Family Pictures and Projects

Every fall we do a family photo shoot. Usually I get inspired when the leaves start changing and I insist, but this year Dave took the initiative and insisted. We've done our own photos with a tripod for the past 4 years, but this year it really became a challenge! We got one where everyone was looking at the camera, but that was it!

I wish Dustin was smiling and I wish Logan's hand was down, but we'll go with it! I think we'd do better if we conned someone into taking them for us, but with these boys, it's hard to "schedule" a time for them to be happy. So we wait until a happy time, rush to get them dressed and take a few photos.

We got several cute pictures of Dustin, but this is the best of the bunch! He's such a happy little fellow.

This is the best we could get of Logan. He was in a silly mood, so we have a ton of weird faces. So we're going with one of these for the mantle for the next year. Unless I can get him outside in the same clothes in a more photo friendly mood.

Getting ready for this shot, I had everyone's outfit picked out. Then Dave came in and decided he didn't want to wear the shirt I picked out. And Logan followed his lead, insisting on a different shirt. So I gave Dave a color palette he could pick from, then I changed Logan and my shirts to match (Dustin's was close enough to keep the same). At least everyone was happy in the end!

I've been cleaning up my project bin lately. I have a ton of stuff I've started, but haven't finished. So I dove in this week and got some things done.

I saw this idea on Pinterest! It's a plank of wood with holes drilled into it and cross stitched with hemp. I love how it turned out! It's hanging above the fire place downstairs.

I did this on the back of the one I made for Spring. I just used paper I had on hand, and turned out ok.

This was a necessity! Logan loves to pull the towels down from the stove. So I added two button holes and a button to this so I can attach a few towels to the oven door (I made 4). I have to put them on backwards (so the button is hiding), but it has kept the towels on the stove for a week now! I love that the towel can still lay out flat if I need it to, but it can also be buttoned on!

I sewed two covers for our 3 inch foam camping mats. I had these 90 percent done, they just needed the buttons and top flap sewed on. I finished one and have it on Logan's top bunk! He loves climbing up there and playing. I've told him when he can climb up and down all by himself he can start sleeping up there. We have another year for him to figure it out and Dustin moves into the bottom bunk.

I started this pillow in May. I cut it out and surged it, but didn't finish it. So I sewed the edges and stuffed it! Dave and Logan have been loving relaxing on the hammock.

And this bad boy!!! Long story… a few months ago I approached my Mom and Grandma about starting a quilt. We're having a family reunion next summer, and I thought it would be fun for everyone that wants to to create a square for a quilt. We then make enough to give one to everyone participating and all trade at the reunion. So we all will end up with a Reunion quilt. The theme is the beach, and this is the square I've come up with. Only 10 more to make!

This weekend we got two date nights! Friday Dave's parents called and asked if they could babysit (YES! ALWAYS YES!). We decided to go out for Thai food and the Temple. Logan's had an ornery few weeks, so this was SO needed. We had a great time! Saturday we got to go to the Adult Session of Stake Conference and picked up some German Chocolate ice cream to enjoy later. It was great to have two nights off in a row.

Dave also got the shed re-organized this weekend and I got our winter and summer clothes switched out. Neither are fun, but both were good to get done. This weekend it starts getting busy again, but it was nice to have two weekends in a row with no plans!

Slow Weekend

This weekend was a casual weekend! We haven't had one of those in about 3 months. It's been so busy lately. I had my monthly quilting class in the morning and that was all we had planned all weekend! I got a few sewing projects done, and Dave got a lot of playing time with the boys. The boys just loved spending time with their Dad. Lots of sandbox time!

Logan got a hold of my camera this week. I was making dinner and I saw excessive flashing followed by gales of laughter from both boys. When I finished cooking I found 78 pictures on the camera. Most were of Dustin, but I had a few close-ups of Logan's eye too.

When we got out Loan's winter clothes he found his jammies my mom made for him for Christmas last year. He insists on wearing them still, even though they're several inches too short! I'm going to have to sneak them out of his drawer, but haven't had the chance yet.

Dustin finally started crawling! We're so glad, even though now he gets into everything. He doesn't like crawling on a hard surface, so it keeps him out of the kitchen, bathroom, and hallway. We were starting to get worried that Dustin wasn't crawling yet (Logan was walking by the time he's Dustin's age), but we're happy he's getting around great now!

Conference Weekend

This was the week of Conference! The week was full of preparing for it, and the weekend was full of enjoying it. We usually go down to my parents for Conference, but this time they were out of town. So we went shopping at the Dollar Tree to get some treats and supplies to make sure we made it through!

We all got to pick whatever candy we wanted, and we spent $5 getting special toys for Logan to keep busy with (stained glass train to paint, stamp markers, glow in the dark silly putty, stretchy dinosaurs, and 300 stickers). My attitude is if $5 let us listen, then it's worth it! He did pretty good. At the end of each talk we would sum up what it was about for him. And when President Monson spoke, we made sure he listened and remembered what he said.

We also spent the week preparing foods for the day. We were supposed to have chocolate doughnuts for Saturday's breakfast and Sunday a big cooked breakfast. But I guess I didn't tell Dave, so he wanted to cook Sat, and Logan wanted chocolate doughnuts. So we enjoyed both Saturday and ate leftovers Sunday. We also made Broccoli Beef for dinner Saturday and Chili & Cornbread Muffins Sunday. Logan wanted Moose cheese for a snack (that's what he calls colby jack), so we also enjoyed that with crackers and Laughing Cow cheese.

Saturday afternoon we went on a walk to the Elementary school between sessions and played at the playground. That evening the boys and I trimmed bushes and tidied up the house while Dave went to priesthood. Afterwards we went out for Ice Cream. It was tons of fun! Even Dustin got his own baby cone (they give free kiddy cones at Arctic Circle).

Sometime this weekend we finished painting the attic vents (finally!). I'm hoping we're done for the year, but I need to double check with Dave for sure. We are out of white paint, so I see that as a sign. We also picked Raspberries and tomatoes, as well as blanching, blending, and freezing a huge bowl full. I'll figure out what we want to do with them in a week or so. I'm thinking Tomato Sauce or more Salsa. Not sure yet.

I got a lot of projects done also! The best way for me to pay attention is to keep my hands busy, and since Conference falls right at nap time for Dustin, I was able to work hard while listening. I cut out and started hand sewing some Totoro stuffed animals (technical Japanese term is Nuigurumi). They're for Logan and Dustin for Christmas (we have to start early). Every time Logan watches My Neighbor Totoro he tells me "Mom, you could make me a Totoro toy. I would LOVE that!" So I thought I would start early to make sure it got done.

Also, I've been working on Halloween Costumes. I finished the cowl for Logan's Batman costume (it's just a fleece hat with bat ears, he didn't want a mask). So now I have his shirt, cape, and cowl. I don't think I'll put underwear on the outside of his sweat pants, because it will look silly after Halloween, so I think he's done. Dustin's Robin jammies and cape are done, and Dave's Twoface shirt and pants are done. I just need to make him a tie (and have him try on the shirt and pants to make sure they fit. Now I just have to figure out my costume… I'm not too excited about figuring that out. Dave wants us all to be Batman characters, and all the ladies are in spandex... but I'm sure I'll come up with something. Uma Thurman had a version of poison ivy that had long sleeves and pants, so maybe if I can find a shirt at the thrift store in the right neon color it will work.

Zion's, Music & a Pet Catterpillar

The past 3 weeks have been so busy! Will life ever slow down?!? I've been working my hardest at finishing the trim on the house. I know it sounds easy… But finding time to get out their and paint without the boys (with Dave working until 10 at night) is not an easy task. But I have it MOSTLY done!

It took a few forced naps for Logan, and two nights of putting the boys down and painting with a head lamp (which is pretty trippy on a 25 foot ladder in the dark). I need Dave's help finishing two vents, and I do want to paint the hand rail before it starts snowing, but I don't have to be on a ladder for that. So hopefully we'll be done in the next few weeks. It's been raining on weekends, which is a big pain!

Last weekend we headed down to Zions for some hiking and time with my family! We got there a night early and spent the day in the park. Let me tell you, it's a ton harder to hike with a 3 year old than with a baby! He thinks he's big enough to do all the hiking and it took us FOREVER!

We had a picnic in the grass in front of the Lodge. Needless to say, Dustin had a fun time!

We hiked Emerald Pools and Dave was followed around by 3 or 4 ladies that "totally loved" his shirt. It was pretty funny. They were married, but insisted in getting a dozen pictures with him.

We only made it to the first pool (0.6 miles one way). The hike there was ok, but the hike back was rough!

Logan would stop every few feet, plop down on the ground, and "make bear tracks". He would run his fingers around so you could see the tracks. It was a long 0.6 miles back. Let's just say Dave and I really earned our DQ!

The next day we went to the splash pad in town with the cousins. They had so much fun splashing and playing! We followed it up with a picnic lunch and some ice cream.

Dustin had so much fun too sticking his toes in the little waters. That night my mom watched the kids so we could go on a date. We saw the Maze Runner (which we've both read). It was interesting, although they made some changes.

Then last week just were catching up from being away, doing laundry and cleaning the house. This weekend it rained the whole weekend. We went on a park date on Friday, but got rained out and ended up in Barnes & Noble.

We're talking major thunder storms that wake the boys up at night! The power went out before we woke up on Saturday, so we spent the day in the dark. But it came back around 4.

Saturday was Women's Conference. Dave and the boys had a little party while I was gone (pizza, gummy sharks, liquorish, and Toy Story). I had a fabulous time at Conference. I've had a few things on my mind lately, and during one of the talks I got the answer I needed. It was very comforting and nice (since I didn't actually go to the meeting expecting a solution). Also I got to visit with a few of the ladies in the ward, which was fun.

Sunday we found a friend while picking our tomatoes! It's a tomato hornworm, and Logan has just loved it! They're really bad for your tomato plants, but it was so cool looking I couldn't help but keep it. So Logan talks to it, carries it from room to room, feeds it, reads to it, and eats with it. When we got up on Monday I thought it was dead (curled up in a ball legs up on the ground), but it bounced back. So we'll see how long it lasts.

This week my goal is to dry the huge box of apples that has been filling our fridge for the past few weeks. Other than that, I need to work on the Halloween costumes too. It's October this week and I'm not even close to being done! AAAH!

I've also included a video of Dustin playing his recorder. I'm pretty sad he broke it, because he just LOVED to play it! Maybe we'll have to get him a new one for Christmas.

Shopping and Packing

I can't believe the weekend is practically here! It's been so busy lately. I only have one section of the trim left to paint, and I'm hoping to get it done next week. We'll see how it goes.

Dustin's been busy learning things lately! He started playing the recorder this week. He doesn't change the notes, but he loves to blow on it. He's also been speaking more. He says u-ho when he drops things, and up when I pick him up. Not sure u-ho is a real word, but he uses it a ton.

Logan got engaged last week. The little girl we watch 2 days a week, Abby approached him by saying "Logan, are you married?" No, I'm going to get married in the Logan Temple (she thinks about that) "You want to marry me?" Ok. Her mom says she's really into marriage right now.

Saturday I had my monthly quilting class and after my mom watched the boys so Dave and I could go to the temple. We did a session and then got to go to lunch. It was nice to get a little break from the boys! They are great, but sometimes they can be wild! That night we also had the sister missionaries over for dinner.

Sunday was super busy, and I think this will be the standard with the new calling. I run around for the last two hours of church just to make sure I get everything done. After church we relaxed a bit, then went to my parent's house for a family dinner. My Grandma Yoder and Aunt Kathryn were in town, and my Uncle David & his family came too. It was fun to catch up with them.

The boys and I went material shopping on Monday with my Grandma & Mom. We were picking out material for the Family Reunion Quilt we'll be working on for next year! 11 of the family wanted to participate, so we'll all make 11 big squares and 11 little squares, then swap them at the reunion. When we get home we'll be able to make them all into a quilt. I think it'll be fun to have that kind of a souvenir. It's a beach theme, since it's taking place on the beach!

We've been cleaning, packing and trying to get ready for a trip to the cabin the rest of the week! It's been busy, and we're ready for the break. Logan's been begging to go. I made some cookies today to bring with us and offered one to him. His response? "I don't want a cookie until we're camping" Hope the cabin qualifies as camping. It will be a short trip, but it should be good!