Our Island in the Green Lagoon

Collin made a new best friend yesterday; Ezra. They had so much fun playing in the creek, eating sand, finding sticks... doing what boys do best. They are so much alike, yet so different. It was so much fun! I always love when I find a good playmate for him. A kid that's polite, fun and sweet. They are hard to come by, but I am proud to say we have found a couple!

We found an amazing little lagoon to play in. We all want to live there. Just needs a couple palm trees and we are set! What an adventure!

The kids found the turkeys and were screaming at the tops of their lungs to get the turkey to gobble back... and boy did it! The thing was not only ugly as sin, it was mean! So much fun!!!

Collin was completely worn out by bedtime last night. He woke up this morning asking "Where's Ezra?" He can't wait until he comes up again to play.

It's also a rare occasion that I find I enjoy the company of the child's mom, too. That might sound terrible, but it's true. For me. It was nice to hang with Chanda and have someone to talk to that actually had interesting things to say and we had a lot in common, too.

Thanks, Chan and Ez for coming to play and for being such awesome free spirits. I hope we get to play again in the near future. Our boys are amazing and are such sweethearts. Not to mention THEE cutest little men on the planet Earth!!!

Beanie Baby Tree

When Collin was born, I had this great idea for his jungle-themed room: A Beanie Baby Tree! I was an avid Beanie Baby collector back in the day and have quite a few. They were sitting on his dresser in a big clump. That is when I decided something had to be done with them.
My mom made us a pole for our stuffed animals when we were young so I with a different take on that idea, I came up with this one!
I would of course like to be the only person to have one of these since it's so unique, but I get so many compliments on it that I thought I would share it with everyone. It is really cheap to make. I think the most expensive part was the pipe itself. I made the whole thing for under $35!!
Here is a quick 'How To':
Things you will need: These things can all be found at Lowe's or Home Depot besides the plants

*Large diameter ribbed PVC piped (measure floor to ceiling, allowing 3 inches or so for palm fronds/foliage) The ribs make it look like a palm tree. You can use smooth as well.
*Hooks to hang animals from
*Brown spray paint
*Drill with small bit
*Artificial plant styrofoam cube to fit in pipe at top
*Artificial plant leaves, palm fronds, etc

1. Drill holes in PVC pipe however far apart you want them. I believe we did 6 rows of ten.

2. After you drill holes how you want them, it's time to spray paint!! Take it outside and paint it with 2 coats!

3. After the pain is dry, bring it in and insert your hooks. Make sure they are all facing upward as to hang animals from.

4. Insert styrofoam cube into top of tree. It should fit tightly so it doesn't slide down the pipe when you stick the plants in it. I would push it down 4 inches or so.

5. Insert plant stems into cube. Stand tree up where you are going to put it. If your tree does not stand on it's own or if you cut it a little too short for it to wedge between floor and ceiling, you can secure a hook and eye to the back of the tree and the wall to allow it to stand. My tree was a little too short for our new house so the tree stands on an old book we don't read and I bought brown fabric and messy put it around base so it looks like dirt. So cute!!
6. Arrange the leaves/palm fronds the way you like them AFTER you stand it up and get it in place. I even bought a piece of artificial ivy to wrap around top under palm fronds and put the Beanie Baby Parrot in it!
NOTE: The Christmas lights are part of his room, not a part of the tree. : )


The hooks for the animals

The Beanies

The top with the palm fronds. The first leaves I had were from the dollar store. Then I found the Palm Fronds at World Market just a month ago. I was so excited!

The finished product!! Fun stuff!

My Secret To Potty Training

Collin was 18 months when he wanted to start using the potty like Daddy. He would want his pants off then he would take his own diaper off! So cute.
I would hold him up and let him stand on the potty and he would go. Afterward, I would give him one Skittle. Soon he was coming to me twice a day to 'Porty'.
Of course, as with all kids, he has digressed from going so much in the potty, but he still goes right before bath time every day.
My mom bought him a $3 potty from Ikea (it's actually way cool and neat looking, too.). He uses that whenever he has to go now.
While he is getting 'ready' to go, he says 'Potty. Candy.'
So while in the long run he's only going potty for a Skittle,
he is still accomplishing what we are setting out to do in the
first place; Going Potty.
So the moral of the story is that no matter how badly you don't
want to give your kids candy (if you're anything like me!), it SUPER helps when it comes to
potty training. It may be old news, but I am a first-time mom and
want to share all my 'secrets' with all my soon-to-be-mommy friends.
JUST GIVE THEM ONE! And use SKITTLES because they last a long time
in a little mouth. : )