What I've been stalking this week!

Ah-choo!

gesundheit

Really, you have to love those Mid-winter colds, that take residence for a week or so, and make smelling, or tasting your food, quite a bit difficult....and the biggest bummer, is that Father Winter either is on vacation to Bermuda, or has been taken hostage by one of the three other seasons, as it will be in the Mid to upper 50's this weekend, and feel more like March, than January....Drat....Maybe a little fresh air and sunshine will blast this cold to the moon....

and just for the record, will not be contributing to any ransom demands to return father winter to us....sorry....

pinterest.com via ediblecrafts.craftsgossip.com

Anyway...I had to just start this post with this Fantastic image I just pinned.....You can't not love Pinterest! These Monster Cupcakes are so flipping cool! I can't stand it! Might have to snag a Monster Themed Party this year for Noah's 4th Birthday!

Besides Pinterest...which is a daily......okay to be honest...hourly stalk.....

Here are the other places I've been this week! MUST go See

Probably my new Most Favorite Family and Lifestyle Photographer Ever! The inspiration just oozes from her blog! Let's just say I Pin a lot! Simplicity Photography

Always a treat for my senses....the amazing and tasty Cheeky Kitchen

Another one of my favorite places to go....A hard read, yes, a sometimes tearful read...absolutely...an important read, about a mother trying to navigate this world after the loss of her beautiful son, and the importance of educating and funding research for childhood cancer....without a doubt! Rockstar Ronan

I hope everyone has an Amazing first weekend of the New Year! I'm going to be stuffing my pockets with tissues...and taking the boys to the Park today....This weather is insane...but you will definitely not hear me complain!

See you all on Monday, with what I'm realizing about parenting two children!

Happy New Year!

Happy Happy New Years Eve! It seems like only a short time ago, we were saying goodbye to 2010...and looking forward to all that 2011 would show us in her 365 days.....I've been so blessed to say that she has shown me so many more happy days, than sad.....Good times, than bad.....and has blessed me with another year to spend enjoying being a wife and mother.....

I thank you all for spending the year with me.....especially as I've been trying to find my balance....You've stood by, and I am so grateful....

I wish you all a wonderful and blessed New Year....I wish you strength in times of trial....I wish you laughter in times of joy....and I wish you love and comfort and peace.....and I look so forward to continuing this journey with you in the coming year!

Happy New Year!

Lesley

I thought I'd share what I am drooling over this final weekend of 2011!

Some amazing culinary delights at White On Rice Couple!

One of my Newest Photographer Crushes Andy and Jenna Photodesign

Feeding My Inner Nester at Nesting Place

Always a good place to land for a spell The Macs

Baking

How can you tell when the Christmas Season is in full swing at our house?

When two boys channel their inner Cake Boss meets The Swedish Chef....

My mini Culinary Masters....know the ins and outs of Holiday Baking.....

Rule 1) Who needs measuring? A REAL Baker just Feels the recipe.....

Rule 2.....Taste Testing is a must....for quality control purposes....

Rule 3.....Live by the advice of the incomparable Ms Julia Child

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”

My Mama is coming.....

and to say the least....I'm a tad bit excited about it!!!

My mom, by the way, didn't she look fetching in her Dorothy Hamill inspired Bob?

She's always been on with the trends with regards to her hairstyles....

well...except for the time....I believe it was 1992.....a disastrous event that occurred at salon, with a very....shall we say innnterresstting....name, that would have been better suited for an Adult toy Shop, than a hair salon....you would have thought that might be a clue.....

My poor mother went in that fateful afternoon a brunette....and emerged....Bozo the Clown....or maybe they were going for a street walker look.....either way...it was a Flaming red mega disaster....and to me and my sister....quite funny....

To say the least, her new hair color lasted about as long as the salon did....

but, my mom was a good sport, and even now will laugh about the infamous "G-spot" episode.....it's one of the many traits about her that I admire so much...

Growing up, I thought my mom was the smartest, the prettiest, the most stylish....though there were "the Sweat pant years".....but I chalk that up to a momentary reverse mid-life crisis.....

In many ways I still feel that way about my mom.....I admire her intelligence, her independence, her ability to speak her mind......and her ability to laugh....

I think I'm looking forward to hearing her laughter most.....

I find as I am raising my own two children...how many times I end up saying or doing something, that....in essence is my mother.....

I guess, you can call that a wonderful legacy, if your children unconsciously pass on the knowledge and wisdom to their children, that you showered onto them....

Though I hope my kids don't pick up some of my traits.....like my propensity to live in chaos.....the fact that I procrastinate, and fly by the seat of my pants......all traits by the way that I did NOT get from my mom......

Hmm....it does looks like she did pass on her good hair sense though....look who else is sporting the Dorothy Hamill Bob?

Our Family, A Photo Story

I count myself as being one lucky duck.....

My wonderful husband humors me on so many things, like spending an afternoon helping me choose new throw pillows for our bedroom, or gritting through the Real Housewives of Atlanta Marathon, on his Saturday Afternoon, even though I know he would rather be doing something more productive and manly....like golfing.....or fishing......

He really is such a guy, and I try really hard to reciprocate his manly sacrifices, by in turn watching a Dirty Jobs Marathon, or spending an afternoon at Lowes checking out the newest and greatest in Power Tools....

Our Yearly Family Portraits, usually always begins with again, him humoring me....by seeming completely interested in the coordinating, but not "matchy matchy" wardrobe choices I've chosen

He does an amazing job, of being warm and friendly with the Photographer, and smiling his brightest smile for the camera, though in between takes, I see his gaze wander longingly to the golf course that happens to be just across the way.....

He does a wonderful job of helping me wrangle two very wiggly, toddlers, who have the attention span of a gnat, and all without a single complaint, or even the hint of a sigh

By the middle of our shoot, I begin to notice.......

He's enjoying himself.....with the only longing gazes being directed towards his family....thoughts of long drives and tee boxes long forgotten...

or just forgotten....

I love my husband.....for humoring me, on my Girly T.V. marathons, shopping trips, and endless chatter about kids, and friends, and what I saw in the latest issue of Parents Magazine....

But I love him most, because after all is said and done, he gets just as excited, or even more so, about our family portraits....than I do.

He understands how quickly time goes by, how right before our eyes, our boys are growing and changing, and how this moment, right now that we are in, will be gone in a blink of an eye...

He understands how important these memories are for me, with the last 6 years having all our wonderful and joyous occasions being interwoven with my fight to win over Cancer....

He understands, because his choice to serve our country, keeps him away from his family for long stretches of time, and having these beautiful images of us together, and happy, helps keep us close even when he's in a distant and unfriendly place....

I can't thank him enough...for humoring me!

I have to thank Erica Mahan Photography, for taking such Amazing Photographs, that I will cherish for a lifetime....If you are in the Philadelphia or South Jersey Area, I highly recommend her!

Time does go by so fast, and we never know what tomorrow may hold for us....or what changes God has in store....but I know I will have these amazing images to hold close...and continue to bring life to the memories I will hold in my heart....

I'm going to end with this.....

“If you have not had family pictures taken within the past 3 years, promise me right now that tomorrow morning, you will find someone to do it. I don’t care if it’s a neighbor, I don’t care if it’s a portrait studio, I don’t care if it’s a tripod and a remote. Just do it. We have no guarantees in life, but at least we can have the photos to prove that we were here, we were together, and we were happy.”

Pinkletoes Photography

On Tuesday....

A little insight into a very non-typical Tuesday Morning....


After the usual Morning Send Off.....where one very brave Three Year Old...goes off to Conquer the World of Preschool....his weapon of choice, his well loved Blankie in Hand....

it still gets to me....seeing him wave from the bus window......I still don't think I'm ready....

when he's 25, I still don't think I'll be ready.....



Enjoy some quality time with one very snuggly pre-toddler, who smells of a combination of maple syrup and clean laundry.....which probably means I should probably check my laundry basket to see if my underwear is stuck to a towel.....or if my husbands jeans smell like they should be slathered in butter....



Try for the 1 millionth time to become a dog whisperer.....and explain why I don't need help changing diapers.....and hopefully understand the extreme hatred of all things squirrel related....

If anyone has some insight....or the number to a good pet therapist....it would be greatly appreciated.





Begin the annual transformation of the house from Summer....To Autumn.......by getting my hands dirty....and praying to the gardening Gods.....that I will this time, be blessed with even a hint of a green thumb......all the while chanting "I will not kill the plants....." I'll let you know how that turns out!




Tomorrow should prove to be a very interesting Wednesday.....

It's the day I perform my civic Duty....

and show up for jury duty....

I can honestly say, it's taken me 14 years for me to finally get summoned....and I was a little nervous to get that ominous card in the mail.....

And though, I have absolutely no idea yet, what I'll do if I do get chosen....as Jury duty isn't one of those things that seems to be, family friendly......

I'm actually excited to possibly get a chance to actually go inside the courts....and see first hand how our judicial system works....

Wonder if I can borrow a certain Brave Boy's Blankie......

Potty Training is the Pits

I officially have to say.....I HATE potty training....

I loathe it.....

I have no idea how any of us adults walk around without wearing adult sized diapers....

I think my parents were geniuses.....or magicians.....

because I HAVE no idea how they did it.....

My mom always relays the story that I was such a hard child to potty train....and then on my third birthday....I just decided I'd sit on the potty....and go.....no more diapers....

Yeah.....either time has dulled her memory on what actually happened....or she's had one too many glasses of wine, because I can't for the life of me see that any toddler could just one day say...."okay....I'd rather wipe my own tush, than have you do it"....

With Noah....for the last year...

I've bribed

I've cajoled

I've begged

I've pleaded

I've threatened....

I've thrown a mini peepee party in the bathroom, with party horns and confetti.

I've allowed him to have his favorite blow pops at 9 AM because he used the potty.

I've been at this so long, that yesterday while on the phone with my husband, I mentioned how we were out of Tinkle Paper.....

He asked where in Target do you find that?

My Absolute favorite....is now Mr. Smarty Pants, has learned that he can use the potty as a means of prolonging bedtime.....I can say no to Drinks, 5 extra books, or a late night snack....but when he says he has to potty...be it once or for the 13 hundredth time.....I'll let him go.....

The only thing right now that is keeping me from throwing in the towel and saying....go ahead...be the only kid in 5th grade to wear Diapers...if they even make them that size.....is that I will have a moment, where the clouds will part, and the sun shines....as I did yesterday, when Noah actually ran into the bathroom, moved his little stool, climbed on....and proceeded to pee on his foot....but.....

he did go on his own...

Then this morning....as he's running by me.....I catch a whiff of what he's packing, and realize we are back to square one......

sigh

Potty training is the bane of my existence....it has given me 3, no 4 gray hairs.....right in front mind you.....

and has made me a nervous wreck as Preschool starts....next week....

and we are no where near Undies Ready.....

Though I do have a bunch of super adorable Lightening McQueen Briefs waiting for him in his drawer.....

If there is any advice that perhaps you don't find in any parenting book....

and doesn't involve Cheerios, m and ms....or kitchen timers....

I will forever be grateful....

I'm running out of wine......and hair dye......

Goodnight Irene

What a Wild and Wooly Weekend we had on the Eastern Seaboard.....With the Fury that was Irene...barreling down on us.....

She gave it her all, I have to give her that, though I'm so extremely grateful that in my particular neck of the woods, The Power stayed on, Flooding was kept to a minimum....and only two decent sized tree limbs in our yard, marked that she had been here.....

Though at one point, during the height of the storm, I truly felt as if the worst was going to happen....and wondered if I should have high tailed it to higher ground.....instead of trying to be the tough one, and stick it out....

My wonderful Husband, as usual had the pleasure of missing all of the good stuff......Blizzard, Deployed. Hospital stays, Deployed, Earthquake.....TDY....and Now Hurricane......you guessed it...gone....

Though This time, The entire Squadron was left to us spouses...as our lovey's in Uniform, had to fly those massive planes out of harms way.....but I have to say, we held our own! With the wonderful help of The Few Fellas who were left to hold down the fort....All us ladies put on our games faces and showed our husbands exactly what we are made of....and that is that they married some tough chicks....

Really tough chicks!

Saturday Morning, was spent shoring up all loose ends, putting anything and everything that could be used against us in the garage, and making sure the sandbags were in place in case our creek decided to invade the basement.....couldn't let that happen without a good fight.....

But Saturday Afternoon, as the skies grew darker, and the rain began to arrive....we decided to play a little...

okay a lot.....

Those boys needed to get their run on, before we snuggled in under a mound of blankets, eating our Hurricane rations of Chocolate Chip cookies, Rice Crispy Treats....and watching a marathon of All Things Animated......

But Miss Irene, kept her destruction of my neighborhood to a minimum, and as I picked up those two branches, moved the sandbags back...and brought out our patio furniture again, I felt I could actually find a few positive things that we could glean from Irene......

Not only do I not need to water my lawn for the next month, but Irene also allowed me a good solid 36 hours straight to devote to potty training....something I desperately needed....

hence all that naked tushy......

Though we made it out, with only a few hairs out of place, I'm more than aware of the massive devastation that Irene left in her wake. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who lost homes, possessions....and even loved ones.....

I think it's time to say...Goodnight Irene......Goodnight.....

Strollers, Style School....and Punk Rock

This Post is brought to you by the letter S.....

Saturday, Strollers, Step and Repeats, Style School, 77kids....well it does start with s.......

Let's just say, while Daddy is away, mommy and the boys, like to go play! And this weekend, we went and played in the Big Apple....which luckily for us, is a hop skip and a short train ride from our suburban oasis in South Jersey.....

Though, I have to throw it out there, that Penn Station needs to work on being a little more ....stroller friendly? As my posse and I commenced the disembarking of our NJ transit train on Track 8 of NY Penn Station.....the left front wheel of my expensive yet cumbersome double jogging stroller.....disengaged itself...and fell between the train and platform....to the track below....

after few NY style expletives

and some blank stares from any and all NJ Transit workers...on whether said wheel could be retrieved.......

my posse and I made the 5 short blocks....and 1 long block trek to our destination the Fabulous 77kids Style School held at the Metropolitan Pavilian

.....1 wheel short....but still on time.....

because not even a three wheeled stroller, could keep me from our mission!

Our First Stop....the Step and Repeat....my gorgeous friend Angela...looks so put together...while I'm a wind blown mess......and Though Noah is obviously thrilled with the papparazzi worthy attention....Ryan would obviously rather be doing anything else.....

Now why I didn't get any pictures of the amazing wine tasting hosted by Cameron Hughes Wines....probably because I was too busy enjoying the Moscato......in a word amazing.....

But I did get a pic of Noah having the time of his life at the Play Doh Table.....though, if you remember the picture from last weeks Play Doh incident.....

It was a fabulous event with some awesome vendors....from the cool Kids Clothing Swap hosted by Zulily to a Yummy Applesauce tasting from Motts....

LandsEnd was on hand with a killer Back to School set up, and Mom Agenda was showcasing their perfect planners for busy moms...

Advil set up an insanely fun Photo Booth...that Noah wanted a 3rd, 4th and 5th go at.....as well as stocking us up on must have Advil products for infants and children.....

Remington, provided some gorgeous hair makeovers.....and the seriously Punk Chic 77kids area.....had a to die for Goody Table....and even put the urban back into my suburban boys, by giving them some super cool punk mohawks.......

All that Fabulousness....ending with a over the top Swag Bag.....made me all but forget the infamous wheel incident.....

Let's just say, we left our mark on the Big City.....

But more importantly, the Style School, definitely left it's Punk Rock Mark on us!

Rock ON!

Photo Friday: Like Mother Like Son

Maybe it's the Chubby Cheeks......or the glazed look in our eyes.....or perhaps its the fact that we both have a propensity to have our pictures taken while sporting smeared something all over our faces.....though I know what was on his face was edible....

not sure what was on mine...was.......

but after having a three year old who is is an exact miniature version of his father...down to his funny big toe....and his love of mooning me.....

it is so nice to know....that I have a child that takes after me.....even a little bit.....

Now do you have a messy photo somewhere? If you do, go over to the newly started Project Mommyhood Photo Friday Group on Flickr, and upload your "MESSY" photos......I will choose a group of finalists on Monday, and 1 will win a fun prize!!! It's not going to be anything HUGE like a new car....or $300 gift card....but I do promise, it will be fun!

I can't wait to see what you all bring....

plus, I think it will make me feel better...that my offspring and I are not the only ones who walk around with a snack on our faces.....

Happy Friday!

A Week in Review

Sunday:

Learned that Even in August....the Atlantic can still take your breath away! Figured out that Wave Jumping is a totally rad past time.....and that you really can get sand everywhere.....

Monday:

Finds out what happens when you leave two boys alone for an afternoon with their dad.....and playdough..... promptly leaves for another Grande Java Chip Frappachino......

Tuesday:

Found out what happens when a Three year old attempts to dress themselves.....something missing? .....nah.......

Wednesday:

Though not as fabulous as a naked baby butt.....but there really is nothing better than sitting outside.....two children tucked in....glass of wine in hand.....decompressing while watching a beautiful sunset......

while hubby is still cleaning up playdough from two days before.....

Thursday: Inevitably a certain 13 month old's Best Friend, got lost for a few hours, after taking a raging pool party in our front yard.....really, the monkey in question, exhausted from hours of water play, decided to take a few hour long siesta under the neighbor's tree....it is still a mystery how he got there....and he's not talking.

Friday: learned you can give a child a bath, and do laundry at the same time.....also learned what the maximum liquid capacity of a diaper is......

Saturday:

Three Year old, decided that he no longer wishes to be the next Jack Sparrow.....but rather become the next Cake Boss.....and realizes....he can make one mean batch of brownies.....

How Cowboys Celebrate Birthdays

I don't know too many Buckeroos that Get to relive their first Birthday a second time, but if we were going to relive it, we were going big or going home! Since The Air Force called Daddy away for The Bugster's Actual Birthday, there was no better time or place then the Ohio Farm to throw the Rootin-ist Tootin-ist First Birthday Bash This side of the Mississippi....

The following is a instruction guide on how to throw yer-self a Rough and Rowdy Cowboy Worthy Shindig....

First you just need to find the perfect cowpoke invitation, letting everyone know to bring their appetites and spurs....for a ho-down to beat the band.

Our invitation came Via Pony Express from Tinyprints. And just so it wouldn't take forever for the mail coach to deliver our RSVP's....guests could reply directly on the website...

we'll I'll be flipped.....ain't that somethin....

Then you rope yerself a location that can hold all that rowdiness! Nothin worse than spot too small, in case anyone wants to break out into some impromptu square dancin....

Rustle up 25 of your best pals, to fill that big ole space....though I wish we could have sent the stage coach out to bring in the rest of our favorite people....it just takes too darn long!

Aren't they a handsome crowd?

Then you have to make sure your dressed the part, a pair of bibs, barefeet and a sheriff's badge are all you need to complete the perfect cowpoke ensemble...

and a gigantic lollipop for the perfect accessory and pop of color

Besides having a wagon-load of tasty vittles, .....

and for the record, I would have taken pictures of all the amazing fare of hamburgers and hotdogs, homemade lemonade, more fruit than a fruit stand......and the best coleslaw in the entire world....

but I was stuffing my face......

You also need the peace de resistance....the Biggest, Baddest, Cowboy Cake anyone has ever seen! Ryan's Amazing Cake was created by Creme de la Creme Cakery.....

I take my hat off to her!

The Cake Destruction of course is the highlight of any Cowboy First Birthday Party.....The messier, the better, and since you are hosting it in a Cowboy worthy local....it won't matter how much cake gets on the floor!

After the culmination of the Cake Smashing.....with full bellies, and full hearts, it's time to have some good all american, ole-fashioned fun! A Good Natured Corn Hole Competition....including some razzing on both sides of the line......more sugar.......water.......

and company......

that's all you need.....

You'll know you've succeeded in your quest to creating a Cowboy worthy First Birthday, if the cowpoke of honor ends his day plum tuckered out.....

I think it was an all out success

and no one squatted on their spurs!