This is how we roll

Today:

We sat outside in the sun and blew bubbles. We used a little bubble blower that has a tiny fan to blow bubbles for you. It worked, blowing big bubbles, but we decided that the bubble wands are just as much fun. James mastered the art of blowing just so, to make bubbles! James and Naomi took turns using both. Then James poured the rest of the lemon-scented bubble solution into his rain boot. Three-year-old reasoning that I just don't understand.

We hunted for slugs and bugs and found a few. James tried to get close to a pair of robins, they weren't very trusting and hopped away. James said he should throw rocks at him. I let him know that wouldn't win any friends for him. The birds flew away. Naomi and James visited our neighbors, a retired couple who like to give them treats. Today they came back with chocolate chip cookies. 

James used a stick to pretend it was a sword and tried to cut branches off the trees.

I showed Naomi and James the tiny buds of our tulips and daffodils that are just starting to push up out of the ground in front of our house. And made them promise not to walk on them!

the requested lunch was cheese roll-ups, spaghetti sauce for dip, milk, and grapes. I thought about making something more sophisticated for myself, but didn't.

Naomi went to preschool and James and I took a walk to the playground. He insisted on trying the monkey bars "all by himself". I let him, but saved him before the inevitable fall. He was so close to getting to the next bar. I helped him back and forth about twenty times. Ok, maybe not that many times, but probably about 8 times. After a while the three-year-old reasoning was present again and he was getting shoe-fulls of bark chips to dump down the slide. That was fun until an older girl wanted to use the slide, she was not amused.

 We walked home to get snacks and drinks and I decided it was time for a hair cut for James. His blond hair was getting a little long. I have clippers, I've cut it before, how difficult could it be?

It's difficult. Mostly because little boys like to wiggle and itchy hair makes them wiggle more. And trying to re-capture your escaped lady bug makes them wiggle the most.

But it turned out cute! Now that I know better what I'm doing, I can become his official hair-cutter. I've trimmed Naomi's several times, but scissors and clippers are entirely different animals. Lucky for me they both have curly hair, minor mistakes are invisible. And pretty soon I'll be pro, so no mistakes....

After James and I picked up Naomi and her carpool from preschool, Naomi's friend, Jagger got to come back home with us and play for a while.

We got out some dinosaur cards that were mine when I was little. I had a big dinosaur phase. I think everyone does. Stegosaurus is still my favorite. We learned how long, how big, what they ate, and how to say their names.

Now the kids are playing that they are puppies and making forts with blankets and chairs to be their dog houses. Naomi gets to be in charge. Because she just is. She named her puppies "fleabag" and "spider". I have no idea. Both boys willingly and readily comply. It works out well.

Also, the color orange has been highly debated lately at our house. Is it a girl color, or a boy color. James insists it is a BOY color. Naomi holds that is it definitely both. I have to agree with Naomi. In fact it's probably a really good neutral color, better than green (more boy) and yellow (more girl).

These are the important topics around the table these days. Daily requests for orange utensils, plates and cups are the norm. A few weeks ago it was yellow. I'm sure next week it will be green.

Life with kids is so daily, and not glamorous. But it's fun, and funny, and on days like today I really love it.

These are the little things that aren't so important, but I like writing about them, so I can look back and remember all those little details.

Birthday Boy!

James had a birthday! He is now a big boy! Three years old means you really aren't a baby anymore. Sad, but true. He's thrilled, I'm not. I like him as my little Jamesy-Baby.

James had his first birthday party with friends this year! His little boy cousins all came and had a super-awesome Spiderman party with James.

We played a duck-duck-goose variation, "spiderman, spiderman, green-goblin!" They were SO funny. We played freeze dance like at Naomi's party. The boys were super crazy and loved just running around.

Opening presents was so fun, the boys all crowded around and wanted to help and definitely wanted to help play with the new toys.

We had pizza and creamies and Spiderman Cupcakes! I was happy with how they turned out, the candles made them even better. James loved them and they actually looked like spider webs, phew!

At the end we had a Spiderman pinata, and party bags for all. It was so fun!
I wish I had taken more pictures at the party but the cupcake ones are cute enough.

James playing on his birthday at the playground while we waited for Naomi at ballet.

I like his shades, they are perfect for a party!

James getting ready to blow out the candles!

James is loving and sweet and crazy and tough. He loves to cuddle and give hugs and kisses.

He loves to pretend he's flying in a rocket ship to outer space! Rocks, sticks, whatever he can find, becomes a rocket!

James loves wearing his 'froggy boots' and I love it too, he can get them on by himself.
He usually doesn't care what clothes I help him put on and he really doesn't like getting his hair done. He says he doesn't want to look handsome.

James loves to pretend he is a superhero, or a puppy, or a dinosaur, or dragon, or snake, lizard or Monster. Playing pirates is a favorite game and playing anything with his sister Naomi is fun.

James gets his "feelings hurt" easily if he gets in trouble. I sometimes find it hard to keep a straight face when I'm disciplining him.

He's my blue-eyed blond with kissable cheeks and a round little tummy. He loves to get "raspberries" on his tummy, (when I blow on it).

James's favorite foods are pretzels, olives, hot chocolate, red peppers and mushrooms.
He loves any treat I'll let him have.

The past three years with him have flown by, crazy fast. He was a very happy and easy baby, and so much fun! He would sleep anywhere and loved whatever food I gave him. He was a super chubby little love, with rolls and dimples everywhere. I loved it.

Now he's 3 and learning how to dress himself, and put his shoes on, and hopefully potty train soon, learns and sings songs, can count almost to 20 and is learning to write his name.
James is such a sweet boy and I'm so happy I get to be his mommy!
Happy Birthday (sweet baby) James!

Birthday Girl!

Naomi had a birthday! She turned 5!!!
It's crazy. I know everyone says that. But it still is.

Naomi had a birthday party on Valentine's Day, it was a Valentine's - Birthday Party! She loved it. I had some family over the next day for cake and ice cream too.
We played freeze dance, duck-duck-goose, made heart crafts (that didn't work out so well, but were fun to do anyway), opened presents, sang, ate cake, ice cream, fruit and veggies too! Played 'Pin the Kiss on the Frog' and just acted like little party animals! I had a fun Valentine's playlist that kept the kids moving and having fun.

playing in the sink with her new color-change Sleeping Beauty

Naomi and James

Happy Birthday Naomi!

Pin the Kiss on the Frog!

It was such a fun party and just a little bit crazy too!

She's so smart and growing up so quickly. I was looking at her today while I was watching her at preschool. Thinking how beautiful she is. I was remembering what a pretty baby she was. She was so bald, but she was just adorable. People used to stop me all the time and comment on how cute she was. And they would nearly always comment on how she has such beautiful skin. It's a mystery where she got her permanent tan, and how she gets so brown in the Summer. I'm thinking she's going to love it as she gets older. That girl never burns. But I do use sunscreen. Promise.

Naomi loves to play make-believe and construct elaborate games with her little brother. They are always rescuing, helping, exploring, fighting, racing.
Everyday, the use of all the throw blankets and pillows is required.

She is sometimes mischievous.
She is a good reasoner and likes to argue her point. She has a strong sense of justice.
She is giving and likes to make her friends and brother happy.

Naomi loves art. She colors, draws, writes notes and letters, paints, glues, cuts, tapes. She does these things every single day. All the time.
I have a wall covered with her drawings and colorings. I take everything down about once a month and it fills up incredibly fast with new art.
I love having her artwork in my house.
Naomi loves to write notes to everybody. It's so sweet and she is a good phonetic speller. She's getting picky and wants me to help her spell everything correctly lately.

Naomi's Grandma Linda had a birthday the other day. I told Naomi it was coming up and at preschool that day she made a pipe cleaner and bead bracelet for her Grandma. She brought it home and showed me, she was SO proud.
She put it in a box, with three jelly beans and a little drawing and taped the box shut. Then she cut and taped as much blue ribbon as she could fine to "wrap" her gift. it was adorable. She beamed with pride as her Grandma opened her gift.
I love her for being so sweet and thoughtful.
I love that she loves her own artwork.
I hope I can encourage her in that.

Naomi's favorite foods are still pickles and olives. She loves frozen peas, not cooked. She loves tuna sandwiches with banana peppers. Chocolate creamies and oreos are favorite treats.

Naomi is a daredevil. She loved the fast, crazy rides at Disneyland. The scarier the better!
It's a magical age. She believes in magic and still loves to be silly, she is getting the hang of knock-knock jokes and how to play rock-paper-scissors.

Naomi loves to choose her own outfits. I let her as long as it's weather-appropriate. It's usually a bit mis-matched but she loves it so I do too.

I love my Naomi girl, it's amazing another year has flown by. She's my first baby and my big girl and my little friend for everything. I am so thankful for my sweet girl and I hope I can be the mommy she needs.

Snow Day

Snowy fun with my little crazy kids!
Sometime in February here in our beautiful, snowy Cache Valley.

 

Her "Grandma Great" made for her that darling pink scarf. Naomi loves to wear it

Naomi is wearing my snowsuit from when I was a little girl. I don't know how waterproof it is, but it looks so sweet on her.

You can count on Naomi consuming large quantities of snow. It's just inevitable. So delicious :) 

.
James was pretending that his arm was a crane or a tractor scooping and dumping the snow.
He was almost too busy to look at me while I snapped his photo.

Powder

Last month Mark and I hit up Powder Mountain on possibly the best ski day of the season.
It was a bluebird day and tons of fresh powder from the night before.
Best skiing of my life I tell you!

I had never been to Powder, and after one day there, I'm sold. It's a great resort, not too crowded and definitely not as pricey as the other resorts in Utah. There were tons of fun runs, we didn't even cover half of them. It's a lot bigger than Beaver, ha!

I ski, Mark boards, and we have a good time every time we go. I love it.
Ski (and board...) season is just about over. I'm going to try to make it to Beaver Mountain one last time this weekend before it closes. All the other places will be open for a while yet, and Spring skiing is always so nice and sunny and warm!

My little Valentine's

Valentine's Day is a fun holiday and we love celebrating it! Naomi and I spent the afternoon the day before cutting out hearts and decorating the house for Valentine's and for her birthday party. Naomi loves decorating for holidays, it's such a big deal to her. We spent lots of time writing on our life-sized conversation hearts we stuck all over the walls.

James and his Dinosaur Valentine's card from mommy.

Putting the stickers back inside.

 We heart Valentine's Breakfast!

Pink heart-shaped pancakes actually tasted pretty good.

We had a Happy Valentine's Day.

Saint Patrick's Day was fun too, I didn't put the effort in to decorating, much to Naomi's disappointment. We made sure we all wore green and the kids were shocked to find that those mischievous little leprechauns had turned their milk GREEN! The whole gallon! I love holidays with little kids.

Oh My Blog

I haven't blogged in a while. I've been busy. I'm always busy. But I've not been spending my extra time blogging. Sometimes it's like that.
Right now I have tests in two classes within this next week. Lots of reading to do. Projects, papers, assignments. Etc.
School is taking up a lot of my free time lately.
And the rest of my time is mostly spent as a mommy!
I remember being a freshmen at Utah State, and I took 15 credits and worked part time and spent a LOT of time socializing. Somehow I managed to get it all done.
Now I'm taking 7 credits and feel swamped all the time! Funny how time changes things. And getting older.
Only about a month left for this semester and then I won't have classes again until this Fall when I can actually start the Professional School Counselor program. Yay! It will be different, busy too, I'm sure. It's confined to one evening a week, and is 6 credits. And the program is two years. That's long. But I'm excited to start it.
It's hard wearing different hats depending on what my responsibilities are at the moment. But being busy and finding balance is rewarding, so that's what I'm striving for.
Not much for today, I have lots of photos that need posting, but they will have to wait.

SAHM

This post by CJane made me laugh this morning.
I can relate.
I think all moms can relate.
Enjoy!
http://blog.cjanerun.com/2011/02/dual-citizenship.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+CJaneEnjoyIt+(c+jane+enjoy+it)

New Book, On The Fringe

A friend of mine wrote this book! That's exciting! I would love to have the patience and focus to write a book. Oh, and the creativity.
It's called On The Fringe, by Courtney King Walker.
She is actually my sister Natalie's sister-in-law. Kinda, sorta family. Almost.
Check it out and keep it on your list of books to read.
It will be out October of this year!

Also, if you are on goodreads, be my friend! http://www.goodreads.com/tlow

Getting Ready to Get Ready

*My links are not showing up unless you hover over the words...I'm working on how to fix that.

I had a really fun weekend doing almost nothing. I love that. And hate that.
But mostly just love it.

I spent most of my time with Mark, and we went to Costco, that's a little something, right? Seriously, who doesn't enjoy a Costco trip?

We had the opportunity to listen to Elder D. Todd Christofferson speak, and that was a good something.

And I met new people, and one gave me a copy of her newest cookbook!
Keeping Up Cookbook
Grace Ivory Rock has published two cookbooks and this is her latest and the newest addition to my kitchen. I already love it, it's cute for starters. And everything in it sounds sooo good.
I am so excited to use this, I made my first today, Garlic-Lemon Spaghettini, It was very good. Her recipes are not intimidating, but are sophisticated enough to be delicious and exciting.

Naomi's birthday is coming up soon! And so is Valentines Day.
She and I decided to make it one big celebration.
We are making birthday party invitations tomorrow!
I'm guessing it won't be many more years where she thinks a Valentines Birthday Party is a fun idea. Personally, I think it's a fantastic theme. You really can't go wrong with pink, purple and red hearts. And Candy and hearts. And more hearts.
And please send any fun party ideas my way!
I'm thinking I need to make a heart-shaped cake.
Maybe something like one of these? Naomi just wants candles to blow out.

I really love chocolate, this recipe is from Joy Of Baking

(sounds good, but maybe too much for a birthday party)

This heart cake tutorial looks so great, and probably very complicated....from I Am Baker

(really, this is my favorite, how fun is this cake!)

Martha Steward never fails

(These would probably be just perfect. Adorable too!)

 Or how do you make something like this? Heart shaped molds would be helpful I'm sure. And knowledge of how to use fondant. I watched Ace of Cakes enough, I should be able to handle it I think. Ha, joking of course.

And I just found this image, how to make a heart shaped cake: Not that tricky.

Speaking of Valentines, I saw this valentines idea from Twig and Thistle via Design mom today and It's just the cutest thing ever. Ever. DIY Valentines Fruit Stickers.

Ok, maybe not ever, but it's really fun, right?

We already started this homemade color-theory Valentines from Mer Mag.

This is ours so far:

I think we might have to pair it with the DIY fruit stickers! But I need to locate some sticker paper. I already tried printing them on label paper, not many turned out centered on a label. But it was worth a shot...

And other things? I am keeping up with school work, but it's difficult when there are so many other things I need to do and so very many things I want to do, besides school work. 

It is interesting. Psychological Stats is both interesting and time-consuming. Behavior Analysis isn't bad, and I'm learning, or rather, re-learning how human behavior works. It should prove to be an interesting semester.

One of the other things I just want to do is make new pillow covers for my couch pillows. I have the fabric, the sewing machine and the tutorial. Just need the time. I'll probably follow this one from Freshly Picked.

I love all these creative people sharing ideas, it's fantastic.

I also need to make some more bows, clips, ribbons, flowers, etc for Naomi. I really love doing that and it's been a while. I need the fix of starting and finishing a project and she needs new accessories. Win-win.

Oh, and running. I took a break. Now I'm back. I think. I loose my base so quickly that it makes me anxious when I haven't run for a few days. Ok, a week. Back to the gym for another few months until we thaw here. 

And lastly, Jamesy fell asleep on the couch. He is so sweet and peaceful when he is sleeping. He got a hair cut too, so cute.

So...

This little post is dedicated to the great guy I am dating.

Mark.

He hasn't "made the blog" yet because he actually requested not to be a blog topic. More along the lines of, "don't blog about me, you don't want to put your dating life all over your blog."

But not mentioning him feels like I'm leaving out a whole bunch of the fun I'm up to lately, a lot of good stuff!

He's great and we have so much fun together. We have tried to get up skiing/boarding as often as we can, obviously, from the few photos I have, most are ski lift pics.

We do other stuff too, but I don't seem to have any photos of it.

What to tell about Mark... he's a huge Jazz fan and he likes 80's movies and music probably more than me. Seriously. He's cool :)

So when I talk about Mark in my future blog posts, this is him!

I like him lots, can ya tell?

Oh what do you do in the Winter Time?

We live near Spring Creek and my kids love to go "exploring" down there. Neighborhood boys play there and set up a few bridges over the creek. We always find signs of animals and throwing rocks in the creek is endlessly fun of course.

Ballet Lesson are a once weekly event to keep our spirits high during these cold months here.

Naomi loves her little class and Miss Debbie, her teacher.

James and I play inside while we wait because the playground outside is still covered in snow. And it's just cold.

Waiting for Naomi, playing hide and seek!

What's in your purse?

We also got new rain boots! Fun! We wore them outside to stomp in puddles and splash as much as possible before heading down to the creek to explore.