I've never had a professional picture taken of the boys.  So when I received picture frames for a Mother's Day gift, for the living room, I decided to call on a friend because the thought of getting a decent picture to hang on the wall made me want to puke. 

Luckily for me, my sister-in-law's brother Brian has a huge interest in photography and recently started to promote himself professionally.  I sent him a note on Facebook, we chatted on the phone a couple of times and this is the outcome of our visit. 




He showed me a couple of shots on the camera, and I was in awe.  One of them completely took my breath away and I had to fight back the tears. 

I noticed last week that all of my kitchen towels are in pretty bad shape.  I dont ever buy these for myself, so the ones I've gotten have been gifts. 

I was surfing Etsy looking for some new towels, and was inspired to make my own.  Well, design my own really.  I picked up the towels at Target, and hand stenciled the design.  I am quite pleased with the outcome. 

I still cant believe he's one.  Every day for the last month or so I've been trying to reach in to my memory bank and feel each memory - feel when he was just born, his sweet breath on my chest and neck, feel when he was a few weeks old and it was the early morning hours and he was screaming his head off, or feel when he was just a chunky four month old who smiled all the time.  He's my last baby.  To say I am going to miss those days is an understatement. 

However, if he's done anything at all he's only proven to me that one shouldnt judge or compare because you'll miss out on the awesomeness right in front of you.  Theo was born with a lot of hair and a mohawk.  I hated it.  Everyone else thought it was awesome.  I remember telling my OB that he was an alien, and he laughed at me rubbing his not-by-choice bald head. 

It was around three or four months when I asbolutely fell in love with the mohawk and when it grew out I was sad.  But its just one of the many things that makes Theo awesome.  He's my diamond in the rough, just like his mama.  He's my ANYTHING GOES kid.  Just take a look for yourself....



Theo from Melissa Mensavage on Vimeo.


Theo's 1st 2 from Melissa Mensavage on Vimeo.

Then I had a small party for him.  It was a monster themed party since I have been calling him my monster since he was about 4 months old.  The cake was a chore to make, but I am so glad I did it.  It'll be one to remember.  My good friend Amy make the eye cake-balls.  They were delicious.  I had a painting activity for the kids to do since it was gloomy and raining and we really couldnt run around the back yard.  It was a hit. 





And that is it.  I close out the Spring season with this post.  We will see you back here in September.  Have a fantastic summer!

The other day a co-worker was at my desk and says, 'I have three goals this year ...' and then names off exactly what she wanted to do in 2013.  Struck a chord with me - forced me to think of my personal 2013 goals. 

One of them I know for sure is the obviously - spend time living Summer.  I want scruffed up knees, sticky hands and fingers.  I want golden skin tones from just being outside.  I want towels that smell like chlorine.  I want to know on Labor Day as we close out the summer that we had an awesome time. 

Another goal is to actually make a goal and stick to it.  Elise had a 40 Loaves project.  I am not sure I want to be that committed to a project, but I certainly want to hone up on my bread making skills (those that do not require a bread machine - though it does make it SO much easier!). 

Last night was a first.  A first bread of the project, and a first bread in the crock-pot.  Yes, I said a bread made in a crock-pot.  Its a bit dense but I believe its to be from the whole wheat flour used and not just plain all-purpose flour.  Also, I didnt use my mixer as I followed the recipe exactly.  If I were to make this again, definitely using my mixer. 

Overall, it is pretty tasty.  (and I am eating veggies too!! I'm so sneaky!  oy.)

 Unlike her oldest brother, she doesn't have years of time alone with us. She has one day a week, she has bedtimes, she has moments here and moments there. It is quite different.

How true.  I had two years of just Max and me.  Now its been one whole year with Max, Theo and I and I have to say that Theo is probably the happier baby because he has not only me but this awesome big brother.   He has someone to entertain him with fun stuff such as throwing a ball around the room (when he shouldnt be), jumping on the bed (when he shouldnt be), sharing lollipops (see where I am going with this?), and so on.  Max never had that.  Instead he had a paranoid first time mom. 

(I am still officially unplugged for the summer, but I thought I'd share our new weekly Sunday Craft.  Each week we will try something new.  This will also force me to sit down and spend quality time with them.)

Melting Crayons.

One day this week Max discovered some crayons we left in the car in a baggie.  They had melted together.  He was fascinated by it.  Today, when sensing some boredom coming on since we unplugged for the weekend (very little to no TV, electronics) I thought why not make our own melted crayons to use. 

So I pulled out our crayon box. Max picked out the crayons. We put them in the mini-donut pan and I googled a recipe on how-to.  Voila!

Max pushed the kitchen chair to the counter to watch the crayons cool when I pulled them out of the oven.  He was so excited to use them.  He even said, 'Thank You Mommy' once they were cooled and I popped them out of the pan.  Theo was exited to use them as well. 

So I am making an executive mommy decision.  I am going to unplug for the summer.  The last few weeks have been busy with a trip to visit my sister Sharon in Denver, Max's birthday, new appliances being delivered, Teacher Appreciation Week parent committee duties, a garage sale and Theo's first birthday.  Let's not forget the everyday stuff too - laundry, dishes, bedtime, baths, me time. 

Plus I really want to revamp the look of this place.  And I need help for that, so I am going to take the time and think about what I want it to be and hopefully over the summer I can make it happen. 

I'll leave you with what we'll be doing while we are gone...spending time together, enjoying the summer the way it should be.  Outside.

Check out these photos I took last night of 'Smoothie Time'.  Specifically Theo.  This kid cracks me up.  I think the pictures say it all.  No need for further explanation.  Stinker. 

We met the nicest family at the library storytime we attend on Tuesday nights.  I am not a huge believer in the universe having a hand in things happening, but sometimes when I am in the thick of something I just get a feeling it was meant to be.  I think we were meant to be friends with this family. 

We went to the zoo on Sunday as it was gorgeous outside.  Jenny (mom), Kelly (dad) and Molleigh.  I can safely say we all had a blast.  Even Max and Molleigh decided to dance for us. 

They are just too cute together.

Now its up to Mother Nature to see if we'll be able to enjoy Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Basil and Watermelon.  (probably doesnt help I left them outside last night so when I brought them inside today they were SOAKED! oh well.)