Rallying Round the Team

The seasons here are as follows: Summer, Football, Basketball, Spring. Fall and winter don't exist here, as there isn't a lot to do if you aren't fans of those two sports...

We went to the pep rally last night and had fun celebrating the transition from summer to football. Parker wasn't terribly excited about it — lots of people, lots of action, and lots of new things to see, hear and experience — so we found a couple of spots within his comfort zone and stuck pretty close to those.

One of them was the fire trucks. The local fire department had a couple of their big engines set up and a little activity where you could shoot the water like a real firefighter. Parker loved this once he figured it out, and was pretty excited to sit in the driver's seat of one of the fire engines. Pretty funny.

We stayed a few moments for the fireworks, and then it got too loud/scary for Parker, so we headed home. Happy football weekend!



(photos from my iphone)

Projects

As you can tell from my last couple of posts, I'm desperate for a hobby. Or maybe just desperate. :)

I've been on the hunt recently for a new go-everywhere bag. While, don't be mistaken, I adore and cherish my awesome collection of handbags, I feel guilty using them to stash diapers, animal crackers, DVDs and mockups of projects, and the like. So for the past year I've come to love my go-anywhere Haiku bag (LOVE it) but I'm thinking it's time for a refresh.

I was searching Etsy and Ebay (my two friends) today looking for some blanket/quilt ideas for Parker. (More to come on that later.) And I saw these awesome patterns from Amy Butler:


They're both really cute, look awfully functional, and would look stellar in some of that sweet Amy Butler fabric--with my own spin on it, of course. I haven't pulled out my sewing machine in a while, and this might just be worth busting it out for.

Industrial Decorating

I think if I were to choose a home decorating "style" to peg myself into, my ideal would be industrial-vintage. Although right now I'm caught somewhere in new-construction-beige-walls-hell.

I love old, creaky wooden floors. Wide baseboards. Old-school archways. Narrow staircases. The stuff that oozes charm and character.

When I saw this house, my heart jumped a little. The owners purchased everything from major home improvement stores, Ebay, and flea markets. (The trifecta.)





Thanks to our friends at Country Living for the post.

DIY Project

I hear from various sources that this was featured as a "good thing" in the September Martha Stewart Living...

This is a great idea for an inspiration board, family organizer (how cool would this be to have one clipboard for each family member with their calendar?!), random notes, or holding big photographs. They're easy and totally affordable to make: using decorative paper or wallpaper, they covered the clipboards by creating a template first, then cutting with a craft knife and brushing a thin layer of decoupage glue onto the clipboard.

DNC? WTH—OMG.

For a million reasons I can tell you why I miss Colorado. For a million more I'd be happy to tell you why I'm glad I'm not there this week.

I dislike politics. Don't like talking about it, don't like thinking about it, don't like how it's such an "agree to disagree" philosophy when we're all really working for the same goals.

I digress. The thought of the DNC in my former fair city makes my hair curl, and the thought of being around so many more people, that much more traffic, more hoopla, more drama...

If I were still there, I'd bust out of town and hole up somewhere else.
So I'm glad I get to be here instead.

Parker's Room

I finally have Parker's room in a not-so-neglected state of being. I find myself still arranging things, then re-arranging them again, even if I liked where it was in the first place. There's always that nagging thought of making things better, even if they're OK as they are...

One of my photography mentors had a great exercise this past week: to choose one room/space around you and shoot things that you feel carry symbolism. Of course, children are full of symbolism, so I thought this was an interesting exercise. Plus, I'm tinkering with a friend's lenses and wanted a good reason to experiment...I didn't want to get too personal with this, since some of Parker's things are very sentimental for me. But you get the idea.


I loved the shadows off the crib and onto the warm, fuzzy sheets, and then the reflection of them back up onto the crib rails. The light was warm, comforting at the moment.

Parker's name was chosen because we liked it—not specifically for any symbolic purpose, it just suited him. But there's the promise and the anticipation of what his name will someday mean and symbolize to someone else, whether that's "daddy", "doctor", "champion", or "cool guy."

We love to read, and Parker loves to learn...

Again, the symbolism of the warm, beaming light shining on the rocking chair where we've spent moments comforting, teaching, and singing with the little man.

Chirp, Chirp...

Another quiet week around here. Sorry we're so boring lately....

Last Hurrah

(The next Michael Phelps?! We can only hope!!)

You know fall is around the corner when the pool is getting ready to close for the season. There are only a few days left to enjoy our favorite swimmin' hole, so we ventured up there this afternoon for a quick dip and some dinner.

Parker found some goggles and was surprisingly enthusiastic about wearing them. Several sizes too big and way too cute.

Lovin' the Letterpress

Über-delish letterpress stationer Snow and Graham finally launched their much awaited site. This falls as much in the love category as the new C&B type table.

Must. Have. Me. Some.

The smell of freshly sharpened pencils...

Back to school time always brings back a flood of memories from my earlier days. Especially now that we're back in a community that is primarily centered around its university--it's hard to get away from everyone's six-degrees connection to it. This morning we made a couple of quick errands before the craziness started around town with incoming freshmen and people who somehow forgot how to drive...and I couldn't help but remember how I felt when my parents took me for my move-in to college.

I couldn't help but feel so overwhelmed, anxious and nervous about the journey I was embarking on. I didn't know anyone there--I was the only graduate from my high school class going to the university I attended--something I both feared and at the same time, welcomed. But I also knew I had the confidence of what was ahead of me; that I had an amazing family at home who loved me for my successes and my failures, and that I had such a wide open view of what was to come.

I'm grateful for all those emotions, and I think at some point everyone has such a turning point in their lives. I don't think I would be the person I am today without those experiences.

Type Table

Oooh, I love this new table from C&B. Love. Love. Loooooveeee.

Our lives are boring.

Boo.

OK really that's not entirely true. But it seems like it...we've laid pretty low all week. The most exciting thing I had happen to me today was that some moron tried to race me coming out of a red light. I wanted to roll down my window and shout, "ooooh, you're sooooo AWESOME!!!" Ugh. Seriously.

Maybe something exciting will happen this afternoon. Or maybe not. Guess you'll have to keep checking back and find out, won't you? (Don't get your hopes up too high though. We're pretty low on expectations around here.)

Don't believe me? Try it.

Learned something new yesterday. We tried this--it's freaky, and it WORKS.

Ever lock your keys in your car? Put your phone on speakerphone and hold it up to your car. Have someone with your other key fob click the unlock button up to their phone.

Aaah, the things we do to entertain ourselves now....

Images of a Fun Weekend

Want That! Want That!

Maybe it's Monday...maybe it's me...but I despise everything in my closet. I'd take any of these lovelies from Anthropologie. Be still, my beating heart...

Back

Sleeping in our own beds again tonight after yet another busy weekend on the road. Nice to get up north...and always good to be home again.

Next Stop, Broadway...

Parker sings his rendition of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and a quick bit of "Wheels on the Bus"...until I got spotted hiding with the videocamera in the other room.

Bliss

You know things are quiet around the house when you can hear Mia snoring. Although she snores kinda loud.
We realized late last week that Mia had a birthday (shame on us for not having tuna-fish cake and chicken treats for not remembering). She's now 9 years old...which gave me a terrible pit in my stomach that she's hitting her senior years. Cooper isn't far behind--her last single digit birthday will be this winter. I hope we're lucky enough to have them with us for many more birthdays.

Baseball!

We ventured to the "K" on Sunday and made a visit to the Kansas City Royals. I don't really follow baseball, but it's fun to go to the games every once in a while.

It was a gorgeous day for a game! We had wonderful seats, in the shade, with a light little breeze...
Mike was pretty geeked up about this--the largest LED scoreboard out there right now, all in HD. It's pretty big, and pretty cool.

Played the Twins...

Parker didn't like the mascot...he called it "scary lion".

And a cute little family photo.

Spoken

Watching the Olympics last night (p.s. Men's 4x100 relay...AMAZING...) and a local commercial came on about being safe in rising flood waters. Considering the amount of rain we had on Saturday, it was probably a well-timed spot to run. Anyway, we both crowed about how stupid the last line was: "Turn Around, Don't Drown". Uh, because that rhymes. Although, I suppose you say it with enough Kansas drawl (since there are some consonants that aren't worthy of being pronounced here, like they just don't exist or something) and it really does rhyme.

I digress. Mike's comment on my whining about how crappy the local TV spots are here:
Mike: "Duh. Think about it. I can't wait six months for the winter version of this to come out."

Me: "Why?"

Mike: (Laughing) "Don't Lick--You'll Stick."

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

It's been raining allll daaayyy. And not just a few sprinkles, but a steady, driving rain, and everything is pretty much soaked (3.5" as of 6 p.m.!!). We needed some rain so it's a good thing, but definitely makes you want to stay inside and parked on the couch watching the Olympics.

We resisted the call of the sofa: ventured out for some bargain hunting and groceries, and then got a few things more organized around the ranch. A pretty low key day.

Got a major accomplishment crossed off the list today--we unpacked the last of the boxes that aren't in storage!! Woo hoo!!

Bugs and Butterflies

Note--if you're squeamish and don't like bugs, maybe skip this post and visit us tomorrow instead...

We've definitely seen our share of many-legged creatures the last few days. And slightly unexpectedly, at that. We grilled out last night and after everything had cooled off I went outside to put the grill cover back on. Reached my hand over to the left side of the grill and found myself tête-à-tête with this:I'm fine with spiders as long as they stay out of my way. You keep your personal space, I'll keep mine. But I kinda got the creepy crawlies after seeing this bugger--obviously we need to clean off the patio set more often. Ew, ew, ewwwww...

Then, this morning, I saw a lovely yellow swallowtail (I think that's what it's called). And I also there was this beautiful monarch outside the window... I think it's a little early to be seeing them yet, but maybe it's closer to fall than I think.

H Family

One of my favorite expressions is that your friends are your chosen family, and we've been so blessed with the incredible friendship of the H family for many years. We've been through a lot together, from sitting through season after season of athletic events, to our annual lobster party (and tons more in between). Now our little ones are getting to be good friends, as well—which makes our time together as a group even more memorable. It's great to be able to see them so much more often!

We ventured out in the hundred-something-degree heat on Saturday afternoon and shot some pictures. These guys are troopers—don't let them fool you otherwise!







The bestest dog in the whole wide entire world.

And of course there was plenty of monkey-ing around...:)

Um

My bathroom has been taken over by a two year old with a tub crayon. Lovely.

I'll take two eggs off the sidewalk, sunny-side up...

Oh my Gawd, it's hot. As I write this it's nearly ten p.m. and my weatherbug on the bottom of my computer screen says it's still 90º outside. And tomorrow is expected to be the worst at 101º (or higher depending on which weather station you're watching...iPhone says it'll be 104º. Uh, what- ever...).

We had another busy weekend--got to see our wonderful friends in KC and got to shoot some portraits of their beautiful family--and the usual activities: drink wine, chat, have pool time, laugh, and play with the little ones. Sooo much fun. Can't wait to post the highlights of our visit later this week.

In the meantime, stay cool. Literally.

Coloring Fun

We're having a good, low-key day so far. (It's too hot to do anything. Someone remind me why moving back to the Midwest was a good idea?!?) We're trying to do indoor activities until after naptime when we'll hit the pool.

Parker was happy to color this morning--he was pretty excited to see his Wiggles coloring book. Then I found some blank notecards and he had fun drawing shapes and using all the colors in the box...