Lula Belle

He is 2

My sweet little yellow truck lovin attached to his mama baby turned two yesterday.  It was such a nice day filled with food and friends and laughter.  We are so blessed.

Charlie at 2

He loves work trucks more than anything.  He is clingy when he is unsure.  He takes awhile to warm up to people.  He sings songs a lot.  Mostly about trucks.  His version of the abc's is pretty darn cute too.  He is addicted to youtube videos of trucks with dramatic singing in the background.  "He's an excavator..."  He can navigate an iphone like you wouldn't believe!  He calls himself baby.  He still likes to guh guh babies.  He calls the trampoline boing.  He can be quite bossy.  He is super silly and love to laugh.  He pretty much lives on yogurt and cheese.  He can't fall asleep without a body to touch.  He is so snuggly and loves to cuddle.  He is something special and I am so lucky to be his mama.

 

When the bigs were little I used to take them to the zoo all of the time.  Now we seem so busy and it is a 45 minute drive so C has only been once.  He loves animals so we decided for his birthday we would go.  Since the kids were off school on Monday we went a day early.  It was a beautiful day and though it was busy, we had a great time.  

C liked the animals, but the real excitement was the backhoe working outside of the aquarium!  He was thrilled!

 

Happy Birthday Charlie!

Valentininess

I'm gettin all ready for the 1st grade Valentine's Day party tomorrow.  Yes, I know that Valentine's Day was yesterday!  It seems that our school likes to have their parties on the last day of the school week.  Since we have Friday off our party is slated for tomorrow.  

I have been trying to decide on a craft.  The problem is that I just can't choose one.  So....I am doing three!!!!  Yes 3.  They are all pretty quick and simple so why not?  Right?

First up........The modge podge candle.

These are addictively fun.  All you need is....

A Candle (I got mine at Big Lots for .50 each)

Modge Podge (I don't know why I have paper modge podge.  Any kind will do.)

Tissue paper cut into bits

A Paint brush

First you cover your candle holder in Modge Podge.

Next you stick your tissue paper on.

Then more Modge Podge.  Then more paper.  Etc.  (I like to layer my paper.)

Finally cover the whole shabang in Modge Podge and let dry!

Next up.......

Heart Sun Catchers!

You will need.....

2 hearts cut from card stock

2 hearts cut from clear contact paper to fit inside

and embellishments

Once you get your hearts cut out, peel the back off of one piece of contact paper.  Embellish.  Carefully place the other piece of contact paper(sticky sides together) on top.  This can be fiddly.  Be careful not to get any lumps in it like I did.  Glue contact paper sandwich in between your card stock hearts.  Punch a hole and put a string through to hand in the window.

Lastly they have to make cards for mom right?  Just the usual suspects.  Card stock, stickers, glittery stuff, and pictures of their cute little faces.  No pics yet as they haven't yet made them.  

And since they can't give candies with their Valentine cards this year I thought that a goody bad was definitely in order!  I used the insides that I cut out of the sun catcher craft to decorate the bags.

On another note......

Matt and I don't usually do much for Valentine's Day as a couple, but this year he surprised me.  The neighbors offered to watch the kiddos so we went out for sushi.  I had a nip too much saki and am feeling it this morning.  That and the fact that C fell asleep on grandma at 7:30 so he thought the day had started at 3:45 am!!!  Ouch!

Also, there was a delivery.....

Flowers and Candy(yes I ate some for breakfast today!!)   The frivolousness of flowers usually makes me feel guilty.  But sometimes it feels good to be spoiled.  I guess he knew I needed it!  He is such a sweetheart.  I am a very lucky girl!

Happy New Year!

The holiday season was full and good.  We had a great time visiting with family and friends.  We even got to spend some quality time at home this year!  The kids woke up at 3:30am and never went back to sleep.  I could hear their excited hushed whispers and little feet pitter pattering around.  We finally got up at 6:45.  It was so nice spending the entire day at home playing and eating and relaxing.  It was magic.  

We had a small new years eve gathering that turned out to be quite lovely.   The weather was warm enough for a fire and the kids stayed up to count down and dance.  It must have been the ice cream sundaes!

Now the mess is cleaned up and we get to start fresh and new.  I hate taking the tree out, but I love the clean empty feeling of the room when it is gone.  I can see the space with a new eye.  

It's gonna be a good year.  I can just tell.

Making Merry

Listening to this, this, this, this and this

8 years

(insert old photo here)  stupid scanner

I have been married to the most wonderful man for 8 years today.  It is hard to believe how much we have grown and learned and accomplished together in that time.  I am so blesssed to be able to share my journey in this world with such a kind, considerate, intelligent man by my side.  He is my rock.  My best friend.  The love of my life.

Happy anniversary honey.  I  love more that I ever knew that I could.

8

I can't believe that he is 8!

My sweet, kind, compassionate, amazingly bright boy is 8.  8!  He is so big that he decorated his own cake and lit his own candles!

He was so excited and thankful when he opened his gifts.  He thanked Katie profusely for the pictures that she drew and the paper airplane the she made for him.

I am so blessed. 

Happy birthday sweet boy.

Celebrating

This girl

insisted upon riding this.  I had to go too.

 

On Father's Day

Matt and I woke up early.  I had been prepared to let him sleep in, but he rose with me.  We sat on the porch listening to the birds chirp and watching the sun come up through the trees while the babes slept.

They made him crepes when they finally got up.

Happy Father's Day Honey.  You are amazing.  We are so very lucky!

 

 

Feeling oh so good

Things are looking up.  We have mostly kicked the colds that overtook us just before Christmas.  The tree is in the yard waiting to be burned.  My computer has it's new cable and is now taking a charge.  Matt's knee surgery went well and he is off the crutches now.  Fresh spaces and fresh perspectives are all around.  Life is good! 

Since I missed posting over the holidays(see excuses above) I made a little photo update.  We finished off 2010 with lots of time spent cozy at home in our jammies, enjoying time family and friends and trying to carry out most of our traditions as best we could.

Ohio village ::

matchy solstice jammies ::

baking ::

Katie's rocking around the christmas tree party ::

Christmas morning ::

Ringing in the new year with friends ::

the ball drop was a bit of a let down this year ::

and to end on a happy note ::

Here's hoping that you had a beautiful ending to 2010 and a happy healthy start 2011!

Happiness is....

ice in the back yard.

lightning speed all day and all night.

loosing her first tooth.

playing goalie and getting the ice dragon sticker.

naps where you can get them.

meeting santa.

those eyes.