Practice Makes Perfect

If spirit and determination could make baskets this boy would be a high scoring 3 year old.

 

This weekend, he made his 1st basket on a 7.5 foot rim! What might seem like a small victory, apparently left him hungry for more, because he is out there practicing with every ounce of his energy. And the veggies he eats with dislike, he does simply to grow bigger and stronger

(to beat his brother).

He WILL be a force to be reckoned with, whether he is any good or not. I don't think that will stop him.

 

New Look

It's about time for a new blog header for Tripping Over Toys. I have been waiting to take this photo. I didn't want Ryan to be so young that it looked ridiculous for him to be "standing." (It's a shame to hide those legs all winter).

If you haven't fiddled with Blogger's updated Template Designer you should. There are so many options and it's far easier to use. Although I can't get the Template Designer to work in Mozilla. Anyone else have that problem? (now my fonts are showing up-must have been a glitch).

I liked this one too, but only wish our legs had been spaced apart more.

We were taking the shot with a self timer.
You can only imagine the annoyed participants. 

I only had about 5 to choose from :)

Some of the Fun

Ryan has required a lot more attention the past 2 weeks. 

We are all a little tired of his tears and moans.

We've been doing anything we can to get some happy moments.

 Not sure who was having more fun!

 

Somehow Ryan managed to put my baby sling on over his shoulder. Like a beauty queen sash. 

Especially nice with his camo. I have no idea why he started crying. It doesn't take much these days. 

Perhaps he didn't want to be captured wearing girlie colors.

Snow White Part 2

I have seen an occasional smile from Tearful. The other 2 dwarfs did go to school. I got to play interior designer at my parents new house.
The Prince is returning today from a 3 day trip! He is whisking me away to a French American restaurant. The menu looks a bit too fancy, but he got a gift card from work, so we will try it! I will put on makeup for the first time in 5 days :)

There is a Happy Ending!

All Grown Up

As promised, photos of our newly decorated living room. But first, an explanation and some old photos.While I was laying on our old couch for weeks and weeks last winter, I did some reconfiguring in my head. There was nothing wrong with our family room furniture (other than the couch enduring 3 bed rests and 3 newborns). The main problem was the toys. (These first 3 pictures I dug up and were not taken for this purpose). We have another room that is actually much bigger and was just being underused. With 3 boys and all their toys we decided to swap the family room and living room. Have I lost you?

  (old living room before it was painted, a big portion of room was not pictured)

 

(old family room)

Basically we swapped rooms, sold some furniture and bought some new. We love the new use for each room. I have yet to take pictures of the new family room. It's still pretty random with elliptical and china hutch. Very appropriate for a toy room, right?

Apparently being the only female among 4 males has brought out my inner pink. I have never in my life decorated with pink. I normally go with blue or green. I did have some pink flowers in my childhood bedroom but the main color was still blue.

Here is the new living room. I tried to color correct but each photo still looks different.

 

(I did not make the curtains)

Lamps are from Home Goods (love that place!)

this seems the most accurate for couch color

My mom made the matching pillows for my Christmas present. 

She did an awesome job and saved me a bundle.

Here are those grassy letters I made. 

Ignore the top left and right photos.I haven't filled the frames yet.

It's done for now. I am sure I'll find some accessories here and there.

It's lovely having a room without toys. I can curl up and just ignore the messy rooms :)

Here's hoping pink is the new gray :)

Oh and just for laughs. This is what the room looked like when we bought the place.

Ain't No Fairy Tale

Starring:

Snow White 

(because of course I am a princess even when sick 

and I am desperately awaiting my prince's return :)

and her  
3 Dwarfs

(in no particular order and have been seen switching roles without warning)

 Ornery

Cheeky

and Tearful

This movie is not yet rated and has received 0 stars
from the Academy of Stay at Home Mothers.

* 2 actors are well enough to be seen in school tomorrow!

Looking Up

We are all doing much better! It's the fastest flu recoveries I have ever seen and kind of makes me question the test. Anyway, we have all been fever free since last night. Ryan was only up once last night and napped pretty well today. Mason is feeling well enough to be feisty. Owen will probably be that way tomorrow. He may be going to school on Friday. I mean 72 hrs fever free should surely be enough! My breathing is much improved as long as I don't move too quickly. Mom has been here most of today and will go back to work tomorrow afternoon.
Thanks for you kind words, emails, prayers and food offers!

The RunDown

Owen- flu, croup (will miss school for the remainder of the week)
Mason-ear infection
Ryan-flu (although not tested b/c too young for Tamiflu)
Ali-Bronchitis
EJ- tired caretaker

Our kitchen counter looks like a pharmacy!

We are praying that Mason and I had the flu last week b/c if not we will likely get it this week.

Amazing how being trapped in the house for the 2nd week doesn't even phase me :) This time last year I was on my 7th week of bed rest. Now that was hard!

It's Back...

My fever !?!?!
Mason has an ear infection.
UGH!
Going to bed!

Grass Letters

I love topiary trees. The nice ones are sooo expensive. 

For some reason they inspired me to make these. It was so simple.

I think it would be super cute for an Easter craft.

Supplies:

Numbers or Letters (any size or material would work)

(Mine are cardboard from local craft store $2.50 ea)

Moss (mine was "super moss" and it came in a sheet)

$6.99, I know I paid a little extra but it was a lot easier to use

and it covered 2 letters with some leftover

Scissors, marker and glue gun

 

 I tried to keep the seams to a minimum but it really didn't matter. 

The moss was super forgiving and the seams are not noticeable.

I just wrapped the number as if I were wrapping a present with a glue gun.

 

 

 

 

Grand total: $11.99 plus tax for 2 

They added a punch of color and a fun new texture to our room.

Kind of makes me want to play a round of golf

You'll see the whole photo collection in my next post.

Good for a laugh!

The boys were inspired from our movie night.

Friday we watched Rookie of the Year.

I told you my husband is a patient man. This was all his doing!

Hope you had a great weekend!

Celebration Time

Owen's class celebrated 100 school days! He had to present something to his class with 100 items. He scored a 100! (Green and Gold are his school colors) I wish I could have been a fly on the wall. Evidently some students asked him questions. I can only imagine:) He didn't want to be in the pic :(

Faster than a Speeding Bullet

Ryan has been known to break records for speed crawling for 2 reasons:

1. Someone left the bathroom door open.

2. Someone left a piece of paper or an electronic device on the floor.

Of course neither of those ever happen at our house ;)

High Temps

Owen wanted to be outside from the moment he got home. 

Not that I blame him it was gorgeous today. 

Doing his homework

 

love Owen in the background

 

Despite Mason's high temperature he was sweet to endure being outside for a little while, pjs and all.

Oh those chubby cheeks and little lips. Check out those long fingers!

3 Down

2 to go! Don't you love my optimism?

He woke up with fever this morning. Pic taken at 11:15 a.m.

So glad no one thought to take my pic!

Sick

I wish my absence from blogging was because our family was on a nice vacation. We were not. Although I did try to imagine myself laying on a beach to help me forget the pounding headache and 101 temperature. I was unsuccessful. EJ came to my rescue and held down the fort. Thankfully the fever was fairly short lived. After a marathon night of sleep (10 hours) and two short naps today, I am functioning at an almost normal pace. I found myself longing for the beach again today as I did 5 loads of laundry :(
Pray no one else gets it. Ryan has been sick, but thankfully no fever!

10 Months

I am in denial. It can't be happening. He is much to close to 1. I am taking in as much as I can. His smell, his soft skin, his moves, his sounds. His laughter is really too much! I have to record it, I know it won't stay like this forever. He is always on the go. He is so content to wander around. He puts EVERYTHING in his mouth. I will not include a running list of all that I have pulled out of his mouth. No matter how careful I am he finds something.

His naps could be better. Still hoping his afternoon nap gets a little longer. I have a feeling the 2 boys downstairs play a part.

I continue to be surprised every time he eats a green vegetable. Mason refused them. Owen loved them, but that is not freshest in my memory. Ryan actually smiles.

His new love is dancing to music. Something else I need to record. If just the slightest beat comes on he starts shaking. Perhaps more importantly he looks to see if he has an audience. If he does, his moves become a tad fancier :)

These photo shoots are getting harder.

 

 Laying down for photos is no longer a happy time.

 

 

This is more like it.

 

Fish Food

Sweet Treat

Look what arrived in the mail today (we can't buy them locally). A valentine care package from EJ's mom.

It didn't take long for them to tear into them.

Thanks Mim for the package! I won't be buying sweets for a long time!

I should have taken a picture of myself with all the valentine stickers Mason stuck on me.

Ryan kept trying to eat them so I had to take them off.

Sneak Peek

Minus the blur and the Huggies box that is one of our new chairs.

I have taken a major jump from my fav blue color scheme. 

More to come soon. I have been trying to get stuff on the walls first.

Picky Picky

I never in a million years imagined I would participate in a fantastical (just watched "Ramona and Beezus") football draft. Especially not a "faux" football draft with a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old. It was EJ's idea! We didn't actually do anything with our picks. I was a little disappointed! I am sure my team would have been the best :)

Owen's Superbowl prediction

Green Bay 31 Steelers 28

Not too shabby!

Just Because

I could watch him for hours on end!

He LOVES getting around on his own.

He explores all day long.

More Treasures

One more bit about treasures. 

This child carries this box of "treasures" all over the house.

 The treasures of the day.

The items may change from day to day, but he totes it everywhere. It comes up with him for "nap" time. It joins us at the counter during Owen's homework time. Fortunately, it does not go in the car, except when we are traveling over night ;)

It's his way of keeping things all too himself (not in a mean way, more for protection). 

He shares a room with Owen and apart from his bedside table drawer (which holds more treasures) he really doesn't have his own space. And now that Ryan is crawling and getting into everything he can't just walk away and assume things will be where he left them. Somehow he even knows if something is missing. Amazing!

I love it! I don't think this qualifies him for an episode on "Hoarders" so I am not too worried.