LOVE Pinterest

I try to limit the exposure to 15-30 minutes a day or else...let's face it, I could be on it all day. So I usually scan it briefly before bed looking for basic, basic material. Things that make my life easier, simpler, and more creative. Extra bonus: involving things I already do and/or have but in a new, faster, funner way.

I have decided to do this after months of loving the idea of Pinterest but quickly finding it overwhelming with how creative and wonderful one (other women) could be...I would love to do everything if I had the time, energy, interest, and ability. But luckily, I found what works with me and love it. Sometimes I find myself saying, "I'm so glad I got on today...that is just what I needed!"

My favorites recently:

1.) 1 part vinegar, 10 parts water. Wash (swirl) fresh berries-strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries- in it, can rinse(not necessary though, can't taste the vinegar) dry, and store. They last up to 1-2 weeks longer in the refrigerator.
--I found this the day I came home from the grocery store with all the above berries because of amazing sales. And it saved me. I love fresh fruit but it seriously stresses me out sometimes because I feel likes it's a race to finish them before they quickly go bad. The mixture proved to be amazing. I do it every time now.

2.) My spot remover!! I have already dedicated an entire post to it so scroll down if you missed it but seriously....Bryce and I are able to wear whites again.  I love white clothes but let's admit it...life with kids is messy. So recently, I went through all my clothes and found the shirts that have a spot here and a spot there and let's all be honest...those lovely pit areas.

--Bryce wore a WHITE shirt to church on Sunday that he was about to throw out but was revived last week (I'm telling ya..its amazing)...and then Brycen decided to use it as a napkin to wipe his chocolate-y face. Normally, Daddy might've flipped out, slightly scolding Brycen. But instead, he lightly reminded him that we don't use clothes as napkins (something we are positive he will do again) and threw it in the laundry. Brycen and I took the spot out within seconds today (he loves helping and it's really only fair since he put the spot there :)) As well as a brand new outfit Grandma gave him that he got pink ice cream down the entire front of. It even sat a day or so (over Sunday) before we took the spot remover to it and it looks brand new once again.

  

It has made me (us) re-focus on other things in life...mainly just having fun...and less stressed and worried about possibly ruined clothes (for all four of us) because really, no such thing exists anymore.

3). Been spring cleaning. Cream of Tarter and a little water. Brush on. Wipe off. And you have a brand new looking toaster. 

4). Cookie Pan, Aluminum Foil, Bubbles (spread a thin layer on foil) and then blow bubbles.

5). I'm not a creative, crafty person, nor do I necessarily desire to be (I truly admire those that are). Just not my kind of thing. But I found this website on pinterest that had a simple, I mean simple, craft for each letter of the alphabet. It has been wonderful to start a different, little activity to do every day with Brycen while Cian sleeps.

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6). This lovely idea to hang his artwork so it's not all over the house...and I kinda like it as decoration. Simple but something I would've never thought to do. And allows Brycen to view them all week...and only pull down with permission. In our forever home...I will replace the tape with nails.

 

7). Another project I did with Brycen. Great afternoon color activity and snack. Let's face it--we ate a few (or more than a few) and then gave a cute gift to Daddy for St. Patty's Day."You are our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow"....And "Mommy's Leprechaun". :)

 

(I didn't get a picture of the actual one we gave to Daddy before he opened it...so this was a little one we made with the leftovers. We found that there's definitely not the same amount of colors in each bag of M&Ms).

8.) 9.) 10.) Easy, delicious recipes!! I found soo many, that I can't list my favorites. It has helped to change up the daily meals and give me wonderful, easy ideas with almost always using ingredients I already have.

--Simple one, putting one chocolate chip inside of a raspberry. Cute and so yummy. It got Brycen to try raspberries and he will now eat a whole container (without the chocolate) if I let him. Kinda like reversed chocolate dipped strawberries but SO much easier.

What has been your favorite Pinterest find?

5 months old!

Today. We can't believe it. Time has truly flown by. Cian continues to be the perfect baby. Always so happy and easy going. And he LOVES his older brother. Brycen just merely glances his way or gives him a smile, Cian goes crazy. Completely lights up. Both boys have the best laugh.

Remember the highwaters? At his 4 month appointment he was 27 inches tall (that's 7 inches in 4 months). He went from 50%tile for length at his 2 month appointent to 97%tile at his 4 month. His head continues to be around 85%tile and his weight around 30th. Tall and lean like his Mom (someone else's comment :)) with Daddy's head shape and size.

With all that growing, no wonder he has always been a great sleeper!

Happiness through the Winter

Homemade fruit pizza--oh my goodness, enough said.

Weekly FHE. Most recently, on the Creation.

Chore-doers.
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Smiles in wonderful inventions.
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Aerobics at the church. They sit (on me at times) and play. Not necessarily a work out for me, but hey--it gets us out of the house.

Playgroup to the Firestation.

Brycen told the firefighter that he was scared of firemen so in hopes to make him un-scared, Mommy got the lovely task to put on the fireman outfit (thank you Brycen...). Brycen continued to not be a fan and was way more concerned that I was going to leave my shoes behind and run away with the scary boots.

He sure enjoyed the firetruck though.

Cian's idea of keeping an eye on either Mommy or Clifford at all times.
 

Matching Christmas pajamas all year--The only way I may ever get my twins (which is totally fine...).

LOVE for Daddy.

Men in the kitchen....messy business, for sure.
 

Mommy Parlor.

Brycen requested his hair to be cut and happily watched Clifford while I cut it. He even let me use the razor.

Spring has arrived though, as well as a whole different kind of happiness. I'll save that for the next post.

2 going on big.

Daddy opens front door upon returning from work. Brycen, "DADDY! How was work? I missed you! You ready to play with me?" A milli-second later. Daddy still has coat, shoes, and backpack on.  Brycen, "Are you going to play with me or not?

"Mommy, I kept my diaper happy last night". He is fully day potty trained and has been since August but we weren't going to even attempt to conquer the night until Cian is older. I don't need any 3am potty breaks.  BUT he has woken up with a dry diaper for at least a week straight now...maybe longer. I can't remember the last time it was "sad". All without any work on our part. Love when this stuff happens.

Mommy: "Brycen, do you want an apple?"
Brycen: "Um...Sure!"
Mommy: "Brycen, do you want to help me clean the cat box?"
Brycen: "Um...Sure!"
Mommy: "Brycen, do you need to go potty?"
Brycen: "Um...Sure!"
Mommy: "Brycen, is your hair red?"
Brycen: "Um...Sure!"
Mommy: "Brycen, did you eat all your sandwich?"
Brycen: "Um...Sure!"
Half eaten sandwich on table. He LOVES the word sure. And thinks it's the answer for everything.

Mommy: "Brycen, did you wash your hands?"
Brycen: "Um...sure!"
Mommy: "That's a yes or no question". In this case, sure almost always means no.

Mommy comes downstairs fully dressed for church.
Brycen: "Cool shoes, Mom!"

Mommy: "Brycen look what I made you!" Shows him his owl sandwich and grape tree. Pictures to come later.
Brycen: "Wow! Amazing!"

Brycen mumbles something.
Mommy: "What?"
Brycen: Mumbles louder and then adds, "If you don't listen to me next time, you are going to time out!"

His vocabulary is getting quite impressive and he is using new words every day. Including the words and phrases: "Interesting" "Good girl! (to Mommy)" and the question, "Doesn't that sound exciting?"

It brings much laughter into the house and definitely makes us become more aware of the things we say since we hear an echo from our two year old not long after.

And then when what he says doesn't make sense, it's just plain cute.

He was trailing behind at a recent trip at Wal-mart and I turned around to find this. The hat and bottle (we later bought the bottle) didn't belong to us. What a character.
 

Studying His Eyelids

I came out of the kitchen to find this....


.....and he said he wasn't tired.

Highwaters!

4 months old in 6 month old clothes and he still looks like this (in a number of outfits):

People are always commenting how long he is. It makes me very curious to find out where he falls onto the chart at his appointment this Friday. Any guesses?

Twins

Daddy was gone ALL day today...still is. So by dinner, things got interesting.

2 cute kids. 1 mommy. All hungry. So hungry, the food didn't make it to the table. "One bite for you. One bite for you. One bite for me". The one difference between twins and what I got: one of them CAN actually feed himself but likes to make sure I'm not playing favorites by just helping Cian. NO worries though, after two bites, Brycen took the spoon into his own hands and feed himself. Apparently he was hungry. Too hungry to wait two turns for his next bite.

LOVE this picture of Cian. Shows his cute toes and all. Now, getting two kids to sit still for a picture...maybe, one day.  

Spot Remover

So I have got to share this. Got this from a friend who found it on Pinterest. Pinterest. Wonderful in itself.

Here we go:

2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide
1 part Blue Liquid Dawn Soap

Mix together and put over stain. Sprinkle Baking Soda on. Scrub with an old toothbrush or whatever you have. Brycen has loved helping me. Let it sit! I leave it for an hour or more...really whenever I think about it again. When I come back, the spot is almost always gone. If it isn't, I simply re-apply. I have not had a stain that hasn't come out. I then throw it in the washer with all the other clothes.

I think the peroxide and soap mixture works best when made fresh so I just make it as I need it.

Works miracles! I have been getting stains out of baby clothes that Brycen put in there almost 3 years ago. Before trying this, I was about to throw out two onesies that Cian had explosions in last week...and now they seriously look brand new. I am still amazed and have never been so excited to hear the Dryer buzzer go off for CLEAN clothes! Bryce has been hearing my excitement all week. :) And I have loved packing away "brand new" clothes that Cian has grown out of...for any other boys we may have.

I LOVE easy wonderful things. I just couldn't keep it to myself. Happy cleaning!

...And I am kicking myself for not taking before and after pictures. Seriously so excited for this. haha!

FOOD!!

Started rice cereal this week with Cian. I was going to wait until he was 6 months but he had been seriously eyeing our food lately and getting rather opininated that we weren't sharing, so I gave it a shot. He instantly knew what to do and has loved it since. I have been mixing the cereal with a little bit of apple juice in hopes to keep him regular and it has worked like a charm! Went from pooping once a week! to once a day.

He has also found his grip lately (almost overnight) and has started playing with toys and grabbing anything in reach. He has knocked over cups at the table, my toast on the ground, and my lunch into my lap.  I'm apparently a slow learner.