Vacation

We went to Florida.
It was nice.
Chris didn't shave the entire trip and began resembling a lumberjack.
Some day I will blog about it.

Everyone needs these

I picked up these wooden castle blocks on a whim while Black Friday shopping. Best. purchase. ever. Though the boys were not excited when they unwrapped them, hands down, they play with them more than any other toy they received 6 months ago. Practically every day. Some days they use every block to build elaborate castles with dozens of towers. One time Andy built one tall tower made of all the cylindrical blocks and then a pointed top. It looked like Rapunzel's tower, and when I said so, he beamed with pride. Today they were making a fortress for their ZuZu Pets (not a best.buy.ever) and other random toys that all get rounded up at the end of the day in to a box we lovingly call the "weird box" for all the toys that don't otherwise have a home.

(there are more blocks that are not pictured. They are in a basket. We have 2 sets which allows us to build awesome creations)

As you can see, Nate gives the blocks two thumbs up.

Sadly, they are not available from the seller or the price that I purchased at on Black Friday. The cheapest is available here. (I think I only paid $10 a set and we have two sets. Ah! I wish I would have bought a dozen and saved them for gifts)

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/TreeHaus-75-piece-Wooden-Castle-Blocks/6278353/product.html?cid=202290&kid=9553000357392&track=pspla&adtype=pla&kw={keyword}

We have had other wooden blocks before that the boys were not interested in. I think the painted on windows and doors make a HUGE difference in making it feel realistic and making their creations feel like an actual castle as well as the grooves in the wood that give the blocks character and detailing- shingles on a roof, etc. There are also battlement/crenelation pieces that add to the authentic feel.

Right now

I went in for a trim the other day.

Of course, she cut way more than I wanted.

I think the last time I had my hair this short was when I was pregnant with Andy.

Here's the baby bump as of 5 minutes ago.

(p.s. I will be living in maxi dresses for the next 4 months)

(I am aware how terrible I take a self-cellphone pic)

I don't know when the last time I heard a song that made me feel like I was flying, but for my boys it was this morning.

I'm glad they enjoy music.

They feel it.

They are moved by it.

(not literally)

(...thank goodness)

(... I def don't need a flying toddler in my house)

(then I would be scrubbing crayon and dirty finger prints off the ceiling as well)

Things We Are Loving

1. We are loving these homemade graham crackers

http://pinterest.com/pin/16044142392615365/

Andy and I made them last week while Nate was at school one day, but the only tiny cookie cutters we had were acorn and leaf shapes. Today a package arrived from Chris's mom with mini cookie cutters in every shape (giraffe was my fav. Nate's was the little dog bone...or the teddy bear...or the baby chick...or the duckling. Andy's the butterfly). Obviously, we needed to put them to use right away.

2. Paper Air Planes made of poster board = Awesome

3. Vintage Baby Clothes

as in my baby clothes that my mom saved! A whole box full. LOVE.

I love hearing the boys refer to the baby as "baby sister". Nate will often come snuggle by me for a chance to feel the baby move. The other day he said, "Baby Sister, we're ready for you to come out now". I told him, "Oh no, honey. She's not ready to come out yet. Her lungs aren't ready to breath air and her body is not ready to live outside of mom yet. Think of a grape, how it has to grown on the vine until it's ripe. The baby isn't ripe yet." He got a panicked look on his face for a minute and then hesitantly leaned close to my belly and said, "Nevermind. Stay in there." :) He is such a sweet, thoughtful boy. It already melts my heart to think about him holding her. Speaking of which, here's his face when we told him we were having a girl

(don't mind Andy, he wasn't feeling well.)

And me the day of the ultrasound. Photo courtesy of Nate.

I know it didn't look like much then, but she is actually measuring a little big (just like her brothers)

Christmas in Chicago

We met up in Chicago with Chris's parents and brother this Saturday (it's only about 1.5 hrs from here). It was great to be with them, and I was able to pass off a box of wrapped presents instead of shipping them, but what a zoo!

The first stop was the Lego store on Michigan Ave.







The pictures don't show it, but it was pretty crowded. Not idea situation for two little boys who have been saving their chore money for months to spend on this day. Chris's brother Jon took Nate around and around the store, finally selecting 3 things (spending every dollar he had to spend). Andy picked out one thing, then just wanted to build with the Legos.

Next we grabbed some lunch. Did some coloring.


We were seated right by the window and a Santa bicycle gang rode by (probably a hundred? a bunch of people dressed up in Santa costumes, as well as a few dradles and a few elves). We would see them through out the rest of the day.





After lunch we walked over to Christkindl Market where the boys bought a nutcracker. On our way there, we stopped in Macy's to get hats for Trudy and Jon (it was cold! The boys had long underwear on under their pants). Christmas widow displays spotted. (I was more taken by my little boy observing them, than the displays themselves)




Andy tried on hats too, but decided his own was the best.




I felt like a paparazzi snapping photos as we walked, but I knew Chris would want to see it (he was at the office working). Nate laying his head on Jon's shoulder as Jon carried him because Nate was cold and just waned held. (Doesn't he look huge?) Andy holding on to Kapka's hand everywhere. I wasn't impressed by Chicago at Christmastime, but I was so glad we went for all of the tiny snippets of sweet memories we created that day. Such as, the bus was too crowded on the way back to the hotel for Chris's dad to sit with us, so he stood in the back and held on to the rail. The boys and Steve blew kisses back and forth and waved and such the whole ride back. It was adorable heart warming.

Introducing Super Catman

"Nice kitty"

Andy and his BFF Henry @ preschool Halloween Party

Because of Pinterest, I am a better mom

Living in a 900 sq ft apartment with 4 people means there is no extra space for non essentials. Cardboard, in my eyes, was a non essential and immediately goes out to the recycling bin.

I have seen so many cool things for the boys to do with cardboard on Pinterest that I am changing my ways and regretting all the boxes I sent to the bins earlier this week.

Here are a few ideas:

http://www.ikatbag.com/2008/07/whats-in-box.html

We made the boat this morning (kinda wishing I would have saved this for later in the winter.... also kinda wishing I would have built this in their bedroom... not sure if I can get it up the stairs now- as you can see from the first pic, it's a big large). Also, I wish I would have saved the plastic wrap that everything is wrapped in now. I immediately threw that out. There were a few pieces left, and we taped those to the front of the boat for foaming waves. I think we need to borrow a mermaid barbie to tape to the front for our figurehead.

And now they are coloring it with markers and stamps.

Boys.

Never

Ending

Fun.

one blessing of living with boys

I have been crafting it up lately making a super hero kit and indoor hopscotch pad for a fundraiser for Andy's preschool. My house is littered with fabric scraps, but no one seems to mind.

Super easy. Would be great for homemade Christmas gifts too.

Classic

I was a parent helper in Andy's class today for the Halloween party. I snapped a few pictures while I was there, but haven't pulled them off my camera. I also came home with this treasure.

Andy obviously had a black eye (from the neighbor's playing with beyblades in an unsafe manner).

But the face

!!

I better watch my back because I am pretty sure social services is going to be sent to us.

Seriously.

What a poor little orphan boy.

Reminds me so much of Goob from Meet the Robinsons

Brian, you better not submit this to one of those "awkward family photo" type of websites... I know it belongs there!

I seriously can't look at this picture without cracking up. When I showed it to Andy's teacher she said, "they do retakes". I replied, "Oh, NO WAY! This is absolutely a keeper!" And it is. I will treasure it forever.

A haunting we will go

The boys are off of school after their Halloween parties on Wednesday.

Thursday.

Friday.

Saturday.

Pumpkin festival, carmel apples, carving pumpkins, spooky movies, lots of art projects to do.

It's going to be a fun weekend.

Tomorrow we are going to make this snack for Andy's preschool class. I am going to try to track down some spider rings to put on one of the fingers.

Lunch idea for Thursday , day one of Russell Halloween Extravaganza

And movie night Friday night.

And hot chocolate after walking home from the pumpkin festival //idea from here//

Life with kids is so much fun!

And a few Andabear pictures, because I love him so.

Happy Birthday, Trudy and Steve

Happy birthday to my truly wonderful mother-in-law and father-in-law.

You raised an amazing son who is a gentle, thoughtful father and patient, compassionate husband.

I will be forever grateful for this.

Even from my earliest memories, you have always been kind and patient, generous and good. Marrying so young, we needed a gentle, guiding hand to help us figure things out, and you guys were just that. I love that I know you so well. That we were able to spend our first 6 years of marriage living only a few miles away. Going out for pizza on Friday. Sunday dinners on... well, Sunday. Meeting up for lunches frequently during the week. The guys golfing on Saturday, and Trudy and I spending the day together, working on projects, shopping at country stores (I miss that one in Amana!), developing a love for TJ Maxx (which still holds strong today!) I felt instantly included and part of the family, equal in all things, including love. I think I have taken this for granted, not realizing how rare a gift it was....thank you. I am so lucky to have married Chris not only for the wonderful man that he is, but also for the wonderful family that I married in to- constantly and unconditionally supportive in all things. I know I would not be the mother and wife I am today without you. Thank you. I love you.

Happy Birthday.

Pumpkin Patch

We spent the weekend in Iowa City with Chris's parents (who celebrate their birthday tomorrow!)

It was wonderful.

(more to come)

Under the weather

Nate is sick and this morning I asked him how he felt. This is how he described it for me:

"If you take a rotten egg and then crack it and mix it in to cookie dough and then eat that cookie dough. ..... that's how I feel....Yucky".

I love the mind of a 5 year old.

Sunday Night Brownies

//Recipe here//

Licking the bowl, optional.