Little Devil

This weekend the Chambers' women went shopping as our men attended Priesthood session of General Conference together. At ShopKo I made Creighton try on a bunch of headbands so I could giggle. Look at this little guy:

Don't let that cute face deceive you. Those devil "horns" aren't too far from the truth. He can be VERY mischevious! Mommy decorated for Halloween a week ago and he destroyed all of the decorations. He ripped the pages in the Halloween books, broke Halloween figurines, and was eating the "cobwebs." Of course, I'm really the one at fault-I knew better. So now all of the Halloween decorations are packed away.

But most of the time, I have to admit, he really is a little angel. Often I will find him sitting in his chair in his room reading himself books. So sweet. And he gives mommy great big hugs and lots of kisses.

This weekend was General Conference and I was so looking forward to it because afterwards I feel changed for the better. My attitude seems to be more positive, I feel more loving towards my family and others, and I want to improve and be better-and it feels so easy. I was not disappointed with the messages that were delivered.

Often I will listen to Conference in hopes that a particular question will be answered, or that a worry/burden will be made lighter. This year that was not so-I was not searching for anything imparticular. But I watched and was delighted to be taught many wonderful things and have many moments of personal revelation. 

I have started enjoying Conference differently since becoming a mother. The talks about parenting/motherhood/children are always special to me and even sometimes make me teary-eyed. I love being a mommy! I don't ever forget that, but when Creighton is acting "devilish" it's not the first thing on my mind!

I have been loving weekends now that Cason can be home with us. Sunday nights I sometimes dread starting a new week. Mondays can be difficult-thank goodness for a new season of Dancing With The Stars. But Conference was a nice change in our weekend routine. I am planning on having a great Monday! You too?

We Need To Get Out More

Creighton and I totally need to get out more. Being cooped up in the house makes us go crazy. Look at this little guy:

 He is so bored he is forced to invent new uses for his Lego container.

Ok, so he actually really likes doing THAT. Most anything around our house can be turned into a "hat" for Creighton... But we are looking for "new" things to do. My hairdresser was telling me a few weeks ago how she loves to take her little guy to the library for reading time. I think that sounds like a fabulous idea. In fact, the library is close enough we just might walk there.

Being in my house alot makes me bored with my decor. I want to change it all the time. I think it's also partly genetic, my mom was ALWAYS re-arranging furniture and changing the decor.

I wanted to share the latest creation:

 I really like these vintage widow panes so I have picked up two of them. This one I sanded and did black with a bit of distressing, but what I LOVE is the coffee filter wreath! Yeah, it's a wreath made of coffee filters that I dyed with tea bags. Heard about this, thought I would give it a try, and it turned out a million times better than I imagined!

So as I was sitting at my kitchen table, for over an hour creating this wreath, that's when I started thinking, "We need to get out more." So I think tomorrow we're heading to the library to check out the children's story time schedule. Honestly, their aren't too many options here in Pocatello. I've even considered signing him up for the Kids Klub at my gym and letting him play with other little kids while I work out.

The hard time of the day for Creighton and mommy is from about 5-7. Cason is at work, Creighton's been up from a nap for a little while, I have mostly accomplished all that I want to for the day (or what I can while Creighton is not sleeping), and little guy is starting to get bored with his own "stuff".

I am going to put some real effort into changing up our schedule and doing some more fun and different things.

Happy Birthday Katie Jo

Yesterday was my birthday! I love my birthday. Birthdays are SO special-and Cason and Creighton helped me to have a fabulous day yesterday! Only 24? I feel like I should be a few years older... Husband brought me home these GORGEOUS flowers. I am one of those girls who loves flowers-even though they might be dead in a week, they make me SO happy!

 In other news: Those blessings I said I had been praying for (previous post) have happened! Cason was just told yesterday that he will be moving from graveyard shift back to swing shift with SUNDAY AND SATURDAY OFF! Yay! It will be great for his calling and great for our family. I'm glad that we have been able to see the good things in his graveyard shift, and he is actually a little sad to leave it, but overall we are pleased and very excited for the change in his work. It is for the best.

And because of the change he has the next 4 DAYS OFF! Oh, what shall we do with our time off? Perhaps a little of this...

Lots of lounging. We seem to be pretty good at that around here. Of course, only AFTER we finish our chores! Cason and I mulched the front yard a few days ago. 44 bags of mulch it took! But it is GORGEOUS! And it will really help to cut back on the weeds. We laid down some of that landscape covering first to ensure minimal future weeding. 

We are going to enjoy our weekend together and we hope that you have a great one too!

Back-to-School and Such

Back-to-school. Fantastic. This year I am excited for it. Summertime is full of get-togethers, parties, lots of playing, and tons of being lazy. That's all great for a while-but I am ready to get back into a routine. Not that I'm going back-to-school... Thank goodness that ship has sailed and I am now in a different season of life. But I will have a more regular work schedule and (hopefully) so will Cason. He has been working some less than ideal shifts at work and is trying online classes this semester through ISU. Back-to-school is also exciting because Autumn is coming quickly. I have decided it is my favorite time of the year. I love the cool weather, the fall colors, and all the decorating! In fact I usually am all decorated for fall by mid-September. I have discovered a new scentsy-Pumpkin Marshmallow. It has already been burning for weeks. 

I found this fun back-to-school treat at one of my favorite websites. Some people are too clever for their own good. I wish I had thought of this on my own. I did make these to take to some of  my favorite back-to-schoolers. They were fun to make! They are pretzels dipped in colored chocolate with a paper wrapper.

 Having a dog has been "interesting"... She is NOT potty-trained yet. In fact she seems to be getting worse. She is terribly confused about where to go. Her and Creighton are true best friends. One minute they are fighting and the next they are loving on each other. Callie likes to take a bath with Creighton! Not every night-just twice so far.

 Creighton has taken an interest in music! He has discovered different kitchen utensils make different noises and he has started entertaining us with his muscial abilities. He is also loving books more and more and likes to be read to. If he gets bored, he will let you know and turn to a page he likes better.

Creighton's definition of "NO" is: do it much faster, then take the object/thing to mom and dad and smile really big. He is then very willing to "put it away" where he found it. Then retrieve something else he's not supposed to have. Oh the joys of an 18 month old.

Creighton has FINALLY begun to say MOMMA.

Creighton goes to Grandpa Dennis' house twice a week while mommy works and plays HARD. He loves Grandpa Dennis. They eat snacks, put bowls on their heads as hats, play with legos, go to the park, and LAUGH. They have a wonderful time together and most of the time Creighton is sad to leave.

 Today Creighton went to Nursery for the FIRST time! He got a new suit for the occasion and looked VERY handsome. For the most part he really enjoyed it. I was more sad to leave him than I thought that I would be. But it was nice for me to go to Primary, and Cason to Elder's Quorom, and not have to worry about chasing him down and keeping him quiet. 18 months is a hard age for church. And church is during nap time. What a big boy! I am glad he will get some interaction with kids his own age-a lot of the time it is just him and mommy.

Summer was fun. But the heat wave Pocatello has been experiencing has not been. Cason went a week ago and bought himself a "fancy" fan so he would be cooler. Really? A week before September? But it HAS been crazy hot the last 2 weeks.

No matter what the season-we always have a great time being together!

Meet Our Puppy

Cason had a dog named, Red. He talks about Red a lot. You'd think he had Red for 15 years. No-just a few. Cason has such fond memories of his dog, Red, and has been wanting to get a dog for Creighton.

Yesterday when I came home from work, Cason said that him and Creighton had gone to the pet store and saw a cute dog they wanted to show me. So we went to the pet store... At first I didn't really like what I saw. But when they brought her out for us to hold, Creighton snuggled her and she kissed him. I just melted and said, "We'll take her!" I am surprised I was so willing to bring her home. She meets very little of the criteria I was hoping for.

Her name is Callie. Why? Just because I liked it-and that's a GREAT reason! She is a lab/huskey mix. So yes-she will get to be a nice size. She is 2 months old- yesterday was her birthday!

Creighton likes when she is in her kennel because he sits in front of it and barks at her. (Or yips... remember?) He also likes to stick his finger through the holes and tease her. Uh-oh...

When she is out they have a good time too. She likes to go in Creighton's room and snuggle in his blankets and his oversized dog, Grits. Creighton likes to show Callie ALL of his toys AND how they work. Last night every single toy in Creighton's room was going.

Creighton doesn't mind when she jumps on him and licks him, but NOT when he is sitting. He shed quite a few tears this morning in the back yard. Callie really likes being outside. I am glad. She will probably be there a lot.

(Creighton trying to put her collar on.)

Yes, I realize that having a 2 month old dog is just like having another baby. (Almost.) This morning I woke up at 4:00 am to a whiney dog and a crying baby. Ugh... I have said "potty" SO SO SO many times today. It is for sure the most frequent word in my vocabulary. I will ensure she is potty-trained soon. Then I will add dog trainer to my mommy resume. I cleaned up 4 accidents in a 12 hour period. Maybe it will help Creighton learn more about going "potty"?

Well, this morning was a little frustrating, but I have now almost forgotten about it. We love having Callie around. I especially love watching Creighton and her together. She loves to follow Creighton around and lay in his room and watch him play. And today when he woke up from his nap he yelled "dog, dog, dog" and ran to her kennel.

I am sure you will be seeing and hearing about Creighton's new BFF frequently. We are glad to have this new addition to our family!

Blast From The Past

Last night Creighton was sick. Throw-up sick. Yuck. I have many memories of being throw-up sick as a child. (This post is not for those with a weak stomach) I could never quite make it to the toilet on time, mom changed my sheets, got me comfortable, then the next day only Saltines and Sprite, and the smell seemed to linger forever... Having a sick tummy is one of the worst things.

Poor Creighton. After his bath and a fresh set of pajamas he seemed to feel great and we laid him back down to sleep. But he woke up every hour from 12:00 am - 4:00 am just screaming. It was difficult to console him. His face looked so pained. I'm sure he didn't even know what he wanted, or what would make him comfortable. I was reminded of 16 months ago...

Creighton started sleeping through the night at 2 months, so I really didn't spend too many sleepless nights up with him. But those were some frustrating times. Most of the time though he wasn't upset-he just wanted to play, not sleep. My mother-in-law once told me that being awake in the middle of the night with her children is some of her most treasured memories. Not sure if I feel the same way... (I'm a girl that LOVES sleep) but it sure is nice when they fall asleep and you hold them peacefully for a few minutes. And then lay them in the crib and then tip-toe out like any noise will cause the end of the world...

(Creighton at 2 months old. Sleeping.)

Consequently, Creighton and I missed church this morning. I am grateful that today is the Sabbath, a day of rest. Today that sounds especially meaningful and welcome. We are lucky that Cason can spend this afternoon home with us instead of at work. (He is going to grill us up some chicken and mango skewers!)Hopefully today will rejuvenate us and tomorrow we can start the week off right. Creighton and I just hate for our schedule to be messed up!