Time Out

I think we might have found our new time out 'place.' Time out doesn't usually seem to work well for my boys, but this might do the trick. Zackary was playing and decided to show us that he could easily fit into the tv console, Lane walked right over and locked him in. Don't ask me how Lane new that he could lock Zackary in, it was quick and effortless for him.

He was nice and unlocked the door for him. Aaron and I sat and watched this, laughing of course, and thinking this just might work for little trouble makers out there.

They both can almost fit at the same time. They could keep each other company. 

It does, however, make for a great hiding place. 

Another disclaimer: We would never lock our children in the tv console, we actually do 'time in' with them. We basically sit with them in time out (more on that later.)

And I know Aaron would never fit in that little spot.

Bush Balls

So this is something everyone needs to know about Aaron and I. First off, Aaron started this horrible hatred of bush balls for me. This I know stems from being a fantastic Landscape Architect, but I really wish that he hadn't made me feel this way about bush balls, or at least I never noticed them until Aaron began pointing them out to me this way.
Here is a picture of how our bush balls turned out. Yes, our bush balls, actually I think they look a little like bush squares or small tables. Every now and then (more so lately) I head over to the neighbors on Friday mornings when I hear them mowing the lawn and hire them to mow and blow. This time I asked them to chop down these 2 bushes because the were getting a little out of control. When I came out to pay them, I had to laugh, take a picture, ask them to CHOP them down, then pay them. I think they thought I was crazy for not liking the bush squares! So on I will ramble about this bush ball issue I have. Bushes don't grow in perfect squares, circles, stools, tables, or cupcakes for a reason. It looks ridiculous! They are supposed to have flowers and grow random. When landscape is designed it is not designed to have these odd shaped structures. I know most people like perfectly shaped bushes, but we think it looks just plain goofy. I think it is landscapers way to make money, if they do this the bushes need to be trimmed much more often.

Now that you know my issues with bush balls. I can't get them out of my head, they are every where and this is all I seem to notice. Here is our entry way into our neighborhood. Check out the thousand perfectly bush balled Valentines. They do this to them all the time and always in the early spring when they have tons of red/pink flowers.  All the beauty of the flowers are gone in one day.

These 2 little twins look like stools, don't you feel the need to sit on them?

And this one... what can I say. It sort of looks like a troll or the top of a pineapple. This little grass looks great if the entire bottom isn't chopped off.

So hopefully I have polluted all of my readers minds. Sorry, but you will start noticing it every where.  I will be on the look out for some great bush balls in the future just for your viewing pleasure. 

Help me to change the bush ball epidemic!

Disclaimer: I don't intend to offend bush ball lovers, it is okay. Someday you will change your mind.

Nice Lips

As you know, if your are a frequenter of the blog, Lane has the most amazingly dramatic lower lip. Here it is again in full force. He was happily riding in the car and I look back to find this look on his face. I couldn't resist the picture. He fell asleep shortly after.

When he is tired the lip gets tons of action!

Remember

If you recall, not too long ago I posted this picture. Zackary was sleeping with his 'belt' that he had worn every where that day. Not knowing it was a gun holster with no gun to put in it.

Then remember not too long ago Aaron took him shooting when we went camping. I wrote about how I was sure it was a matter of time when anything that resembled a gun would be utilized as a great pretend gun. That we had just opened a whole new can of worms.

Well I was RIGHT! I heard Zackary making new noises and talking to Lane about something. I look over to find Zachary using a picture easel from 'the big clean out' as a pretend gun and showing Lane how to press the button (which was the sticker on the side) to make it work.

 

Boys will be boys...I wonder what's next?

Organize Your Life

So lately somehow my life feels like chaos. Nothing I can't handle right, I live for chaos, spontaneity, in the moment. I'm always going and have been that way my entire life. Burning both ends of the candle as my mom used to always tell me. Go, Go, Go it's kind of my thing. But now with a house, a husband, kids, work, a dog, and constantly on the go everything seems to have gotten away from me. Now I try my hardest to keep our house clean (clean enough), thank heaven for Bogusia, she helps me out a ton. For all of you who don't know her she is our nanny that comes over once a week to watch the kids while I work and I think she is pretty close to Mary Poppins. I get the dishes done, which somehow I feel like I do all day, I'm quickly falling in love paper plates, yes I feel guilty every time I throw them in the trash, but it saves me from doing dishes and allows me a little more time to play with my boys.
I have little notes everywhere, my purse, the diaper bag, my women drawer (as Aaron calls it), in my phone, on the desk you get the picture so many things to do that I don't know where to begin. Mind you, none of these are urgent, they aren't all that important, just things to do that take up precious time and are constantly on my mind, driving me crazy. So I thought my summer focus would be to get myself organized. And look what magazine was starring me right in the face in the grocery line... It was a huge sign, ya think?

So I picked it right up to get started. Now this posting is a little late because I had to show some progress that I've made. I was also reading a blog I follow and found this here. It was another sign, so I purchased the Mind Organization of Moms here. I've gotten part way through it, I just haven't been very diligent about just setting aside the time to complete it. But what I have accomplished recently makes me feel so much better, more productive, and I don't have a couple of things nagging me every time I walk by them.
So here we go...these were 2 things that were my priority

This is our den, it is a room everyone sees when they come to our house, it is right off our entry way and has the only bathroom on the first floor.  Now it didn't look like this all the time.  Aaron and I have been meaning to clean out our storage room under the stairs for a long time.  One Saturday while I was gone Aaron thought he would do me a favor by emptying it out, so he did!  And just put it all in the entry way.  While I was out I ran into a neighbor and invited them over for dinner.  I got home and found the entire entry way filled up, since it was quite a project to tackle we shoved it all into the den.  So this it what it looked like for a month or so...

Every time I walked by or tried to access the computer my heart would start racing.  So I finally had the chance to organize it.  So this is what it looks like now...

 

I feel so much better!  Now I just need to get some more shelves and decorate it.  I have a few ideas,  I'm thinking maybe a black and white with a pop of green...any thoughts?

While I was cleaning out the den, I had several different pictures I needed to hang up.  I was part of the organizing process of course.  So I finally did the photo gallery I've been thinking about. 

This was our little living room before

Here it is after the photos and a few accessories

I still have a few things I want to do, but at least now it is presentable and my beautiful family photos are displayed.

Now for the rest of the organizing...

Dirty Campin

We headed up to the cabin for some nice cool weather and a Fourth of July celebration.  Unfortunately the fireworks were cancelled in Flagstaff, but we were having enough fun we really didn't miss out.  We spent the weekend with Aaron's wonderful family.  We went hiking, shooting, fishing, quad riding, we sat around and watched the kids get filthy dirty and have a blast playing together.  It was quite funny,  Aaron and I borrowed his bosses pop up trailer, which might I add was excellent, and towed it up with my dads truck.  We were a bit crammed, but figured we would make it just fine.  So with trailer in tow, 2 boys crammed in the back with food surrounding them (just added protection and easy access for boredom), and a dog at my feet we headed out.  We considered just taking old faithful (the blue van), but then figured regardless of how crammed we were, we would be creating memories!

 

 

This was Lane after his quad ride that he was begging for.  Aaron said he passed out about half way through.  We got him ready for bed without him even waking up.  He just couldn't handle going to bed with out the ride!

Derek and Zackary had a blast playing in the dirt with the trucks and tractors getting filthy dirty.  Here are some great shots of the dirt.

Lauren managed to stay pretty clean the entire trip.  It must be a "girl thing."

Zackary's first time holding, shooting, and hearing a real gun.  I'm pretty sure this has opened up a whole new can of worms.  I know it is only a matter of time with boys. 

The family shot after 3 days of camping.  We almost got all the kids looking forward. 

Thanks for such a great trip everyone!

Discovery

Look what Lane discovered! The little chairs that become great little ladders for reaching and climbing everything. Jackpot this day. Tostitos and cheese dip. Why wouldn't he keep climbing them?

19 Months

This was on our way out the door to Lane's 18 month appointment.  I was just a couple of weeks behind on this one.  He is now 19 months, and WOW, I can't believe it.  He is just so handsome. 
Lane is doing so many fun things right now. 
This is one of my all time favorite ages. 

Here are some of the things he is doing and saying right now...

~ weighed in at 26.6 pounds

~ 33 inches tall

~ he is saying several words, Mama, Dada, hello, hi, bye bye, whats that? (which sounds like dada), Nana, Papa, Bubba, hat, hot, hot dog, cheese

~ he signs so many different things, ball, I love you, milk, eat, drink, hat, book, bird, dog, moon, tree, shower, and several more

~ he likes to torment, if something bothers Zackary or some of his friends he gets this little look in his eyes and will do it just a little more or will scoot just a little closer

~ he is sporting 2 new molars, 10 chompers total

Here is a picture of him saying "cheese."  Anytime he sees the camera lately he yells "cheese!"

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful little boy.  He is such a good baby, with a great personality.  I absolutely head over heals in love with him.  He is so yummy!  We love you so much Lane!

Belts

I thought this picture was really funny. It was after we got home from a doctors appointment with Lane. Yes, I let him wear a "belt" as he calls it, but really it is an empty holster.

I love that he is passed out still wearing his belt. It made me laugh!

Park Brick

So I am fully aware that this is the most random post.  But one of my 'to dos' is cleaning up my pictures on my computer.  As I was deleting and moving files I cam across this picture.  I had totally forgotten that Aaron and I purchased this brick as Cosmo Dog Park in Gilbert.  As you may know, Aaron designed this park and has won several awards in the last few years for the design (I have to brag just a bit about my wonderful husband).  Any who, this is the brick Aaron created.  The date is our anniversary, we got Otis together a year before we got married and always would joke about how we had a dog out of wedlock.  This is our special family brick at the park.

Flagstaff

We spent the last weekend up at Aaron's parents cabin in Flagstaff.  It was such a nice break and some great family time.  I got to spend the entire weekend soaking up my babies without any worries.  We played, relaxed, went fishing, fixed plumbing leaks, drove into Flagstaff a few times (for coffee and pipe fittings), went for walks, and just enjoyed US. 

It is such a nice getaway for us, we are very blessed to have a place like this to go to and enjoy. 

Fishing

While we were in Flagstaff we headed out for a morning of fishing. I'm pretty sure the fishing lasted all of 30 minutes while playing with the worms lasted much longer.

Zackary felt the need to have me photograph each and every worm with him.

So I did, and here you have it, each one had their own photo shoot with Zackary.

My sweet baby Lane. Having a blast fishing and playing with the worms. The lower lip might make you think he was upset, but he wasn't, just focused. We will always know when he is tired or focused because the lower lip with make its presence.