just be ...

Brian Todd Photography.

I've never had a professional picture taken of the boys.  So when I received picture frames for a Mother's Day gift, for the living room, I decided to call on a friend because the thought of getting a decent picture to hang on the wall made me want to puke. 

Luckily for me, my sister-in-law's brother Brian has a huge interest in photography and recently started to promote himself professionally.  I sent him a note on Facebook, we chatted on the phone a couple of times and this is the outcome of our visit. 

I was nervous about the shoot.  I think he was nervous too, having to deal with kids - one of the most unpredictable things on the planet.  We just went with the flow.  

He showed me a couple of shots on the camera, and I was in awe.  One of them completely took my breath away and I had to fight back the tears. 

 

Brian is amazingly talented.  I mean look at what he captured thru his lens...look at what he saw...look at how he was able to press the button at the perfect moments.  These are fleeting moments in time that I am doing my oh so best to ingrain into my head so I dont forget them, and he captured them.  Brian knows us, we know him, but in some ways we are still strangers.  And this is what he sees.  Amazing.  Simply amazing.  

Thank you Brian.  Thank you SO much. 

Checking In.

**taken Memorial Day weekend, starting our summer with a walk in our new wagon.

We are in the midst of our ‘Summer: Unplugged.’ And we are loving it.  This past weekend we did not turn the TV on once.  In just the few short weeks we’ve done so much.  We went on a train ride, to the park, did a cancer survivor walk in the big city, signed up for the library’s summer reading program, pulled out the new sprinkler, went to the splash pad, played in the yard and I am sure we’ve done some more. 

This decision I had made to reduce our electronic consumption in our lives feels great.  I see that we are not so sluggish getting moving in the mornings, there aren’t any arguments with Max to do things and certainly its validated the fact that there is way too much electronic consumption in our lives.  I don’t think we would have done the things we’ve done had we stopped to watch a movie, have lazy mornings watching cartoons or used the TV as a baby sitter while I cook dinner. 

To think we would have missed out on all that fun.  To think I would have missed out on Max’s recap of the splash pad last night as I put him to bed.  (I love our little chats then.)  This, living life, is much more fun than trying to keep up with all things electronic.   Who knows, this could be a permanent change.  We shall see...

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Leaf Towel.

I noticed last week that all of my kitchen towels are in pretty bad shape.  I dont ever buy these for myself, so the ones I've gotten have been gifts. 

I was surfing Etsy looking for some new towels, and was inspired to make my own.  Well, design my own really.  I picked up the towels at Target, and hand stenciled the design.  I am quite pleased with the outcome. 

Now if I can just get Theo from constantly ripping the towel down.  He literally watches me put it away and once he sees my hands remove from the towel, he is all over it.  These pictures were obviously taken when he was sleeping. 

Theo's First Birthday.

I still cant believe he's one.  Every day for the last month or so I've been trying to reach in to my memory bank and feel each memory - feel when he was just born, his sweet breath on my chest and neck, feel when he was a few weeks old and it was the early morning hours and he was screaming his head off, or feel when he was just a chunky four month old who smiled all the time.  He's my last baby.  To say I am going to miss those days is an understatement. 

However, if he's done anything at all he's only proven to me that one shouldnt judge or compare because you'll miss out on the awesomeness right in front of you.  Theo was born with a lot of hair and a mohawk.  I hated it.  Everyone else thought it was awesome.  I remember telling my OB that he was an alien, and he laughed at me rubbing his not-by-choice bald head. 

It was around three or four months when I asbolutely fell in love with the mohawk and when it grew out I was sad.  But its just one of the many things that makes Theo awesome.  He's my diamond in the rough, just like his mama.  He's my ANYTHING GOES kid.  Just take a look for yourself....

Theo from Melissa Mensavage on Vimeo.


Theo's 1st 2 from Melissa Mensavage on Vimeo.

Then I had a small party for him.  It was a monster themed party since I have been calling him my monster since he was about 4 months old.  The cake was a chore to make, but I am so glad I did it.  It'll be one to remember.  My good friend Amy make the eye cake-balls.  They were delicious.  I had a painting activity for the kids to do since it was gloomy and raining and we really couldnt run around the back yard.  It was a hit. 

And in typical fashion I had a photobooth again.  However I think the idea has fizzled, not too many people participated. 

So there you have it, my monster's first birthday.  Time is just flying by.  Just. Flying. By.  I am doing all I can to savor the moments.  I dont ever want to forget or forget the feeling. 

And that is it.  I close out the Spring season with this post.  We will see you back here in September.  Have a fantastic summer!

Zucchini Carrot Bread.

The other day a co-worker was at my desk and says, 'I have three goals this year ...' and then names off exactly what she wanted to do in 2013.  Struck a chord with me - forced me to think of my personal 2013 goals. 

One of them I know for sure is the obviously - spend time living Summer.  I want scruffed up knees, sticky hands and fingers.  I want golden skin tones from just being outside.  I want towels that smell like chlorine.  I want to know on Labor Day as we close out the summer that we had an awesome time. 

Another goal is to actually make a goal and stick to it.  Elise had a 40 Loaves project.  I am not sure I want to be that committed to a project, but I certainly want to hone up on my bread making skills (those that do not require a bread machine - though it does make it SO much easier!). 

Last night was a first.  A first bread of the project, and a first bread in the crock-pot.  Yes, I said a bread made in a crock-pot.  Its a bit dense but I believe its to be from the whole wheat flour used and not just plain all-purpose flour.  Also, I didnt use my mixer as I followed the recipe exactly.  If I were to make this again, definitely using my mixer. 

Overall, it is pretty tasty.  (and I am eating veggies too!! I'm so sneaky!  oy.)

Mom to Two.

I am crippled with guilt on most days because I don’t feel like I spend enough time with the boys.  The crippling gets worse when the majority of my time is dealing with Max, and Theo is just an innocent bystander getting whatever is left over. 

I had no idea it was going to be like this, parenting more than one child.  I have absolutely no regrets of having each of the boys, I just wasn’t clued in on this part, the balance.  I am still struggling on how to keep the balance between the two.  I am exhausted from trying. 

I am third of four children, and when I look back I don’t ever recall being short on time or love from my mother.  Though she was busy, working and then tending to four kids somehow she was always there.  Probably because by the time I came around she had the balance working for her. 

I then read this on Soulemama’s blog today:

 Unlike her oldest brother, she doesn't have years of time alone with us. She has one day a week, she has bedtimes, she has moments here and moments there. It is quite different.

How true.  I had two years of just Max and me.  Now its been one whole year with Max, Theo and I and I have to say that Theo is probably the happier baby because he has not only me but this awesome big brother.   He has someone to entertain him with fun stuff such as throwing a ball around the room (when he shouldnt be), jumping on the bed (when he shouldnt be), sharing lollipops (see where I am going with this?), and so on.  Max never had that.  Instead he had a paranoid first time mom. 

So I worry I dont spend enough time with both of them, let alone any time at all with Theo.  However I dont think Theo is minding one bit that 'our' time is small.  He seems to be quite happy hanging out with his brother. 

Sunday Craft.

(I am still officially unplugged for the summer, but I thought I'd share our new weekly Sunday Craft.  Each week we will try something new.  This will also force me to sit down and spend quality time with them.)

Melting Crayons.

One day this week Max discovered some crayons we left in the car in a baggie.  They had melted together.  He was fascinated by it.  Today, when sensing some boredom coming on since we unplugged for the weekend (very little to no TV, electronics) I thought why not make our own melted crayons to use. 

So I pulled out our crayon box. Max picked out the crayons. We put them in the mini-donut pan and I googled a recipe on how-to.  Voila!

Max pushed the kitchen chair to the counter to watch the crayons cool when I pulled them out of the oven.  He was so excited to use them.  He even said, 'Thank You Mommy' once they were cooled and I popped them out of the pan.  Theo was exited to use them as well. 

Unplugged.

So I am making an executive mommy decision.  I am going to unplug for the summer.  The last few weeks have been busy with a trip to visit my sister Sharon in Denver, Max's birthday, new appliances being delivered, Teacher Appreciation Week parent committee duties, a garage sale and Theo's first birthday.  Let's not forget the everyday stuff too - laundry, dishes, bedtime, baths, me time. 

Plus I really want to revamp the look of this place.  And I need help for that, so I am going to take the time and think about what I want it to be and hopefully over the summer I can make it happen. 

I'll leave you with what we'll be doing while we are gone...spending time together, enjoying the summer the way it should be.  Outside.

I have a Stinker.

Check out these photos I took last night of 'Smoothie Time'.  Specifically Theo.  This kid cracks me up.  I think the pictures say it all.  No need for further explanation.  Stinker. 

Shall We Dance?

We met the nicest family at the library storytime we attend on Tuesday nights.  I am not a huge believer in the universe having a hand in things happening, but sometimes when I am in the thick of something I just get a feeling it was meant to be.  I think we were meant to be friends with this family. 

We went to the zoo on Sunday as it was gorgeous outside.  Jenny (mom), Kelly (dad) and Molleigh.  I can safely say we all had a blast.  Even Max and Molleigh decided to dance for us. 

They are just too cute together.