The simple things...

Forgive me if I gush just a little, but I'm a mom -- it's my right.

I just got home from attending an event at my son's school {more on that later.}

As I was leaving I noticed they were already out to recess.

As I walked through the playground to head to my car I heard,

"Bye Mom!!! I'll see ya' later!!"

I turned to see Anders waving at me from on top of the jungle gym (do they still call them that?).

I discretely blew him a kiss and mouthed the words "I love you" so as to not embarrass him. Then I gave him a thumbs up to tell him he did a great job today.

I wasn't expecting anything and I kept walking only to hear him very loudly yell in front of all of his friends

"I love you too Mom!"

{You know I'm crying while I write this right? I just can't help it.}

I don't know if he'll always do that.

But I do know, that in that moment, he wasn't too embarrassed to love me.

And to let me know it.

Even when you're a mom -- it feels good to know you're loved.

It completely made my heart beat (or as Isabella says "It made my heart beep.")

Today I remembered,...

the greatest joys in life really are the simplest things.

P.S. I love you too buddy!!

A boy and his combover

Nothing says sweet, charming, and fun like...

a combover.

Oh mercy.

These pictures crack me up.

When he was younger my kids were staying at my parents house and after the bath, my dad would take a brush and slick their hair back just perfectly. He would comb it and comb it until it was just right. He then told them they had cool James Bond hair.

I'm not so sure they even knew who James Bond was, but they loved the idea that it was cool and that Grandpa said it was cool.

This however,....is more George McFly than James Bond.

He combed it in the mirror and then came in and said

"Mom, do you like my hair?"

We had a good laugh over this one.

We're glad to have our Max back, although George is always funny.

{I don't know where my kids get their wackiness. ;)

Has anyone seen my blue painter's tape?

Why is it that they can have a room FULL of toys and yet....

tape is 100 times more fun!?!

{What you can't see in these pictures -- I should have planned better -- is all of the tape absolutely covering their clothes. They have tape arm bands, tape belts, leg bands, stripes,etc... It was everywhere!}

I think they may all get a roll of tape in their stockings!

I recovered my piano bench

It has been a long time coming...

The dirty grandma floral was just not doing it for me.

{No offense if you are a grandma or a floral. It's just not for me.}

It was surprisingly quick.

I think it looks so much better.

This fabric is even more beautiful in person.

Yeah. One project that has been waiting in the wings is finally done.

Check.

Valentine's Day

We had a great Valentine's Day this year!

For Isabella's I begged my fantastically brilliant friend Carrie for the valentine's she used last year.

She created these beauties and was kind enough to email them to me.

I'm so in love with them.

Aren't they adorable!?!?

I told you she was brilliant.

She was so pleased to give something she thought was so cute!

For Max we created this sweet little robot.

And Anders got the rocket ship.

They had a great time filling the bags with candy (and stealing a few pieces at the same time.)

Here is he ready to go exchange with all of his friends.

He even included a tissue paper flower he made for his teacher. (His idea -- hee hee!)

Anders with his Valentine box (that we were given 2 days notice that he needed -- grr.)

He did a great job covering it himself and making the flower-flag.

For the teachers we did a repeat of last year.

Boxes of wrapped chocolates.

(Sorry no picture. Click on the link here or here to see all of the info from last year.)

Thanks to another brilliant friend Heidi, we had some custom-made labels this year.

{They were so cute -- I should have taken a picture!}

We had a great day around here as well.

The hubs bought me these BEAUTIFUL two-toned roses.

{This picture doesn't do them justice.}

Then he had the kids make me this other bouquet.

Be still my heart!

I am in love with these!

Thanks to some friends that watched our children, we were able to get away for a nice dinner a few nights before. It was so nice. It was a really great Valentine's Day.

Hope it was a good one for you too!

More Free Art!

I love free art.

Especially ABC's!

Here are some adorable prints that are available here for FREEEEEE! Yip! Yip!

I love the great colors that are available.

Some suggestions from this great site is to give them as baby shower gifts, or birthday gifts.

Love that idea!

However, they may just end up in my kids' rooms.

The pdf's are available for download and are formatted to print out as an 8.5 x 11".

Can't Wait.

Oh,...Isabella

I was helping to get her dressed the other day and this is how the following conversation turned out:

Isabella, you look so cute today. Your friends are going to think you're so cute.

No. They never say that.

They never say you're cute?

No...

They say "You're dangerous."

laughing....What? They say "You're dangerous?"

pause

laughing half-heartedly (a bit fake) No. I'm just kidding. They don't say that.

{Yes, she is wearing makeup. This picture was taken after a dance concert last year.}

Oh, Isabella. You are one funny girl.

It is always a good time to dress up!

The following photos are a small glimpse into the world of dress up that seems to constantly exist in our home.

We frequently have someone in our house dressing up....

in....something.

This is her queen outfit.

Everybody needs a good hat.

The word "hat" is really a....flexible term.

Sometimes the key to a finished look

is the accessories.

Yes. He's a boy.

Yes. We let him dress up in pretty pink scarves.

Yes. We take pictures of him in said scarves to put on his wedding video.

{He looked so cute and so pleased with himself. I couldn't help it!}

Everybody looks cute in a beard...

{except me when I'm 80}

even the big, giant, hairy princess.

{Sorry. I had to.}

Look Out Coco...

Here she comes!!!

A fashion designer waiting to take over the world!

She has her own.....unique style

.

Some might call it...refreshing ,

or inventive.

Others may say that it is high-fashion repurposing.

We call it.....funny.

This is completely Isabella!

What a character!

{In case you couldn't tell, that is a sweater worn on her legs instead of her arms.}

Don't be confused...

I don't know if you will get a notification of posts not read, but just so you know, I am back-posting to catch up on some of the events that I've missed. It is more for my own record keeping than anything.

So, if it seems strange that I just posted something from...awhile ago, now you know why.

Celebrate the Boy

This post is for those of you that have a boy or.....

are related to a boy or...

know a boy.

Some of you may have already heard but for this month this blog [one of my favorites] is doing all things "craftish" for boys.

She teamed up with this blog to Celebrate the Boy.

I love it.

If you have boys or give gifts to boys you know how hard it is to come up with good ideas sometimes, but this should solve all of that.

There are so many things I want to do!!!

They have brought together all things BOY!

They have guest bloggers, sewing projects, clothing, toys, craft projects, bags, blankets, patterns, tutorials, instructions, etc...

And...of course...tons of pictures (which I love.)

Love the crown and the octopus!

Love the snake, and the art turned toy, and the bibs, and the bags, and the shoes...and....the green monster t-shirt, and.....I could go on and on.

See!? So many great ideas. All of the links for these projects is here.

Trinket keepers! So cute!

We desperately need these!

[Okay, maybe need isn't the right word, but there is a particular child that would LOVE these because he carries small things around ALL THE TIME.]

Do you love these? Me too.

Scavenger hunt cards. Such a great idea!

I am digging these pants!

The hobo bag is an essential for boys.

They would be great gifts.

Um...

I LOVE these!

Pirate undies! Really?!?! Does it get any better?????!!!!

Another adorable bag.

There are so many things to look at, so many great ideas, so many great patterns, tutorials, and instructions....you must check it out.

I put a button on my sidebar to make it even easier.

These ladies are...genius.

{As an added bonus, some of the guest bloggers are also some of my favorites.}

I cannot wait to get boy-crafting!

NOTE: if you receive any of these things as gifts, just pretend that you have never seen the idea before and that I am a true genius.

Thank you kindly.