101

Introducing... ...the Kid-Whisperer!

(also known as uncle Mike)

We took a day trip up to Clinton and Graceville, MN for Ben's Grandpa's birthday. And no trip is complete without a visit to Ben's aunt Jeanine and uncle Mike's farm.

The fun is limitless!

And uncle Mike is very willing to let the boys thoroughly check EVERYTHING out!

Of course the first thing Miles spied was uncle Mike's tractor!
This one was hooked up to the grain bin.

But the big one wasn't!!
Miles got to drive!

With a some occasional steering assistance to avoid the barn.

Oh, and he even got to change gears!

Even James got a ride, warmed up quick to Mike, and started talking.
Although I heard Mike wasn't too sure what language James speaks.

Of course I had to try some posy photos, but since they can't really sit still, this was the best of it.

Then Miles got to feed the horses.

He made sure to kneel just like uncle Mike, and threw out apples and corn for them.

I forget what we decided to call this...

...I believe we came up with hay cage, which I'm sure is not it's proper name.

Here, it's a Miles cage!

We needed to leave for Great Grandpa Ralph's birthday party, but before we went, Mike came with the four wheeler to drive Miles back to the van (which was parked 3 feet away).

Not sure which is the kid in this photo!!

After the party we went back, we were waiting...

James kept picking up Boxelder bugs and giving them to Mike. "Dare dis!" he'd shout. Poor little bugs never made it to Mike's hand alive.

Then Mike put on his waders and went out into lake to grab a minnow trap. James thought that was pretty cool and touch the little minnows. Miles on the other hand stood back, "they might get my shoes!"

We also found a frog and really icky water beetle.

And finally what we'd been waiting for!!

The COMBINE!

Miles quickly retreated into TV mode (you know, that glassed over face, and instant deafness), and sat on the grass and watched the guys back it off the trailer.

I don't think his day could have gone any better!

A huge THANK YOU to Mike and Jeanine!!

We had a great time and can't wait to come back in the spring!