Then and Now: Memorial Day weekends

Just a vintage post from Memorial Day weekend 2012

and Memorial Day weekend 2013 

 Just a couple little changes here...

more hair, more clothes, more personality, more orneryness. 

Hero

Every super hero had to learn how to fly somewhere.

They should all be so lucky to have learned from their daddy... 

 

 

Heart. So. Full.

Breakfast on Saturdays

So our lives are pretty much crazy.  Between three jobs- one of them being a Firefighter, crazy schedules and just day to day mayhem, having the four of us sitting and in one room is a pretty rare to find.  We make sure to cherish the moments and make the most of even such minuteness as going to Target.  The value of time is all in how you spend it, right?  Well lately, we've been making some pretty good use of our time together. 

Making French Toast

Gavin has been mastering the art of French Toast.  Already an accomplished chef, he's gone from baked treats, to breakfast food.   Last Saturday Gavin donned his apron, washed his hands and learned how to make french toast.  This was actually my first time to make french toast too, so it was an adventure for both of us. 

He loved stirring the "soup".  

And his official job was to soak the bread, which he did masterfully.

He made a tray full of french toast that mama, daddy and sister all gobbled up.  He was pretty proud of himself.

And so was his mama! 

Holding Hands at Dinner

Gavin and Harper have an ever evolving relationship.  Most of which means that as Harper grows and can do more, she and Gavin can play more and more.  However it also means that Harper is learning how to dish it back to big brother.  He's been a pesky big brother for long enough and now she's big enough to get revenge.  Gavin has also become quite the bossy boy...even so much as a tell me to go to my room one day when accidentally bumped him with a piece of furniture.  We're learning our "parent/kid" roles, to be sure.  Gavin loves to boss Harper around and will tell her "don't scream" or "sister, be quiet", to which Harper has now become old enough to talk smack back to him...it sounds more like a squawk, but she let's it out.  Love it.  Even though it's the earliest stages of bickering, it is the cutest bickering you have ever heard.  But even cuter than that are the moments that they show love to each other, which is really quite often.  Gavin loves to say "Harper, let's hold hands".  Mostly at the dinner table, but sometimes in the car.  

Aww..Heart.so.full.

Playing with our new pet, Blueberry

Blueberry was a gift to Gavin and Harper by Silly Anna, Aunt Molly, the kids' new Uncle Ross, and Funny Camillo (yes, there are a lot of funny descriptions, but they all make perfect sense in our family).  Blueberry is a blue beta.  He is underwelmed at best.  He was named Blueberry as the best of all options surrounding the word "blue" including Captain America, Bluejeans and Gonzo.  I'm kind of getting the feel that Da Boo Dee might have been more appropriate because old Blueberry is the most melancholy fish I have ever seen.  He just floats around and thinks about his days at the pet store.  We're hoping to win him over, but our task looks great.  Gavin does the best he can.  

Saturdays are also a day for bedhead,

exercising

showing team spirit

doing some cleaning around the house, 

 

riding around in our little pink coupe (thank you, Mana and Da!)

and just generally be silly and cute! 

Thank you, God for days of cuddles, sweetness, and family time.  They are few and far between, but when they happen, they are beautiful.   

You are my sunshine party

So I'm a little past due (isn't that how I start out all of my blog posts?!) but I wanted to immortalize some pictures of Harper's first birthday party!  As anyone who knows me knows well- I'm super uncrafty.  Like ridiculously bad at all crafts.  I have been known to modge podge my clothes (which doesn't come out by the way), I am genuinely unable to calculate the dimensions of a picture or anything to space stuff and my hubby has actually thrown away DIY gifts that I have given him...and to be honest I would have judged him if he didn't.  Needless to say any crafting endeavor that I embark upon requires extreme caution and has a 90% chance of ending in complete disaster.  Maybe that's when I actually do get something kind of a tiny bit right, I'm giddily excited...like a kid getting in A in 3rd grade art.  And maybe that's why all of this stuff is still hanging in our living room...even though Harper's birthday party was 3 weeks ago.  Or maybe that's because I'm a really bad house keeper and I procrastinate...but that's subject matter for another blog.  Anyways- for the next few moments, please consider this blog my online refrigerator upon which I will post my art work. 

The theme for Harper's party was "You Are my Sunshine" because she is...and because who doesn't love yellow and pink?!  We wanted to proudly display her monthly progression shots from her first year.  Back in January, I found this trellis for $7.99 at Lowe's.  I counted that there were 12 slots, which was perfect.  I painted in pink...and then repainted pinker when the first coat looked like c-rap.  I used yellow scrap book paper as the backing behind each of the pictures.  

Matthew had the genius idea to make the tulle sunshine...and miracle of miracles, I actually pulled it off!  It made the perfect mantle piece. 

Okay- so I realize that I didn't do this...but I do have to brag on my beautiful one year old daughter.  I love this picture that was taken of her.  I can't believe how big she's gotten in one year!  

At midnight the night before the party, my very organized and crafty brother-in-law's girlfriend helped me string these up...because any doorway looks more inviting with a picture banner...and distracts from the toy clutter! 

And speaking of crafts that I didn't do- check out Harper's pretty cake!  By completely brilliant friend, Jackie Sperling made these cakes.  She is so talented and does an awesome job at any cake she's ever made.  Merritt's has nothing on Jackie! 

I had a yellow vanity growing up that was actually my mom's from when she was a little girl.  It's yellow and I  had intended to refinish it for the party (see notes in Paragraph 1 regarding procrastination).  At the very last second, I decided to go ahead and use it.  This was on the front porch (it's not still there, I promise...I do have some dignity!)  It turned out pretty good I think!  

 

We used it for the party favors which was a framed printable with everyone's name.  

Gavin practiced for WEEKS singing Harper "Happy Birthday".  Most mornings at breakfast he would sing to her and then act like he was blowing out her candle.  He was very prepared when the big moment came.  I love this picture of him singing his little heart out.

(and there's my dad in the background.  Hi Pops!)

Harper wasn't quite into smash caking it..she was a little bewildered by having icing on her hands. 

 She ended up having several bites later that her daddy fed her with a fork and she loved.  Any disinterest shown during the smash cake festivities was a disinterest in being told to eat messily in front of big groups of people and hopefully a dislike for being messy...which may help her be better at housecleaning then me! 

All in all, fun was had by all (at least that's what they tell me).  

We ate good food....

got loved on with sweet presents 

and got our very first pet!

 

We felt very blessed to share the day (and the prep- shout out to my inlaws, aka the party fairies and my super awesomely talented sister Katie who actually is very good at all crafts and who made a birthday banner which I cannot believe I didn't get a picture of it- but it too is still hanging in the kitchen!

And that about does it.  The icing on top of all of the cake is our own little Miss Sunshine who is a true gift from God and makes us happy when skies are gray.