Happy 31st Uncle Stanton!

A big gigantic Happy Birthday to one of our favorite uncles, and one of my favorite brothers.  Happy Birthday Uncle Stanton!!!  Too bad he's out of town for his birthday, I know my boys would love to celebrate with him.  Well, Ivan would love to just stare at him with his eyebrows all scrunched up, because thats what he does.  Yep, Ivan has quite a way of communicating with Uncle Stanton.

River of Chocolate

Spencer wanted to take Ivan fishing.  Spencer wanted to fish.  Spencer always wants to fish.  The snow was crazy so the fishing wasn't great as early as my boy wanted it to be.  He had fun trying to catch him some fish.  And I felt like we were in the Chocolate Factory.  Doesn't that water look like the chocolate river? 
Much fun for these boys, and their mama to be outside, to laugh, to take pictures. 
Ivan did not catch any fish on this, his first time fishing.  Here's to next time.

Ease

S

As I look at these photos from a short visit early this summer I try to think of words that come to mind.  Ease.  The easy way summer evenings unfold into adventures.  The ease of Childhood to live in the moment and enjoy everything that is in front of you right now.  The ease of childhood to really feel and express emotions as they happen.  The ease of laughter.

I *almost* didn't go enjoy this evening, I almost didn't agree when these kids decided to go hunt down pillows because they thought a pillow fight would be fun, I almost didn't find the motivation to get out the camera and go take these pictures.  I almost missed out.

Favorite yard sale finds from today

Found some great things at yard sales today!  Here are a few of my favorites:

 

How cute is this set of skillets?  I heart them.  I am pretty fond of fun bright colorful kitchen stuff.  I'm positive cooking will be all that much more fun with these!!

I'm also really very fond of old (or old style) dishes.  These plates I think are pretty groovy.  And a set of 5 for ten cents total?  Yes please.  Thank you! 

Really?! This awesome salad set for $4???  I was awfully happy to give it a new home!

And it doubles as a set of baby toys!  Perfect!

A couple of old fabric books for the littlest of my boys.  A set of Rings for that same little guy.  ( I already had the baby by the way, I didn't find him at a yard sale).

And something for the bigger boy...

Spencer has decided he collects glass bottles.  Notice I did not say old bottles.  Just glass bottles.  It is his new "thing".  So far his collection consists of a couple of Jones soda bottles, a rootbeer bottle, a whiskey bottle his dad gave him from fish camp, and our most recently emptied soy sauce bottle.  Yep, not picky.  Just glass bottles.  Soon I'll get photos of his collection and let him write about it.  I love that the soy sauce bottle made the cut.  Hopefully when he gets home from his big long cross country adventure he's on with his grandparents, he'll like these 2 new bottles to add to the bunch.
So all this stuff, and a few other things... for less than $20.  Oh how sad it will be when yard sale season ends.

Let's both win Pink Kitchen Aid mixers!

http://sweetopia.net/2011/08/raspberry-ice-kitchenaid-mixer-giveaway

Go to the link above to enter this contest.  For a Pink Kitchen Aid mixer!!  If you tell them you heard it from me we could BOTH win one!  I think this mixer (in any color:)  is what I've been hoping to find under the Christmas tree or wrapped up for my birthday for years now.  I think it would be so stinkin' fantastic to win one! 
If I win one I'll make you cookies.  If I like you.