Lucky Me!

Back in June, Lindsay Hart from Hart to Hart Digital Design held a give-way. She was looking for new location ideas for photo shoots. I immediately thought of two of our family's favorite spots, the garden, and Copperhead Island. Copperhead Island ended up winning so we got a free family photo session there last Wednesday!

I can't tell you how fun it was to have someone else worrying about getting the right shot for once - and a professional, not just crazy ol' mom with the camera. Lindsay was relaxed, efficient, fun, enthusiatic.....so much so that the kids barely realized that we were there to take pictures - they were completely relaxed. Lindsay spent an hour acting as our paparazzi, and I couldn't be happier with the shots (plus she complimented my "styling" on her blog so that wins extra points :o) S We will always cherish these pictures. There are some of Chad and the boys that I just can't get enough of.

Check out Lindsay's blog if you are in need of a photographer! (Plus there are a few more shots of us to see!)

Thanks again Lindsay!

Happy Birthday Give-Away

Happy 3rd Birthday Ingleside!

To commemorate the event, I have an announcement, and a contest!

The announcement:
The Colemans will be celebrating a new birthday next year.

Yes, we are expecting Coleman kid #4 in the year 2011.

The contest:
Guess my due date!

The commenter who guesses closest to my due date will win a $20 gift card to

Because, of course, where else would the Colemans celebrate a birthday?

Leave your comment/guess by this Friday, Sept. 17, 11:59 EST.

Sorry to those who already know...yes, you are ineligible for the Red Robin prize, but leave a comment anyway and I will choose one of you "knowers" randomly for the "consolation prize." If you want you can even throw in a fake guess to try and throw people off ;o)

HAPPY GUESSING!

Check out the other guessing game going on at my sister Ashley's blog!

Blog Anniversary!

Today marks three years since my first blog post.

Tomorrow I will announce a little contest and give-away to celebrate.

Stay tuned!

Labor Day Weekend

It could have been a disaster.
(13 kids and 7 adults staying in a three bedroom house)

Instead, it was pretty perfect.

Levi's family, Bobby's family, Bryce, and my family headed up to stay in Audra's parent's guest house in the Virginia mountains. With that many kids around, plus cousins on Audra's side at her mom's house, the kids didn't need any entertaining by adults.

They had each other, the chicken coop, air-soft guns, rolling hills, cows, apple trees, marshmallow roasts, and Kubota rides to keep them busy and as happy as they will ever be.

We adults sat around all day in the beautiful weather, eating, chatting, and laughing at the rascals. And yawning. No matter how much you sit around in the mountains, you always still feel like curling up for a nap on the green grass under the sunny sky.

As always, we left asking ourselves when we could go back.

Just because these pictures make me laugh

No, he doesn't want something from the fridge. He's just climbing it because he can.

Back to School

Yesterday was the first day of school. Colin was complaining that his stomach hurt the night before and even asked, "If I throw up, do I still have to go tomorrow?" so I was worried about how he was going to be, but he was excited and happy. I am doing the morning carpool duties, which means I have to have all three boys dressed, fed, and out the door by 7:25am. I have been sleeping in a bit over the summer (Colin is old enough to get himself cereal now) so the change has been worrying me. We made it yesterday without tears, and Colin had such a good time joking around with his cousins on the way to school that I don't think he even said goodbye when I dropped them off.

Good first day, but he was up for a good part of last night with croup, so he missed the second day!

Isn't he handsome and grown up? Yes, he is still stickin' with the camo.

We had our annual Back-to-School Dinner the night before. Colin chose the menu again and we had curry, pad thai, and homemade egg-rolls with sweet and sour dipping sauce. Yum! We also rolled out this year's family motto: I Believe in Christ - He is my King!, inspired by one of my favorite hymns.

Ollie sings to himself

Oliver's 2nd Birthday Brunch

We had a birthday brunch for Ollie this morning. Breakfast casserole, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins with cream cheese frosting, fruit, bacon...I wish I would have taken some pictures of the food - it was good!

Ollie was very excited that we were celebrating his birthday. I was really surprised at how much he understood about what was going on.

After brunch, we went swimming, which is really Oliver's favorite thing in the whole world.
















I know I talk a lot about what a rascal he is, but this kid has brought us so much joy in the past two years. He is such a sweet, happy, fun fun fun boy and I just think he is the cutest thing in the world.

We will do a little family celebration on his birthday (Wed) but it's also the first day of school so we needed to do the big deal earlier. Thanks for coming everyone! I have the best family!

Oliver's first birthday here.

Runaway Katie

I told you that we cancelled our satellite. What I didn't tell you is that I still watch plenty of TV, on our old tube TV in our room. Somewhat forced watching - while I am putting my almost two year old to sleep every day (I know, I know) or trying to doze off myself. We have been streaming Netflix through our Wii and have plenty of movies and TV shows of our own to choose from when that isn't enough. BUT. I am really getting tired of it. Like I want to poke my eyes out. I think that it is partly because it is the end of summer and our lawn is dead and our kids are a little screwy, so I want to poke my eyes out, period, but anyway, I am a little sick of it all.

Tonight I watched most of Runaway Bride. I have seen it half a dozen times, and yes, I know it is silly and, well, just silly, but that movie appeals to me, and tonight it was just scrumptious. Not for Julia or Richard, oh no...but for small-town Maryland in the fall. The bright blue skies, the crunchy corn stalks, the sweaters..you can just feel the crispness in the air watching it. Don't even get me started about the quaint town square and the old-time hardware store across the street from the curl salon where your best friend can be found at all times.

I know, it is a movie, and I love Target and a city full of opportunities for my financially-minded husband, but still...I am sweaty and I sometimes I get really sick of driving 4 minutes past half-dead lawns and mini-trees just to leave my neighborhood.

There is nothing Ingleside-ish about it.

Do I sound a little grumpy? Okay, fine. But I just looked up where that movie was filmed to see if it was even in Maryland, and not only is it, they used the real Main Street, and it is also where Tuck Everlasting was filmed. Freak. Current population? 3,000.

Conclusion?

I need to stop watching so much TV and just poke my eyes out instead.

2 Tacos for $1...and your dignity

These have been my new guilty pleasure. I get the sauce on the side because I think it is a little overpowering.

Yes, I know that it has American cheese and unidentifiable meat inside.

Do I care? Nope. When I bite into the crunchy shell, that meaty mushy goodness hits just the right spot.

Anyone else with me?

Keepin' it Real Wednesday

As I mentioned, Chad is in Houston this week. It's not always easy to parent without him, but he is so sweet about leaving little surprises behind to let me know that his thoughts are with me.

Like the one I found while cleaning out his gym bag yesterday-

Week-old leftover chicken.



That's one tupperware that isn't getting washed (or even opened).

Anyone else have any good surprise stories to share?

When I Grow Up

There is nothing Oliver would rather do than follow Chad around all day. As soon as Chad gets home, he says, "Ollie, I need help!" and Ollie is immediately at his side to go wherever Dad goes and do whatever Dad does. If he notices Chad doing something without him, he always joins right in - just like the pictures above. Both times he ran to grab his own tools to help Chad.

Tonight Chad was gathering his suitcase to leave for Houston, and Ollie ran to get his shoes for him. Then Ollie picked up the suitcase handle and started carrying it to the door saying, "Go Airpane! Go Airport!" Chad picked him up and explained that Daddy was going to the airport, but he was staying home. A huge sob erupted from Oliver and he put his little arms around Chad's neck and cried long and hard into it.

I think those two really get each other. I hope Ollie always aspires to be like his Daddy.

Katie's Incredible Guide to Picky Eaters

Just a little hint for you:

If your kids don't really feel like eating leftovers for lunch, try throwing some cheese on top and melting it. Tra-la, brand new meal!

Rice, spaghetti, chili, veggies, chicken....the possibilities are endless.

I mean, look how thrilled Gabe is to be eating that day-old cornbread.

Garden Nights

Went to the garden this evening with my mom, despite the threatening clouds.

The threats were sincere.

Came home soaked but happy.

Rained out seems to be the theme this summer.

Makeover -Part II

The after shots

The rug was the first thing we bought. We had been planning on going in a totally different direction, but we saw this rug on clearance at Target and loved it. The side table is the Hol from Ikea. The little chair the Solsta Olarp from Ikea, and the little lamp is also from Ikea - it is the Januari . Yes, there is a theme going on here, and that theme will continue. If I don't say where something is from, you can assume it is Ikea.

The frames on the mantel are from Walmart. I put fabric swatches that I bought from Fat Quarters Shop. They are from the Poppy series by Laura Gunn for Michael Miller.

I actually found most of the same prints later at Mary Jo's, which is about twenty minutes from my house.

Bookselves- Expedit with the Nasum storage baskets.
Lamps - Vate
Wall Hanging - Pjatteryd
The pillows were made with the Aqua Poppy fabric by my talented mother. The curtains are shower curtains that we found on clearance at Target. Shhh, don't tell.

We found the bench in the "As Is" section at Ikea, but I can't remember what it was called and can't find it online. White pillows - OfeliaBlad - the covers zip off and are washable!

I think that is it! Chad and I are both very anti-clutter (showing, at least :o) - we like everything to be minimal, functional, and comfortable, and I feel like that is exactly what it is now.