Happy (early) Birthday to my Lil' Boy!

So three years ago today I was going into the hospital to start being induced to have our baby boy #3...On November 24th, all 8lbs 12 ozs decided to show up to the party.

for more baby pictures check out this post with photos of our 3rd little guy.

Fall Flash Back Part 2

We took advantage of the gorgeous fall weather, actually it was hotter in September and October then it had been all summer. The boys have been loving coming home from school, grabbing a snack, finish off homework and run outside to meet up with their friends to play.

The place to play is right behind our fence where we put up two swings for the neighborhood to also enjoy.

Photo taken by J.

Since we have been busy with flag football, homework, scouts and squadron functions I have been using the crock pot to make some no fuss tasty meals. I also took advantage of the fresh produce from Larry's and whipped up a yummy Italian pasta salad.

J worked on getting his gymnastics belt loop for cub scouts with his pack. The two younger boys had a great time running around and doing some free play as well.

Fall Flashback Part 1

So we have had a busy fall so far, even though the blog doesn't reflect it...or maybe it does by the lack of posts. I have been able to take a lot of pictures, so I will do a recap, in two parts since there is so much to cover.

M had a large part in a class play...he was the King. N enjoyed going with to watch, the kids in the class thought he was pretty cute and looked just like M.

The boys and I also went to the Cool Patch Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze...no maze for us though! The boys had fun climbing around on the straw bails, riding the rocking horses, and taking a corn bath....I had to pay $4 per boy for those activities...growing up we would call that work on the farm ;)

The school the boys go to had some harvest activities that I took N to. I went during time slot J's class was out participating.

Both of the older boys also have been busy doing their Accelerated Reading and M moved up two levels and J moved up one, so they both received certificates on their achievements.

We also attended one of the boys good friends Birthday at the Outdoor Rec Center on base for some rock climbing.

M in red and J in blue.

M racing the birthday boy. He is quick like a spider monkey up that wall!

N did a little "climbing" too, he just looked really cute in his harness.

More pictures to come!~

Fall + Weekends = Football

Both of the older boys have decided to play flag football this fall. J is on the U6 Falcons team and M is on the U9 Bears team...N is upset that he doesn't get to play since he is a big boy and wears underwear. Yes you read that right, we have managed to have our youngest one out of diapers and into "big boy pants", even to leave the house, with only minor incident. Back to football...the boys have practice Tuesday's and Thursday's and most games on Saturday's...except for all the big holiday breaks we have this month...and so we also have games on some Tuesday's and some Thursday's...so it becomes quite easy to get confused...fingers crossed I keep it all straight!

J playing center at his first game.

J playing QB, and then handing it off. The U6 league is pretty fun to watch...lots of running around in all directions and pulling off the flags of even if the are on your team ;p

M played flag football last year and has developed a better arm over the year...along with being able to catch the football more consistently. However, staying upright and on his feet may be something we need to work on a little more since he likes to run and dive after the person with the ball.

M playing center.

Halftime listening to the coach (#7).

Playing QB.

So I have been doing some more organizing around here and got some inspiration from pinterest...it's a virtual pin board that you can organize all your "treasures" that you find on the internet.

My inspiration photo.

What I did:

Just a little project...but it made a HUGE difference in that cabinet. I couldn't hang my measuring cups since they don't have holes on the handles ( I guess I could make some, although I think that would bug me more). So I used the little 3M command hooks that I use to hang holiday decor/garland from the bookcases. I REALLY love those little removable hooks! So I thought it would be better not to screw into the cabinet door since this isn't our forever home and tomorrow, next week, or a year from now we could get orders to move...and return this house back to the original condition...which was brand new when we moved in!

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy...like being able to grab my measuring spoons without sending a search party out for them!

Halloween 2011

So this year we ended up going the day before Halloween to Larry's Produce to pick out our carving pumpkins. It really didn't pay to carve the pumpkins too early since it was still in the mid 80's and there was no way the pumpkins would last in that heat. Larry's is a great place for picking up your fruit, veggies and seasonal "natural" decor...super cheap and great quality! Our total for 3 pumpkins and assorted veggies (a wheel barrel full) was around $25.

The boys wanted us to get the 1555 lb pumpkin....ummmm no.

Once home we set to work on our masterpieces. J wanted to use one of the potato head kits I picked up...ok too cute! Super easy too!

Next we broke out the big guns...pumpkins and tools! We carved out the bottom of the pumpkin. This allowed the pumpkins and candle sit flush on the ground...plus you don't have the saggy top falling into the pumpkin either!

M HATES pumpkin guts so he lets J do all the slim work...which he thinks is fun and gross.

M is now old enough to do about 90% of his pumpkin by himself and picked out a template of a skeleton this year.

Daddy had N pick out a template and got to work on carving it. N thought the pumpkins were stinky and gross and really didn't want anything to do with them.

The carvings finished!

My boys all decked out.

With their pumpkins...boy it is hard to get them to stand still and get a picture of them!

Woody and Buzz ready for Trick or Treating...N thought it was great that his best bud dressed up with him and is still talking about it!

Potty Training

So we have started down the road that most parents would consider one of the biggest milestones for turning their darling little "baby" into a big boy/girl. N will be three next month and we have been working with him this past month on "listening" to his body and doing the appropriate "big boy" action instead of relying on his diaper/pull-up. I would like to mention the the two older boys were complete opposites when it came to this stage in their life...M by 3 he was 100% good to go day and night, J not so much ;) J had the worse cases of diaper rash, but really didn't care if he sat in his diaper all day. He didn't completely get it until he went off to preschool in NJ--age 4, and then I think the only reason he finally decided it was worth it was that he wouldn't get to go to preschool with his friends unless he was a "big boy".
N has been a mix of the two older boys. He has a strong desire to be one of the "big boys" in the house and do everything they do, but really loses track and needs to be reminded to keep his big boy underwear dry and clean and that he isn't allowed to pee or poop on my floor! Bribery also seems to work with him, we are currently on his 7th potty chart that he gets to fill up with Thomas the Train stickers (1 sticker for pee, 2 for BM, 2 for staying dry all night, and 2 for using the potty when we are outside the house). When the chart is full we have a toy that he has picked out. So far it has been going great, there have only been a couple of days that he shows no interest at working towards the reward. Most of the time when we leave the house he is still wearing pull-ups, but we have taken the chance a couple of times with going to stores in underwear and have had no accidents. Overnight he has also had hardly any wet diapers and wakes up wanting to go sit on the potty, so hopefully we won't have to be changing a lot of sheets when he tries undies overnight...don't know when that jump will be made, but it probably isn't too far off.

N with his newly filled chart and wearing the underwear he picked out to wear for the day.

Bookcase Kinda Complete Sneak Peak

So in this post I talked about cleaning and organizing for becoming a Family Child Care Provider on base (running a daycare from my house). A couple of people had mentioned that they liked my fall vignette and thought I would take some close ups of my elements...plus this will help me to put it back up come next fall :)

I love rustic fall colors, and our house looks kind of looks like fall year-round. I did add a few more elements that scream fall to get us in the mood...since we actually had higher temps in September/October then we did all summer it seems.

I also got those mini chalkboards, chalk markers and got to use the glue gun and labeled some of the toy baskets.

We made a trip to Ikea yesterday and picked up more baskets so there aren't so many toys staring back at me too. Now I need to make a trip back to JoAnn's for more chalkboards! And yes I have one open cubby...for now! J and N both have Birthday's next month so I am sure there will be something new to fill it in :)

Fall Cleaning and Organizing

As mentioned in the previous post I am getting my license to become a provider in the Family Child Care program. Some of the work has to do with prepping my house for inspections/walk through by the FCC Coordinator and also with the base fire agency. One of my goals in going through this process is to not lose my idea of what I would like my house to look like....homey, warm and inviting. My hope in getting prepared to open my doors is that my house looks more like Pottery Barn Kids(but without spending big bucks) then a school supply magazine.

So this is one area I will be working on. Love how my fall vignette is looking but the crazy round up of toys is not doing it for me. I plan on getting 4 more of those baskets from Ikea and some cute mini chalkboards with the name of the items made to attach to the front of them. Chalkboards and chalk??Won't it wipe right off?? Nope, not with chalk markers...only comes off if wet. So what I write on them should stay without too much fuss. I am looking forward to having this space:

looking much more organized and not so many toys staring me down! And oh yeah all those cords are disappearing too...they have been driving me nuts from day 1 and I think they have multiplied since then too! Stayed tuned on how this project turns out...already started parring down some of the toys!

Busy Starting a Business

It has been way to long since I have sat down and updated this blog. I have been pulled away for some training and busy working on opening my house up so I can start being a Family Child Care Provider on base. Lots of rules and regulations, meal planning, "classroom" set up (trying to not change my house decor too much), and just trying to adjust to the idea of having a set in stone schedule. I think it is going to be a new adventure once againn for our family.