30 Days of Thankful - Days 14 and 15

Combining two days again!

I am thankful for the Sunshine and the Rain.  It's raining today, and the weather forecast calls for more rain for something like the next 3 days at least.  It's not cold (yet), but it's gloomy here.  Days like this make me miss and appreciate the sunshine and its warmth all the more!    On sunshiny days, I realize how much we need the rain to give us the array of colorful plants and flowers we enjoy.  We may not enjoy the rain, but we need it.

Kind of like life, huh?

So, I am thankful for Sunshine and Rain.

Quick As A Flash! But Sweet As Pie.

I have noticed I don't have many pictures of Zane.  My sweet little Zane.  His sweetness level has definitely seemed to grow or at least become more evident lately.  Sure, he and his dad and older brother seem to clash. But he and I have bonded more than ever over the past few months.  And he loves his little brother like crazy.  The two of them are always together, and I hope that's the way it will be all their lives.  (You have these hopes especially when you are an "older" parent.  I don't want either of them to be alone when Jason and I are gone.)

But this picture epitomizes Zane right now.  Quick as a flash, much quicker than my camera.  (Man, I need a new camera!)  And sweet.  Look how his little hand are crossed on his belly.  And you can see his face is in a little smile.

I could eat him up, I love him so!

*LOVE* This Little Man!

He is 8 months old now!

Look at that cute face!  Eyes as big and wide as ever!

And EV-E-RY-THING goes straight to the mouth.  He loves using those 8 teeth!

Scouting For Food 2011

This weekend was the annual Scouting for Food event in Hurricane.  We were at a birthday party last weekend, so we didn't get to distribute the bags.  But we made it out at 9 AM on Saturday to pick up, sort, and deliver the food to the Community Cupboard.

Not many kids showed up this year, but I think he was very beneficial for Ethan.  He, of course, had lots of questions about the food pantry:  where it is, who it is for, why people go there, where the food comes from.  These can be tough questions, but this was the perfect opportunity to talk about hunger and kindness and compassion and helping neighbors.

Collectively, we sorted and packed through 735 food items this year.  Things from lots of corn and beans and soup to cereal boxes to cake mixes.  The boys loved emptying and sorting the food!  It was like a contest to see who could get through the most cans!  It was great watching them.

Donations were down this year; all the more reason for us to give.  Like last year, we actually took the opportunity to let Ethan shop for the food pantry himself.  We gave him $20 to spend on his choice of food for donation.  

Jason and I thought it would be a good thing for us to do this once a month.  God knows there is need for food all year in our community, not just at the holidays.

This was a great activity for all the Scouts, but especially for Ethan and me :)

Origami Master He Wants To Be

Ethan's elementary school has a connection with the Japanese culture.  I think this is partly because the Toyota plant is in the nearby town of Eleanor, West Virginia.  A couple of years ago, a Japanese ambassador of sorts visited their school and showed the children some origami art.  They even learned to make little paper "cups."  Ethan loved it.  Since then, there have been little paper "cups" all over the house.  (I think he gets bored and just makes them out of stray pieces of paper lying around the house."

We bought this book "Origami Yoda" for him at the book fair last year (or was it two years ago?).  He made this cute little origami Yoda last night.  I HAD to take a quick pic of it!  (I love Yoda's happy smiling face!)

A Big Day for a Little Boyd!

Guess who is crawling now!

30 Days of Thankful - Day What? Oh, Yeah, Thirteen

Today is the Sunday following a three day weekend.  So I am out of sorts.  This always happens to me on a long weekend.  I would be a wreck if we took a vacation and we were out of our normal routine for a whole week!

Nonetheless, today is the 13th of November.

So what am I thankful for today?  I am pausing.  Thinking.  Because I am working a little this morning while Jason took the boys to the park.  Someone is blowing leaves outside.  And that is really annoyingly LOUD.  And I've messed my neck/upper back up again.  I have a heating pad on my shoulders.

I am thankful to have and to be able to use all my senses.  I feel old and sore and somewhat broken physically this morning.  But I can feel.

Touch -- I can feel the soft warm hands of my little-est one when I hold him and rock him.  I can feel the so-soft ears and cheeks of Super Z.  And I can feel the weight of my oldest's outstretched legs on my lap when we are sitting on the couch in the evening watching TV.  How can be getting so big???

Hearing -- that leaf blower.  But also the daily noise of our life.  Nash is saying da-da-da like he's a member of the Police.  Z says Mommy I know a thousand times each day.  And E asks the best questions.  Some I can't answer.  I love his questions.

Sight -- I can see the leaves in our backyard blowing around in the warm wind of the day.  (Not the best day for blowing leaves IMO.)  All the trees' colors have turned varying shades of brown now.  We've already passed that prime 2 week or so long period when the golds, reds, oranges, and purples sing.  But I love fall.

Taste -- Biscuits and grape jam.  Jason made biscuits and gravy for the boys for breakfast this morning, but I love biscuits with jam or jelly.  So good!

Even though I am not at 100% today, I am thankful God has given me the gift of all my senses and the ability to appreciate and enjoy them.  I just wish that leaf blower would stop!

I Have A Dream

I am really trying to get organized.  It is secretly a dream obsession of mine.

My kids deserve to live in a clutter-free, organized, tidy environment.  My husband deserves it.  I deserve it.

I have been reading a lot on the I Heart Organizing blog lately.  Jen has great ideas to make it happen.  She is so organized and creative with paper and other STUFF.  I want to be like her!!!!

I also looked through every single one of the ideas to incorporate photos into personal space on Kristen Duke's  photography blog.

So I started with the kitchen today.  That is our landing spot, where everything ends up.  My purse, etc.  Ethan's school papers.  Zane and Nash's daily daycare reports.  And the mail.  The mother of all paper beasts -- the mail.  We have discovered in this digital age that we don't actually get much mail.  Some bills (many are paperless online statements now), health insurance EOB's, retirement savings statements, occasionally a card for birthdays or anniversaries, or holidays.  The crazy out-of-control things are magazines (I am NOT renewing any subscriptions this year!) and catalogs.  Oh my gosh.  The insanity of it all.  Ethan shredded like it was going out of style.  And I ended up with four keeper piles.  (I possibly can pare it down even more, but this was a good start.)

So my goal is to get the paper off my kitchen countertops.  Our kitchen is VERY small, so taking away any space at all hurts.

The adjoining dining room is also VERY small.  But there is a space with a cool old china cabinet that used to be my mom's in the corner.  It's a little nook about 4 and a half feet wide.  That's where my mail station is going to be.  I hate to move out the china cabinet, but I feel like I am desperate.  I need to make a change, but what we have ain't workin'!

My plan is to install two 10" deep shelves from Pottery Barn in that space, with the first one being about 30" from the ceiling and the second one being about 18" below that.  This is where I would like to display some of my pottery I have collected over the years (cookie jars, platters, etc) and personalize with photos or prints.

Below that is going to be these nice 12" square cork boards I got on clearance at Target at least a year ago (I had good intentions even then!).  That's where I would like to put the day-to-day things we need for school or daycare like lunch menus, field trip info, etc. that you forget about if they are out of sight.  Ina  pile of paper.

Below this will be the console table we currently use as a desk upstairs for our laptop.  It's not ideal, but it's free.  On top of the table will be boxes (cute photo boxes perhaps?) for current bills, coupons, things to be filed.  Below that will be the two black leather cubes we sometimes have to use as extra seating at the small dining room table when we have guests.  In the nearby hallway coat closet will be the paper shredder and a box for newspaper and magazine recycling.

That's my plan.  Granted, you have to actually USE the system for it to be successful.  But I am so inspired because I actually finally have a plan!

I also have plans to begin school paper storage files for each of the boys (one of Jen's ideas).  I am finding nice hanging file folder boxes with folders for each school year.  There will be important things like tests or report cards or special projects in each school years' folder.  I am also going to try to get a handle on all the super artwork produced in our house.  I will display it for a while in a location TBD (currently the fridge).  Then we will scan electronically all the art, eventually displaying it in some kind of collage or storing it in a photo book form someplace like Shutterfly.  You know I will keep the super special awesome pieces though!

So that's my plan.

I am heading to Target tomorrow to look for the filing supplies, and I am going to order the wall shelves from PB.  So awesome!!!

30 Days of Thankful - Day 11

Today (11.11.11) is Veteran's Day.  I day to remember, honor and support those who have or who are serving in our armed forces.  These are the men and women who have been the strong arm or the enforcer of democracy.  Some join willingly; others are required to because of circumstances.

My eyes have been opened this week watching Vietnam in HD on the History Channel with my husband and oldest son.  My dad served in Vietnam even though he doesn't talk about it very much, if ever.  Growing up, we were trained never to ask about it or talk about it.  "He doesn't like to talk about it."

I know he served in the latter part of the war.  Based on what I know, he probably served sometime around 1968.  He would have been 25 then.  The draft age was from 18 to 25 years.

I am pretty sure he was wounded.  But I haven't seen medals or anything.  I believe his son and first wife have all of those things related to his service.  I hope they still have them anyway.

I know that my dad is a creative soul who is fun-loving yet gentle.  I know this war, fighting on the ground, must have been Hell for him.  I know he still has nightmares about it, and he is 68 years old.

It makes me sad.

But it also makes me proud that he did it.  Even though I know he didn't want to.  Even though it hurt him physically and emotionally.

And it makes me thankful for him, his service and his sacrifice.  And those like him.

30 Days of Thankful - Days 9 and 10

So here I am bundling up two days again.  I thought about this yesterday, knew exactly what I would write about.  But I got sick.  I left work early to go to the doctor to get this cough I've had for 3 weeks checked out.  (People at work are giving me dirty why-are-you-here-infecting-us looks.)  It turns out it is probably just a cold plus seasonal allergies.  The doc gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and an allergy med, but I haven't filled it yet.  See, I can't breastfeed Nash if I take it.  So, I'm going to try and tough it out and see if it clears up on its own.  But today, I am thankful that I have access to quality healthcare.

I am also thatnkful for a job and supervisor who offer me flexibility.  Flexibility to leave work early or come in late if I need to do something for my kids.  (Or, like yesterday, go to the doctor.)  Life would be a lot more stressful if I did not have the options I do.

My Holiday "Mantle"

Our mantle at the stairs landing to the basement

Fall subway art printable from eighteen25

I just love this owl candle!  He came in a set with the porcupine and squirrel.  Think I will be using these guys in Nash's first birthday party decor (woodland animals theme).  Yes, it is 4 months away!

There's the squirrel and porcupine!

A good view of Ethan's fall-inspired artwork.  Notice the falling leaves in the frame!

I absolutely adore these little pumpkin votive size candles.  And they smell great, too.

30 Days of Truth Challenge - Day One

Day 1:  Something you hate about yourself.

I am going to start this my changing the title to, "Something I don't like about myself."  I really don't like the word HATE.  I am working hard to wean its use from my vocabulary because I don't want my kids to use it except in extreme cases.  Because HATE is a word reflecting extreme emotion.  And I don't HATE myself :)

I don't like many things about myself.

I am a procrastinator.  Especially when it comes to packing.  Ooh, I hate packing.
Even though I have great aspirations, I am not very organized with paperwork (especially at home).  Ugh.
I have great ideas, but I don't follow through very well.  (I share this trait with my dad.)
I lack focus and can be easily distracted.
I am not good at keeping in touch with people I love.  (I am sorry, Aunt Shirley.)
I don't "play" enough.  (I am sorry, my sweet boys.)
I am overweight and I am getting gray hairs and wrinkles and I don't feel very attractive.  (I am sorry, Jason.)
I have lost control of my personal finance.  (This one keeps me awake nights.)
I have lost inspiration to cook.  (Thank goodness Jason has stepped up lately.)
I have failed when it comes to teaching my two younger sons how to sleep well.
I am a pack rat.

Wow, the list goes on and on, doesn't it?  Was this exercise supposed to make me feel like crap?  No, I think it just makes me aware of my shortcomings.  I should try to change the things I can and embrace (or learn to live with) the things I cannot or choose not to change.

Boy, I need Day Two of this challenge.  Even though I don't think I could write to it just now.  I feel kind of like you do when you rip a band-aid off really quickly.  Ouchie. 

30 Days of Thankful - Day 8

I posted earlier and regret it now.  It was negative.  And I decided I need to keep a positive outlook.  I am an example for my boys.  I don't want to hurt my mom.  (If she were to read the earlier post, she would be upset.  She would have taken it personally.  I am sorry about that.)

So what am I thankful for today?  My mom.  I think back to when each of my sons was born.  She was there.  I think about the fact her mom wasn't there when my sister and I were born.  She had passed away when my mom was 21.  Can you imagine how difficult that would have been?  21 is a hard age anyway.  So she wasn't there when I was born.  My mom was essentially alone.  My dad's parents were there but were not very supoortive of her.  Ever.  Aunt Shirley supported her but wasn't there either.  Knowing how my dad is (and probably was then), I realize she was alone.

My mom is a very outgoing person.  A people person.  In the 70's and 80's in southwestern rural Virginia, the dad is the breadwinner and the mom stayed home with the kids.  Knowing my mom's personality and need to be with others, I realize she must have been miserable staying at home with us all day.  And we only had one car, so usually she was just that -- home alone with us all day.  And my sister and I were typical siblings, fussing and fighting.  She must have been miserable.

So I am thankful for my mom.  She's not perfect, but neither am I.  I am thankful for all she does for me and our family. 

That's better.

Me & My Boys at the YGG show (21 October 2011)

view full image

Handprint Turkey Project

How awesome is this?  The girls over at eighteen25 posted this project on their blog, and I think this would be a great little weekday evening project for me and my boys. 

Ethan and I decorated our faux "mantle" on the stair landing downstairs to the basement this weekend.  (He loves that stuff!  I liek to think he inherited his flair for arts/crafts from his mama. :))  He made two pieces of fall art out of the blue Saturday morning, and I knew I had to display them.  Seeing how proud both he and Zane are of their artwork inspires me to do something with it, rather than just throwing it into the piles of paperwork we accumulate.  So, our fridge is covered with it.  And now our "mantle" displays it as well.

I love this family turkey handprint project!  I think I have a frame that will work perfectly....

30 Days of Thankful - Days 1 thru 7

Yep, behind again.  That seems like a running theme in my life lately.  I am trying to focus on one thing at a time.  Focus on one thing; and, hopefully, do it well!

Today my focus is getting back to documentation of my life on my little blog here :)

Days One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and Seven:

I am thankful...

1. for my husband.  Growing up, I never had a boyfriend or dated.  Yep, major nerd.  I am afraid some people perceived me as a snob, but I'm not.  Just quiet, a little shy, focused on school/career (at least back then), not very pretty or cute to teenage boys.  But that's ok.  I found my match, 13 or so years ago in Jason.  I was impatient at times to know why I am here, what God's plan for me is.  Meeting Jason, falling in love, marrying him, and having our sons laid it all out for me.  God knows, i am sure, that he is the only person in this world who can live with me and still love me!  I try to be conscious of that and try to be a better wife, mother, friend on days when I am just crazy.  He is GOOD.  Just so GOOD.  I am thankful him every day.  I am thankful I have married a good man who I love and who loves me and our kids.
2. for Ethan Henry Boyd.  I could write volumes about my kids, but I am just going to keep this short and sweet.  I am thankful for the boy who shared his ticket reward points at Billy Bob's Wonderland on Saturday with his brother.  His brother really just wanted a bouncy ball (I know it's worth a total of 25 cents or less, and don't we have a hundred bouncy balls at home already?) but he was 42 points short.  Ethan had 282.  So, without my prompting, he turned in the tickets and got a bouncy ball for each of them plus some crayons for his brother.  This is big because he gets very frustrated with his brother because he is a loud, moody, now-I-have-to-share-my-bedroom-with-him 2 year old little brother.  I am thankful for Ethan's kindness.
3. for Zane Michael Boyd.  He and Ethan have different personalities, so we are experiencing many things for the first time with Zane.  Yesterday, Jason took Zane with him to the grocery store.  Zane started singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as loudly as he could in the shopping cart.  Ethan would have NEVER done this.  That makes me smile and laugh out loud.  I am thankful for his sweetness and freedom of spirit. 
4. for Nash Jameson Boyd.  My baby.  My last baby.  My wonderful surprise of a baby.  I tried planning so many things in my life because it was the right thing to do.  Nash was a surprise.  Because of that, I wanted to remember and cherish everything I could about my pregnancy and his infancy and growth.  For goodness' sake, I didn't even know his gender till the moment he was born!  (Okay, in my heart, I knew.)  He is so pleasant and such a good baby.  I am thankful he was a surprise gift.
5. for health.  I say this as I am entering my third week of a terrible cold, I have a toothache beginning to emerge from a filling I had done 2 months ago, and I hurt my back/neck while sleeping (I know, who does this?).  But generally I am healthy and my family is healthy.  I need to get in shape, and I need to start making healthier family meals and food choices.  But I am thankful for a strong, healthy body. 
6. my home.  I am thankful to have a beautiful home.  It's not perfect; it's still a work in progress as far as decorating goes.  I am constantly thinking of ways to decorate and personalize our space.  I wish I could just finish one room!  I would feel such a sense of accomplishment then.  I think that's what I have become obsessed lately with DIY in blog world.  There are so many great ideas out there I would like to steal make my own :)  I am thankful for my home and those I share it with.
7. I am going to steal number 7 from my son.  I asked him the other night what he was thankful for and he told me it was having enough food to eat whenever he wanted.  It sounds so simple, doesn't it?  But think of all the people who don't have easy open access to good food and water.  We are doing the Cub Scouts Scouting for Food drive again next weekend.  Seeing all the food that is collected, sorted, and then taken to the community food pantry is inspirational.  And we are a small cub scout pack, so we are not talking about a large amount by any means.  But it is important, and I think it is important for him to be involved with this service activity.  We could do more, I know.  But this is a good place to start.  I am thankful for having plenty to eat, whenever I want.

30 Days of Thankful

After the shock of Halloween has passes and just prior to the beginning of the nonstop hustle bustle of Christmas, we have November tucked into the calendar.  November is when we have Thanksgiving and Veterans' Day, two days we are thankful.  Even though I am getting started late (on November 7th), I am going to try to take a moment each day or so to reflect on things I am thankful for.  My life is overflowing with adundance in so many ways.  I hope this will be an exercise to make me realize this, to let others know how much I need and care about them, and to be a good example for my kids.  Wish me luck!  You know how easily distracted I get!!!

30 Days of Truth Challenge

Chelsey @ thepapermama took on the challenge of being honest with herself, looking inward, and reflecting on these thirty questions.  Writing is good therapy for me, but I am REALLLY bad about sticking with a multiple entry challenge such as this.  So, maybe i won't attack these chronologically, maybe I won't attack these on consecutive days, but I am gonna do it!  This is definitely a challenge for me.

 30 days of truth challenge

Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 7: Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 8: Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 9: Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12: Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13: A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.) Day 14: A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15: Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16: Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18: Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19: What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20: Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21: (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22: Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25: The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27: What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28: What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30: A letter to yourself: tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

Happy Sunday Thought -- on a Monday!

http://www.joyshope.com/2011/10/happy-sunday.html

The A to Z of me

I've been seeing this on the blogosphere.  I thought this could be fun.  So, here goes.  The A to Z of me.

A. Age: 38
B. Bed size: full.  But we're looking at upgrading to a Queen in the near future.  PLEASE!
C. Chore that you hate: washing dishes.  Without question.
D. Dogs: Bert, but we can't forget Sadie :)
E. Essential start to your day: first thing -- brushing my teeth.
F. Favorite color: green
G. Gold or Silver: white gold
H. Height: 5’7″
I. Instruments you play: nada
J. Job title: civil engineer
K. Kids: 3 adorable little Boyd boys
L. Live: wild, wonderful West Virginia
M. Mother’s name: Sandra Aurelia
N. Nicknames: none really.  Yes, I'm pretty boring.
O. Overnight hospital stays: just to deliver the babies
P. Pet peeves: humble bragging
Q. Quote from a movie:  can't think of any!  (I don't watch movies very often. :)) 
R. Right or left handed: rightie
S. Siblings: one younger sister
U. Underwear: comfy cotton undies
V. Vegetable you hate: not many, but I really don't like beets.
W. What makes you run late: everything, especially my disorganization.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth
Y. Yummy food that you make: lemon chicken rice soup
Z. Zoo animal: elephants are my fave

That's all, folks!

me and my boys at bedtime

❤

❤

So, so true.

courtesy of babycenter.com newsletter

Love this idea!

I love this idea at Children Inspire Design for recording your child's milestones.  I think it's intended for wee little ones, but I think it would be a great idea for bigger kids, too.  I really think I am going to have to try this out.  (I have all these crafty ideas but not enough wall space!)  It could be a neat idea for friends with little guys, too.  Hmm....Christmas is just around the corner, you know!

via jenjohnson.typepad.com

Is it wrong?

This little guy is growing up so fast.  Now he's entering the separation anxiety stage, you know, the one where he is fine until I walk into the room?  Then he throws a no-bars-hold fit until I hold him?  Yep, that stage.

I know it's not a great thing, but it's also nice to know someone loves me that badly and that only I can comfort him :)  Is it wrong of me to secretly love this?  I know it will get old really quickly, but....

Keep Calm and...

I originally copied this image trying to write about, "Keep Calm and Carry On."  That's what I've been thinking about this week as it's been so overwhelmingly crazy at work lately.  There literally have not been enough hours in the day.  I left work yesterday feeling just physically ill and mentally drained.  I woke up with a headache, and it escalated all day.  I know I did not drink enough water.  I know I did not eat anything until I got home yesterday.  I know I cried on the drive home.  When I got home, I went through the motions.  I fed Nash dinner, gave him his bath, played with Zane a little, talked to Ethan a little.  But I had to go to bed early; it's the only thing that helps.  And I felt bad about it.  Mommy guilt.

But today is better.  I got needed rest.  I drove to work this morning, I drank a Coke, I heard music to psyche me up, I made a plan.  I got things that needed to be done done.  I feel so much better now!  JOY!  RELIEF!

And now I look at this poster image.  There are so many ways I could have handled my stress of the past two days.  I chose to keep calm and carry on. 

Blow Out The Candles On the Cake!

We celebrated Jason's not-quite-40-but-almost-there-ok-39th birthday on Sunday afternoon.  His parents came to spend the afternoon with us.  They allowed us to go out to dinner (which we never get to do anymore) by watching and playing with the little guys at home for a couple of hours. 

The restaurant I wanted to take him to (Huntington Prime) closes at 3 P.M. on Sundays.  We didn't leave the house until 5.  Olive Garden, his second choice, had people waiting outside to even get a table.  Jason doesn't exactly have the patience of Job.  So, we ended up at Logan's Steakhouse.  I had him geared up to have a melt-in-your-mouth steak from Huntington Prime, so he splurged at Logan's and got the big filet.  Not quite Prime, but it was good. 

When we got home afterwards, we had yummy Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard ice cream cake.  All I can say is that there's still some left in my freezer at home, and I hope the boys forget about it.

I had taken Ethan out Saturday afternoon to get Jason's birthday present and pick up the cake.  He picked out the cake, and it's delish.  We didn't get lucky finding Jason's gift; but it's the thought that counts, right?  Ethan, however, came home with Angry Birds backpack fobs.  They're in his bed rather than on his backpack, but whatever.

I wanted to post these pictures taken of Jason and the boys blowing out the candles on his cake.  (Since Ethan picked out the cake, Zane got to choose where the candles went on the cake.)  No one pic is awesome, but it shows how fun the moment was.  It's like stuffing kittens in a sack trying to get all 5 of us looking at the same thing at the same time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JASON!!!




Nash is like, "What are you doing, Daddy?"

 

 

Wow, that cake is lit up!  How old is Jason???

 


Blow out the candles!!!

 


I love the expression on Zane's face in this shot.

So, that's a wrap!  One more in the books for the Boyd boys.

Ahh, Sweet Saturday

The weather had been so fall-like and cool last week that it was nice to be able to go outside and just enjoy the day on Saturday.  We didn't do anything crazy, mind you; but it was nice.  We spent a lot of time on the porch swing, spending some quality cuddle time with the little ones :)

Zane loves drawing now, so he pulled out the box of sidewalk chalk.  (I swear that stuff lasts forever; I think it's been arounf since Ethan who is now 8 was little!)  I told him to draw/trace around my feet.  He drew ON my feet.  But he chose a lovely shade of blue.  And it matches the nail polish color on my toes :)

chalk-covered blue-colored toes

Ethan and Zane found sticks.  Boys in my house love two things most when outside - 1) water hoses, and 2) sticks.  Ethan has a blossoming interest in golf, so he found a stick that was a perfect club.  There is a persimmon tree in our neighbor's yard that drops the fruit into our yard.  Wah-lah!  Perfect for stick clubs!

Good form, Ethan!

Zane's itty bitty stick club -- perfect for whacking.

I think he must have stepped on a squashed persimmon.  (Yep, bare feet.)

Nash is just along for the ride.  Cute, goofy face.  Love!

Long Weekend = Short Work Week = A Really Long Week for Mommy!

We started off this week with Labor Day 2011.  That meant basically no work or school on Monday which meant a long weekend for us.  Is it terrible for me to say I have a love/hate relationship with weekends?  Right now, they are just so much work!  (Another reason why I am a totally un-fun mom.  Sorry, guys!)  Weekends are when we are officially responsible for the tedious parts of parenthood like meals and naps.  Seriously, meals or meal planning is a back-to-back activity spanning wake up to bedtime with no more than 2 hours in between.  I know we seriously need help with organization and meal planning, but why bother?  It's like a dog chasing his tail!  And naps?  Ethan hasn't really napped since he was 2.  And the little boys never seem to nap on the same schedule. *deep sigh*

Weekends are also when you have to catch up on laundry, go to the grocery store, get the oil changed in the car, clean up the house (ha!), blah, blah, blah.  See?  It doesn't sound fun at all.  I did notice that by not scheduling a specific activity last weekend, we became slackers.  There was no motivation for ole mom and dad.  Well, for mom at least.  I didn't get a shower Saturday until after the little boys were in bed.  I don't think I got a shower at all on Sunday.  Or was that Monday?

So, here we are, full circle back to Monday.  Our "day off." 

It also rained Sunday evening and pretty much all day Monday.  A lot.  That did mean that some old toys of Ethan's were resurrected -- the Thomas the Train set.  I had forgotten how many trains he had!  I remember going to any department store, we would always check to see what trains they had.  We usually bought one every trip for us -- I mean, him.  Ethan has played with the trains for years!  But suddenly Zane loves Thomas trains now.  Books, toys, train sets, everything.  Ethan and Jason built a huge intricate track in the basement.  We played with that thing for hours over the weekend.  We even set Nash in his exersaucer in the middle of the track so he could enjoy it, too.  (He was following the trains as they chugged around the track!)  That was fun.  The track is still set up a week later :)  Yep, that's the way we roll in our house!  Pick up toys every night?  It's like eating oreos while brushing your teeth.

Inspiration for an Un-Fun Mom

Children Inspire Design Art!

I've signed up for the Children Inspire Design newsletter.  On the first of each month, new art is sent to your email for download.  They also have a blog with lots of DIY craft type things.  I love this!!!