Thursday, May 24, 2012

Poor man's necklace?


http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.259909482.jpg

Not too sure what I should call this next little project, but it did result from me being too cheap to order it from etsy, so I guess it can be called my poor man's necklace. I am posting this for a friend, but also as an FYI for anyone in young womens as it would be an easy and cheap activity. (we are planning on doing it in a couple weeks)

I like jewelry( as evidenced by my old part time job at the Plaid Giraffe, right?....ahhh that was fun). I peruse jewelry on etsy all of the time. Sometimes I try to replicate things, but finding the appropriate supplies can be tricky, especially in Edmonton.  I saw this cute necklace, then went off to Michaels to see if I could find some decent beads(which I could not).

I was not too sure what to do next, but then I remembered in grade 8 I used to make beads out of Fimo(they were really ugly, I promise) and I remembered I had a lot of fimo sitting being wasted in my basement.(*we bought the fimo when Shane decided he liked to make figurines out of it-we bought a lot, as per my Hoarders syndrome, and he used it once-haha). Fimo is actually pretty awesome, you can make anything out of it(it is like a harder play dough) then you bake it and it becomes rock hard.All of the baking instructions are on the package.

I make some beads similar to the yellow ones, just by rolling balls and poking a toothpick through them. I ripped an old t-shirt for the string, just like the picture, and here is what I came up with.
(I know, hers is way nicer, but for about 2.50$ I am okay with mine:)
I only had a small package of yellow fimo, so instead of doing 7 beads on the bottom and 5 on the top, I did 5, and 3. I just tied knots in between each bead.
NOTE: one package as seen above is what I used for one necklace
I added a lobster clasp to the end of mine just by tying knots(as per the "shabby chick" aka sloppy and easy style I love).



The best parts of this project is in total it takes 45 minutes-ish. It is Super easy. It costs about 2 or 3 bucks for a pack of Fimo. You can make many different variations of it. You can find Fimo anywhere, and you feel like a rockstar when you make your own stuff!


Our Long Weekend

I loooooove long weekends. If I had it my way I would have Shane working 10 hour days and have a long weekend every week! It is just so much fun to spend some extra time as a family(these guys really are my best friends). Until a few months ago Shane worked part time (every Sat.) and now that he doesn't I am addicted to our weekends!

This past weekend happened to be a long weekend. On Monday we had our cousins come over for a little BBQ and it was so fun. Hudson is obsessed with his cousins, and it was great to see baby Jade.
We were blessed with great weather and the kids just ran and played. It was so much fun!!!
Some pictures of our long weekend festivities, including an awesome bike ride with Dad, and getting to play "throw the cat" with Uncle Joel!


Hudson and Lincoln

Now onto some updates, Mr. Machy is now 7 months old and fully mobile. Tonight he even managed to make his way down the stairs(*meaning I left the door open and he tumbled down the wood stairs-oops). I can't believe what a little mover this guy is. He will NOT sit still to let us change his diaper and I had to take him out of sacrament meeting at church already because he won't sit. What happened to my little baby? Poor little Mach has had a bad cold, for what seems like forever, and has a terrible diaper rash(because I am pretty sure he is getting his front teeth). The past couple weeks have been hard for our poor guy.
Poor sick baby Machy, getting some extra snuggles from Dad.

Hudson has just realized he loves to paint. It has been a bit rainy the past couple days, and H will just sit at the table and paint for a long time(which is a bit of a miracle). It is cute to see his art. He also loves to glue pompoms and craft supplies to paper. He enjoys his "art "time a lot. He is also interacting more and more with his little brother. Tonight when Huds and I realized Cooper went down the stairs, Hudson started bawling. He was hysterical. Later he came and sat beside me and told me that he loved Cooper and didn't want him to fall down the stairs again and go to heaven. I just want them to be pals so bad so it make me so happy to hear that, especially since most of the time Hudson is complaining that Cooper is in his ears(translation-his crying is annoying Hudson).
Hudson "loving" his brother-What's not to love about a brother THIS easy going?

Now onto me. It has been one month since I started my new diet with Lisa Parker(trainer/dietician). I have got to say I am amazed! I am amazed first at how bad I ate, and that I have actually really enjoyed doing this diet with her. How the program works, is she weighs and measures you then figures out your BMI and fat composition. Then she gives you a diet according to your goal weight based on protein, carbs and fats. Essentially you eat 6 meals/day and you balance your meals. The first two weeks were REALLY hard. I felt like I was eating soooo much, and I was sooooo tired. Now I am feeling more energized and I am really enjoying my 30 minutes of exercise(when I get it in...). I am so proud that in the last month I have already lost 8 lbs. I am so glad that I am seeing results, or it would be very hard to keep motivated.

Lastly, I finished my new headboard. I will take pictures of my entire room when the piles of clothes are put away-heehee(cuz, really it was hard enough to get my bed made for the pictures-ha). I found this King sized headboard on Kijij for 80 bucks. The thing is a monster and is solid wood. It had been painted black, so I just refinished it in white to go with our room. I feel like my room is more grown-up now that we have a headboard-haha. I was planning on building one off of Anna White's Knock Off Wood website, but I am not even sure I could make one for this cheap. The only real trouble we had with it is our bed is a Cal King, and the headboard is a King(4 inches wider). We had to move our whole room around to make it work, but I am getting more used to the new layout. *our master is teeeeeeeeeeeny and now our bed pretty much takes up the ENTIRE ROOM!*

Tada
So here is our Headboard(let's hope it gives me the motivation to make my bed-:) Speaking of bed, Goodnight!

Friday, May 18, 2012

A post about Motherhood!(Belated Mother's Day Post)

This morning I went to get some pictures done of the boys! I have a friend who is incredibly talented and she takes the most lovely pictures. The photo shoot was primarily for Cooper, but I wanted to attempt to get ONE picture of the guys together(see collage below- to understand that I fully recognized we had our work cut out for us-haha). Me and Hudson practiced smiling and "listening" in the morning and I had some pretty sweet bribes lined up, but he had his mind made up and was having none of it when it came down to actually having the pictures taken. He proceeded to act out while my patient friend did the pictures of Cooper, doing things like raiding her pantry, throwing silly puddy down her stairs and being rambunctious. When we were leaving, Hudson "wasn't ready" to leave and I had to carry him out to the car kicking and screaming.

I don't share this story because I am mad and can't believe how my son was acting, but on the contrary, because this little guy who can be such a bull-headed stinker has me completely wrapped around his little finger. He did have to suffer the consequences of not behaving, but what I realized driving home was that I would take all of the moments like this morning any day over not experiencing Motherhood. (I guess this is my Mother's Day post-heehee)
Hudson is becoming such an individual with opinions and thoughts and feelings of his own, and like any other stage of child rearing with a first born this stage is new to me. In some ways I feel for him because parenting really is all trial and error.

For example (NO JUDGING PLEASE) the other day Cooper was crying all day(and I really mean hours on end-due to teething). Hudson was being such a champ dealing with his incessant cries, which made me so proud, cause let's be honest, even being an adult with a little bit of self control I was finding it hard to listen to. Hudson requested some Kraft Dinner for lunch, so I made it for him and as a reward for good behavior I told him that he could eat it in his playroom. I had a towel on his lap in case any spilled and warned him not to make a mess, then went to Cooper's room and rocked the poor baby to sleep.  A minute later Hudson came into the nursery and informed me with a giant smile that he made a big mess. Already frustrated, I went to go assess the scene and let me tell you, there was a huge mess.  Hudson being in his underwear only made it opportunistic for me to wail him on the butt, and wail I did. I spanked him hard 3 times, and yelled at him to clean up the mess.(*here is the no judging part-We are not the spanking type- but I say parent as you wish! Some kids respond to a little spank, Hudson really doesn't so we usually try other methods) He was obviously upset and sobbed as he picked up the macaroni. He was having a hard time as the macaroni kept sticking to his little fingers. When I finally gave him the chance to he informed me that he was just trying to move and the towel I placed on his lap got stuck and the macaroni went flying. He tried to clean it up but realized he needed help, so he came to get me. I just assumed he was being rude and threw his macaroni all over the room and he came to get me to gloat( this has happened in the past-oi).
I totally wrongfully judged my son, who just came to me for some help. I immediately started crying, and apologized. He forgave me so quickly and was just super concerned that I was crying. He hugged me and even told me to take a deep breath, when I was still crying he asked me if I need a little drink of water. I was so overwhelmed with his love and forgiveness and the biblical prompts to become like a child. I thought about me, today, if I had gone to say my own Mother, or Shane or a close friend, and needed help, and they treated me as bad as I treated Hudson, I would be furious and I mean MAD. I can tell you too, that I would not be forgiving them that next moment, and completely forget about my hurt feelings and be so concerned for theirs!!! Kids truly are amazing. They have such resilient spirits, and they have so much to teach us about being good human beings!

When I was 19 I went away for Mother's Day and did not call my Mom from where I was at. I figured I'd call her when I got home. She was livid! I didn't think it was a big deal. I am learning why it was such a big deal everyday. Motherhood deserves to be celebrated! It really is amazing and divine. We do need to teach our children to respect it, and now I think-what an idiot I was for not calling my Mom.(A few years later while traveling in Crete I made a concerted effort to call my Mom on Mother's Day! Seriously there were sketchy Grecians on mopeds creeping me out as I called-hopefully that made up a bit for that missed call:)

One teeny silver lining to the black clouds of last years forest fire, was having my Mom live down the street from me for 6 whole months. I loved having her so close and getting to see her everyday. I loved having her come to church each week with our family and her getting to know my ward family. I loved having someone to run errand and make memories with all of the time. It was fantastic and I was so sad to see her leave.  I am so thankful for that special time as I have lived far from my Mom for many years, and I will likely never live in close proximity to her again in my life. I have a wonderful Mother and I am so thankful for her ENDLESS and INFINITE sacrifices on my behalf!

      Happy Mother's Day to all, and Thank God for Mothers!!!!!

                        a few shots of failed attempts of brother pictures:)-notice who makes it difficult   
                                                                       EVERY TIME?



Saturday, May 12, 2012

Funny

I saw this the other day and have thought about again and again! I am convinced that this completely has my Son`s brain figured out! hahahah Just thought I would share!

Potty TRAINED!

I was going to include this in my update with the boys, but since this is so EPIC in my life I figured it deserved it`s own post!!
HUDSON IS OFFICIALLY POTTY TRAINED!
I did wonder if this day would ever come. I had been working with Hudson for awhile, and he was not interested at all! Everyone assured me that when he decided to, he would just start doing it, and that is totally what happened!
Our success started a couple weeks before Easter when we made a potty chart, that he could fill in each time he went to the bathroom. We realized that he really wanted to get Elefun, a kids game and used that as our reward. Eventually he figured out that going to the bathroom is a lot better than the alternative! Yipee!!!!!
 Hudson does get distracted in the bathroom, and loves to play with toilet paper, but he is DONE with diapers(even at night). Hudson also one day a week or so ago informed me that he will no longer be sitting and going to the bathroom, that instead he will be standing. I was opposed at first, but he is pretty good. (let`s call a spade a spade-Boys don`t ever really have good aim right...)

Anyway, I am thrilled with this progress!!!!One Down...........







Friday, May 11, 2012

Holy 6 Months Batman!!!




I often wonder if there is a phobia of your kids growing up! Really, I think I have one...Each milestone baby Coops hits, I am filled with pride, and anxiety! I love babies, and their unconditional love, no back talking and dependence. This is especially the case with baby Cooper. He is such a happy and easy going baby, and I seriously cherish him at this stage/phase so much!I just want him to stay like this forever!!!


Machy is changing a lot right now, developing leaps and bounds each day.The hugest change is his love for mobility. Coops spends most of his time army crawling around and getting stuck under our black chair in the living room. Another thing noteworthy right now is his awareness of Hudson! Cooper loves getting Hudson`s attention. Every morning the 4 of us lay in our bed, and the boys interact and play. That is my favorite time of day. Hudson will yell out Good morning Coops, and then pet him and roll on him, and Cooper will reach out and touch Hudson, and scratch him and laugh. They are so cute and I am excited to see their friendship develop!

Little Mach(Nuku Mach -shortened to Mach or Machy is his nickname-a Tongan word from my mission) has really taken to a nice schedule and must be growing a lot, as he is ravenous for his cereal. He loves to eat. Cooper does not play strange with people, but he does like his Mama, and I don`t mind that at all. Last week Cooper had his 4 month shots(haha-better late then never...) and he is weighing around 17 lbs. He is a little under 50th percentile for weight, a little above for height and apparently has a pretty small head(I think that is why his eyes look so big-ha). He is healthy and I am so thankful for that. With our church congregation having soooooo many babies born all of the time, I have been exposed to some Mama`s who have preemie or ill babies, and honestly, that would just be a heart wrenching experience!

Last week Hudson had his dental surgery and can I just say it was awful. Seeing my boy so scared as they administered the gas to him was terrible. I felt like such a traitor. He was screaming for help and Shane and I just had to hold him a down. He was so terrified.Again, I truly with all of my heart am thankful that my babies have such good health! Hudson got his fillings, and is even sporting a new silver cap. I am hoping that will be my first and last experience with that type of dental procedure.
I am so thankful that Hudson found his love for the taste of bubble gum flavored toothpaste and that he currently loves brushing his teeth. (Now I just wish he`d stop sneaking off to the bathroom to brush his teeth by himself, and the mess that results from it!)

 The boys still love to take baths together, and we have been loving the awesome spring weather and getting out for walks and park visits.I feel so rejuvenated during the spring! I love being able to go outside, see neighbors and friends and go out and run errands without dread!
Hudson is settling down a teeny bit. He is still a runner and pretty wild, but he has such a dichotomous personality. He gives amazing snuggles, and loves to sit close to me when he is watching a show and we have incredible talks while cuddling at night time and nap time. Hudson is VERY aware of my feelings and moods. He asks me multiple time a day if I am okay or if I am happy. Lately we have been talking a lot about stranger danger and at least once a day he tells me that he will protect me from the people and won`t let anyone take me away from him.
                                 A flower Hudson picked for me while we were out on a walk:)
 Hudson playing with his new best bud Eljude...I think that is his name-our little neighbor boy.

 It has been neat to see Hudson care about his social life. Usually every day Hudson will ask to go see his friends, or to have a party with his friends or ask if we can go to the park ect ect. Although Hudson still has some sharing issues, he loves playing with other kids, and I feel so thankful there are so many laid back Mom`s close to me who allow Hudson to learn social skills with their children! More than anything else Hudson LOOOOVES  to play with his Daddy. He knows exactly when Shane comes home from work and he cannot wait for their various boy games. Wrestling (or wissling) is a definite favorite right now. I am so glad that my boys have such a fun Dad who loves to play with them!


Now I can finally rest easy knowing that I am updated on my boys!