be merry.

we have had a blast this december.

we took the train to san diego to visit uncle matt and future aunt michelle.

the train ride was delayed due to a train that had derailed the night before but

the boys were champs, despite the 6 hours spent on a train in one day.

we did some holiday baking.

we made home made marshmallows which turned out awesome!

 in san diego...

what a fun day!

 baby wrapping at its finest.

little man was so tired and our train stopped for about forty minutes,

owie was exhausted but settled right in and went to sleep once i wrapped him.

 papa and wyatt waiting for the train.

 owen looking out the window, he was so excited and curious!

 wyatt checking the waves...

 always eating, the only time he sits still!

 crazy face.

 uncle matt, wyatt, aunt michelle and bun in the oven....

santa was nervous about this one!

owen was terrified, poor guy.

wyatt told santa in detail everything he wanted, he was such a big boy.

 wall art.

i used fabric scraps and modge podge.

i really love this wall!

owen was upset because i put him in his crib for this picture,

he never uses his crib.

 chalk board paint with a frame i got from a flea market...

and wyatt wrote his name!

 christmas eve was so much fun.

family came over and we opened gifts, the boys made out like bandits!

 owen loved loved loved christmas! he was so full of joy

and amazement. he was christmased out by noon.

 christmas night my bff and her husband and bun in the oven came and stayed the night.

i was so happy to spend time with them, i love them to death.

i can't believe this year is coming to an end.

i am happy and relieved. 

i feel like 2014 will only be better and more magical.

i've learned a lot this year, completed a semester of school and raised

two beautiful boys who just won't stop growing! 

i'm ready for 2014.

backyard lovin'

we have been spending so much time in the backyard.

it's our happy place.

i've been trying hard to re-use as much as possible in our garden.
we used egg cartons to grow seeds and it turned out awesome! i was excited.
once the plants were ready to be planted i took them out, part of the egg carton came
along but it's ok because that part decomposes.
i made an awesome dream catcher inspired trellis for the beans to grow up.
i used thin bamboo shoots and string, and wound the string all aorund
to get that dream catcher look.

i've also taken succulant planting to a new level.
i am using seashells! i absolutely love the designs, especially the one above.
this one (below) was created after our trip up north, i was inspired
by all of the amazing little shops in half moon bay.
i found the shells on our last trip to my bother and sister in-law's house, on a walk while at the beach.
who knew sea shells would be the perfect little home for a succulent!?
i am in love.

owen is ridiculous cute.

this is his first swing session at the park and he loved it.

he laughed the entire time, squealing and chuckling so loud!

this baby cracks me up and everyone else who sees him.

can't get enough of him.

oh yeah... this happened
holy crap, where does the time go!?
this picture sums up owen's 8th month of life; going, going, going, gone!

thanks.

 

we made leaf crowns with fall colored leafs we collected on our walk, using wire.

i'm so thankful for my boys. they are so awesome.
i'm thankful for family and friends, today and yesterday.

pumpkins, mustaches and a letter for Wyatt.

 I saw a pumpkin idea on Pinterest that I decided to give a try and it turned out awesome and was so much fun, dangerous yes, but fun!

Mr. Pumpkin heads!

These boys kill me, they're so cute.

Owen's first Halloween

A letter to Wyatt.

Dear Wyatt,
I love you so much. You are an incredible, smart, loving, adventurous soul. You teach me so many wonderful lessons in life and always keep me on my toes. Although you'll grow up and tower over me someday i want you to know that you'll be my baby always-my outgoing, silly, determined, stubborn, freckly little baby. I love you.

 love, mom

...............................................

Lately I feel like I haven't been the best mom.
I've been stressed and in my head. I need to spend more one on one time with my little Wy. We are always going going going, and I think it's time to slow down and come up with a schedule, for both Wyatt's and my sanity. I always think of structure along the lines of restrictions and limits where in reality our lack of structure is putting limits on the things we do.
I'm looking forward to this, I really am.
I am such a scattered ADD air headed poo, that I feel like I need this, the schedule and the structure will help. I'll let you know how this goes. :)

Halloween Drink

Creepy drinks for HALLOWEEN!!

 
Wyatt had a blast making these "creepy" ice-cubes.
I actually copied this from a kit at Target, all in all this cute idea was under 3$ for sure. We bought gummy worms and Kool-Aid, which I had never purchased before or even tasted!
I had no idea you have to add your own sugar?!
I was horrified! How do you justify the sugar content? I don't know why you wouldn't just buy a sugary drink that you DON'T see the amount of sugar being poured into it, but to each his own.
Ok anyways...
This is adorable and easy!

Step one get everything together!
Step two is making the Kool-Aid
Step three pour the kool-Aid into the ice-cube trays
Step four put the "worms" in the Kool-Aid
Step five put it into the freezer
Step six taste the worms just to make sure they aren't real :)
Once they are frozen put them into your favorite drink and enjoy!

I'm telling you... edit your photos here! They have adorable Halloween themes!

So making my check list public didn't really help too much.
This was it:

 Things to do by Friday the 17th of August...

• finish baby's room (nook)
• make a head board for my bed
• paint Wyatt's dresser and touch up the messy paint on the walls
• clean the inside of my car and make an organizer for Wy's "in the car" things
• start my CPT-1 online training for my license renewal

Not horrible.
Here are my excuses...

• My mom has guests this week and they have taken over Wyatt's room, making it impossible to paint.

• The whole organizer for  my car? yeah I'm just going to buy something... I've realized that I make things a lot harder on my self when I try and make them. Some things are fun to make, and others are just more work and extra stress!
• Online classes? I need to get started! No excuse there except for procrastination. 

Here is the baby's corner...

 a blank wall that needed some love....

 

instead of a headboard I hung a picture... TaDa!

sand candle making 101

We went to the beach last week and Wyatt collected a bucket of sand to make candles.

He's such a busy bee.

 

Here he is making the candles with Nana...
It really is the easiest project ever!
STEP1 melt your wax- there are so many wax options. We found ours at Hobby Lobby, which by the way I had NEVER been to and it is absolutely amazingly wonderful! (It's like Micheal's plus Joann's Fabrics mixed with Tall Mouse on crack... it is awesome.)
While you are melting your wax is the best time to add any scents you might want, we used a little scented oil. FYI a little goes a long way!
STEP2 we used a little jar for our sand mold, just form a little hole in the sand and fill it up with wax. To create multi colored layers wait awhile (I suggest 30 minutes) in between layers so that they don't mush and melt together.
STEP3 put in the wick BEFORE THE CANDLE DRIES!!!! This could actually be step 2... it's depends what is easiest for you, and you'll figure it out by candle number 3 or 17 :)
STEP4 let it dry over night and TADA!! You have your self magnificent sand candle!!!

123...

life...

art = fun. messy. laughs. googly eyes.

BEST sugar free ice cream EVER!

beach day. 

creating a masterpiece. 

Wyatt counted to 11 all by him self on the walk home from Nana's... What the heck?!

Sorry Angels... these tickets were free!

Wyatt's uncle Eric's best friend catches for the Dodgers so we got these really awesome tickets. Wyatt's 2 uncles, papa Gordie and Oliver went. It was so much fun. The boys got Dodger Dogs, fries, cotton candy, ice cream, base balls bats (NOT my idea!), bobble heads and an afternoon of adventure! We went to China Town in LA first, took a small detour which was fun. Had a blast. Although I'm an Angels fan, the Dodgers stadium (minus the major hills) is an awesome place. 

sugar for breakfast?

my awesome bed spread.

nap time.

20 weeks already.

Wyatt and I went to Disney Land yesterday and it was ridiculously crowded, no painfully crowded! Ok well it really didn't pain us physically to be there but very much mentally! We didn't go on anything except for the train and we were able to sit through the bugs life show, that's it. 

It was so crowded, had I mentioned that? :)

I think my mom is going to be moving back in August. That is what I want. I mean obviously I don't want to be a single mom with 2 children living with my mom but this is my best option, I think that this is going to be what is best for my children and me. My plan will be to go straight into registered nursing after I am a LVN and living with my mom will help me reach my goals much quicker. 

I am extremely grateful for my mom, she is a very good mother to me. 

I see the positive change in Wyatt since Doug has moved out. He always has something negative to say about Wyatt. Wyatt sat in the doctors office with my mom during the ultra sound for over an hour and was really awesome without any toys or any entertainment, hyper, but awesome. When we were praising Wy, Doug leans over and tells Wyatt that this is the way he should always act, and goes on to tell him that his other behavior (which he didn't use) is bad and blah blah blah... He forgets that Wyatt is 2... only 2 and wasn't born with the knowledge to act and behave the way he "should" or the way Doug want's him to, he's learning. I'm a big believer in praise, and acknowledging the good behavior. For example when Wyatt is playing like a big boy, instead of being quiet and hoping it will never end, I tell him how good he is being. Children need to hear good things just as adults do. I know when all I hear is negative things, I then perform worse, and get sad and feel bad about my self.

Wyatt has improved 100%, his behavior is incredibly better! I've been consistent,  I've picked my battles very very very (and sometimes not so very) wisely. I try to only say no for things that matter , so he isn't hearing no all the time. No can lose it's face value quickly when you throw it around all the time, I learned this the hard way! I took out all of the distractions (like toys) from Wy's bed room to make nap and bed time easier and I've cut a lot of sugar out of our diets. When he begs for something at the store I tell him that it's not healthy for us or mommy can't afford junk food, and he has responds pretty well.