recycle much?

I'm getting crafty!
These are a few fun things I've made lately in an effort to
reuse more of what I already have, and throw away a little less.

Cereal organizer
We go through cereal fast in our home so I started making use of all the empty boxes and turning them into desktop organizers. I use the large 18oz Cheerios boxes because they are big enough to hold folders and larger items. Just use scissors to cut box and wrap it with any decorative paper. Secure the paper with adhesive or tape, and voila!


(left) Baby food jars are great for storing little things like buttons and other odds and ends.
(right) got this idea from another blog called Blissfully Domestic. You take your empty peanut butter containers, drill a small hole in top and side, thread ribbon through the holes and secure with a knot. You won't lose the lid and you have a cute way to store things like crayons, toys, and other small miscellaneous items.

(left) Formula Can: I fancied up this formula can with a hot glue gun and ribbon. It sits under my sink housing my extra scrubbies, sponges, and paint brushes.
(right) This sailboat was made out of the formula can's lid. You simply cut some decorative paper into a right triangle, punch three holes in the side, feed a straw through the holes, and attach the sail to the lid with playdoh. It really floats and is a fun project for kids to make and then play with.

The possibilities are endless!

Minneapolis

I know I've been MIA for a week but here is why...

We decided on Sunday that we were gonna head up to Minneapolis for a few days, seen as how Isaak had through Tuesday off (thanks to Veteran's Day), and we had nothing else going on to keep us home. (we didn't actually decide on Sunday that we were leaving Sunday, we planned this a few more days in advance-we're not that spontaneous).

(Minneapolis, MN)

The drive up was a breeze, it took a little under six hours which is really not bad for a little weekend trip. And I just have to note that gas is crazy cheap right now! It hasn't been this low since our first year in Calirfornia- I was so excited I had to take a picture at the gas station while we filled up (in Iowa we saw it as low as $1.77)

We stayed right across the street from the Mall of America, which was super convenient, but we didn't realize until night fell, and we were lying in bed, that we were also right next to an airport (not so convenient). It was kind of hard to miss with all the planes flying over head all night long. (just for the record, I'm well aware that I live on a Air Force base and we have planes flying everywhere all the time-but for some reason this was much louder and more annoying).
Moving on....

The Mall of America was insane. I have to say that it was actually too big for me, and Isaak. I know, how can a mall be too big! Crazy right? This one was. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely fun for a visit, but I wouldn't be able to handle it if that was the only mall in my area to go to and I had to do all my shopping there. We mosied around there for a bit on Sunday evening, took Sydaleigh on the carousel ride in the amusement park (an actual amusement park in the center of the mall-like I said, the place was just huge), and then we ate dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe. They even have an aquarium inside the mall too, but we figured why waste money paying to see fish when we can eat at the Rain Forest Cafe and look at them for free (watching the fish were free-eating there was definitely not). We spoiled ourselves and got their biggest dessert called The Sparkling Volcano.

$13-and worth every penny!

(bad picture sorry-I actually had to google for a picture b/c I didn't have my camera with me,or so I thought, it turned out it was just stuffed in the bottom of my bag)

We went back on Monday morning right when the mall opened and took Sydaleigh on a bunch more rides. Some kind hearted woman walked right up to us and gave us a free wristband for the day to get on all the rides for free. (the amusement park ain't cheap-so that was really such an unexpected blessing!) And since it was Monday it was completely empty and we didn't have to do any waiting for the rides. Saweeet.

the Nickelodean theme park


Lego land
(dinosaurs actually made out of legos)

carousel and school bus ride....

the train that Sydaleigh rode all by herself....
(we were the only people on all the rides that morning with the
exception of the car one to follow)

ya think it's going to be a nice little kiddie ride-and then all of a sudden they start wippin' you around-we had a ball though....

...and last but not least came the log ride (Isaak's idea -which is why he went down with Sydaleigh)....

getting in,waving from the top

going down
(I was so mad b/c I took the picture a split second too early and I only got the top of the log)
luckily-the ride had a camera and took a picture for me
(only cost $10!)
not sure if that is fear or exhilaration


back at the hotel we swam...


and then watched a movie and ate popcorn in cool popcorn containers

.....stopped to see some historical sites...

The Stone Arch Bridge
(built in 1883, a former railroad bridge and the only stone arch bridge to be built across the Mississippi River)

ruins of the Gold Medal Flour mill

we just happen to stumble upon a national cemetery while we were driving back to the hotel Monday night so we stopped and paid tribute on Tuesday (Veteran's Day) before we left

I've never been to a National Cemetery before, but it was absolutely amazing, the marble stone heads went on forever, as far as the eye could see in every direction, men and woman who served our country in all the wars dating back to WWI

Isaak wanted to find just one soldier who had served in Iraq

....amazingly, in the sea of white he actually found one,
a kid just a few months younger than Isaak...

very humbling, and great way to end our trip.

and then on the way home (on the way to MN too) we drove past all these cool wind turbines. I'd never seen one except in pictures-these too went on as far as the eye could see in places in Iowa-they are massive and really spectacular to look at.
(this was the best picture I could get going 80mph and through the rainy window)
they really are a sight though

The trip was great-it's always nice to come home, but we're gonna try to head back in the summer, when it's warmer, and see a bit more.

Paper or plastic?

Not sure how it got this bad -but I figured it was time to clean out under my sink before the plastic bags started taking over the rest of the house.

Why do I keep these?

Feelin' good

Who said exercise has to be work?

It was bone chillingly cold this morning so instead of being held hostage by the wind and cold weather I went to the gym with some friends and all eight of our kids and we had- a ball!

Our gym on base has an indoor playground but we had more fun playing basketball and running around the soccer field like a bunch of lunatics.

I've been so slack with exercising regularly since Marvelly was born-but I'm gonna get back on track. With all the fun we had today who wouldn't want to work out more?!

Better play in them before they're gone

The sticker says it all

Today was a historical day for me too-I voted for the very first time.
I couldn't help feeling extremely patriotic standing in line, waiting to cast my ballot, knowing that no matter the outcome tonight, I did my part. I'm exercising a right that people fought so dearly for- before there was ever a 'me'. This is the first time since I've been legally able to vote, that I've actually cared about voting. Not because of the candidates. But because of me. I know who I am now, what I care about, what direction I want to see the country I live in and love take. I know what's important to me. I didn't have a clue at 18. I liked knowing that today I was voting for more than just the next president. I was voting for my states next senator and representatives. People forget that part. They forget there is more on the ballot. In the long run, I care more about who is sitting in Congress than I do who is sitting in the Oval Office.
A president is only part of the equation. But no matter the outcome, I stand by my votes. I did my part and I'm proud of me today and everyone else who did the same.

She's a quick one

It takes a split second for a child's cereal to go from here.....

....to here

(if you ask me that little tiny hole on the computer was just asking
to have cherrios stuffed in it)

Farting around

I realized today that Sunday is our day.
Our day to relax, spend time together-just fart around.
I used to think that Saturday was our day.
But that never happens.
Whenever Saturday rolls around we are thrilled the weekend is here, but because of this or that don't ever really get to settle into the day.
So our Saturday is Sunday.
So far we got to sleep in, kind of, due to day light savings, have a pleasant time at church, make cupcakes, nap (Isaak anyway), do a bit of cleaning, we're going to get ice cream when the girls wake up (which is a Sunday tradition of sorts round here), hang the paintings, play outside as it is in the 70's today, deliver cupcakes to friends, go to Isaak's hockey game, watch the Wings play ( oh yeah!)-pretty much just fart around; do whatever we want.
I love Sundays.
I love farting around with my family.
(I love using the word 'fart' right now to describe doing things) :)

New bedtime routine perhaps

Tell me.
tell me tell me tell me....

What is the point of putting my baby to bed first, and then putting my toddler to bed, when my toddler is just going to throw a tantrum and wake up my already asleep baby?

Hmmm.

No point.

All it means is I have to stay up later to put the baby to bed again-after she had already been asleep.

No fun.

Not a big fan of these nights.