Sunday, June 16, 2013

Daddy Day 2013

Just sharing a few pictures from Father's Day...

We started ours with breakfast at Josh's favorite restaurant. Quite yummy, but also, not shockingly, quite busy.

The kids made hubby a card and a picture frame, which seems to be a yearly tradition (can't go wrong with Michaels' frames for a $1!)






Trying to think of all the kinds of things daddy enjoys, we knew sometimes he liked to end the day with a good beer. So, we got a beer glass engraved and then bought him some of his favorite beer to have with it.

Kids' birthdates


Along with that, hubby also is a bit of a snacker, so we got him different kinds of trail mix type stuff.

Got the tray at the dollar store, then used chalkboard paint , followed of course with chalk on it. 

Lastly, daddy (and his boys, so we know where that came from!) has a sweet tooth. So, I made a large chocolate chip cookie with whipped cream and strawberries from scratch (the same I did with Nathan's birthday party).

Suppose to be the letter 'D' in the middle...
After Aaron's nap today hubby took the boys over to his parents house to visit with relatives and brought the cookie with. Guess we'll see if mommy gets a chance to have a bite of it or not! :)

I can't believe this brings us to the middle of June. A month from this week brings Nate's Meet The Teacher and the first day of kindergarten, already! I love the shorter summer/year round school schedule. We just found out who his teacher is for next year, and we're super excited! Nate will have the teacher we requested, who we already got a chance to meet at his kindergarten orientation. He's getting excited for his new experiences :)

Friday, June 7, 2013

New Years Resolution Update....

I figured since we were halfway through the year (what?!!) that it was time for an update on our resolutions. I have to say, I think we're doing fairly well! The biggest resolution was to create some better eating habits (eliminate a majority of processed food, read package labels, buy more organic, etc) I can say that we're definately doing better, in that regard. I have found great motivation from a lady named Lisa Leake, who feeds her family all real food and has her own blog called "100 Days of Real Food" -
www.100daysofrealfood.com
I think for the most part she's awesome and she's serving as my inspiration, but I have to also look at her and remember that she's three years into her real food journey (versus our six months) and that her kids are in school full time (which, mine are clearly not....) so she has more time to make more foods from scratch. I'm actually curious to see how much she actually made from scratch six months into her journey, when she still had kids at home. Anyway, my goal is to definately continue making as much from scratch now as I can and eliminate a bunch more processed stuff. But, it is indeed a process....first  weaning everyone from products they've grown to love, and then cross over and be brave to try something new. It's still going to be a little while, probably, before I can say that I make a majority of things from scratch. I just don't have the time to make my own ketchup and tortillas when I want them!

Nate, in particular, has been my biggest challenge. Hubs and Aaron will generally eat anything that's thrown on their plate, or at least try. I'm also most anxious with Nate because I want there to be a variety of things I can pack for his lunches for school, instead of the same ol' PBJ and mandarin oranges everyday....he's really reluctant.

So, we're doing better and moving forward with better eating. I'm doing 'ok' on my working out inspirations...aiming for around four days a week of working out. That has gone down now that the hubs has started his business traveling again, but I am signed up for another marathon in December so I should also be starting that training again soon.

In another six months' time I hope to say that we're doing even better, though I am happy with how we've evolved in the last six months :)

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

It's Summertime!

It has officially begun! Nate's last day of school was today. He was quite thrilled...

Of course, I would be too, if I spent the day playing with friends, eating yummy treats...I remember those days :) He keeps talking about how he's a kindergartner now...I'm glad I have seven weeks to let that sink in (yes, only seven weeks!) This will be our shortest summer yet, so I'm a bit excited about that.

Anyway, here's some more pictures from our fun day today.

With friends Julianna and Elliot

My big man on campus, soon!

His teacher, Mrs Vallera

With teacher's assistant Ms Curl

Goofing around with his friend Callie

Little brother happily played with toys in the classroom while I was busy getting pictures!

Sweet treats for our friends

Surprised Nate with this sign coming home


Then we went to his favorite restaurant for lunch. What a ham!

Sponge ball fun...hey, we have to get creative since we don't own a pool! :)

This feels nice!

And....sugar high!


The real fun begins tomorrow, trying to keep him entertained 24/7 ! ;) One day at a time...Nate is super excited to be on break. Mommy hopes the summer flies by!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Model for A Day

Last Tuesday was great - a break from mommyhood to embrace the woman in me! For those who don't know, I was chosen by a local, organic hair salon to participate in a photo shoot they were chosen to do. I found out this was going on, went in to meet the owner and show off my hair, and proceeded to get a blessed email a few days later :)

It all began last Monday - I went in the day before the shoot to get all my coloring and cut done. I gave up my "hair rights" for the shoot, so I literally did not know how I was going to come out looking like! For all I knew I could have had zebra stripe, short hair. Thankfully, four hours later, I came out with a honey blond base, bright blonde highlighted hair (and only had three-four inches taken off the length). I'm sorry I can't post pictures of it (or any from the shoot), I had to sign fun waivers to keep everything hidden so that we would get picked up for national publication :) Overall happy with the look, it will be great for summer!

I arrived bright and early at the salon the next morning to begin our day. Bless my very helpful mommy who picked up the boys and held onto them all day. As soon as I walked in the door, the owner very excitedly greeted me and told me that they would have fruit trays, drinks and other food and that I was to let them know when I needed any of it and "they would bring it to me". Wow, I don't get many days where I get bowed down to!

There were eight models total, half of whom were 15-18 years old! I was suddenly worried I was going to be the "old, mommy model" of the group. Luckily, my other blonde counterpart of the shoot that day (she was the "cool" blonde and I was the "warm" blonde) was older than me and also had kids so we got along real well. Each of us had our own theme going on - they had our pictures on the wall, right beside the picture of what we were to look like. Someone was J.Lo, someone was a glam, 50's girl, and me....well, I was Farrah Fawcett from the 70's/80's, which meant I had big, curly hair (no feathery look). My first thought too was that they were going to throw me in a red bathing suit, which thankfully wasn't the case! (regarding one of Farrah's iconic poses in the day)

So we started the day with my hair in curlers, followed by airbrush makeup - they were going for a "just came from the beach look", so I had a bronzy/gold face. Looked great with the hair. Then it was time, I decided, to "demand" my lunch (fruit, some chicken sliders from a local restaurant, even organic tea!) Then I got in my outfit before they finished my hair. There was a fashion lady from a vintage/antique shop with dresses and jewelry for us to wear. They chose a slinky, black dress for me to wear (with sleeves I could pull down to show off bare shoulders) along with gold, diamond earrings (that were beautiful but weighed a ton!) 

My hair got worked on some more, and by the time I was done, well...I thought I looked like a lion. With a mane. I sort of looked in the mirror and wondered, "Who is ever going to look in a magazine and think that they want my lion hair?" I definately had the craziest hairdo of the group. Everyone else could at least go out in public without getting funny looks. Me...I had to be tamed before I could go out.

So anyway, it was one of those "hurry up and wait" kinds of things. I was ready but waited awhile until it was my turn to be shot. We went to an empty room that had a backdrop in it. Thankfully, they told me how to pose! Sort of awkward. It seemed like they spent a half hour or so with each girl. I heard they got some good shots, but I never got to see the end result :(

All I know is, our pictures are being submitted to whomever they need to go to, and they will "pick" the ones they want. I "think" they'll be in some sort of national hair magazine(s), but don't know which one, when, etc. The owner of the salon is suppose to get back to us when she knows anything, which I also have no clue when that will be. So, for now I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of my pictures gets picked just so I can see how it turned out! I'll keep y'all updated as soon as I know anything...

The boys had huge grins on their faces when I got home, like "Whoa! Where did mommy go?!" Hubby was unfortunately out of town until late that evening, so he didn't get to see the full look. I went out to dinner that night with my sister to a fancy place (but of course, as I didn't want to just come home and make macaroni and cheese!)

It was a fun day, being glammed up. Totally not the norm. Now I just hope I get to see/keep a picture to look at when I'm sitting with my tea, eighty years old :) Remember when....

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Chicka, Chicka, Two, Two!

Aaron loves the book "Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom" (I think we read it about six times every night!) so I used a bit of that today for his birthday. We got started as soon as he woke up!

The boys started with making a coconut tree, of course!


Nate loved it so much he wanted to bring it to breakfast to show Nana

I cooked and colored some spaghetti for some different texture fun :) Anything cars can be run through...


Then it was time for a Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom lunch! Lettered grilled cheese, apples for leaves, grapes for coconuts, banana/carrot for the tree trunk and mandarin oranges for the ground.


We had to read the book, of course!

Whole Foods deliciousness! Chocolate cake.

He loves fire on the cake! We re-lit multiple times.



Other than going out for breakfast, we spent the day at home (playing cars, outside on the bouncy, coloring...those are Aaron's favorite things!) Other tidbits at two...

~~ For about the last month, has officially started getting out of his bed! He still is in a crib, but we do have one of the sides down. Some days he doesn't get out, others he does, sometimes he tries to just hang out in his room, other times he wants us to come in...it really depends on the day :) We have put his toys in his closet to discourage him from playing (though he could open it if he wanted, he surprisingly hasn't yet...) We have been locking him in his room (as we did with Nate) and then unlocking the door when we go to bed. For us we have found it works better than the game of constantly re-putting him down in his bed...

~~The little potty is out! Nate is a super anxious big brother to show him the process. Aaron has gone on the potty, but isn't quite interested in the 'constant use' of it yet. So it's basically out for looks right now :)

~~Still, like his big brother, enjoys the outdoors and reading books. I'm hoping to make a reading 'nook' in Nate's room over the summer so I hope they hang there to enjoy some books on their own. Anything that involves being outside (walking, playing, riding bikes, it doesn't matter) he enjoys doing.Unless we're somewhere cooler, I think we're starting to wrap up our outside playtime (that doesn't involve water!)

~~LOVES the arts. Coloring especially, but anything crafty he's open to. I can't wait to get him in some art classes once Nate starts school full time.

~~Being the typical boy, he also LOVES his cars, trains, any mode of transportation to play with. We have a million, zillion cars!

~~Funny enough, he has something with gloves. When I'm washing the dishes (I use gloves), he runs over and exclaims, "Meeee!!" and wants me to chase him and attack him with the gloves.

~~Speaking of exclaiming, he's becoming quite the chatterbox. This is really where you watch what you speak, because he'll repeat anything someone says. Generally I've just noticed how fast paced everything becomes with the second child-they seem to start things sooner!

~~Still is my good little eater. He's in the mode of trying whatever is thrown on his plate, so we've been throwing quite a bit down! Well, I should say he does well with everything but meat. I haven't gotten him to eat any of that yet.

~~Is daddy's little boy. He just loves his daddy. As long as daddy is around, the rest of the world doesn't exist :)

Aaron is just the sweetest, most smiley little guy. Happy Birthday darling boy!

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Ready...Set...Party!

We held Aaron's 2nd (race car themed) birthday party today! His actual birthday is on Mother's Day. What a whirlwind. Mommy had to even catch a catnap this afternoon, and that was even before  the party started! A month of planning, decorating and baking sure does take a lot of energy. Poor Aaron is wiped out!

Stoplights, cars, and a car fan in the middle :)



Not geographically correct, just some car sign fun

Pin The Car on The Track game   




Lots of cars to play with

Photo wall

Little gift for friends to go home with

And a CARS plate
Birthday boy's seat!

Such a cute cover- I found it at the dollar store the morning of!

Add caption


Mexican fare in honor of Cinco de Mayo weekend
Outside entertainment- bouncy with tires and balls to play with

Victory Lane!





 Now it's time to get to the actual main event!

Best buds

Huh? Look at the camera? What's that?





Making license plates




Made from scratch (successfully on the 2nd attempt!) Used flour/cocoa powder, crushed cookies and graham crackers- and a cookie cutter and sprinkles for the center.


Had a little extra left over, so Aaron got his own little cake!

Oooooo, fire!

I'll help brother!

Playtime outside





Saying goodbye to friends

 Didn't take but a minute for the kids to fall asleep :) Probably won't for mommy and daddy, either!