Not So Cool Cuts for Kids

This little dude's hair was CRAZY shaggy!

Mark has trimmed his hair here and there before. But his hair is just SO different from Nolan's. Nolan's is coarse and sticks straight up! Heath's is fine and has some waves to it. But it was just getting so long in some places and we were afraid to buzz it like we normally do with Nolan's, so we took him to Cool Cuts for Kids for his first "official" hair cut! We've taken Nolan there twice before and they've always done a good job.

Until this time. Maybe it was the curls, or maybe there was a little too much chatting going on, or maybe their wasn't enough focus.

Heath did a great job, sat still, & didn't cry! And this sweet lady did her best, but we came home with a "not so cool" cut! We just aren't so into the racing stripes and blunt snips thing!

So the next day our at home barber did a little buzzing and tried to fix it up a bit. Heath is so handsome and can rock any look with that gleam in his eye and infectious smile! But we probably won't be setting foot into that establishment again. And Heath will probably end up with the long, curly, surfer dude style because I won't want a scissors to touch his head for a LONG time!

Can it be?

Can it be that I am already thinking about Christmas? Yes! I have already bought a few gifts and some stocking stuffers for the boys! I have NEVER begun shopping this early. There is just something about busy stores, running around last minute, and all of the hustle and bustle of December that I usually love! But this year with 2 boys, and 2 birthdays in the midst of Christmas busyness...for my own sanity I needed to start early! And this year, being back on D Track at school I will teach 3 weeks in December! I was spoiled teaching on A Track for the past few years and having off from Thanksgiving Break through the New Year! And add to that traveling to Chicago for Christmas...I'm just a TAD busy for the next 2 months! But LOVING every second of it!

There's just something about Christmas with your own kids that makes it that much more magical! I love all of the traditions: cutting down the tree, decorating it, our Elf on the Shelf: Eckabee, baking cookies and decorating them, shopping for the perfect present, wrapping gifts, being with my family, the Pickle Ornament, and CHRISTMAS CARDS! I love the creativity that goes into designing them and I L-O-V-E cards and REAL mail!

I recently heard about this great offer from Shutterfly where bloggers can receive 50 FREE Christmas Cards just for blogging about their favorite designs that Shutterfly has to offer this Holiday Season! What a fun promotion...something FREE during this time of year...I'll take it!

So here are a few of my favorites...one may or may not be the one we choose...we might just want to add a little surprise to your mailbox! (My blog is cutting them off a bit, so be sure to click on the links to see them in all their jolly glory!)

Family Snowfall Red Christmas

Last year since I had JUST had Heath, I did not want a current photo of my self in all my post birth, flabby, breast feeding glory. So 3 separate pictures of Mark & I, Nolan, and tiny Heath just worked. So, this year I think we are going to do just 1 family photo. I like this card because it is classic, simple, and you can choose your own text and font! I love a good font...so that appeals to me! I also like how the photo is framed!

This one is a top choice for some of the same reasons- clean, and traditional. And if you have 1 great photo this Snowflake Design Christmas card will be perfect! And the little snowflakes on top of the picture are so stinkin' cute!

And one more just for fun: Merry Christmas

I am really gravitating towards cards this year that have large photo options. I also like that the text will layer on top of the photo, just like the snowflakes above. I think that this card would look great with a black & white photo as well! I did black & white last year, so I am leaning towards color this year, and who wouldn't want to see my boys bright blue eyes anyways. But for a black & white option- this one is FAB!

So can you tell my style? I think so...they all look similiar, yet so different at the same time! I still don't have a photo at this point. So I will need to tackle that first. But then on to the joy of creating the perfect card! Shutterfly has so many designs, creative, modern, and beautiful! And they are FAST! I love that! I love opening up the orange envelope with excitement and never being disappointed by the luster, clarity, and color of my photos!

And with that...maybe I've inspired you to get into the Christmas spirit early, or maybe you just think I'm crazy for spreading Holiday joy before Thanksgiving! Either way, I bet you will be excited to see our Christmas Card in your mailbox in just a few short weeks!

Cleveland Rocks!

This past weekend we took off for a romantic weekend away in Cleveland! Well, I don't know quite how romantic Cleveland is, but it sure was nice to get away! We traveled with Ernie, Kim, and D.J. to Cleveland for our dear friends James & Lindsay's wedding!

James and Mark have grown up together. They went to Denver Christian, played baseball and football together, and they both went to Calvin too, playing baseball there as well. Since we have been married we have hung out with James and their whole high school group back here in Denver. James has led us in a Bible study and we have watched his relationship with God and Lindsay grow. He is now a pastor and a husband! These guys have done life together. And it was our honor to be able to celebrate his wedding with him!

And it was a good excuse to catch up with old friends...

Still lookin' young and handsome after all these years...a few of the boys at an Irish pub on Friday night. A fun dinner with friends before the wedding the next day! We had good beer & wine, AWESOME fish & chips, AND...

Car Bombs of course!

Mr. and Mrs. James Cottier!!!

The wedding was Saturday morning and Lindsay was stunning!

They got married in a beautiful old stone chapel.

Every little detail of the wedding and brunch reception was just perfect- beautiful, classy, and fall!

Life long friends- they had a blast being together all weekend, laughing, joking, drinking, chatting about old times, and causing a little mischief...

and the result of their fun was for all to see on the get-away car!

Our whole Denver Christian/Calvin crew! Mark and I, Kim and Ernie, James and Lindsay, Nate, Mandy and Rick, and D.J.! All of us girls who have been lucky enough to marry into this group of guys could not be happier to be surrounded by men who value friendship, love God, and are so F-U-N!

I love this rare picture of just Mark and I! It was so nice to get away together for the weekend!

After the wedding we all went out for a famous overstuffed "Cleveland Sandwich" at Panini's. Pastrami, provolone cheese, coleslaw, french fries, tomatoes, & mayo on french bread- Yum!

It rained and snowed the whole weekend! We haven't had so much as a flake here in Denver yet this year, so it was pretty, but not ideal weather for a wedding!

So we were happy to return to our mild weather at home...and happy to return to these two cute boys!

We were all exhausted from busy weekends away so we cuddled up on the couch to watch a movie and snuggle under a blanket together!

Weekends away are a wonderful way to reconnect with your spouse but they also help you have a fresh outlook on your children! It was so great to see Heath's huge smile as I walked through the door and to have Nolan nuzzle in for a hug when I woke him up from his nap! Things I take for granted from day to day.

So thank you Oma & Opa and Cara & Wes for helping out with the kids for the weekend! They loved being with you!

And congratulations to James & Lindsay...we could not be happier for you! We love you both and look forward to celebrating your new married life together when you are back from Cabo!

DIY

So last Friday night I was having a Skype date with my bestie Jill and she introduced me to a whole new world of blog stalking! Mark does not think that I need any more blogs to lurk in, but unlike my usual linking from one cute family to the next, at least my new found fun has some productivity attached to it.

I quickly became obsessed with blogs dedicated to DIY projects: (Do It Yourself). And let me tell you, there are so many adorable, crafty, budget conscious, and creative ladies out there! I was so inspired! I ended up staying up until 1:30 a.m. reading, thinking, dreaming, and creating! And here's what I came up with to spice up our empty basement walls!

This is the wall going down to our basement. Since we finished it last November it has been empty...now it has life! And it was was cheap and easy to do!

My first late night project. I got the letters from Flickr and put them into Power Point, sized them, and printed it out on photo paper! Then all I had to do was buy a frame at Walmart!

Love this free printable "Subway Art". I printed it on photo paper, mounted it on burlap with little black pins, matted & framed it. I just love what it says!

And this is the wall down in the play area of the basement. I had already framed a few of Nolan's masterpieces from Abrakadoodle class and then I just added this simple frame of things to remember when having fun with friends!

As a Mom & Teacher these are all important practices that I use on a daily basis!

And to site my favorite source: www.endlesscrafting.blogspot.com

It feels so good to do something creative, to refresh your decor, and to do it all on a very small budget! Happy crafting!

Trick or Treat!

We are all exhausted from a busy weekend of Halloween fun! And we have a 100 pictures to prove it!

On Friday we stopped by Mark's NCM Halloween party/contest to check out Daddy and his friends in their Karate Kid costumes! Daddy looked pretty good as Cobra Kai! Check out his sweet moves! His company really goes all out with decorations, candy, costumes, & themes! Nolan loved it all! Heath was a little freaked out by some of the scary things and held on to us with a death grip as we walked through the office!

On Saturday night we headed over to carve pumpkins with Payton and Brady! Heath was exhausted by the time we actually started carving so he went to bed. Next year he'll be able to participate more!

Nolan helped a LITTLE, but wasn't too into the pumpkin carving process...he was much more interested last year. This year, he just wanted to play cars. Brady has too many fun toys!

Mark does a great job carving...my job is to collect the seeds and bake them! Yum!

The Syers family pumpkins

But he sure liked the finished product!

Our Frankenstein pumpkin- Nolan picked out the design! O.k. I "coached" him a little in picking out which ones would look cool...but he made the ultimate decision. He loves watching the lit "Frankenstein" and blowing out the candle!

After carving the kids had a great time playing "Bunga" in the pillows...and if you look really closely you'll see Uncle Wes too!

Daddy made himself Dracula fangs for a Halloween snack with peanut butter, apples, and candy corn. So creative! Then he and Nolan pretended to be Dracula!

Heater rockin' out on Halloween and sportin' his skull shoes! (A gift from Kerri Liu when Nolan was born- Nolan wore this same outfit on his 1st Halloween too!)

Hitting up one of the many haunted houses in our neighborhood!

Nolan had a blast going from house to house trick or treating! He LOVED his costume. And he did a great job saying, "Trick or Treat", "Happy Halloween", and "Thank you"! But he didn't want to do much small talk with the neighbors, after he said his thanks he would say, "Let's go to the next house!" He would have gone all night if we let him!

After trick or treating in our neighborhood, we headed over to Oma & Opa's house. Here are all the kiddos together for a picture! From Left to Right: Nolan, Brady, Ella, Heath, Payton, and Rylan! Cohen was there too, but he was sleeping at the time we took this...he was a "stinky skunk" as Nolan would say!

Nolan and Heath with their crazy Oma & Opa!

I was a DC baseball player!

Now what to do with the buckets and buckets of candy we have...we can't possibly eat it all!

Or will we?! That's a scary thought!

Happy Halloween!

This fireman...

and his Dalmation Puppy...

would like to wish YOU...

a VERY

Happy Halloween!