When you turn 3

When you turn 3 you have to party like the best of 'em. You have to throw up a jumper, chow on popcorn and snowcones and run around until you pee your pants. Yup, all of these things happened last week at Harrison's birthday party.

The kids patiently waited their turns and then swung and swung until their arms were sore and treats fell from the trees out of pinatas.

We ate cake fit for a mouse. Mickey Mouse. We delighted in the treat that was so very good and sang and sang merry verses intended to celebrate.

The treats have been had and our party shoes are put away, until next year. Until then we'll make every day count, just like this one.

Happy Birthday, Harrison

Today you are three.

You are spunky, fun and full of life.

You were so sweet today when you woke up after your nap and asked if it was still your birthday.

Your behaviour seems to be changhing a bit, and daddy and I are hopeful that you might be turning the corner on your challenging ways. It seems possible that we are leaving the terrible twos behind.

What's next for you my sweet boy? The thrilling threes? I sure hope so.

What I do know is this. You will take 3 by storm, acting willfully and learning every day. You will continue to challenge and charm us. Everyone who meets you is smitten with you and I look forward to the adventures you have with all of us this year.

Here you are, my 3 year old third son. Wonderful and loved as ever.

I didn't mean to

I meant to share something with you. What? I don't know. Maybe about how all I do is pick up trash. The other thing is taking miscellaneous objects out of the dogs mouth. Rinse and repeat. I didn't get around to sharing anything with you because of, well...trash that needed throwing away. Socks that needed to get into the hamper, the dog...and a headcold. Oh, and Disneyland!

Yes, Disneyland. After school I packed the kids up, along with a cooler of water and headed to Disneyland. I wasn't going to let a cold or homework stop us! (Disclaimer: The kids DID do their homework. Instead of working at their desks they sat in front of the DVD player replaying Scooby Doo 2 for the 76th time. They used clipboard and pounded out definitions and math facts!)

We arrived with a mission in mind. Riding Space Mountain! Guess what happened, or better yet, what didn't happen.

We roll up to Space Mountain, completely excited only to find that it was shut down for an indefinite amount of time. Seriously?! We stood there shocked and I did what any good parent would do. I promised we'd return on Saturday.

We quickly headed over the Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters where I procured my highest score of all time. And, because I knew Cam wouldn't believe me, I took a picture of aforementioned high score! YAY ME!

We still had some fight left in us, even though we all knew we felt like going home. (Sawyer really wanted to play baseball in the front yard with the neighbor and Cam has a HUGE project due on Monday) If we couldn't ride the holiday themed Space Mountain, we'd have to settle for Haunted Mansion.

{while harry was not at all fond of this ride, he did enjoy the train!}

Since I'd promised Harrison we'd see Mickey Mouse, we had to go find him. While he was taking a rest, his friends Pluto and Goofy filled the void.

Just one idea for after school fun!

truly

There is no hiding the delight in the days that are fall. The morning chill, the orange pumpkins that are dotted along front porches and the excitement of Halloween that is just a few days away. There are exchanges over who will wear what and who needs what to complete the perfect costume. Plenty of Halloween crafts line shelves and hang on refrigerators.

Quite frankly, this is what childhood is about. Scratch that. This is what LIFE is about. It's about fun when friends and families come together for the sheer joy and pleasure of it all. It's only made better by the cool evenings and festive decorations.

What's one of the best activities of the fall? The annual pumpkin patch pilgrimage, of course. It's all about pig races and pony rides, drippy ice cream treats and finding the roundest, biggest and best pumpkin for carving.

Truth be told though, there are bittersweet moments, too. Moments when you realize that childhood is fleeting and there comes a point in a boys life where the pumpkin maze is the coolest thing at the pumpkin patch and that this is the last year for the pony rides. A boy must grow up despite his mothers plea's for a few more years of youth. I am thankful though for all of the moments I did have and all of the trips to the pumpkin patch that passed. I am lucky to have experienced it all. Though, I do wish I had paid more attention at the time.






Even still, there are goats to be fed and giggles to giggle. May there be many more pumpkin patch trips every fall, because it just doesn't seem like fall without it!

{Palm trees for sale at a pumpkin patch. You don't see that everywhere!}

Team E

Good times, baby. That is what this life is all about. Sure, there is triumph, heartbreak, and lessons to be learned...but really, it's all about the good times. Seeing how many you can stuff into a single day, or better yet, one weekend.

{this guy can fit alot of fun into one weekend}

Enter, Team E.


Team E is made up of good friends and people that are fun to hang out with. Team E manages to squeeze lots of good times into a one hour softball game on Sunday afternoons. Team E isn't the best softball team out there, but I have to bet it's the best time out there.


Team E came about when 1 person asked Andy to join the forming league. I mentioned it to another friend that her husband should play. From there, it blossomed. Now, it's full of friends and fun. Love that.

Here's to a Team E win this weekend. And even if they don't pull it out, it will be amazing. Promise.

Tagging Thursday

I thought Harry had outgrown the tagging phase. Really, I did. He hadn't written on anything recently...including himself. Clearly, I was mistaken. Enter, the dry erase marker.

Mental note to self: Wipe down those doors. They are dirty.

Wacky Weather Wednesday

{our front yard halloween decorations. they aren't great, but sawyer loves them and they were all his idea!}

I swear the weather has been off here for the better part of 6 months. We had very little HOT weather and now we are having true fall. It has been raining for 4 days and it's been chilly.

The best part? After our lovely fall weather, there will be no biting cold winter! No snow! No blizzards! No wet feet! Hooray! So we get to enjoy the chilly temperatures without the dreadful season that comes after!

We have been having lovely evenings after the homework is complete. In fact, the other night we all ventured out into the front yard and enjoyed the chill in the air. The boys played their usual baseball and Andy joined in after a while.

While the boys shouted to one another and ran from the basketball hoop, the the sprinkler head to the tree...I curled up under a blanket and read a magazine.

I love a good scented candle. This one happens to be one of my favorites, Leaves from Bath and Body Works. Another one of my favorite things? Enjoying the season and taking a moment to relax and enjoy. We all know there are many hectic moments, this just wasn't one of them.

*yawn*

It's Tuesday. An otherwise ordinary day.

Wake up. Take kids to school. Put clothes in washer. Run Errands. Put clothes in dryer. Check facebook. Pick up kids from school. Help with homework. Clean bathroom. Make dinner.

And so on and so forth. There are things I didn't even do. Things even more thrilling than the things I *did* do. Like fold laundry. You know what though? None of it really matters. It's all part of this amazing little life. The mundane, the humdrum, the boring. They are all things that sustain my family and propel us into the next day. And while I don't particularly like scrubbing toilets, I do it all for the good of the boys I live with. I embrace the ordinary and everyday, it's some of the best parts of my life.

Other best parts of my life? Crafties. Particularly paper crafties. This weeks creations? Two just in time for halloween!

{the SPOOKY banner hanging from our mantle}


{a closer look. it's made from a cosmo cricket chipboard mini album, Lucky Girl Goods crepe paper rosettes, My Minds Eye patterned paper, Distress Crackle paint covered chipboard letters, Recollections spider stickers and random ribbon and tulle}

{i'd intended for this to be a good close-up. instead, it's not good. BUT, you get the idea}
The fun isn't limited to banners. I'd seen something similar to this somewhere, and I wanted to make one myself. I had thought I'd have to use wood letters from Michaels, but when I was in Iowa I picked up heavy duty chipboard letters at Hobby Lobby. Love these.

{the entire shelving set up where the BOO letters reside. you'll also see harrison's first ever school project proudly hanging next to them!}

{i used the hobby lobby chipboard letters, asphalt making memories paint, ribbon, and American Crafts Flair, rub-ons, cardstock stickers, chipboard and vinyl pieces AND Thickers. LOVE American Crafts}

{details on the bottom O!}

The ordinary little life is amazing. Creating with paper and a little bit of glue? Makes that little life even more satisfying!