It Was A VERY Merry Christmas!

Christmas Pajamas - McKay, Noah, Eli, Gavin, Lauren and Carter

Best Friends, Cousins, and partners in crime - McKay and Gavin

As it always does Christmas came and went by so quickly... Christmas eve James and Jason took the boys skiing so that Kristin and I could get everything ready for that night. I truly have to say that I appreciated Kristin so much this year - She really went out of her way to make everything so fun and special for everyone and easy on me... Thanks Kristin I love and appreciate you!!! We had a wonderful dinner, decorated cookies, enjoyed Jason telling the Christmas story and had fondue for dessert.

I thought that I had everything ready for Christmas night to make it easy and painless on James and I - I was looking forward to getting to bed early... and did! BUT, then the phone rang at 1:00 a.m. and it was Jason... They were missing some of Noah's Christmas... Kristin and I had gone shopping the week before to finish all of her shopping and had taken James' car. I took everything home with me so that she wouldn't have to hide it late at night... But, the next morning James and McKay went skiing and took it all out of his car and put it in the garage... So, I went and put it in my car and took it to her later that next day... Well, somewhere in all of the transferring we lost a big Target bag... So, at 1:00 in the morning James is out going through all of the cars and the garage looking for this bag and couldn't find it... So, we called them back and told them we didn't have it and they kept looking for it and called back and said we had to have it because they didn't... So, I got up and went out and couldn't find it either... finally James in the middle of a snow storm went out and took all of the ski stuff out of his car and found it!!! So, he took off and Jason took off and they met in the middle to transfer the goods!!! By the time it was all said and done we got to bed at about 2:30 a.m.!!!

Christmas was wonderful - The boys made it really fun with their excitement! McKay got the Batcave that he had been dreaming about for months and Carter loves his tool bench that he got that as you can see in the picture also works very well as a kitchen! He is always pulling all of my pots out in the kitchen and making a big mess - So, he got his own set of pots and pans and that was a big hit too! McKay really "got it" this year and I have to say that I was really proud of his appreciation and gratitude with everything that he got.

We had Christmas dinner at James' Grandma's house and enjoyed getting to see the extended family and spending time with them too.

On Friday James took McKay skiing again - I have to admit that I have really enjoyed the one on one time that this has allowed me with Carter. I try to just do what he wants to do - play with blocks, color, cuddle, watch a movie with him... give him a little bit of my undivided attention. He loves it - But, he is always excited when the boys come home too!

I hope that you all had as wonderful of a Christmas as we did. I have to apologize that I didn't get Christmas cards out this year... It was something I kept meaning to do and just didn't get done... I am grateful for all of the love and support that my little family receives so abundantly from our family and friends. We have had an exciting year this year with finding out that we were expecting and moving to another state and all of the changes that brings along with it. I am grateful to have friends that have been my best friends my whole life - We miss you Carson and Lacey!!! Thank you Jennifer for still being who you are and being my friend despite all of my crazy quirks! I'm grateful for a family who loves me and supports me through everything, for Brothers that I know I could go to for anything and sister-in-laws that keep them informed as to what is going on in my life! For a Father who has taught me how to be strong and a Mother who has taught me how to love... Thank you both for the love that you have for James and my Boys. I am grateful to have in-laws that I truly love and appreciate - Even you Jason... and Kristin you totally rock!

I have enjoyed the time that I have been able to spend with my cousins and their families this year - Redfish was a blast Megan and Greg and we look forward to spending more time with you here in Utah! Jon and Stacey we have really enjoyed our last couple dinners and look forward to more good times!

So, as this year comes to an end I truly look forward to the wonderful times to come in the next. I look forward to meeting this new little man that is about to make his debut into our family. I am truly blessed with being a wife and a mother - I have a husband who is my best friend and makes me laugh everyday and two boys that fill my life with love and fulfillment in a way that I never knew was possible until I became a Mother. I hope that you all have enjoyed the Spirit of this Holiday as much as we have and wish you all the very best in the new year!

Carter's New Passion

All I have to give Carter to entertain him right now is a simple piece of white paper and a pen... He will draw for an hour on one piece of paper until it is completely covered. He finds anything - wrapping, receipts, scraps... and brings them to me and asks for a pen. It's always nice to find something that will captivate their attention for a little while!

Feeling The Spirit!

Well, I can officially announce that I have finally started to feel the Holiday spirit! The boys LOVED making all of the ornaments for the tree this year. I do have to admit that we did let them pick a few out at Walmart that they wanted too - James was laughing at me because he knew it was almost more than I could handle when McKay picked out red and white tinsel... My tree is usually pretty fancy - there is nothing fancy about this tree, but I have to admit that I love it. They love it too- McKay is always telling me how much he loves it and is always so proud to show it off to everyone - I think that that is what it is more about! We made glittered snowflakes out of Popsicle sticks, snowmen out of Styrofoam balls and candy canes out of pipe cleaners. This was our first year buying a tree... we have always gone and cut our own - it was a cold night and I was grateful that they had a fire to keep the kids warm.

My Mom came and stayed with us for 6 days!!! It was sooo nice to have her here - She really helped me get some loose ends tied up around here. Furniture is officialy where it goes, mirrors and pictures are hung and babies room is all put together and ready to go! We went one night while she was here to temple Square to look at the lights and then one night we went and rode the Heber City Creeper - They had it all decked out as the Polar Express - The kids LOVED it! They serve you hot chocolate and cookies and read you the story of the Polar Express - you go to the North Pole and pick up Santa Clause and he comes on the train to see the kids. Where are the pictures you ask... Well, I grabbed James new camera that we got him for Alaska so I wouldn't have to haul my big one around... It worked great! But, when i got home it was dead and I can't find the charger anywhere (probably still in Alaska!).................................. So, I need him to go an buy another one. But, the greatest part about having my Mom here was just having her here - we took it really easy - she spent a lot of time coloring and cuddling with the kids.

We have had a couple storms this week and I love the picture of my Mom and the boys watching James outside - just the three of them together! Thanks Mom we love you!

I hope you are enjoying the season!

In Search Of Christmas Spirit...

So, I am lacking some serious Christmas Spirit this year... usually I have the house all decked out by now and if I truly had to admit it... I still have a couple Halloween decorations lurking around! My Niece was here Friday night and told me my house was lacking major Christmas Spirit and even offered to come and help me set everything up!!! But, the thought of setting everything up to just take it all down days before I have a baby is a little draining... I usually DECK the house out!!! - I LOVE Christmas decorations... But, this year I have decided to keep it simple. We are going to go and get our tree tomorrow night and stop at the craft store - I have decided that I am going to let the kids make all of the ornaments for the tree this year... You have to understand that this is a big step for me... I'm usually the perfectionist that has to have everything look PERFECT! But, this year we are trying something new!!! So, over the next week we are going to make the ornaments and decorate the tree a little each day!


Every year James and I have always been on the hunt to out do each other on Christmas Day with our gift to each other... I listen to his hints all year long and usually have it taken care of by December and he stresses out all December trying to come up with something!!! But, this year we have decided to totally change it... We had a lady in our ward tell us this is what they do with their family - instead of buying them a gift they give them a gift from themselves... last year her son gave her a dozen car details that she can cash in whenever she wants. So, you give them a gift of service or time - a true gift from you. So, this year we decided to try it out - my mind has been racing to come up with something really special to give him. We decided that it has to be outside of what we are already responsible for - so, he can't give me car washes and I can't give him clean laundry! You have to give something that would totally benefit the other with your time, service and compassion! I think I am more excited this year than I have been any other year to see what he comes up with! It takes a lot more thought then just going to the store and picking something out!


Yesterday morning James and McKay were getting ready to head out skiing when he came to me and said: "Mom, how do I tell Dad that I don't like skiing..." So, I sat down with him and asked him why he didn't like skiing? His answer was simple - "I don't like ski school, I want my Dad to teach me how to ski". It melted my heart! So, I went out in the kitchen and told James what McKay had said. The last time James had picked him up from ski school McKay had been in tears... So, James decided that he would spend yesterday just the two of them and see how it went. They hit the bunny hill a couple times and James was tired of waiting in line there and decided that if they were going to go for it they were going to go for it and took McKay to the top of Majestic (the adult hill)... At first James was going slow with McKay to make sure he was o.k. and then McKay asked James if he had to keep going slow or if he could go fast... James told him he could go fast as long as he didn't hit anyone! James said that he just took off and flew down the hill. James said that he was so happy and so excited that you could see him smiling under his face gator! James was so excited for him and was saying "McKay you are... you are... you are..."
and McKay finished it for him and said "say the bomb Dad"! As soon as they got to the bottom McKay was right in line to go back up and cried when it was time to come home for the day! When McKay got home he told me it was the best day ever! James admitted that it was truly one of the best days they had ever spent together!


We head back to Idaho again this week for a doctors appt. But, my Mom is coming back with us to spend 5 days!!! I don't know who's more excited me or the kids!!! I have a couple projects I need her help on and maybe she can help me get those Christmas decorations out!!! I hope you have a good week!

Halloween Album

So, I had sooo many pictures of Halloween this year that I made this little mini album. I have pictures in it from everything we did this fall from going to Gardeners Village, to carving pumpkins, to our Halloween decorations, to trick or treating... just anything that had to do with the season. I put a lot of journaling in also to tell of everything we did. I decorated about a half a dozen little mini pages to put in betwixed and in between to add a little fun for the boys. I have found that my boys love looking at the mini albums and have found myself doing more of them.

I started another one yesterday that will be a page a day for the whole month of December - documenting each day and what we do. James' parents stayed with us last night and I got some fun pictures of the boys wrestling with Grandpa - So, they will be my pictures for December 1. I thought it would be a fun way to document our life right now in the moment before the baby comes and we don't remember what it was like before he came!

Just A Little Reminder...

So, I think as a Mother you need a reminder every now and then of how good you really have it... Today is one of "those" days for me... The boys have been fighting all day and Carter has found crayons twice that has resulted in some very bright wall art... Plus, James has been gone to Idaho since yesterday morning... I'm sure that a lot of it has to do with the pregnancy hormones surging in my body right now too... But, I was on the verge of a breakdown when I downloaded these pictures and was reminded of how good I really have it. I have two beautiful boys and another on the way that they told me I would never have, they are healthy, strong, happy and full of energy. At times I have to admit that I am a little intimidated by the thought of three... But, I would rather have three than none - So, I am going to try and look at the beauty in the drawings on the wall and enjoy every night that Carter lays at me feet as I cook dinner... And try not to wince too bad each time McKay says "Um, Mom can I tell you something..." (He's usually not telling me anything good!) And enjoy the moments a little bit more that I do catch of them loving each other. It's my goal to take the next month and truly enjoy the season and my two boys - to enjoy this time in our life as a little family of four... to not take it for granted and to live in the moment more. May we all be reminded a little more often of how truly good we have it!

A Little Bit of Idaho...

Another crazy week... We went to Idaho Last Thursday and were able to enjoy a fabulous dinner out with my cousin Stacey and her husband Jon at my favorite restaurant Stockman's. Friday we spent the day running errands and had a doctors apt... Since we are going back and forth to Idaho and need to make some arrangements in January to be there to have the baby we were able to set my delivery date... So, it looks like we will be having a baby on January 15. I have to admit that it feels really good to have a date in my mind - I'm one of "those" people that just has to have everything planned and in order! Saturday we celebrated an early Thanksgiving with my family - When you're away and don't see them as often you really appreciate when you do! So, it was really nice to have us all together and spend the time together. Sunday we went to church with our old ward... BIG mistake... I think it will make it even harder when I go to church here and still don't know anyone! But, it was fabulous to see all my friends that I miss so much! The boys walked right in like nothing has even changed and made themselves right at home! We left after church to be home in time to have dinner with James' best friend from growing up Tyson and his wife Kristin and their family. So, it was a crazy but good weekend!

THEN, we had a little bit of Idaho come to Utah!!! Carson, Lacey and the kidos came on Tuesday and staid through Thursday!!! It was SOOOO good to have them here. When McKay and Addy saw each other they just ran up to each other and hugged! It was priceless. We literally hardly saw them the whole time - they were as inseparable as always! The adults stayed up past 1:00 a.m. both nights just talking, playing games, watching movies and eating good food!!! It felt so good to have them here and to just be able to be together! It was something I really needed - So, thanks guys for making the effort to come- we miss you SOOO much! These are the best pictures I could get of the crazy kids - Carter, McKay, Addy and Noah.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with James' family - Everybody was there but one brother and his family. It was special this year because his Grandma was able to spend the day with us.

Friday James and McKay went skiing with Jason and the boys and Carter and I crashed!!! We literally spent the day laying in bed watching movies! Later we went to this place called Jump On It with Jason and Kristin, Joe and Wendy and the Kids. It's this huge warehouse that is full of trampolines - they even have then on the walls for the kids to jump off of! The kids have a total party there! Carter was a little timid at first... then he would just go and find a trampoline that didn't have anyone on it - he was good until someone came on it and then he would try to start a fight with them to get them out of his territory! Yes, he's my feisty one! Afterwards we went to dinner at Zuppas which has the best soup and salad anywhere!

James had to head back to Idaho today to finish things up on our house - The family moves in on Monday. Joe and Wendy are blessing Maxwell tomorrow - I feel so bad that I can't make it to be there - But, we have to keep travel limited to the doctors appointments... With my other two boys I couldn't travel at all.. So, I am just grateful that we are able to this time as much as we are.

So, I am looking forward to a quiet week next week - or what I hope to be a quiet week! I always intend for them to be chill - but, they always end up crazy! I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and are enjoying the Holiday season!

A Much Needed day!

So, yesterday James took the day off of work so that I could have a "girls" day! I went with my Sister-in-law Kristin and my Cousin Megan to a cute little boutique that I had been wanting to go to. It was so nice to be able to take my time and walk through and enjoy it! I picked up a couple more things for the baby and a few things for Christmas. Some of Kristins friends met us there and we went and had luch afterwards - they were sweet enough to let me, the pregnant one, pick where we went because i was in much need of some Mexican food!!!


So, I seriously have people ask me how I get James to be so sweet, to help me out as much as he does with the boys and around the house... He cooks, he cleans (he's not even afraid to clean a toilet if I really need him too!), he helps with the laundry, he does as much for the boys when he is home as I do. He's the type of husband that if you wake up in the middle of the night and need a drink he will get up and get it for you without complaining... I wish I could share the secret with you of how I get him to do all of these things... But, it's just him! So, thank you hunny for all you do - I love you and appreciate you!


We're off to Idaho - the boys are pretty excited to be with Grandma and Grandpa - McKay keeps telling me that we need to get going because he and Grandpa have "plans"!!! My parents are watching the boys for us tonight so we can go out on a date with my Cousin Stacey and her husband Jon. We don't have babysitters here in Utah yet, so we're pretty excited to get to go!

Just a Little Project...

I put this little album together one day last week... It was of the day that my Mom and I took the boys to Hogle Zoo this summer. I had too many pictures to do a layout so a mini album seemed like the perfect answer. There are about 20 pages in this album... with pictures of the animals bonded together to make their own pages too... The boys both love to look at it - and the pictures of the animals throughout are a hit especially for Carter.

We have had a crazy week... but, I'm starting to think that crazy is normal for us now!!! McKay has had his own rough week... We were at Walmart last week stocking up on some stuff for food storage and they had left out a step stool that had wheels on it... Well, what is any 5 year old boy going to do when his Mother isn't looking... Needless to say he lost his balance and went face first into the ground... James was there with me thank goodness because McKay doesn't handle blood very well and there was blood everywhere!!! So, as most of you know I am married to an Insurance man - he knows what to do in those situations! So, after we got McKay calmed as much as we could in that moment James took him into the main office and made a claim. The manager went out and looked at everything and told us someone would call us by Monday. Anyways, McKay was beat up pretty bad! The only thing that was even positive for him in the moment was that it was Gavin's Birthday and we were supposed to be going bowling that night! It was one night that I wished I had my camera soooo bad - he looked pretty sad. So, we had to take him to the dentist the next day and have xrays done and everything came out o.k. BUT, I have to say this about Walmart... Their claims department called us the next day and I thought that they were extremely professional and outgoing to do anything and everything to make the situation better. I was extremely impressed by their professionalism and will happily continue to shop their because of their customer support. They offered things that I didn't even expect them to offer and I was very impressed.

So, the fat lip is still there a little bit - it's getting better - But, then last night McKay was chasing Carter around the house playing tag - he had Carter cornered and Carter threw his sippie cup at McKay and nailed him right in the eye - Needless to say he now has a black eye too!!! He doesn't like the fat lip, but he thinks the black eye is pretty cool! He keeps going into the bathroom to check it out in the mirror - I told James that I thought it would be a good idea for him to take McKay out of school tomorrow to go skiing... I'm afraid that they might turn us in to social services after his big fat lip last week and a black eye this week!!!

So, a quick run down of the week past - we went to Madagascar 2 - I have to admit that I don't like the first one and wasn't too excited about going to the second one.... But, it surprised me and I thought it was really cute. We went with Megan and Greg and had a fun night with their family. One morning after I showered and was blow drying my hair McKay comes into the bathroom and says "Mom, we need a new house... our ceiling in the basement is leaking and we need a new house..." So, I ran downstairs to find water coming down through 2 lights and from a couple water blisters.... NICE! So, come to find out our shower hadn't been sealed properly and that's where the nice leak came from! James made it skiing for the first time... and the ski passes have been officially purchased! He and McKay are pretty excited. We went up to Brighton on Saturday for a drive and for breakfast and McKay was just giddy! I think he is most excited for the chair lift! We had some friends from Idaho come and visit us on Saturday too - Thanks Dave and Sheri it was fun to see you! And last but not least we sold our house in Idaho!!! Yeah! We didn't even have it listed - and it's just crazy how it happened - But, we're just so grateful that it did! We're off to Idaho again this week for another doctors appointment... So, Like I said before I think that crazy has just become our normal for this Turley family!

My Little Shadow...

Carter is seriously a Mama's boy - where ever I am he is. If I sit down he is on my lap, if I am laying down he is right next to me, If I am in the shower he is outside the door yelling at me to unlock it!!! He will eat his dinner alone until I sit down and then he comes and gets on my lap and just takes over eating on my plate, If I am cooking he is "helping" me... In fact he is standing right behind me on the chair right now climbing up my back saying "Mama, what doin" (I hear this phrase several times a day!)... If I call James to come and get him for me so i can do something Carter is seriously offended and I have to admit that at times it makes it really difficult to get things done... I have to strategically plan what I can get done while he naps because I can't get it done while he is awake!!! However, I have to also admit that I truly love it!!! McKay is ALL about Dad and I know that this time with Carter will pass and before I know it he will be all about Dad too... I am a little nervous to see how he is going to handle this new baby... I have been trying to find things that he is interested in (he doesn't play with toys... at all!). We bought him a train track for his Birthday that he likes and I hate to admit this but it is true he LOVES Nacho Libre!!! If you put that movie in he is entertained for an hour and a half!!! So, in the mean time I revel in this time that he is giving me - and have to admit that I lay down on purpose just so he will come and cuddle with me!!! He will always come up to me and say "Mama hold you" and it melts my heart everytime!


So, I went and picked up the babies quilts at the quilt shop and when I saw how cute they turned out I don't feel near as guilty as I was!!! James asked me for a quilt for Christmas and I just might head back to the quilt shop!!!


Kristin came last week and helped me get my scrapbook room all upbacked and organized. Everytime I would walk in there and see all the boxes I would just turn and walk out and shut the door!!! It feels good to have it done - So good that I ordered a bunch of stuff for Holiday projects!!!


The ski resorts open here this week... James and McKay have been out getting all their equipment bought and ready to go. We decided that if we were going to live in Utah we needed to enjoy the things that Utah had to offer and skiing is a big one! James grew up skiing - Me on the other hand I did not! The last time I went skiing I ended up in the emergency room and spent 4 weeks on crutches!!! So, I am excited for McKay to start young and am prepared for him to be skiing better than me when I can finally go next year!!! James is really good at finding things that he can do with the boys - he goes out of his way to do it - So, I am excited for him and McKay to have this time together this winter.

Just A Few Things...

So, a couple weeks ago for family night we taught McKay about the Golden Rule of life... He does pretty good at it and works pretty hard at it too... especially with Carter. Well, I put Carter in time out on the front couch a couple days ago... it was a little bit of a rough day for him - he was a repeat offender!!! - and every time I would walk by he would just glare at me... So, I decided I was going to get the camera - So, as I was sitting across from him on the opposite couch taking pictures of him glaring at me- McKay came in and asked what I was doing... He could see that it wasn't making Carter happy and said "Mom I don't know what is going on right now, but you're not setting a very good example to us of the golden rule - you're obviously not thinking about Carter right now......... I mean seriously what do you even say to that... other than you're 5 and you're right and I'm 30 and I'm wrong.... I did however manage to get a couple good pictures of Carter before his brother came and saved him from his Mother!!!

So, I have been feeling a little guilty about a few other things too... So, with McKay I made ALL of his baby stuff - Blankets, burp cloths - you name it!!! My Mom Made his bedding custom for me just the way I wanted it.... With Carter I made a couple blankets and a few cute burp cloths and had my Mom make his bedding too........................... But, with this baby I have bought everything!!! I ordered his bedding from Pottery Barn and bought all of his burp cloths at a boutique a couple weeks ago.... So, I told myself that I had to at least make him a couple blankets - So, I went to the cutest quilt shop on Monday and looked all over for some yummy fabric - only to find the cutest fabric that was already pieced together - So, then I was feeling really guilty that I wouldn't even need to piece it...................................................... then, as i was finding some super soft fabric to go on the back of it the the lady asked me how I was going to quilt it... I told her I thought that I would just quilt a few stars in some of the blocks to keep it together... She informed me that the fabric I had picked for the back was wonderful for babies, but extremely difficult to work with and maybe I should have their quilter do it.... I told her I was already feeling guilty enough that this was my third child and I felt like he was getting the shaft!!! But, I didn't want to be rude so I asked her about the pricing................................ $28 to have two baby blankets completely quilted!!! I almost choked because I thought it was such a good deal! So, I walked out of that cute little quilt shop with two blankets for baby completely put together other than the binding.... and feeling extremely guilty that I haven't done for him what I did for the other two...

Then, My friend Lacey told me about Walmarts ship to store program... You can go on their website and make an order and they will ship it to their store that is closest to you for free.... So, I went on their site and found more than half of what I was planning on getting my boys for Christmas (Carter is completely done - I just need a couple more things for McKay that entail James)! They will email me in a couple days when it delivers and i just have to go and pick it up!!! No crowds, no waiting in line, no finding a babysitter so I can go shopping and run all over looking for it - Done as easy as that!!! But, still feeling a little guilty of the ease!

So, this week we introduced putting the laundry away into McKay's chore book... I had this huge basket of the boys clothes that needed to get put away. I thought that I was going to have to show him step by step how to do it and kept putting it off... So, I called him into his room and told him what was going on and then I had to leave for a minute to help Carter with something - When I cam back he had it all completely done... Everything was in the right drawers and the clothes were on hangers that needed to be - he even had his clothes separated form Carters that needed to be hung up. All I had to do was put the hangers on the rod!!! I was so proud of him!!! I have to admit that I am a bit of a perfectionist - I have a way that I want things done and it's hard from me to let that go. I have decided that I create more work for myself though by not letting others do things - and probably underestimating McKay and what he can do. I probably expect way too much out of myself - My baby will come to this family and be loved to all ends with or without a homemade blanket!!! My kids will have a fabulous Christmas whether I went to 5 stores to get things or order it all from one and had it delivered!!! Life is good and that is all that truly matters!

Halloween

We had a fabulous Halloween this year! We got up Friday morning and made Halloween muffins for breakfast and made and decorated the annual cupcakes... McKay LOVES to make and decorate cupcakes! He had his Halloween party at school and a program for the parents to come and watch. It was so cute and he was so proud to have us there. It really hit me hard there how quickly he is growing up... too fast! After the party we headed up to Jason and Kristin's house for a yummy chili and cornbread dinner and to help prepare for the festivities... They were moving their fire pit out to the street and making hot cider and nachos for all of the neighbors and kids while they were out trick or treating! Other neighbors did scones and home made doughnuts... it was really a fun night - Jason and James had fun entertaining the crowd while Kristin and I took the kids around to the houses. Carter was sooo into it too!!! He ran up to each house and did his best to keep up with the bigger kids - It was a test, but I finally convinced him it was o.k. to ride in the stroller between the houses and get out and run up to the door when we got there. When we were done going to the houses we came back and sat by the fire and enjoyed the night - the boys had so much fun they didn't want to leave!

A Little Pumpkin Carving...

McKay has been dieing to carve the pumpkins... everyday he asks me if it is time... So, I had to laugh when we finally started carving the pumkins and McKay almost couldn't handle it... He has a weak stomache (like his mother...) weird smells, tastes, textures can send him overboard really quick! So, when he got the first whiff of the pumkin he turned green and we didn't know if we were going to make it! Then, he struggled with the feel of the insides of the pumkin... everytime he would take a handful out he would wipe his hands on a paper towel... he left a couple times to go and wash his hands!!! He is all boy, but there are a couple things he can't handle!!!

Carter on the other hand had a blast as you can see below....

A Little Pumpkin Carving... Mess!!!

Carter got bored while we were cutting out the pumpkins and took matters into his own hands!!! After more than a half an hour of McKay not being able to decide what he wanted on his pumpkin James headed to the internet and downloaded a book of designs... What a good Dad! McKay wanted somwthing scary and this bat was it!!!

Project Days...

I have started project days with McKay. They usually happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays when he doesn't have school and when Carter is taking his nap. That's usually the only time it's safe to get the paint, stamps, glue, scissors out... It's my goal to turn the TV off for the afternoon and we spend time together making projects. We go to the craft store about once a month and pick out new and different projects. I have to admit that we like Michaels the best - they have a good section of little projects for $1. McKay's favorite thing to do is paint - so, often times he picks out little wooden airplanes and cars and things to paint.

Today however, we made this little chore book for him. We went through some magazines and he cut out the pictures (I did have to clean them up a little bit) and glued them on to 3x5 cards. I did the writing and the laminating. A few others that we did were: put your clothes away, collect and take out the garbage, take a bath, clean your room... I'll rotate the chores each morning according to the things that need to be done that day. I also thought that I would put some in there like project day, his family home evening assignment each Monday, go to the park, go skiing... to let him know what we are doing that day and let him look forward to those too...

We carved pumpkins last night... but, that is a post all on it's own!!!