conflicting thoughts

As most of you know, we have been trying to conceive for nearly 2 years now. it sucks. as any of you who have struggled with this sort of thing know, it feels like everyone else is pregnant, even when they aren't trying/want to be. which makes it feel even more unfair.

The boys and i recently spent nearly a week visiting some family and i am having a bit of a different outlook now. As much as i want another child, there are certainly advantages/positive things about where we are right now.

-i have no bums to change
-also no diapers to buy
-no nursing/bottles
-my kids can talk clearly
-they can feed themselves
-my kids can do most things for themselves
-they can clean up after themselves
-my kids are old enough to get around on their own
-they can entertain themselves
-my kids sleep through the night

i guess the list could go on, but there it is.

the biggest problem with this list is that many of the items on it are also the things i miss most about having a baby around. I love how completely the depend on you, how every gurgle and coo is the best noise ever, how proud you feel every time the reach a new milestone.

*sigh*

for now, i will try and remind myself of the things that are great about having "older" children, since right now that seems to be the only option.

marshmallow igloos

Last night the boys and I made igloos! Well, sort of. We live in St. George, so snow is out of the question. But we made them out of paper cups, frosting and mini marshmallows! The boys loved it and are already requesting to make them again next year. such a fun simple activity.

(by the way, pay no attention to the background. I have several flattened boxes that I have taped together for us to do our projects on.)

November in a nutshell

Gosh, I really need to step up my game. The last time I wrote was the last day of October. It isn't that I don't have things to write, it is simply that I seem to lack motivation. It seems I am not the only one who has been having a harder time lately, seems like most of us are pretty sporadic in our blogging lately. I really need to do better at it, but I haven't been, so settle yourselves in for a very long post!

should we start with thanksgiving activities? The next several are fairly self-explanatory; we did a 'thankful tree' (Logan wrote and "sounded out" all of his). He did something similar in his Kindergarten class, but it was on a turkey. You should be able to see that one a bit better. The pilgrim hats were for Bronson's preschool party, I thought they turned out cute. I mentioned the candy corn garland before, and some of you wanted to see what it looked like, it isn't a great picture, but it was all I had.

Anyone who knows me well, knows how I like to hand make gifts, and this year is no exception. For the children that we have for Christmas this year I have been making fishing sets, the following pictures are an example of a girl set that I have been working on. I think they turned out cute, but MAN it is a LOT of work. Each fish takes me about 2 hours. TWO. HOURS. no joke. The simple fish are a bit faster than the fancier fish, but not much. So far though, it has been well worth the effort as they have been big hits with the recipients. oh, and they are a PAIN to wrap. This wreath I actually started last year, but was terribly dis-satisfied with and didn't have the motivation to re-vamp it until a few days ago. now I ♥ it!Bronson is in preschool, and loving it, look how well he can write his name now!--I know it says BroMson, but c'mon, he is three!Oh, Logan! This boy of mine has been obsessed with sea animals practically since birth, then all of the sudden about a month ago he switched- to dinosaurs. this is his chalk drawing of a brachiosaurus. I think it is pretty great!Ah, yes! and one last pic. My nearly 4 year old doesn't nap much anymore. But I got him to fall asleep sitting with me the other day. I was loving the snuggle time!

Halloween 2010

I am tired so I will keep this pretty brief. We had a fun and exhausting Halloween time this year. These pics are over several different days.

We had Bronson's preschool Halloween party here on Wednesday, then Logan's school party on Friday, and of course we went trick or treatin' on Saturday. Logan got to wear two different costumes this year because I didn't want him his shark costume ruined in the wood chips at school (the costume is made of felt). He thought it was great, so he wore his killer whale costume to school and the shark costume to the preschool party and trick or treating.

Both of the boys costumes were bought off of Etsy. (link) The killer whale costume i picked up last year at kid to kid. I just couldn't resist, knowing how much Logan loves all things ocean!

Is this not the CUTEST costume you have ever seen???? This little girl is in Logan's Kindergarten class and she was nice enough to let me take a pic of her. so stinkin' cute! makes me wish i had a girl just so I could have an excuse to make one of these!

Loved the marine costume too!

we made skeletons out of paper plates, (link) and got the idea to paint our jars (link).

I even dressed up this year.

bat cupcakes

I thought that these turned out so cute (and boyish too!) so I decided to share them with ya'll! I thought some of you may want to know how I made them, so I included a few pics of the process.I went on my computer and found a bat shape that I liked ( mine is actually just clipart) then I made it a few different sizes b/c I wasn't sure which I would like best. (the boys had no problem disposing of my "mistakes" for me)
I took some wax paper and taped it to my table, then I slide my paper underneath it. I used this as a template and traced the outline in chocolate (I like to use chocolate almond bark). After filling in the bat I simply move the paper to another spot and start again. see! so easy!

the latest

Gosh, it has been nearly two months since my last post. I don't know why, but I haven't really felt like blogging lately. And from the looks of my reading list, I am not the only one.

Let's see... Steve is still at the same job, and in his last semester for his RN. I am still trying to keep things under control around our house. Logan is still loving school. Oh, I don't think I blogged this yet, Bronson has started preschool--I think I have a pic here somewhere, I will try and find it and post it.

Yep. that is basically it. We are keeping busy, but nothing too exciting. Let me think, I must have some cute stories for you..... oh... Logan kinda had a little girlfriend there for a bit, but she is no longer interested, though he still really likes her and tells me that he is still "thinking about marrying her". so we will see.

I have been working on Christmas presents, and they are super tedious, but very cute. I would put pics up here but some of you who read may have a child who will be getting something from us for Christmas and I would hate to spoil it! but each 'set' takes about 48-50 hours to make, thus far I have only made about 5 sets. I still have a long ways to go!

In other holiday news I have been working on some Halloween decorations recently. Made me some candy corn garland to drape about our house. And can I just say that it really turned out lovely. If anyone is interested I can post some pics and give you some tips that I picked up along the way. Very very cute stuff.

I guess that about sums us up for now. . . . so. . . . what's up with you??

the time has come

Well, it's official. I have a kindergartner.

sad/happy day?

Today Logan and I went over to his school so we could register him for kindergarten. he is so excited. I am having mixed emotions. I am so proud of him, he is such a smart, sweet guy, but sad that he is growing up so fast. I feel like his life is on fast forward. (If something has to be on fast forward I wish it would be Steve's schooling!) We got to meet his teacher, and she seemed great. Afterwards I took him school shopping, and he doesn't seem to understand that we aren't going to buy him every single thing he wants. He had a bit of a melt down when I made him get the plain tennis shoes instead of the iron man ones. (why do mamas have to be so darn practical?)