Being Brothers {A Photobook}

When I received an email from Shutterfly with a promo code for a free photobook, I knew just what I wanted to create.  I wanted to make a keepsake for the boys, documenting their relationship for the last three years.  {Granted, there's only one copy...so for now the book will serve as a lesson in sharing.} :)  After I searched through three years of photos, and created a new folder with 377 pictures of the two boys together, I had my work cut out for me to narrow it down to a select handful that would fit into the photobook.

I'm super stoked with the results...and Shutterfly allows users to share on their blogs, so I thought I'd give everyone a peek inside.  I hope you enjoy looking back on these brothers as much as I have.

Enjoy!

Note: Please don't point out the typos.  I already know, and being as it has already been sent to the printer, there's nothing I can do about it.  My perfectionism has already been told to take a back seat and get over it.  Thank you. :)

{Click on the full screen option below to get a better view.}

Click here to view this photo book larger

The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

Left Behind

My three boys loaded up into the van yesterday afternoon and headed out for spring break. 

And they left me behind.

{Why?  I'll explain soon.}

This was the first time that the boys have left me.  We've all been apart before; this is not new.  But it is usually me who is taking the boys somewhere.  And the times when Brad has had the boys to himself, they have stayed at home while I've gone off somewhere else.

So this was new.

This leaving me behind business.

And I didn't like it one bit.

When your whole world drives away without you, and all you're left with is this really empty feeling and way crazy, unnecessary and unhealthy thoughts tumbling through your head, it causes an insane case of anxiety.

I was having a really hard time.

For whatever reason, I was reminded of a woman's story I had read/heard/seen somewhere; a woman who had lost her entire family in a car accident when they traveled somewhere without her.  Morbid, I know, but that seems to be how my crazy head works sometimes.  I think about scenarios that aren't likely to happen and dwell on them until I hear their sweet voices on the other end of the phone telling me they made it safe and sound.

Because I'm crazy.

And have control issues.

Or maybe lack of faith.

Or I'm just crazy.

I told Brad that he has to come back to me or I'll be living with my parents f.o.r.e.v.e.r.

I might be crazy, but I'm funny, too. :) 

Suffice it to say, they did arrive safe and sound, and when we Skyped today, Reed's first statement was, "We're ok!"  {He later asked, "You okay at your house, Mama?"}

So that was yesterday.  Today, I'm a whole new woman!  What's a girl to do when the men of the house are gone?  Play, that's what!  I've been working on several fun projects and I'm knee deep in some serious Mama downtime.

Walks in the sunshine?  Check.

Blog hopping?  Check.

Scrapbooking?  Check.

Cereal for supper?  Check.

I'll be good until Wednesday, when the boys begin their trek back home.

Then I'll be a nervous wreck again.

{So where did the boys go?  Some people opt to go to Florida or a tropical island or on a cruise for spring break.  Not us (you think I'd let those boys do that without me????).  We just hop from one grandparents' house to another!  :)  They are in Pella, enjoying the 75 degree golfing weather.}

How He Measures Up

I took Reed in to see his new pediatrician last Thursday for his three-year well-child check-up.  There isn't much to share, really.  He's a healthy little guy, with no needs or worries.  I updated the doctor on his previous speech deficit and we talked a bit about potty training.  Other than that, there wasn't a whole lot to talk about.  She examined him, he looks great, and we were out the door.

I'm always the most excited to see how big the boys are when we go to the doctor.  I like to see how much they've grown and where they are measuring on the charts.  Reed weighed in at 40.7 pounds, which wasn't a surprise as he was weighed just a few weeks ago when he was in Express Care for an ear infection.  He is in the 98th percentile for weight, which is where he's been his whole life. :)  And he is 3 feet 2 inches tall, which is in the 76th percentile.

For comparison purposes... when Drew was three-years-old, he weighed 38 pounds and was 3 feet 3 inches tall.

We've always said that someday Reed will surpass Drew in size.  He's built a little bulkier than Drew is, so we predict that Drew will take after Brad and be tall and lean, and Reed will more likely be a bit shorter than Drew with the body of a football player.  Although, I can see that Reed is starting to slim down a bit.  His cheeks aren't as full as they used to be, and his belly isn't as big, either.

And he adamantly tells me he's not my baby anymore. :(

I suppose he isn't.

Project Life {Week 11}

My album this week will consist mostly of a collage of photos from our St. Patrick's Day activities, but here are a few other display worthy photos from our week.

 {At his 3-year-old well-child check-up.}

 {An absolutely gorgeous week sent us outside every day.  We were lovin' it!}

{Goodness sakes.  Stinkin' adorable.}

Going Green

As I mentioned earlier this week, I attempted to reclaim my "fun mom" title by putting together a week's worth of activities leading up to St. Patrick's Day.  Why?  My kids really know nothing of St. Patty's Day - green, leprechauns, rainbows, etc etc etc.  It's never been a big deal to me (except it's my father-in-law's birthday..."Happy Birthday!!") and aside from wearing green, I remember nothing significant about it really.  But with all the inspiration overload out there in the blogosphere, I figured why not introduce this green holiday to my kids with my two favorite things - crafts and food!

My goal was to have a new craft and fun snack everyday... "fun mom"- yes ... "Supermom" - no.  We worked in quite a few different activities, but didn't quite tackle everything I had in mind.  That's kinda my M.O. though, ya know?  Shoot for impossible and see what you can do!  I figure someday I just might surprise myself. :)

So here's a little rundown of all that we did this week that was green and rainbow-y.

I needed a way to introduce the holiday to the boys in an easy to understand way (I don't care so much that they believe in leprechauns and legends but more about the actual St. Patrick), so I went to the library in search of a few books that would do it for me.  Unfortunately, the St. Patty's books were pretty picked over, so I came home with only two, and the boys only wanted to read one of them. 

Too Many Leprechauns by Stephen Krensky

This book told nothing of St. Patrick but rather a fictional lad named Finn O'Finnegan, but at least for now the boys are well versed in little men who make shoes for fairies in exchange for gold. :)

Craft #1: Froot Loop Necklaces

 We made a rainbow pattern with the loops (minus the red as they were the 8-shape Sooper Loopers like the box exclaims) - Drew followed it precisely; Reed not so much.

His favorite part was making it

Snack #1: Froot Loop Necklaces

 One certainly cannot complete such a craft and not immediately eat it. :)

Craft #2: Tissue Paper Shamrocks

 We attempted to do these outside (being as it's been in the 70s all week long) but the wind got to us and made it a bit difficult.  And because Drew wanted to cover his entirely, it was a 2-3 day project for him. :)

Snack #2: Green Pudding and Mint Creme Oreos

 A little green food coloring goes a long way.

 A long, long way. :)

Craft #3: Shape Leprechauns

 Reed didn't participate in this craft as he was napping when Drew was chomping at the bit for something to do.

Snack #3: Green Candied Popcorn

 This one was a flop (it was bound to happen).  It doesn't look anything like the picture, my popcorn was old, and the boys barely touched it.  Ah well.  Live and learn.

 Craft #4: Paper Plate Pots of Gold

 Drew is a very tedious rainbow maker.

 Reed is a little more free-form.

Snack #4: Green Chocolate Chip Cookies

 These totally made up for the popcorn snafu.

And don't forget about our outdoor rainbow hunt!

And our holiday grand finale was this afternoon when we headed to St. Peter to see their annual St. Patrick's Day parade.

 You know we had to sport the green boots.

It wasn't the best parade we've ever been to - LOTS of kids - older kids - so not much chance for the boys to grab any candy.  And it was a very short parade with only a few participants.

Seeing Uncle Justin, Mindy and Perry march with the Govenaires was the highlight, though!

So that's how we went ga ga for green this week.

Next up...Easter and bunnies and Jesus, oh my!

My Sunshine

:)

Looking for Rainbows

Since my previous post regarding some of the things I've started to check off my Pinterest boards as "completed!" I've decided it is high time to get my "fun mom" on.  I used to be fun.  A lot of fun, if I do say so myself. :)  The boys and I did a lot in our time together, when it was just us --- art projects, outdoor activities, making new snacks, sometimes a field trip here or there (like Hobby Lobby or Walmart) ;) --- but it is something that I haven't been able to make a regular part of our day/week since moving.  But no longer!  Last week I began to gather ideas for crafts and snacks to do this week, in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  (Because if you haven't caught on, I'm a "theme" kind of girl.) ;)  One of the things we did yesterday was go on a rainbow hunt.  Combining the outdoors with a purpose is a win/win in my book. :)  {And oh has the weather been gorgeous!}

I'm sure that I read about this idea somewhere (because that's what I do - I steal) - combine a walk around the neighborhood with a good ol' scavenger hunt, looking for things that are the colors of the rainbow.  Reed didn't want to come along, but that turned out to be okay as it allowed Drew and I to have a bit of "just us" time.  However that also meant for a much shorter walk as Drew is a bit more advanced in this type of activity than Reed is.  So off we went, on a short walk up and down our street, looking for the colors of the rainbow.  In order, as per Drew. ;)

 A hydrant, a warning sign, a yard flag, the street signs, a newspaper baggie, and Luci's walking collar.

Pretty, isn't it?