I am Loving Right Now...

1. This recipe for Asian Noodle Lettuce Cups:

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/eatlikeme/2010/08/light-tasty-asian-noodle-lettu.html#more (I didn't use the noodles bc I didn't find them at the store I was at...but I added a bunch rainbow (or broccoli) slaw...

There is a step-by-step photo slide show on how to make. They were easy, yummy, colorful and definitely had a kick to them (just a note if you don't like spicy food)

2. The song "Airplanes" by B.O.B - I have listened to it several times recently that I even heard W singing "wish right now wish right now wish right now"

3. Catching up on the last "So you Think You Can Dance" episodes on hulu.com I especially loved this performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp1odkX7RPE

4. The book "Scream-Free Parenting" is quite enlightening.

5. The fall items exploding on the shelves in the stores. I LOVE fall.

6. ...that I found my car keys (they were missing for a day and half) :)

Starting Over

So a couple of weeks ago we went to the OR coast to celebrate Mark and Jan's 40th anniversary and J and W's 4th birthday. We returned home and I worked dilligently on a post...even though the computer wasn't so enthusiastic with the large amount of pictures I was trying to load, then upload to the blog so it took me at least four frustrating days off and on to get just the pictures to this blog. And finally, on the fifth day, I sat down to finish the blog...I just needed to add some more descriptions and just two more pictures...and when it finished loading my last two pictures...the post only consisted of those last two pictures. WWHHAATTTT?! Where did it go?! Yes, four days of effort down the drain. As you may have noticed...I just had to w-a-l-k-a-w-a-y from the good 'ole blog.

So I may not get to post about the OR coast. I am still pouting. :)

Turning 4...

A little recipe for fun memories and BIG naps:

Mix a little sugar...

A few dozen balloons...

Dart guns...lots of dart guns...

BIG dart guns:

...with some pachinko:

Add a few gallons of water (for the slip 'n slide they received as a gift just before the party!)...

Toss in a bin of balls...

Throw some water balloons at a big person (essential ingredient):

Mingle with lots of little (and big) people friends...

Sprinkle in some itty bitty little people (really, don't these two make being a new-momma-of-THREE-look-easy?

Add a bunch of giggles...

a little fire...

and yield...one BIG nap.

OK, at least half the time! J fell asleep shortly after the party was over...W was too excited about the new birthday gifts.

We had so much fun throwing this birthday party....with a little help from etsy.com with decorating...seriously...how cute is this banner?

Or these treat box labels:

And the boys received some great board games and card games, toys and activities which will be quite useful this winter...how creative is this?

Our friends Julie and Christina created these "not bored anymore" activity boxes FULL of crafts, beads, markers, stickers, etc. LOVE that.

Really really can't believe these little guys are almost four.

About a Boat

Our friends invited us to go on their boat on Sunday. Thanks again K family! We LOVED it.

The boys got to watch a train show on the way to the lake. Here they are in "the position"...when they are sleepy they always put their hands behind their head like this:

Of course the first thing on J and W's mind as soon as we got on the boat: Food. Snacks! "Hungry!" They polished off a box of bunny crackers and craisins (they don't get either very often so they were grabbing fistfuls), they moved on to string cheese. W with Geoff and string cheese:

Getting ready to go tubing:

Christina and 2 of her 3 kiddos:

W, big J and little J hanging out at the front of the boat:

Time for wakeboarding. Joe showing how it is done:

Wakeboarding looks really fun to me...especially seeing Joe and Christina cross the boat and jump. I decided to wait and try next time (not jumping...wakeboarding...probably trying to even get up on a wakeboard)...especially when everyone first started and the water was a little rough from the wind.

Christina making it look easy:

By the end of the day the water had completely calmed down and I was really tempted...but...seeing that I still have to plug my nose when I go underwater...I know I would be focusing on how I could plug my nose before crashing rather than wake boarding...so I was a chicken. Geoff enjoyed the wakeboarding a lot...he even attempted a 360 on the water and he did it.
J on flag detail:

I still can't get over how pretty the lake is. And seeing bald eagles fly over is pretty incredible too. We had a picnic dinner before heading home. The boys both fell asleep on the drive back...they transferred to bed and slept through the night (Hallelujah) in their clothes. And I must say...it was pretty nice to have them already "dressed" when they woke up Monday morning. Bonus!