Dating made easy and a fun craft idea

Creativity! Oh how I've missed you in my life for the past few years. 

Now that I am a graduated Lady, my long list of projects I have been wanting to do around the house is finally getting started. I have had all these ideas, but when I had school it was merely impossible to get any them started or completed. BUT.. now that I'm a stay-at-home momma.... 

My creative juices are beginning to emerge once again. Hoorah.

This first project I gave as a Stocking gift to Daniel this past Christmas. It's a date Jar filled with dates to do throughout the year. I haven't finished but I am going to color coordinate the paper with summer and winter dates. I found some creative date ideas from Dating Divas, my dear sister-in-law Makana, and even came up with a few on my own.

 Some date ideas are
1. Have each person design and make a boat out of things around the house. Then, take them to a river/stream and race them.

2. Walk to a local bakery or cupcake shop. There is something about walking to a bakery with someone you care about…maybe because I am obsessed with food? If you do not live next to a bakery then surprise your sweetheart by parking a few blocks away and packing a back pack with a blanket, games, fun drinks... If you go to a cupcake shop make sure you get a few varieties and share them.



3. Thrifty Trends Date Idea- Live it up! Buy a new game, movie, book, or sporting equipment that you could use on your date all for under $10. Visit a local thrift store (yes, they may stink) and pick up some new activities. We have done this a few times and continue to benefit from our cheap purchases. It is a great way to save money and Live it up! :)

4. Living Room Camp-Out- Get anything you have that makes you feel like your camping out and set it up in your living room (i.e. camping chairs, turn off the lights and use flashlights, blanket…). Make tin foil dinners in your oven for the dinner. Search the internet for unique tin foil dinner recipes.
 


This project I did before Calvin was born, but I never finished it until a few days ago. As most of you all know, one of Daniel's most favorite thing in the whole world is golfing, well besides Me and Calvin, of course. SO... I came up with this grand idea to assemble a Golf themed room for Mister Calvin.  I had some ugly maroonish brown colored frames that I painted blue.. however, the blue was way too bright and tacky looking, so I painted them an off white color and sanded it down for the blue to bleed through. Before I painted the frames, I hot glued golf balls inside the frames and spelled Calvin's name on the golf balls... and Voila

 That pig in the background was given to Calvin by Grandpa and Grandma Kunze.

Christmas Gift from Dear Lexi

 We were so impressed with Lexi's gift and loved every part of it.  I don't know if she knew that both Daniel and I love quotes but it was a genius idea. We like to put quotes in a place where we can see it everyday. Lexi made us this fridge quote board and made all of these darling magnets. 

 She made us a hot plate that has China, Brazil and Ukraine on it.

 They are perfect since daniel just broke one of our hot pads.

This gift is absolutely astounding, I love it so much because she decorated each letter pertaining to either mine or daniel's hobbies. i love the word Gratitude because it will be a constant reminder for our family to express Gratitude to one other as well as remember how much the Lord blesses us every single day. It also reminds me of how each of us has many gifts and talents that we shouldn't take for granted.

She Even carved a few letters herself because there was none at the store.  Pretty darn talented miss Lexi is. I tried blowing up the picture so it would show how cute and amazing each letter is but it still doesn't come close to the real thing.

Thanks Lexi!!

Blessing

 Calvin had his baby blessing on New Years Day (for those of you weren't able to attend) and got to share this special occasion with his cousin Lucy (Matt & Asher's little girl). Here they are together, posing for the camera looking like little married babes. They look like siblings, Calvin just has a bigger head. 

Calvin's darling little outfit was given to us by our lovely and sweet friend Brenda Wright (Ella's mom) she sure spoiled Calvin with lots of clothes.

 This past weekend we got to enjoy a fun evening with mom/dad and Shelby/Brandon at the Brian Regan Comedy show. I laughed so much and so hard that my jaw got so sore I couldn't take it any longer. On the ride home we laughed even more because we would retell the jokes... Throughout the week things would remind me of his jokes and I would start busting up. So it has been a very happy laughy week.

I sure Love to laugh, loud and long and clear. Thanks mom and dad for taking us.

 I love candid photos....

update on the little man

Calvin went for his 2 month appointment the other day (although he's almost 3 months) and got his shots. I hate shots it just breaks my heart to see him so happy then in 2 seconds crying and crying 'mom why did you let them do that??' He was a tough boy and he is his happy self again. So when he was born he weighed 6.5 lbs but now he's a whopping 12.5 lbs he has doubled in weight! He's getting to be a chunk but according to the percentiles he's only 38th... there must be some big 'o babies out there.
Here are some fun pictures of him that shows a little of his personality.. some are older pics but i gotta show off this handsome babe of mine.
                                               Riding his pet horsey Silver (used to be dans horse)      

     Right after his bath

    

lounging out in his vibrator chair-loves his chair

Meeting His great-grandpa Manzel  

JD look alike in this one

  

Mom the model and Calvin with the big belly       

Chillin with cousin Lucy

              

                 oh so full from eating

loves cousin daxton

Daddy reading him Llama mama book    

  

  His First Christmas

This video clip cracks me up... daniel is blowing in his face and its like he's gasping for air.