A Gift for #4

The boys are getting pretty excited about meeting Baby #4. I'm not sure if its the actual meeting of the baby or the fact that we get to take a "ferry boat" across to Spain in order to meet #4. Either way teaching them to be patient requires some creativity. So I decided they could help me make a gift that we could put together and give to #4.

I saw online ways to use egg cartons to make fancy little mobiles for babies. I thought the boys would like all the painting and putting together, but I didn't want it too complicated so I adjusted as I could. It was definitely a lesson in just going with it since they're so little and couldn't make things as perfectly as I might have. They did great and loved getting to help.

I started with left over egg cartons and cut them into individual squares. Then we set up the paints and the boys got to painting. 

 

I loved watching the boys paint. They were so serious and wanted it to look nice. They didn't really know what I was up to, but they were having fun. Check out the awesome tablecloth. It makes the pictures a bit hard to see, but I think it rocks. Sorry, couldn't resist.

The next day after the egg cartons had dried we used thumb tacks to poke holes in the top of each carton.

After the holes were poked I put a piece of yarn through each and attached a little bead so it wouldn't pull back through. 

Then I hung each carton from a hanger I had cut and painted. Sorry I forgot to take pictures, I'm not an official craft blogger you know :-) Once each one was hung from the hanger we had a mobile ready to hang above #4's bed. The boys tested it out and liked it so much I might make three more for each of them! 

Poor William wanted to participate so badly, but the proximity of craft table and couch was too great a risk. Maybe in a few years he can jump into our craft times.

Gardening & Other News

Lately I've been thinking in bullet points, as you can see by this post.

**We have a little garden on our roof. Little meaning, two tomato plants, a few herbs and various flower type things that grow well without water. I wanted to do more, but well I haven't always had the greenest thumb. I am feeling pretty inspired now though since I grew this:

**Auntie arrived from America. She's been with us now a week and we love having her. Not only is she a huge help with the kiddos, but they love her and love to spend time with her. She's already taught William the important skill of closed mouth kisses, instead of the previously super wet kisses we were receiving. I for one am grateful, wet kisses get old after a while.


**William has been taking up some light reading.

**Auntie also brought us the wii. We had left it back in the states and then decided it might be nice to have it. Now we're set for the month of Ramadan. Woo-Hoo!

**Only a month and a few days until we meet Baby #4. Everything is getting set in place. Just need to do a bit of blood work and finish all the random projects I've started. Hopefully I'll be able to show you some of them soon.

**Not much else happening in these parts. Just enjoying the summer and having volunteer teams. Any ideas for names for Baby #4? We've thrown a few around, but haven't landed anywhere specific, plus we love suggestions :-)

Life

Sometimes it is easy to get beat down by the poop explosions, the constant bickering, the never ending discipline and general "uhgs" of life. I've been having my moments recently, moments where I am completely exhausted and annoyed with how things are. So, I took some time this morning and went back over the past few months to remind myself of the joys, blessings and wonderful moments of my life. I looked through pictures and chose a few that remind me to be thankful. Not all encompassing by any means, and some totally random, but good ones that help me to change my attitude and praise the Lord.

  

Sometimes I just need to practice the discipline of being thankful and renew my joy. 

My life is truly blessed.