apple of my eye.

i've been a lag at blogging these days. a lot has been going on around these parts-- we went to fL, had family come visit, and then some friends come and stay. also, on the 27th of february, we celebrated my eldest baby's 9th birthday. we kept things pretty low key this time around {unlike years past}.  max chose to go sledding at the usual place for his special day. we then came home and sang a birthday tune to our boy around some candle lite peanut butter bars, and opened a present for each year of his darling  life. we sure do love that little guy of ours!

{precious card from his classmates.}

my baby, max-  i can't believe we have celebrated nine years of your life already.  i remember the start of it like it was yesterday-- your dad driving 10 miles an hour home in the snow from the hospital, crying while i sang the golden girls theme song to you {it was your favorite, despite my efforts for other, more appropriate songs.}, rocking you in that green rocking chair for {literally} the entire day, just staring at your perfect, soft features.  even nine years into it, i still feel like i can't get enough of you and your velvety green eyes.  you have the most tender, precious heart. you are a friend to everyone and everyone is your friend-mate. {although, you know not a soul's name..."my friend with the red shirt." "my friend with the voice."=)}  you easily win the heart of anyone you meet.  your teachers and classmates adore you, and i still get told {just weeks ago, as a matter of fact} that kids you went to school with years ago still ask about you. it's that giant spirit you have that exudes kindness & innocence.  you are everything that is good in this world, max.  i love that you care nothing about what other people think. you are exactly who you want to be for you, and for no one else. not many can truly say that.  i love being your mom, and i love you in the strongest way possible.  love- your mama

to love somebody...

i didn't get as crazy this valentine's day as last year.  you see, the boys & i didn't get back from florida until late monday night, and i had to put a party together for max's class the next day that i had done nada for.  so, i was feeling a little tired and a little less loverly than i usually am for our v-day festivities. but, that doesn't mean i don't love, LOVE my boys...and these cute, little vintage valentines.<3 

 {valentines: lego heart boxes filled with a surprise, lovely words, concert tix ('tis the season=)), classic v-day flowers,  love.}

 {school valentines.}

 {sweethearts.}

 {homemade gifts for teachers.}

 {candy.}

 {loving.}

 {valentine playlist on airplane napkin. during turbulence, mind you.}

 {tomato basil soup & heart shaped grilled cheese dinner.}

{my guys.<3} 

weekend in an insta[nt].

cool bracelet from dee (just bc we were talking about my love for turquoise & my grandma), birthday dinner & outing with that same girlfriend (happy birthday to a beautiful friend and a reliable laugh!), homemade chimis, scary movie night with alex & ken, lana del rey's new album over -y- over, a night of dancing & cute dresses, cuts & cool bandages,  best beginning ever!

snips & snails.

on tuesday, my littlest baby turned six. since we are going to florida next tuesday and mark left for a boys golf trip for a few days on mad's birthday, mad decided he would rather have his birthday bash next week down in the sunshine.  but, being who i am, i couldn't not do something at least a little special for that boy of mine.  so, the night before marcus left, i had him build a frame for a fort. max and i then spent the morning {max was too excited sick to go to school.;)} putting it together and making it "birthday" ready.  treats were taken up to his school and i read his favorite book to his class, which he requested that i don't do in a loud tone or use different voices, basically i was asked to read it monotone. we spent the rest of the day celebrating in the fort with aunt kenna, books, gifts, games and movies.

my dearest, little maddy pie- let me tell you a little about the 6 year old you that i adore so much.  you love your hair, some may say you are quite obsessed with it. no one is allowed near it, and you put gel in it 5-6 times daily and are very proud when it is at its hardest. what you wear is also an important part of your daily routine and you love to clothes shop...thank you.;) you still love meat & veggies more than anything else, and still carry a hatred for cheese {minus kraft mac and cheese and dad's "famous" grilled cheese sandwiches.} you are the boy with 102 nicknames. back scratches and books are two of your favorites. you have the cutest, most infectious laugh ever heard. even the lady in target who told me she stood on the aisle next to us and  just listened to you laugh for 5 minutes agrees.=) you love to be outside, riding your bike, playing in the snow, hiking the mountains, swimming in any and every body of water. you are up for anything, anytime. you have an adventurous little soul and everyone that is close to you can't enough of your fun, free spirit. you love sports like your daddy and music like your mama.  but, there is nothing in this world you love more than your brother, max. for your birthday, you asked for what max has been wanting so you could give it to him.  you hate to see him get into trouble, and threaten to beat up anyone who is remotely unkind to him. there are few people that truly care about someone else's happiness more than their own, but you are one of them. max is very lucky.  and we are very lucky to have you in our family. 

i love you so.

mama

{maddy asked that i wear my fancy dress for his birthday. i do as i'm told.;)}

mad's birthday menu {as requested}:

garlic chicken {lots}

broccoli

edamama {edamame}

mac & cheese {but "the good kind." meaning- not homemade/healthier, but kraft.;)}

ice cream sundaes {or a bowl full of mostly chocolate syrup.}

{mad made this sign. what are you? illiterate? it clearly reads "no grown-ups allowed.";) ::  i cut this sign from a cardboard treehouse he made a few weeks ago. darling.}

{he loves his hair glue, and more is always better. right?=)}

{"pirates sail and lost boys fly..."}

i can't believe how fast his little life is going by. heartbreaking. i usually leave the door cracked while he showers at night {showers.}.  the other night i did just this, and mad said, "mom, you need to close the door all the way.", to which i replied that i needed to be able to make sure he was okay.  maddy then said, "you just don't want me to grow up!" and i realized that was the truest truth i have ever heard. i don't, not one bit.  but, since there is not a thing on earth i can do to stop it, i will just hold tight to the memories i have of him as my little angel baby and cherish them always. 
happy birthday, sunshine angel.

tooth-es

madden lost his first tooth.

 {last picture taken of his baby smile.}

{<3- the tooth fairy. first tooth kept for good luck.}

two days later, he lost another. 

she wore that dress like it was a saturday.

last week was my birthday, and what a birthday it was! i went to the jazz vs. lal game with mark and his crew, out for dinner and laughs with my sisters and one of my best, came home to a cake made by my boys {with only a little instructional help.;)}, had quality time and pointy cheese toast with girlfriends, a very fun lunch with mark's mama and sisters, a horror movie, a jim gaffigan show and a saturday night out on the town.

30 is not so bad.

 {sisters -1}

birthday love...

well-wishes, star sprinkles, handmade hats, thoughtful -y- funny gifts, star crowns, fave shopping discounts, concert tickets x2,  cupcakes,  pretty necklaces, my dream come true,  texts that had me dying, front porch surprises, lots of love.

{beautiful hat made, with love, by my sister, ken. dee's always thoughtful gifts.}

a little birthday love from all your sisters and de ann

Happy birthday to our sister who....

1. Has been on more vacations so far in 2012 than Jo went on in all of 2011.
2. We now refer to as our little, tiny sister.
3. Makes more trips to target than anyone else and still does not have their red card 5% cash back.
4. Believes that breakfast deserves a good dessert afterwards.
5. Cannot put down a sleeping baby. Not even her own. For at least the first few years of life.
6. Takes the role of Auntie Claus very, very seriously.
7.  Takes 2 months to decide where to hammer the hole for a picture...and she always regrets it.
8.  Is a photography addict.
9.  Doesn't want to end up on the hoarders TV show in her future.
10. Timberly says is the best, most thoughtful & beautiful of all my sisters. (the rest of us, deann included, were rightfully offended.)
11. Cannot pass by the Christmas tree with names without taking at least 10 and then crying later hoping all of the names were taken.
12. Quickly surpassed her teacher (andrea ) in fashion....andrea rues the day she ever showed her how to curl her hair with a flat iron
13. Has boxes of all kinds of magical things in her basement just in case a loved one is in need.
14. Should've been a foot model ... If it weren't for that 2nd toe that became morbidly obese!
15. Knows every lyric to every song.
16. Picks the sweetest, most fun friends so the rest of us can have some too.
17. Is the go-to girl for the correct version of any family event!
18. Throws the most exquisite part-ays! With the sweat and labor of her family members to set up.
19. Goes above and beyond to make the most thoughtful and beautiful presents for any employee at her kids' school if they anything to do with her kids:  secretaries, custodian, crossing guard, ere'body.
20. Unwraps any present someone else wraps so it can be done "properly".
21. Once was a famous journalist. We've got the paper to prove it. The Sledger.
22. Embarrasses her boys and husband when she does the robot dance.
23. Knows every quote from all our favorite movies...cat on a hot tin roof, little women, while you were sleeping...
24. Is our own resident "Beth".
25. Would hide in the linen closet for hours to avoid simple chores.
26. Shoulda been a artist or an architect.
27. Who suddenly stopped sneezing 5 times in a row every morning. How do it know?!
28. Is our own family stand up comedian.
29. Has an endearing nickname for any one who walks in her door.
30. We could never love anyone like we love our sister:) 

birthday.

today is my birthday and the beginning of a new decade of my life. 

little, red birthday book.

originality. 

happiness galore.

robustness.

song i love.

so far, so good.

"birthday"- bird & bee