Before & After

Our little Jack got his first haircut on Tuesday. Mark buzzed it (just like he buzzed Evan's hair when he turned one), despite my many protests. I think he looks so much older in the "after" photo, and it kills me that my baby doesn't look so babyish anymore. But his blue eyes are still as bright as can be :-)

365 Days.

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet baby boy.

We are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Evan & Abby and Evan & his Quad

I created a page for Karla Dudley Designs a few days ago using Karla's new kit: Jillian. The colors are purple and silver (not my usual go-to colors), but it was so much fun to do something different. I used some great pictures from last summer of Abby and Evan. Those two were attached at the hip while we were there... and these pictures are priceless. Such good memories.


[Supplies Used - Template: Jillian. Purple cardstock: Jillian. Off-white cardstock: Jillian. Glitter flower: Jillian. Pearl: Jillian. Staple: Digi Essentials No.1. Clear flowers: Jillian. Stitching: Digi Essentials No. 1. Fonts: Kd Everyday & Georgia]

I also had to create a page about Evan's new quad. Doesn't he look so grown up? When did that happen? I still can't believe I am a mom to a 4-year-old. He has grown up so fast.

[Supplies Used - Black cardstock: Cardstock Essentials No. 1. Mesh border: For the Boys. Dark gray photo corners: Tweet. Photo and journaling frames: Frame Essentials No. 1. Staples: Digi Essentials No. 1. White tags: For the Boys. White cardstock: Cardstock Essentials No. 1. Bracket brush: 365 Weekly Album. White brads: Spring '10. Fonts: KD Everyday, 1942 Report, and Georgia.]

Have a wonderful weekend!

Erin.

Washington DC

Mark has been on a business trip for the last week, so the kids and I have been hanging out & missing Daddy terribly. I thought I would get frustrated without any help, but so far it's been a really good experience for me. The kids have behaved (for the most part), I have kept up with the laundry & dishes, and I remembered to take out the garbage cans so the garbage truck can pick them up. I am most proud of that! I totally thought I was going to forget about the garbage cans and be stuck with an overflowing mess for a week.

After Mark's class yesterday he headed to the White House to take some pictures. It was late when he got to Washington (nobody calls it Washington DC here... it's only Washington), so the photos are a little dark. I like the contrast between the dark sky and the bright white house. We are definitely going to have to take the kids some day... I want to see it for myself! Mark did say the White House was smaller than he expected it to be.



I have been working on Ali Edwards' Week in the Life project, along with many other scrapbookers, this week. It's a little weird that Mark isn't in most of the photos, but it's been a great way to document our time while we wait for him to come home. I'll post some photos and observations soon. I also have a few layouts for Karla Dudley Designs to post soon, too. Hopefully in the next day or two.

Off to take out the garbage :-)

Erin.

CropChocolate.com

A couple of months ago CropChocolate.com asked for some of their customers to design projects using products they sell. I was chosen as one of those designers, and I wanted to share some of my designs:


CropChocolate products: "Love You" rub-ons by Fancy Pants Designs.


CropChocolate product: Peacock stamp by BasicGrey.


CropChocolate Product: Metal clip by Making Memories.


CropChocolate Product: Flower rub-on by BasicGrey.

I loved working with CropChocolate. They have the best customer service, and my contact for this project was amazing. I hope I'm allowed to create for them again soon.

The First Half of April:

I can't believe it is already April 16th! Our family visits are over, and it's time for us to return to our normal schedule. I know the boys miss Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Tom, though. Evan keeps asking when they are coming back... poor guy! I don't think he understands just how far we are from Washington.

We are definitely going to buy a globe in the near future for the kids. I am hoping a globe will help them understand where we are compared to the rest of our family.

I wanted to share some of the photos I took during those visits (and a couple from Easter, too):


Oh, how Evan loves his new quad. I think he has ridden it almost everyday this past week. He loves, loves, loves it! Look for a layout for Karla Dudley Designs on the 19th about Evan's new quad!


On Tuesday we went to the Newport Aquarium with Uncle Tom. Evan and Jack loved it! I really liked the jelly fish & the sharks. One of the exhibits allowed visitors to touch a shark & I did it! Their skin is really leathery and tough, but soft at the same time. Evan said he didn't want the sharks to bite his fingers because he likes his fingers, so he didn't want to touch them. I was okay with that!


This is probably my 2nd favorite photo of our aquarium trip (my favorite photo is of Uncle Tom and Jack). I love the jelly fish!


My favorite Aquarium photo.


Jack got an early birthday present last weekend from Grandma & Grandpa. He is the perfect size for this little blue buggy.






Mark was given amazing tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game the week my parents were in town, so my Dad, Mark, Evan, and I got to go to the game. The seats were behind home plate on the 100 level, and we were definitely spoiled! Evan enjoyed the game, but did get a little antsy toward the end. We stayed through the 7th inning (and missed the walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th by the Reds), but it was a great experience. This was Evan's first MLB game, and our first Reds game.






We also visited Sharon Woods in Sharonville, Ohio. It was a perfectly beautiful day and the park was great for Evan & Jack. Evan got this crazy idea to walk across the stream, which landed him in the water, but he loved every second of it.






This was Jack's first time riding in a swing. He wasn't so sure about it at first, but eventually started smiling and giggling.






It was also Jack's first time on a slide. He LOVED it! My mom would hold onto him all the way down and he would smile and clap.


Yes, I dressed the boys in matching shirts on Easter. They looked so, so, so cute! And I love how sparkly their blue eyes look in this photo. I do love that they both got my blue eyes... it's probably the only thing they got from me!





Wow... that is a lot of photos. Thanks for looking if you've stuck with me for this long! And THANK YOU Mom, Dad, and Uncle Tom for visiting us. We had so much fun during our time together, and we can't wait to see you in May!

Have a blessed weekend, friends.

xoxo, Erin.

Family Time.

The past 10 days have been full of visits from family, trips to the aquarium & the park, and beautiful spring weather. I wanted to share a couple of my favorite photos from last week:




I love the look on Jack's face in this photo. Doesn't he look mischievous?!?

I will be back in a few days with more photos and a Karla Dudley Designs sneak peek.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

xoxo, Erin.

Visiting.

My parents are in town this week. This is the first trip they have made to Ohio & we are enjoy our time with them so, so much. Yesterday we went to Entertrainment Junction in West Chester, and today we purchased & assembled a swing set for the backyard. Tomorrow we are off to the park, and Thursday we are going to a Reds game. I probably won't post again until Friday night; I am trying to enjoy as much time with them as possible before they fly home on Friday.

I have a sneak peak from Karla Dudley!



This layout features product from Karla's new kit, For the Boys, which releases April 15th. You can see another beautiful layout on the CT Blog using the same kit.

Have a wonderful week.

xoxo,
Erin.

Sweet Peach.

Jack: you were full of smiles and giggles today.

Thank you for being such a wonderful and sweet little boy... you bring your Daddy and me so much joy.


This photo was taken at dinner tonight, so those are peaches all over his face. He really, really liked his peaches :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo
Erin.