White Coat Ceremony

I don't think I could be more proud of Jayson.

 He has worked so hard to be where he is today. 

Long hours of studying...

Papers to write...Books to read...Tests to take. 

He has been busy, busy, busy...

We celebrated his White Coat a few weeks ago. This is the start of big changes in our life.

We are about a month into school and if I had to know all the things he does my head would for sure explode. He loves it though. He comes home happy and eager to tell me what he learned and how he can apply it in real life. He definitely picked a carrier where he will be happy.. 

He works so hard at home and school. 

He is my rock. 

I love him with all my heart and am proud to be his wife!

1-2-3-4-5

Jayson was watching the football game, Ember was sleeping and Ty well Ty was just being Ty. . . Everyone was doing their own thing so I thought I would cross one of my pinterest projects off my list. I love Sew much Ado. She made the most adorable felt flash cards...Hers are pretty fancy, my version is pretty basic but believe me Ty still loves them.

I didn't want to buy anything for this project. I wanted to use things I already had in my craft boxes. I had two felt pages the same color so they became the base of the flash cards.

I cut them 3x5 with a rotary cutter and mat.

Pulled out some scraps for the numbers and shapes. Yes, I totally keep my scrap felt in bread bags...Works great! Thanks mom for the good tip!

Found some colors I liked and pulled them out. I traced out the numbers with a disappearing ink pen. That way I didn't have to print out a pattern.

They are not even close to perfect, but I think Ty will still learn his numbers with them! The ink also goes away with in a few hours.

I sewed the numbers on with white thread. See how you can't see the ink on the 1 anymore! I also sewed on shapes. I put the numbers on top of the shapes and hole punched them. I used a regular paper hole punch and punched through the felt. It worked fine but had to do one layer at a time. Then I pinned them together and sewed around the edges.

Put a ring through the holes and it makes a cute little flashcard book! I wanted to make more. I think a second set would be fun so he can also use them as matching cards but I ran out of the cream felt. Maybe I will have to go to JoAnns shopping (dang it!! Lol). As for right now at least we can work on our numbers, shapes and colors.

One of the very best parts about making you kids things rather than buying them all is when they say "Mommy made it!" So sweet!

Even if you don't have all the supplies on hand this project would still be really cheap to make. Also if your making them for little hands like I am you don't have to worry about your flashcards ripping... My kids are little and pretty rough on things...Paper doesn't last long in this house.

We have been doing really good at "Home-PreK." I had the good idea from a friend who also has a husband in Pharmacy school. She has a daughter who is just older than Ty and when her husband has to study or do homework...(Something Jayson does a lot of) they also have homework or study time. So now in the morning we all eat breakfast together and get ready. Then when daddy is off to school we start school. We do about a half hour (as much as Ty can take) of learning. Then we try to have singing time, snack time and then back to learning time. He thinks its pretty cool when I tell him daddy is at school learning too....even though I am pretty sure Jayson isn't having singing time.  

Ember isn't really learning her numbers, shapes or colors....but she does like to flip through the pages... She is still learning though...just like looking at a book. Seeing new shapes and colors is good for her little brain. It also keeps her entertained for awhile!

Man time

What happens when your 2 years old and your dump truck breaks?!

Simple. You wait for daddy to get home and ask him to pull out his tools.

Pick out what ones look the best and get to work.

Busy, busy, busy...I love to watch my men work.

Watch and learn little man, daddy will teach you well.

Those little hands melt my heart.

I think its so important for the kids to get time with both of us and time one on one. Jayson and I call his and Ty time "man time". Even if its as simple as taking the trash out, its still bonding. With Jayson back in school and studying so much Ty is stuck at home with us girls all day. So when Jayson gets home he makes a real effort to do things with Ty. Play blocks, cars, tool....whatever Ty wants. As long as me and Ember are rocking in the chair and not disturbing "man time". Ty is always happier, plus he talks about it all day. "Mommy, Daddy and I build blocks" "Mommy, Daddy and I fix my dump truck" "Mommy, Daddy and I play doctor". Totally random and totally adorable. 

Life as of now

You know those moments where you look around and want to cry because your house is a mess, your kids are crying and dinner is burning on the stove?

 I can honestly say I can't remember the last time I had that feeling.

 Life has been pretty good around here.

The other day I had one of those moments...You know the kind where you look around and your kids are playing together, your house may not be spotless but you see fun and laughter, your anxiously awaiting your husband to come home so he can see your home cooked meal prepared just for him and wrap your arms around him and kiss him tell he is blue in the face...

Yeah I have been having more of those moments lately.

The kids still sometimes drive me nuts and I can't keep anything clean for long

but I am finding the good in everything.

I am feeling truly blessed to be a wife and mother.

I am finding more in more joy each day with the simple things.

Snuggle time, watching Thomas, coloring, playing blocks, spontaneous ice cream treats, random bubble baths, making paint, practicing taking steps, lullabie, the wheels on the bus, PJ's, baby talk.

...Life is good. God is good.

Things are not always perfect but I can truly say I am happy.

I am so thankful for my husband. I don't know what life would be with out him. He is my very best friend. I am thankful for my babies. I watch them and wonder how I am so lucky to be able to call myself their mother. I am thankful for my family. My Mom and Dad, brothers, sisters, grandma and grandpa,  in-laws and cousins..ect. They are always there for me and love me no matter what. I am so thankful for my church ward. Thankful for the good friends I am making and the kindness that has been shown to us. I am thankful for all my other friends back home and here in Colorado. Thankful for a roof over our head and food in our tummies, for good health and safety.

I am thankful for the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For all Joy is through him.

DIY pillow dolls

For Embers birthday this year I made her some pillow dolls. I actually got the idea from church dolls...basically the same thing but much much smaller. I though this would be a fun way to throw pillows in her crib or to take on road trips.

Excuse the crappy phone pictures but I wasn't planning on doing a full tutorial. Here is the run down though. Measure out any size you want for the body. See how my guy doll and girl doll are different sizes... yeah that is because that just happened to be the scrap sized I had on hand. Then use muslin fabric for the face. Measure out the same width but make the height smaller, obviously. Just whatever looks good to you. Then I took some felt and cut out hair. Spray it on with basting spray just so it wont move around when you sew it. I used quilting floss to sew on the hair, face and cheeks. Use a fabric pen with disappearing ink to draw on the face. I also used it to draw on where I wanted the cheeks. I used flannel for the girl cheeks and after she was done quickly realized felt is way better.....doesn't frey. So Mr. Sleep has nice felt cheeks. Miss Sleepy needed a bow to make her a little more girly. So I went to Embers stash and found a cute pink one. Then sew on your back piece inside out.... all but one inch. Then flip it right side in and stuff it.

I was all out of Polly fill and because I decided to make these with 100% already on hand materials I took out some of my quilt bat and pulled it to shreds. Then had my little man help me out. Pulled it nice and loose then stuffed it in and sewed the hole back up.

Ty actually loves them as much as Ember. They were both originally for Ember but I think Ty will keep the Mr.

Sorry for the terrible tutorial. If you have any questions on how to make them I would love to answer, just email me!  

They are soft, simple and sweet! I think they are perfect for a wide range of ages and look adorable in the crib.



Linking up here:
keepingitsimplecrafts.com
skiptomylou.org
craft-o-maniac.com
creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com
madincrafts.com
ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com