weekend favorites

I wish this time of year would just slow down extra....I love it so.

Here are some of my favorites from the weekend/week. Fall leaves. Lady bugs. baby bump. Baking. Play dough.

baby bump
31 weeks. (photo taken @ 30) like my lil sidekick there? squeezing himself in the baby bump pic :)

 
31 weeks. favorite baby bump moment? the boys playing dr. on my belly for the baby. caleb listening to baby's heart beat with his dr. kit and  giving the baby shots. I love their imaginations. sweet baby kisses. This little boy is going to be so well loved by his big brothers.

 

 fall leaves.

 the boys had so much fun raking. jumping. running. and playing in these leaves. the only sad part was a big allergy attack for lucas right after. red bumps all over his belly. red watery eyes. itchy and runny nose. we bathed him. gave him Benadryl and rubbed some Benadryl cream on him because he was so upset and itchy. now he has a lingering runny nose. but they had so much fun playing in those leaves despite the sad ending.

play dough

 I love our Fridays. we stay home all day. we do our school activities. linger over breakfast. do art and or crafts. we get cozy and read books. (It has been so fun reading seasonal/holiday books with the boys from the library! I can't wait for our Christmas stories) sometimes we bake. we made play dough last Friday and the boys had a lot of fun squeezing it and putting the leaves inside.

 ladybugs.
last night caleb informed us of this "I don't like moths and spiders. I like ladybugs and butterflies"
 
 he was loving on this little lady bug Saturday morning.

 love my boys. helping daddy in the yard; trimming the apple tree.

 baking

we've stayed close to home these past two weekends. we've been baking. and baking...preparing for our trip to Oregon for thanksgiving with some gluten free/nut free special treats for the boys. I love how much they love helping in the kitchen. they like to be right up in there :)

 

caleb's excited for our thanksgiving 'feast' and lucas is still excited every time he sees a pumpkin. 'happy happy!"

 

I'm excited for family time all week!

 

Hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Birthday to you...

The big 30.

We celebrated our hero's birthday at home this weekend. We baked and I made some homemade pasta. We didn't do much of anything at all because we've been traveling a lot and between Caleb's specialist appointments the past couple weeks and our upcoming trip to Oregon we chose to just stay home and be together baking and taking family walks around the neighborhood. Caleb was just so excited about singing to Daddy (he spent most of his nap/quiet time on Sunday singing away about D's birthday), His excitement carried on over to Lucas who got all excited as well. It is so special to just be together as a family celebrating the one we love so much, even if we aren't going anywhere or doing anything big, there is something nice about doing nothing much at all except spending time together; even at home..

Birthday Video

wanted to share this article I read today...so fitting for our hero. rules for fathers of sons.  (got teary eyed reading it) I am married to an incredible husband, and an amazing father. His strongest attributes that I most admire are patience, gentleness, and a quiet strength that he models through example every day. He is courageous and genuine and watching him in the way he lives his life helps me to strive to be a better wife and mother every day.

 

What I love most is watching his relationship with the boys. The boys are often underfoot while he does a project around the house and instead of getting frustrated with them, he lets them join in. He involves them; in baking, in gardening, building something, etc. He is so patient with them. Not once have I heard him yell at them. His parents did an amazing job in raising him to be the man that he is today. Yesterday while we celebrated him and all that we love about him, I lifted up a special prayer of thanks for his mom and dad who raised him. I know he wouldn't be the man that he is today without them. We are so blessed by him and I am so grateful to have him by my side.

 Happy Birthday Dave.

 

we love you so.

 

  also...the boys and I heard this song today on the radio. Love it. The music and the lyrics. Just brought a smile to my face on a Monday...

 

 

Lastly, a little Sneak Peek.

 

My sister took some pictures of us while we were down last weekend. I'm so excited to share more of them, but I better wait until after all our Christmas cards go out. Here are just a few she captured of the boys pre-outfit change. I'm so thankful for her willingness to always take our family pics. She is so patient! We found a random park and did the photo session sort of last minute. Both boys were freaking out because there were squirrels and birds around. (lots of nervousness lately over animals...we are working through it). She still managed to capture some sweet moments despite the circumstances. I love the ones she captured of the boys and I.  I am hardly on the other end of the camera lens so it is nice to have these special moments captured with my sweet boys. Thanks Jen.

 

copyright@jennifermichelephotography

 Lucas eyeing the squirrels. (nervous face)

Happy Monday!

 

 

weekends are for

fun times with auntie.

 the boys had a slumber party at my sister's apartment this weekend. oh boy were they in heaven! they made rice Krispy treats (my grandma used to make those for us when we were little) and got to pick out a toy from the toy store (they were pretty proud of the toy they each picked out), they went out for a birthday dinner for my younger sister with the family, and took a great nap and slept all night! I don't know what magic powers my sister has but I do know they all had a grand time. D and I had a nice time at our friend's beautiful wedding. It was nice to have that time away as husband and wife celebrating a marriage of a good friend. I love weddings. They are so full of hope and promise.

image copyright john juan vu and greg ripa

and I love time with family. even though it felt too short, it was full of sweet and beautiful moments.

 

Happy Monday.  

 Fall is here. Oh how I adore the fall. Colorful autumn leaves. Crisp air. Foggy mornings. Cloudy afternoons. Lucas sat and crunched up leaves this morning, driving his train through them and under them, squishing them up and smelling them. Collecting them and piling them up. Makes me think maybe we'll be having a leaf party this weekend with the boys; raking up our yard and doing some good ol' fall fun of jumping in the leaves!

 Hope you had a beautiful weekend.

 

and thanks jen for babysitting!!

Held.

 

 

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10-11

Wednesday morning we had caleb's annual eye appointment in Berkley. We've made the drive before but this was the first time I was making it myself. I had a lot of conversations with God that day. Thanking Him; grateful for happy boys in the backseat for the two hours there and quiet sleeping boys for the two hours home. I realized through all my convos and solitude that I had a friend with me. A quiet comfort amidst a stressful day. It isn't anything new I realized, but through that long day I really needed Him. And it is always when I need Him the most that I cling to and draw on His strength the most. When things are easy and going good of course I am thankful but when things are hard, that is when I need to be more conscious about being grateful and still be joyful. When things are hard, that is when I am most aware of His strength and the blessings that have come from the struggle. This morning the boys are sleeping, D is working and as I did my devotional/quiet time I came across the above scripture. It brings me comfort knowing God has us by his righteous right hand. He strengthens us. He is our God.

While I am prone to worry and stress when I fill myself up with His word I am calmed and comforted. When things are hard and I feel at the end of my strength I know that God's strength has been here all along.

I wanted to share a moment from our Wednesday morning. We had to leave early for C's eye apt. Dressing has been difficult for him this week (the transition to get dressed) it ended with me having to physically assist while he was hysterical and crying. I hate having to do that and it upsets me. It ended in tears on my end too. When I am feeling frustrated a lot of times I remember this..."just love them" so while lucas tried handing caleb his blanket for comfort and was wiping away my tears with his lovey caleb was crying. I told him to come in my room and sit on my lap. He came in, curled up on the chair with lucas and I and tucked his hand under his blanket and began rubbing my belly, speaking softly to his littlest brother. We cuddled, we hugged, I soaked in their warmth, I shared with him my sadness. I wish things had gone differently to begin with that morning, that transitions weren't so hard for him. That certain things could be easier for him. But at the same time I don't. I wouldn't change a thing about how that moment ended;  both boys on my lap and in my arms. Me still crying but feeling grateful for their love. I wouldn't change a thing about C either. While sometimes I wish certain things weren't so hard for him, I know he is being strengthened by his struggles and he has taught us so much because of who he is. Mostly I try and remember this; "All I can do is love them" So when I feel at the end of my rope; physically, emotionally, spiritually;  I am reminded that God simply loves us. That His love is enough. And that he chose D and I to teach, model, and give our love to the boys as we teach them of the One who loves them the most.

"One day someone is going to love you so tight that all your broken pieces will fit back together" My mom sent my sisters and I this quote this week. I thought it fitting with our hug sesh on Wednesday. God is always holding us in his embrace and He puts our broken pieces back together.  Here on earth he gifted me with two very special little boys and their amazing daddy who hug me tight everyday and in those hugs?...I'm complete. Sometimes all you need is a hug.


Happy Friday.

... And Happy Anniversary to my parents, who first who taught me how to love, through their example. And with a lot of hugs.

and happy birthday to my littlest sister. who lights up the world with her smile and has a laugh just like our nani.

love them. and so excited to see them this weekend and to celebrate a sweet friend on her wedding day!

rise.fly.soar....

 

 

click here for planes video of the boys

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to our boys.

Saturday morning cuddles on the bed. little boy laughter fills up our head.

running and laughing. tumbles and chasing.

joy in your smiles and kisses; hope in your little boy wishes.

the blessings you bring are more than our hearts could have ever foreseen.

We love you always sweet boys; you're God's most precious gifts and our most treasured joys.

 

may you boys always hope in the Lord and soar on wings like eagles.

 

love you. to the moon and back.

Happy Friday and a short halloween video

Happy Friday!!

 bike mechanics

Here is a short video clip of the boys trick or treating and handing out raisins (yes, raisins) last night.
Halloween 2013 video here  we didn't stay out very long and I didn't get many pics but I would have to say the funniest thing was watching lucas go from unsure about the trick-or-treating thing, to totally confident by the end. He started out wanting to be carried and staying close, but by the end he was running full force ahead up to each door and yelling out 'happppy' for happy Halloween. ...click here for last year's  Halloween video.

sweet moment I took a quick pic of on my phone from caleb's pre-school field trip. caleb loves rubbing my belly and likes to just run up and kiss 'baby'. He was giving the baby some love on his field trip. He just melts my heart with his tender and empathetic ways.

  pre-school field trip 2013

Happy Weekend!!!

A candy free halloween.

 

Halloween isn't all about the candy. With a pretty serious food allergy to tree nuts for L and special diet restrictions for C; gluten free, peanut free, nut free, soy free, etc. We have to be more mindful in how we approach Halloween this year. Last year was the first year we trick or treated. The boys didn't eat any candy. I'm' not even sure they knew what candy was. They just weren't interested and it just didn't seem necessary to offer them sugary treats. They were happy just to be out and about for the activities. This year we will be substituting their bag with a couple of safe options for them to enjoy if they wish when they are done trick or treating. Raisins and Annie's Organic Fruit Chewies. I know we will be making more mindful decisions as Lucas enters school in the coming years and already Caleb is very aware of making sure what he eats is gluten free and what lucas eats is nut free. The hardest thing so far is that lucas doesn't get it quite yet. If someone hands him food he wants to eat it. We will only be going to a few houses but I know we will be making sure to keep him safe around the candy. This year I thought a little more about all the children who can't eat just any type of food and or candy. I think in the future we will be handing out allergy safe treats...i.e. raisins or even stickers. This year the boys are excited just to say "trick or treat" and "Happy Halloween" and I am happy about that. We are learning as we go. We will be navigating and learning more along this new road as we face our first Thanksgiving and Christmas with special diet restrictions. I want the boys to enjoy all that there is to enjoy and celebrate; special holiday food included.  I'm grateful for all the parents who have carved the map ahead of us. With all the special cook books out there with great allergy free recipes and the awareness that has come in the past few years in regards to food allergies and special allergen free diets, I feel very thankful. Thankful for those before us who have carved the way and those alongside us who support and encourage us as we navigate.

some of our favorite fall festivities....

a favorite activity has been our evening walks. the boys love looking at all the lights and different Halloween decorations.

pumpkin carving was so fun for the boys this year. They love our nightly ritual of lighting the pumpkins and then getting to blow out the candles after our walk.

 

Dusty from Planes (lucas' costume)

 

Helping Daddy make their Halloween costumes was another fun activity. Caleb loves flying around in his "chupacabra" Planes costume. Made out of cardboard, paint, and elastic.

 

 at pre-school the kids made spider webs with glitter. C chose not to participate at the time and so we did it at home instead. He had fun squeezing out the glue to make a design and then sprinkling the glitter on top.

 

This year we are more aware of food allergies and diet restrictions because we are going through it first hand. So for all the children out there who are going trick or treating tonight I hope they have a fun and safe Halloween and I hope those handing out the treats this year are just a little bit more aware too.

 and for all the kids who are going out tonight with sensory differences, I hope there is a little more understanding for them too.

 

 

Happy Halloween.

 

**Yesterday my friend Marisa at Deliberate Parenting asked me to share about our Halloween costumes and our approach to the boys and their choice in wearing them. If you're interested in reading  her post and what I shared you can here...when young children don't want to wear costumes. I am very thankful for her friendship and her wisdom in parenting. She is someone who inspires me and encourages me and I have always admired her parenting approach with her young daughters.

 

Have a safe and happy Halloween.