Harrys latest art!

At the moment Harry is writing and illustrating books for his friends in his class. He loves designing and stapling these together and he has made quite a few now. I love how much care he shows in finding out what his friends interests are and then draws about that. He told me he wants the books to be interesting for his friends to read "it has to be about the cool stuff they like" he said. This book is for his friend Hector who also happens to love rockets and spaceships just as much as Harry.


I love this rocket he drew. It's the main reason for the pics and the blog post. Not to mention he was beaming with pride when he showed me, that i just had to take a proud mommy pic! He did such a great job of drawing the shape of the rocket, it really looks like something, someone much older would have drawn. I was very impressed!



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Afternoons with Thomas!

A half day at school is really not much of a "half day" at all! Thomas is home by 11:30am, which is fine with me. While I love that he is now in kindergarten, he is still my little babe and it's hard to let go!
So we are making the most if this final year, where we will have just Thomas and mommy time.
One of our favorite things to do on a Seattle rainy day together is play lego and boardgames.


Today we are playing Zingo and he is up 4 games to 1. We've built a lego tower for his cars and are now on to some Spongebob and snuggles. He comes home, like all other days, hungry for lunch. His favorite is Nutela and Peanut butter with no crusts and always cut into triangles. A yummo chocolate milk with bubbles and a side of pretzels or fruit...very healthy! The energy of the food kicks in and its go, go, GO! for the next few hours. Some of his other favorite things to do is, draw with crayons, copy everything I say (yeah, slightly annoying...lol!) play with his hotwheels cars, read books and play the wii. If its nice out, we will try and hit the park, meet up with some friends, visit the shops or he rides his scooter out the front. Its so special to have some real quality one on one time with him, no distractions, no chores, no one else, I love it! I really do treasure my afternoons with this sweet little guy. I know these are the memories I will look back on when he is off at school!





 
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Pizza night!

Friday night tradition...homemade pizza and movie night! Has easily become one of our favorite nights of the week!


Boys making pizza. Harry usually goes for a cheese and pepperoni (although just as much goes into the mouth as the making) while Thomas is more of a simplest and loves a plain cheese pizza, maybe a triple cheese with the amount he throws on top!



They will knead the dough for about 15mins the shape it in to a ball, I really do think the playing with dough is the part they love best. Thomas even wanted to get out his playdough tools for it!


Yummo...enjoying the final product!


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Harry the Photographer!

Again the creative juices were flowing for Harry. Today it was through the lens of a camera. He is so creative and really thinks outside of the box. He loves expressing himself with art, usually drawing, but who doesnt like to try something new and different!
Today's new creative technique, was to take a used papertowel roll, stick it over the end of the camera lens, point and shoot! Here are some of the fun shots he captured....

Such cool effects!

My smile ROCKS!

Need I say more.....

Let there be light!

I don't know how many times I have bumped my head on that bloody chandelier! Probably double that number for Dave. Not to mention a number of guests and contractors all having their fairshare of bumps too.
Well enough is enough! Toady, Dave and I, together (and mostly civil) removed the "head-banger" that hung in the middle of, well, where we walk in the kitchen! So convenient!
We pulled it down (that was the easy part) cleaned it up and fitted it with a converter kit, so we can install it over the island. This great little kit enables us to install your standard, wired light, using an existing recessed ceiling light socket, Very handy.
It took a while, a little bit of trial and error and viola, a newly installed light. And our first day of no head injuries...lol!


We are so pleased with how it turned out and even more pleased and proud, that we did it!!!

My little bookworm!

From the time he was old enough to point, thomas has been passionate about his letters. He loved his flash cards as a babe and would have no problem pointing out the letter that was asked.
Once he started talking, it was again this love of letters that he showed. Constantly singing his ABC's, babbling the sounds they made and even started recognizing what letter sounds started certain names.
Once the language really came along, he started showing interest in reading. He started out with simple words, which then lead to simple sentences.
Now in Kindergarten he is reading more and more everyday, he is now reading 2nd grade readers!

Last week at school, he was awarded the "super reader" award, the only one in his class. So, so proud of you little man! Today he is starting a 20 day reading competition and he's so excited!!!


Here he is reading a lego comic strip. laughing at the funny parts and telling me all about the mummies in Egypt. He even read the word archeologist!!


He is constantly amazing us with the words he reads. From words like construction and revolution!
Gosh i am loving his passion and love for reading!!!

And yes, he even read out loud this post :)

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Missed it by this much!

Boo! I have missed my first day of posting for the year :(
I guess that's what I get for telling a friend today, that I hadn't missed a day yet...oh the irony!


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Flashback...Thomas got to the cake!

Oh my, is there anything quite as cute!! I think Thomas was about two here, or very close too. Thank god for video's and capturing this little gem of a moment....

The finished island!

It felt like Christmas toady! Only instead of santa bringing gifts in his slay, it was the precision countertop guys in a van. The granite countertop finally arrived for its install today. The last piece of the kitchen island puzzle! I could not be more thrilled with how it looks and the extra counter space it provides!!! Makes me want to sing and dance!


The granite we chose is called "Wine river" it's a limestone/sandstone mix of color, with veins of grey, hints of golds and olive greens and spatters of brown/purple...it's beautiful!


It feels so good having my kitchen back. Although, I am a little scared to use it, silly I know. I'm sure I'll get over that though, it's time to get cooking and entertaining!


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Snowflakes!

Harry came home from school today, so excited about the possibility of snow! He rushed up stairs to prepare all of his snow gear. Not sure if in preps for school or his hoping for a snow day? But either way he was determined to play in it.
Bedtime came and still no snow. His little face was one of discouragement :(
With books read and jammies on, he could not sleep. Too busy checking out the window for any sign of snow.
Later that evening, just when we thought the silence up stairs meant the kids were asleep. Down comes an excited Harry, "it's snowing! It's snowing!" sure enough, the flakes had stated to fall. Such a special snuggle was shared as we watched the snowflakes flurry. Its the little things, like an eight year olds excitement to see snow!


Later that night Dave braved the cold to get the mail (secretly, I think he was just as excited as Harry to play in it). He returned with a huge block of fresh snow. "Just in case it melts before Harry gets to play in it!" what a sweet daddy!
And what a sweet husband.....





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Bubble bath!

There is only one rule I have at bath time and that is NO splashing! But then again, it's these priceless little moments of giggling fun that make life beautiful!

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Little blue bird

While hanging out with Harry playing lego this afternoon, we heard a huge thump hit a window downstairs. Harry just had to check it out! It turned out to be a sweet little babybird. It must of flown straight into the window, it was so dazed and confused!
Harry was beyond concerned for this sweet little guy and wanted to care for it right away. He found a box so he could keep it protected and warm, it was close to freezing outside!
While trying to help the bird it regained consciousness and quickly ran under a bush. To Harrys relief, he was so happy to see the bird move, he knew it was going to be ok. It then flew off to be with it's family who were waiting for it up in the tree.
I was a little worried Harry would've been upset as did not have a chance to look after it in the box. I asked him if he was ok? I saw the look of sadness come to his face. He said, in a big boy voice and attitude, "Mommy, I'm just glad the bird was ok and got to be with his family again!" ohhh, that's my boy!
He wanted to remember his sweet little bird so he decided to do a painting of it....








Such an artist! He wanted to show it happy and back in its nest. Great job with the bird today Harry :)

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Kitchen update!

Conditioning, Sanding and staining done! Sticky mess and spills cleaned! Arguing and frustrations resolved!
Man, renovating your house yourself really is hard work. Especially on your spouses unconditional love for you...lol! Love you babe, thanks for putting up with my "extra picky" quality control :)


Second coat of staining and Dave in his sexy mask, the sanding was so messy and fine. A layer of wood dust covered everything!


Really happy with the outcome! Overall we did make a great team, once we passed the bumps. Dave conditioned and I followed with stain. Thanks honey for discovering why the stain wasn't as dark as we thought, will remember to stir it first next time so I don't have to redo it all...oops!



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Pancakes!

Today the boys woke up starving! I guess the 4 pieces of pizza Harry had the night before for dinner wasn't enough to get him through till breakfast, my goodness!
While Dave was out getting milk, Thomas and I whipped up a huge batch of yummy pancakes....


Enough batter to make10 huge ones, a dozen babies and a cool looking StarTrek one...


Love Sunday morning breaky with the fam...happy moments :)

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Wipe on - Wipe off!

We have officially started the sanding, staining and sealing part of the island install. Very exciting, but quite daunting! It's a big job and one mistake will really show or make us start again.


We are using a softwood called Hemlock, which in it's self is proving to be a little tricky to work with, so bloody sensitive. Yay, one more step to add to the process to make the wood cooperate, conditioning. We need to clean and wet the new wood, sand, condition/wipe-off, stain/wipe-off, sand and then finally seal...yikes!


Crossing my fingers we don't screw it up.


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Bounce time!

Today has been quite an active day for the boys. More so for Harry who had his first therapy session at LSA center this-morning. They have a wonderful set up there, with two huge motor rooms, plenty of room for jumping and swinging, climbing and building! He loved it!!


Next, off for some crazy bouncing for a friends birthday party. It was so much fun! The kids (& big kid) had a blast bouncing!!!


Harry had a blast playing with his girlfriend. They are so adorable together, so in love!!

Hanging out....

One thing I love most about being a mom, is watching the relationship between my boys grow. They are your typical brothers! They make each other cry, they yell at each other, throw things, annoy by just looking, blame mess, on the occasion even hit. But generally they are, loving, caring, compassionate, empathetic, helpful, sweet, loyal, helpful and generally they just love being around each other. They really are best buds and I know if anything happened to one of them, the other would have his back in a second!
Some of their favorite things to do together...

• Play Lego
• Watch Spongebob
• Share the same bedroom
• Play make-believe
• Build forts
• Ride bikes
• Play Star Trek
• Draw together
  
• Latest addiction is video games...oh boy!
  

Here is a sweet random moment I captured today! Gosh I love my boys...

Wordless Wednesdays!

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The year of the House

2008 was the year of DIY house projects! painting walls, installing trim, painting more walls, installing and upgrading seemed to be the theme.
2009 was the year of decorating! resulting in a home but also a house full of clutter and unused chauchkies!
2010 was the year of repairs! Fridge, floors, exterior painting, siding replacement, floors again, kitchen cabinets, exterior lighting, new fence built by grandad, repairs to irrigation system...etc
Well 2011 is going to be the year of purging, organizing and finishing projects! Time to finish up things from years passed.

This month we will be finishing the kitchen. We took the opportunity to reconfigure the layout and add more cabinets while the floors were ripped up last year. This weekend (not to interfere with the Seahawks playoff) we will be sanding, conditioning and staining the new kitchen island and trim. This will be just in time for the new granite to arrive next week...very exciting! After 8mths with no island, it will be so wonderful to have it back!!!
Will post some before and after pics in a few weeks.

Looking forward to a productive year and finishing these nagging projects from around the house!