an activity a day keeps the boredom away

Since we've been back from our month-long vacation...sitting around the house isn't nearly as exciting as it was when we were surrounded by grandmas and grandpas, aunties and uncles and cousins galore!

It's just the two of us (C+Me) most of the day so I've been trying to make a big effort in getting C outside for a few hours as well as doing an activity at home each day :)

I did some searching and compiled a huuuuuge list of activities that should last us at least through the winter (message me if you'd like it. It's in spreadsheet form. I'm a huge nerd.) I'll be posting our favorites each week (at least that's the plan. I'm kind of a flakey blogger ;)

Here's what we did today...

Fan Fort!!

You need...

-a fan (or two in our case because they were so tiny)

-a duvet cover (or two flat sheets with three sides fastened together with duct tape, clothes pins, etc.)

-favorite books, toys, pillows and other fun things

Lay your duvet cover on a flat, comfy surface. Toss all of your fun things into the "fort". Place your fan at the opening of the fort (this should go without saying but make sure your duvet does not cover the back of the fan). Carefully snuggle your babe and yourself into the fort. Turn on the fan and have fun!

C had a BLAST!! We were in there for a couple hours just reading, doing puzzles, having tickle fights, playing with dinos, and taking a little power nap.

What are some fun things you're doing with your kiddos this summer??

ode to love day

Valentine's day is just around the corner! Here are some of the things we've done so far to celebrate...

T.P. roll heart stamped cards...
This was SO fun! C figured out how to stamp the hearts all by himself and made 7 cards before he was ready to move onto something else (I'd say that's pretty good for a one-year-old).

Here's what you need...

  

Here's how you do it... 

So it's pretty self-explanatory but just take your t.p. roll and pinch the top in a line all the way down the roll. Then directly parallel, pinch the bottom out all the way down the roll and it should make the heart shape. Then just dip, stamp, repeat!

 

 

**I highly recommend you use non-toxic, washable paint**

Clearly C had a taste or two of the paint.

My gorge mama friend, Jen, over at delightfuldeets.com made these cute v-day cards using heart shaped cookie cutters!

Valentine's photo shoot...
My lovely friend Sasha over at moiology.com helped me take some cute valentine's pics of C.
We're planning on sending them out (with C's heart cards) to some of our far-away-fam for v-day.

(They still need to be edited, but here are a few of my favorites)

Sugar Cookies baked with love...
We made a couple of goodie bags for our sweet neighbors that shoveled the snow off our driveway and porch TWO days in a row.
They included chocolates, cocoa mix, and these delicious sugar cookies!

Leave a comment or a link and let us know how you're celebrating love day!

Here are some other super cute ideas I found on pinterest that I'd like to try someday...

*52 Things I Love About You *Heart Strings *Love Notes for the Kiddos

Elder Norris

My brother is in the MTC.

The Big 1 9

This little kid...

...is 19 years old today! And just days away from reporting to his mission!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BRO!!!!

We are so so proud of you and can't believe how much you've grown! Hope you have a wonderful birthday bash! I love you so much :) Can't wait to see you!!!!

Dear ol' Dad

Who's birthday is it today? Oh you know...just

THE BEST DAD IN THE WORLD!!!

Happy birthday dad! Can't wait to see you next week! I love you so so much. Thanks for being such an amazing strength and example to me and our family :) I love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER!

My little sister is 15 years old!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?

I cannot believe this...

Dan, are you sure you're not turning 12? That sounds better to me :)

Happy Birthday Beautiful!!

We love you so so much <3

Called to Serve!

My cute little bro bro has been called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! He will serve in the Idaho Boise Mission and report to the Provo MTC on March 30, 2011. We are SO thrilled and very proud of him :) His farewell will be held at 11:00a on March 20, 2011 at the Peachland building in Newhall, CA.

Love you C.j.!!!!

Birthday Weekend!

My Birthday was SO eventful this year!

I woke up bright and early for work and Brandon had breakfast waiting for me downstairs along with...Paint stuff for my craft room!!! I was SO excited! So after work we ordered my favorite Chinese take-out and got to work on my room.
Then of Friday night (about 1am) I got a call from my cute cousin Dom (the damsel in distress) She said she was locked out of her apartment and needed a place to sleep so I got out of bed and waited for her to get to our house. When she arrived, a 6'6'' birthday surprise followed her in....MY BROTHER!!!!!! I was SOOOO excited!! We stayed up for a few more hours and chatted the night away.
THEN on Saturday night, we went to the APX Nitro Circus show. FUN!!
I took work off on Monday to hang out with my bro bro. His flight came WAY too fast! It was off to California for him and back to work for me. It was an AWESOME birthday! Thanks handsome hubby for making my birthday amazing! Thanks mom and dad, Cj, Dan, and Am for my birthday surprise, cards and presents! And thank you everyone else!!! LOVE YOU!

Here are some pics from the weekend..

Happy Birthday Sister!

Today is my BEAUTIFUL, talented, BRILLIANT, generous, SWEETHEART sisters 13th BIRTHDAY!!!!

We love you Amber! Hope you have the greatest birthday ever! We wish we were home to celebrate with you. You are in are hearts and prayers always. We love you tons and tons hot buns!

<3>

4th of July Fun!

So we haven't hooked up our internet yet ( I know, super lame) so I'm a little behind on posts!

We spent our 4th of July with the Rowe family! It was so much. We went to the block party/BBQ and then went to Stadium of Fire to see fireworks aaaand Carrie Underwood!! It was such an awesome show! Even Brandon enjoyed it haha. I'm pretty sure his favorite part of the show was when the fireworks misfired, hit a guy in the crowd and he caught on fire!
Sad news...I forgot my camera at home and my phone died on the way to show so I didn't get to take any pictures. BUT thanks to April Hamm, we have a few from the show!

Waiting for the show to start!

Tribute to the Boy Scouts of America

Sunset behind the stadium.

So this post is kind of boring BUT July has been a crazy month for us so I'll have more posts soon! Loooove you!