sparkle

IMG_5304, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

whew, thanksgiving was here and then blink it was Christmas. i just barely made my goals of having the gifts wrapped before Christmas eve - just a few left that didn't keep me up too late. this season is so amazing now, as a parent. watching the delight in my boys' eyes is amazing. baking a cake for Jesus' birthday with Andrew and then talking more about the birth of Christ with him. driving to see lights and stopping at a manger scene. letting my boys pick out gifts and give them to those that they love.

of course there is the flip side, as there always is - ornaments broken by my favorite 2-year-old. the constant mess and clutter that decorations provide. bags and bags of gifts that must be wrapped when all you want to do is relax at the end of the day.

but regardless of the rush, clutter, tiredness - this season inspires people to give and that in itself is inspiring to me.

grateful friday

my sister posted a video on facebook that really made me think. i've been enjoying talking up christmas to the boys, encouraging them to let me know what they'd like to receive and looking at the trees and decorations already out in the stores. but i have not encouraged them in the spirit of giving and being thankful. and so i have made a commitment to being grateful myself, and to share that with my boys this coming week.

calm, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

a quick trip to TJ Maxx this morning and i have a new mug. everything in this picture makes me happy. my yellow walls, the placemat from target, the mug rug from my talented friend kelly...

new mug, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

funny enough, after i took the picture i put water on for a nice cup of tea, enjoying the quiet of my house. and i realized, my favorite tea is called calm - and my new mug says the exact same thing. i suppose that it is the little things for which we should be thankful - because without that gratitude in our hearts for those somewhat everyday things, none of the ordinary would be spectacular.

handy

smore, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

the fabulous cheri made me a cute watermark for my blog photos so i figured that was excuse enough for a post. silly me, i thought my kids would want to eat s'mores this summer. who would have thought that they wouldn't be into the stuff all melted together? they actually asked for each part separately. only my weird kids.

masked

our adventure with no power from the freak October snowstorm started just before halloween. of course i was happy to find a few pictures on my camera that i forgot that i had taken.

heroes, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

the day of the storm we ventured down to a fun halloween parade in a nearby town. all the shops hand out candy and it was really cute to see all the costumes. i like the fact that it is in the morning the best and we'll probably do it again next year so that the kids can hand out candy at home in the evening. i'm really not crazy about walking down streets and knocking on people's doors :)

halloween, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

chris had an intervention with me early in october - no homemade costumes. i knew i had a lot on my plate, but i really wanted to do it. i think i get this from my mom - but i would stay up all night at the last minute just to get something done. so, off to target we went, and we ended up with a super cute dash from the incredibles, and a monster. really super cute, if i do say so myself.

halloween 2011, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

thankfully the boys ended up with just enough treats, but not too much. and since we had no power on the actual holiday, our town cancelled trick or treating, so the candy i had purchased went to my classmates at school during a presentation. i know how to lay it on thick to win extra brownie points.

fall days

the fall has totally blown by us here. i was really looking forward to that in-between time. i love cardigans and long sleeves, light scarves and the occasional gloves. instead we were bombarded with snow at the end of the month and left with no power for 5 days. the snow ushered in cooler weather and now i'm in need of a new winter coat.

right in the midst of october, cheri and i went out and took some maternity pics. i was absolutely terrified because she is an amazing photographer, but i ended up pleased with how they turned out. i am so blessed to have such a good friend in her. i can't wait for that little one to arrive!

IMG_4712, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

IMG_4610, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

IMG_4758, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

IMG_4714, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

catching up.

i have been behind on life lately. i've missed my grateful fridays when they were the only thing i could seem to post. going to grad school and raising a family is really hard work. when i have my free time i'm usually just tired and reading other people's blogs instead of writing my own.

but i'm grateful for the busy-ness and grateful for the people in my life.

me and my boy., a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

we've been watching our budget but really? a spontaneous family night out, especially when the kids behave... love it.

kissy, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

love this guy.

first library card, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i've been slacking in taking the boys to the library and i'm trying to fix that. thankful that my boys love to read!

chubbas, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

random afternoons out with the kids

us at the jets game, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

and a whole day spent away from the kids with just my hubby. i'm actually pretty mortified at the large-ness of my face in this picture, but its the only one of the both of us from the entire day.

other things i'm grateful for:
-good friends
-tall socks (i just love that feeling)
-playing tricks on my hubby
-finishing projects (soon to be revealed)
-warm weather foods

grateful friday

lonely raspberry, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

my grateful friday:
- raspberries finally appearing outside. my mom grabbed three raspberry bushes a few years ago, and after a few rounds of combat with the tree roots in my backyard, we planted them in the ground. one is outgrowing his brothers because we planted him a year earlier than the other two. the appearance of raspberries was highly anticipated and we kept checking. finally, last week.... berries! it was like magic.
- the cooler weather is a big win this week.
- a new duvet and comforter for our bed from ikea. it is making me actually want to make the bed. this is a huge feat.
- cleaning the house with my hubby. makes even the worst tasks a whole lot more enjoyable.
- i bought a whole box of clementines at BJ's this week. they are incredibly juicy and the perfect snack to fight off a sweet craving.

grateful friday

3/365: thrift store find, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

this week i'm grateful for:

-spending more time with Christian. although he takes out every toy and wants to pile them on top of me. :)
-a warm cup of tea of a rainy day
-date nights on friday nights :)
-little things around my house that make me happy, like beautiful dishes to make meals in, pretty places to keep my jewelry, and pictures of my boys hung on the wall.

sweet girl

my friend karly and i went to high school together for only one year but really connected right away. after being out of touch for a few years, it was amazing to get in touch back in 2006 only to discover that we both were pregnant. it has been neat to bond over all the similar situations we've been going through as mommies.

now that we have several little ones it is harder to get together. thankfully karly's church held an amazing VBS this summer and it gave us a bit of free time to catch up.

horne (1 of 1), a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

naturally i asked karly if i could practice taking pictures on her little girl skylynn. skylynn was such a sweet, happy baby - and although she doesn't enjoy being on her belly, she didn't fuss or give me a hard time at all.

skylynn, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i really am learning so much. i'm trying to really pay attention to photos that catch my eye and decipher what it is that makes them special, out of the ordinary. i'll admit, it was pretty easy with skylynn - she has beautiful eyes, long lashes and a really cute smile.

the best plans

i like to make plans without telling chris. its a little problem of mine. this past weekend? we were going to the fair.

llama, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i'm a sucker for fairs. bright colors, delicious food...

spit, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

and the animals. especially the llamas. and the sheep. and the chicks. and the bunny rabbits.

shoulders, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

and so we arrived early. rode only one ride - andrew couldn't decide and christian wasn't tall enough, so we took his indecision as an opportunity to make the decision for him, and then distract him with something else, ahem, cheaper. those rides are expensive.

i had these thoughts in my mind that i would be able to take some great pictures of all that we did and all that the day held for us, but my adventures don't usually work out that way. i had a very tired 2 year old on my hands, as well as a 4 year old who was very overwhelmed by all the options. thankfully i kept the camera out long enough to get a few pictures of my boys, and i tried to remind myself that my boys need my attention more than my camera does.

andrew got a batman on his face. christian did the same, because, you know, he has to have whatever his brother has.

facepaint_fair, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

and this guy wasn't too upset about my making plans without him. especially once he got his strawberry shortcake. sometimes the best plans are the ones you don't even know about. for him atleast.

shortcake, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

the first day

God has a purpose for you., a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

andrew had his first day of school last week. after many days of school being cancelled due to hurricane Irene, i was very anxious to get him into school and out of the house. maybe it is because he has been away from me before - last year in nursery school, sunday school, vbs.... but this child does not care that he is leaving me. i cried more than andrew ever did. in fact, christian cried more than the both of us, but that was because he wants to do everything his big brother gets to do.

you would also think that andrew would be excited to see me when school is over - but no. as i stood there with the other parents, so excited to see our little ones emerge from the school and tell us all about their day, i spied a little andrew giving me the look. head lowered, forehead scrunched up with a glare on his face. i immediately knew that he was not happy to be leaving school. a promise of a donut to celebrate made it all better, and needless to say we are working on giving a better response to mommy coming to pick him up.

so far i haven't gotten anything big done with my free time. i keep telling myself, tomorrow....

calm. consistent. cautious. careful.

christian is slowly learning to do some new things. this includes going down the stairs to head outside. he takes his time, one step at a time, careful, so cautious. a few times he'll look back at me to make sure he's doing it right.

its funny that even as adults we sometimes do something over and over and still need to take that caution. parenting has been so, so hard this summer. andrew is 4 and for some reason i had thought that we were beyond some of the problems we'd had. well, to be honest, we were over some of the problems... but the others have come back full-force.

he's hiding from me when we go places, talking back to me, refusing to pick up toys or put on his shoes when he is told... i could go on. i get so frustrated and lose my cool at times. i never knew parenting would be this hard.

watching christian i had one of those aha moments. cautious. careful. the thing with parenting is that i'm never going to be 100% good at it. christian will eventually learn to climb the outside stairs quicker and someday he won't need to hold on to the railing. then one day he'll run up them and someday he'll even skip the steps because his legs will be so long. but with parenting, i'm never going to be able to run with it, even if i think i can. each kid is different, and what works one day is not going to work the next. discipline and teaching my child is something that i cannot take lightly.

so, i've returned to andrew with a renewed spirit. i'm desperately trying to be calm with him and only use my loud, frustrated voice when he's truly in danger. i've reminded him constantly that i love him, that he is special. i never want him to think that his disobedience changes the way that i feel about him.

calm, consistent. cautious, careful.

addicted

have you heard of pinterest? it is the most addicting website - even more addicting than facebook.

pinterest is essentially an online bookmarking website. your friends can see your bookmarks, you can see theirs, you can see everyone's, and you can also categorize them with hashtags for easy searching. whoa, right?

the only problem with pinterest is actually doing the things that you have found. there are some amazing ideas, how-tos and tips and tricks out in blogland.

here are my top picks from pinterest this past week.

elmo veggie platter (perfect for a kid's birthday party!)

Source: hatterandhareevents.blogspot.com via Marybeth on Pinterest

mini fruit pizzas

Source: lessordinarydesigns.blogspot.com via Marybeth on Pinterest

how to make your own bath fizzies

Source: marthastewart.com via Marybeth on Pinterest

and my personal favorite,
repurosing your crib into a desk

Source: alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com via Marybeth on Pinterest

long-distance

dad visit, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i promise that i am not pregnant. just wearing a shirt that does not photograph well, including showing my pink bra.

this past week was a busy one for me, with my sister and my dad both in town for a visit. busy, but good, with park play dates, visits to jump places, kabobs and firepits. and no pregnancy announcements - i promise, i am just fat.

stay with me baby, i've got plans for you

originally written august 18, 2009

6 years ago, i woke up on august 16th after only about an hour-and-a-half of sleep. it wasn't nerves, or, maybe it was. i drank peppermint tea at the recommendation of my sister and sat on my couch doing fill-in puzzles. my house was full with shiny new things.

my sisters arrived and helped me into the white dress. hair curled. make-up applied.

we drive in a big white limousine to the church. as i wait for my big walk i lean back because i think they can see me. my daddy thinks i am going to faint.

i cry because i forgot my mom's handkerchief from when she married my dad. my sisters overwhelm me with "it's ok, don't worry" so i forget that i was starting to tear up.

i walk down the aisle and my life is changed with a vow and a kiss.

i wake up on sunday, august 16th, 6 years later. it is early. my wee baby needs some milkies and i am at his call. i am able to go back to sleep shortly before the sounds of my house wake me up.

i don't get into a white dress and i don't walk down a big aisle. i do, however, look around me and see the smiles of the ones i love.

6 years means ups and downs; happy times and sad times; big purchases; vacations; new jobs; disappointments; joyful days; sick days; surgeries; births; laughter.

6 years means 6 autumns, 6 winters, 6 springs, 6 summers. 6 birthdays (oh, how i love birthdays.) 6 chances to experience each year and all that it holds over, and over again.

6 years spent with the one i love.

and it all began with a kiss.

my baby

he is such a big boy now., a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

this little sweetheart surprises me all the time. he's so vocal and communicates so well. he plays by himself and is a joy to be around. i love the time that i get alone with him. he turned 2 but really, he's still my baby.

sweetheart

sweetheart, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

andrew is starting school, like, soon. i was excited about it until i realized how limiting it can be. school isn't an option. i can't just decide that we won't do that today and do something fun instead. come the end of august, the runs to the beach are going to be over and we'll be full of schedules.

i love the beginning of things, and i'm excited about him beginning school. at the same time, it is hard for me to accept that he is going to be away from me and that i'm not in control.

brothers, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

so for now - sand in my car, the smell of sunscreen, tan lines, popsicles and flip flops. before it ends, all too soon.

starting over

here i am, starting a new blog. even though it is still very much summer, i can almost feel fall in the air. i see the sales in the stores for school supplies and my mind wanders to sharp pencils and clean notebook pages. all so very inspiring to start fresh.

just those may days.

we had a beautiful Memorial day today.  it started out raining and thundering, and somehow the sun came out and gave us amazing picnic weather.

little man, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

this little guy got to try his hand at fishing with his pop.  he drank too many juice boxes and ate too many cheese curls.

watermelon head, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

and this one ran around barefoot and shirtless most of the day.  he ate a ton of watermelon although his dad wouldn't let me rinse off the pieces he dropped on the ground to give back to him.  am i crazy?

i really do love this time of year with the kids.  dirty feet, sticky hands, playing in the yard until the sun goes down... both boys are finally playing nicely together (except for a few little bruises) and i can finally just enjoy them.

hanging around.

earring holder, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i saw this fun idea on i heart organizing awhile back and mentioned it to cheri that i would love to do it. one sheet of radiator cover can easily be split between two people, so it is the perfect project to make with someone else.

my supplies were:
empty frame
radiator cover
spray paint
scissors

i sprayed my $1 goodwill frame a pretty gray which actually looks a little blue, and i'm happy with that. i also sprayed the radiator cover a nice bright white. i actually primed it first, because i was concerned about the paint scratching off. either it worked or it isn't really a problem. cutting the radiator cover was fairly easy. because the holes were small in the cover we chose, the metal was thinner at those points and so i was able to cut right through with my regular scissors. i cut it to fit the frame exactly.

i popped it in the frame and now have a lovely spot to organize my earrings! i have lots more but unfortunately they are a mess in my jewelry box. no pictures of that to share. :)

you got yourself into your own mess.

holding on, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

here it is, quarter to 1 - a.m. yes, in the middle of the night. i should be snuggled in my bed, but unfortunately i'm finishing a paper and working on my last part of a group project. all due tomorrow night. (wait, i guess that's today, seeing as its after midnight.)

i'm such a procrastinator. for some reason, i'm able to put things off and then i work like a fiend, quickly getting things done right at the last minute. does that say something about me? i almost believe that my work is better this way. my mind is less distracted by the urgency to get to completion.

i kind of feel like my little guy in that picture tonight. i'm heading to bed without finishing because i have the morning to continue my work. i'm holding on for just a bit longer, until tomorrow night when i can let go and slide.

growing.

i have been a bad blogger. craft projects have gone undone for school projects, house projects and the like. and the house projects are not quite finished. in fact, the school projects won't be either, for another week.

birthday, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i celebrated this little guy's 4th birthday. not so little anymore. it was absolute fun to watch how excited he was about his birthday. he knew what kind of party he was having, who was coming, and that he would get to blow out candles. in the middle of his party, he yelled out, "this is the best birthday ever!" it certainly made up for all those frustrated moments with him.

his turning 4 has seemed like a major turning point. chris and i often look to each other in amazement when we see that using reason actually works with him. he is responding so well to quiet looks and talks, reinforcements and rewards. i am so proud of the boy he is becoming. he still keeps me on my toes, but what would life be like without a little excitement?

he has learned to write a few letters, and will hold his pencil correctly most of the time. he still loves to read, and brings me books every day before nap time to cuddle up and read. yes, he still naps. that is heaven. i catch him reading to his brother, which is amazing and cute. he plays with his brother now, unlike before. we are noticing quite a bond forming between him and his brother.

batmobile, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

It is unbelievably appropriate that i am taking a preschool and early elementary curriculum class right now. i have realized how remiss i have been in helping him learn about the world around us. we have been working on that a lot lately. it is amazing to see him learn, and amazing to actually be the one teaching him. i am so blessed to be his mama and to have spent the last 4 years at home with him.

you say it's your birthday.

so i turned 30 earlier this month. i still don't like to think about, or admit, that i am now 30 years old. its a hard one!

my husband and my sister got together and put on a fabulous party for me. my sister made that awesome 30 out of pics of me, all in black and white and it was so neat.

really, turning 30 stinks but i had the best birthday in a very long time. chris and i went out to chipotle - my favorite - on my actual birthday and he surprised me with a party the very next night. i got some really special gifts including money to use toward a camera bag (although i still can't decide which color to order).

my two sweet little boys jumping on the bed to wake me up and sing happy birthday wasn't so bad either.

the space in my mind.

andrew plays army, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

andrew is always in our faces. that's not something you want a parent to say but seriously, we need him to have some quiet time a little more often. we've taken to saying, this is mommy and daddy time if we just want to sit on the couch and have a conversation.

we get spoiled by christian because he often just heads off and finds toys to quietly play with. they are total opposites. andrew brings his toys to wherever we are, insists we see every little move he makes.

a few weekends ago, he headed to the playroom and got out his army men. like always we expected him to come right back to us and insist we play, watch, etc.

we look down the hall and he had quietly - quietly lined them up and was playing with them.

we cherished the moment. it was over all too soon.

again and again and again.

yarn wrapped wreath, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i love craft night. i totally get things started and finished because of it. i have class on monday nights, and so heading out on tuesday night takes some work. i'm usually running out the door, make up smudged and my hair in a ponytail but atleast i'm making it there.

this is the first time i've brought supplies for one of the projects. i usually bring my knitting because i can't seem to get any knitting done at home lately. but when cheri posted this tutorial i knew i had to make it. i love the simpleness of it and the fact that i can leave it up without worrying about the seasons. i always seem to forget to change my front door decoration. i think i had something hanging with snowflakes on it this past july.

yarn wrapped wreath, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

this was so easy. my beginning point was a little sloppy as i got used to pulling the yarn tight, so i placed the flowers over that spot so it was hidden. another time, i would put a dot of hot glue on the first strand to hold it in place. threading the yarn over the wreath form is monotonous but once i started to see a good amount completed i felt better and worked harder. the flowers are simple and quick. a little hot glue and some of cheri's pretty ribbon and it was done.

and now all i can think of are more color combinations... i do have two doors, you know.

and i line my secrets up all by one, i put 'em all away when i was done.

the office, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

i wrangled the husband into doing some cleaning this weekend. our office is half playroom-half desk space for our computer. unfortunately, it all-too-often is our dumping ground. the children dump out the toys, and because i have a system to getting all the toys to magically fit in the cubbies, i am the only one who ends up putting the toys away. the husband dumps bills, papers, whatever onto the desk and that is another problem.

so we spent some time during morning nap working. all the toys put away, papers sorted through, and i felt amazing. blinds open, sun shining in through the window into a clean room and i was blissful.

the benefit is that the kids play with their toys better, and i can actually find things when i need them. chris hung my bulletin board for me and i found this cute little card that came along with a purchase from etsy. now if only chris would hang some picture frames for me, i'd be even happier than that little birdie.

they say you're not somebody until someone else loves you

valentines, a photo by sassyladybug on Flickr.

cheri hosts a craft night every tuesday. i never do the intended craft because i like to go against the grain. and, because i rarely prepare ahead of time.

i brought my materials to make andrew's valentines for his class. these cute owls were super easy and i love how they came out. andrew put the eyes on and i helped him write his name, so they are not all made by me.

the link to the website with instructions for the owl is here.

baby, baby, baby.

IMG_9789, originally uploaded by sassyladybug.

oh my sweet little christian. too bad i have neglected this blog so badly. your 1st birthday passed, your baby book is empty and i have not written about what a wonderful first year it was being your mommy.

get used to it, kid. your mom's a sap. i cry at the drop of a hat. you seem to make me cry even more. you have this amazing smile, and your eyes light up your whole face. i cry when you smile and i cry when you cry.

i'll be honest now and say that i cry when you throw food on the floor, too. why do you like to do that so much? i tried it and its not really that fun. along with the winter weather, i have decided to stop cleaning the kitchen floor. i figure that because of this winter weather and your food throwing combined, I am giving up on cleaning the kitchen floor. maybe when spring comes around again.

you're now 19 months old, and you are very independent. you talk a lot and you know exactly what you like. you surprise us everyday by insisting on watching your favorite tv show, your favorite snack, or your favorite toy. you love to follow your big brother around the house. in fact, you have started giving back to him all the grief that he has given you during your first year. i am proud of you for that.

you are my baby. and even though i will likely have to search my email archives one day when you ask me when you took your first steps, i will remember the other important things, when the camera was put away, and it was just you and me, laughing, and making memories.

the soup was hot and split pea and on the stove

hearty italian bean soup, originally uploaded by sassyladybug.

i love soup. truthfully i can't stand the really brothy-noodle type soups. chris loves that kind and i'll be honest, i make what i like. which is why i am very lucky that he will usually eat whatever i serve him.

i make this delicious soup with extra veggies and we fight over the leftovers. it is comforting and hearty. mashing the cannellini beans actually gives the soup a creamy texture, although i no longer use the blender for this. instead, i grab my potato masher and give them a quick mash. any escapees don't bother me because i love beans in my soup.

perfect for leftover ham, this is my absolute favorite soup.

hearty italian bean soup, originally uploaded by sassyladybug.

if I could write I'd set all the words free to follow you.

i'm coming back.