Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Eat your' heart' out pinterest.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Of course I have quite a few 'pins' of cute ideas for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, cards, decorations, and more. I'd actually even started a couple of projects and had a couple planned but the big day came and I had nada.

Once I realized it was actually V Day (sometime after my hubs left for work!). I pulled out the bag of store bought stuff and proceeded to make a card-box drop thing where I took a cute dollar bin heart box, cut a hole in the top, and then cut out 20 or so cardboard hearts from an old cereal box.

Of course, my two year old did not disappoint and was pretty entertained with it- thinking it was pretty cool. . .until we opened valentines from Yaya and Chloe who had kindly added X O and <3 glitter pieces to their card. . .which quickly ended up all over the carpet. Once I had every.little.piece. picked up I threw them in an empty bottle with corn syrup, soap, and water and made a new sensory bottle. Again Jackson was impressed (after he ripped up Benny's valentine- it was Mickey and I think he was just excited. Nothing a little tape can't fix.)

Moving onto lunch I glance at my cute heart cookie cutters (that I HAD to have) as I 'cook' up some delicious (not) chicken nuggets and apple slices. Jackson asks for more ketchup and feeling inspired, I make a heart out of ketchup dots- on a paper plate no less. We both genuinely admire my work. Naptime actually coincides for both boys for once. So what do I do? Take both of their artwork and attempt to make Valentine's cards out of it. Nothing pin-worthy but I'm really starting to buy into the whole, "It's the thought that counts."

Naptime ends and as I go in to wake Jackson up we cuddle a bit and I say, "Happy Valentine's Day, Jackson. I love you." wondering if he even has a clue as to what I'm talking about. Then he proclaims, "Mama you make ka-put (ketchup) heart." And I"m reminded why I do it. All of it. Why I pin all of these fantastic ideas, and why I fake it if everything doesn't go as planned. I haven't got everything together. Not even close.

Our day was rounded out with some store bought candy and cards and it was just. . .perfect.

And as for those heart shaped cookie cutters? There is always today. . . .

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

For Carrie

Friday, February 10, 2012

Happy Birthday and a little Santa

So yesterday was my birthday. I'm kinda the keep it quiet type. It isn't listed on facebook and I'm not likely to go around announcing it. I love that it's my own little secret, if you will. Anyway I turned 28 (I'm pretty sure) and I was thinking back to three years ago on my birthday. Andy and I had been 'trying' for a baby for over 6 months (which can feel like an eternity) and I had no idea what my future held. If you had told me on that day that three years from now I would have a beautiful family with two georgous blond haired, blue eyed little boys, I don't know if I would have believed you. And now I can't help but wonder what the next three years will bring.

My handsome little man was the first to tell me "Happy Birthday, Mama" this morning. I had a fantastic birthday doughnut- complete with a candle and rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" sand by my sweet husband. My mom and sister even came up to celebrate with us and stayed the night. But the highlight of my day came in the afternoon. I was trying on my bridesmaid dress for my best friend's wedding in April and as I came out of the bedroom Jackson looked at me with huge eyes and asked, "You a princess, Mama?", and, of course, it melted my heart. Later when I was taking it off he said I was taking off the 'princess' so I guess princess just equals dress, but still. . .

Here is a picture of my handsome little guys (from November though- these were pictures we took just before going to see Santa, so I'm totally going to put that random never-before-seen picture in this post too, ha!)






**Why yes, I am editing in Lightroom now! I have a long long way to go, and that's cool, but I REALLY feel like I need 'Lightroom for Dummies' or something equivilent. Got any tips?

Sunday, February 5, 2012

What do you think...

...about this picture?


I kind of love it but my husband doesn't? Yes it's got some crazy blown out weird lighting. But I think that's part of what I love about it. Let me know. I need some yays or nays.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Had fun, Chips and Salsa


I think I already mentioned before that Jackson insists on eating 'cereals' on the couch (I have no problems letting him). But this is the picture to go with it. And a story from a different time. . . .

Jackson and I often talk when we are in the car. As we head home I usually ask if he had fun doing whatever activity we just finished up. One day, months ago, I guess I dropped the ball because without my prompting Jackson informed me 'Had fun Yaya/Cokey' (my mom and sister). I was touched that he had had such a good time and wanted to tell me about it.

Some frequent 'had fun' favorites include: Yaya and Cokey (of course), Toddler Time, Luke and Hannah, Bouncy House, and Grandma and Grandpa (who he still tells me about months after his visit- riding the 4 wheeler, feeding the cows hay with the tractor, the whole bit!) I'm often amazed at his memory!

Now it is still a frequent statement, and still just as fragmented. Last night on the way home after a yummy Mexican restaurant dinner he proclaimed. "Had fun Chips and Salsa". Putting it on the To Do Again Soon list. :)

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Lassie

Sometimes my dogs drive me nuts. The hair, the barking, the one more 'person' who needs seemingly constant attention and supervision. But they are such good dogs.

Patton is the goofy one. The one who wants to be by your side. Constantly. BOTH boys absolutely adore him. He loves to play silly games and will do absolutely anything for a bite of banana.

Bentley is different. While he, too, loves bananas, he prefers time to himself, or outside. He makes 'rounds' in the evening if we are all in different rooms. Checking on us. Or this morning when we had a Lassie moment. I heard him bark, which he usually doesn’t do without cause, but today it was different, totally an ‘alert bark’ if you will.
I went outside to check (I try to not be the neighbors with the incessantly barking dogs). I found him sitting in the yard STARING at my neighbors back yard and between that house and the next. I could tell something was bothering him. I looked for squirrels, birds, or other dogs that could have caught his attention. Nada. I finally went to get my shoes to walk from the deck to the yard so I could get a better view of what he was looking at. As I approached he would run in a circle, then stop, sit, bark and continue to stare in the same direction, occasionally checking the other side of the house the was looking at. He was totally saying, “LOOK THERE!!!”.
Finally I saw him. The meter reader. Walking between the houses, and in the back yards of all the houses, to check the electric meters. While he obviously wasn’t a threat, I was glad my dog knew he didn’t ‘belong’ there and was smart enough to let me know. J

Thanks, B

Two notes: One, yes my baby is Bennett and my dog is Bentley. It’s ok if you get them confused, I’ll forgive you. Also, we just found out that we will (more than likely, almost certainly) be moving to Colorado!