little things

We've been enjoying the small things.
 



























trees blooming, homemade pizza, watercolors, long baths with no soap just toys, basketball, finding frogs with the neighbors, lost teeth, sand, strawberries, rainbows, new clearance mug from starbucks, cereal and finding a washer full of crayons {after washing an entire load -- a mess}.

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things. -robert brault

brownie bites

Because the only thing better than soft, chewy chocolaty brownies are cute mini ones covered in sprinkles.

Start with the basics.

Line a mini-muffin pan with muffin cups (mini ones).
{This step seems obvious, but I skipped it when I first attempted these, and they were a mess to get out of the pans and didn't look as cute either. They tasted ok, but who can tell when they're a hot mess?}

Fill the cups with a scoop of batter each and sprinkle them.

I baked mine at 350 for 14 minutes, and took them out when they were still a bit gooey looking.




I stacked them up and put them in a domed cake stand to serve for our small group.
{That cake stand looks covered in dust! Gross!}

A super easy way to make one box of brownies go a long way.
{And impress the neighbor children.}

what a difference a day makes

The snow of yesterday is gone. Today we are outside in short sleeve tee's.
 
It's a good day. A mix of checking things off the perpetual to do list and stopping to make sure I'm present in the passing of time. Picking up the house and starting laundry were handsomely rewarded with a trip to the library to select  books {mostly "Arthur" is what we're loving this week}and a handful of movies.

Henry came home for lunch today. Just a special mid-week treat for all of us. After lunch, William wanted to walk to "our lake" -- the small and totally man made body of water near our house. He bounced a basketball most of the way there, until his arms got tired and I took over the carrying. I love sitting there with him. We watch the ducks, talk about how deep the water is and guess if we could swim across to the other side. It's peaceful. And there's something so grounding about being near water.
Even a fake man made lake.

hello Monday

Good Morning! We're saying hello to Monday.

Hello to waking up to snow.

Hello to March, in like a lion.

Hello confetti corn. Our new favorite snack, for our playdate this morning.

Hello to lots of dishes and making bubbles in the sink.

Hello to early morning watercolors.
Happy Monday!

the cinnamon challenge

Good Morning!
I'm uploading bunches of pictures this morning. Until then, watch this.

I just cried. Literally.
The boys came running.
Tears from laughing so hard.

Matching Grins

 
That little thread must have let go, because Henry's tooth finally fell out yesterday morning. We were snuggled up on the couch first thing in the morning and he was wiggling it around, like he's been in the habit of doing. It was uneventful, he just held it up and showed me. He was excited about it and super calm.
 
It's adorable really. 

And now these two have matching grins.

Ha! It makes me laugh just looking at these pictures. William's smile that I was sure I had ruined forever, now matches six-year old Henry's. I'm sure it doesn't happen often, brothers two years apart and both missing the same front tooth.
Today, out in the afternoon sunshine, I studied their faces, their smiles that match for now. I tried to soak up every detail. For I know that tomorrow (every day really) they will change.

wishing

Source: ohhappyday.com via Christina on Pinterest

See that pink striped towel next to the blue striped umbrella? I'm wishing it were mine. And dreaming that my boys are braving the waves with Patrick and that I'm dipping my toes in the shallow water.

{This print is for sale here. I'm not sure but it looks like it's $10,000?? Yikes!}

Home Style Potato Cheddar Soup

Do you have a recipe that you turn to when you need to throw dinner together fast? This is one of my favorite go-to recipes. It's easy, satisfying and perfect when it's chilly outside. It's also the grilled-cheese sandwiches favorite compliment.

And it's filling, for me and for the husby.

Patrick just so happens to be working on perfecting the perfect loaf of bread. This one turned out to be fairly delicious for grilled cheese.

Red, White and Blue Party

Bless William's heart, he needs a job. He begs us to go to the toy section at the store and then makes a mental list of every animal and dino he would like to add to his collection. He knows these things don't come easy, but that he can ask for special gifts for his birthday. He has invited our entire family to his dinosaur party and checks with Patrick, Henry and I daily to make sure we can still attend in October. Then he rattles off the wishlist of dinosaurs he hopes we will bring.

All of this birthday talk has made Henry start thinking too. So far, he has committed to a venue - the pool, for the third year running. Perfect, it's fun and inexpensive and screams happy and summer!

Source: armelleblog.com via Christina on Pinterest

And through foamy teeth while brushing before school this morning, he decided {with little persuasion} on a red, white and blue party. One including sparklers and an encore at Farmer Grandpa and Grandma's house with bottle rockets, smoke bombs and rockets with Bapa. I am going to take this patriotic theme and run, hoping the inspiration lasts until July!

Source: armellejewelry.blogspot.com via Christina on Pinterest

Source: armelleblog.com via Christina on Pinterest

Source: armelleblog.com via Christina on Pinterest

Source: armelleblog.com via Christina on Pinterest

Source: designmom.com via Christina on Pinterest

{Picture this done with red, white and blue balloons -- eek, the balloon is my favorite party staple next to the garland. This balloon garland makes me happy down to my toes!}

Source: paperandcake.blogspot.com via Christina on Pinterest

Source: celebrationsathomeblog.com via Christina on Pinterest

Source: thepartydress.net via Christina on Pinterest

{Darling Ben with his Starkiss at Henry's 6th Birthday pool party. These are a must for the red, white and blue party too!}

Source: armelleblog.com via Christina on Pinterest

{And these bagged s'more's too - with the star marshmallows.}

I feel like I can nearly smell the grills smoking and hear the band playing the National Anthem. It's February though and there's a good chance that Henry will come home and decide on a Transformers party instead!

a love breakfast

We celebrated Valentine's Day a day late since Henry boy was too sick to climb out of bed yesterday. {I just realized that he was also sick last year and home on Valentine's Day. I'm starting to think he loves us too much to leave us on this special day of love!}


I made waffles this year. I used a recipe (from my old trusty red and white Better Homes & Gardens cookbook) that called for no sugar and I sprinkled some cinnamon into the batter. They smelled so delicious when they were cooking!

What I loved most were the boys sweet reactions. They were over the moon for the bouncy balls in the little plastic candy boxes (with the most adorable mini metal scoops), and the little sharks. The sharks by the way  were $1 for 8! That's the sweet thing with children, they cherish the little things and the tiny details.

precious lasts

I've been a crazy lady running around with my camera lately trying to make sure I don't miss something. I've been a mom long enough now to know that be it good or bad, this too shall pass.

William rarely naps anymore and hardly ever if he does fall asleep in the afternoons is it in his bed. Last week during his rest time though, he was tired. When I crept in to check on him and found him asleep, I sat on the edge of his bed (carefully of course, because I've been a mom long enough to also know not to wake a sleeping baby) and watched him sleep. The house felt so still and so quiet. As I watched his little belly rise and fall with each deep breath, I reminisced about all of those afternoons only a year or two ago where our house would be still every afternoon between 1pm and 3 pm while both of my sweet boys slept. And sleeping here now, he still seemed so small and so innocent. My small, sweet boy.

And Henry and his front tooth. See that little jangly one just barely hanging on by a thread? It's his baby tooth and it's nearly fallen out. I've been taking a picture of him like this one every day before he leaves for school, completely convinced that today will be the day he loses it and I want to capture this precious last. The last time I see his baby teeth all up on top. I remember the drool and the lost sleep and the constant chewing and the fussiness and the tylenol; I remember the relief when that top little baby tooth came through his baby gums. One of these days will be the last I see that one. His adult tooth will come in and replace it and that seems so permanent and so grown up.

I suppose it's all about perspective. Time passes and things continue to change. It would feel too stagnant if they didn't and then of course we'd long for something more. And I do. I continue to look into the future and dream and imagine how our lives will be and the places we will see and the things we will do.

I just need to be still every once in a while and sit at the edge of my boy's bed while he dreams. To be present and thankful for these moments because I know this too shall pass.

Happy Valentine's Day

photo credit: Sara Louise Photography

Henry woke up at 4 a.m. today; he was nauseous and finally got sick. It lasted all morning. My poor little boy. I think he really just wanted to be the first to wish me a happy valentine's day :)

Photo credit: Sara Louise Photography
Plans for our traditional pancakes dusted with powdered sugar hearts will have to wait. William and I have eaten lots of chocolate today though to make up for it. I'm reminded that I'm blessed so much to have the loves I have -- Patrick who has walked next to me for the past nearly 10 years of marriage, Henry who is smart and silly, brave and protective and William who is kind and empathetic, joyful and downright goofy.

Wishing you a day full of love and joy!