Happy Birthday Mom!

 I'd like to take some time to wish my Mother a very happy birthday. She always does so much for us on our birthdays *and every day for that matter...* I am in a mushy nostalgic mood (what else is new...) and I was looking back at pictures & wanted to share some. Mom is a creative amazing person with a gigantic heart.

one of my favorites of her. She used to dance!

she made that dress. She taught me how to sew and gave me many creative passions.

we had matching dresses on many occasions

She has always embraced our "crazy" and encouraged our individuality... even when she didn't totally agree... haha How many Moms encouraged their kids to paint murals throughout the house? :)

or when she's right there with us being silly :)

She always made our Halloween costumes - and I feel it's important to carry on that tradition

she writes on things like produce as notes to us :)

takes us to Beatles conventions!

and we indulge her "crazy" need to have a Santa picture in NYC Macy's every year - even though we are OLD! :p

she makes sure that her grandchildren can follow their passions as well

 She is a fantastic Grandma - in fact, the spoils my kid ROTTEN... haha but it's all out of love. Seriously, look how she glows in the pictures with the kiddos. Wow :)

 

I love my mom. No matter what we go through... no matter how much we disagree/argue... I know in the end, she'll always be there for me. (We DO tend to be on the same page about stuff these days though) :)

So here's to you, Mom! "Hippo Birdies" to you and many many many more!

 

                                                                      We love you!

Fall Loving Family

 Just some recent favorites from the past week... we are LOVING this brilliant fall weather! It really inspires me in so many ways. I am making their costumes already... J is Kermit and M is a cat (OUR cat Tobey to be exact)... BUT in true M fashion she wants to be a cat with a tutu :) I am still convincing Jim that it is a great idea to be Al and Peg Bundy! I don't have the space to host a costume party or I WOULD! We went to the local farm ice cream stand that's next to M's ballet studio and they had gourds and pumpkins displayed in a John Deere tractor. J just about lost his mind seeing the tractor right there. He loved the bright yellow wheel. It made for a great photo backdrop. We bought a pumpkin with funky green "warts" on it :) I LOVE this time of year!

                                         always the dancer/performer :)

 after the bus drops Maris, we've been playing some teeball outside and hunting for cool leaves. Once we find some good ones, we will do some cool leaf art. My pinterest obsession has brought me many craft ideas involving them. The tree in our yard drops nuts and ugly leaves so maybe a trip to a park or something is in order for a nature walk and leaf hunt.

Fall Foliage Festival

Sweeters in a tree :)

    

We went to the Fall Foliage Festival yesterday and enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather and fresh air with my sister, her fiancee, and my cousin. Jim was working so it was nice to have their help wrangling the kids in all the excitement. It was crowded this year! They added a scarecrow competition this year and I took some photos of our favorites.

fall foliage at the festival

this one placed in the competition

my coworker also works for meals on wheels and she made this scarecrow :) She used to bring meals to my Grandparents years ago.

this one placed as well. 2nd place I believe

pretty random zombies...

Goob wasn't into posing for any pictures but he hasn't been feeling good, so I didn't bother him :)

 

chocolate pops!

so many historic walls and textures for photos in that town... I plan to go back and take some great shots when it is less crazy. Some random lady saw me taking my famous self-taken shots with the kids and offered to take one for me... after teaching her how to use my camera....*always happens* she got this shot. Goob ran away to my sister, he's shy.

Goob hitched a ride from my cousin Megan. He isn't used to walking so much... I usually bring the stroller - not only for him, but also so I have a place to stash all my stuff! haha I am glad I didn't attempt the stroller with all the uneven sidewalks and crowds though. He did great.

 It was a great day with family. We had some bake sale treats, threw coins in the fountain, I got some great inspiration for projects, saw some friends... then we went home to relax and eat dinner before I had to go to work. It was great to have so much time with my sweets since she is in school now. It shows since all I did was take pictures of her haha




oh! and here's the logo design's progress... what do you think?