#572 - Make Your Own Superhero

Make your own super hero...I'm totally doing this with Oster.

#567 - kid's sofa

love this kid size sofa

#500 - the long awaited post - my boys

Remember a while back, in post #501, I said that post #500 was a special one and would come back to it...well, here it is:

Can't believe I've written over 500 posts (yep, there are lots not published yet)!

Last night as I was putting Oster to bed, I was going crazy.  He was jumping off his dresser onto his bed, jumping up and down, not wanting to sleep.

I was holding Parker in my arms, so I couldn't really lay the law down if you know what I mean.

Pepe wasn't around to help, so I was about to loose it...

Then...

As Oster was jumping up and down on his bed, laughing with a huge smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye...

Parker busted up laughing...out of no where...he couldn't get enough of his brother being wild...he just kept laughing

A deep down, hearty laugh...you know the one that makes your heart melt.

I just stopped and took it all in...

I tried to take a mental picture of this short, crazy, wonderful, precious moment in my life.

It will never happen again...that's it...take it or leave it...make what you want of it...enjoy it or __________ (fill in the blank).

Being a mom is so life changing...really puts life in perspective...

I go crazy a lot, but I'm really trying to just soak it up... and remember this will never happen again, so take it as it comes and make the best out of it.

Here's some mental pics I want to remember:

OSTER
*"I Love You" - says this a million times a day
*"Can I watch a moobie" - again, million times a day
*Dance party maniac - loves his music
*Loves to direct music (his hands are always moving)
*Loves his brother to pieces...really thinks the world of him
*Honest...he can be sneaky, but will always be honest

PARKER
*Loves to cuddle
*Love to laugh and smile...he's a happy baby
*Loves his mom
*Loves his food...he takes after me

And, I don't talk about him that much here, but I really do love my my husband...he works so hard for our family!   Life has thrown us some curve balls in the past few months, but he is there keeping me going when I just can't handle it any more.

New Year's Resolution #2 - soak up life...take more mental pictures and enjoy my boys (all 3!) because this will never happen again!

(about an hour after Oster finally went to bed, I walked by his room and he was fully dressed for they day, he wanted to go outside and play even though it was 11pm..."snap")

#509 - my job

This is so how i feel right now...times 2!
via

#505 - freezing time

I have such good memories of tv shows from my childhood:

Punky Bruster
Small Wonder
Cosby Show
Facts of Life
Webster
Different Strokes
Leave it to Bever

But,
the show I think about almost daily is
Out of this World (ahh...the day of long intros)..would you like to swing on a star?
Do you remember this show?


You might ask why I think about this show daily?
Well, this picture below says it all:

It left such an impression on me that I think,

"Oh, I wish I could just touch my fingers together and stop time!"

Wouldn't that be nice?

Yes, I know it's not possible...

But I can always dream, right...

Time flies way way way too fast!

ps, casi, did you know "Evie" is in the new 90201...not that I've ever seen it :) 

#499 - dance party with grandpa

Someone is happy...

Happy that grandma and grandpa are visiting...

And brought him new Halloween pajamas...

And let him wear their bright orange swimming cap (it's grandma's)...

And had a dance party with him (yep, grandpa busted a move)...

That lucky boy is my little (growing way to fast) Oster!

#498 - homemade playdoh

I saw this play dough recipe and made it for Oster last Friday...
he's been playing with it ever since. 

Here's the recipe:

Homemade Playdough


1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup salt
food coloring

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. At first it will seem too liquidy, but then it forms into the perfect consistency.  Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.

You can add color to it, but I prefer it without color (easy cleanup).

Seriously, he asks to play with it a few times a day and we even filmed a cooking show making pretend food with it (I like to film stuff, it just takes me a while to edit it together.)

#495 - girl scout calendar...Buenos Aires...100 kids

Did you know that I was in the 1988 Girl Scout Calendar?  

Pretty sure I was the month of October :)

It was only $1!

I need to find a copy, so that I can post it for you all.

Did you know that I lived/worked in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 3 months?

3 times for 1 month each

I love love love it there!

Buenos Aires means "Good Air" in Spanish

1st time I went my mom, my dad, Karli and my uncle were there 

Pepe went with me the last time I was there

Best decision ever!

Pepe's parents (my inlaws) are moving there in 2 months

To serve a mission for our church

 Did you know when I was little and my mom would ask me how many kids I wanted to have some day I would say, "100"?

Now that I have 2,

I want more!

They are intoxicating

Parker because he is warm, snuggly, and precious

Oster because he is SO DANG Cute!

Even when he tries to drive his car all over Parker...

Real conversation with Oster last night...

Me: We have to be quiet because daddy has to go to work in the morning.
Me:  What does mommy do for work?

Oster:  Mooooovies (I swear that's what it sounded like at least)

 Me:  What does daddy do for work?

Oster:  Moovies 

Me:  Daddy works at movies too?

Oster:  No, daddy works at church

Me:  what does daddy do at church?

Oster:  He plugs and flips the lid 

Oster sees Pepe plug his laptop in at church and open it up for his Sunday School class

Me:  What does mommy do at church?

Oster:  Plays with toys

I work in the nursery with the little kids 

#489 - busy baby feet

Life is flying by so fast...

please...

slow... 

down!

When did my newborn become a 3.5 month old?!

When did Oster learn to finally get out of his crib?!

Where did the summer go?! 

Come back!

This summer:

I was hoping to get a whole bunch of bills organized and scheduled...I didn't (I just have a huge stack of papers moving around our living room)

I was hoping to finish a few of the 5-6 wedding videos I've shot...I didn't (I'm almost done with 2)

I was hoping to lose some baby weight...I didn't really (I was down 10 lbs, then gained 8 lbs back)

I was hoping to hang up some pictures...nope, didn't happen...still bare walls

I was hoping to sew some baby blankets...nada...fall project now!

But you know what I did do:

Started making lunches for Pepe to take to work and make dinner most days of the week (huge accomplishment for me)

Talked with my mom and sister almost daily (love it!)

And most important...Loved my baby boys (and my one big boy)...just enjoyed them...gave them lots of kisses and love!

#478 - snapping our walks

Oster, Parker and I like to go on walks during the day....

Oster gets out his energy...

Parker falls fast asleep...

I burn a few calories...

I usually bring my camera, but the pictures I take never see the light of day.

 So, I decided to shrink the pictures from one of our walks to fit on a 4x6 layout (I added white on the top and bottom to make a 4x6 print)

I spent $.09 (on sale at Costco)

Cut up the picture into mini pics

 Drew a little map of our walk in Oster's journal

Pasted the pics

 Added some commentary

And put a piece of packing tape over the pictures, since Oster likes to tear things.

On this day Pepe came home for lunch, so he drove up while we were walking.

The pics aren't spectacular,

the journal entry isn't the cleanest,

but it will spark loads of memories one day to see all the tiny details about this walk.

#471 - glass top stove and a new dishwasher

Oster is my new dishwasher...his grandma taught him how to help out in the kitchen (thanks mom!)

Also, I love having a glass top stove...really such a great invention.  I've had a new gas top stove in another home and I think I like the glass top better because it is so easy to clean.  What about you?

And, this is embarrassing to admit, we spilled some oil in our oven a few months ago and I finally decided to clean it.  I was scrubbing and scrubbing, then I decided to hit the "self clean" button.

Oh My!

It was awesome!

I've never "self cleaned" my oven before.

All I had to do was sit around and sweat.

Now I will do it all the time, just not on 90 degree days.

Guess this post is just about "easy cleaning"...my type of cleaning.

More notes about this picture:

-Oster is wearing his batman pajamas and an apron my mom bought from Mexico
-Notice the pictures the background...still look pretty good
-Still need to get new top kitchen cabinets
-Oster is washing out his penguin Ikea cup from Aunt Patty
-I hang Oster's bibs on the cabinet door handles - more on the bibs later

#469 - suede shoes and cowboy boots

There's not a pletheral of cute little boys shoes, like there are for little girls.  But I must say that I've really loved these two pairs of shoes Oster has.

The suede shoes (above) that Aunt Kar got for Oster at a thrift store last summer and now he wears them to church every week.

And the cowboy boots (below) that grandma got Oster to remind his of his "western roots".  He wore these last summer, but has long since grown out of them.

#468 - surfer boy

"S is for Surfer"

My version of this.

Details:

sun - tissue paper

clouds - reusable diapers

surfboard - poster board

surfer outfit - Carter's from Aunt Alyssa and Uncle Joseph

outer blue blankets - from 2 ladies at church

middle blue blanket - "Little Giraffe" blanket from my mom

i already have a few more photo shoot ideas (mostly sports), but if you have any ideas, let me know...

#467 - playing ball with the babe

Have you seen Mila's Daydreams yet?  I just saw it via 100%Cottam.  It reminded me of some photos I want to try when the boys got older.

Parker's not a great napper, so I can't really catch him while he's sleeping, but I can set up some fun photos with him while his older brother (Oster) naps.

I think it might even be fun to do pictures like this for their "ABC" book.  

This one would be, "B is for Baseball".

Here's the details of the photo:

sunshine - left over tissue paper from Oster's birthday pinata

clouds - reusable diapers from my mom

grass - my moby wrap

bases - Pepe's socks

monkey's outfit - Oster's premie outfit

Parker's outfit - a Baltimore Orioles jersey from our neighbor

ps....check back later today to see another cute photo I snapped of Parker

#466 - ABCs in pictures

I take a gazillion pictures, especially of my boys. 

I've decided to make an ABC picture book (this may take a while) for the boys.

Here's "A":

and here's "B":

#464 - rockin

wanna know my achilles heel?

well, at least when it comes to my kids...

when they want to cuddle/snuggle or just sit with their mama (ie: me)

i know i should be more consistent with them, but i'm selfish...

and if it is their bedtime and they ask to cuddle...

i cave

perfect example:

last night i rocked Oster for 1 hour straight (he's still getting used to east coast time)

we sang "doe a dear" 

 i figure they'll only want to cuddle/snuggle for so long...i might as well get as much of it now!

ps - picture is of Parker's feet and my foot (that needs a pedicure)

#463 - cherry passion tic tacs and black licorice scottie dogs

I just flew home with Oster and Parker by myself (yes, I am officially crazy!)

Appx 6 1/2 hours of flying time and a 3 hour layover in Denver (if you saw a lady pushing a massive stroller with 2 carseats, a few carry ons, with one kid strapped to her and the other throwing himself on the floor crying, that was me.)

Two things that did keep Oster occupied were Cherry Passion tic tacs (by far my favorite tic tac) and licorice scottie dogs.

At first I was giving Oster just one tiny tic tac after he would run a relay in the Denver airport.

By the end of the flight, I was pouring the tic tacs into his mouth to keep him quiet!

Do you have a favorite tic tac and food that keeps your kids quiet?


ps...so nice to be back to high speed internet


scottie dog pic via

#462 - taking a walk in the middle of nowhere

Oster and Pepe took many walks in the middle of nowhere while we drove across the county.

And I watched from the backseat of the car as I fed Parker.

This picture was taken in Eastern Montana.

#461 - Huckleberry picking

Do you know what a huckleberry is?
Sort of like a blueberry, but a little more tart and smaller.
It's also the state fruit of Idaho.

We just went huckleberry picking, they grow in the wild near my parents' home.
Oster ate every one that he picked, plus some of mine.
We've had huckleberry pancakes and huckleberry shakes.

If you live near or are visiting a place with huckleberries, I highly recommend picking them...so delicious!

 ps...my brother took the picture above

#460 - home after 1.5 years

i've been MIA for the past week or so...

we were driving across the country...
to visit my family...
left thursday at 9pm...
arrived monday at 12:30am...
2,457 miles...
2 kids...
one 2 year old...
one 2 month old...
one dead raccoon...

i spent 90% of the time trying to keep the kids entertained...
-tried watching movies...the only thing that worked was the song, You Are My Sunshine with the psychedelic computer lazers/lights that light up when the music played (you know what i'm talking about?)
-we "caught trucks" (Pepe would pass a semi and then the truck would be caught)
-i said, "look at the tree", "look at the sign", "look at the birds", etc, every 3 seconds for at least 10-20 hours
-Oster took over 200 pictures of the back seat
-read a few books
-i nursed Parker every 2 hours or so...lots of stopping

i can't believe it has been 1.5 years since i've visited...
SO GOOD TO BE HOME!

ps...i have a ton of pictures to post, but my internet access is way too slow