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.