Fishy Game

This last Christmas my brother's family gave us "The Fishy Game" or so it's called around here.  The basic concept is as the wheel turns the fish open and close their mouths, and you try to hook them with you're fishing pole.  It's a cute game and my kids like it, especially Charlie.  The fact that the game is rated age 4 and up doesn't deter him at all.  Thus, I have developed a love/hate relationship with "The Fishy Game".  Everyday, (and this is no exaggeration) he takes me to the game closet to get it down for him.  He throws a royal fit if I try to put it away, and when I do manage to put it away without his knowledge it doesn't stay put away very long.  He knows how to turn it on and off by himself and he even manages to hook a few fish.  Part of me keeps hoping the battery in it will die and I can forget it.  But that would be a sad day indeed for Charlie.  

Charlie and "The Fishy Game".  

Valentine's Day

As a mother I know that this day is more about candy and parties at school for my kids.  As a wife I know that this day is just like any other day for my husband and he's just trying to get through it.  So, I do my best to make it special for my family.  Every year I get those little (cheap) heart boxes of chocolates for my kids.  Tony gets a favorite candy and a card, and I do my best to make a special dinner for the family.  This year it was Lasagna, Bread Sticks, Salad, Sparkling Cider, and chocolate covered strawberries.  Yummy!  It's one of the few meals that I don't get a whole bunch of complaining and that's always nice.      

 The kids getting ready to eat.  I was very happy that Tony made it home just in time to eat dinner with us.  With school and work we don't always get to eat together, so I enjoy it when we do.  

 Chocolate covered strawberries.  Need I say more?  

Tony always gets a rose for me and one for Alaina.  I love that this daddy does something special for his little girl on Valentine's Day!  The kids also got candy hearts.

All in all I'd say it was a pretty good day.  

A New Hobby

Yes, I know that knitting and crocheting are sort of a fad right now.  No, I'm not learning how to crochet just because everyone else is.  But let's face it, I live in Rexburg,Idaho.  It's the middle of winter and my husband is in school.  I can only read and watch Netflix so much.  I already have a bunch of yarn from past quilts I've made.  My sister-in-law Maegen is an awesome crocheter/knitter and she lives close, so crocheting it is.  Right now I've learned how to chain and to do a single crochet stitch.  I'm working on a scarf to hone my skills.  I have to admit that it's taking longer than I expected, but I'm fairly pleased with the results thus far.  We'll see if that is still the case when the scarf is finished.  Here's to learning something new.    

Yes, this is my stitching. No, I didn't steal this picture off the internet to make you think I'm better than I am. ;)

Iron Man

My sister-in-law Maegen is a very crafty person.  I have always enjoyed crafting, but I must say that she brings it out of me even more.  I made this shirt for Charlie the other day.  It turned out pretty good for my first attempt.  Carson has already asked for an avengers shirt.  I asked him which one, he said all of them except Black Widow of course.  I don't know if I'll do all that, but maybe a Captain America shirt would fit Carson just fine.  

DI, Art, and Playdough

As of late I have fallen in love with DI.  I love that I can get such great deals.  I really don't care that the items are pre owned.  Especially considering our limited funds at the moment.  I've gotten cloths for the kids and myself.  Here is one of the most recent finds.  

Alaina in her new "cloths dress" as she calls them.  An Old Navy dress for $3!

Alaina is our artistic child.  Recently we rediscover a box of brand new art supplies that I rescued from the garbage when I worked for the school district.  She has been coloring, cutting, gluing, and writing all sorts of things.  I'm loving all her creations!   

Charlie is getting so big!  I introduced him to play dough the other day.  He seemed to enjoy it.  I'm just glad that he didn't try to eat it.  He's talking all the time and very animated I must say.  He's beginning to say a few words that we can understand.  "No", "Na Na" (Ma Ma), "Dad", "Ball", "Car", "Book",  "Oh".  He also understand a lot more now.  When I ask him if he wants to take a bath he'll go running to the tub and point at his cloths so I'll get him undressed.  He'll lay down for me (sometimes) when it's time to change a diaper and throw the diaper in the garbage.  He'll find his shoes or blanket.  He has a very cheesy smile that he flashes each time I bring out the camera (as you can see in the picture above).  He folds his arms at prayer time and even gives hugs and kisses at bedtime.  He's always got us smiling and laughing.     

Sleepy

The last few days Charlie has been a bit of a pain to get to go to sleep.  It used to be that all I had to do was sing him a song and then lay him down with his silky blankets and he'd go to sleep.  The last two nights I've had to lay down with him until he's fallen asleep and then move him to his crib.  Today I laid him down for a nap and 30 minutes later I went to check on him and cover him up (he likes to throw everything out of his crib in protest) to find that he was wide awake and had been playing.  I let him up and put him back down a few hours later.  Again 30 minutes after I had laid him down I went to check on him and cover him up and this is what I found.  Yes, he is asleep sitting in the corner of his crib.  I swear my kids sleep in the most unusual positions.  So funny!

Another Skirt for Alaina

One nice thing about Maegen not having a girl of her own yet, Alaina gets these super cute cloths!  Maegen made this skirt out of scraps we combined together.  Alaina has already worn it 3 times in the last 2 weeks.  She is definitely a skirt and dress kind of girl.