The Zoo and a Wedding

We had a busy Sunday. Jared and Nathan went to the zoo yesterday with Peyton and Chase, they had such a blast. Nick was still at work so he missed it all, bummer, but he went to sleep right as soon as he got home so it was okay. I brought the double jogger instead of the wagon. Such a good choice. After all of the hills that I pushed 70lbs of kid up, I'm so glad I wasn't pulling the wagon. My arms got a workout. So my friends love to see every animal or at least the ones that the kids will recognize. This was Nathan's first zoo trip, he had an absolute blast, loved everything about it. We got there right when the gates opened at 9, it was still cool, okay, not cool, but at least comfortable and all of the animals were out.

Picture of the baby orangatan, so cute







After the zoo, we all came home and crashed, all of us got a nap, such a wonderful thing. Nick and I had a wedding to go to last night. One of my friends that I've known since junior high got married. We went to the same synagogue as kids, had the same friends through junior high and most of high school and we kept in touch after college and beyond. David and Diane are such a good looking couple. This was the first jewish wedding that I've been too, funny being that I'm jewish, but most of our jewish friends have married non-jewish men. It was such a beautiful ceremony, short and sweet, but so pretty, loved it and so did Nick. Didn't have my camera with me for the wedding itself, but here are a few pictures from the evening.

Not another craft project

I can't believe I decided to try something new even with all of my already half started projects. I love it though. I made myself a tote bag yesterday, sewed it all up myself. I've had this sewing machine in the closet for a few years, I've used it on scrapbook pages and to make the box valances we have in the house, but it hasn't been used for any actual sewing until last night. I keep reading Kelli's blog and I'm always inspired. We did a little trade on some patterns and I came away with the Amy Butler In Town bag pattern. The tote seems a bit on small side for me, but maybe if I tried to not cram everything I own into a purse it would be just perfect. One thing I will do differently next time is make the handles longer, not much, just a tad. I'm really happy to have tried my hand at sewing, now I need to practice, my seams were all over the place. I was focusing on controlling the speed of the machine and by the end of this I got the hang of it.

Peach picking

I know, a little late in the peach season, but we finally got our acts together to go peach picking. I would normally go to Schnepf Farms, but this year the orchard is only open on the weekends during the Peachy Festival. Makes sense, they want to keep the peaches on the trees for the real paying attendees, but it stinks for me because I want nothing to do with thousands of other people during a festival weekend. We opted for the Guadalupe Farmer's Market located at Power Rd, south of Elliot. They have a decent size orchard and a nice indoor farmers market. We got there before 9am, but it was already blazing hot, not a great experience with a bunch of toddlers. They were slathered in sunscreen, had their hats on, shoes tied and full water bottles. It all started out great until we had to actually walk through the orchard. full of the usual, bugs, and weeds. Needless to say we didn't get to stay very long, but at the same time, they didn't want to leave. Every tree we passed they wanted to look for peaches. They were on the trees, but not even close to being ripe. We came home with two small bags, which will be plenty when they ripen in a few days.

Jared was the ringleader today:


Madisson climbing in to get her peach off the tree:


As we were walking back, no smiles, just flushed faces


bonus on our excursion, they got to see where grapes grow.


I started a new project the other week, I haven't done anything on it since then, but tonight is Stitch n Bitch at Coffee Rush so here's hoping to getting a ton done. I'm using Patagonia cotton in the red/orange combo. I have 10 inches done on one sleeve of this wrap:

Getting to Scottsdale today

I wasn't able to go to Scottsdale to see my grandma for Mother's day last week because Nathan had a cold and I didn't want to give my grandparents any of that. So at the crack of dawn my wonderful children decided to wake up. We had already eaten breakfast, cleaned the house and played outside and I had even gotten a shower by 8am so I gave them a quick call and we headed up there. I knew it was going to be a short trip because everyone was going to get tired. The boys loved their great-grandparents. My grandma had the hugest smile when we walked through the door. I made her a two canvases with the kids pictures on them and then hinged them together. It would have been quite intelligent of me to take a picture of it before I gave it away, but I didn't. We hung out, watched some cartoons, Jared played cards with his great-grandpa (telling him what every number on the card was). Nathan was having a field day exploring every nook and cranny of their house.

Of course a trip to my grandparents is not complete without walking into Jessica Knits. I'm making a few baby items for my new niece and my cousins second baby. I found a cute pattern for my niece and three balls of Rowan Calmer in a really soft rosey color. I still have no idea what I'm going to do for my cousins baby. boy stuff for babies almost doesn't exist. I'm sure there is something that I have that will work, but I have to search through my books for it. I'm actually looking forward to doing that. I find things that I forgotten about.

Off to work now.

here is a picture of Nathan and my mom on Sunday morning, happy kid, love it!!!!

for the love of CROCS

I found myself yet another pair, bring my total to five pairs, fuschia, purple, emerald, grey and now orange. I was tipped off that the new Costco at Greenfield and Chandler Blvd. had them for $20 for their grand opening the other weekend. I've been after the orange pair since I've been trying to infuse more color into my wardrobe. Normally in the summer I pretty much wear white tshirts, reflects all of the disgusting nasty sun. I love the orange, only color left that I think I'd wear is the lime green. I'm still trying to get Jared to wear a pair in his size, he only seems to want to wear mine. Nathan needs to grow a bit more before the smallest size will fit him, infant 8-9. there are no deals to be had on these shoes. I'd hate to spend $30 on a pair of shoes jared will refuse to wear.

Nathan was in such a good mood this morning, very playful and agreeable, couldn't help but get a picture of the two of us.

Mother's Day

I spent the day thinking about my kids. How if it wasn't for them, I would need a Mother's Day. They are both so special to me. I'm so thankful that I get to be their mom. When they come up and give me a big hug and kiss it makes up for all of the crazy things that they have been doing, the not listening, the terrorizing each other, destroying things. None of that matters. Those crazy things are all part of their day, part of their lives and I cherish every minute of it. I know someday they will hopefully not beat each other up (here's to hope) and instead will help each other out. They are starting to do this now, but those moments are few and far between.

Jared was adorably sweet this morning. I worked Saturday night so Nick put the kids to bed. He told Jared to give me my present as soon as he woke up. I woke up to a kiss and a teddy bear with a box attached. Inside the box was a Mom's ring. Two little rows of diamonds and Mom is carved out on the side, it is beautiful and it fits me. Nick said that Jared picked it out himself. When Nick got home from work I opened up my card from him. I'm going to a day spa following my night out. Nick booked it already for Thursday, full massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, haircut and style. I can't believe that he did this, but I'm so thankful. I'm hoping to come back from this 24- hour period a new woman, refreshed and relaxed, but if not, it is okay.

Next Wed night

I get to go to a hotel all by myself and do whatever I want. I'm going to be staying at the Best Western off of the 60 and Dobson RD. Okay, don't get any dirty thoughts, I'm going to be scrapbooking the night away and then sleeping without a thought in my mind about being woken up by one or both of the boys at the buttcrack of dawn. Nick was using my computer and saw an email that I was talking with Heather about wanting a room for Mother's Day. Of course he then suggested that I get one and that he was planning on doing that for me anyways but didn't know if that was something I'd really want. Hello, not that my kids are bad because they aren't, but a night by myself sounds like heaven. Check in is at 2pm, I'm going to be there with bells on and a trunk full of paper and embellishments.

I'm making a promise

it may not last very long, but I have to try. I'm making a promise NOT TO BUY ANYMORE SCRAPBOOKING PAPER. I just went through my "put this stuff away" bin and it is outstanding all of the new paper that I have in their that I want to use. What also amazes me is how I will probably never be able to locate what I have. It isn't for lack of organization because I have tried many methods, it is simply for having wayyyy too many different beautiful pieces. I have a few sections organized by holidays or seasons, but the rest is organized by manufacturer. That would be great, but most times, one manufacturer has a few different designers working for them and then everything gets lumped together. Oh well, just my rant for the moment.

I can't wait to get to see Alison again. I'm meeting up with her and hopefully a bunch of others at Coffee Rush at 2pm. Jared will be coming with me so that Nathan and Nick can take their naps. I couldn't get anyone last minute to watch Jared so that I could go by myself. I'm just going to bring him Magnetix and Legos to play with, those two have really been amusing him lately.