Last night we had guests over and we ended up staying up until midnight which is many hours past my bedtime. Which meant I woke up totally worn out but I was amazed to see that I recovered pretty quickly and my day ended up being productive and pleasant. I even managed to catch Nathaniel making funny faces.

And then David encouraged Nathaniel to sit on him and enjoyed every moment of it.

So did Nathaniel of course.

He just sat on him and played as if it was nothing.

Love my boys so much.

I’ve been scrapping again. Putting together layouts for CHA summer already. I’ve made two in the last 24 hours and hope to possibly make one more tonight. I tend to get burned out if I make more than one a day so I might just rest and then make more tomorrow. Trying to make sure I can pace myself because there are quite a few more I will have to do between now and July. Slow and steady wins the race.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a little scrappy time today.
2. I am grateful for a nice night of good conversation last night.
3. I am grateful for my routine. It works so well for me and keeps me going from task to task so I don’t sit idly which I would otherwise do.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we had P.E. at school. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I watched TV.
3. I am grateful that I traded some of my silly bands for new ones at school.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aksel and Jeff!!!!!! I love you so so much. I cannot believe they are twelve already!

Quiet day filled with work today. I have a pretty tight but flowing routine going these days and I really love it. There’s a small noise at the back of my mind that tells me that I must be weird to enjoy routine so much but I am really enjoying it so I try to tell it to stay quiet.

When David came home today we sat outside for a bit while I read to David and then they played by themselves.

Nathaniel even gave me a smile.

Here he is asking me if he can eat the Play Doh. And David’s making his spider run up the umbrella.

We have a guest coming for dinner tonight so I have to rush through a few of my daily todo list items. I am going to cut it short. I hope you are all doing well. It’s been quiet here lately but I am still here and hoping you are, too.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for happy mail. Some wonderful scrappy stuff came today.
2. I am grateful that Christy Tomlinson’s new class started today. Nothing like art videos to make me happy.
3. I am grateful for summer. I love walking around and soaking up the sunrays. Always puts me in a good mood.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we are reading a new book at school. It’s called The Stories Julian tells. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I will play on the computer.
3. I am grateful that I got a prize from the prize box at school (the spider the above photo).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mom!!!!!! I love you so so much.

Today was a wonderful, quiet day. I woke up and exercised first thing so that we could take our family photos. The kids didn’t really seem to want to look at the camera, though.

Nathaniel pretty much held the remote nonstop again and he wouldn’t look at the camera while he clicked, of course.

so we just gave up and did tickle time.

then Jake and David went out to Maker Faire and I sat with Nathaniel for a little while, then started to do art. He napped and then when he was up, he sat next to me and did some art of his own.

We did a ton of art and then sketched and journaled. Then David and Daddy came back and he had also gotten a haircut.

we took our walk, read our book, and he wrote his journal. Then it was Family Night so we played Blokus. Now they are in bed and I have a very long list of blog posts to organize. But I feel full. I have done a ton of art and it made me happy. If I can get these posts done and a few more small items, I will feel great about my weekend productivity. And I got a lot of rest, too so I am not complaining.

Next week is likely going to be back to a ton of scrapping. I printed my photos and have my stories ready. Cannot wait to play with some beautiful product.

I hope your weekend was wonderful, too. Here’s to a great week.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I did so so so much art. It filled me up.
2. I am grateful for my husband who took David and had a wonderful father-son day which also meant that I could have a wonderfully quiet day of my own.
3. I am grateful for my mom. I love her so so much.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I went to maker faire. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we played Blokus.
3. I am grateful that I got to have chocolate ice cream at the fair.

After exercise this morning, it was time for family photos. I snapped this one as I was setting up. My three boys!!

Nathaniel was in a super happy mood and made us all laugh.

and would not let go of the remote.

so we just did a lot of tickle time.

i think tickle-time is becoming my favorite.

since David didn’t get to have the remote, he snapped some when we were done.

then he played Wii and I attempted to put Nathaniel down several times. The Wii makes his eyes bloodshot and watery (cause he doesn’t blink enough) so I make him rest them regularly.

but of course he’s faking it. he always fakes it.

I finally give up on Nathaniel and he immediately asks to sit on the chair.

He is so cute!

And gives me a special smile.

Then David’s back to playing.

And Nathaniel makes a little nest right by his brother (and with his choo choo of course!)

I had a quiet day. Cleaning, reading, and sketching. I hope to do some art journaling tonight and it will be the best day.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I cleaned up my space. Always feel better when it’s clear.
2. I am grateful for all the fresh fruit and groceries in the fridge.
3. I am grateful for a calm day.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played Lego Clone Wars. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we finished our book.
3. I am grateful that we start a new book tomorrow.

I love how my little boy plays while I work. He creates games, makes sounds, just amuses himself. And then comes to give me a hug.

Just seeing his face makes me happy.

so does this one. I love his weird smile.

though being boys means getting a lot more of these.

and these.

but then sometimes I get these. I love the gratitude journals!!!

We went out to dinner tonight and then did some grocery shopping. When we came home Daddy and David went bike riding and I snapped some photos. Well, tried to.

I cannot tell you what it means to me to see my son riding his bike by himself like that!! Not learning to ride a bike has been one of my few regrets and I have been constantly worried that David would be like that, too. But here we are!! He’s already riding. I am so so so proud of my boy.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that Jake taught David to ride the bike and so grateful David stuck with it.
2. I am grateful for a tasty dinner with my family and the beautiful sunshine we had during dinner.
3. I am grateful for a completely free weekend. No obligations, no assignments, nothing at all due just yet. I have wonderful opportunities coming up and lots of happy mail I expect over the next few weeks. I am so grateful for that, too.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I watched Magic schoolbus today. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we went out to dinner.
3. I am grateful that I rode my bike by myself.

There’s something magical about watching my kids hug.

it fills my heart with overwhelming gratitude.

and happiness.

makes me feel blessed in my core.

I love my little boys and I know that there will be days of bickering and fighting so I am trying to enjoy the hugs more right now.

so when they whine.

and give me the stink eye.

I remember that they are magnificent.

and I give thanks. I think the key to life is living with gratitude, every moment. I have been paying a lot of attention to my life and feeling thankful for it. And I am thankful to scrapbooking for giving me another way to remember. And photos. And for art. Because it makes me so happy. And isn’t that the purpose of life after all?

Happy Thursday!

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that Jake worked from home today so I could juggle my appointments and meetings more easily. I am so so grateful.
2. I am grateful for a nutritionist appointment which will hopefully help me get more organized about food.
3. I am grateful for journaling. It’s helping me sort out my head a lot lately and I am thankful I do it regularly now.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I am going to a pizza party tonight. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got to play on the computer.
3. I am grateful that the bus driver had a bandaid (his finger bled during the bus ride. just a little bleeding.).