Oh, mom!

 

I enjoy crafting, sewing, gluing, painting…really just being creative.  Being a mother offers me many opportunities to use my creativity.  My list is usually quite long, so when I have the chance to sit down and work on a project it feels good.  In the past, I have offered a chance for the boys to either help with the project, or given them a similar project (more to their scale) that I “think” they would enjoy.  They usually come over interested and oblige with the project for a whopping 3 minutes and then run off to do their “boy stuff”.  This afternoon, was a little different….

The boys approached me one weekday afternoon, while I was preparing dinner, asking for something fun to do.  I have had cardboard letters, J and C, for quite some time now, with a fun project in mind for them.  I decided to wait till we move (no need to put more holes in the wall, right?!) for the project.  These would be perfect for a quick fun project for the boys.

I gathered some orange and gray yarn, and the cardboard letters.  Showed the boys how to wrap the yarn around the letters, and stepped back into the kitchen to finish dinner.

Soon, I hear lots of giggles coming from Carter, and Josh crying for help.

This is what I look in to see:

I don’t have a close up of Josh, but he finally after desperately trying to wind the yarn around his letter “J”, looked at me and said, “Mom, really?!”  Ah, fun times!

SURPRISE

Yeah! I’m so excited, I can hardly stand it! 

Yesterday while at work I get a strange text from my beautiful friend, Kim.  She asks, “What’s your middle name?”  Hmm, that’s a mighty strange or maybe just random question.  Then she asks me, “What’s your birth year?”  Okay, now I’m intrigued!  What is she up to?  She informs me that I will find out soon enough. 

Oh, and I did!  SHE’S FLYING ME OUT TO NY TO SEE HER!  I wish I could explain how overly excited I am, but I can’t seem to find the words to accurately describe this feeling of elation (oh, maybe that does describe it). 

Kim is one of my dearest friends and her and her husband, Lucas, moved to Stony Brook, NY this last summer for his residence in Orthopedic surgery.   Not only were they starting a new stage of life across the country in a whole new state, but they were expecting their first child, Malin, soon after their arrival in NY.  Their departure was hard for both Michael and I because we became very close with them and absolutely enjoyed their company.  And frankly, it’s just hard saying good bye to such dear friends.

So you can imagine my pure excitement when Kim sent me an itinerary for NYC! 

Thank you KIm, for the sweetest surprise and gift ever!  Looking forward to seeing you guys, and sweet lil Malin!

See you soon! 

 

Bye, bye, Blue

Saying goodbye can be so hard to do…especially when it’s been your napping couch for 9 + years.  Depending on who you ask the departure of the couch was either sudden or discussed many times.  I’m guessing it’s pretty easy to figure out which one is Michael’s and which one was mine. 

Blue was an excellent couch and held up through quite a bit (two rambunctious boys,  countless other kids, Michael’s bed for the first year in Redlands).  It was, by far, the best napping couch ever and the couch we purchase to replace it will have to have amazing napability. 

We had discussed that Blue wouldn’t be making the move, but never discussed getting rid of her before hand.  Though when the Christmas tree cam in, we knew now was a good time to say our goodbyes.

Michael saying goodbye one last time.

Till we move big Brown will be filling in for Blue.

I know, silly post, but you wouldn’t believe how sad Michael was to have to say goodbye to his beloved couch.   

 

Trick or Treat

Although I have much more to catch up on I’m jumping ahead a bit because me sister has insisted on seeing pictures of the boys in their costumes.  Here you go, Joc!

Josh was super excited this year about Halloween and had a some fun ideas on what he would like to be…clone trooper, Darth Vader,  and something else Star Wars that I can’t remember.  Michael the convincing one that he is was able to talk Josh into being a Cougar’s football player.  Sounds good to me, sounds free to me (ahhh, ya)!  Josh loved the idea and played the part quite well.  Here’s an example:  I took a few pictures of the boys on Monday afternoon, and after taking a picture Josh told me, “I didn’t smile for the picture because football players don’t smile!”  Oh, Josh you make your father so proud.

Carter wasn’t so sure about this whole dressing up thing.  He was a pirate and a very cute one at that. Thank you Nikki for letting us borrow the pirate costume.  You are wonderful!   Carter was very hesitant at first until he discovered that he gets candy.  He quickly got a hang on it, and although he may not be able to say, “Trick or Treat” he certainly says the cutest, sweetest, “Tant u!”.

We went to our friends house for some dinner and then head out around their neighborhood for trick or treating.  Thanks, Edge family for once again a fun Halloween.

My pictures aren’t the best, but hopefully they capture the cuteness that is my children…think I love them

 

A Weekend away

It seems like when the opportunity to get away for the weekend comes it’s most commonly to San Diego and this weekend was no exception….except that I had to work. 

We have an annual Board of Directors Retreat every year to the Paradise Point Resort in San Diego, and this is my first year I’ve been able to make it (last year I was in Denver running a half).  We stay in Bungalows where the back door opens up to Mission bay, with grass to play in and sand to dig in and boy did the boys have fun. 

Awe Carter, getting “into” his playing in the sand.  Love you sweet boy!

Not sure what this goofy boy is doing ( I was sitting in a meeting).  My guess’ are he either got grossed out, or he’s just being goofy

We even had a babysitter the first night, a roommate of an alumni student of Michael’s that now attends Point Loma; the boys loved her. 

It was a wonderful weekend spent with our friends, the Schenkels and Leonards.  Before heading home we all stopped at the zoo.  I’m so happy that everyone we could all go to the zoo, it was so much fun to be there with all the girls.  To see some of those pic’s you’ll have to head over to Mark and Jill’s blog. 

 

 

Daddy’s helper

Carter is an outdoor boy through and through.  We have had a little push lawnmower ever since Josh turned one, but it’s never gotten much use…Josh is not a fan of daddy’s lawnmower and the loud  noise it makes ( I understand ).  Carter on the other hand is right along side Michael as he mows and it’s absolutely adorable.  I think Carter might be our own little, Bear Grylls. 

 

more Family…

Time at home with Mom and Dad was filled with lots of book reading and cake eating.   Dad (who shares the same birthdate as cousin, Elias) was going to be celebrating his birthday soon and as Josh pointed out, it was his half birthday.  And what half birthday goes by without a cake.  So we baked a cake and topped it with football gear…the ultimate boy cake, right?!

Love Josh’s smile on this picture…silly boy!

We always, always have so much fun when Mom and Dad visit, and it’s funny to me how the moments that stick out the most to me are the quiet and low key ones, like these:

Mom always brings a separate suitcase of toys, books, clothes, etc…. for the boys when they come to visit and this time was no exception.  As always, thank you so much Mom and Dad for your amazing gift of spoiling our boys with love and fun.