Let Your Children Play

-I found this quote and I had to share it with everyone because I believe so strongly that this quote is true.-

When I am building in the block room, please don't say I'm "just playing". For you see, I'm learning as I play, about balance and shapes. Who knows, I may be an architect someday.

When I'm getting all dressed up, setting the table, caring for the babies, don't get the idea I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play; I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay, please don't let me hear you say, "He is just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm expressing myself and being creative. I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me sitting in a chair "reading" to an imaginary audience, please don't laugh and think I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs, or packing my pockets with choice things I find, don't pass it off as "just play". For you see, I'm learning as I play. I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle or some "plaything" at my school, please don't feel the time is wasted in "play". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to solve problems and concentrate. I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods, please don't think that because I enjoy it, it is "just play". I'm learning to follow direction and see differences. I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body, please don't say I'm "just playing". For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning how my body works. I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you ask me what I've done at school today, and I say, "I just played", please don't misunderstand me. For you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to enjoy and be successful in my work. I'm preparing for tomorrow. Today, I am a child and my work is play.

~Anita Wadley

Andrew at 11 months

Our big boy is almost a year old already! I can't believe how time flys. I wish there was some way to slow it down. Oh well, maybe in the next life. lol So here are Andrew's 11month pictures. I hope you enjoy them. He is almost walking; he walks along furniture and with the car walker we have. Give it a few weeks and he will be running along side Isaac. Oh crap, then I won't know what to do. HELP!!

Family Project

Hey family! Austin and I have decided that we really enjoy doing projects together and actually finish them. Our most recent project was the rocking chair that is in our boys room. I got inspired by Sereen's chair which is so adorable by the way. So here is what it looked liked before we reupholstered it.
Austin's job was to stain the whole chair a dark cherry color that took at least 3 coats and about a week and a half because when he originally started a rain storm came and we had to cover it with tarp for a week. The cooler weather made it take forever to fully dry but he eventually finished it.
Then my job was to pick the new material and sew a new cover. We also wanted to add some padding to the foam because it was so old that we could feel the wires when we sat down. Adding padding made it a lot more difficult to use the original fabric as a pattern, so that will explain why the back pad looks a little off. I also wanted to sew lines down the middle of the pad but my sewing machine is not that heavy duty and Austin said it looked fine. What do you think?

Finished Product

I am so glad we chose this color because to our surprise it matched the crib perfectly! Our next project will be to stain the book case this same color. Then we will have a matching set that didn't cost 200+.

Isaac's 2nd Birthday

Sorry this post is 3 months late. I have been busy and distracted. Hope you still enjoy them though. Oh and thanks Sereen for taking all of these. I wouldn't have any of these pictures if it weren't for you!

Birthday Boy

We had a pinata party for Isaac and it was actually a hit, literally. lol All the kids got a chance at it and then all the adults. The pinata was pretty strong. It took several of us adults to even get the candy out. Isaac did well at it too, he has a pretty solid swing.

Isaac's face when he saw the candy fall!

The party had a pretty good turn out.

This face looks like the one a year ago for his first birthday. A blank stare at all of us singing to him. That was so funny. At least this year he ate his cake with a fork instead of using no hands like before.

So this train cake didn't turn out like I imagined in my head, but we didn't exactly freeze it long enough or put enough food coloring in it. Oh well, it tasted amazing, everyone was commenting on the frosting. Thanks Tammy!

Before the blowing. Great picture Sereen.

During this past summer Austin grew out his facial hair and I thought he looking smashingly handsome. Andrew was also fascinated by it and always had to be touching it. It was especially funny when Austin was in the middle of talking and Andrew's hand reached up and started grabbing at his face.

I am not a huge fan of this picture but Austin said it was funny so I had to put it on.Andrew basically got a birthday party in his mouth that day too. His daddy gave him a lollipop for the first time and he want crazy for it.

Crafts During Sept and Oct

So I have become a pinterest addict. If you don't know what that is don't let me tell you because it will consume your every spare moment. lol Just ask Austin. The only good thing that has come from it are fun craft ideas that have kept Isaac and Andrew entertained. This first picture is of Isaac playing with bubbles in a plastic bowl. I gave him a straw and dyed the bubbles red and let him have at it.
Doesn't he look so cute in big boy underwear! Anyways, here Isaac is marble painting. You just take a bin, line the bottom with paper and drop paint in it. Then let him shake the bin around with the marble in it. He really enjoyed it, he asks for marble paint several times a week.

This activity was so cheap!!!! I just filled a bowl with water and gave him a paint brush. Water painting is affordable and fun!

Here is an activity that really challenged Issac. I put a spaghetti noodle into his play dough sticking up. Then I had him thread the cheerios threw the noodles. His fine motor skills were really challenged. He was getting frustrated at first but then after a few attempts he started getting it and really enjoyed it.
This activity was just a spur of the moment. I was trying to clean the kitchen and both boys were wanting my attention. I was looking through our pantry when I saw this old bag of dried peas I got from WIC. I put the peas into two different bowls and gave the boys measuring cups. This activity has probably been my most successful because both boys were entertained for about an hour for several days. It was so nice. Yes, a pain to clean up but so worth the time I had to myself. lol

BrOtHeRs

Here are the boys on a Sunday walk. It is starting to get colder now here in Utah but I love how cute the boys look all bundle up and everything.

Isaac loves to give Andrew lots of hugs, so much that Andrew usually starts complaining about it.

Pizza Night! Our little family got pizza a few weeks back and we decided to eat in a circle on floor. It was so fun. The boys love pizza and Isaac really enjoyed feeding Andrew. They sure were messy afterwards.

PJ Party! Every Mon, Wed, Fri I get to watch my best friend Ashley's little boy Rigdon. This picture if what they look like for the whole morning. The boys love to make Rigdon laugh, every morning they gather around him and say his name and laugh until Rigdon starts laughing. It's really sweet to watch.
My Boys! I love them so much. Soon Andrew will be using a sippy cup as well. They are getting so big but at least they still like to cuddle with us.

Here are some pictures of the boys during our family shoot.