Some crafting going on....

Remember how I said I was on a crafting kick? Well, this is what I accomplished this past week:
This is what Easton had above his bed

They were cute but since we all know Easton has an obsession with trains I wanted to somehow incorporate that into his room. I bought three little cute wood cutouts of an airplane, car, and train. Eric removed the back from the frames which was a major job in itself. I sanded, stained, and attached the wood cutouts to some scrapbook paper. Wah lah.

I had this frame already so I just used some more scrapbook paper and a couple of my favorite pic's of when he was little.


The total cost:
3 wood cutouts $1.80
scrapbook paper $3.20
=$5. I also mod podged a big letter "E" with some of the paper and put it on his shelf above the bed. I am still working on the other wall so I will update when it's done.
Now this next one I LOVE. I had been wanting/thinking for months now of what to put on this wall downstairs. I used to have all of the kids updated school pics but I didn't love it. I saw this idea on a craft blog called The Creative Crate.

Eric was helping me by putting the vinyl saying on the wall but he didn't put it on exactly level! It's not that noticeable but just enough to bug me.
The total cost:
board with hooks(which I already had laying around) $6.00
Star-I already had so I don't remember
Vinyl saying $9.99 at Hobby Lobby (which was 50% off)
Total: $16
I also plan to put two pics on each side of the kids when they were babies.
Other things I did:
Had Eric hang up a large Temple pic that I took
Removed our door between our mud room and kitchen. We never closed it so it just took up room
Mod Podged Kylie's name to put on her wall after I paint it
Had Kylie draw a pic of our family, stamped "family" on scrapbook paper, added some ribbon, and hung on the wall
Mod podged the letter "T" for Tyler's desk.
I have plans to make a large magnetic board with dividers for each child and hang in our mud room. I saw it on another blog called The Idea Room. Eric is getting tired of my projects and is probably hoping it ends soon!

Past Week

We had a lot of fun this past week! On Thursday we took the kids and one neighbor friend swimming at the Aquatic Center. We were only there for about an hour when they kicked everyone out for lightning. We decided to go over the fair! We spent three hours looking at the animals, crafts, had a snowie, and each kid got to pick one ride. After we were done there, we went back over swimming. It was so nice since almost everyone had left. Tyler's favorite was the "straight slide" and as soon as he would get off he would go back to the top. Eric and I couldn't believe how easy it was! We sat in the shallow water and just watched them play.
Yesterday, Eric and I had a date to Lagoon. It was my work party and many thanks to Grandma, we spent the whole day. Alone. We went on all of the "big" rides that you can't do when your kids are little or too chicken. (Tyler) I loved floating in the lazy canal and going down the slides with the tubes. We left early and ate at Olive Garden. We ended up getting home early and were able to just relax. Kylie asked me why we were going alone. My response was, "so we can remember why we got married." I think we accomplished our goal!
For the past while I've been thinking a lot about my kids getting older, working so much, etc, etc. So....I've decided to cut down at work. I know I have said this in the past many, many, many times. I have always had a fear that I won't be able to provide for my kids so I have worked as much as I could. But lately I've decided I just have to do it. We financially can afford it and my husband has always been willing to work extra if I want to be home more. He is so awesome! I talked with work and will work 3 days a week. I also will work set days. This will help when I'm trying to make appointments, etc. I still will be considered full time but at my job, this is not a 40 hour work week. Can I just say I work at an awesome place? For the most part, my job is ideal.
Lately I've been getting way into crafting and wanting to create different things to decorate my home with. After two years of living here and I need some change. I mentioned the word PAINT to my husband and he cringed! (He painted our entire house when we built it!) I just need some change and want to create more personalized things. I have found so many awesome websites to get ideas from and will share some projects as I get them done! This first one took approximately 10 minutes. So easy! I already had this simple wood frame that you can buy from Michaels for $1. Add some mod poge, scrapbook paper, and a little ribbon. It's not perfect but think it turned out ok.
I made this for Kenadie's room for her shelf.

I found the cute bunny at Hobby Lobby for $3. It was in the garden clearance section but I think it works well in this space.

Kylie's Birthday

A couple of months ago I was at Walmart and saw a bunch of Luau decorations on clearance. I immediately thought of Kylie's birthday and luckily she agreed. So, for her sixth birthday she had a swim/luau party. It took me all day Wednesday to get ready but it was worth it!

We had pineapple, grapes, cantaloupe, kool aid, and smoothies while the girls played in the water.

Our awesome neighbors let us borrow their inflatable water slide.

Once again, her cake didn't turn out the way I had planned but she didn't care. All of the kids loved the gummies on top.

All of the girls at the party.

Eric and I gave Kylie a jewelry box, necklaces, earrings, and some play makeup. She got lots of cute jewelry, watch, purse, and dress up stuff. After the party, the girls had fun playing with all of the new stuff. Kylie kept telling me thank you over and over. It was a lot of fun but exhausting.

Fireworks

Since we didn't see the main fireworks on the fourth, we decided to head down to Willow Park for the 24Th celebration. We found a nice spot along the driving range and let the kids run and play until the fireworks started. I still wasn't feeling very well so it was more like torture to me.....but the kids liked it.



This pic is of Kylie's team. She really enjoyed Tee ball and did really well. She did great at getting ground balls and throwing to first base. I think it finally started to click, which was nice since Eric had worked a lot with her. She is excited to play next summer!


I forgot I had taken these pics but discovered them when I was uploading our fireworks pictures. Eric coached Tyler's baseball team and really enjoyed it. Even though he was really nervous the first few games he did a great job. It seems like the kids always love him no matter what we do!

Sigh......

Nothing new to report. No new pictures. I've been sick for the past five days....why is it always me? I am starting to feel better but only about 75% better. My house is showing the signs of it too. I think every time that we have been going, going, going my body makes me stop and try to slow down.
Crystal and I went to Hamilton's for our birthday lunch. We both were sick and to be honest I don't really remember a lot of it. Probably all of the drugs I was taking. I always have a good time with her just chatting. In other news..
Easton is FINALLY going poo in the toilet now. Yeah! My last child is officially potty trained. Kind of sad that I can't call him by baby anymore.....but also kind of excited that I my diaper changing days are over....It's only been 8 1/2 years since I could say that.

Birthday Fun

This past week has been full with work, baseball/tee ball games, visiting with my sister, and my mother-in-law visiting. My 30Th birthday was Saturday. I can't believe how time flies! Eric's gift to me was some money for shopping and TIME ALONE to go spend it. I was proud of myself that I actually found some good stuff and spent every last dime of it! Pat came up and the kids helped decorate the top of this cake for me. Beautiful, isn't it?






Grandma enjoyed a motorcycle ride with Eric. I think she looks right at home, don't you?

My WONDERFUL sister and bff Crystal threw me a party at my parents house on Saturday night. I was kept in the dark for most of it and Eric did a good job of not spilling the beans. (He usually can't surprise me.) They did such a wonderful job and it was nice just to eat yummy cake and visit. Eric put together a little slide show that the kids just loved.


And now my turn to give a shout out to my bff Crystal! It is her 27Th birthday today! We grew up as next door neighbors and been through it all with each other.


Here are some of the reasons why she is soooo awesome:
she is creative
she loves to plan parties for other people
she is gorgeous!
she gives awesome hair cuts
she handles four boys under five! I don't know how she does it!
she is a blast to travel with
we share the same perverted-like humour
she always makes me laugh
I can tell her anything!
she is always there for me no matter what kind of a day I'm having

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRYSTAL. I HOPE YOU HAVE AN AWESOME DAY AND JUST WAIT TILL YOU TURN 30! Pay backs are a b***h. Love ya!

Busy ,Busy, Busy

I've been slacking on the blogging lately but it's been because we have been soooo busy! That's not a bad thing though...I will just update on what we have been doing since July 1st since my memory doesn't go back very far. On July 1st, Wednesday, our family and my sister's kids all went to Lagoon. It was perfect! There wasn't very many lines and the weather was good. It was kind of comical to see how many kids we had between the two of us...seven to be exact! We swam the last two hours when the crowds went down a little. Easton's favorite part was the train, of course and swimming is always a hit.
I had my mom try and get a family pic but the kids just weren't having it!


I can't believe how old he looks. Not a baby anymore.



I would of got a pic of Tyler but he is to the age where he hates it and it wasn't worth the fight.






On Thursday I had to work, went shopping with my sister, and then went straight to Tyler's baseball game.
Friday I worked, watch Cory and Jen's kids, then went to my parent's house for a bbq. We attempted to get a family pic but it's hard with all the little kids. We were so exhausted we just went home and didn't even watch the fireworks.
On the fourth, we went to my Grandma's in Hyrum to celebrate her birthday. We came home and did a few little sparkler's.

Sunday was church and teaching primary. We had a quiet night at home for once...
Monday-Eric worked, then I worked, then I took three kids to Kylie's teeball game while Eric took Tyler to his softball game.
Tuesday-I woke up at six am to take the kids to the Oquirrh temple open house in South Jordan. Eric had to work so it was me and four kids. Scary!!!! It was so special to see the temple as I drove around the corner and all of a sudden it was there. It is built on this beautiful mountain overlooking the valley and the inside was just as pretty as the outside. Kenadie kept saying "mom, it was so beautiful." It was a neat experience to be able to just walk through it all. So what did we do after that? Go to Chuck E Cheese of course! The kids decided to spend some of their allowance money on pizza and arcade games. It wasn't crowded so that made it a lot more tolerable.



And during all of this we decided to potty train Easton! He is doing really well and has only had two accidents so far...except for #2....that is a whole other issue. I got to spend half an hour in Target changing poopie underwear...in a skirt. Anyways. All in all it has been fun, exhausting, etc, etc. The rest of the week brings dentist appt, doctor appt, work, baseball, my birthday, and Pat my mother in law visiting. I love July!