Bat-Party and Bug Party (all in one!)

The boys had a super fun time at their party:) Both sets of grandparents, their only aunt, uncle, and 2 cousins, and "our friends with the 5 kids" were there.

Michael really wanted a bat-shaped cake for Batman. I took a simplified bat (the actual logo would have been way too difficult) and cut it out of paper. I cheated and used a cake mix, froze the cake, and cut it using the paper pattern (sprayed with Pam so it wouldn't stick to the cake) while the cake was still frozen. The frosting was more difficult as this was a super crumbly cake, so I finally had to resort to using a pastry bag and frosting tip (which I have no idea how to use professionally, lol). Anyway I thought it turned out fine, and Michael certainly thought it was cool and that's what counts:)

William's cake is my signature made-from-scratch carrot cake, but baked in small Bundt pans instead of one big cake. I'm not sure if it was Christopher or Michael who insisted on the second candle for William's cake. I know to pick my battles and it didn't bother me at all. One of the grandmas thought it was funny/weird and that we would later wonder why there were 2 candles at his first birthday, lol.

Little Boys' Birthday

These are from the actual day, January 12. We started out the day with Michael at preschool. In the Waldorf tradition, birthdays are very special. So Jeff and I spent most of the preschool day with him (and William too:) Michael wore the special birthday crown and cape, and kept waving a cute, shy little wave at us from across the room. Then he crossed the bridge and sat with us to listen to the rest of the birthday story and open his nature-based gifts from his preschool friends. One example (which I need to photograph) is a little walnut boat with a straw mast and paper sail.

At the end of the preschool morning, they spend about 30-45 minutes outdoors. William had his first sledding experience with me and tried to walk in snow for the first time. Unfortunately his snowsuit is just fleece and not waterproof so I couldn't let him down for too long. Michael adores the tire swing and took turns riding and pushing/twirling it with his friends. Christopher was a little disappointed that he missed out on the preschool activities. He went to Prairie Flower also and misses it.

In the evening, my in-laws came up and took us out to eat at Hickory Park. Michael loved the wooden Indian (and his gun, lol) there. :)

Little Boys Birthday

My baby turned one and Michael turned 4 yesterday! Where has the time gone?!
William is a champion walker already and adores reading books with us.
Michael loves anything superhero and has an ornery streak matched only by his cute cuddly streak.
Here are the invitations I made to their party this weekend. Pictures to follow after the big day!

FINALLY!

I tend to be a procrastinator when it comes to non-scrapbooking craft projects. The last 2 days have been snow/cold days off school here, and miraculously the two little boys coordinated their naps BOTH days, woohoo! Christopher and I embarked on a craft/art project both days. Yesterday we finished our gigantic 6 foot wreath so we can hang it on the peak of the garage next year. Well, it still needs some silver tinsel garland (or ribbon), but unless I can find that in the clearance bins tomorrow, it'll have to wait for the stores to get their supplies next fall.

Today our project was something I've had the materials for since 2004. (did I mention I tend to procrastinate?) My sister-in-law found this on Martha Stewart's website (LINK) way back when and she and my brother-in-law made the candle holders at my in-law's house on Christmas Eve while my mother-in-law cooked and/or we all sat around visiting and watching 1 1/2 year old Christopher. Somehow I never got around to starting or finishing our candle holders when I finally found all the pieces we needed. Disclaimer: The photo is actually my in-law's, as we don't have candles for ours yet:) Anyway, Christopher and I made the patterns fit, glued, and glittered today and even Christopher remarked this evening that they look really good!

Our other snow day project was candy cane cookies. It doesn't bother me at all that we do some of our Christmas baking AFTER Christmas most years;) Not only do these cookies look pretty, but they are some of the best tasting cookies. I've been making them since my early 4-H years. I have no idea where I/Mom found the recipe originally, but it's in my photocopied 4-H Christmas cookie book. The scrapbooked version of it was from a Scrapgirls.com recipe swap in December.

Project 52: Final Pages!

Project 52 lasted through 43 weeks over at Jen Wilson Designs. Chrissy and I were disappointed it didn't finish out, but I'm glad it lasted as long as it did! I have 43 layouts that more than likely I either wouldn't have at all or at least would have been vastly different without the challenges. Here are the the last few I haven't uploaded here yet...(our anniversary one is my favorite!)


Week 43 was to scrap something in general for which we are thankful.
JWD Dried Leaves
JWD Fall in Love Little Autumn Bits
Syndee Nuckles French Market
Syndee Nuckles Cinnamon Suede
Brandy Hackman Blossoms & Blooms Fall
Shalae Tippetts Promise
Shalae Tippetts Aged Frames
Paula Wright Thankful Collection
Amanda Sok Alluring Autumn
Shalae Tippetts Hearth
Kim's Scrappin' Turkey Time


Week #42: Lesson Learned (1 of Jeff's most excellent photos from the 2009 trip to the Boundary Waters)
Scraplifted from a layout by Thao Cosgrove at Scrapgirls.com
JWD Mango Sunrise
JWD Down Home Fourth of July
JWD Fluttering Finishes
Thao Cosgrove Tucked Photos Embellishment Templates
Michelle Coleman quote
Imagine by Fran: Lady in Purple (purple flowers & leaves)
Anita Stergiou Ray of Light (brads)
Sarah Batdorf Deep Shadow action
Candara font


Week #41: Home ...the challenge was to scrapbook at least 5 things we were thankful for regarding our home (address changed for privacy purposes)
JWD Sunburst paper
JWD Halloween holiday flower with Jan Hicks Coin Folder Chip style applied
Leora Sanford Rainbow Glitz alpha
Shabby Princess Olivia (home word art)
Brandy Murry From the Desk Of journaling spot/paint/etc.
Erica Hite Chic Embroidery (home sign)
Valerie Randall Batik (circular home sign)
JWD Buttoned and Looped Blooms flower
JWD Sandcastle eyelet/ribbon
JWD Journaling Card


Week #40: 10th Anniversary (Yep, Jeff and I celebrated our 10th this past November!)
I am so thankful to have found you, my true love. The reasons I love you have deepened over the years. You still have the same wonderful sense of humor, are considerate and loving, and are handsome and sexy. To a busy mommy with 3 boys, there is nothing sexier than all that PLUS you not only work hard at work but help at home with boys and the household. We may not have the quietest or most well-behaved household,but I’m quite sure we have the most fun and share lots of love. For this and much more, I am so very grateful. To the next 10 years and beyond!!
Cynthia Gullett Photography
JWD Laundry Line Tyler
JWD Titled Journal Cards
JWD Grunge Edges
Erica Hite Up at the Villa
Brandy Murry Mossy (love word art)
Thao Cosgrove All About Marriage
Sarah Batdorf Deep Shadow actions
Brandie Valenzuela Grungelle brush set
Cinzia Loosemore That's Amore freebie ("I love you")
Anita Stergiou A Brand New Day alpha
Font: VT Portable Remington


Week #39: God's Art (William in the leaves this fall)
JWD 24/7 Cards
JWD Caring paper (blended with photo)
JWD Fancy Edges
I really liked how the background photo turned out...I put it over a subtle painted background, changed the blending mode, and got something interesting!

Christmas

Winter break has passed us by in a blur! Barring cancellation of school tomorrow for the expected bitter cold, it is back to the usual schedule in the morning (thank goodness; as of today the big boys had officially had enough of each other, and SO HAD I!)

We celebrated with Jeff's immediate family the weekend before Christmas, with our own little boy-filled family on Christmas, with the larger Borg (my mother-in-law's) family the 27th, and finally with my parents January 1. They intended to stay over on Christmas Eve as usual, but the weather in SW Iowa didn't cooperate and they were snowed in before they could get off work and leave for here.

We had a more wooden or old-fashioned Christmas than usual. I am very tired of commercialized, media-related plastic crap. Now that's not to say the boys don't love it, or that we don't allow it, just that I wanted more durable, meaningful, less violent things to abound this year. I purchased a lot of things from A Toy Garden and was very happy with it all. I also purchased from Three Sisters Toys, also a great store. Both have Waldorf roots, so very nature-based and non-violent. Ah!

Christopher actually had asked for a drum for Christmas, and received a very nice wooden one from Santa. Michael's main gift was a set of wooden castle/tower/knights blocks, and William got a wooden cash register. The big boys both wanted a Batman cave (essentially a doll house for Batman, lol) and BOTH received them from grandparents:)

Bokeh (look it up!) is apparently very popular in photography right now. The angel/nativity below is a new decoration I couldn't resist this year. I thought the photo turned out very nice with the tree in the background. Santa is also a new purchase this year.

We spent New Year's Eve at a friend's house, marred only by a huge fight between the big boys (and a mama-sized blowup in reply) right before we went over. It didn't help that Christopher had just had a private sleepover at Grandma & Grandpa's house and had had a taste of being an "only child" for about 24 hours. He apparently thought the universe still revolved around him when he got back and was in for a rude awakening.

We allowed BOTH big boys to stay up until midnight...and they MADE IT! Yikes! None of that next year, lol. We stayed up late watching "Up"...all but Jeff had already seen it, though I think there were a few scenes I hadn't yet seen. And mercifully they slept in until 8:30ish on the first!