I MADE something!

I've been itching to try some woodworking for YEARS.  The stars finally aligned, since we're not moving anymore, plus I had an actual, functional need for the home.  I REALLY wanted a forward facing bookshelf for the boys' room.  I was so sick of regular shelves, with all the tipping and slipping, and kids only being able to see the spines (which mean nothing to 2 year olds)!  This way they can see the fronts & get interested, grab them themselves, and PUT THEM AWAY themselves.  I'm SO HAPPY with how it turned out.  I don't think I have all the right tools to keep up the hobby right now, but it's nice to know I could make something turn out according to the plans, and not just wreck $30 of lumber while experimenting! :)

It has already made a difference in just a single day.  Hunter will go grab books so much more often, since he sees the fronts & they spark his interest.  This investment is making me VERY happy!  If you're interested in making your own, these are the plans I used:

http://ana-white.com/2011/10/book-or-magazine-ladder-shelf

Christmas: Part 2

After the fabulous time we had at Joe's side of the family in Oshkosh, we headed down to West Bend to be with my side.  Here's Hunter with his awesome Uncle Zach!

Sawyer with his Uncle Mike & Aunt Jenny

The cash register is a HIT.  He wouldn't even open other presents for a looooong time!

We all met at my cousin Deb's house for a big family gathering.  Needless to say, once they saw the pinball machine, they didn't do anything else.  Hunter was actually really good at it- he understood it & had a great time playing!

Checkers with Uncle Mike.

Lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with youuuuuuu!  But there was no snow in Wisconsin, so it was a horse-drawn wagon ride.  Still cool. :)  My boys with my oldest brother, J.P.

Hibachi for dinner!  My parents had never been to one, so it was fun. :)

Sawyer isn't scared of Jackson at ALL.  Love that he's not too sissy of a city kid yet.  ;) 

Uncle Mike & Hunter visiting Dusty, the pony.  He is soooooo fuzzy in the winter, it's hilarious!

COWBOYS!!!  Thanks for the ride, Grandma!

Merry Little Christmas

We had an awesome time at the Kindt Family Christmas in Oshkosh.  We opened gifts Christmas Eve together, since Christmas morning was church and we didn't want to work around it (either everyone getting up insanely early, or making poor kids wait until after church).  It actually worked out really well:  everyone looks nice in the pictures, and no one's complaining about being hungry for breakfast, since we just finished a big dinner. :)

Sawyer's been asking for his own scriptures for a few months.  They were even the very first thing on his Christmas wish list.  He's such a good boy!  We got him his own scriptures, with a case, and a marking pencil set.  He's super proud to have his own!

"Thank you, Grandma!"  Kristen got him a battery powered Thomas for his wooden train tracks.  His only other battery powered train broke a few months ago.

Hunter loooooooves his soccer jammies that I sewed for all three boys.  He wouldn't even let me take them off for going on the airplane home.  He screams like crazy when they have to come off just for a diaper change.  He has now had them on for nearly three straight days (aside from the airplane, we've only been home anyway, so there's been no reason to fight it)! :)

Grandkids on Christmas morning (except for brand new baby Rosie)!  Sawyer (5), Hunter (2), Jared (2) and Lincoln (1).  Hunter was in a very odd mood the entire trip, where he acted super sad whenever any attention was brought to him.  It coincided with being sick & recovering, too, so it was probably some of each.

Santa still filled our stockings Christmas morning, even though we'd already opened gifts the night before!

Sawyer with his first girl cousin, baby Rosie!  She was only one month old.