Still completely exhausted here but a relatively productive day nonetheless. I do wish I were less exhausted.The boys played quietly and wonderfully.

a few smiles for me.

after a bunch of begging, of course.

david, trying to balance a water bottle on his head.

watching tv while giving me a smile.

and then sneaking one look (after much begging and threats).

and then the “what? I’m looking at you” face.

and Nathaniel smiling while looking at the TV too.

I love these kids so much.

especially the funny smiles.

but really every single thing about them. i adore them. i am so grateful that they are in my life. that i get to share some of their life with them. i am making sure to soak it all in. i love every bit of these moments.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for some incredibly nice emails today. I am so grateful when anyone takes the time to send me a nice note or leave me a comment. I feel so touched and special. thank you deeply.
2. I am grateful for a wonderful and unexpected package of new My Mind’s Eye goodies. They are always so incredibly generous and their products make me want to drop everything and scrap immediately.
3. I am grateful that I might be taking a day off on Friday.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I watched Daddy play Sims * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we finished our book.
3. I am grateful that I played with my legos.

Today was mostly about work work work. The kids played on their own while I just did a lot of work.

Nathaniel decided to skip his nap so he was unpredictably happy and cranky all day. He’s eating nuts here while tears are still in his eyes.

David decided to take a nap and Nathaniel lay right next to him.

it was seconds before they started laughing like mad.

Nathaniel laughed long after David was done.

and kept going.

I am feeling tired and a bit overwhelmed today. Mostly cause I have so much work. It’ll all work out, of course. I am sorry I’m behind on comment responses, I’ll get on it asap.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a sweet interview at artsee blogs.
2. I am grateful for some art time tonight. I need it.
3. I am grateful that my kids are kind enough to play on their own when I need to really focus at work.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I watched an episode of Jake and the Neverland Pirates* {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with my legos.
3. I am grateful that I laughed with Nathaniel.

Saturday means family photos. I love this one cause David’s sitting on Nathaniel’s lap.

David didn’t want to smile (he has a boo boo in his mouth.)

but he was willing to make faces.

This is how most of the photos are. Both kids looking in different directions.

Nathaniel’s getting in the mood of things (but David not so much.)

So we resort to tickle time.

cause it never fails.

then it was time to play, eat, and then nap. I made some art journal pages, a layout, and some more art and some sketching. Then it was time to go a BBQ so we all got dressed up and I asked Jake to snap some shots of me with the boys. (David still won’t smile.) I actually just wanted a photo with David but Nathaniel saw Jake taking the photo so he just came in and sat on me.

They both laughed when I tickled them of course.

My boys.

Love my boys. Long day today. Highs and lows. I need some mental and emotional quiet time. So grateful for another day off.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for some wonderful art time today.
2. I am grateful for good, solid friends.
3. I am grateful that I am feeling ahead of my todo list.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we went to a party. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played playstation with daddy.
3. I am grateful that I played wii.

today was not a good photo day. When I asked Nathaniel he gave me this.

and when I said I needed more, he gave me the “no fair” look.

and then the devastated one.

david was a bit more accomodating.

I haven’t been so great at taking daily pictures lately. I will get back into it because I love having them. I just need to make it more of a priority. Work’s been too hectic and, of course, that doesn’t help. As we go into the fall season I will have to think of ways to readjust my schedule, and figure out what I want to cut out and what I want to add etc. I know from experience that it helps to think ahead a little and then also wait and see how the new routines are (school drop off etc.) so I know where my pockets of time are and what I can fit into them.

I am both excited and sad that fall is coming. I am not ready for 2011 to end yet. It’s been a good year for me and I feel like clinging to it a bit longer and feel like it’s all passing way too quickly.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I have been doing a lot of art and I am grateful for that.
2. I am grateful for that my todo list is dwindling.
3. I am grateful that my jaw seems to be doing considerably better. Let’s hope it’s gone for good.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I have swimming class. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played lego men with my brother. (khan academy!)
3. I am grateful for Daddy.

Today started out stressful and just didn’t get much better from there. Here’s the little boy watching some TV. I love the way he’s sitting.

we took our walk early today and I brought my camera along.

Nathaniel wasn’t playing along but I got a few of David.

we got back and I put Nathaniel down but he refused to nap, so I just gave up and he played while I worked. Can you almost hear him make sounds as he’s playing?

I love having little boys around. They are so unbearably cute.

My jaw-ache (yes it’s back) got progressively worse from there and has reached unbearable proportions. I am trying to stay calm and hope it goes away but it’s really quite terrible.

My goal tonight is to buckle down and get some of my todo list items done. Emails replied to, layouts and blog posts uploaded, and maybe even comments. Let’s see how far I get.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for yet another layout done. I am on a roll!
2. I am grateful for Jake taking the kids out for haircuts tonight when I needed some quiet time.
3. I am grateful for a relatively painless dev push.

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 can now do 3-digit multiplication. (khan academy!)
3. I am grateful that I played with my legos.

Another weekend day means another set of family photos. I often get kisses during the shoot which is one of my favorite parts.

Jake said to leave the TV on today so the kids would look at the camera more. Even he’s looking at the TV!

Nathaniel insisted that he carry the new case he got with his knights toy.

there was tickle time of course.

and then when Nathaniel went to nap, Jake showed David a present one of his friends gave us: a playstation 2. David was so very happy and grateful.

they played for a bit and I scrapped a page and did some sketching. Then the little boy woke up.

And David let me take a photo before he ran to his room to create with his legos.

I spent the afternoon mostly dozing on and off. I’ve been tired and in pain. My jaw seems to be acting up today and four Advils did nothing so far. Let’s hope it’s gone soon.

This week promises to be a bit more hectic than the last few. But not too much. I plan to buckle down and get a bunch of items crossed off my list early in the week. But tonight I get to relax. I am going to read and if I feel better I can do some art later in the night.

I hope you’ve all had a fabulous weekend! Here’s to a great week.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for another layout I finished.
2. I am grateful for feeling centered and organized.
3. I am grateful for a possibly busy (but hopefully not hectic) week.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got a playstation two. * {his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with my legos.
3. I am grateful that mommy and i finished our book.