Shower Curtain Liner Art

Today I grabbed washable markers, spread out a shower curtain liner on the floor, and let the kids go at it!  They were hesitant at first and Isaac mostly wrote words... but they still liked it.  At least it was something novel and different for them to try and experience. :)

So I heard about this activity online and while I LOVE the idea (and will do it again someday) - it had it's downsides.  Namely, the washable markers smear!  Both of my kids couldn't stop moving around on the huge liner (who can blame them?) and therefore their drawings kept smearing and the kids were covered in marker ink.  Clean-up was easy enough though.  I just threw the liner in the washing machine and it came out clean!  (And I just washed off the kids hands/feet/clothes).  I think this activity would probably work better with kids a little older - or maybe just if I had been able to get involved and actually color with them.  Anyway, while Isaac and Elise colored - Caleb and I just hung out on the sidelines.  It was a good morning.

Kristen!!!!

I'm sorry... whose best friend flies all the way from beautiful San Diego, California to COLD Liberty, Missiouri - leaving her husband and 2 kids behind for FIVE days - just to dote on you and take care of you after you have your third baby??!?!?!

Oh yeah....  mine does!!!!

Enter Kristen Lindsay.

(Best friend during the entire Nursing School journey at BYU... and beyond!)

We hadn't seen each other in over 2 years, but through all of that time we had talked on the phone regularly.  Then one day in January, I was standing in the checkout line at Walmart when my cell phone rang - and it was Kristen.  She announced that she was coming to visit me February 24-28th and help me out after my new baby was born.  My jaw dropped and I just wanted to CRY.  Talk about a tender mercy!  

And I am SO grateful that she came.  From the moment that she arrived, we talked non-stop.  And I loved every minute of it. :)  This girl understands me, loves me, and helps me feel sane and loved and like-able.  She brings out the real me and helps me process and understand myself better.  She is such a wonderful friend - and I am LUCKY beyond words to have her as a dear friend.  

While she was in town we took an evening out and went to dinner - just the two of us.  She helped me with the kids all day and held my baby so that I could take a nap.  We went grocery shopping together and cooked together.  It was lovely.  I felt SO rejuvenated physically and emotionally by her visit.  A good friend can do wonders!

Kristen and Caleb:

She got him to sleep in that position.  Awesome. :)

And (oops) the only picture that we took of the two of us.

It was a fun trip and I was so sad to see her go... but SO HAPPY that she came!

Bathtub Paint

So - I got a little over ambitious and set these two budding artists loose with homemade "bathtub paint" (aka shaving cream with a small amount of food coloring mixed in).  All I can say - is good thing that my friend Kristen was with me! - because it turned out to be a bit more complex and difficult than I had planned.  Anyway, I stripped the kids down and let them go at it.  Pretty soon all of the colors merged into one.  Bodies were covered in the "paint" and Elise concocted some sort of meal for us by rinsing her paint brush repeatedly in a bucket of water and "stirring it up".

Cleaning the bathtub and both children was soon a necessity - but which to clean first?  And how?  Somehow it all worked out.  Everyone was all smiles and happy to take photos of their artwork to "show daddy" before it was washed away.  Caleb was a sport and slept in my arms.  Just another fun morning at home.

Mommy and Caleb

p.s.  Did I mention that I got a haircut?  Feb. 18th - I went and got my hair cut!  I am liking having it short again.  It's easier and faster for me to do my hair.  Anyway....

Rice

Since we are choosing to stay home all day EVERY day for 6 weeks after Caleb is born (to keep everyone - especially Caleb - healthy) - I am doing my best to keep Isaac and Elise entertained.  I stocked up on fun ideas (and the materials to do them) before Caleb was born - and I try to do at least one novel activity each day.  Today we broke out the rice bin.  Elise played with the bin for a solid hour!  And then she and Isaac played even more together.  They scooped and measured, poured and stirred.  They filled bowls and played with funnels.  It was a big hit!

Too Cute for Words

I was just changing Caleb's diaper (and chatting with Isaac) and I had to take some more photos of my handsome boy(s)!

A Nice Day in February

During this lovely MILD winter, we had a nice and warm(ish) day so we went on a walk.  Yay for getting out of the house!  It was just a slow stroll near our home (with Caleb bundled up in my arms) - but we still enjoyed it.  When we got home the kids drew with sidewalk chalk on the back patio... while Caleb snoozed in the swing... and I made tortilla pizzas for lunch.  It was a fun and relaxing morning!

You need a closer look of that cutie... don't you?

"Self" portraits

I keep looking down and seeing the most adorable baby boy in my arms!! I am most often the only adult around... but I still want to capture these moments in my heart and mind forever! So... I attempt these "self" portraits. The pictures never turn out quite right (some are quite funny actually!) - but they still make me smile!

What a funny squishy face!

Snow Day!

We've been blessed with a VERY mild winter. But the Monday after Caleb was born we actually had (a little) snow on the ground and my parents were troopers and bundled up the kids to go outside and experience it! Here they are all ready to go:

They made snow angels, threw snowballs, walked in the snow, and even tried to build a snowman. :) They had a blast! Oh - and my dad shoveled the driveway (thanks Dad!). All while Caleb and I stayed nice and warm and dry indoors.

Homeschooled

We decided that when Caleb was born we would try our best to keep everyone healthy by hibernating at home for about 6 weeks. (We did that after Elise was born and it worked out really well for us).  So the first Sunday rolled around and the kids knew that it was Sunday and were sad about missing church. Our fix: Primary at home! The kids had a great time as Jeremy taught them a lesson, we all sang songs, etc... Here are our eager primary kids:

Our plan is to stay away from church (primarily keeping the kids away from the breeding grounds of illness - nursery and Sunbeams) for 6 weeks but still keep things "Sunday-ish" by going to the Independence Visitor's Center, the Liberty Jail, or just for walks around the Kansas City Temple. Jeremy and I will take turns going to Sacrament meeting.

Caleb's First Bath at Home

Well I think the photos tell the story. This was Caleb's first bath at home. My mom (Grandma Mickie) and Jeremy gave him the bath and I took the photos. It was a team effort. :)

Content and calm getting ready for the bath: