Game on!

 

 

This is the awesome game table Chris has made for us. We kept getting frustrated because Chris and I couldn't play our games without having to pick it up unfinished or stay up late to play because we needed the use of our dining room table. This is the solution he came up with. It allows us to play two games at once or do a puzzle and a game.

There are is a bottom, felt-lined table top as well as the top piece. you can see the top pieces being stored underneath.

this is what it looks like without the top pieces on.

This is us testing it out with the game Ticket to Ride.

We love it! We are hoping to market them somehow!

Mother's day 2013

This year mother's day was interesting.  Aaron started not feeling well yesterday,  and this morning was worse. He was tired and a just not himself for most of the day-although we still had fun. For starters I got to sleep in a bit thanks to chris! Then we played games all morning and had donuts for breakfast. Then I got to take nice, long, hot shower which I don't do often. While i was doing that the boys picked up and vacuumed the downstairs.  However, in the middle of all that the vacuum just died. Chris took it apart to try to fix my it, but it was to no avail. At least I have a backup for now. Around lunch time we went to a new pizza place suggested by one of my friends. It was fantastic!  Following lunch we went to barnes and Noble where Aaron got a newset of books since he's really progressing well, and alex got the second book  in the hatchet series. Going to have to get him a kindle or nook. Especially since you can check books on the library via those devices for free! Then we came home, the boys rode bikes for a bit while I fnished  my sewing project.  For not sewing since 7th grade I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. We ended the evening with a little tv and bedtime stories. Now chris and I are going to eat chuys and play a board game followed by star trek or antiques road show. Happy mothers day all!

Busy but fun weekend

We had a busy weekend this weekend and we didn't do any traveling. On Saturday Alex had two soccer games to finish out the season. He played great, but he was worn out! My mother in law was able to come see Alex his very last game, and the boys got to hang out with her which they love. We also found Aaron the next size up in bikes at a yard sale since he's out grown his other one. So that's all he wanted to do! He loves riding his bike and scooter.

Sunday morning we all just hung out, played games, and read books. Alex was excited to get his hands on diary of a wimpy kid #6 via Chris's Kindle. He made it half way through before we made him go outside for a bit. Then we were off to a birthday party for a teammate of Alex's at a place called main event in Austin. Alex got to go bowling and we all got to play a bunch of different arcade type games. Alex and I battled it out in air hockey (I won), and aaron had fun shooting stuff.

After we finally left there (3 hours later), we went to Barnes and Noble. The kids had been exceptional all week (and weekend) so we told them we'd get them a book. Aaron has been starting to read (Thank you scrabble cheez-it's) so we specifically wanted to get him some beginner books. We did and he's doing amazingly well for being 3.5. I have a few videos on my Facebook Page if you haven't seen them. I'll try to up load them to my you tube Page too. Alex picked out the book Hatchet. He got four chapters in before bed tonight and said, "this book is awesome!"

On the way home, the boys had some chocolate. We weren't paying attention and Aaron took off his entire wrapper. His hands were COVERED in chocolate. Thankfully he's a great listener and got all cleaned up without with out touching anything. We finally got home about six, got the boys jammified, got them in bed, and now we're ready to hit the hay already! The laundry can wait for another day we're going to watch antiques roadshow!

Family youtube channel

Below is a link to YouTube channel we created when we first moved to Texas. I though you all might be interested in it. I haven't uploaded anything a while, but plan to start doing so again when I can. Please bear with me as life with three young boys is always interesting to say the least.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/texasyarnells?feature=watch

Quick snippet about my latest project

This is my latest project. This is actually for Alex's teacher for teacher appreciate week which isn't for another couple of weeks, but I went ahead and made it up as I didn't want to forget (and I was excited to do it). Alex said he didn't think she was allergic to peanuts so here's to hoping : ) I wish I had more people to make these for as they are fun to do. Maybe I'll find reasons to make these up, lol. I didn't have the correct ribbon so I will have to get that next time though. Alex and Chris both thought it was awesome.

It's almost May?!?!?!

Where has April gone? It seems like time is flying bye. We're almost at the 5th month of the year. Alex has a little over a month left in school.  Crazy.  I keep trying to slow it down to no avail so I try to enjoy it as much as possible. Alex has been enjoying soccer and has been improving.  He can't decide if he wants to play soccer or football in the fall. My vote is soccer because it's not as much of a commitment, but if he really wants to we'll support it. Aaron is as hilarious and curious as ever.  We are considering putting him in part time preschool soon.  I don't really want to, but think he'd probably love it and it'd be good for him. Then there's elliott. He's still as chubby as ever and is really close to rolling all the way over.  I also think he's teething as he puts everything in his mouth. He thinks his brothers are awesome and they love him a lot. It's going to be interesting once he becomes mobile.

2 blogs

I've come to realize that I wanted a better way to categorized my blogs than what this site offers. Therefore, I have started another blog with word press.  HOWEVER, I will still use this blog for quick, non specific posts. With word press I will be able to break up my posts more specifically-there will now be categories for each of boys, house updates, extended versions of the fun stuff we do, as well as ones for Chris and myself. Don't worry, I will still post the link to Facebook for everyone. 

Been busy around here

     So Chris and I blocked out the entire month is April to stay around home and work on house projects as well as take it easy. Last Saturday was quite relaxing with a soccer game in the morning, but that was pretty much it. The two older boys got to play the entire day (together with us and with friends), and we got to spend some time with just Elliott. Sunday brought more play time and relaxing.
     The week has flown by since then- tomorrow is already Thursday. Today was a very productive day for me. I made some bug spray (water and vanilla extract), some ant bait (borax, sugar, and water), and cleaned up one of the beds in the back as well as getting some of the flowers planted. The picture below is a panorama view so that's why it might look a bit odd. I still have space for a few more flowers there (and might move the white one as it was the only one that "came with the house." Aaron and Alex helped me with the planting process which they enjoyed. Elliott watched us the whole time while chilling in his exersaucer.
     I also got the front windows cleaned off so Aaron and I could once again use his window markers. He loves drawing with them and asked if he could spell a word. He wanted to write his name. I showed him how to write the r and n then he did it on his own. The rest he did completely on his own. He even said the, "o is so easy" when writing it.
     I have more to say, but that'll have to wait until another day as I'm tired and going to try to catch some zzzz's. Night all.
     

Projects, bills, and kids

I started a painting project today; however, between paying bills, having an infant and toddler at home, playing outside, and other daily things I didn't get it all the way finished. Yet I'm pleased with how far I got.  I know it might seem like much, but to me it was a lot. We are planning on doing the game room Mario themed and so I have been browsing pinterest for ideas to go along with my own. I found on there where someone had taken their doors and painted them as warp pipes. I thought this was a great idea so that's what I've done (see picture below). Eventually I'll get a wall sticker of the piranha plant instead of the printed picture, but you get the idea.  Aaron helped me paint some which was adorable. He loves to do it! I'm excited to finish it and unleash my creative side on this room-it's been a while so I need to dust that side off. I'll attempt to keep this updated with progress as I go. Hope you all enjoy!

Beautiful days and fun outside

It's once again a beautiful day and Aaron has taken all riding toys for a spin. For living in town we couldn't have been blessed with a more perfect place. We're at the end of a cul-de-sac and our cross street is a road with cul-de-sac's on both ends. There are lots of trees so it's nice and shady thus playing in the driveway works well.
     Move forward to this afternoon, the clouds cleared up, the sun came out, and it got warm..... had to have the air on in the car.  Glad to have all those trees!

Highlights of a nice weekend

     We had a nice time this past weekend.  We were able to get some much needed work done around the house (the yard finally got mowed and the piles of laundry got done). On Saturday, Alex scored three goals at his soccer game; it was his best game yet. We played outside most of the day  as it was great weather again. That night my Aunt Kim stopped by on her way into Austin.  We spent several hours taking and enjoying each others company before taking her to her hotel.
    On Sunday Chris and I got to sleep until 8 am which was good since we were up late the night before. The boys were excited to spike their hair for church (it helps the both have great hair). Sunday afternoon Aaron and I went to a local garden center where he helped me pick out a hanging basket and some small flowers to plant in a pot. He was so excited and wanted to buy every pink flower he saw. Also, over the course of the weekend Alex read two entire Diary of the Wimpy Kid books. He has found a love of reading that he shares with his parents.

Crazy 8 and chicken

Today I had plans to finish the rearranging I'd started yesterday, but Aaron came up to me after lunch with the deck of crazy 8's and asked if I could play a game with him. Well one game turned into about 20, and then we played several rounds of a game called Hiss. You build snakes by matching colors. When you complete a snake (head, body, tail) it's yours. You win by getting the most snakes. Below is a picture of Aaron with one of his snakes.  Then we went to chick fil a for lunch since Aaron had been good all week. That's his favorite place because he loves their chicks (their chicken nuggets). They also offer a fruit cup which he devours as well. After that it was time to get Alex from school. It ended up being a fun day, and the housework will be there tomorrow.

Spock eyebrow and teething

Elliott came out of the womb with an eyebrow that sticks up. We've deemed it the spock eyebrow which has earned him the nickname Spock. No amount of trying to make it go down has been effective; even after a bath. It makes me laugh often. It'll be interesting to see how it grows. Also, he's been putting anything he can grab in his mouth so perhaps some teeth soon.....But given Chris's history who knows (for those of you who don't know he didn't have any teeth until after he was one).

We do stuff a lot

It's been mentioned a time or two that we do a lot of stuff and go lots of places.  This is true, and I tell people that we do boring things I just don't post about them, haha. Really, though, we just make it a priority-to get out, travel and see the world. Chris and I didn't travel much growing up, and because of that, it's something we want our boys to experience. Furthermore,  we have a blast doing it. One of our goals is to take the boys to all 50 states.  "How do you do it with three young boys," we get asked often. My response goes something like me this: "well,  when Alex was an I'm infant I did a lot of six hour(one way) trips to iowa. One time he screamed for an hour straight even though he was feed and clean. After that trip he was fine and has always been a great traveler. Aaron has not a good traveler. However,  thanks to repetition, getting older, and great conversations/electronic devices he is improving greatly. Elliott hasn't been bad so far.  The 10 at once drive to Missouri tested his limits,  but I can't blame him. " luckily,  our boys don't get cat sick so that has helped too.  However, when we go places, we neglect things at home such as fixing/remodeling the house.  Although,  we've made one of our goals this year to paint two rooms in the house, and we're half way to that goal :)
     So,  in conclusion,  as I begin to expound upon all these outings we do perhaps the questions of how and why are answered. I hope you all enjoy the glimpses into our lives.  Anyone is welcome to join us anytime:)

Non sleeping infant and trains

That cute baby below has been a non sleeping infant since last week.  He hardly sleeps for more than 30 minutes at a time during the day, and wakes up many times during the night now instead of just one. Maybe he's growing? He also won't fall asleep. He now usually is upset for a time before finally falling to sleep, but only if sweet Caroline is playing. He's been incredibly vocal the last couple of days and tries hard to sit up from a laying position. It makes it very hard to do much of anything, but at least I get cute baby smiles out of it.

On a separate note, Aaron loves trains- especially these dinosaur train ones.  I'm glad he make believe plays with them. He's got quite the imagination, and since I've been working with Elliott a lot lately it's good he can entertain himself.

Lizard friends

This is one of the many lizard friends have living in our shed and garage.  We like having then around to help eat the bugs. However,  I have occasionally run one over.....whoops. When Aaron saw this one today he said, "look, this lizard isn't dead! You didn't run over him!" So this one lives another day.

First post of (hopefully) many to come

So I've finally got the whole bog thing set up. I'm going to do my best to keep up with it, but with three young boys I make no promises. :) I discovered I can download my blogging app for my phone which will be very helpful.

I hope everyone had a good Easter.  We spent two days in Dallas going to the aquarium and science center. It was fun; hopefully I'll post more on that later.  We spent a relaxing easter Sunday bike riding and playing games together.

We played a new board game called Black Sheep that I had gotten in clearance at Target. It ended up being a little advanced and long for Aaron so he and I ended up on a team. He was excited because we creamed Alex and Chris. We love playing board games together and this was no exception.

Also, I had to make a run to the store because we were out of milk and a few other things. Our local HEB and target were closed (which I thought was awesome for the employees), but made my only option walmart and it was a MAD HOUSE.  Lesson learned for next year.

Well I hope you all have enjoyed this first albeit brief post.

Until next time, enjoy your day.