One fine week.

This week was just one of those nice weeks where nothing particularly  exciting happened but every day was just nice. I cleaned out my sewing closet and the boy's toy closet (I threw away a ton of stuff!!!!).

I made the most beautiful bundt cake.

Library story hour started again this week and Brady had fun making a snow man!

This chunky monkey had a bath EVEY DAY because he got so filthy every time he ate food. He didn't mind because he loves his baths so much though.

Brady got a new sweater from Grandma Judy and he looked so handsome at church. On a side note, he also wore a belt for the first time today and had to show everyone he came in contact with. I think he felt grown up.

He knows he looks good.

Finally, we finished our week with waffles on Sunday. We have waffles every Sunday after church and today was no different. Who doesn't love waffles?

 Even Hudson loves waffles.

Photo Blocks

I really like making presents for Christmas. Maybe it is the golden rule mentality and because I like getting homemade gifts, I assume others do too? Anyway, one of my favorite projects was making photo block puzzles for all of my siblings and siblings in law.


Start with four 2"X2" blocks. I got mine in a pack from Hobby Lobby for about $2.50 (I used a 40% off coupon on all of them).

Print six 3 3/4"X3 3/4" pictures of the people you want to put on your blocks. I just printed mine on the computer. Then, using a ruler draw lines on the back so you can cut the pictures into four perfect squares. 

Sand your cubes lightly to get rid of any little splinters. Then you can paint them or leave them plain. I made a lot of these and one set I decided to leave plain wood and the rest I painted. I did some with white paint and some with black. If I did these again in the future, I would do them all white because I think those sets looked the best.

Place your pictures on your cubes making sure to have all the pieces lined up so they come together in the middle and have about an 1/8th of an inch around the edge. Put a light layer of Modge Podge on the cubes then place your pictures on them. 

Smooth out the air bubbles (THOSE DARN AIR BUBBLES!!!!!) and then do a light layer of Modge Podge on top of the pictures.

THIS IS IMPORTANT!
I don't like the streaky look when you paint Modge Podge on so after I paint it on, I go back and dab with a sponge brush all over so it has more of a canvas look.

Look closely and you can see the speckled look of the Modge Podge while it is wet.

Once one side is dry to the touch, randomly rotate all your cubes and then start again! Once all six sides are done you have a cute puzzle that you can rotate around to see a different picture every day (well...for six days, then you have to start over).

Definitely one of my favorite projects! I think I made 10 of these!

Theme for 2017

My mother-in-law has inspired me in many ways in the eight years I have known her. Last year she picked a theme for herself (hope) and it became her focus for the whole year. She has picked a new theme for 2017 (joy) and I decided to follow her lead and pick one for myself as well.

My theme for 2017 is "Cease to be idle".
Based on the scripture D&C 88:124

Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

I have been thinking this over since we got back from our Christmas vacation and I feel like all the changes I want to make in my life this year can be boiled down to "ceasing to be idle". I want to be a better mom this year and I feel like the best way I can do this is by not wasting the time I have with the boys on things that aren't important (pinterest...). 

I also really want to become more physically fit this year and I think choosing to take time to exercise each day is going to help me feel better overall.

Despite so many depressing things in the news and the normal challenges of life, I truly think that 2017 is going to be a wonderful year. I can see the amount of time I have left with all my kids as little kids slipping away and I am feeling a strong feeling to not waste this precious time. Don't get me wrong, I am really looking forward to having older kids and teenagers but there is something special about this time when all my kids are little. This is a precious time in their life and mine and I don't want to waste it. 

Speaking of little kids... guess who turned 8 months on May 2nd?

I just want to freeze time for a little bit. I know that when all my kids are grown and out of the house I am going to look back on the days when I had these little boys and my house was always messy and I sometimes didn't get sleep and I am going to cry because I miss these days so much.

CHRISTMAS BREAK TOP TEN!

Fullerton had Christmas break from Dec. 22nd to January 4th (Ike had to report on the 3rd) and we made good use of that break! We hit the road right after school on the 22nd and got back to Nebraska on the evening of the 22nd. We started in New Hampshire and ended in Ohio. We got to see both sides of the family and had great weather. It was an all around an amazing trip! So here is my top ten list of things I loved about this Christmas trip. But actually this list is in no particular order because EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING!!!

#10 The Car Ride

I know, almost fifty hours in a car with three kids doesn't sound like most people's wildest dream but I thought it was awesome. The boys were all great. I actually had time to cross stitch. Ike drove almost the whole way. It was pretty great.

#2 Grandma Carr's Stockings

I barely had time to cross stitch a tiny portrait for my sister during the last six months but somehow, my Mother-in-law managed to cross stitch a new stocking for all of us coming for Christmas. She is amazing!

This fireplace. Holy Cow.

#3 Visiting My Grandma McMahon

My Grandma McMahon is in a nursing home in Vermont so on our way to Ohio, we took a little detour to see her. It was wonderful. She held Hudson and it was by far the most excited she was during our visit. 

 

#4 Meeting the Fiancés

My sister Katherine has been engaged for over a month now but Ike's brother Adam got engaged on Christmas day! I love both of my soon to be family members! And theres nothing I love more than a wedding and this summer I get to go to two!

                                                                     Look at those cuties!

 #5 Actually Being With My Mom On Her Birthday

I can't remember the last time I was actually with my mom on her birthday. It was awesome! 

# 6 New Year's Eve

We all went to my sister Jessica's house for New Year's Eve and despite an Ohio State tragedy and Jackson vomiting all over himself, it was still a really fun time! 

#7  Date Night with my Lovee!
Ike and I took advantage of my parent's good will and snuck out for a date by ourselves! We saw Rogue One and got some dinner alone! It was kind of amazing.

#8 The Game!
Ike, his brothers and his dad got to go to the Patriots game on Christmas Eve. It was an awesome experience for everyone. Ike's dad got to go to a game with a son in his 30s, in his 20s and in his teens.  Meanwhile, the ladies at home, spent hours baking cookies and having a good time of our own.

#9 Visiting Abigail and Jeremy
While we were in Ohio, we took a little trip over to Kentucky to visit Ike's sister and her adorable family!

 #10 The Magic at Grandma and Grandpa Carr's
 The Carr house really is magic at Christmas. It was so wonderful. We all had on our Christmas PJs, we did all the Christmas traditions Ike has been telling me about for the past eight years, and we all even made it through the Moose in the Hoose without falling asleep (it took 60 minutes to read!!!!). I don't know if it was the candy cane juice, the new bathrobes or all the Christmas cookies I ate but this Christmas Eve made me feel like a kid again.

 Look at those handsome men in their robes!

 The ladies don't look too bad either!

 Honestly, I should have made this my top 20 because now that I am done I still have a bunch of things I want to include! But this post is long enough. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!