[Build up.]

Trying new things.

This past weekend David did something he has never done before, he ran in the Phoenix 1/2 Marathon. Amazing to me that he even wanted to do it. He is what you call determined. Once his mind is set, it's on! I guess I am a little like that too, so it's good. Our kids seem to have some of that in them too. I have a very determined 4 year old who will try the same trick over & over until he feels he got it good enough to move on.

I took Dax to the BMX park on Monday. I am trying a new tactic with him, kind of like a reward system. Going to the BMX park is probably his very favorite thing to do. & his least favorite is probably going to school, it's not even the going to school part he doesn't like, it's the seperation from me that is hard for him. The getting dropped off thing. He has been known to throw quite the fit about it. So...my solution is take something he loves & something he doesn't love so much & make them colide. The deal is, if he goes to school good all week, then he gets to go on a day date with me to go to lunch & the BMX park, just the two of us. So far it is working out great! Let's hope he can keep it up. He really is a good kid, but also requires a lot of one on one attention, which can be hard in a house full of little people.

It's a balancing act for sure!

weekends. trains.

Rudd has a slight obsession with trains. Choo choos, as he calls them. He calls them by name. He lines them all up & loves watching them go around & around the house. First thing when he wakes up he asked about them & tries to take them to bed every night. He doesn't usually let his brothers get too involved in what he is doing, but yesterday he was ok with letting them all play together. This was awesome. I love watching all 3 of them play together & figure things out together. It really does make this "being a parent" thing really really worth it! & sometimes I need reminders like this to help me appreciate the small things in life do matter, which is something I forget most of the the time.

weekends. when vintage has a story.

The image above has a story to go with it. I found this island at a local shop called Modern Manor, the store has random vintage furniture & other accessories. I happened in about a year & a half ago with a friend, I had never been in this particular store before, but had been in many stores in the area before (7th ave area). I didn't even really know what I was looking for that day, until I saw this island. David & I had recently bought a house & were remodeling it & I was wanting/needing a new island for the kitchen.

This was the PERFECT solution.

I practically screamed out, because I was so excited. I got my act together, went over to the shop owner & asked how much it was & what the story was behind it. She told me it was from an old bakery & she had just got it in a few days before, but wasn't positive if she was going to sell it. She said she had to call her husband about it. So she did, & I even talked to him right there on the phone. I called David & told him how cool it was. Then I called my sister, Tricia to tell her how cool it was.

It was a lot of money though.

So, I said, can you put it on hold & I will come back tomorrow with my husband & other confidant, my sister.

The next day we came back as soon as they were going to be open with cash in hand. It was one of those pieces of furniture that I knew would be perfect & I would regret forever if I didn't buy it.

Funny thing is, I went in to this shop this past weekend. & before I could get my feet in the door the owner said, "I want that island back, I should have never sold it, my wife & I just bought a house that it would be perfect in." I quickly replied, "I don't think I could ever part with it & it fits perfectly in my kitchen."

Of course he was joking, but really I think he regrets ever selling it to me. & I have to tell you, It really was one of those decisions that I would never take back. It houses so much stuff that I use everyday in my kitchen. Plus it just fits in our house.

I have to say, I think it is my favorite piece of furniture that we own, plus what a great story, right?

weekends. family.

What is up with this boarder on this photo collage? I didn't plan that. Man it is bad. oh well, just try to focus on the photos, which I know is going to be hard to do now, that I have pointed out the horrible boarder. But honestly, I am just too lazy to fix it right now. Just focus on the photos. That really is the important part, right?

here are the facts:

we like to be outside.

the weather is so perfect right now, finally!

we like to get dirty.

& we like to ride on stuff that has wheels.

& that is pretty much what we do every single day.

oh...

& I love it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Is it me or does it seem like Halloween goes on for days & days? I mean it is finally here today & we have been celebrating it seems like for the past week. The kids love it though, so I shouldn't complain. I do feel like all the they have eaten for the past week has been candy though. Dax has really gotten into it this year & is finally caught on to the whole concept of halloween & is all about getting the candy. Rudd doesn't really get it, but is like, candy, ok I'll eat that. & Ollie, well Ollie is just tired by the time it gets dark out, so he really could care less. But dang they are all so cute dressed up. I have no idea how this crazy/funny holiday came about, but I do love tradition. & this sure is a great one. I love being a parent & being involved with all this type of fun. It really does make it all worth it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL!

weekends. (past due) SPARK.

First of all, I was super lame at taking photos the whole weekend. Seriously, I took like 5 photos the whole time. It actually makes me quite mad. & It is also a good lesson for me, cause we live in the age of digital & that means, take more photos & delete the bad ones later. Seriously, lame.

Anyway...moving on...

I had such a great weekend. It was quite the whirl wind weekend. But one for the memory books for sure. I loved being apart of SPARK THE EVENT. Everyone involved, mainly Margie & April did a fantastic job at the details & making everything look so dang cute. The classes were so much fun & I loved hanging out with my friends & my sisters & mom. I loved that they had an artisian market & I was involved in selling my jewelry. It was so great to catch up with people I don't get to see very often & just have fun making art. I need to do that more. Make art to just make art.

I loved listening to Mindy Gledhill & Sarah Sample sing & be inspired by them.

All in all it was great! So glad to be involved.

weekends. Dax turns 4!

We had another GREAT weekend. We celebrated Dax's birthday, he turned 4! & I seriously can't believe he is 4 already. It really blows my mind. It turned out to be a great party & I think everyone had fun. We had a lego party, if you couldn't tell from all the photos. We built a lego track & had all the kids make cars to race. They got to take home the car that they made, plus a guy to go with it. David even did a whole braket system to see who the winner was. It turned out awesome & all the kids were super involved in it. We also had a pineta that I made, a big lego brick. Plus we had pizza & cupcakes. I was stressed about pulling it all of, cause this was his first big friend party, but I think over all it went super great! But I couldn't have pulled it off without David & our friend Kabrina's help. Seriously so helpful about getting all the details just right. David & I also got Dax a new BMX bike. He was showing a few people how he can launch on his little kicker ramps. He is loving his new bike & rides it everyday (all day, if I'd let him).

Dax at 4 years old you are:

The best big protective brother. You really look out for your little brothers & you love to play with them.

Super helpful in the kitchen.

Love to do any art project & want to be involved in whatever is happening in the studio.

Love to go with your Dad anywhere he will take you, dirt biking or to the BMX park are your favorite places to go.

Your favorite places to eat are Tia Rosas & Spinatos. & at home you love spaghetti or egg burritos.

You love to play out front with all your neighborhood friends, while Daddy works out.

We love you Dax & are so glad you are our oldest!

weekends. turning 31+other stuff.

What a great weekend this has been. I have loved every minute of it. My mom has the best tradition for birthdays in our family. She takes all us girls shopping on our birthday. & all the grandkids (that's 21) when they are 4 years old & up to go shopping on their birthday as well. All of us cherish the day. I was looking forward to it especially this year, because I am finally not pregnant or just had a baby or anything like that. I need the basic cloths. Plus it is just so awesome to have the one on one time with my mom! I love you MOM!! I am seriously so luck to have the parents I have.

Anyway, so after shopping all day, all of the adults went out to see Jack +White perform at the Hard Rock in Phoenix. It was so much fun, espcially for a birthday, something different to do, besides just going to dinner & movie. She even sung to me:

 

So that was Friday. Then Saturday I went with my sister, Tricia to some of our favorite shops in Phoenix. The flea market type shops. The ones I like to hit every few months to see what treasure I can find. I found some awesome stuff this time around too! I will take photos & post them this week. Serious finds. Then later that afternoon we went out as a family to the bike shop & pizza. We ended up getting Dax his birthday present, which is just a week away, a new BMX 16" bike. He is in love with it. & already is riding it like a pro.

Such a fun weekend. This one is for the books for sure!!

 

weekends. around the house.

This weekend was all about being around the house. We hung up a ton of new curtains, which my mom made! I couldn't thank her enough for making them & for David helping me hang them up. It really helps finish off our family room & kitchen. Awesome!

Oh & Ollie getting into everything. & I mean everything. He is trouble, but man he is cute. He is 10 months old today. I really can't believe it. He is all over the place, just trying to keep up with his brothers. He has 6 teeth now & he wants to eat everything with his teeth. He doesn't sleep the best, but we are working on that one too.

Weekends like this are perfect.

Weekends. Rudd turns 2!

If you say to Rudd, "How old are you?" He automatically responds with, "2" & he says it so fast, that most of the time you miss him even saying it. We had a great weekend of celebration at our house. I think he actually knew it was his birthday, he would get so happy when he was sung "happy birthday" & he tried to sing along. I think he big brother Dax was just as excited for Rudd's birthday, if not more excited than Rudd was. Dax is really got the whole concept of presents down & getting new toys. Dax's birthday is next month & I think he is just counting down the days until it is here. But for the weekend, it was Rudd's turn to be celebrated. I love my little Mr. Rudger so much. He is so sweet & he just wants to do everything is brothers are doing & if Dax or Ollie aren't around, he is always asking where they are. You make me smile & laugh & warm my heart & soul. (Please don't get any bigger, I am loving the age you are at)

I LOVE YOU MR. RUDGER.