Fun pictures of the boys and more stuff

It has just been a busy week. We are getting ready to leave for our trip to San Diego. We leave next Sunday, just a short little trip to SeaWorld and the beach, both of which will be firsts for the boys. I'm so excited to see the looks on their faces when they play in the sand and feed the dolphins.

It has also been a week of birthdays, first Nick's and then my mom's on Friday. We are celebrating her birthday tonight with a little party. I got her a Robert's Cake with the Banana/Strawberry filling. It is so amazing and the cake is extra beautiful as usual. I'll make sure to get a picture of it tonight. Also this week I went to Julie's house for a Stampin Up' card class. Six cards for $10, the cards were so cute, using the new stamps and also InColors. I had so much fun getting out of the house and learning new techniques. I'm pretty well versed on scrapbooking techniques, but a lot of stamping techniques are foreign to me. I also met with the knitgirls at Barnes and Noble yesterday morning. It was good to see everyone, so good to see what everyone else is making and just to have some girly talk.

Here are a few cute ones of the boys: Nick wanted new pictures of them as his birthday present and they only sort of cooperated.

Hilarious card and Fawkes socks

Today is Nick's 34th birthday, we let him sleep in since he worked until 1:30am. When we got back to the house, the kids woke him up screaming happy birthday, poor daddy wasn't ready to wake up yet. He is napping again, but in the meantime he opened the card from my parents. It was hilarious. Here is the front and the inside.




I'll post some pictures of the birthday boy when he wakes up.

I got this yarn last week and had it wound up at Barb's house by her wonderful husband Ted. The yarn is Socks that Rock in lightweight, Spring Fling colorway. I had bought the yarn for the Monkey socks from Cookie A., but had a spur of the moment change and decided to make Fawkes. I didn't have the appropriate colored yarn for this project, but I really like the stitch pattern so what the heck. I'm sure they will look good even if they aren't bright orange and red.




And oh yes, we did go out and see the Order of the Phoenix. I loved it, Nick not as much. We are getting the book delivered today, should be on the UPS truck on its way to my house as we speak. It is going to my dad though, I bought it for him for Father's Day. I need the Audiobooks or it won't get read. I have book 4 on request at the library on CD. I'll probably get book 5 on audio when I'm done with book 4. I'm a quick listener, but slow reader due to the muchkins. Maybe that will change when both are in school in August.

Wow!!

I can't believe it has been so long since I've posted. A few computer and camera snafu's and a 3 year olds birthday party, mix in some 4th of July and summer doldrums and it has been two weeks.

Nathan had such a good time turning 3. He really understood the whole birthday concept and kept telling everyone he met exactly what he was after for his birthday. Thankfully, family and friends listened, he has a ton of new construction toys and trains. Here is my brother trying like hell to get the big toy out of the box. Nathan had no patience what so ever. Hilarious. Yes, Mike was able to accomplish the task and all was well in the world.


On the 4th we went to a friend's house to swim and hang out before they are permanently California residents. We left their house at 5:30 and by the time we had gotten home, Nathan was out cold. I got him into the house, changed into pj's and under the covers without even a flinch. Jared followed right behind him. Poor boys didn't get to see one firework. Nick and I recorded the Tempe fireworks on channel 5 so they watched it the next day. maybe next year they will be able to stay up.

I got this picture of the "wall of dust" coming up behind our house. I can't remember what day it was, but it is definitely monsoon season now. Jared told me we had to watch the Little Einsteins episode that had a storm in it. He was totally right, they were talking about the Arabian sea and then I explained that Arizona and the Arabian Sea area were the only two areas in the world that get these type of storms. He loves science.


The boys helped me make these Strawberry Muffins. The idea came from Amanda and her blog, the recipe came from Martha's Baking Handbook. It was the blueberry muffin recipe with strawberries instead. Damn, were they good. They were gone the same day.


Jared took advantage of the boxes that Nathan's new toys came in and created a garage out of one of them. So creative.


Last picture (I promise), the boys did their good deed for the day. Staples had amazing deals on pencils, sharpeners and pencil cases (all only $.01 a piece). We are donating these items plus some binders, paper and glue that I bought to kids who don't have school supplies. I know there is a program for donating items at Arizona Mills, does anyone know of any others??