Ethan's Early Birthday

We're having Ethan's birthday party a little early this year because of our move, and I thought I'd share his invitations I made. I made a simple address label with all our event info on it and stuck it on the back of the invite.  He told me a few weeks back he wanted a Star Wars party. And then 2 days ago I was informed that it is a Star Wars / Marine party. He wants a half star wars-half marine cake. I'm not really sure how I'm going to pull that off so let's just hope it changes before the weekend.

He's really excited about all his friends being able to come to his party before we leave for California.  We're doing a garage sale on Friday and Saturday, and then his party will be Sunday. It'll be a busy weekend but  I'll be sure to post pics of the party as well.

Hope all is well.

Custom Desk

For a while now, I've been wanting a desk. I knew exactly what I was looking for, but I needed it to fit our printer (with a pretty big footprint) and my sewing machine, and a lot of other "crafting" accessories that little hands seem to find themselves in everyday. I found the overall "look" I was going for.

Walmart

Sauder 

But I didn't want a flimsy pressboard POS that I had to put together and replace after one move with the military. So then I explored buying a real hardwood desk but I saw the price tags grow, and that just wasn't an option.

That's where my amazing father comes in. I drew him up some pretty rickety plans and along with these pics, he was pretty confident we could build it. 

We started the project back in December, but since I don't have a table saw (**birthday's coming up, Paul...just sayin**) the cuts weren't square and he wasn't going to "make it work" and have it turn out crappy, so we waited for his next visit when he could bring his saw down and do it correctly. 

For a mere $150 in materials, here's what we did...

I'm so happy with the results I can't even tell you. It fits everything perfectly!

Thanks again for all the help dad!

Walkin' in Memphis

One of the perks to this duty station (Officer Selection Officer) is all the traveling Paul gets to do.  Last year it wasn't very feasible for us to go with him anywhere, what with a newborn and all. But now the kids are a bit older and a bit more mobile so we decided to tag along with Paul on his latest trip to Memphis.
We stayed at the legendary Peabody Hotel and got to see the march of the ducks!

The kids were so excited to be a part of it!

We went up to the roof afterwards, where the duck's Grand Palace is located. Ethan even got to see two ducks "wrestling"...and he still talks about it to this day...very embarrassing when he brings it up in public, actually.

I {heart} my goofy family!

A view from the roof of the Peabody

We hit the streets the next day to do some sight seeing. Not a lot going on at 11am in Memphis on Beal Street. Thank goodness.

Beal Street

JOHN!

at the FedEx Forum

psst...apparently this is where sports are played...i have no clue about these things...

you can see here i'm wondering why he's making me stand here freezing to get a picture...

A view up Beal Street

Purple Haze Theater?? No idea, but thought it was cool looking!

It was a short trip but we said goodbye to the ducks before we headed home...

A trip to Memphis wouldn't be complete without at least seeing Graceland. I heard a rumor kids under 5 weren't aloud in...that's what we told the kids anyway. But here's a snapshot of the Presley home:

the wall outside the property is covered in "I heart Elvis" graffiti

Overall, it was a memorable trip, both in photos and in the bank account. Eating in a fancy hotel with 3 children gets VERY pricey. :) We had fun though and the kids are STILL talking about the ducks!

The Force is with us...

I took Ethan to a friend's birthday party on Saturday. It was Star Wars themed. In retrospect, I should of had Paul take him, I think Paul would have liked it a lot.
The mom made a Star Wars cake. It was AWESOME.

The kids chased each other with light sabers and the little brother was even dressed as Yoda. It was really fun!
But, probably the most exciting part of the day was when Darth Vader knocked on the front door. Immediately, shocked and excited, Ethan and the birthday boy ran to the back of the house. I think most of us thought they might have been startled, however that was not the case. They promptly returned, light sabers in hand, ready to battle it out with Vader! Two little jedis, ready for action! The video pretty much sums it up!

He had a really fun time.

Abbey

Twenty Eleven!!!

2011?!?!?!?!

seriously. is that what we're calling it?

I think I like two thousand eleven better, just seems like better grammar. And you's all knows me takes on great gramma.

So here we are. Another year. We were truly lame this year and were in bed before midnight. And not like, "oh, it's 9:30, let's go to bed" lame, like, "it's 11:50, wanna stay up? No? K, let's hit the rack." L.A.M.E.

It's sad really. Paul and I kinda partied ourselves out in MI. The night before we left to drive home, we attended the annual dinner that all his friends put together and stayed up until...wait for it...12:30!!!!! We're so fun!

Well, this year brings a little change, but not much. Ethan will be starting Kindergarten in the fall, I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday we were talking about hopping on the TBS (The Basic School)or what we called it-(the baby school) bandwagon and trying to get pregnant! I can not believe he is already 5. He'll be 6 when school starts, and it's just amazing to me that time went by that fast!

Hannah just turned 3 at the end of December and was moved up to the "big Girl/Boy" room at preschool. She is really excited to be in a new class with  new teachers. I also can't believe she's already 3. She's as tall as Ethan now and refuses to stop growing! The nice thing is she can stand up for herself now, though. :)

Grant turned 1 in August. Ugh. No more babies. No more bottles. No more midnight wakeups. (well not for him, anyway) He's running after his bro and sis and trying so hard to get a word in  at every opportunity. He's grown so much and we enjoy his belly laughs and joyful smiles everyday.

(louie is still fat and lazy)

The changes that are in store for us this year are on more of a personal list, and not so much a transitional list. We won't be moving, starting new jobs, buying new cars, or having new babies (fingers crossed). Instead we've set some personal goals for ourselves that we really want to stick to.

Paul and I are going to run the Music City Marathon in April. (Please pray for me, since I don't normally run. Ever.) 

Other than that, nothing's really new for 2011. I turn thirty. But we really don't even need to mention that to anyone. That can just stay between you and me. Deal?

ok, well, here are some pics...

G discovered the cowboy hat on the lamp!

This is their "pose" for Christmas Morning.

We took a trip to Historic Bell Buckle with my dad. It's always a fun time! Antiques, an old soda shop and home of the RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival!

The uniqueness of this town is just beautiful!

This is how cool this small town is. It just screams early 50's!

i hate that H is blurry, but what a cute pic!

Just me and my dad.


So while we were there...

Hannah started her modeling career...

apparently so did Ethan...

My dad realized his arch nemesis follows him everywhere...
(he works for State Farm)

And Paul enjoyed a wonderful cup of Hot Cocoa.
It was good. I tried it.

Hope everyone else did something fun and exciting for their new year. You can pick up my slack...
Here's to a wonderful 2011!

Salute`!

Another Tamron Lens Giveaway!!!

Head on over to Pinch My Salt and enter to win that new awesome Tamron "all in one" lens!!!
(or don't, which will really up my chances!)

Click here to enter!!!!!!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Welcome Autumn!

Happy Fall to everyone! Hope you're staying nice and toasty with all these cool breezes! I am LOVING this weather! Sure, my sinuses are outta whack, and I can barely breath without wheezing, but it's so worth it to have that crisp air! YAY!
Well, Autumn wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Cider Mill. Apple Orchards are all over in MI, so I pretty much assumed that was the case everywhere else. Well, I was wrong. I told my friend we were gonna try to get to the Apple Orchard this weekend and she just looked at me, "What's that?" HAHAHA! Wait, you mean you don't have those here? I totally had a Robin moment from HIMYM, "You don't have a Danby's Here?! Where do you get your Grizzly Bear Ice Cream Sandwiches!!!???"- only less Canadian.
So, we figured out they're called pumpkin patches (go fig!) and we found a great one to take the kids to this past Saturday! Walden Farms is up in Almaville. (Smyrna area)

Paul and the Kids

"Wait a minute..."

I can't believe I got her to look!!!

Awesome pic! Thanks babe!

My Granty Wanty!

Stuck in the Corn Maze!!!

I Heart this photo.

Ethan being Ethan

What you may not see here is the "bones" long sleeve pajama top under 2 additional t-shirts, paired with red running shorts, soccer socks pulled ALL the way up, dinosaur socks ON TOP of those and Sandals. Oh yeah, and the sunglasses on his head, which would have been goggles if we had brought them with us.

(and yes, my child dresses himself)

My Model

...works for food.

isn't she just darling?! If Hannah's ever having a rough day, I know how to cheer her up, put her in a dress and do a photo shoot! YAY!

Saying, "Thank you for my pretty dress!"