March Happenings

March was a really creative month. It started with my RAW artist showcase (woo hoo!). That show felt great. I felt like a "real artist", showing off my stuff and talking with lots of wonderful people about what I LOVE to do. Pretty sweet.

 

 

 

The creative energy rubbed off the kids too. My friend Jill gave me two new wood blocks to work with. As soon I brought them home, the boys claimed them as there own. Here they are painting their little hearts out.

Hudson created a rainbow. This boy loves rainbows and color!

Ethan created a Super Mario World with lots of details. This boy loves Mario!

I picked up a crazy retro bright yellow couch for $1 at a rummage sale for the boys playroom. They love it. It's cheerful and extra long. It fits all four of us comfortably.

 

Hudson lost his first tooth! (or teeth, busy day at the dentist with 3 teeth pulled, eek) 

 

After the playroom couch was bought we decided a little art to hang was in order. Here they painted the cardboard backing for a frame I had laying around.They each had there own ideas of what it should be so, instead of arguing I suggested they make an "abstract" painting. They thought that was a great idea and had fun getting their paint on and experimenting by rolling, globing and splattering paint.

See how I have a separate paintbrush for each color? That is the key to kids keeping the colors true and not making a muddy mix of everything. 

Here is the final masterpiece! I think they did a fantastic job!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Yesterday we celebrated our Irish heritage with the Phoenix St. Patrick's Day parade, followed by lunch and shopping at the Downtown Phoenix Market. We stayed home in the evening and baked green kale chips and my great-grandmother's Irish Soda Bread. It was a beautiful cloudy day and we enjoyed spending much of it outdoors.

 

February Happenings

 Here are some things we were up to in February ...

Bert and I celebrated his birthday and Valentine's Day in Sedona. We had two wonderful and relaxing days staying at our first bed & breakfast, walking our first labyrinth, having a couples massage, enjoying a romantic dinner at Dahl & Dilucia and reading our tarot cards.

 

The four of us hiked "A" mountain in Tempe.

  

Hudson drew flowers with great detail on the leaves and he drew a princess for every girl in his class.

Happy New Year!

I know it's mid February but, I took some time from all my "should do's" to rest last month. After talking with my godmother this week (who is the best godmother in the world even if she doesn't feel like it right now) I realized I haven't posted an update here in awhile. Here is what our little family has been up to ... 

Banging pots and pans on New Years Eve!
Steve and Connie joined us for the live Phish concert stream.

We did enjoyed playing with sparklers for the first time on New Years Eve night too but, I didn't take any photos. Here we are on New Year's Day "sort of" having fun. Hudson was a little uneasy about them.

Bert and I spent a couple of frustrating hours putting these shelves up in the boys bedroom. I bought them when Ethan was about 3. About time they showed up on the wall! The kids really enjoyed arranging all their prized collections on them. Ethan especially likes seeing his Super Mario figures on display. I think he has the collector gene.

A beautiful bounty of lemons, oranges, romaine lettuce, chives and swiss chard from my friend Sara's garden.  I didn't know swiss chard was so delicious! Bert and I both really loved sauteing it with garlic. So yummy. Thanks Sara!

We hit the park playground almost every day after school with our friends and brothers Cayman and Cason. We also run into other school friends. So nice to enjoy the weather, get outside and play.

Speaking of Cayman, he celebrated his 8th birthday this month. We had a great time at the party! he had an amazing race themed party at the local park and it was really cool. A great idea for kids to run off steam and work in groups of two to try and win the race! Bert and I helped out with two of the activity stations - I did memory and he did nerf target practice.

I don't have pictures but, Hudson began a Hip Hop dance class and is loving it. He has a recital in May! It will be our 1st time time attending a dance recital, being a dancer for years as a kid with countless recitals I am really looking forward to it (of course he is too)!

So that's what we are up to. 

Hope you are doing well in your neck of woods. 

Lots of love, Kristen xoxo

holiday happenings

All quiet on Christmas Eve and a good time to share some December photos. 

Photo shoot for our holiday card.

 

Our Advent calendar kept us on track for lots of holiday fun. Baking cookies, watching Christmas movies, hot cocoa, seeing lights, baking treats for the boys old daycare, making gifts for their teachers, seeing a holiday play, attending their holiday school party, picking out toys for tots and more!

Here are some Creative Stash orders I worked on this month ...

These are the gifts I created for the boys teachers. They choose the crystal spacer to match their teachers favorite color and I printed a little gift tag that said "Thank you for your pearls of wisdom."

 

A visit to Enchanted Island at Encanto Park for some snow tube sledding and rides!

A visit from the Tohki Family!!! Aziz played while Jacynda the boys created their 2nd gingerbread house. 

 We wish you a Merry Christmas!!!