Let's go fishing!

When we were in Las Vegas this summer visiting my Mom in law we went to the FAO Schwartz store in Caesars Palace. There I saw this fishing game and knew my son would love it. He pretends strings, ropes even my hubby's cell phone ear piece are fishing lines but I couldn't justify the 20 something dollars for a bunch of cardboard fish and things that I knew my boy would fold and crumple. Plus when I showed it to my hubby and his response was "Oh, we can make that so much better."

So one of my last nesting projects 6 and a half weeks ago was making this fishing game for my son. I found a small tupperware bin at a local thrift store and decoupaged the inside with strips of light blue tissue paper. The bin is large enough to store all the pieces and to play by fishing the pieces out of it. I had Adam drill holes in four dowels and painted each one a different color for each different player.

I tied string to each dowel and dabbed the knots with super glue to make it extra secure. At the opposite end of the string I tied a magnet with the help of hot glue to secure it before I tied it, then reinforced the knots with super glue as well.

For the fish I printed pictures that I found online (i.e. clown fish, crab, blue whale etc.). I also printed the names of all the fish and taped them to the backs. After slipping on a paper clip I covered both sides of each cut out fish with self laminate to prolong their life span.

It was really pretty fun to make and for $15 I made two of them, one for my nephew also - I think a pretty good bargain! I have been thinking that if you printed the fish on cardstock you could use packaging tape to cover the smaller size fish instead of the laminate which was the most expensive component. With older kids you might not even have to laminate at all.

We are just having fun learning how to take turns but really your imagination is the limit. I think it would be fun to fish for letters and make words or with words to make sentences etc.

If you want to participate in the Make it from Scratch Carrnival Stephanie from Stop the Ride is hosting this week and she's got a theme. She wants to know where in the world we are - country or state. Get your post up and submitted by Sunday for next Tuesday's carnival!!

Hours of fun!!!

When Daddy takes him to get a haircut!

I usually cut his hair with clippers but a couple of weeks ago he was over due and for some reason I couldn't find the 30 minutes to cut it! So Daddy and him went together and came home with glue!

Mommy Do!

From long....

to short.....

I had it done on Saturday and I'm still getting used to it but it's definitely a lot lighter and more fun.

My little beauty is dong well, she'll be 6 weeks tomorrow. We call her a little squeaker because she makes all these wonderful baby noises and squeaks that are too adorable. She is very strong and has good head control and is starting to smile more! If only I can catch it at just the right moment for a pic!

To my 3 year old!

Nearly a month ago my son turned three and I've neglected the big event here on my blog. In real life, we did it up with a big shindig and had a bunch of his friends over to celebrate. The focus was back on him, I'm sure a welcome feeling just days after his baby sis joined the family!

Throwing a party 12 days postpartum is great if your Mom is here! Thanks to Granny everything went smoothly! We made homemade playdough which was each kids parting gift along with a goody bag with a couple of dollar store finds in it. (Seriously I think we may have spent $5 at the dollar store for bags and party favors - sometimes I just love the dollar store!) Some bigger siblings helped put Cars themed tatoos on all the little guys and while it's always really important for me to make my kids cakes I let my hubby purchase this years- boy is that a budget killer! Well worth it in this instance however.

I just can't believe I have a three year old! He just had a little growth spurt too so all his 2T shorts are getting too short - good thing summer's almost over and we've gotten 2 seasons out of some of them!!!

My favorite things you are doing right now my beautiful boy--

• The way you'll burst into song - and start singing one of "Bob and Larry's Sunday Morning songs" or "Doe a Dear" or yesterday in the car with the radio to "I can only Imagine" I love your beautiful little voice.

• Everyday when I walk into your room after "quiet play time" there's a new adventure waiting for me - once you were even asleep on your floor and two days ago you ripped off a good two foot section of the wallpaper! THANKS maybe in a couple weeks you'll have it all off! I wonder if then you'll be able to paint the walls for us!

• Your ability to learn has always fascinated me but now it's amazing. You can recognize most letters - only about 6 slip you up and you count to 30 - you can speak so well. Daddy and I are so very proud of you!

• Ever since your little sister came along it's become apparent to me what a HUGE heart you have. You are always wanting to kiss and hug her (isn't that what baby's are for?) and you have learned to be very gentle and caring. It's a nice side to see of your very boy rough and tumble personality.
• You can 100% get yourself dressed - if there are no buttons involved - which is a huge help for me! Mostly you get things on right side out even.
• You still LOVE to help me in the kitchen, and you have most of just about every book that we own memorized and after two times reading through library books heaven forbid Mommy or Daddy skip one little line to save time before bed!!!!! I think "What do People do all Day" is one of the only ones you don't have totally memorized and that's a really long one. Yet still a favorite for you.
• You know that D-O-G, C-A-T, and C-A-R and your name spell words. You ask me to spell things - did I say you are SO smart!
• You are always willing to share with Mommy and Daddy and you are working on taking turns and sharing very well when playing with your friends. It's fun to see your imagination at work when you play with your "guys", matchbax cars, blocks and others.
• You always make the sunshine a bit brighter each day for me and you'll always be my baby - even if you think you're a "big boy!"

I LOVE YOU MY WONDERFUL SON!

Tonight while giving my kids a bath I found myself wanting three more arms. For one thing I'd be able to wash both kids and floss the annoying corn between my teeth all at the same time. Then when I got the little one out and dressed she wanted to nurse and so I sat on the toilet nursing away knowing that my son needed to get out and ready for bed but also desperately needed his hair washed. Again I needed more arms - I guess God knew that we really can't do everything and that's why he gave us Dad! Conveniently with two more arms!!!

Time

Tiny Toes

Two In Cloth

We are just here treasuring every moment we spend together. Someday I hope to be able to get a better handle on things so I can justify computer time again! But for now we are just enjoying this time with my now 3 year old son and 3 week and six day old daughter because they'll only be this big today, tomorrow they'll be bigger.

My hubby's Mom sent an email and this was at the bottom, I thought it was powerful and fitting!