Another great and quiet day filled with art and family time. Jake went to work early in the morning while I exercised and then when he came back we took family shots.

I love and adore these photos.

even the blurrier ones.

or where the kids aren’t looking at the camera.

or make a super-bored face.

but, of course, my favorite is tickle time!

it is the very very best.

David got to watch a little TV.

Nathaniel went shopping with Daddy and came back with a smile.

my very favorite kind.

I’ve done a lot of todo list items this week and weekend. I feel close to caught up. I still have a few items on my list but I feel more caught up than usual. Tomorrow I have two classes starting up and it’s Jake’s birthday and the very last day of our summer.

Tonight, we play games for family night!

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the piece of art I made today, it’s an all-time favorite.
2. I am grateful that we got more salads and fruit.
3. I am grateful that this summer was very memorable and wonderful for me.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we’re going to play Gobblet! * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I watched Looney Tunes.
3. I am grateful that I played on the computer.

I am so happy it’s the weekend. This has been a tough tough week for me. I am still feeling dazed, off, frustrated, overwhelmed, tired and stressed. Both my kids start school next week and the new schools, routines, alarms are making me stress even more. But it is what it is.

This is a common scene in my house. David playing with a toy and Nathaniel wanting it immediately.

Nathaniel looking at me as if to say “mommy make him give it to me.”

then the drama.

david looking at me to see if I will cave in into the crying.

me asking David to please sit next to Nathaniel so he can at least watch David.

the little boy finally calming down.

happens several times a day. there’s lots of loud complaining to mommy about how the other one grabbed the toy or is playing with the “favorite” toy. Life with two…

today was also the last of the recent art journaling pages I’ve been working on so I stacked them all up and took photos. It’s nice to see a stack like this:

Today I start a new journal. A slightly different size and medium. I am completely in love with art journaling and so thankful I’ve finally found a way to incorporate it into my day. I hope that with our new schedules it doesn’t go by the wayside. I will have to do it even if I don’t finish a whole page each day.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I finished two huge todo list items today.
2. I am grateful for a productive day at work.
3. I am grateful that it’s a 3-day weekend. I really need it.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I watched Kipper. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I have swimming tomorrow.
3. I am grateful that I played with my legos.

We decided to take today off so we could do one more family day before school starts next week. So we spent the morning doing our typical stuff (reading, art, scrapping, napping, etc.) and then when Nathaniel woke up we went to a mini-golf place on 101. It was super hot and not super conducive to great photos but I took some anyway.

Nathaniel watched at first.

even gave me some smiles.

Daddy played too of course. And he was the best.

before soon, Nathaniel was playing too.

And here’s proof I was there, too.

David did pretty well (except when he cheated. which when we pointed out to him, got him very upset.)

Here’s the only shot of the two of them I got and it’s blurry, of course.

but then Daddy snapped my favorite photo of the day.

and I got one of my big boy.

and one of my little one.

and that was that for golf. We then played for a few minutes in the arcade, used the tickets to get a plastic soldier and some candy. Dinner, laughter and now the kids are in bed and I have a layout to make. Here’s to another lovely day. Hope yours was, too.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for my package of goodies and that I made a layout already.
2. I am grateful for the awesome mini golf day.
3. I am grateful that my jaw is a little better today. Only 2 advils so far.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we went to play mini golf. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with my Nathaniel.
3. I am grateful that I got a toy soldier.

Today was a crazy crazy crazy day at work.But, in the end, it all worked out. The kids spent most of the day playing by themselves.

Mostly with legos.

Nathaniel was very cranky after he woke up. Wouldn’t let me take his PJs off, wouldn’t let me put his pants on after a diaper change. He’s sulking here cause David went upstairs.

Then gets distracted by the TV.

Would not let me take any photos. So when Jake got home I asked him if he could hold Nathaniel so I could capture some.

And snapped one of David, too.

Then Nathaniel started to have fun. (popping with his fingers here.)

And went a little too crazy.

Super-happy.

hurting daddy

and hugging him (or head butting him…we weren’t sure.)

either way, I got my smiley photos.

My jaw’s been acting up again and I have a bad headache from it and I am tired and worn out. So my plan tonight is to just relax. Maybe read a bit. I will aim to reply to all the comments, too. Let’s see if I do.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a new dev channel. This one was eventful.
2. I am grateful I did make some art today. It makes me very happy.
3. I am grateful that I don’t have anything due right now so I can take the night off and relax without feeling bad.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played Atari with Daddy * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with my legos.
3. I am grateful that I played with Nathaniel.

We had a lovely Saturday here. I woke up and read to David, then, while I exercised he and daddy went to swimming class and when he got back, it was family photo time. At first, there was a little moment.

but soon it passed and the boys were looking at Daddy’s toolset.

I love how I can tell he’s squishing the boys in this photo. Just like I do all the time.

And then I got in the photo, too.

Nathaniel took the photos, of course. But you can see David eyeing the remote.

and here he is reaching for it.

but we move to tickle time instead. Trying to avoid more drama.

And there’s much laughter, of course.

Then the little boy went to bed and David played wii. After about an hour, we gave up on the little boy and went out to the Cal train to take a little ride since Nathaniel loves trains so much. David was quite happy too.

Nathaniel was scared at first.

But he loved it once we were on. We went down a few stops, got off, had some lunch, and then got back on to come home. When we got off, the boys waved goodbye to the train.

some fruit-shopping and a little more art and our day was over.

At one point, David got really sad and went over to the stairs to cry. I went to sit with him and when Nathaniel saw him, he climbed into his lap to give him a hug. And then he went away and came back with a big truck to encourage him to play and be happy. It touched all of us so much and I think David realized how very much Nathaniel loves him. It was a wonderful moment.

Now they’re sleeping and I am about to write my art journal and then hopefully put together the September newsletter, I’ve been dragging my foot for some reason. I feel tired but happy. Here’s to another full day tomorrow.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for our train ride, it was really fun.
2. I am grateful I finally bound my art pages. I’ll make sure to post it when I post the full book pages.
3. I am grateful for fresh fruit and salads in the fridge.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we went on the Cal Train * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I made my lego men play guitar hero.
3. I am grateful that I played wii.

Happy Thursday!! Since I have tomorrow off I feel like it’s a Friday here. I am happy and I am trying to get through all my todo lists that have been dragging all week so that I can start the weekend fresh. So if you have an unanswered email or comment from me, I will do my very best to get it done tonight. I am also hoping to do the September newsletter. If you don’t get my newsletters, you can subscribe on the right side. They come with free digi downloads. I don’t post them anywhere else just as a service to people who do subscribe.

Ok enough of that. I snapped a few shots of the little boy today.

this is the more common one with his thumb in his mouth.

walking to hug David when he comes downstairs (he was upstairs playing with his legos).

they play together, and there’s much drama when David takes a piece he wants or doesn’t let him take one of his.

David tries to be stoic.

but there’s much crying from the other boy.

so he tries to be nicer and Nathaniel is still unsure.

but his curiosity is piqued.

and then he goes back to playing.

and David’s smiling at him.

until the drama begins all over again. it pretty much goes in that cycle all day long with the 2-year-old.

and here’s a sweet snap of David who spilled water on himself so had to go change his shirt.

and this is life. simple. ordinary. full of little boy drama. and little boy hugs. laughter. giggles. so many giggles. I love this life. I am holding on to it hard because soon it will be gone. and now i am off to work on some art journaling, emails, comments and newsletter. oh and some TV with my hubby. back tomorrow.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for kind comments and a few more kind emails. thank you for all of your kindness and genuineness.
2. I am grateful for two more classes I signed up for. One is Nathalie’s on Pan Pastels and the other is Karen’s pathfinder. Let the learning begin!
3. I am grateful for a 3-day weekend.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played with my brother * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I had a bit of chocolate.
3. I am grateful that I played with my legos.