halloween 2011

trick or treat day finally arrived, and the gerber boys were full of excitement!

i made sure to write happy halloween on the napkins i put in the boys' lunchboxes
{a daily ritual i started after scout told me miley's mom always writes her notes on her napkin}.
it wasn't enough i put fun stickers on his apples and snack bags, but he needs a note too. *geez*

i left work a bit early, picked up jen {who works just 10 minutes from me now},
and headed home to warm up chili and prepare for a few kiddos and their parents.

before we had dinner, the kids busted open an adorable bat pinata that auntie jen
brought over. it was almost too cute to hit.  i wanted to tuck away and save as a decoration,
but i knew that wasn't auntie jen's intention nor would the kids go for that. here it is:

didn't i mention it was cute?!

for trick or treating, finn was a scientist and wore a lab coat and goggles
{the same thing he wore at his science-themed 7th birthday party}
scout was a skunk {finn's recycled old navy costume from 2007}

and here are a couple fun photos from earlier in the day.

for school, finn dressed as dennis the menace and carried a homemade slingshot,

and scout was a frog. he wore green hanna anderson pajamas and a cute wool 

frog hat i purchased from etsy. {his preschool only allowed pajama costumes}

~ since scout was the only skunk i saw halloween night,
i think it's safe to say he was the cutest
lil' stinker on the block!

my date with finn

among many things fun going on this past weekend,
i squeezed in a date with my sweet first born, finn.

i've been really trying to set aside time every month to
do something with each of the boys individually,
so when i stumbled on an advertisement for the show,
smokey joe's cafe being performed at city college this weekend,
i just had to take finn!

now he doesn't get to the theater much {yet},
but i knew he'd enjoy the music in this one
i'd seen the show before and have all the music.

i think i won some 'cool points' with him today
when i told him mom was in two shows at this very theater -
the wiz back in 1999 and guys and dolls in 2003.
{it's funny kids have difficulty seeing their moms being anything
other than a mom sometimes}

anyway, we both enjoyed it, and as we were leaving
finn said his favorite song of all was the classic yakety yak song.
he was definitely familiar with that one!

we finished our date with a quick stop at chuck e cheese
{a place i try to avoid at all costs} BUT
since we never go here and it was a special afternoon,
we popped in for a half an hour and played a couples of video games.

we spent the rest of the evening,
preparing for class parties and setting out costumes
{the boys have 2 costumes each: one for school and one for halloween night}.
i even made turkey chili and a cake as we will have friends joining us
tomorrow night for dinner and then trick or treating.

the boys are so excited...
could hardly settle down for bed tonight.

have a Happy Halloween!

birthday photo shoot

an aunt makes life a little sweeter.
unknown

look at these three and the smiles on their faces!

oh how i adore this photo of my sis jen and my two
{whom she lovingly refers to as 'her boys'}

i was long overdue to photograph jen, and her 30th bday
seemed like the perfect time to capture this pretty lady.

now it typically takes a little arm twisting to convince her to be photographed,
but this time around i got little protest. *yay*
{her only request - to have the lil' guys around to keep it fun and light}

now the boys don't really enjoy having their photo taken either,
so i prepped them by telling them we were going on a snipe hunt.
though finn only half believes snipes exist, he couldn't resist.

i took lots of playful photos and a few posed ones too.
the one above is my group favorite.
it's going to be printed and hung in the boys' bedroom.
{replacing an old photo of auntie jen and finn from before scoutie joined our family}.

as always, it was lots of fun for me to play photographer,
and i think my models for the afternoon would agree it was painless.

auntie j truly makes finn and scoutie's life sweeter.
they are lucky to have her...
we all are. 

~ i get to play photographer some more.
maddy has asked me to take her senior photos in a few weeks!
i am excited and a teensy bit nervous.
{i feel for wedding photographers -so much pressure}

angry eyebrows

i debated if i should post this because the 'camera incident' has long passed,
but i wanted to be sure that i remember how my behavior effected my family,
especially finn. 

sometime shortly after my outburst the evening my camera was dropped,
finn came downstairs and handed me a piece of paper with this drawing:

i didn't like the face he drew at all,
but i knew this photo was exactly what i looked like to him that night -
a mom with angry eyebrows yelling.

i'm keeping this drawing of finn's forever, because i think it's important 
to remember not just the happy times, but the not so happy ones too.
{it was a very humbling evening for me with lots of lessons learned}.

************************
~ on a completely different note, the tooth fairy made a visit to our finny last night,
as he has lost yet another tooth {an eye tooth this time}. 
she didn't come the night before because he was holding it in his hand - a test for her he said. 
last night he left it in the pouch of his little robot pillow next to his bed where she could retrieve it easily.
*thank goodness*

beatles love

i saw this amazing show in vegas this past weekend! 

i think back to it and it feels almost surreal  -
probably because the show was so over the top and
also because it happened so fast. i was only in vegas for 2 nights!

my lil' sharks had their team pictures early saturday morning
and a game right after that, and i didn't want to miss it.
{i take my coaching job seriously} *wink*

scoutie was sick and wasn't able to play in the game,
but he did agree to pose for the team and individual photo.
{i'm hoping he doesn't look too sullen in the photos}
finn had a game an hour later, and right after that was over,
i jumped on a plane and headed to las vegas.

i took this very quick trip with my girlfriend maia
{she may be the biggest beatles fan our there}.
we both have been wanting to see the show forever but neither of us are vegas girls.
even in my 20s, i didn't care for vegas {the strip is the epitome of cheesy}
but this is where the show was and i didn't want to miss it before it goes away. 

i'm so glad because it was nothing short of spectacular -
the theatrics, acrobatics, lights, props, costumes and the dancing!
the show had some of the best entertainers i've ever seen -
and all this was themed around amazing beatles songs/compiliations.
{and who can ever get enough of their music} *wink*

though i'm exhausted and hoarse from all the las vegas smoke
{i probably cut my life short by 5 years from having to breath it all}
i'm glad to have experienced this show.  i wish i had photos or video to share,
but photography and videography of any type were not allowed.

~ cool tidbit: my s-i-l shannon's 10 year old nephew, david, is in this show.
he lives in las vegas with his family, auditioned to be one of the young beatles, and was cast!
he is on a year contract, gets paid a salary and goes to school on set with the other young actors.
how cool is that? {i got to see him in the show - he was so cute}

beauty found

the very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for.
the most you can do is live inside that hope, running down its hallways,
touching the walls on both sides.
- animal dreams, barbara kingsolver

a month ago, i finished reading the book animal dreams,
and the passage above moved me beyond words.

 

this book is filled with so many beautiful passages like this one.
if the copy i was reading hadn't been borrowed,
i would have marked it all up with a highlighter and had notes in the margins.

i had heard of barbara kingsolver maybe 10 years ago from my dear friend char.
she had recommended i read one of her books, and for whatever reason,
i had never got around to until now.

i'm so glad i did because i can't think of any author i've read that writes as beautifully.
her words were like poetry, dripping with imagery that made me feel like i was right there.
i said outloud to c, this kind of writing is what inspires people to become writers.

and this particular book, animals dreams is unique.
it weaves in so many elements throughout
love, family, friendship, environment, history, politics, culture and about a woman finding herself.
it's a book i plan on buying and adding to my home collection.

i'm so so happy to have discovered barbara kingsolver.
i gave my sis a copy of her book titled pigs in heaven for her birthday.
i haven't read it, but it came highly recommended.
i can't wait to hear her thoughts on it {and then borrow and read myself} *wink*

on another note, i'm a single mom for the next few days.
christopher flew to sacramento today to meet colleagues
from the american institute of architects.  he is part of the group that is rewriting
the new architectural exams for those who are seeking to get licensed.
he was so excited.

now on to reviewing photos from a little shoot i did of jen and the boys earlier
in the week.  i'll share my favorite in a later post.

halloween's almost here

are you ready for halloween?

this momma isn't.
soccer has kind of taken over my life the last few weeks and
finn and i started piano lessons 2 weeks ago! {i'll share more in another post}.
i'm feeling a bit behind the eight ball this year with this holiday that i love so much,
but i have been thinking about costumes for weeks, so that counts for something right? *wink*

i brought up my costume idea around the dinner table last week.
i thought it would be fun to do a themed 'family' costume.
i suggested the little guys go as lobsters {we dressed finn as one for his 1st halloween}
and christopher and could go as divers {this is how we dressed for finn's 1st halloween}.

c loved the idea of wearing wetsuits, masks and walking around in silly fins again,
especially because finn has no recollection of it, but the short guys in the house had other plans.

finn wants to be dennis the menace for pre-halloween parties and at school,
and an inventor on halloween night. 
scout wants to be an skunk after finding finney's lil stinker costume
in our halloween bin that c pulled from storage.  at size 3, it fits him like a glove.

now here's where i get to have a lil' fun.

scoutie's skunk costume is too hot to wear all day at preschool,
and because his school is asking students to wear pajama costumes,
i brought up the lobster costume idea thinking red thermals for the body.

he shot me down {again}, but said he could be a frog.
i loved this idea too and found it perfect since he was into frogs last year.
first, i needed green clothes - thermals, pjs, sweatpants/shirt, something.

after a few days of searching, i found the perfect green thermals at hanna anderson.
they arrived today, along with a cotton pilot cap {that i need to dye green}.
i just need to figure out how to make the eyes. styrofoam balls cut in half maybe?

i'm getting excited just thinking about it,
but i must run and pack two lunches for two little boys.
i've pulled out the pumpkin and ghost cookie cutters this weekend to
make their sandwhiches a little more FuN and FeStIvE!

a 'can do' attitude

even though i don' t tell you mom, i have a can do attittude.
- scout gerber, 4 yrs old

i came home from work one afternoon last week to find scout
at the kitchen table doing his homework
{yes, his preschool gives homework once a week}.
he actually loves it - he sits right at the table with big brother.

i kissed the both the boys and peeked over them to see what they were working on.
finn was working on a report about tarantulas, and scout was writing his name over and over
{using upper and lower case}. 

this is when he told me he had a 'can do' attitude.
i was tickled because it was said with such sincerity,
and because these words seemed perfect to inspire a class of 4 year olds.
i knew immediately he learned these words from his teacher, miss heidi.
scoutie always been a big fan of miss heidi, and as i listen to him talk about her
and see the results of her time with him, i am now too.

tonight was the rock preschool's open house and we spent an hour in the classroom
talking with the teacher, his classmates parents, and seeing what's he's been learning
since school started.  enjoyed our evening but got home a little too late  - 8pm.
that's bedtime for these boys.























i should note this 'can do' attitude backfired on scout at wednesday's soccer practice.

at the end of our practices, i always run with the kids a few times to wear them out more.
scout didn't win any of the races and he had a meltdown. {tears and all}
reminding him that he is the youngest and smallest of all the kids on the team didn't matter.

teaching a 4 year old that our attitude and doing our best is most important isn't easy.
we're working on it.

goodnite. xo

the most important work

the most important...work you and i will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.
harold b. lee

i heard this quote years ago at church conference,
and if i remember correctly the entire talk that sunday was devoted to this subject.

i was a teenager at the time and it didn't really resonate with me on a conscious level,
but i must have stored it in my memory bank, because i think about these words from time to time.
{especially when i feel my prioritites are starting to fall out of alignment.}
it reminds me to reprioritize and realign.

being a parent is daunting sometimes because everything we do has implications.
it could be something as simple as taking an extra hour at the grocery store or staying at the office,
to the food selection we make and put on the table, to the tv shows/movies we allow in our home,
to the language we use, to the way we chose to spend our time.
everything we do has implications.

and if we forget this, all we have to do is look at our kids -
they are mirrors reflecting the best and worst of us, and so is our homelife.   
{which is why most parents are motivated to be their best selves}

so tonight's post is just a reminder for me to be mindful and to be present
because truly the most important work i will ever do is right here in my home,
for these two little guys.

birthday girl

happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear aunt jen,
happy birthday to you!
{and many more}

on october 3rd, my sister jen, the youngest of my 6 siblings, turned the 30!
she kicked her heels up and danced the night away the weekend before,
and the weekend after, she had a much more mellow celebration with me and the boys.

we didn't tell her how we'd be celebrating {i know she loves surprises}.
i just asked her to dress casual and to be hungry.

the boys and i picked her up on sunday mid-morning,
had her favorite coffee drink in hand, and headed downtown.
when we got near the ferry landing, she knew we were heading to coronado
{because that's the only place the ferry goes}. *grin*

after a little playing in the sand by the water,
we headed over to peohes for brunch.
the birthday girl hadn't been {as well as any of us}, so it was a treat for all.

we ate outside on the patio enjoying the sunshine and the view of the water and san diego's skyline.  
the restaurant even had a personalized message on jen's menu wishing her a happy birthday!
{they rolled it up for her and she got to take it home}

it was a day full of surprises for the birthday girl and one that brought lots of smiles.
the boys and i sure enjoyed celebrating with auntie jen and hope this will be her best decade yet!

TGIF

remember this restaurant folks? of course you do. {admit it}.
i actually worked as a hostess at a tgif fridays in orlando as a teenager.

i mostly remember greasy food and oversized portions,
red and white striped shirts and tacky suspenders covered with buttons.
{i even met shaquille o'neal when he moved to orlando to play for the magic}

this image is perfect for today because it has been one heckuva week
and i'm just happy happy it's FRIDAY!!

things were so nutty, i missed my s-i-l's birthday this week,
and i feel like a giant BOOB for it.
{she is the mother who keeps a blog on her son, my cute nephew}
she forgave me and you can believe her birthday is now a recurring event in
my calendar until the end of time.

this post will be short as i need to scoot.
i still need to pack the 'end of game' snack for the finn's soccer team {the piranas}
he's up first tomorrow and then my little sharks..
auntie jen is coming to both games and you can imagine their excitement.

have a fabulous weekend!

~ fridge update:  i'm happy to report it was repaired the very next day.
it took two minutes to diagnose and a  $38 part. our landlords were happy to hear this.

things i ♥ thursdays

it's been forever since i've done this!

i ♥ blog posts
i follow a handful of family and friends and have so much fun reading them!
tonight i watched the sweetest videos of my nephew's firsts.
precious! since i can't be there, i watch him grow through my s-i-l's blog posts.
it's wonderful.  soon, i'll have one more blog to follow.
christi told me she's going to start blogging about her life as a newlywed.
such a cute idea. {and to think, all i had was an old paper journal} 


i ♥ these cupcakes that look like an ear of corn.
my coworker made some for my sister jen's birthday.
she knows how much she loves corn. {it must run in my family}.
here's a tutorial if you want to make some yourself.
they are almost too cute to eat!

i ♥ scoutie's birthmark
it lives on the back of his left shoulder and is oval shaped.
he was born with it and when he was old enough to discover it,
i told him that's where god kissed him. he loved that reason and
repeats it sometimes i'm helping him in the bathtub.
someday he'll want a more scientific explanation,
but for now, god's kiss is good enough.

i ♥ this print.

it makes me smile.

it's simple, playful and the words remind me of  lil' scoutie.

he says this often {and variations of it}and it warms me to the core.

if it makes you smile too, you can find it here.





the best gifts

"there are many little ways to enlarge you child's world.
love of books is the best of all."
- jacqueline kennedy

image: paintermommy.com

whenever there is a child's birthday to buy for,
the boys always know what this mommy wants to purchase.
you get one guess. ok, the picture gave it away, but yes, a book.

i know kids love toys, so it's usually a package deal - we buy a book and a toy
{and if there's a birthday theme it's that much easier}.
i can't think of a better gift to give children or for the boys to receive than books.
if it's a good one, it will be enjoyed over and over and they'll learn something too.

when grandma was visiting this past summer,
she read to scout every afternoon before his nap.
she told me she fell in love with several of the books in their bookcase,
and teased she considered tossing a few into her suitcase to take home. *grin*

before she left, i promised i would email her names and links of some of her favorites.
it took a while, but i finally sent these off a few weeks ago,
along with a few others that are favorites of ours.

since my list was handy, i thought i'd post a few as i want to remember them.
{in case i end up losing them or god forbid, c makes me get rid of them}.
he knows i dream of having a dedicated music/library in our future home.
a place we can all gather - far from any electronic device.

so here's my list, in no particular order:

1. I Love you Stinky Face
2. The Napping House
3. Finn Cooks (not easy to find but always a hit when we give as a gift, especially with boys named finn)
4. Big Words for Little People
5. The Boy Who Wouldn't Swim
6. Where's the Dragon
7. Ferdinand
8. The Magic Treehouse Series (finn reads these outloud to scout and me before bed. we both enjoy
    them). he just finished book 12 and i think there are a total of 50.
9. Too Many Toys
10. Jeremy McBright was Afraid of The Night (written and completely illustrated by my old friend Bill Bradford)

~ so what i thought would be a relaxing night at home with the boys
and then reading this month's book club selection, i was mistaken. 
c called me to tell me he came home to a fridge that wasn't working
{and i just spent $200 on groceries last night - ugh}. 
the repairman is coming out tomorrow but in the meantime,
we've got dry ice in the fridge keeping things cool,
and most of our frozen food is in jen's freezer.

thank goodness for auntie jen!

happy birthday aunt jen

{please disregard scoutie's nose picking, he's only 4} *laugh*

maddy rae

my sweet niece madison (maddy rae) turned 17 last week
and following in our little tradition,
i got to play photographer while she and her friend bella modeled for me.

gracious maddy let me select the locale,
and i chose presidio park for two reasons:
1. it's gorgeous
and
2.  it's convenient because, only 10 minutes away from both our homes

here are a handful of images i took of the girls.
they are completely unedited.
i didn't find it necessary for either of these beautiful girlies. 

i can't believe next year at this same time,
maddy will be off in college somewhere (yet to be determined).
i'll miss her but am excited for her too. what an adventure.
my hope is she doesn't go too many cities or states away
so i can come visit her over a weekend.

~ i almost forgot. to celebrate her birthday,
we spent this morning together kayaking through oex in la jolla.
it was so gorgeous (and a great arm workout).
i'll save all the deets for another post.

i hope you had a wonderful weekend!