Saturday, December 18, 2010

Today

There is a song by Taylor Swift called The Best Day.  I see the video at the gym and have to try not to watch, otherwise I turn into a puddle on the treadmill.  It is home videos of her with her family and just has really sweet lyrics.  The last bit is:

And I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say
That I had the best day
With you today

And today was the best day.  The little boys and I ran some errands, we went to the library and picked out random new books.  Then I found a calendar and saw that Santa was at a local park, we walked right up and got to see him, no wait at all.  We took pictures and walked around downtown Chandler.  Afterwards we went and fed ducks at the park and played.  We came home and watched Yes, Virginia and it was cute.  When it was done Sawyer turned to me with a big smile.  Then I read them Polar Express.  It was just a nice, happy day with my little boys.

The other night, about 20 minutes after I laid the boys down, I saw Sawyer run across the open doorway.  I was sitting at the kitchen table sewing and he ran into the dining room.  He was checking our advent calendar where I told him a little elf comes every night and leaves a Hershey kiss for him and Ollie.  He's been known to wake at 6 am, go get the candy, eat it, and go back to sleep for an hour or two.  After he saw that the elf hadn't come he came into the kitchen and I explained that he wouldn't come until the whole house was dark and we were all sleeping.  He asked if I was going to sleep after I finished sewing.  I said yes :)  I told him he needed to go back to bed and he listened and started walking to his room.  He turned around after a few steps and said, "Merry Christmas mom."  It was just such a sweet and sincere moment.  I told E that I think that moment will stick in my mind forever.  Just a time where your heart unexpectedly swells with love.  My sweet three year old boy in his bright green footie monster jammies turning and wishing me a merry Christmas. 







Merry Christmas

Monday, December 13, 2010

Getting ready

The jury it still out.  I'm deciding how Christmas will feel without cold, snow...all of it.  Growing up in Colorado and Utah...then moving to Missouri, I've always had a cold Christmas.  Last year we spent Christmas day in Florida, but we celebrated our own Christmas a few days before.  Actually, jury just came in.  It's not the same.  It is still fun and exciting, people decorate their homes and everything does seem cheerier, but the whole feel is just different.  Boo.

It took me a bit longer to get our Christmas set up this year, but it's finally done.  To see the "pretty" finished pictures and more of the home decor stuff, I just did a post on our blog Fresh Poppy, so check it out :)


Here is some of our family decorating.  Little kids decorate trees so stinking cute.


I've been trying to keep the tradition (from my family) of a new ornament for the kids each year.  This year they chose stars.


Isn't that the best??  Like a million ornaments on one branch, everything on one side of the tree...and they couldn't be prouder :)


This year I also got them their own tree to have in their room.  They chose to decorate it blue, of course :)  Daddy was proud.  I've promised that they can sleep with the tree on for Christmas eve.


Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Three Oh

See this guy right here?
I love him.

Today is Pearl Harbor Day.
AND his 30th birthday!!!
Eeeek!
Check out last years post to see pics of him as a cutie pie baby and learn some "fun facts" :)

Truth be told, he kinda hates the spotlight.  But that's what a birthday is all about.
Here's to my E.

the best daddy in the whole world...yesterday I watched him out the window as he tried to help Oliver ride his trike correctly...just one of those moments where your heart swells and you feel soooo lucky

thanks for letting me put my icy cold feet on your feet every single night

thanks for always telling me I'm beautiful

thanks for being so random and funny, and sorry that sometimes I roll my eyes :)

thanks for singing "cool songs" to Sawyer and Ollie

thanks for getting up so early every day and going out there for us...little sleep...little appreciation...thank you

thanks for taking care of the stinky icky garbage

thanks for helping me be spontaneous

thanks for listening to me whine and complain

thanks for taking our boys "down to China town" almost nightly

There are so many great things about you.
I'm the luckiest girl.
I totally scored.

Love you E!  Happy Birthday!!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Post-celebration-palooza


Can you all believe it?
I know you've been on the edges of your seat waiting for my much anticipated 150th family post!
Ahhhhh!!

To make everyone sufficiently awkward I'm going to ask what is your favorite post :) 
Please vote so I don't feel like a fool.
I picked from popular posts as well as some personal favorites.
For your consideration:


NOW VOTE!
PS There are actual polls on the sidebar ------->>>

Since we're voting, let's take another poll.
What's more embarrassing?

This little (not yet 2 year old) walks around the house half the day whining;
"Geo Bot, mom. Geo Bot"
characters from his favorite tv show Team Umizoomi

OR

That Sawyer calls Honey Nut Cheerios
"Yellow Fruit Loops"

?


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Year after Year

the last few years about this time...
2007
Sawyer: Almost 6 months. A lot less crying. So much happier.
Me: Rocking Sawyer way less. Getting sleep.
E: Working. Waiting to hear from schools.
Us: Living with mom and dad. Mastering Guitar Hero. Late night movies.


2008
Sawyer: Ridiculously cute. Talking a lot. So much fun.
Me: 7 months pregnant. Making friends. Getting ready for surprise family visit.
E: Studying. Studying. Eating. Studying. Quick nap.
Us: Away from family. Exploring. Snuggling on the couch.


2009
Oliver: Almost 1. So so happy. Smiles. Crawling.
Sawyer: Big brother. Potty trained. Discovered love for scooters.
Me: Enjoying friends. Knitting. Crocheting.
E:Studying. Studying. Hang out w me. Repeat.
Us: Will be moving to AZ. Got back from Chicago. Preparing for a Florida Christmas.


2010
Oliver: Talking. Wanting to be Sawyer. Rascal. Funny.
Sawyer: Crazy. Sweet. Smart. Wants to go. go. go.
Me: Quilting. Being w family. Discovering new places. Meeting new people.
E: Learning. Excited. New places every few weeks. Discovering his calling.
Us: Together. Surviving. Planning. Happy.


Thursday, November 4, 2010

Welcome To Suburbia

Halloween was stupendous.
Our street was amazing.
There was a home that had at least 75 things on their lawn that screamed, moved, jumped out.
We actually had trick-or-treaters.
Oliver and Sawyer

Again, that baseball costume was my uniform as a kid. Sniffle.

We hit a pumpkin patch.
Not only for a pumpkin, but a hay ride, saw animals, bounce house, the works. 
S had his hand on E's leg the whole ride.
I kinda thought it was the sweetest thing.

We carved pumpkins.
Sawyer loved taking out their guts.
It was a little too gross for Ollie. 
They sure did love lighting them up.

Ward Carnival...amazing 
 Um they kinda didn't mention there were 3 photos.

Gym carnival complete with a very spooky haunted house.

I was there with girnormous lips baby!
Speaking of BABY this guy is 2 in a couple of months!!!

And of course, E was on-call for the weekend.
How sad is that?
Poor guy.

We did all go trick-or-treating together in the end.
And ate candy together.
That counts.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

In a week

Last week...
Monday
We got the yummiest English candy in the mail!  Yay!



 Tuesday
We've been just playing and playing in the backyard...so nice!



Wednesday
We made pumpkin spice cookies for YM/YW activity


Thursday
We got free passes to the Children's Museum of Phoenix...more to come on that but so fun!!



Friday
Visited daddy on his last day at the hospital for his internal medicine rotation.
And we saw trains.



Saturday
Barnes and Noble Halloween story time.
S is wearing my uniform from when I was 10.  Awwwwe!


Sunday
Made yummy lemon bars, stacked blankets and pillows and watched AFV.
(aka America's Funniest Videos)
Quickly becoming a very favorite tradition.
At the start of most video clips Sawyer says,
"that's not a good idea..."


Throughout
VERY good business week, Heather and I are actually getting some benefits from running our two little blogs...and by "benefits" I mean
FREE FABRIC
(say it like Oprah)

That was our week!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

She came to see ME!

This is one of my besties (that's right E, besties :) from Kville!!!
When she told me a couple of months ago that she was going to fly and see me for a couple of days...almost cried.

She's funny.  Really funny.  I've stolen more than a line or two from her.
She's crafty!
And the best part, her name is Megan too.

We attempted to make these darling backpacks for our boys.  We didn't finish. But we did run into JoAnns at 8:59 pm (really running) to get another package of needles because they kept breaking.  I will finish it soon, this pile is still sitting in my kitchen, hasn't been touched since Wednesday.

She left her two older kids with their grandparents and came with her so sweet and good baby boy Tucker.  Sawyer and Ollie loved playing with him, Sawyer thought he was so funny.

We also swam, went to QT for slurpees, talked a lot, watched Biggest Loser, hit a discount fabric shop...it was fun.

And I took some pictures of her really cute baby.

It was two fast days.  When I went to bed the night before she left I was trying my best not to cry...okay maybe I did a little.  I miss my friends!

I was telling E that first I was looking forward to my friend Ashlie coming, then my brother Rich for a quick trip and then Megan...and now? Crickets.

We all need something to look forward to right??  Quilt Market is in May and that's just too far away :(

However I get E for TWO weeks this Christmas.  That's good news.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Okay okay

The Grandma's
My sweet Momma and Dad are in England (ps my dad is from England so lucky them they get to go all the time. No fair!  When are you taking me to Panama E?).  We've been texting a bit and my mom said that she wants me to post pics of my kids because she misses them!!  So sweet.  And yes, it is really sweet because she has 30+ grandkids.

And to my sweetest mom and dad in Florida that look at our blog all the time to stay connected to us, we love you guys!  I am so sorry that I've stolen your son and taken him West :( 

Here are some recent pics of the babies...a couple of weeks ago at a local splash pad.






Miss you.
Wanna come visit?

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Storytime Live!

the other day the back screen was off track and needed to be fixed
s: Mom maybe Team Umizoomi can fix it?
c.u.t.e
ps Team Umizoomi is a show on Nick Jr, they are a tiny team, they work behind the scenes...

a while later E fixed it and I asked if Sawyer had seen him
e: no
I pulled Sawyer over to the back door and exclaimed
m: Sawyer!  Team Umizoomi came and fixed the door!!
he stared at the backdoor for a long time, but not a word.

My amazing awesome brother Rich was recently in town to see a client and scored us some free tickets to Nick Jr Storytime Live.  Basically it is Nick Jr shows in play format.  We got to see:

Ni Hao, Kailan
Backyardigans
intermission
Wonder Pets
Dora



It was cute.  The boys had fun.  We got to be in a suite and have delicious food and watch the show. OF COURSE E was working that weekend.  Boo.  We missed him.  There was a bunny named Ollie on the WonderPets.  Sawyer found that quite silly.  "That's not Ollie, that's Ollie" pointing to our O of course.

Before we left for the show that day I kept "teasing" Sawyer
m: we're gonna do something really fun today...
s: what??
m: i'm not telling...
after a few of these he got really annoyed
s: WHERE ARE WE GOING TODAY?!?!?!?!?!?
he finally resigned
s: I know where we're going, to Chuck E. Cheese's house.
We've never been, but he insisted
He was definitely happy with the surprise though


I kinda love the idea of Build-a-Bear, in fact my sister Amy took me for my birthday when I was an adult, really.  It's so cute!  I've always wanted to take my boys but knew it would be for me more than them.  I know Sawyer would have fun making it, but he doesn't care for stuffed animals so it would be a waste of money.

Anyway, when we were walking around the shopping center after the show we came across the boys version of Build-a-Bear!  It's called RideMakerz.

They lured us in with a remote control car outside.  It is sooo cute!  The first part you pick out the shell of your car (they have all models, including a blue Mustang GT just like Sawyer likes :)

Then you can add wheels, rims, stickers, etc.  They have this area that looks like a mechanics garage.  In the end you make a personalized license plate.  It is seriously so cute, I wanted to buy them right there on the spot!!  I think we'll definitely have to go back though, maybe for a birthday or Christmas :)

Here's is a video of Ollie being chased by the remote control car.  He would run after it, then when it started to chase him he'd run away yelling, "no, no, no"



Monday, October 4, 2010

Gotta love JibJab

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Monday, September 27, 2010

It was oh so fun

Song: Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Friends

This weekend one of my very BFFs Ashlie came to visit!  Ashlie and I met in 2004 while working at Dillard's.  She and Luke had just gotten married and E and I were married less than a year.  All of us instantly became friends and did lots and lots together.  We celebrated every birthday by going out to eat together, lots of trips and just so many good and funny times.  And wouldn't you know it...we each have two boys, Sawyer and Cole 4 months apart and Ollie and Max 9 months apart.

Here we are in 2005 outside Halle Berry's house


Aren't they so cute?!
max, ashlie, cole
It was a too short trip, Saturday to Monday, but we packed in lots of fun, going to the mall, feeding ducks, swimming...



I have a crush on this baby lately. He is at such a darling age!  He's obedient (mostly) and just starting to combine words and trying to be a big boy.

Sawyer loved having Cole here.  Made me think for half a second it would've been kinda fun for Sawyer to be a twin!  Within 10 minutes of being up in the morning they were playing "hide n sink" as S calls it :)

Miss you guys!!