Wild Hair

not to happy that Reiss is in the picture, :(

They had "Wild Hair" day at school and of course Caden wanted a blud faux hawk. Yeah, it took 3 different products to get his hair to stay up. But it didn't move. I picked him up from school and it was still standing!

OceanGrown International {aka OGI}

{all photos from OGIlife website}

Finally! Scott's companys' new website is finally up!! I think it looks really great! We have a lot of great things going on. I'm so excited for OGI. Go check it out!! Let me know what you think!

http://www.ogilife.com/

I'm just laughing!

{photo from shirtpervert}

Well, being from the fantastic sunflower state of Kansas, I may just have to make this purchase! I laughed so hard when I saw this. See more at http://www.shirtpervert.com/

Here's hoping for a great week

I hope this week looks up for so many people.

For Traci

Remember Saturday mornings during the 80's? Oh, yeah.

Today Traci & I were talking about Kids Incorporated. Trying to remember what they sounded like and what they wore. Well here you go!

Seriously? Now this is creative

{photo from foldschool}

{photo from foldschool}

Caden's recent cardboard creation: meet Iron, his robot

So wish my mind worked like this. I just happen to have some cardboard sheets in the garage. Caden is going to love this. He really enjoys making things. Just the other day he asked me for more cardboard!

The following information is from the Foldschool site.

foldschool is a collection of free cardboard furniture for kids, handmade by you. The downloadable patterns can be printed out with any printer. Follow the instructions and assemble a stable piece of furniture.

The furniture available through foldschool is designed by Swiss-based architect Nicola Enrico Stäubli. He is living and working as an independent architect, designer and bike messenger. Foldschool is his first mass product, cardboard furniture hand-crafted by the consumer.

{Thanks to http://kidshaus.typepad.com/ for sharing this great site!} be sure to check out Kidhaus, they have some fabulous finds!

Remember when this was fun?

Not that it still isn't fun, right? Some of our summer days were spent at our friends house, the Ryans, playing in the dirt & mud. Just creating the craziest things. We even made a pool once. After we dug it out we lined it with black trash bags and filled it with water. Childhood is great.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President?

Well, obviously this cake it a little late. Caden has been demanding that I make a cake for Presidents Day. He has really been enjoying learning about George Washington and Abe Lincoln at school.

"Mom, we have to make a cake for all the Presidents' birthdays. Can we put candles on it too? "

We even had to sing, it was fun. Caden, thanks for making me do these crazy things for you! You're one special kid.

I used the frosting recipe from: http://sisterscafe.blogspot.com/2009/01/classic-chocolate-bundt-cake.html It was really rich and you'll have extra. It poured out a little faster than I was expecting, hence the frosing pile-up on the plate. Very yummy though.

Neighborhood Party

We have such a great little cul-de-sac. There are just 6 houses here. We're lucky to have a "grandma & grandpa" in the neighborhood too. All the the kids just love them (big kids too). They had a pizza/ice cream party on Saturday for the kids. Everyone has been inside for the winter and they had been missing seeing the little ones all the time. It was perfect weather. We all had a great time. Thanks Stan & Marilee! You both are great and we are glad you are our neighbors!!!

Once again, are you kidding me?

AIRFORKONE

{photo from fred & friends}

How many times have I fed my kids doing to this stupid flying airplane fork/spoon thing? Why didn't I think of designing this? Sure glad someone did. This fun airplanefork may be great asset to your utensils, available at Fred. Be sure to check out their other products. They have some really creative items.

Thanks Bloesem Kids for sharing.

www.bkids.typepad.com

Vanessa: I thinkJack really needs this. Caden was feeding him dinner yesterday doing the airplane and he was just laughing the whole time.

My Hero!!

I failed to mention a few weeks ago while Scott was away {the week we were all sick} that my car wouldn't start. Something ALWAYS go wrong when he is away. I won't list all the incidences.

So my sweet neighbor Stan charged my battery for me, only to have it die on me later while I was running errands. A big thanks to the sweet lady in the parking lot who gave me a jump and the kind gentleman who wondered over to see if these "women" knew what they were doing. Thanks buddy, I do.

That evening I was telling my Dad about my irritating problem and the plan was for me to get it in the shop the next morning. Do you know what he did? The next morning he showed up at my door with breakfast for the boys and a new battery for me. He drove 5 hours from Colorado to change my battery! What a great DAD! I appreciated it so much. I actually appreciate everything he and my mom do for our family. I hit the jackpot getting them as parents.

{he has secretly been checking my blog to see if his picture is on here, so funny}

Are you kidding me?

{image from padalily}

I'm almost positive that I came up with this idea first, but whatever. If I had a babe in arms, I mean carrier, I would definitely be purchasing this. Carrying a car seat is the worst for the arms. The extra cushion would be lifesaver.

Really sassy fabric selections at: http://padalily.com/

Its the little things that matter

Caden is into giving a thumbs up lately. So hey, thumbs up?

I walked into their room and here is Reiss, having a little snack. Of course he need a table and chair, so on the floor go the toys from the baskets.

I don't know if I have mentioned Reiss' love of little treasures. He has to carry at least 4-5 "treasures" around with him. He finds the smallest things too. Screws, change, the accessories to action figures. Then if he gets a lot of them he carries them in not one but three mini lunch boxes. We have Spiderman, John Deere & 101 Dalmations.

Fast & the Furious

Every time the seats would shake Reiss just kept sliding down. He and Caden really liked this ride.

Reiss was a little upset here. He wanted to go on this flight ride that flips around but he is way to little. So Scott tried to side track him with the helicopter.

We went to Boondocks on Monday night. Needless to say, we all had a great time. Of course we ended it with some shots in the photo booth. We had to do it twice because our little one was getting cut out of the pictures. It's to bad too, he was making some great faces.

Love that little guy

Since we finally bought barstools for the island Reiss doesn't like to eat at the table. So at dinner the other night I turned to check on him and there he was, all smiles. I swear that red head does the funniest things.

All tuckered out

It is always a good/cute experience to find him asleep, especially in one of the costumes.

This would be nice . . . and less of a mess

{photo by missprettypretty}

Isn't this fun? My boys would completely love this. The whole blanket and pillow things is fun to, but it falls in all the time. Easy clean up!!! So, I'm thinking this would be a great purchase. There are some really cute ones for little girls too!!

You can find it here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6117191§ion_id=5577944

Shane Mercado Single Ladies {modest version}

You will have to mute/pause my music.

This is not his orginal version. His outfit is a little racey for family viewing. So I found one that he did on the Bonny Hunt Show. If you find his orginal on YouTube it is with the one with a split screen, he is on the left, Beyonce on the right.

Okay, so this guy did this dance and posted it on YouTube the day after Beyonce aired her video. So wish I could dance . . . . ahhh. Oh, well. Yeah for those that can and make us dream.

Thanks Suzie for sending it to me. I laughed so hard. I had to put this song on my playlist. Victoria probably almost has this dance down, with the little bit she showed me yesterday! =)

Any one in need of a laugh??

This is why I don't take classes at the gym. They may someday be posted on YouTube. I have never heard an instructor sing along with the music. Watch, she rarely lifts up her feet. Well, it made me laugh, hope it makes you laugh too. =)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

I love this picture of you. It really captures who you are. You are so beautiful! Seriously, you don't look your age (i promise i won't release the digits). It's your good (sometimes naughty) sense of humor that keeps you looking young. We all hope you have a wonderful day!

Just an "office" memory

I was out and about yesterday and came across a familiar stomping ground. When I worked in the Purchasing Department at TNI, we ate at Saigon Cafe, a lot. It was one of those places where their kids serve you and sanitation is questionable. But the food, the food was delicious. Yum yum General Tso chicken . . . There were a lot of fun times and good memories. (until you know who came along!)

Perfectly Vintage!

Design Mom spotlighted this web page about a week ago.

The Toymaker is an amazing site of free patterns of paper toys. So far Caden has made the bi-plane, race car, bus & chocolate truck. I also made the fairy wand. It is absolutely amazing that someone, the talented Marilyn Scott-Waters, created these. She also has a section Firelight Stories. So cute. I wish I were this talented. Go check it out, your little ones will enjoy it. Print them on card stock!!!! And be patient with the more detailed ones.

Who knew? Hum, a secret life? I knew it!!!!

While I was flipping through this "mini Flyers" book on how to make paper airplanes, a familiar name caught my attention. I grew up this this kid, even shared a room at times, but I swear I never saw him exhibit any kind of graphic design talent. I just wish he would open up and let us know about this new talent. Dustin, there is no need to hide your gifts! So you need to come clean, is this really you? People are asking!!

The death of my mailbox. =(

+

Chelsea
(aka lead foot)

=

Broken mail box! It was clear out in the middle of the cul-de-sac. It was hilarious. I wasn't upset as Chelsea was. Her new Chrylser Aspen literally just rolled off the showroom floor. =( Good news though, both can easily be repaired!

Sorry Chelsea, but I had to post this. It was so funny. It actually still makes me laugh! Hope you laugh when you read this!!

Who has time to be sick? Caden has things to do!

So, while Scott is away, what a perfect time for the three of us to get sick. Colds are not much fun. But it doesn't seem to slow Caden down at all. He decided that he wanted to get a head start on making his Indian "hats" to sell for this summer. Right when I think it's time for us to all lay down, he decides he wants to write some books. "I can read" 7 pages and "I'm going swimming" 9 pages. He is a busy authur/illustrator. They are each for sell if anyone is interested. But I'm almost positive that I'm not going to sell them. I told them that they were worth millions to me. So he told me that I needed to save my money. He did a really great job on them. I'm so amazed at the things that he creates.

Chinese New Year

Caden learned about Chinese New Year at school. They ate rice and fish with chopsticks. So he has decided that he now likes rice and wanted some for dinner. I made chicken & rice and the boys used their chopsticks to eat. It was quite comical to watch.

This is Caden's fortune from school. It couldn't be more true. We are getting ready for you big guy. The world is at your feet!

100 School Days!

To celebrate 100 days of schools Caden had to make a poster with 100 things on it. He is reading the Ready Freddy book series. The logo is a shark, so Caden wanted to make a shark. Scott helped him out on this one. They used gumballs, tootsie rolls, peppermint sticks, a button and a straw. They went a little overboard and used 102 items. Oh well! I think it turned out great and Caden was so excited to take it to school to show everyone. His teacher loved it too!

While I was in the other room . . .

Chaos insued! A "fort" was created by the boys and Reiss found a new purpose for the DVD cases.

Busy time of the year

I know that January is usually a slow month, but for me it is not. I'm busy getting spring products ready for our upcoming show, which is this week. Anyway, I promise? to post again in February. Um, maybe not, because then I will be fulfilling orders. But I will try to get some updates soon, how about that?



BTW: I went to dinner last night with some great friends to celebrate BRENDA'S birthday. (yes, she is still 29) I haven't been out with friends in so long. Brenda and I shared a cubicle a LONG time ago at TNI. (welcome to the world of an office) She and a few others from there I consider my best friends on this earth, I'm sure that they will continue afterwards as well. Even if time spands between visits it is not awakard to bump into them and we can just pick up where we left off. These are friendships that I truly treasure.

I have a fun halloween picture from the TNI days, I will post it when I find it. Don't miss working there, but I am grateful for the friendships I made there.

HELP!!!

Calling on all true friends, family & strangers!!!

My bff posted a contest on her photography blog and put Reiss' photo in the contest. So I NEED everyone who looks at my blog to jump on over to http://www.photosbypicme.com/blog/ and VOTE for #10!!!

Just scroll right past #1 (traci & jack, no hard feelings sis) through #9 and look at that adorable red head on #10! There is a $200 stretched canvas at stake here. I mean business, so please help me out! ;) Contest ends January 14th. Let your friends know (i'm serious) to so they can vote as well for #10!!!!!

If you ever send out an SOS, I'll be there for you!