HAPPY LITTLE SURPRISES

i'm a notebook girl.

i like to buy them.

cute ones.

colorful ones.

big ones.

little ones.

thin and thick ones.

i have them everywhere.

on the desk and in the drawer

and by my bed and in my purse.

i come across old ones from time to time

that i haven't used in a while.

take this one, for example.

i flipped through and found this:

some scribbles and a few silly little guys

drawn by one of my silly little guys.

from the looks of the ears on this dude,

i'm sure this is some of hudson's handiwork.

those are his signature ears from ages 3 and 4.

i find little surprises like this one

in many of my notebooks.

happy little surprises.

little flashbacks from the past.

WALLS

i have a few gallery walls

in our home.

and by a few, i mean 3.

for now, anyway.

i seem to enjoy them immensely.

and i cannot get enough of them.

so perhaps i will add more.

but for now, there are 3.

and here's perhaps way too much

information on these walls.

you're welcome,

or i apologize.

whichever fits.

one of these walls is in our family room.

it  makes me happy.

i think it makes my family happy.

there are two paintings of rockets

the boys did a year or two ago.

and an avengers print

i found online, in my colors, no doubt!

plus the heart boon made for me in 2nd grade

to thank me for volunteering.

and some painted keys i mounted.

there's one of my favorite quotes

that i typed up by

how i met your mother's barney:

"when i feel sad, i start feeling sad

 and be awesome instead. 

true story."

and a little print

in the shape of a yellow darth vader helmet

that reads,

"look on the bright side."

there's also a tiny print of a red lego

with feet, arms and sunglasses.

it's titled,

"six pack." 

and finally, there's a print that reads:

"the family routine:

1. wake up

2. be amazing

3. go back to bed"

here is wall number 2.

it's in the downstairs hallway.

i always see it when i come in from the garage

or out of the laundry room.

it's colorful and cheerful

and full of memories.

it's a gallery of artwork by my boys over the years.

paintings, actually, all on canvas.

and they are remarkable.

i love them!

a happy hallway!

gallery wall number 3 is in the happy room.

i've shared photos of it before.

and as soon as i can get some photos 

where you might actually be able

to see the prints better, 

i'll fill you in on that one, too.

calm down. it will be ok.

i know you're excited.

you'll make it.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

 

 well, hello there, little beauties.

give me a call sometime.

 

 

my lovely ladies.

look at the curves on those girls!

 

 

 where have you been all my life, little miss?

i really don't know a thing about you,

but you had me at

orange, fuchsia, apple green,

 cherry red, pastel pink and turquoise!

 

 

how do i love thee?

let me type the ways...

 

 

i'm all smiles, sweet cheeks.

you look marvelous!

 

 

commence swooning.

 

'STACHE SHOWER

yep. we had it. a mustache shower. who wouldn't want to attend a facial hair themed baby shower? best shower theme ever, don't you agree?

top row, left to right: the proud papa sporting a fine looking grey 'stache; big bro addison in a modern fuzzy variety; soon-to-be third time mama in a burt reynolds inspired model

middle row, left to right: our boys realizing their dreams of possessing facial hair have come true earlier than expected (we are so proud); littler big bro with a charlie chaplin style 'stache (yes, charlie chaplin. I know what you were thinking!); wyatt and I showing our firm belief that fake mustaches should be modeled in the most stoic expression possible

bottom row, left to right: the mom with her eldest son; little peanut's home, complete with fuzziness; little peanut's dad modeling his actual facial hair (a total man, that guy)

 

 

and what type of festivities would a mustache shower entail? why, bubble gum cigars, facial hair glasses and a 'wet your whiskers' root beer tasting of course. there was also a wide assortment of delightful cookies generously baked by some of the guests.

 

i think the most fun i had was watching everyone gather around the mustache table, deciding whether to use the stick on fuzzies, the finger tattoos or the foamies on a stick. there was no excuse for not wearing a 'stache. a mustache for everybody! leave no guest without a mustache behind!

 

 

we also played "name that 'stache!" see how your mustache identifying skills add up.

 here are a few hints.

#4..... my youngest nephew (at the time of the shower)
#15....the opposite of my mom is my...
#22...the paternal grandfather

good luck!



FOR THE LOVE OF THE PUNCH CARD

on some days, just knowing i have this little beauty in my pocket feels like a million bucks.

THRIFTY HOLIDAY GOODNESS

don't these yarn spools look like little trees? and in my favorite colors, no less (and a hint at what the happy room is sporting this holiday season...stay tuned).i spotted them at the thrift store and snatched them up. you know, before the mobs of crazy thrifters hunting for yarn on cones in these exact colors found them. and the plate? also a happy find, and half price...3 bucks. wahoo. i love me some thrifty finds.

THE CASE OF THE MYSTERIOUS HAPPY PACKAGE!

yesterday, i received a surprise package in the mail from amazon. i am so excited! i love it! eek! but...i don't know who it's from! anyone? anyone?
here's what the package contained:

can you guess what it is?
here's a hint...

yep! it's a tissue box cover. how awesome is that?!
i think i'm in love, both with this little house and the person who sent it to me.
so thank you!!!!!
now who are you?

HUDSON ON PUNCTUATION

hudson gets a letter in the mail.
at the end of a word is an exclamation point.
he points to it and says...

"that's to make you happy."

and you make me happy, too, buddy.

I HEART RON

i need more ron swanson in my life. if you don't know ron swanson, it doesn't really matter. just sit back and enjoy the feast for your eyes. the world needs more 'stache.

SQUEAL!

this is the birthday gift i received from my brother jamie, sister in law jessica, and nephew camden. do these people know me or what? isn't that vintage clock the best? and polka dots always make me giddy. always. these are some of the best gift givers i know. and i'm so lucky to be on the receiving end. thanks you guys!

TURQUOISE AND RED

ain't this perty?

MAKING ME HAPPY...

children's art

mismatched socks

boys eating ceramic burgers

garden peonies in great aunt elaine's fire king jadeite

eclipse is tomorrow!!! (well, technically wednesday at 12:01am)

A LITTLE BIT OF OUTPUT

just a few layouts i've done lately.
they seem quite full of junk...i mean goodies.
i think i'm in a 'slather the doodads on' kind of mood.
but i also feel like i'm in a bit of a funk.
lots of strips of paper.
lots of doodads.
need some inspiration.
shake things up a bit.
keep working towards finding my style.
keep experimenting.
whether or not these are my favorite layouts,
i feel so happy that i've preserved these memories.
scrapbooking rocks. it really does.

MOTHER'S DAY AT PRESCHOOL

i love mother's day at preschool.
hudson invited me to a mother's day tea.
with no tea.
but lots of lemonade.
and fruit and cookies.
and a little play.
he was brown bear.
and what did he see?
"a red bird looking at me!"
there was also a performance.
a song, 'popcorn popping on the apricot tree'.
i'm in love with this cute song.
and the cute boy singing the cute song,
and giving me lots of hugs and kisses.
and the cute flower pot the cute boy painted for me.
and the drawing of me with a butterfly and a rainbow
to keep me company, he said.

during the tea, hudson said,
"isn't it great out here?"
and
"i sure wish daddy and boon were here."

i love mother's day at preschol.

SPRING LOVE

nothing better than
a fist full of groundcover
and a roly poly...
just for mommy.

nothing better.

BOOK FAIRS MAKE ME HAPPY

took the boys to the
elementary school book fair today.
i loved the book fair as a kid.
so cool to have the bookstore
come to the library.
so it's always fun to take my boys.
this one was buy 1, get 1 free,
so we got quite a pile.

when we got home, they both grabbed a book
and started reading.
i love when this happens.
makes me super happy.

bet you can't guess which book was my choice?