Goals

 Luke 2:52 it says: And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

We have started something new in our family that I am loving. We have used this scripture to start new family goals. There are four things the scripture lists that Jesus grew in: wisdom, stature, favour with God & favour with man. At the first Family Home Evening of each month we set our goals in how we are each going to grow in those four areas. The boys are responsible for coming up with their own goals. We set our goals & then decide what the reward will be at the end of the month. This month the boys decided on laser tag! If during the month they mess up on one of their goals there is a repentance process!!! (This is courtesy of James!) They have to drink half of a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar! For each offense the amount of vinegar grows! Carter has only had to do this once!!! Once was enough for him and McKay! McKay almost threw up just watching Carter swallow it! This month the boys goals were:

McKay:

Wisdom: Perfect his reading on his 10 new Mercer Mayer books.

Stature: No junk food.

In Favour with God: Say better personal prayers twice a day.

In Favour with Man: Take treats around to neighbors once a week. Help a widow once a week.

Carter:

Wisdom: Learn 12 letters. Sounds, recognition & able to write them.

Stature: No junk food.

In Favour with God: No bad words.

In Favour with Man: Take treats around to neighbors once a week. Help a widow once a week.

It has really been a good experience in our home. For the first day or two I had to tell them what was and was not junk food... and what were healthy snacks they could have. But, after a couple of days they didn't even ask for junk food anymore. Carter will just go to the fridge & grab an apple. McKay even informed me that he isn't drinking chocolate milk at school! When McKay says his prayers he says them out loud. And I have to admit that I love to stand outside his room & listen to his sweet little prayers! It brings tears to my eyes as I listen to him ask his Father in Heaven for help in things going on in his day. Carter for the first couple days was asking if just about every word was a bad word! But, he has it down now! He did slip once! He did know a couple bad words... and used to say them for the shock factor! But, he has decided that they aren't worth vinegar! Tomorrow morning James is taking McKay & Carter with him to change a widow's oil in her car. They have been talking about it all week and are so excited to go!

James & I have our goals to & the boys know what they are and are always asking us how we are doing on them. My "wisdom" goal is to make two new recipes a week. The boys will ask me in the morning if I am cooking one of my new recipes for dinner that night. It has become a true family affair!

It's my hope that at the end of the month that the boys will keep on doing the things they have learned over the last month. That their goals will become more natural to them. And as we set new goals that they will just continue to grow one little goal at a time!

Practice

Carter LOVES to practice writing. He carries a little notebook around with him and will copy down all of the words that he sees around the house. Then he will write the words over and over again to perfect them! Often times he will ask me to write down certain words so that he can practice his "homework"! I'm getting a little nervous to put him in preschool next year because I am afraid that he is going to be a little bored... McKay loves to carry my little camera around and take pictures. It's interesting to go back through and see the things that he thought were worth taking pictures of. It's kind of a fun way to document our lives... he thinks about things on such a different level than I do & I actually keep many of his photo's. Yesterday he took this picture of Carter's "homework" (that explains why it is slightly out of focus!).

Our Day

 While this was going on outside in full force...

 I Finally started the zigzag quilt I have been wanting to make. I had to alter the pattern to make it bigger & I really hope I figured it right!

 Because all of the fabric is cut & looks like this!

 And while I was cutting fabric my little Man was playing with this!

 Another reason to LOVE the dollar section at my beloved Target!  He LOVES his little farm animals!

 And sometimes the big brother joins in to!

 But, when he is done he loads up all of his little animals in his cute little felt barn carrier!

We headed out early today... it's 6 months to the day that we want to go to Redfish! So, that means we have to be on the computer bright and early to reserve spots. James's office computers are the fastest - and you need to be fast - to get our lovely spots! On our way home it started to snow & then it started to really snow! So, we have stayed in our pajamas today... no one is complaining! Little boys like to stay in their pajamas to! Working on a couple projects that have been staring at me - time to get them done! Oh & we are going to do a little baking this afternoon... cinnamon rolls??? Yes, cinnamon rolls sound good! A lazy good day it is!

Feeling a little better...

Today was the first day that Cannon woke up feeling noticeably better! So, we headed to Target - he had some Birthday money that he needed to spend! He got farm animals, trucks, a sword, coloring book & black Converse Allstars! You are probably wondering if he really picked out the shoes... McKay & Carter have them and he is constantly trying to wear them & gets upset when they fall off! When we walked by the shoes he got so excited when he saw them! So, he used his Birthday money from Uncle Jason & Aunt Amy to buy his very own pair! He wouldn't let me put anything in the cart! He had to hold onto it all! I love his funny little expression! So glad he is feeling better!

Homemade Yogurt

 My boys LOVE yogurt... I am not exaggerating in any way when I tell you that the boys go through about 6 yogurts a day! I buy 15 4-packs of yogurt every two weeks when I go grocery shopping! I spend about $50 a month on yogurt! It's a healthy snack & I am glad they like it. This is what my fridge is usually stocked with and there are more in our second fridge! But, I tried something new that started with this...

And ended with 4 quarts of homemade yogurt!

I count myself lucky to personally know the EXTREMELY talented Sherelle Christensen! And last week on her blog she posted a link for homemade yogurt & a recipe of her own for peanut butter granola! I seriously went to the store that night & got all the ingredients to make it. It's not that the cost of my yogurt budget was a burden - it's that I truly enjoy making things for my boys that they enjoy. And I was really excited to make this for them. You add a little peanut butter granola & homemade raspberry jam & it is simply Divine!

Here's the link for the recipe:

http://sherellechristensen.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/homemade-yogurt-and-peanut-butter-granola.html

So Blessed

Monday night Cannon was strapped up in his booster seat up to the bar. He turned to adjust himself and the lock gave that held the booster secure in the chair. He fell forehead first into the hard wood floor. I loved on him & and he was happy & running around shortly after. The next morning he was really struggling... grouchy, clingy, wouldn't eat, he just laid around all day & if he bumped his head he would just cry & cry... I had a hard time getting him to wake up from his nap & noticed that his pupils were dilated. I decided to take him in to get checked... sure that they would probably just look him over & send us home. But, the nurse noticed right away that his pupils weren't reacting to the light as they should. She ran to get the doctor & he told me to take him to Primary Children's right away & that they would call ahead for me.... That's officially when the world feels like it stops spinning...

We spent a very long evening at Primary Children's and after a thorough check they determined that he had a "mild traumatic brain injury". Medical terminology for a severe concussion. They let us take him home & said it could take a week for him to start feeling better... poor little man! I decided that your children look so much smaller and much more fragile when they are sitting on a hospital bed! So grateful that he is ok! Truly grateful that the Lord heard & answered my prayers. So, for the next week or so life is going to have to be still... I'm going to hold my baby all he wants.

I am so grateful for our family & friends. Our cell phones weren't ringing for some reason in the hospital... but, the messages & texts were coming through. They were so uplifting to James & I. So quickly so many people rallied around us... It was extremely difficult for James to be there. He had a brain tumor when he was young and had brain surgery after brain surgery there at Primary Children's. So, for him to see his little baby sitting there - where he once was - with a brain injury was a little much... the Turley Brother's rallied as they usually do & I know it meant so much to him! Thank you all for your love & support! We love you so much!

Moments...

McKay didn't have school yesterday. The boy's cuddled into McKay's top bunk & watched Rocky IV together. I worried when there was such an age difference between the two that they would not be very close. They have little moments when they have their differences... But, they truly are best friends!  

Valentines Chair Backers

Yesterday was Sunday... Sunday means I get a nap! Carter & I always take a nap together on Sundays! I got a wonderful much needed 3 hour nap... the only problem was that I couldn't fall asleep for anything when it was time for bed. That leads to mindless blog surfing in the middle of the night! But, I found something I have been looking for for a couple years! I don't know if it is good or bad to admit that I use to watch Jon & Kate Plus 8... before they went off of the deep end! Anyways one Valentines she had little bags like these for her kids filled with little Valentines treasures & treats & I LOVED them! When I tried to order them from Pottery Barn Kids they were sold out! And sometime in the middle of the night last night I came across this picture! (I am sorry that I didn't write down where I saw it... like I said - mindless blog surfing) But, it had a link to a tutorial!!! One more thing to make before Valentines! I just need to make mine a little more boyish!

 http://ourscoop.blogspot.com/2009/01/valentine-chair-backers.html

Someone... Turned 2!

 Mr. Cannon turned 2 yesterday... It's hard to believe that it has been two years since he made his dramatic entrance into our lives! I was rushed in for an emergency c-section only to deliver him in the operating room right as the anesthesiologist was about to knock me out! That's the short story anyway & it was a very emotional scary time! And since then he has continued to keep me on my toes!

 He got his very own set of frog rain boots! Carter has a pair that he LOVES & are usually on his feet where ever we go! Cannon has taken a major liking to them... & Carter has been more than patient with it! But, it was time for Cannon to get his own! There is only so much any little boy can take & Carter was starting to come to end of his rope! Thank you Grandma & Grandpa Wall!

 Yes, I know.... I hear the gasps! Hell has officially frozen over! I will be honest and tell you that I am not a fan of anything with characters on it... I refused to buy anything for McKay & Carter that had any characters on it. And if by chance they were given anything (which they were because my family loved to see me squirm!) that had characters on it they were only allowed to wear it at home. It was a strict rule that was strongly enforced (unless Mom was out of town & Dad would let them & I always heard about it!). My Nephew Eli has a little Lightning McQueen chair like this... & every time we would go to Jason & Kristin's we would have to hide it because he & Cannon would fight and come to blows over it. So, with having three boys I really struggle with what to buy Cannon because he already has EVERYTHING! He has all the toys, train sets, blocks... you name it he has it! So, I broke! When I told James what I was thinking about getting him he didn't believe me & asked me if I was feeling ok!  Needless to say he LOVED it! And I am still breathing - it didn't kill me! But, that is by no means a green light for more things to come!

 Cannon is the pickiest eater... and it really took him a minute to decide if he was going to eat his own cake!

Cannon & Eli in their matching chairs!

I LOVE my boys Birthdays! They are not only special to them - but, very special to James & I too. James & I have this thing we do on their Birthdays. I always get out their memory books that I wrote down the whole account of the day they were born & we read it that morning. Then throughout the day we will call each other back and forth & remember what we were doing in that moment however many years ago. We always are on the phone with each other (if James is at work) or together to celebrate the moment they were born. It always brings tears to my eyes!

* Cannon at 2 you are a busy little man. You are a climber & it usually has me on the verge of a nervous break down! This week I came into the kitchen to find that you had found a bag of microwave popcorn... you climbed up the cupboard & were standing on the  stove with the microwave open putting the popcorn in.

* You are the pickiest eater. You will NOT try anything new. You like hot dog's, yogurt, cereal, apple's, orange's, pretzel's & that's about it. Anything I put in front of you you just immediately push away... it drives me crazy!

* You LOVE McKay and tolerate Carter! That's because McKay will give you anything you want & Carter tries to keep you from doing anything you aren't supposed to be doing!

* You love the movies Up, Chipmunks Squeakqual, & the Bee movie. Your brother's are beyond tired of all three of them!!!

* If I put you down for bed you get up several times... If Dad puts you down you don't get up at all... Needless to say Dad puts you to bed most nights!

* You won't say "I Love You". When someone tells you "I Love You", you respond by saying "Too"! In a high pitched I want to eat you cute voice!

* You are always wearing someone else's shoes & they never match!

* You love to take a shower. You sit in the tub and try to catch the water in your buckets.

* If we are getting ready to leave to go anywhere you start to panic that you aren't going to go... So, to make you happy (and so I can load up the things I need to without you hanging on my leg) we load you up in the car first. You are happy & I can peacefully get the things I need to!

* You love the little Lego people figures. You call them "guys" & always have one or two in your hands.

* You have an infectious laugh! Lot's of times you will laugh so hard you will start to cry.

* You love to talk on the phone with Grandma Wall. Whenever I am on the phone you start asking for her over & over again. Many people have had to talk to you just to appease you!

* I love when you wear your little bathrobe after you get out of the shower... You just look too cute in it!

* You are very much a Mama's boy. And I love it very much!

* You always walk with a strut, a skip or a prance - everyone is always commenting on how cute it is!

Cannon we love you so much! You have two brother's who adore you & you are always trying to do everything they are doing. You bring so much joy to our home & our family. Thanks for being our little Man!

Valentines Cards

I made Carter's Valentine's cards this morning! I think they turned out darling! He even got excited when I showed them to him. I thought about making some for McKay... However, now that he is a big ol' First Grader I think I better get the approval first! Maybe if he gets to pick the picture & the words... we'll see! Truth be told: I just really can't stand the store Valentines! But, there is something about the extreme sports box of Valentines at Target that seems to get McKay every year!

I downloaded this template for free off of MCP Actions on Facebook. I just had to "like" their page and I got 4 cute templates! Try it out!

Moments

 My boys are truly lucky to have the Grandparent's that they do. Grandparent's that give them so much of their time, attention & love. James's Grandma invited us over for dinner last week. I let it be a surprise to the boys that Wayne was there & there were lots of screams of excitement when we got there! They started wrestling in Grandma's front room & it ended with an arm wrestling match! Both boys each made $2 for beating Grandpa! Wayne was going to head back to Logan the next day... but, the boys had their hearts set on him having a sleep over at our house the next night. And as any good Grandpa would do he stayed! When I see pictures like these I can't help but think how much my boys will cherish these pictures in years to come!

A Little Vintage Love!

I love vintage old things! When I was growing up my Mom used to take me with her to all of the old antique shops. When I would go to Boise to visit my Grandparents my Grandma would take me to garage sales & antique shops there. She would always find the most amazing vintage linen's & dishes. I look through the Country Living magazines & dream about going to all of the thrift shops & flee markets that they show all over the country! I find myself replacing all of my fancy stuffy things with old things - things that have character, color, texture... I often hit the local thrift shops looking for my own little treasures! I love old dishes, quilts, aprons, books, cook books, vintage holiday decorations, vintage fabrics... It takes me back to when I was a little girl & the wonderful memories I have with my Mom & my Grandma.

All Pictures were downloaded from Flickr