Holiday Weekend-ing

For as long as I can remember (and I think even before I was born) my Moms side of the family has gathered at my Aunt and Uncles house for the Fourth of July weekend.  Tents are pitched on their five acres, frogs are chased, rockets and fireworks launched, water balloons popped, games played, shoulders sunburned, baby birds observed, food enjoyed, bubbles blown

and, lawns mowed with an elephants help.

Ray is 2!

Yesterday, was our little guys birthday!  Here are some highlights:

He sang "Happy Birthday" to himself and blew out the candles in one try!:

I'm pretty sure he loves his elephant birthday quilt:

Sam and Daddy made him this cool Birthday sign.  Sam even wrote, "Ray" on it!

We had a great day hanging out with family and celebrating Ray! 

Hard to believe this was already two years ago:

Easter Fun

Saturday morning, we hosted our 2nd Annual Easter Egg hunt for our friends that have little ones.  I hid 100+ eggs in the backyard that were full of fun prizes like bubbles, shaped erasers, party favor maze watches, yo-yo's, stickers, and just a bit of candy.  The kids ate Annies bunny crackers and juice boxes for a snack, colored eggs that I cut out of card stock and played with the parachute.  I love this age and how simple it is to throw together a fun party!

Sunday, we had Easter baskets here for the boys in the morning.  Apparently we haven't stressed the whole Easter Bunny thing much because half way through his basket Sam stopped and said, "Who gave me all this stuff?"

After church, we headed to Mike's parents house for lunch and another egg hunt.  Sam had fun "driving" his brother and cousins around on the golf cart.

Happy Birthday Nunny!

This week we have been working on a Birthday gift for my Mom. I made this pillow and the boys painted little birdhouses to go with it. For more step by step photos of making the pillow check out my flickr page.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's hard to believe that this was nearly five years ago!And over 3 years ago...
And almost 2 years ago..
And now we need an updated picture of a Mommy and her boys!

To celebrate Valentine's Day I received some dark chocolate Godiva truffles from my hubby. Sam picked out a card and M&M's to give to me from him and Ray. He was so proud of his gift for me and that makes it even better! He whispered to me later, "I got you m&m's so we can play games with them." By games he means making patterns, counting them, graphing them, etc.
Such sweet boys I have!

Lights, Cookies and Parade - all Christmas!

The past few days we have done lots of pre-Christmas things!

Friday night, we went to the Zoo lights with my husbands family. They really stepped it up a notch this year compared to previous years. Sam was a little disappointed the animals were "sleeping" but Ray was completely in awe of the lights!

Saturday night, the boys (Mike, Sam and Ray) made chocolate chip (pancake) cookies. I made oatmeal raisin.

Sunday morning, we finished up our Christmas shopping. Mike referred to it as our heathen shopping since we skipped church to finish up. We stopped off at Mike's parents on the way home to let the boys play with their Christmas train. On the way home, we noticed that people were starting to sit roadside for the holiday parade so, Sam and I dropped off Mike and Ray (who was sleeping) and had an impromptu date at the Holiday Parade. I love the rare times when I get to give one of the kids my full attention - we had a blast!
The kids have also taken to watching the movie Elf (click for a great scene) and we've been rocking out to Sufjan Steven's Christmas albums (click link for one of my favorites of his).

Happy (pre) Christmas!

Yes, We Really Did...

Yes, We really did put up our Christmas tree last weekend....

Traditionally, I am not a big Christmas person.  So to clarify: Thanksgiving IS still my favorite holiday.  This year it seems that we have so much going on that it was either put up the tree last weekend or not until the weekend before we leave for the Christmas holiday (giving us only a week to enjoy the tree).

Oh, and the outside lights are up too (and it's funny because it is unseasonably warm here in Ohio!).

Sam doesn't know what to think of all of this!

P.S.  I think the Little People nativity set is one of the coolest toys ever.  (Two people I know that have seen ours have already gone out to get them.)  I don't know about you but my brother and I were constantly playing with our nativity set as kids and fought over who got to set it up! 

P.P.S.  Read my Brother's comment (he's the first comment) and then, here is my response to it:  Matthew -

     So very true.  While we don't have any Barbies or Ninja Turtles in the house (yet), the Wonder Pets, Toy Story characters and all the other little people we have have come to visit the Christ child.

     I was debating about whether or not I should explain to the boys that the Kings don't make an appearance until January.  We could place them on the back of the couch and let them slowly get closer like Aunt Rita used to do but, I think that might be a bit much for this year....  Love you!

Stocking Stuffers for (my) Kids

I don't remember stockings being a big deal growing up but Mike's family goes all out for stockings and I think it's lots of fun. Our first Christmas as a married couple I got Mike a giant stocking and have made a point to fill it every year. I can't share my ideas for his stocking since he knows how to read but here are some ideas for those that can't quite read yet.  Feel free to comment with your ideas too!

I don't think that DVD's, Cd's or diamond necklaces count as stocking stuffers (not that I'd complain if they were in my stocking). The following list is CHEAP stuff to go in young kids stockings (My boys are 18 months and 3).  I plan to hit up the dollar grocery store for most of these items.  And, NO I am not buying everything I put on this list!

Food is an obvious choice but we aren't big on giving the kids candy. Nonetheless, here are several food ideas.

1. Individual serving bags of crackers, goldfish, cookies, etc.
2. Fruit snacks
3. Raisans
4. Juice Boxes
5. Pez dispenser
6. Popcorn

Toys

7. Wind up toy
8. Dress up Accessories (bandana, sheriff badge, pirate patch, etc.)
9. Little People accessories
10. Stacking cups
11. Paddleball game
12. Small Puzzle
13. Bubbles
14. Beachball
15. Jump Rope
16. Sidewalk Chalk
17. Small Instruments (harmonica, recorder, maracas)
18. Kaleidoscope
19. Finger Puppets
20. Tricycle license plate
21. Travel Magna Doodle
22. Slinky
23. yo-yo
24. Hotwheels Car
25. Small Board Book
26. Bath Squirters
27. Flashcards


Arts and Crafts - Why not replace some art supplies and fill up a stocking at the same time?

28. Pipecleaners
29. Pom Poms
30. Popsicle sticks
31. Glue Sticks
32. Scissors
33. Watercolor Paints
34. Crayons
35. Markers
36. Stamps/Stamp Pad
37. Stickers
38. Beads and String
39. Coloring/Activity Book
40. Play-doh/Silly Putty
41. Construction Paper
42. Notepads
43. Pencils
44. Erasers

Practical

45. Toothbrush
46. Socks
47. Chap stick
48. Mittens
49. Batteries
50. Bubble bath
51. Snack dispenser
52. Sunglasses
53. Band aids

Just For Fun

54. Magic Towels
55. Removable Tattoos
56. Flashlight
57. Magnifying Glass
58. Calculator (Sam is always taking ours.)
59. Snow Globe
60. Silly Straws
61. Disposable Camera
62. Glow Sticks
63. Christmas Ornament
64. Crisp Dollar Bill
65. Wallet with pictures of family in it

Happy Halloween!

We had a lovely Halloween.  We started out by painting pumpkins.  Apparently, it helped Sam to stick out his tounge while he did this and Ray thought it would be cool to eat some paint but otherwise good painting jobs...

As tradition goes, we had pizza for dinner and celebrated Joe's Birthday (Mike's brother) before the kids headed out for trick or treating.

Ray as Woody.  Sam as Buzz.

We went to 6 houses (our neighbors that we know) and called it a night.  It was cold and I was stumbling around from breaking my toe on Friday so, this was plenty for the boys me.

And then Ray rode off in to the sunset...

Bluebird Train Ride

This past Saturday, we went on the Bluebird Train.  I remember going often as a kid and I took Mike a few years back for his first ever train ride.  This year, it was Sam and Ray's turn for their first ever train ride.

We had the company of Aunt Maegan, Uncle Will, Nunny, and Papa for our hour long ride.  The boys also got to try out their Halloween costumes (Ray as Woody and Sam as Buzz) for the first time.  The boys were both a little nervous when we boarded the train.  Ray hid his head in the seat for a good 10 minutes...

The responsibility of turning in your ticket and train snacks (cookies and apple cider were served) quickly perked them up!

After the train ride, we stopped off at Koral Hamburg for burgers and milkshakes.  Sam liked sharing with me (I think he drank more of it than I did) and Ray just had a general good time!

Once we got back to Nunny and Papa's house, I was apparently tired because I fell asleep on the couch like this...

 

 

Woody's Roundup

I made part of Ray's costume a week or so ago and finished up some accessories (all made from 4 pieces of felt, a marker, and a small piece of velcro, and the sewing machine) the other day.  I think he is going to be a very cute Woody.

Belt Buckle and Holster.  Doll version then my version.

Boots - doll then mine/Rays

Cowboy Ray

Initially Ray was going to be Elmo for Halloween but we can't seem to find a costume in his size and I'm not the skilled in the costume making department so, we switched to him being Woody.  This works out perfectly because Sam is going to be Buzz.  Sam has a store bought Buzz costume already but I wanted to make Rays since it seems simple enough.  We already have a red bandana, cowboy hat, jeans, flannel shirt.  He just needs a vest, boots and a holster. 

Today I made this vest in less than half an hour!  It's not perfect by any means but it will certainly work as a costume and then later for dress up play.  I just traced a sweater vest of Sam's to make the "pattern"; cut two out, cut one of them in half; hemmed edges; sewed it all together; sewed on a cut out felt star and called it a day!  Better yet, it actually fits with room to grown.  The boys love playing dress up so, I think we will get some good use out of it.  Added bonus it cost less than $5 to make!

Next up are some cowboy boot shoe covers (to slide over his tennis shoes), belt buckle and gun holster.  I'm going to make them all from felt.  Four felt squares for $1.  This is going to be a thrifty but cute costume!

I was feeling a little bad that Ray's costume will likely be more cute than Sam's store bought one but last year Sam had homemade and Ray had store bought so, I guess it all balances out!

Halloween 2008.  Ray as Guinea Pig, Linnie and Sam as Turtle Tuck  - both from the Wonder Pets!

Sam's 3rd Birthday Party

Sam had a great time celebrating his Birthday this weekend!  I'll present you with a photo tour...

Friday night we gave Sam his presents from us.  Here he is playing with his new racetrack. 

Can't go wrong with Wixey's bakery, South Toledo's favorite!  Thanks Dad and Roberta for bringing the cake!

 Sam opening presents with special guest, Omri!  Nunny, Papa, Maegan and Will worked it out to squeeze Omri in the back seat with Nunny and Will all the way from Toledo!

Sam enjoying one of his gifts, his first real puzzle!