Goodbye, Summer

Today was a particularly dreary and blustery day, and I'm feeling bummed about our lovely summer really at its end.  Despite feeling semi-crumby for the majority of it, I really loved this summer.  We sure had a good one!

We fit in a few more beach days (above is a beach on Cape Cod), and Lincoln had a BLAST with t-ball!  Poor Parley had to watch from the sidelines, but next summer, he can join the team.  My favorite moment was when the tee, bat, and ball were left unattended, and Parley (who has never tried this before in his life), picks up the bat, hits the ball pretty far, flings the bat, and runs to the base.  What a natural.

The Gutke's came to visit for a few days and we had fun playing all over town!  

My boys are just crazy about their cousins, and I had the time of my life at Amberlee's Feish!  So much big hair, glamor and dazzle!  It really took me back to show choir days and the thrill of a competition.  I'm going to the be worst 'dance mom'.

Near the end of August, we braved the Ward Campout, and it was actually super fun :) Jason and I were in charge of the Talent Show portion and the boys loved every minute of sleeping in a tent. 

The pictures on the right crack me up!  Usually these two are carefree, quick to jump right in, and just wild, and then on some days, they are cautious little spectators.  Best friends, they are, and I love spending my days with them!

It's a Girl!!

 We couldn't be more excited!

 

What a darling family we are already.  I'm the luckiest mom in the world!

Cumorah, NYC, and Baby Stuff

 Since the family was performing in the Hill Cumorah Pageant this year, we had to made it up to Palmyra and see Derek's big performance!  Derek had just gotten home from his mission to Brazil, and was cast as Battle Nephi, and had a lot of stage time.  The rest of the family all had great parts, fun costumes, and what a treat it was to watch it from an audience perspective this time.  It brought back so many memories!

We've been living summer to its fullest around here.  The boys can't get enough tire swing or water in their lives right now.

Things are good in the giveaway world.  Last month, I was selected for a free trip to NYC ("Momcation!"), where we had a catered lunch at The Lambs Club with a presentation from Sprint, and each of us left with the new HTC One phone ($679.99)!

While I was there, naturally, I hit the fabric district.  Oh, Mood, my happy place.

Parley and I got to review another $600 stroller and $200 infant car seat.  Sweet wheels, I tell ya!  Baby #3 is getting only the best. You can read that review HERE.  

(The other $600 stroller is currently listed on Craigslist, or promised to the first family member who announces a pregnancy...)

 

With all these baby products to review and no baby, I keep borrowing cuties from the ward to help me out with the pictures!  Good thing there are so many gorgeous babies to choose from.

And tune in tomorrow for some more exciting baby news!

Birthday Season

At the beginning of the month, we celebrated Jason's birthday with, of course, a cheesecake!  This year's was a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake, and you can read my recipe tutorial on Viva Veltoro HERE :)

He also got a donut cake for breakfast, balloons at work, and a "Man Bouquet"!  (That tutorial is also on Viva HERE)

Oh, July

Here's July in summary!

 We spent a lot of time at the beach!  Its hard to pass up when it is just down the street. 

 The boys just dig like little dogs and its remarkable how much sand we bring home with us every time.

 Oh, my boys and their plaid shorts! We went to Jason's annual summer work party, and homeboy got his first tat.  It stayed on solid for at least two weeks.

 We've so enjoyed having Braden and Lauren here with us this summer!  Cute newlyweds.  Lauren and I had a few painting nights where we made fun 4th-y banners.

 We walked through the Arnold Arboretum one day with Diana and Mom (see below), and my new calling is with the 8-11 year old girls doing Activity Days!  We have so much fun!  Cuties.

 Mom Millar also came to visit and we celebrated Diana's birthday with mustaches, of course!  We also hit up our favorite Giacomo's.  Oh, their Diavolo sauce...

 The zoo was a must this summer, and the attack gorilla was a hit.  Parley jammed a few coins our car's cd player, and Jason learned how to take apart and install car sound systems!  He did a great job--our new one is pretty bling.

The boys are quickly learning which stores have "car" shopping carts and which ones have horses to ride on.  They are pretty good shoppers and just so enthusiastic about everything!  Lastly, the 5 of us have had a good run.  We're so glad Marc is finally here to be reunited with Diana!  Families are meant to be together!

Project Posts

Here are three more projects I posted on Viva Veltoro last month!  

 Chocolate Cherry Port Wine Cake

(Don't worry, the wine cooks out!)

Some Tips on How to Save Money on Clothes

Happy 4th of Jello Trifle

Big News!

We've got news!  We're going to see how a "family of 5" looks on us.  We're due Jan. 19th, and as excited as ever!  I'm just getting out of the morning sickness stage, which has been gross, but manageable.  I'm just so happy to be feeling normal again.  The boys have been great to bring me blankets and toast when I'm keeled over on the couch.  I have a huge belly already, and we're really excited about some cute names we actually agree on!

Does it feel like we're always moving?

So we moved last month and it was crazy fun!  So much work for a 10-minute-away relocation, but we're able to keep paying a low rent, and we love love love this new place.  What a dream, huh?

 Long and narrow is the style, and the boys love running up and down it.

 Its a fresh remodel, so we've been enjoying all the new appliances and cringing with every fresh scratch on the hardwood floor that will have no one else to blame for.

Subway tile!

By the way, we've really enjoying have Diana live with us for the last 9 months!  We've enjoyed so many of her delicious meals, weekend outings, and chances to get out for late night dates.  Diana will so soon be reunited with Marc and they found a darling place in Roslindale!

Lincoln has claimed the twin bed Diana was using, and so Parley is in a toddler bed!  He is not a baby in any way anymore. If you open their bedroom window, you can climb out onto a balcony.  We found them out there this morning.  Looking into a way to really child-lock that thing.

Our room is huge, and still very much a work in progress...I'm hunting for a big shaggy rug.

The huge cherry on top is this bonus room upstairs.  Currently, I've claimed it as my photography studio, bathroom counter, and sewing space.  Isn't it incredible?

Two closets up here are filled with everything else we own: Christmas, camping gear, Jason's tools, luggage, baby stuff, space heaters, etc. and this little notch of space makes the perfect cove for a vanity.  I'm so spoiled.

And there you have it!  Even if grad school is just around the corner and we only stay a year, the move was totally worth it, and basically necessary to stay within budget.  Its really amazing, but probably not surprising, the more house you get as you move further out, even just 10 minutes.  And maybe here's hoping Jason gets into MIT Sloan and then we'd never have to move.  Ever.  What a thought!

Aaaand its July

Eeeek!  I have so much to post about!  I'm glad Instagram reminds me of what we've done in the last few weeks, though that social medium has also been neglected almost as much as this blog lately.

We made cinnamon rolls (I think for General Conference?  In APRIL?!?  Wow, I'm behind...) and I whipped up a bunch of pillowcases for my friend Emily's business.  Too bad she's moving back to California.  I'm really going to miss my crafty chum!

Lately, we like to track down the Cookie Monstah truck, and if you don't know what it is, you haven't lived. 

I started purging in preparation for the month-long event of packing up the house, but if you were one of those that helped us on moving day, you'll probably find it hard to believe that we got rid of ANYTHING before moving day.  We still had a incredible whole heap of stuff to transport.  

  Lincoln and I tried a few weeks of a "Mother Goose Time" preschool co-op with some ward friends before the move.  I think its a great program, and I'd love to start it up again in the Fall.  Heaven knows that boy is going to go crazy with two more years at home with mom!  That other cute boy turned two and we thought he deserved an ice cream cone!

Then the weather FINALLY became bearable, and we hit the beach for the first time this season. Our favorite newlyweds (Braden & Lauren) came to Boston for a summer internship, and we've been enjoying some daytime play dates with Lauren!

One of which was a rockin tour of the Cambridge Fire Department!  Lincoln = SO HAPPY!

That horrible move happened, and we had so many friends come to help.  It was really amazing the support we had from both wards, new and old.  What a blessing, and what wonderful friends we have.  I think it was on Day 2 of unpacking that Lincoln dumped out half a bottle of baby powder and Parley ran around the entire house making these adorable foot prints.

Per tradition, we hit up the Scooper Bowl and ate our weight in ice cream.  Lincoln peed on me in a port-a-potty and we all still had a grand time!  That's all for now.  Surely another round of these cute, overly-filtered boxy pics will be up soon...