Successful Endeavors

I just wanted to show off two of my recent projects that I'm excited about.


First: entry way table


I have a round table near the bottom of my spiral stairs in my house. I love it, but am always stumped at how to decorate the table and make it really pop. After two years, I finally got enough Halloween items together to come up with something cute and doable. Everything here was in my decorations box or around the house. Do you love the melted candles? We had an especially hot summer and all the candles in my garage are misshapen and bent. I figured I could get away with it for Halloween, right?
(These printables were found here. Super easy and Free!)
Also, my Halloween decorations smell wonderful thanks to a broken potpourri bottle from two years back. I wonder how long until the smell goes away? I hope it takes a long time because it has made my hallway smell awesome.




Second: Jewelry Art


I found this at the blog iheartorganizing.com I was so excited to do it, I immediately went to Home Depot and got to work. You can check out the how-to here .

You buy the metal sheet, and put it in a frame..Done! My kind of project. I love that I can see all my earrings and it can be hung on the wall away from little fingers. It also doubles as art on the wall. You just poke the earring through the holes in the sheet metal.
Great isn't it? I told Brent I "need" to buy more earrings to fill it up. My only set back is necklaces....any ideas on getting them on this metal sheet? The metal was expensive and I have enough to make one more. So, I'm trying to figure out how to hook necklaces on it.

Anyway, those are two of the things that have brought me joy recently.

Taylor Turns One!

My sweet baby is turning into a toddler. She turned one back on July 24th. We had the Carlsen's over for cake and ice cream and got her a few new toys. As you can see, she really enjoyed the cake.




Taylor has discovered her very loud voice lately. She is almost a constant noise. And I'm not talking about the sweet mild coos that used to come from that mouth. She is a squealer and a screamer. (Emma was too and actually still is). Taylor is learning how to stick up for herself and how to make her desires known. She will sign a word or two, but has yet to actually say anything. She loves to look at books, wear jewelry (she will show me her bracelet over and over and not let anyone take it off. Plus, everything is a necklace), swing and drive her car (a birthday present from Grandma). Taylor has always been cuddly. I just adore that. She will often come up to me and just squeeze my shoulders and lay her head down. She will start to pat my back or anyone else's who is sad. She seems very tender.

Taylor has been able to walk for a while, but until a few days ago wouldn't do it consistently. Now she is a walking machine. It's so fun to watch those wobbly steps and see her clap for herself. She is a big mama's girl and won't let me leave the room or hand to her anyone else (even daddy) without crying and having a fit.

So far, I haven't seen any defiance or naughty behavior, but I reserve the right to take that back as the months progress. she makes trouble, but only innocently. We have to keep the bathrooms doors shut.

I enjoy Taylor so much. She is so easy to love and I think she is just adorable (see the following photos as proof). As I wonder about her being our last baby, I try to hold her a little longer and play with her a little more. What a blessing she is to our family!

Three year old Aiden

Aiden is now three. And boy, is he acting his age. I stand by my belief that three is way worse than two. And, I remember it not getting better until age four. This is a very long phase.

For his birthday, we did a party. It was fun for Aiden and he still talks about it. He is all boy, loving cars, balls, sports etc. We went with a Cars theme for his party. Again, Brent had the day off (he actually took all week off to get some projects done) and so we do have some great photos of the party.





The two highlights were the car wash and the shaving cream (aka snow driving). We gave each boy a car when they came in the door that they used for all the activities. We had races with trophies for all the winners, a bean bag toss into an old tire, we painted with our cars (driving them in paint and then on our papers). It was all great fun.




Aiden is FULL of energy. He just goes all day long. He is always skipping, jumping, rolling, screaming, singing, making faces, or acting silly. It is exhausting! He is too busy doing all these crazy things that he just can't seem to listen to mom and dad. Which results in much frustration and time-outs. Seriously, how many times do I have to tell him to put his clothes on?.....about 12 times each morning.

He has always been tender and sensitive. He cares about others feelings, especially younger kids. He is very patient and nice to Taylor. He loves to tease Emma and she gives him quite the reaction. So, we spend many hours playing referee for those two. This past month, I have started him in a gym class. We just go to a local gym that has fun equipment/pads to play on and let him go wild for an hour. That helps to wear him out. He is also doing a preschool co-op once a week and, despite his young age, is one of the most advanced kids. (Yes, I am a bragging mom). We are going to have to decide whether to start him in Kindergarten two days after turning 5, or keep him home for an extra year.

Brent really enjoys Aiden. Brent is very willing to put him to bed or help him with something. They are buds. I think Aiden knows this and uses daddy to his own advantage. Brent is kind of a push over for Aiden.

How fun it is to have a boy's boy in the midst of all these girls. He is a rambunctious, active, tender, fun-loving three year old and we are always trying to keep up. We love you Aiden.

Six year old Sydney

Sydney turned six at the beginning of September. She got to pick a restaurant to go to (Red Lobster) and she chose a pink cake with pink frosting. (Note to self: after a large check and two very frustrated parents following Red Lobster, this is a tradition that we are NOT maintaining).

Sydney got a bunch of toys. She is into Barbies, Pet Shops and crafts. She continues to be a sweet and caring big sister. She is often the child who gives in to others in order to keep the peace. Sydney is an excellent reader. At her Parent-Teacher Conferences last week her teacher discussed having her go into the 1st grade class for some reading time each week. I was hesitant, though, knowing her tender personality and how easy she can become intimidated and clam up. We will see how the year progresses. As it is now, her teacher loves having her to be a tutor to other kids in the class as she is patient and encouraging.

Sydney is the messiest of our children. She can be so absent-minded and not remember that she JUST threw her clothes in the hallway or didn't get shoes on when we left the house. When she does clean, however, she does a great job. I'm always happy when it's her turn to clean the bathroom because she really gets it done right.

Although I tried to push gymnastics for her again this year, she insisted on ballet. So, she started last week and loves it. She is a very social girl and makes lots of friends easily. We haven't met a child yet that doesn't get along with her.

Lest you think she is an angel (well, she actually is), she can also be very mischeivious. She has always been curious about things and wants to see what reactions are to her actions. (I hope we get this under control before she gets curious about boys and drugs!) She cut several inches off her hair while at school last week, prompting a haircut from mom. She still colors on non-paper surfaces and is always testing the limits of her body.

Brent told me once, that he considered her a child full of contradicting characteristics. I think that sums her up. Clean, yet so messy. Happy, yet so easy to tears. Spacey, yet so thoughtful. I have a hard time predicting her choices or actions. She does keep our family filled with surprises. What a fun girl!