The Wreath

I finally hung the wreath that I bought way back in August, pre-baby. Not the best picture, but I love it and how it looks in its new home.

Free Photo Cards and more from Kodak

Go here to read the slickdeals thread about it.

Go to Kodakgallery.com and sign up, or sign in, and then go to "My Account." If you are a new member you automatically get 20 free prints. From there click on "Credits and Discounts." Enter the following codes, one at a time: tryus1, tryus2, tryus3, tryus4, tryus5. This is what you will get for free:

Collage 5 x 7"(s) (expires December 31, 2008)
$1.98 credit good towards prints (expires December 31, 2008)
20 percent discount good for all inventory types except prints, shipping and custom-printed cards. Can be used 1 time (expires December 31, 2008)
10 percent discount good for all inventory types except prints, shipping and custom-printed cards. Can be used 1 time (expires December 31, 2008)
$10.00 credit good towards all inventory types 5 x 7" Photo Print Cards - Sold in Sets (expires December 31, 2008)

The $10 credit for 5 x 7 cards equals ten cards. They seem to have some pretty cards and a nice variety. When you get your Christmas card from me, now you will know where it came from!

There doesn't seem to be a free shipping code floating around, but you can pick these up at a variety of different stores. I even tried Blythe's zip code and it said you could pick them up at Albertsons or Kmart!!!!

My favorite pictures from Gabe's (day-before-)birthday

He got this Kung Fu Panda headband from Evan and Santi (along with a sweet sword/dagger) and wore it the rest of the day.

Air-hockey with Dad and and a ride on a monster truck at Chuck-E-Cheese.

Colin pouting over something and Chad making fun of him (yeah, we are like that).

Gabe refusing to even look when the servers at Red Robin came over to sing Happy Birthday to him. He sure did like the sundae they brought though!

Gabe thrilled with "Sir Handel", and Chad cooing over his baby.


"Cheese-take-a-picture-real-quick-so-I-can-get-back-to-playing!"

Audra's hidden talent

She's been holding out on us, folks! Did you know that Audra is secretly crafty? Don't ask her if she is, because she will deny it, but how else can you explain being able to create this in mere minutes with Play-Doh?

Gabe's 3rd birthday celebration

Gabe's birthday isn't technically until tomorrow, the 14th, but we had his big celebration with aunts, uncles, and cousins, yesterday. We are telling him that today is his birthday, because Chad has the day off for Columbus Day. Chuck-E-Cheese's and Red Robin are on the schedule.


I love this video because he is taking the whole thing so seriously. He has seen so many birthdays this year because of all his relatives here, so he has been just waiting and waiting for his big day to finally come. And you gotta love the spit on the cake with the second blow.

It always feels like Gabe's birthday begins the holiday season in our house. Halloween quickly follows, and then the fun doesn't stop until Colin's b-day in April. Woohoo! Party time!

One Word Only

1. Where is your cell? drawer
2. Significant other? Scrumptious
3. Your hair? limp
4. Your mother? strong
5. Your father? patient
6. Your favorite thing?beauty
7. Your dream last night? Apocalypse
8. Your favorite drink?milk
9. Your dream/goal?happiness
10. The room you're in? computer
11. Your fear? unresolved
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?Charlotte
13. Where were you last night? Dwight
14. What you're not? organized
15. Muffins? carbs
16. One of your wish list items? SOLD
17. Where you grew up? desolate
18. The last thing you did? cereal
19. What are you wearing? comfy
20. Your TV? Chad's
21. Your pet?never
22. Your computer? home
23. Your life? changing
24. Your mood?content
25. Missing someone?always
26. Your car?perfect
27. Something you're not wearing?shoes
28. Favorite Store? Target
29. Your summer?waiting
30. Your favorite color? grass
31. When is the last time you laughed? today
32. Last time you cried? yesterday
33. Who will/would re-post this? Chad
34. The place I go over and over? cjane
35. The person who visits me (Regularly)? Mom
36. A favorite fruit? orange
37. A place I would rather be right now? Disneyland

Hate to tell you Gabe, but it's only the beginning

I pick Colin and Santi up from school every day. Yesterday Colin's class came out first, as usual, and we were sitting around waiting for Santi when one of Colin's classmates, Addy, spotted him. She ran up to us, stopped short, pointed at Gabe, and shouted with great enthusiasm,

"What?! You have a baby twin?!"

Gabe did not appreciate her remarks and scowled at the ground for the rest of her little visit.

Thank You Chad

For surprising me with these beautiful flowers just because they reminded you of me.

They remind you of me? WOW. You must be sweet on me.

Now James and Roy hate you even more ;)

See - Even Oliver loves Aldi

One more reason I love Aldi. Not only do they not provide bags for you (WAY less waste), now they are selling these HUGE and sturdy bags for two dollars each. Have you ever seen the ones that Walmart and Target sell? tiny!

Free Night of Theater

Even if you just somewhat enjoy theater, check this out.

For Chad

It's his first day back at work and I know he misses his baby so I took this video this morning.

Everytime I walk past this sweet little bouquet, I have to smile.

That kid

Last week we were in the midst of a usual, somewhat hectic bedtime. The tub was full, and Colin had already stripped down and jumped in. Gabe was waiting for parental assistance, when he suddenly left and resolutely made his way down the stairs. We called after him, telling it was time to get in the bath. Gabe responded "I'm getting a drink!"

I followed him downstairs and watched him get a clean cup out of the dishwasher, and then stretch to fill it up in the water dispenser at the front of the fridge. Expecting Gabe to take a drink, I was surprised to see him toddle unevenly with the too-full cup back up the stairs. I asked him what he was doing.

"I'm getting a drink for Colin!"

I laughed and offered to carry it for him. When we got in the bathroom, I asked Colin if he had asked Gabe to get him water. Colin's face turned sheepish and a little embarassed as he nodded his head. The nerve! Asking a toddler to fetch you a drink from downstairs because you are thirsty in the tub!

And little brother doing it cheerfully without a question.

Seriously So Spoiled

It is nine o'clock at night and the downstairs is in perfect order, with a couple of candles lit.

And where is the man responsible for all of this?

Upstairs cuddling the baby back to sleep.

Phsst - This is what the house looks like almost every night, thanks to him (ask Roy). How did I get so lucky?

A Season of Neglect

I wasn't going to start a flower garden at all this year. Then one of our friends had use of a rototiller for a week and asked if we would like to use it, so I figured I might as well take advantage of it, tear up the soil, and just throw some seeds in the ground to tide it over until next year.

Which, after working the soil QUITE a bit, is what I did. I didn't want to get into really mapping out my dream garden just yet, so I planted just a few perennials (flowers that come back every year), and then scattered the seeds of some of my favorite annuals (flowers that only live for one growing season).

This is what it all looked like on May 3rd of this year.

I put in minimal effort through probably the middle of June of so. Very minimal. I watered maybe twice a week. I didn't translate or thin my plants. I hardly ever weeded.

After June, I stopped doing anything altogether.

And this is what a completely neglected little flower patch looks like by September 28th. Not too pretty, but kind of a fun little experiment. I am shocked that my Cosmos grew to be about eight feet tall and are still growing. Most of the plants lasted all season without anything but rainfall, and there really aren't too many weeds in there (considering). Just a lot of really scraggly looking plants.

Next year I will put more effort and design in, but I don't regret my garden of free spirits.