A couple of layouts

This week I started two new digital scrapbooking classes (online). I am loving it, but also feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the things I "need" to do, but I know it will be a huge sense of accomplishment when I am all done. The classes are definitely giving me the push I needed to get out of my creative slump. Here are the first two pages from Digi: In Deep I have to admit that I was a bit afraid that the class might not be advanced enough. It has not only met but exceeded my expectations. It is just challenging enough that I am getting a bit frustrated but can keep up with all of the techniques. I have been learning tons of new techniques and getting lots of inspiration and it has only been one week!

Call me Paco

I often ask Jake what his name is. He is starting to be able to answer questions, I say he is able not that he is always willing often the answer to a question is NO! Anyway tonight I asked him his name three times the conversation went like this:
Me: Jakey what is your name?
Jake: Will?
Me: Noooo what is your name?
Jake: Jonah
Me: No what is your name?
Jake: Paco!
Ummm maybe a bit of identity crisis? Maybe he thinks it is a trick question as I often say Jake what is your name. Maybe he thinks Jakey, or JJ is not the answer I am looking for. I have no idea where he got that from but we had a bit of fun with it. After dinner we drove into town for some ice cream and we would say come on Paco and he would say with enthusiasm PACO! Then on the drive back. I asked him again what is your name? He said Paco Will says, "He said Paca" Jake looks at him and says with annoyance in his voice, "co, co" He is actually correcting him- not Paca, Paco. ROFL!

This and That

We went out to dinner last night, with the grandparents and some friends of theirs. Food was decent. . . boys were great. Don't you love it when it is your kids that are behaving well and being adorable. We have had mostly good experiences taking the boys to restaurants, the only complaint that I have is that Jake is so fascinated watching other people that he neglect his food. Not this time though, he ate 2 pieces of french toast all by himself, this kid loves breakfast foods! Will ate a "hot dog corn", or corn dog if you don't speak 2 year old, and was fascinated with the fact that everyone at the table was eating something different. He kept asking me, "Mommy what's that mom eating" translation -Mommy what is that lady eating. We can't seem to make him understand that not every woman is a mom and not every man is a dad.

Feeling a bit "Un"

I don't know what my deal is this week but I am feeling . . . unmotivated, uncreative (is this even a word) unsettled, and due to all of the previous un's you can add unproductive to the list. I keep trying to come up with pages to scrap but can't seem to get the creative juices flowing. I have a couple of classes that I am planning on taking ( Digi: In Deep and Scrap Yourself )but they aren't starting for a couple of weeks. So I am sure that motivation and creativity will be making an appearance soon but I think they are waylaid just now.
Keep thinking of projects I want to try with the boys, but can't seem to get motivated to make a big mess.
Some good news . . . did hear from the realtor today we are now the primary offer on the house we have bid on and something else about the bank might be getting ready to look at the offer. I can't remember the exact details, this goes in with the "un" feelings- here it is unfocused. But anyway we may have good news soon.
Some bad (or not really good) news . . . found out my grandma may have to have back surgery (again she had it about 15 or so years ago) I don't have all of the detail here but hopefully it will all turn out well. They were planning a trip out in September and I was really looking forward to it.
Hopefully my funk will go away and inspiration will return along with peace, joy, and wonderful news. Here is my hope for exactly those things coming to pass.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Fourth of July

This year was pretty quiet for the fourth. We wanted to keep the boys up to do a few fireworks so we had a pretty low key morning. We grilled hamburgers for dinner and had watermelon, potato salad and corn- a wonderful summer meal! Then after playing outside for a while we roasted marshmallows and made smores. This is the first time either of them have had this wonderful dessert so they were thrilled. Will jumped right in and ate his like a sandwich- Jake took his apart and ate the chocolate first and then the graham cracker and marshmallows. Once the sun finally went down, around 9, we set off a few fireworks that we had purchased. They thought these were fun but loved the snapping ones the most- you know the little ones that you throw and they pop. Those were the biggest hit. Will keeps reminding me that we need to go to the store and get some more, which is not a problem here because there is a permanent fireworks store just a few miles away.

Chocolate icing Beaters

Everyone remembers, with fondness, licking the mixer beaters. This joy has been diminished for our guys due to the fact that they are not really supposed to have raw eggs, at least that is what "they" say. So they have not licked too many beaters in their lives, I think this may be Jake's first. We made cake this morning and while it was baking we made chocolate icing, no raw eggs just pure sweetness. As you can see they really enjoyed it! I am sure they will enjoy the cake later as well.

Yes he actually got this messy just by licking a beater, I even scrapped most of it off first.

Here Jake was offering Will some icing off of his finger and Will says, "No back away Jake you all messy!" As if he wasn't!

BTW Yes Jake did get a new haircut. The buzzed look seems to fit him!

Playing in the Pool

We set up the boy's little pool last week (it is finally warm enough!) and they have been having a great time playing in it. Will loves to get in and splash or get buckets of water, add some rocks and then dump this mixture from bucket to bucket. He will spend a ton of time doing this. Jake doesn't really like getting into the pool, but he isn't extremely fond of the bathtub either, so this is no great surprise. He does like to get buckets of water and dump them out onto the patio or on the grass or sit up at the table with a bucket of water and rocks and stir them with a shovel. Entertainment is so cheap at this age!