Sunday, December 8, 2013

a trip to the north pole

Our annual visit to the North Pole on the Polar Express!
We took the train to the North Pole this weekend!  It was our annual trip on the Polar Express, and we had a great time.  When we first got to the train depot, it was still pretty warm and dusk ... so there were a lot of mosquitoes out!  We were all sad that we hadn't brought bug spray--in DECEMBER!  But, once we boarded the train and it got going ... and the dark set in, the mosquitoes went away, so we didn't have to worry too much about them.
Ready to board the train to the North Pole!
Daddy & Colton getting ready to board the train!
Here's the Polar Express!
Everyone on the train ... "choo, choo!" (minus the Mewhirters who had a better seat than us! and minus me ... the photographer!)
The Adams
Koki on the train making funny faces!
Plum tuckered out on the ride to see Santa ... it had already been a LONG day!
As soon as we arrived, we headed to get in line to see Santa.  The line was much shorter this year, as the company added another train departure time to each evening of the season, so it thinned out the crowd!  We got in to see Santa, and Khloe was less than impressed, at first.  She did not want to sit on his lap ... or stand near him.  So, we settled on her standing near the tree on Colton's side.  After the picture, she told Santa that she wanted "BARBIES!" for Christmas.  Colton told him that he wants, "Cars!"  I wanted one more picture for my phone, and Billy grabbed Khloe to put her on his lap ... she didn't cry.  She whined for a minute, but then said, "CHEESE!" when the camera came out.  So, we got a good one this year!  Thanks, Sis!
Picture #1 ... stand-offish
A perfect Santa picture! Picture #2
Outside of seeing Santa, we took a picture on his sleigh.  All of the kids together having fun!  Top from L to R: Khloe (2), Landon (3), Colton (4), Mason (3) Bottom from L to R: Carson (1), Beck (1)
After we saw Santa, we got some funnel cake and headed to watch the train village.  Khloe was cracking me up, because she just loves her friend, Landon.  When she told Grandpa & Grandma H that we were going to see Santa, she said, "And LANDON!"  Then when we were all eating funnel cakes and watching the train village, she and Landon were tickling and giggling.  It was so adorable!  It was one of the highlights of my night.
That giggly-face is priceless!
Once we ate a little food, we made Reindeer Food (out of glitter and oatmeal) to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas eve, roasted marshmallows and made s'mores, and got some free cookies & hot chocolate.  Even though it wasn't a cold night, it was great weather ... about 70 degrees, so sitting by the fire was still nice.  We had fun, because we were there with our families and friends ... and it made for a really good time.
The line waiting for Santa.
The "North Pole" 
Having a fun night. 
Roasting our marshmallows over the fire!
Khloe running around and enjoying herself. 
We had a great time at the North Pole!
Until next year ... Goodbye North Pole!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

projects abound

Sometimes, I get crafty ... I usually feel crafty, but I mostly can't do much about it!  I'm often too busy with the kids and house things to really have fun creating.  These past few weeks have been different.  I have gotten a bee in my bonnet about a few creative projects, and I just couldn't help myself!

It all began with a bed-side table that I posted about a few posts ago.  I was so excited about how it turned out that I wanted to do more.

Next, I scrounged around my garage, and I found some scrap wood and old paint.  In a few hours, I had made this crafty Christmas art.
Just some scrap wood I cut up, and some paint I found in my garage.  
Next, I finished this small shelving project out of a pallet.  I hung it in the hallway between my kids' rooms.
Just a pallet, some nails, screws, and antiquing glaze.
This week, I worked on three projects.  This first one is a frame I got from Goodwill.  It was labeled $12.99.  It was broken, but I loved the shape of it.  I hemmed and hawed about it for a while as I walked through Goodwill ... and finally, I decided to buy it.  I just loved the shape too much.  When I got up to the register, it rang up for 59 cents!  What a deal!  So, I just took some paint and chalk ... and voila!  I love this chalkboard.  I have to say, I got the inspiration from my good friend, Steph Murrill.  She's super crafty, and I think I've said before that she's an amazing home decorator.  She has a much nicer chalkboard with a lot of amazing dates on it, and I stole that idea from her.  I mimic, because I love!
This is how I bought it from Goodwill.  The picture was also coming out of the frame ... so I had to fix that! 
Got the chalkboard paint on.
First round on the frame.
The end result!  I love it! 
It fits perfectly into this spot.
While Mom and Dad H were here visiting, I got this gem all ready to hang in my living room ... also, lovingly called the "toy room".  They helped me to hang it, so it won't come crashing down on the kids' heads.  I added the final touches today!  It's filled with frames full of pictures of our extended families (and one of our immediate family).  What a warm and inviting shelf!  It's a larger version of my first shelf project.

The last project that I worked on this week was at our MOMs Club event today.  We had a Pinterest Playdate!  What a novel idea.  We all love Pinterest, and it's great to have time for our kids to hang out and play with each other.  So, while they were playing ... we made Christmas hangers for the wall or front door ... wherever you want to hang it.  My friend, Gwendy, made a super cute ornament hanger.  This is what I made!  I love how it turned out!  Thank you to Lindsey for putting together our playdate today and for getting all of the materials.  It was too fun, and the hangers all turned out great!
I don't know where I'll hang it yet, but I drew it, cut it, painted it, and decorated it.  It's ready for hanging ... I'm just a bit stumped about that!
My dream is that I could work on crafty projects several times a month.  It's definitely my outlet.  I have the most fun creating and thinking of projects to make.  I have definitely enjoyed this round of crafting, and hopefully, I'll get a chance to do more before the baby comes ... now, I have some quilts to make!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

about a boy ... a 4 year-old boy ...

Our big boy!
Mr. C has met another little milestone in his life ... he has turned 4!  I, seriously, am in shock of how quickly these past four years have gone.  He still seems like little, baby Colton to me ... until I see a picture of him when he was a baby or 1 or 2 or even 3 ... then I realize "WOW!  He has really grown up a lot!"  He is no longer a chubby-faced little guy ... he is slimming out and looking like a little boy ... even his "toddler-look" has gone from his face.  I measured him and weighed him on his birthday.
Look at how he has grown!!!!
For nostalgia's sake ... here are his stats:
Height: 39 1/2 inches (50th Percentile)
Weight: 39 1/2 pounds (75th-90th Percentile)

Interesting how he is the same number of height vs. weight number!  He is growing well, and he loves to do many "big boy" things.  He likes to take the mail out to the mail box for me.  He even puts the flag up ... that's his favorite part!  He loves to get the mail when it comes.  I stand at the door, and he runs down the driveway to get the mail out of the mail box.  He loves to help "cook" in the kitchen, and he is a big helper when it's time to clean up.  Now that he can reach more things, he is good at getting little things out for me.  I appreciate his help, and he finds joy in being "big enough".

This year, we bought him a bicycle (with training wheels) for his birthday.  He is still getting used to it and learning to ride it.  He is excited that he can carry his cars on the front of the bicycle! He will, also, be getting a big boy bed.  I guess it's time the toddler bed be retired, so he can have more room to roll around in his sleep.
The four year-old birthday boy!
A Mr. Potato Head ... by request from watching Toy Story! 
Thank you, Grandma & Grandpa Reynolds!
Thank you, Grandpa & Grandma Heinrich! 
Thank you, Aunt Cherrie & Uncle Josh!
His new bike! 
The big boy is four, and we love him SO much!
My sweet family!
Grandma & Grandpa Heinrich with the kids!
For his birthday, we had a Dinosaur Party!  By request, he got a cake with toy dinosaurs on top.  (I think he wanted more toys out of the deal!)  I made a salted caramel buttercream dark chocolate cake.  It was pretty fantastic to say the least!  I will definitely have to file that recipe away in the "make again" category.  He had a couple of his close friends and some family at the party.  The most important part was that he had a great time!  I was so glad to see him so happy.
This was his invite ... I made it myself!
Dino dig jello!
We had ... Triceratops Eyes, Brachiosaurus Sandwiches, Dino Dig Jello, Frozen Dino Eggs, Herbivore Valley Cups, Pterodactyl Wings (vegetarian, of course), Garbanzo Bean Salad, and Cheese & Crackers ... of course Dino Cake! 
I made the cake from scratch ... it's a Salted Caramel Buttercream Dark Chocolate Cake!  Super yummy!
These were the party favors ... dines with their eggs.
Thank you, Levi and Sage for the awesome game! 
Hot gift of the season ... remote control plane ... moves by your movements!
Thank you, Caleb and Elizabeth for my awesome puzzle! 
Time to sing "Happy Birthday"! 
Happy Birthday, to you, COLTON!
He blew all of the candles out in one blow!
Yummmmmmy!
Some party guests enjoying cake!
Colton with his BFF, Mason!
Now, the rushing around of Thanksgiving, black Friday, and Cole's birthday have subsided ... and we are relaxing this first part of December.  Of course, there is always something to be done ... parties to go to, MOMs Club events to attend, and we fly to Kansas City for Christmas this year on the 18th.  But I can sit a while and think about all that I am thankful for ... starting with a special little boy who turned 4 this week ... Happy Birthday, Mr. Colton!

A birthday photo-shoot ...
This is Billy's favorite picture of Cole. 
That smile! 
I love him so much!
My two cuties!
Cheesin' 
Grins for miles ...
Silly face ...
Sweet face ...
Fish face ...
This one is my favorite.
Bubby and Sissy

Khloe Girl ... she's such a dolly!
Grumpy-face girl ... 
Grumpy-face boy ...
Running 
Jump!
Jump, jump! 
Serious discussions ...