Art Mimics Life

Generally, we have some sort of an "art time" each day. Some days it's coloring books, some days it simply morphs from letter/handwriting practice into draw on the dry erase board. The last week or so, both kids have been really into just drawing. Or, as Ellie calls it, "pain'ing".

When I asked Ellie about what she drew, she just told me, "airpane" and then started making airplane noises! {ha!}

It was Noah's picture today, that really blew my mind. Mostly because, literally, up until today, all people have just been eyes, a smile and maybe a distinguishable leg or two. No bodies or heads.

This was our conversation after he brought it to me {we were on Skype with Daddy when he was finishing up this particular drawing}:

Me: "Tell me who everyone is."

Noah: "That's Daddy, that's you, that's me, playing in the snow, and that's Ellie."

Me: "Why does Ellie look sad?"

Noah: "She's not sad. She's mad. 'Cause she wants to eat food."

We couldn't help but laugh. And then nod in agreement.

And then laugh even harder 15 minutes later when they were eating some shredded cheese while quesadillas were being made... and Ellie started whining:

"Uuhn cheeeeeese! Uhn cheese!!"

***

Please don't forget to go vote for BB's Limeades for Learning project. You can vote once daily! Please help her get some much needed supplies for her struggling readers by voting here!

Photography | by Noah

We're still having some issues with sleeping. We did great with the tent on the pack and play until last week and since then, it's been hit or miss. She prefers her "priddy bed" over her "mon'ey bed", but I prefer sleep over no sleep. For all three of us.

Last night was not a good night for sleep.

And, as a result, Ellie passed out on the chair while watching Signing Time while I was getting lunch started.

She was too cute and too fast asleep for me to not grab my camera.

Evidently I wasn't the only person who thought so.

N: "I need to take her pish'ure too, Mommy. She's so sleepy and cute."

N: "My cars need their pish'ure taken too. Look, see, Mommy? {Showing me on the playback.} There's McQueen and 'sesco."

And, just because I uncovered these beauties while uploading photos from his recent photoshoots:

{first day of school}

{she was REALLY upset that she had to be in front of his camera and not behind it}

{total boy - he loves to take photos of bugs. ick!}

And, just because, Aunt BB helped him and Ellie check out some photos with of his Mommy and Aunts as babies just before bathtime. ♥

{Some} Recent Craftiness

Since I'm feeling sick.. and the kids are too... I didn't really take any photos today. However, I have a couple of crafts that I haven't shared on the blog {for one reason or another}, so at least you'll have something fun too look at!

For Jessie and Bryan's Rehearsal Dinner, I had Michael, our cousin, draw this photo of the Up house, sans balloons. You can read more about it here, and here are a few up close photos of the finished product:

{totally my fault that their finger prints didn't line up... but the concept still is the same}

Hopefully I'll be able to get over to their place soon to get a few photos of it and the rest of the fun decor that everyone has been working so hard on.


Another project that I had been working on and finally got mailed off - to Ben! - was a Beach Towel Backpack. My Aunt had shown me a version that she made for my cousin, so I decided to make a slightly more "grown-up" version for Ben... in hopes that he wouldn't lose another pair of scuba goggles {oh, yes, Dear One - I just ratted you out! xoxox}.

Similar to the quillows that were so popular for a while, the bag is actually attached to the back of the towel! So while you are walking to the beach, you can use it to carry your stuff, once there you can use the bag part to hide valuables and the towel to lay on/dry off with, and then stuff it all back inside the bag when it's time to go! I'm keeping my eye out for some cute {and smaller} beach towels for the kids during the end of summer clearances to make ones for them.

***

In other news, today starts Sonic's Limeades for Learning! My sister, Bridget {BB}, has a project going that we'd REALLY appreciate you going in and voting for. You'll have to register, only the one time, before you can actually vote, but after that one time registration {all they do is send you an email to verify that it is a legitimate email address}, you can vote daily. Even if you don't go to or even know what Sonic is! AND, if you do go to Sonic, be sure to enter the code on your sticker for an extra TWO votes. Please help her struggling readers get some of the extra resources that they need to help her bring them up to grade level in reading.

To vote for her project, click here.

Thanks!! ♥

Sunday Visiting

The three of us are feeling a little puny around here. Summer colds, maybe? Nothing too serious - not enough to keep us out of church this morning, or from going out to lunch this afternoon {just Daddy-Man, the kids and I since Mom and the girls went to the movies}. And not enough to keep us from {finally} getting to visit Aunt Marsha and Uncle Mike either.

♥

Mommy Craft Day

One of my goals while Ben is deployed is to dramatically shorten my "to make" list. And another is to spend time with friends that I haven't seen in ages {or in some cases, years!}. Today, thanks to my Mom and Sister {thank you, thank you!}, I got to do both!

This morning and afternoon I spent sewing and chatting with two good friends from college, Sonja and Faith. We met up over at Sonja's house and by the time I got there, both of them were already hard at work on their own projects. I didn't even pull my camera out until just as Faith was about to leave: partially because I'm a little intimidated - Faith has her own photography business! - but also because I was simply too busy working on the curtains and new pillowcases for the kids' room!

Friends, we MUST do this again. Soon. ♥

The basic little curtains and pillowcases I made for the kids' room turned out pretty nice. Daddy-Man hung up the curtain rod for me and we got them up just before the kids went to bed. It's amazing how it changes the way their room looks already. And it makes me anxious to get the rest of the decor finished and up on the walls.

A certain little one already loves hiding in them.

And, while we're on the subject of my Daddy-Man's handiness, look what he was up to while Nana and Aunt BB cared for the kiddos:

he's almost finished installing the brand-new backyard fence - in this 100+ degree weather!

The Second Day {A Better Day}

Yesterday afternoon and evening, if you asked Noah if he wanted to go to school tomorrow, he would answer, "YES! I wanna go play with the kids and who-wa hoop {hula hoops} and go to music class."

So amazingly enough, this morning, he was tentatively excited to go to school. I got everything loaded in the car, let the kids come onto the porch while I locked the front door and then couldn't help but laugh when I told them, "Let's go get in the car!" and Noah replied with, "But Mommy, you NEED to take our PISH'URE!" Evidently, he thinks we need to take a picture before school every day now?

Too bad all I had on me was my cell phone and we were running too late for me to grab my Canon!

Drop-off for Noah went off without a hitch. He helped me hang up his backpack, gave me a kiss and ran into his room before I could even say good-bye! I didn't dare even peek in after him, but did let his teacher know that he and I talked about a special treat after school but only if he had a happy heart and didn't cry for me while he was there.

Ellie and I spent our first day of just the two of us at home. In the first hour, she asked me "Where'd Bubby go?" six times. I stopped counting after that.

But we did get in some good reading, snuggle, and nap time together.

According to his teachers, Noah did great today - no tears and no whining about wanting Mommy. Total relief. We stopped by Sonic for a slush as a treat.


We also got to open a special package we got in the mail from Daddy tonight while on Skype with him.


Normally, Noah's greatest excitement comes from the newest shells that he's found and he sends us. Tonight, he was over the moon about a new hero book... which he immediately stopped opening the package up so that he could "read" it to us.

"And he flew over the city. And he did and he did."

Thanks for brightening our day, Dearest One!

{Also, you are long overdue for another blog post. ;) ♥}

Going to School | The First Day

The kids had their first day of "school" today. I put them in the Mother's Day Out program at our church, so this morning, we took the usual "First-Day-of-School" photos on Papa and Nana's front porch:

{Ellie, just shy of 2 years old}

{I asked for a hug ♥ }

{Noah, at 3.75years}

Nana was able to get away from work for a little bit to see the kids off on their first day of school.

Ellie did amazingly well. She didn't fuss while we waited to be allowed into her room and once inside, she immediately went to a table so she could start "paintn' Mommy".

Noah, on the other hand, was not pleased. On Skype this morning, he told Ben that he didn't want to go play with the other kids at school. Once we got there, he continued the same story. And just moments after I snapped this photo, he completely freaked out.

Begging for me to stay, begging to leave, and all out throwing a tantrum. I tried to calm him, but in the end, told him I loved him and that I would be back to pick him up, gave him a kiss, and just handed him to one of his teachers.

I. felt. horrible.

And, as much as I was looking forward to a little time for myself, if Mom hadn't been with me to encourage me, I might have just stayed or taken him with me. {SO, thanks Mom!!}

I didn't take any photos during my "time off", but I did get to go to Mardel, swing by Mom and BB's school to take a photo for her Limeades for Learning grant, eat Chipolte and read, and get a pedicure. All before picking the kids back up.

Awesome.

Ellie did great and even managed to take a nap. Noah's teachers said that once he calmed down {about 30 minutes into class/after chapel!}, he did fine too. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

The rest of the day was pretty easy going. We talked to Daddy on Skype and told him all about our school day.

Ate popcorn and enjoyed our new VeggieTales video, Princess and the Popstar.

And played. A lot.

"These are my work goggles, Mommy. I'm just working."

Playzone Fun

This morning the kids and I met our friend Heather and her boys over at The Playzone at Dynamo Gymnastics. BB and I use to take gymnastics there as kids {though, she did for much longer than I - she was awesome. Me? Not so much.} The kids LOVED the play area and Heather and I liked being able to catch up while the kids burned off some energy.

Noah made friends with everyone - including some of the other Moms. If you were in the play area, you were free game to be told, "Come on, let's go play!" and immediately dragged to the slide or ballpit.

Thankfully, they played so hard that they both were exhausted and took their naps like champs. Which was good since the pack and play was still drying from Ellie's little poop-play-and-taste-time this morning. {sigh.}



But they woke well rested... so well-rested that one of them braved touching Mommy's camera. Still not sure which one.

When Noah realized that no one was coming over for dinner, he was upset.

Me: "No, Noah. Aunt BB is not coming to dinner tonight."

Noah: "Yes. SHE. IS. I said she is and SHE IS."

There is no arguing with three-year-old logic.

So after dinner {sans Aunt BB}, we drove over to visit her at her house for a little while before baths and bedtime.

Good fun, laughter, and silliness abounded.

Always Grateful

Aunt BB, Aunt Jessie, and Uncle Bryan came over for dinner tonight.

I'm always grateful when they do bathtime.

I love the few moments of peace {or at least not having to be the one to say "Don't hit your brother" or "When you are done whining, then we can play" for a little while.}.
And I'm pretty much certain that the kids love it too.