Christmas 2012 Wishlist

Since I have had the question asked a couple times I thought I would put together a list of things that I would like the boys to have, if you were looking :) None of these have to be exact just approximate idea. Mega Bloks is the only name brand I do want because then it will fit with the rest of our Mega Bloks.

Mega Bloks Build and Learn - I like both ABCs (pictured above) and 123s so whichever, I like that they are educational since they can learn letters/numbers while building. I am sticking with the largest size of building blocks since Ri still puts everything in his mouth. Eventually we will move down in size to duplos, but not yet. Also from Mega Bloks I like the Town Rescue Center (pictured below) since Ais has been really into firemen and police cars (loves the sirens that we hear)

I have also sarted looking into peg boards like this one: Jumbo Peg Board. Something that can be used for colors, numbers, fine motor, and patterns. And tanagram type activities also for patterns, colors, and shapes: Beginner-Pattern-Blocks (pictured)

I have yet to make more than Felt breakfast food so Soft play food is also on this list. Something like one of these: Lil-Shopper-Play-Set (pictured) , Picnic-Play-Set , or Fill-and-Spill-Picnic-Basket.

Some other items I might suggest would be some sort of learning to dress toy like: Learn-Dress-Activity-Farmer , Rhythm instruments (like Hape-Rhythm-Set pictured below),  and a Bead Maze that also can be used for colors, numbers, and fine motor.

Basically I am looking for items that are educational (or can be used that way), things that can be used with what we already have, little to no noise, and things intended for about age two - so both boys are able to play with them. Also things that are good for self directed play.

May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

Psalm 20:4, 5 (NIV)

Turkey hands and feet!

I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving!

We made some quick turkey decor for our Thanksgiving meal

 

Rock's Turkey

Rain's Turkey

My turkey

Here is our decor in full, with the pumpkins we had made for Halloween decor (though i did take down the jack o lanterns we had made as well)... daddy's turkey went missing (I guess his foot wouldn't have fit on the page even if he did make one) .... Rock said it was in the oven and Hubby said it was on the calendar.... You can tell he isn't from a hunting family... he didn't know that was a pheasant not a turkey until I told him. He laughed it off and asked if I was going to tell anyone about it......

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.”

Psalm 100:4, 5 (KJV)

Teemo Shirt

 

I have completed the Teemo shirt I was starting last time I posted about freezer paper. It is much more difficult to use this technique with multiple stencils because freezer paper  doesn’t stick as well to already painted shirt (at least not in my experience). I had four stencils since there was so much detail.

 

And when I started I of course needed to distract a little one who wanted to help….

 

 

Note: next time I mix paints I will have to remember to save colors for touch ups in the end. I only have basic colors not eleven tints of yellow and fifty shades of grey  ;0   I ended up with a completely different color for the main ‘skin’ color in the end because I couldn’t get it right… uggh

 

Here is my completed shirt on the recipient of the project…

 

I have also added some stenciling to some training underpants. 

All in all, I am very pleased with the end results!

 

So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or,

 ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’

For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing.

For YOUR heavenly Father knows YOU need all these things.

Mt 6: 31, 32

Almost Wordless Wednesday: My loves

10 months and 2 1/2 years.... love these boys!

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love

and of a sound mind.

2 Tim 1:7

Randomness of the Night

Littler man, being that Rock is little man makes Rain littler man...?  Anyway, littler man has a checkup tomorrow... his 9 month appt. I can't believe it has been that long already!

Sooner than I know it he will be running around with his brother and getting into everything... wait they already do that.

I should probably be cleaning or sleeping while the boys are asleep.. but I never am tired when they are too... does anyone else ever feel that way? Entirely too tired when it is time to wake up and wide awake when you should be sleeping?

Random is this blog entry, I know. Maybe I am more tired than I realize.

The boys helped me pick out a small pumpkin today. When we got home Daddy put it on his head, and now Rock insists that he is a pumpkin head: 

Oh, I love these boys. They are such a joy!

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."

Matthew 11:25, 26 (NIV)

Hooked on Freezer Paper

Ever since I started freezer paper shirts in May I have been addicted. constantly looking for new ideas and wanting to try more intricate designs. I started simple with just one stencil. And though there were three colors in the giraffe shirt they were meant to blend. (both giraffe and transportation shirts were painted by rock after I applied the stencils)

Then I tried slightly more complex designs with more colors not meant to blend: robin (need a change from batman) and link (from legend of zelda)

 

here is the pattern I sketched out for link:

 

 

Finally, the one that was by far the most difficult: Sebastian many colors, intricate design, and black outlines around most details. This was a gift for a birthday this month... my niece will be 5!

 

The next project I will tackle is Teemo from League of Legends. My husbands main charachter when he plays the game that has also become Rock's favorite. I simplified the original photo and I plan on putting it onto a lightish green shirt. It will be a challenge but I look forward to when I can start it! Maybe I will post a step by step of what I did?

 

If you want to try it yourself here are a couple of tutorials that I looked at before I even attempted freezer paper stenciling: I Am Momma Hear Me Roar: Viking Tee   and   DanaMadeIt: President's Day Shirts

My boys are growin so fast

Rock

Age: 27 months

Favorite Books: The Mine-O-Saur by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen; Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathman

Favorite Toys: Firetruck, Teemo and Doggy (stuffed animals), his tools, and all balls and blocks.

Likes: Trucks, Trains, Tractors, and Cars; Balls, Bugs, and Bikers (motorcycles); Playdough, Coloring, Painting. Mickey, Pocoyo and Dora.

Fun new skills: Climbing all over; 'Sing' along at church and with movies, count to ten (and 12, 13, 14); and a new word or two everyday!

Such a sweet boy (with a bit of a wild side) whom we love watching grow and play!

Rain

Age: 7 months

Favorite Books: Anything Mommy and Daddy read to him

Favorite Toys: Blocks and anything brother has

Likes: Mommy, daddy, and brother

Fun new skills: Pulling up to stand, crawling everywhere, and trying to cruise along the bedside

Oh, how much this little boy is changing each day, so hard to believe that a year ago I was still pregnant. Such a personality little Rain has, too, so cheerful and full of joy.

We will speak the truth in love,

 growing in every way more and more like Christ,

who is the head of his body, the church.

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly.

As each part does its own special work,

it helps the other parts grow,

so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Ephesians 4:15, 16 (NLT)

New Shirts

I decided I wanted to try making some of my own shirts for the boys and have seen freezer paper all over craft blogs... so i tried it. Um, wow, I should have done this sooner. I just keep looking for more designs to try now though i don't have the clothes for it now... i am addicted and have cut out more stencils than i have tried. Plus, since the stencil is in place, Rock can help me. He loves painting and has had a lot of fun creating his own shirts... maybe more than me? Here are the giraffe and transportation shirts we created.

hard to catch for photo

cheezin!

adorable boy modeling

I also made a Link shirt from one of hubby's old work shirts that was stained to the point that he didnt want to wear it anymore. He is now willing to wear it again since i brought new life to it and even took it to a friends house to show off :)

Yup.. .definitely loving freezer paper. great way to cover up stains and make fun designs that are one of a kind!

Our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. Ezra 9:9 (NIV)

Needs Salt

Rock just recently received some hand me down dvds! LeapFrog DVDs are what he recevied... three of them in fact:  Letter Factory, Math Circus, and Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory. Rock really has been enjoying them and I love that he is learning some at the same time. They have just enough entertainment to go with learning that it makes it great for both of us and fun :)  There are also quite a few funny phrases spread throughout all of them, i've even caught hubby laughin a few times.
Leap, the oldest brother of the three main kids(frogs) seems to have a favorite phrase "Okey dokey artichokey" - occuring at least once per video. And Tad, the youngest, is the main one doing the learning with his brother and sister, Lily, helping... also assisting are the children's father, Frog, and the quirky professor Quigley who is the inventor of the factory tools to train the letters and numbers. 

 So I guess I am pretty much reviewing these movies and my overall analysis is that these movies are great for my two year old (probably for a couple years) Plus there is a little something for the adults who happen to be in the same room with the amusing antics added.
There is one reoccurring phrase I don't quite understand though... "Needs Salt" - I have heard it at least three times while the characters are eating some sort of food and I can't find if there is more of a reason behind it. One of the foods, popcorn, makes since, but why do the kids say "Needs salt" after tasting tea and ice cream? I may never know....


“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

Movies

I am always on the lookout for good clean movies for my boys to watch. Some of Rock's favorites right now are: Cars, Megamind, and The Tigger Movie. I also allow him to watch major parts of Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs and Toy Story. We fore go the mutated food scenes in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and all the parts that take place at Sid's house in Toy Story (I skip from when they are leaving pizza planet to when they start chasing the moving truck). Trying to keep our son from seeing certain images is still in our control at this point and I, by the grace of God, intend to do just that.

So movies that we do approve (all the way through) for our boys at this time: VeggieTales, Cars, Megamind, The Tale of Depereaux, The Tigger Movie, The AristoCats, Joseph: King of Dreams, and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Today I looked up some reviews on How to Train your Dragon to see what others thought of it. I have seen it but not with criteria for what my sons should watch in mind. I found one really good review at the blog: Thinking Christian I especially like the comment that was left... I had never seen it that way before but it is so true! I also like this review site: http://www.movieguide.org/reviews.html
After reading the reviews I decided this movie is not for my boys at such young ages.

Oh be carefull little eyes what you see...

Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. 

When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  

But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. 

And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, 

how deep that darkness is!

Matthew 6:22, 23 (NLT)

PInterest Monday: And then there was crochet!

What is more Pinteresting than some yarn creations?

I have been slowly increasing my ability in crochet with some help from free tutorials and patterns I find online. Here are some (of many) that caught my attention on Pinterest:

Sign Language by SheepDogsFleece

Fireman Hat on Ravelry by Carla

RedHotFibers' Baby Chicks in Eggshells

...Needed to add in that last one since it is the Monday after Easter and all!

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, 

for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. 

Come and see the place where he lay. 

Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 

‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. 

There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Matthew 28:5-7 (NIV)

How green is your footprint?

I have fallen behind on cloth diaper usage lately with two and it got me thinking...
What more can I do to leave a greener footprint?

Rock's lil foot

I need to get back to using the diapers, as well as repurposing and recycling items rather than just trashing everything. We even plan on using old amazon and diaper boxes to build a fort and play kitchen in the spare room for the boys. Homemade and small local companies would also be work towards being greener (rather than big box companies!) We have started toward less processed foods... I don't know if that is greener but definitely healthier :)

How do you leave a greener print?

 

One who is slack in his work
   is brother to one who destroys
Proverbs 18:9 (NIV)

Online sources for Toddler Schooling

Like I mentioned previously, I have become infatuated with Pinterest, I just love it! I have used the interenet to help with my pre homeschooling for Rock and have found several ideas without Pinterest... but now with pinterest I have found so much more. Previously I really liked www.totallytots.blogspot.com and all the blogs associated with them, as well as notimeforflashcards and the activity mom (see my left sidebar for more). Through Pinterest I jsut found two others that I have started to turn to: filthywizadry.com and mydeliciousambiguity.com - both have great crafts i want to try

Alos for bible crafts I love ministry-to-children.com

Just a quick post.. i feel like i have abandoned my blog for pinterest lol

Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
Psalm 34:11 (NLT)

Pinterest Monday: Toys for my Boys

I must confess...

I have a new addiction. Sure it seemed harmless at first but now I am hooked. I was just wanting a few more ideas for crafts and things for my boys. But Pinterest came with so much more!

I am often looking for crafts and cute things for my boys. Sewing, crochet, paper craft, you name it.... if I think I can manage it then I pin it.

Here are some of my recent finds that I want to try...

Fairy Tales at your Finger Tips

Cardboard Play Dome

Tiny Turtles Amigurumi

And, of course, pillow fight necessities:

Pillow Fight Shield



Pillow-Fight Weapons

 I am linking up at Mama to 4 Blessings and
Musings from a SAHM for....

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Col. 2:13-15 (NLT)

Birthday Blessings Bash: $20 GC at Life with my Littles

Remember when I blogged about the Birthday Blessings Bash at Life with my Littles? Well, there are still some giveaways open!

The most recent is for a $20 gift card to Bouncing Babies.You just need to follow her blog via GFC, which you might as well go and do anyway so you can enter all the great giveaways! The event is coming to an end so go get your entries now.

If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? Or
if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake?
Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. 
How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!

Matt. 7:9-11 (NCV)

What People Think

You have probably all seen the what people think i do memes in fact many of you are probably tired of them by now... I know I just about am. Some are really stupid, some are funny, and some are oh so true! Here are a few of my favorites:

I think these all describe... ok maybe not :)  Well, I decided to try my hand at one that I haven't seen done yet. And without further delay....

Here is my Cloth Diaper What People Think Meme:

And now I am officially worn out on these. Thank you for tuning in!

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.

Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you

listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like

glancing at your face in a mirror.

You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that

sets you free, and if you do what it says

and don’t forget what you heard,

then God will bless you for doing it."

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

Wordless Wednesday: Expressions

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,

I will change my expression, and smile’ 

Job 9:27

PaperMama Challenge: Favorite Photo of January

I haven't done one of these in quite a while....

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge!

This weeks challenge is favorite photo from January. This was pretty tough having two boys now and taking so many photos. But here it is:

No real trick to this pic....I just clicked the photo from the doorway before he knew I was there and it was perfect. I love how they are looking into each others eyes.

Check out more faves at the Paper Mama!



Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain insight

Proverbs 4:1(ESV)

Wordless Wednesday: Big Bro, Little Bro

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.

Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Love each other with genuine affection,

and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 12:9, 10 (NLT)

Wordless Wednesday: Monkey Play

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 98:4 (ESV)