Baby Blanket

Being that this is baby number three and that we already have so many boy things, we don't really need much of anything. But I wanted this little man to feel special all wrapped up in something that Mama made. Plus I have decided that the nursery will be "outdoors" themed with grey and navy. Super simple, and clean! 

So I bought the fabric to make a baby quilt. I never know how much fabric to buy and always end up with WAY too much. So this time around we went with 1/4 yrd per color and It was still too much! I honestly could have gotten two regular sized baby quilts out of this! I also wanted to try self binding the blanket which was fun but I shouldn't have done my first attempt with minky.

Even with pinning literally every 1/2" it still stretched. Such a pain in the bootie!

But in the end I am happy with it. It is warm and snuggly and best of all it's pretty big which is super nice especially at the stage Duke and E are in and their "baby" blankets no longer cover thier toes at night because they are so tall.

I had left over fabric so I decided to make a little lap quilt for the car seat. I was super happy with the grey but then I went to a different Jo-Ann's and found the navy minky and I love it SO. MUCH. MORE! It just adds a richness to the blanket. 

All in all it was a fun and super quick project. It took about 36 hours from start to finish for both quilts. Not to shabby. Can't wait to wrap our little man up in them!

Our Little Sunbeam!

 Duke Manfred is officially in SUNBEAMS!!! I can hardly believe that we no longer have any little ones in nursery (for now.) Duke was super excited to go to Sunbeams and he sat with his class well. His first week in Sunbeams Duke was asked to give a talk. I literally laughed out loud when I saw the assignment. While his vocabulary has grown leaps and bounds, I still thought a talk was a bit out of reach. But we decided to give it a shot. He stood up there while I whispered in his ear. I was trying to get him to say "Jesus gave us agency" but he just stared at me, eye brows furrowed, not having it. 45 seconds passed and I asked him if he could say Amen. He said it quietly. I pointed to the microphone and he shouted "AMEN!"

While this may seem like no big deal, for Duke this was huge. He stood up in front of people and did his thing and I couldn't have been more proud of him! 

Welcome to Sunbeams little man! Now time please slow down!

Smiles

I really haven't shared much about this pregnancy via this blog. We are currently 26 weeks along and I feel fabulous! I have some back pain due to little man sitting on my nerves which is uncomfortable but nothing major. This past week I was able to go for our anatomy ultrasound. I {love} ultrasounds and this one was no exception. They just make everything so real! Our little man (yes, still a man) was super active and flirtatious. He was sucking on his hands and toes and wiggling around like crazy. Hands down my favorite moment was catching his little smile! I mean how often does that happen?? He has pudgy little lips and I already love him so much! We are so excited for this little man to make his arrival and flip our worlds upside down.

Snow Days

E is 100% Canadian. She loves the cold. She is always saying she's too hot, even if it's -9°F. Once it snowed, she could hardly wait to get her gear on and head out the door to play!

Or in her case eat.

 After nap time she was ready for round 2! This time we added a few layers. I would like to say thank you to Oma for sending us all of E's winter gear from the great white north! They just do not make jackets the same way in KC! 

 Snow is more fun with friends!

 The next day we were happy to see that the snow had stayed. Emery had come over to play and so we got everyone dressed up and sent them outside. Good thing Duke isn't a fan of the cold, Emery wore all of his gear! Can you see their "snow castle" they built by E's feet?

BFF's

These are the days! This girl is so bright and silly and her love for the snow is contagious! I'm so glad we got to have a few snow days this year!

New Years Resolutions

 It's that time of year again. I know that you can resolve to start a change at anytime, it doesn't have to wait until the New Year, but I really like to take this time, once the rush of the holidays are over, to  take a minute to see what and where I want to improve. So here you have it, my goals for the year of 2017. 

1. Less Time on my Phone- I have realized that I am on my phone A LOT. It's funny how you go to check a text and then you realize somehow you have lost 20 minutes and have accomplished absolutely nothing. So I have decided to put my phone away. I now check in for 10 minutes while I get motivated to get out of bed. A 10 minute peek at lunch time and then before bed. Yes, I still answer texts, and Google the occasional thing but for the most part my phone is somewhere not so easily accessible. I have also decided to only have two days a week where I talk on the phone. I was finding that in my search for adult conversation (which is fine) I was ignoring my children, who really do need me. So now I am only permitted to talk on the phone twice a week and I have found that since I made this goal that I actually talk even less than that, or keep my conversations shorter.

Since I have started putting this into practice I find that I am way more productive! It's actually amazing! I have seen an improvement in communication with the kids and generally we are happier. 

Jakob and I have also committed to one day a week where we are totally unplugged (we chose Saturday). No phones, no shows for the adults or kids, no nothing. We are allowed to Skype and Google if necessary but our phones go into the cupboard and we are 100% focused on projects, playing with the kids and each other. Let me tell you.... GAME CHANGER!!! Daddy time is sacred and we need to capitalize on it more. 

2. More One on One Time with the Kids - This is a no brainer. I am a to-do person. I usually have a list that I want to get accomplished and if I don't, I get annoyed. Because of this I was putting my kids on the back burner. Them being in school for 2 1/2 hours four days a week really helps me be able to get what I need to done in the morning and then be able to focus on them more in the afternoon. But I need to still work at taking the time to play Barbies, or make that craft with E, or build train tracks or work on words with Duke. Time is flying and I find myself wondering why I didn't enjoy each stage more while I had it. 

To accomplish this goal I want to spend at least 20 minutes PLAYING with my children 100% focused on them. Not folding laundry beside them, or planning out dinner but actually engaged in what they are doing. I want them to know that their Mama is here and wants to be with them. This doesn't mean that they will get me all the time. They need to learn to play independently too but I want to say yes more. 

3. Improve my Relationship with the Savior - Seriously, I just so suck at this. While I have a testimony and I know the church is true and I love this gospel, if you asked me if I knew my Savior I would have to say no. I put literally zero effort into my spiritual self, and I know that is horrible. As I have thought about my Dad and how much I long to talk to him I do think about my Heavenly Father and how much he must long to talk to me. How I have essentially forgotten about him because I am just too tired, or too lazy and really shouldn't this be my first priority? So I am resolving to become more in tune. 

How may you ask? By starting to say prayers. Yup that's right I rarely pray aside from the quick prayers with the children, and while I know that is a good thing to do, I want to start saying prayers and not just the same thing over and over... but something heartfelt. As if I were talking to my Dad. What would I tell him? I should expand this to scripture study as well, but currently... I'm starting with prayers. 

4. Take More Time for Jakob and I - This is another hard thing. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for Jakob's company. We have been able to go on so many wonderful dates just the two of us because they provide ticket to symphonies, galas and sporting events. And this has made such a difference, however at the end of the day we are tired, and just want "me" time, which isn't bad. But I want us to have more "us" time. Not big things, just little ones. I get so lost in the children and the schedules and the business of life that sometimes I forget him. So I want to work on that this year, which will be difficult with a new baby. One small thing I would like to do is to talk before we go to bed. Not long, drawn out conversations but just to chat, touch base, see what each other needs and communicate better. 

5. Finish projects & De-clutter - Back in November, I decided that I had WAY too much clutter in my life. I had a huge pile of things to finish, a list of things I wanted to start and a home that was just feeling full. So I decided to clear everything out. I went through my pile of things to finish and decided if it was something that I was really into anymore and if it wasn't.... it was gone. I can't tell you how refreshing that was. Then I started working on things that I have had piled up for years (if I still wanted them) and got it done. I'm not saying that I finished everything, but I made a huge dent and I continue to work on things when I have a spare minute. 

 My house was also feeling bogged down. I felt like the space we had wasn't being used to it's full potential because we just had SO MUCH! So I have been going through the house, room by room, and if we don't need it, don't use it, or it's had a good life and can be passed on.... I let it go. I got rid of so many toys, old clothes that I've had since I was 12, clothes that the kids just don't wear or need, and fluff. It has been amazing how much stuff I have gotten rid of and how good it feels. Once you start it's actually rather addicting! So I would like to continue the theme of "Let It Go & Get It Done!"

6. Focus on my Health - I know I am pregnant, and I know I am supposed to gain weight, and I also know that this is baby #3, BUT there is a difference between gaining weight in a healthy and unhealthy way. Once we got home from the holidays I had gained 10 lbs in two weeks!! I just couldn't stop eating and while I obviously still need to eat because I am growing a tiny human I can eat healthier. For the last two weeks I have tried really hard to limit my intake of sugar and carbs and to replace those things with fruits, veggies and protein. I am making healthy meals every evening and trying to have smaller meals throughout the day. I am not looking to diet, but I would rather gain 40-50 lbs this pregnancy vs 70 +. I also want to start walking. We have a gym membership and I need to use it. 

So there you have it, my resolutions for 2017, all of which I think are very doable. I am excited for 2017! Hopefully we can just keep things simple.

Decemeber Phone Favorites

 December was a super fun and super busy month! Here is a round up of our phone favorites. 

Sometimes it is just too difficult to stay awake!

 For my belated birthday gift we brought a workbench for the garage!

Seriously I cannot tell you how much I love it and how much I have used it already and I wasn't even here half of the month!!!

Daddy was home sick for a few days and so he would get Duke off of the bus. Duke thought that was pretty awesome!

Christmas tree hair for E!

I love when she dresses herself for school. Some of the outfits she comes up with are ligit! I mean check out those socks!

These two are so cute together!

 KC is DRY!!!

 

This picture is a bit scary but so stinking cute!

Baking cookies and sneaking chocolate chips. 

 Playing the toothpick game with Pa. Duke is getting pretty fast!

Bear was feeling a bit under the weather so we decided that we would only take him to sacrament, so that Daddy could still see and visit with people at church. I noticed that he had gotten very still.

Poor sweet baby. This boy never falls asleep in public. And that's a wrap 2016!!

2016 Highlights

 Did 2016 fly by for anyone else other than me? 2016 was a pretty big year for this Tobler family. We were busy with trips, and family visits. With moving (again) and big purchases. Here is a round up of this years highlights. 

1. Playing in the snow with E. We came home from Canada and she was so sad that there wasn't any snow. So one day during nap time I looked out the window and it was snowing. I went and got E up from her nap and we caught snow flakes on our tongues. It was a fun memory. 

 2. I have very few pictures of Gretchen and I together which will be fixed this year. 2016 was a year of PROJECTS! I usually have one or two things on the go but this year we took things to a whole new level. This picture pretty well sums up how we roll. 5 kids, two mamas and no fear! 

 3. Manfred's hair got pretty long. One day we decided to try and slick it back for church. It was so gosh darn cute!

 4. E turned 4! How this is possible is beyond me! 

5. E  had a mermaid themed birthday party and it was pretty intense. 

 

6. Pa and Grammy came to visit and we had fun!

 7. E made her very first purchase. I was so proud of her. She had saved up her nickles and dimes from all of her chores and bought herself a My Little Pony. The cashier was so sweet and took her time with E as she counted out the correct change. 

 8. E adopted a cat (that decided it wanted to come and live at our house) that she named Swishy. Swishy only lived outside our house for 24 hours before the neighbors called animal control and she was taken away. Both E and Daddy were rather upset. 

 9. Duke started a Speech Therapy Program. Ms. Kathy came to the house once a week for an hour to work with Duke. Some days we just played and other days he would really work hard. He came a really long ways in this program! 

 10. Oma came to visit for her spring break!

 11. All matching for Easter Sunday. 

 

 11. In an attempt to surprise Jakob I arranged for Uncle Duke to come and visit. Jakob had no idea. I had told him that I had booked him a dental appointment and that I had one the same day so he should just take the day off. The night before he explained that he had a company work party that he had to attend. Uncle Duke was only going to be here for 48 hours, so taking an entire evening for work just wasn't going to line up. I ended up telling him that Duke was coming and we arranged it so that Duke and I could go to the baseball game that Jakob was attending for this work party. It was so nice seeing Duke and Jakob was pretty excited. Finally a present that he actually liked! 

 12. E caught her very first fish! She was so proud of herself!

 

13. Royals game in the Diamond Club courtesy of Tortoise. 

 14. We hosted our first yard sale, which was a lot of work but rocking it out with these ladies made it so much fun!

15. I dipped my toes into the pool of wood working by building a little kitchen for E. It was a serious learning curve but I think I'm addicted! This has opened up a whole new world!! 

16. Oma's birthday present to E was dance lessons. She had such a wonderful time especially dancing with her BFF. 

 17. She had her very first recital and I think my heart just about burst with pride. She was so cute and did such an amazing job!

 18. Daddy needed to study so the kiddos and I took off to Vegas for 3 weeks. 

 19. We practically lived outside.

 20. Duke was fearless when it came to swimming in the pool! He would jump in without a care in the world.

21. We went on lots of adventures, hiking, feeding bunnies, and so on. It was a super fun trip!

 22. Jakob won tickets from his company and we got to go to the Starlight Theater and see Beauty and the Beast. It was amazing!!

 23. One Sunday morning we were all loaded up in the car headed out to church and Goldilocks just died in the driveway. After lots of research Jakob decided it needed to go to the mechanic. Which began the car exchange for the summer of 2016. We have the most amazing friends who were either on vacation or were not in desperate need of their second car and they lent it to us. Every week we would have a different friends car. Goldilocks was in the shop for 3 weeks and our friends were life savers!!!! 

 24. Duke Manfred turned 3! Talk about mind blowing! He's not a baby anymore!

 25. Duke had a Young, Wild and Three Birthday. 

26. Goldilocks was stolen from our driveway and found three days later lit on fire. There was so much drama that came along with this event, especially since this was our only vehicle. Thankfully Gretchen was able to loan us her car for the next two weeks while we moved.

 27. We bought our very first home. Jakob and I went looking at houses, saw three one of which came with a frog (yes, a frog) in the basement. Decided that we wanted to go in a slightly different direction. That evening I went online and picked out two more houses to see. I went without Jakob and that was it. I was hooked. Jakob and I made an offer on it that evening. We re beyond excited to start laying down some roots and (hopefully) we won't be moving again for awhile (We have moved 5 times in the last 2 years.

 28. Oma came to help us pack, unpack and make the big move! Thanks so much Oma!

 29. We bought a new car!! We love our CRV! We only wish there was a money tree in the backyard. 

 30. Grammy and Pa came to help us settle in and do some slave labor! Thank you so much for your help!!!!!

31. We went to the Renaissance Fair twice this year! It was a blast!! 

32.  We went to the sunflower field, which will have to be a yearly tradition!

 33. At the end of August Duke transferred from Infant Toddler Services to a Speech Therapy program with Ms. Cole in the school district. I have nothing but respect for this lady and for all of the hard work that she put in for Duke. 

 34. We got to go to the Night at the Museum Gala. This year it wasn't black tie, and I was the only one wearing a floor length gown. It was a bit awkward but fun being the best dressed. That dress made me feel like a rock star though!

 35. I still nanny little Gretta. Some weeks I have her more and others I have her less. She has become part of our family and E loves having a sister. I usually say I am the Mom of three because I count G as one of my own.

 36. We announced that we are expecting baby number three in April of 2017! We couldn't be more thrilled or nervous. It will be very strange going back to sleepless nights, feedings at all hours and having a tiny human again. However we are thrilled and can't wait to meet this little one! 

37. E carved this little pumpkin all by herself. I was really impressed!!

 38. Jakob and I went to a free Simple Plan concert which was rather wonderful!! 

 39. For Halloween this year we went as a Brave family. Daddy was a Scotsman, Duke was a Scottish Lad, E was Merida and I was a bear. You'd have to see the movie Brave for it to really make sense :)

 40. After 8 weeks of Speech Therapy for twice a week for 1/2 an hour. we realized it wasn't enough and we tried to get Duke into a different program. He was accepted and at the beginning of November he started going to a Special Ed Pre-School four days a week. It is AMAZING to see how much his has improved. He is throwing less tantrums, saying so many more words (one and two syllable) such as apple, ouch, hot, mine, my turn, open, thank you, welcome, bye bye, dad-ee. (The list goes on.) He also knows his colors (can recognize blue, black and red without prompting) and can count to ten. Let me tell you people this is HUGE!!!!!!! I am so in love with this program and I am SOOOOO PROUD of Duke!!!!

 41. This big boy also rides the bus to and from school every day! He is so grown up and he {loves} the bus!

 42. Jakob's company sent us to the symphony twice in November. It was amazing!!!

 43. We had Friendsgiving this year and had Caleb and his wife Tiffani come up. It was so nice to see them. Jakob and I also baked our own turkey. We were pretty proud even though we have found it is super easy to do.  

 44. E was asking to go to Pre-School and Mrs. Cole suggested that become a peer model at Duke's school. She was accepted and she absolutely loves it! It is great for her to learn to be a good helper and be more responsible. She is doing great and learning things as she goes! Very proud of this sweet girl!!

 45. We had our gender reveal. IT"S A BOY!!!!!! I couldn't be more excited! Hopefully number 4 is a girl so E will have a sister but I am thrilled to welcome another little man into our family. In case you are wondering, no, we still do not have a name. Yes, it is driving me insane. We have a few favorites but just when I think I've settled on one... I change my mind. He was named for a solid week. I had decided and then overnight I just felt like it was wrong. So.... the hunt continues or he may just be named Guy, Kid, or Boy. :)

46. Family Christmas Photo 2016 

 Family Santa Photo 2016

 

 47. This year for Christmas we did quite the tour. Our first stop was in Vegas to spend time with Mom and Dad, see Star Wars with friends and just enjoy going back "home."

 

 48. Our next stop was 36 hours in Dallas to see family there. It was a quick trip and next time we will have to stay longer. The kids had so much fun and I really need to pick up a few cooking/ baking tips from Amy. 

 

 49. While in Dallas Jakob's brother Jeff did some work on Jakob's teeth. 

 

 Thank you Jeff!! He looks very handsome!

 

50. Our final stop for the holiday was in Houston. It was so much fun being with family for the holiday!!!

 

And that's a wrap!! I really can't believe it. While we had a few bumps in the road this year we really couldn't be any more blessed! 2016 was a good year and I can hardly wait to see what 2017 has in store. It is going to be one busy year!