Project 857- April 18

Well guys and dolls.. this Saturday was the bee's knees!!

We were all hanging and laughing at the swinging Juice Joint... until someone got murdered. Then that beef was a real drag...

Ok, I'll back up.

My friend at work, Brienna... had been planning a Murder Mystery party for over a year... and the day was finally here!

My Mom watched the boys for us, so we met them in Salem that morning to do the kid switch and Austin was ALL ABOUT going to Gramma and Grampa's!!

"Do we hear them pulling up???"

"Gramma and Grampa are here!!!"

It's funny, we always meet in the Fred Meyer parking lot in Salem to get the kids to them.. we must look odd... switching carseats around in the parking lot.

Once Neal and I were back home we had a few hours..we had lunch and it was a GLORIOUS day so I got to lay out and read!!

The last time I laid out in the sun and read by myself... oh wow. I think I was very newly pregnant with Austin. So it had been years.

And I tried to be all cool and take a selfie.

Neal joined me and as I'm talking about how selfies are really hard to take and how on earth do the teenagers take them so well?? (the answer, according to Neal: they take hundreds and practice for hours)... and as I'm talking.. I notice something.

"Neal, is that our Christmas tree shoved under the deck???"

Ladies and Gentlemen.. the not-proper way to dispose of a Christmas tree... shove it under your deck and don't think about it.

The sun felt awesome and Henry enjoyed himself immensely as well.

Anyone in the mood for a "hot dog?" haha!

Then it was time to get into character for the night... my role was "Dina Diva" the singer of the Juice Joint.. and Neal was "Hal Hollywood" the big Hollywood movie director.

I have to admit, it was more fun than I thought it was going to be to dress up in 1920's character. I may or may not have shimmied a lot to make my fringe dress flap about.

I was a bit nervous about the party.. since I wasn't going to know a lot of people there, and we had parts to play and I can be a bit shy about that kind of stuff... but it was really fun! It was easy to stay in character, and Brienna had her house decorated really cute.

Not to mention she had the most amazing costume!

Unfortunately I didn't die or get to play the part of the murderer (darn, both would have been fun!) but we all had a good time. She's already planning a Murder Mystery party for next year!

See ya later, guys and dolls!!!

PS-oh, and I must mention... down at my Mom's... Owen slept like 12 hours at night and took several long hours-long naps. Sigh. That kid.

Life Lately

We are almost through April! Crazy... here is what is going on with us lately...

-Austin has been all about vacuuming lately. Neal got this hand-held vac for Cmas and since it's cordless its really easy to use. Austin loves it. He ripped the couch cushions off one morning and told me the couch was "dirty" and started to vacuum. Umm.. ok... carry on child, carry on!

-We signed up Austin for his first official "camp" this summer!! He will be going to TinyHawks soccer. It's 4 days in August for 45 mins a day. I think he will love it! And holy cow.. the "activities" are starting.. before I know it we'll be all different directions at night going to that lesson or this practice.... crazy.

-Bedtime has gotten interesting around these parts... Austin was really struggling to go down for his 8:15-8:30 bedtime, and since he was still getting a 2-3 hour nap at school, we decided to push back his bedtime a bit. Collectively he would still be getting all the sleep he needs.. well, even that later bedtime is a struggle and some nights and he is awake until almost 10pm.. opening his door and peeking out, then shutting his door. Or coming into our room. Or sitting on the stairs if we are downstairs until we notice him. We are talking a lot about how important it is for our bodies to get sleep, etc... but it's been a struggle. We end up with him in our bed at night for some snuggles or in the morning (because he's waking really early too). Part of me likes it.. he won't always be little and want snuggles.. but it's frustrating too. He's a pill if he's sleep deprived.

-Owen is all about Austin lately.. he just wants to play with brother, be around brother, bother brother... anything he can do that involves Austin's toys, food, or activities. And Austin is all about his Batman mask... ha!

-Every Friday night we have party night at our house!!! We try and have a fun dinner, watch a movie, let Austin stay up a bit later than normal... and well, things get crazy...

People belly up to the bar and chug drinks..

Articles of clothing come off and wild antics ensue...

Movies are watched with fascination! The Wizard of Oz was on one night and Austin actually really liked it. The Lion and all the fun stuff in the Emerald City!

And things sometimes get out of hand... the toddler thinks he's a baby, or a puppy, or a knight... we never quite know what a Friday night will bring.

-Owen has been quite attached to people lately... he's an independent baby... who needs a lot of human contact. If you are anywhere near him, he will stop exploring and come over and climb on you. Or as I told Neal last night "he's not an baby who is under foot, he is a baby on foot." because he will literally sit on my foot or touch my foot while I'm cooking and I can't move easily. He's my little constant companion.

Project 857- April 11

The Saturdays when I go and get my hair done are always my favorite Saturdays... I LOVE getting my hair done.. so relaxing.. and who doesn't like to look more awesome than usual?? Ha.

We started this morning in our typical fashion.

Messy living room... brothers bothering each other... cartoon watching from inside a toy box.... pants-less sword-fighting Spidermen protecting us from "da big dragon!!!!!!!"

Austin, you are my hero.

Henry was wise and stayed perched up on the loveseat. He knows not to get in the middle of all this tussle.

I headed off to my hair appt!!! My sweet friend Jenny I grew up with does my hair and I love chatting with her while she makes me all pretty;

I went back to my favorite- dark espresso brown. I had had blonde in my hair for years and was ready for a change.

My Mom is the only one who doesn't like me hair dark. Sorry Mom!!!!

I rushed home after my appt, grabbed Owen and headed over to my friend and co-worker Brienna's house for a playdate she had planned with her kiddos, our co-worker Kate and her daughter and our co-worker "Grammy" Karen (who wanted some baby time!)

Fine with me... here Karen! take my drooly kid.. he's all yours!!!!

Owen got some snuggles, and I think Karen was in heaven. :-)

Brienna and her husband made us all his Mom's legit, real Mexican enchiladas.

Oh. My. Stars.

I pigged out.. just a little bit.

And will be going over to their house for dinner many, many more times!!!

Project 857- April 4 and 5

This will encompass Easter, since it was Easter weekend.

We were going to head to my parent's Saturday morning during Owen's morning nap.. so we had some of the morning to hang out at home.

We put together baskets for the boys and hid eggs for Austin to find!

Little toys, a chocolate bunny and Hot Wheels for Austin and a bath toy and book for Owen!

There was a Hot Wheels in that egg!!!

Do you see how Austin is slowly and sneakily pushing Owen's basket away with his foot? Of course we heard "Baby Owen, get away from my stuff!' a million times

Owen also got a funny snake thing that makes noise. Austin was a bit jealous. 

Eggs all over the house!

Silly bunny left one by his movies!

We had a good drive down to my parent's... Owen slept the whole way!!!! Miracle!!! When we got there I convinced my Mom to go to Costco with me. We needed a bunch of stuff and that was the only chance I'd get all weekend, so off we went with Owen.

Owen totally chilled in the cart and checked out the huge and crazy crowds. Costco on a Saturday, before a holiday. NOT. A. GOOD. IDEA.

Back at home, Austin helped my Mom make lunch...

Then while Owen napped, the boys ran off some of that PB&J energy outside and I went to the store to get ingredients to make our dessert the next day.

And since we were at Gramma's and Austin always behaves, he laid right down on the couch for quiet time when Gramma said it was quiet time and soon fell asleep.

I want to bottle up the perfect sweet little boy that we get when we are at my Mom's and take him home, please..

Austin fell asleep kinda late so didn't get much of a snooze before it was evening and we headed out to dinner with my Grandma.

Just two men and a baby... ha!

Life with a 3-year-old

Someone was charming the ladies at dinner

We managed to have a good dinner out, and an old couple at the next table told me as we were leaving that I had "beautiful" children and they were "so well behaved."

If only they knew... ha.

Back home we plunked both boys in the tub (their first bath together!!!) and Owen was delighted that big brother was with him!

The bath lasted just a few minutes since Owen was all over the place and trying to stand, and falling over and being a disaster. So we took him out and got him in bed while Austin had more fun in the tub.

The next day, Easter!!!

I didn't get the best pictures.. but my Mom put together cute baskets for the boys and hid eggs for Austin in her house too!

Yogurt drops! My fav!!!

I am never good at getting family pictures on holidays.. something I wish I was better at... but I did get some pics of two handsome little men! Owen is just so intrigued by everything Austin does, all the time.

Say "Easter Bunny!!!"

 We went to my Grandma's for Easter lunch and the Easter Bunny left little surprises there too!

We had a good lunch, Owen snoozed a bit and all seemed well... then we headed home later in the evening. And Owen slept for half the trip.. then decided to scream his head off for the second half of the trip, and it caused me to crawl in the backseat, squat on the floor, wedged in between the front and back seats, and Austin's legs to try and soothe Owen. I was desperate.

All that was accomplished is I got 3 huge nasty bruises down the left side of my body from cramming myself back there. Owen still screamed.

Sigh.

Nothing like traveling with little ones, huh???