Valentine's and painting crafts

I've missed my blog. 

I always feel I don't have anything cool to write or anything to show.

These two babies keep me pretty busy.

Don't mind the iphone pictures...

this is our Valentine's day. Adam and I got to celebrate on Wednesday together. 

We aren't much of V-day people so grandma (and grandpa) bringing the cake was very exciting!

Thayne had to get frosting everywhere. He smeared it all over his little face and even put some on my nose. I made him this "big dada" heart on his tummy. 

The kids are growing up too fast. I have tried my hardest to enjoy the moments while I can.

Life gets chaotic but in all honesty I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love crafting but lately I have been decluttering and minimizing. 

Crafting=clutter + lots of I-might-need-that-for-something-I-saw-on-pinterest's. 

But I have to create. So I struck a compromise with myself. What if I do crafts that I already sort of have? Or get rid of ones I don't want anymore to finally make room for new ideas?

I'm doing it! 

I have taken pictures of our apartment but I keep changing it. 

For now this is my latest craft.

Painting! I need to be better at before and after pictures. Because my fridge looked ridiculous. Its amazing what frames can do. I will probably change it up again but for now this is what it looks like.

I saw this on pinterest and thought it was so cool I have Adam's schedule (I have to have it up I can't ever remember when his classes and labs are). I also decided I am in love with this blue right now so I brought it through out the living area.

Thayne and I painted this star and Lindsey helped me make the paint chip calender. I am in the process of moving these especially the calender so I will use it more because I decluttered and now that isn't my "command center" anymore. 

I also (with the help of Lindsey :) ) did this pinterest find. I love being able to display all my bracelets and necklaces. I want to make it more orderly I'll probably get rid of more things too. 

It's just two thrifted china plates and a candlestick holder. I don't even have it glued together :)

So for now I am trying to live a simplier life I read a great decluttering book, Clutterfree with Kids:Change your Thinking 

You can find it here on Amazon.

Every time I picked it up I had to quickly put it down because I wanted to get rid of things. It gave me some great momentum. Right now my goal is to get my kitchen minimized. What do I really need? If you think minimalism isn't for families this book will definitely change your mind. If you think minimalism is crazy this will change your mind. If you are scared to try it this will give you some strength. Our whole fam has some new friends (shout out to Taffee!). They are teaching us so much about simplier living and a clutter free life. They have 3 1/2 babies!!! and live in an apartment!!! I don't think I will ever be able to get rid of as much stuff as them however this book helped me realize that needs are an individual thing. And that I can choose my own level of minimalism if you will. 

So far I have gotten rid of toys lots and lots of toys and guess what? Thayne my 2 1/2 year old plays with toys better. He also reads more books BY HIMSELF. He and Joslyn both still have a ton of toys but getting rid of toys is actually much harder than I thought. 

I will have to tell you more about my journey in simplifying my life. I feel like I finally have some real momentum I don't want my stuff to own me. 

Happy New Year!

I started off this year thinking, "wow January is a big month".

Then I got thinking about everything that will be happening this year and decided that this

is going to be a BIG year!

Thayne will turn 2, Adam finds out if he gets into vet school (and hopefully starts this year), 

Garett returns home from a mission, Lauren graduates high school and hopefully comes to school

at Utah State. 

Along with the big events are small events each month Thayne and I are working on

him sleeping in his big boy bed...

Naps he is doing great! But night time well he just doesn't want to go to sleep. I read something about 

18month old sleep regression. Anyone else experienced an outta wack toddler?

I did set new year resolutions but they are pretty personal. I'm already in a habit of exercising, I am always trying to eat better... ok so maybe I had a tiny bit of cream cheese brownie for breakfast. It was a rough night last night.

This year I am trying to do better at setting monthly and weekly goals. I call it my "What I want to accomplish this week... month... list"

So far so good. It helps me survive stressful times. 

I have to tell you about a failed craft...

Here lies a great 18 month old snow suit. Problem? 

Its pink. Thayne is a boy and I want all our snow gear navy so its easy to match and goes both ways. We recieved it from some very kind souls who 

claim they are done having children. I thought I could just dye it. (I dye my own hair why not right?)

My mum tried to warn me saying it could turn purple. I figured it was just light enough that it probably wont... guess what?!?!?

It's very purple. I tried the navy blue dye and this is the result. I then tried a black dye that made it even darker purple. Needless to say I have given up and given in and bought Thayne a navy snow suit. If you see this one at your DI you know what happened. 

As far as Us... Adam is amazing at handling stress and luckily its rubbed off on me a little bit.

He has his interview for vet school Jan 22. 

We are both learning that student loans are harder to obtain than we thought. (bills are coming!)

Adam has to retake a class but USU doesn't offer it this semester so he has to take it online.

Taking him from 12 credits to 16. 

He stays calm through it all. Which helps me stay calm. 

It might sound crazy but I know that we are doing what the Lord wants so it will all work out. 

It might be super hard, but it will work out.