Toad's Treasures

2011 Flashbacks & The Marge

2012-01-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

{LA Flashback}

Remember that little trip we took last fall to the Fashion District in LA? Well, you might like to see what came of it!

These Camera Coats just came out this week...and just in time for Valentine's Day. Yes, I think I'm in love...

The soft sateen fabric ($2/yd) and the flowers ($6/yard) were all picked up on the streets of LA. As you may recall, I ran around like a mad-woman...wide eyed, sweating from excitement and from jogging from store to store, and a nice big backpack on my back that will filled to the brim with treasures.

Love this cotton laminte. Water proof and everything. I didn't love the price I paid (Mr. Micheal Levine $23/yd), but I had get it...

{2011 Flashbacks Continue}
And now here's a little fun from 2011. I think I may have to do a series...2011 was fun picture taken' time for this Toad.

My little free pattern that still seems to be a hit these days:

loved making these 2 chevron owls...

Sweet Chick. My little epattern is just as easy at the owl one. Can you believe its almost time for Easter again?!

Oh, and I'm just throwing this in...a Toad via Ethan.

I'm not sure if this is me or not, I was afraid to ask...;)

{Marge}
And here's a little shout out to one of my little sisters! Happy Birthday Margie-cakes! May this year bring you lots of fun, food, and family. :)

More 2011 to come...;)

Love, Toad

Ninja New Year

2012-01-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

{Just for Kicks}

As you may (or may not) know the Chiense New Year is fast approaching...in fact it's Jan 23 in China.

If you didn't know, please don't feel bad. If I didn't have ninja kicking, karate loving, mandarin speaking 7 year I wouldn't writing this post right now.;) And when he got these for Ninja Cookie Cutters for Christmas (they are on sale for $5.49 right now!) we could hardly wait to make some little kickin cookies!

So, here you go. Our 1st adventure with these little guys. If you need a good sugar cookie recipe you can see the one I use here. I love it.

There's nothing like a shirtless toddler.

Happy Chiense New Year...in 3 days!:)

Love, Toad

Happy Dogs

2012-01-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

{Because I'm a Joker}

Via my facebook page:

"Yesterday as I was coming out of a store I walked by a large suburban with tinted windows... out of the corner of my eye saw a curly haired brunette. I could tell she was looking at me so I naturally smiled...and when I looked directly at her I had to giggle. It was not a woman, but a huge dark poodle sitting the drivers seat I was smiling at. There's nothing like brightening a dog's day...hahaha."

I swear I do something like this almost everyday. The other day I as we went throught the drive through I said "thank-you sir" to the person helping us. When I looked up I wasn't sure if he was a "sir" so I quickly added, "oh, and mam, and all of you hard workers in there." Afterwards Ethan and I had a great discussion about my folly and hoped I hadn't hurt anyone's feelings. Oh, and tried to figure out if the kind worker was a woman or a man.

Darn it. I guess if you can't laugh at yourself you can you laugh at? ;)

{Heart Cookies on a Stick}

And if you feel so inclined one winter afternoon like today...

{For Grandma}

Taken Via my friend Jenn who has an awesome hat business. Last month's on-site shoot: Ethan was the star of the show.

And here's one of Jenn's sweet hats on my little niece Charolette...

Yes, nothing but randomness. It must be late. Good night.
Toady

"Day Maker"

2012-01-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

{Little Things}
Sometimes when you feel a bit overwhelmed its the small moments that can really make your day. This was my "day maker" today.

Aidan brought this home from pre-school. {Since asking Aidan about school is a bit less effective (he's behind in his speech development) he gets these little papers sent home with him so I have some idea what in the world happens there.}

The question was if he went to the bathroom--usually the answer is no. However, today this was what the teacher wrote:

He didn't do it, but he tried. And for this sweet, stubborn, little guy this is a big deal.

Ah, the little things that make this mom happy.

I hope you had a little "day maker" today too...
Love, Toad

Boy's Train Fabric: Hurray!

2012-01-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

{Choo Choo}
If you know a train lover then you may also know how hard it is to find cute boy fabric with trains that don't have eyes or talk.

I know a certain 3 year old guy who will be smiling ear to ear very soon...

You likie?

This "Scoot" line coming in the next week or so from Riley Blake. Want some? Maybe I'll get a bolt or two and throw it in my Etsy shop...

Just had to share. Love, Toad

THANKS Printables for the Kiddos

2012-01-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

{Download Me}

After all of the festivities have come and gone we are left with a pineless smell in the front room, no jingling of the bells, and many people to thank.

So get the kids on it!:)

Here's my 2012 "Thanks" printable, just click on it to download:

of if you'd rather...(just be sure to cut off the 2010!;))

{V-day}
Or if your out of the "jolly" market and into "love" than here's few from past years you might like to get a head start on. You know me well enough by now to know that my 2012 editions will come only days/hours before the big day.

{Self-less}

And if you feel like sharing the printables or anything else...go for it.

Love, Toad

HNY and all that!

2012-01-05T11:48:00.001-07:00

{2012}

Sitting sick on a couch last week was not much fun. We are in the middle of moving and I was just overwhelmed, exhausted, feeling crappy, and done with just about everything. Since our flatscreen was broken in the move, I was lucky that we still had the TV that Travis and Tanya had given us at least 6 years ago. Its not digital so I was happy have a DVD player that wasn't buried in boxes...but where in the world were the DVD's?

You know its bad when I was thrilled to find Lord of the Rings in the bottom of a tote.

And as it turns out, I was actully very grateful. It seemed to fit the changes and timing going on around our little family right now.

I won't go into details about the story, you'll have to pull out your own movie night for that, but I could really relate to sweet Froto. He was completely overwhelmed, wishing he had not been given the ring and all of its responsibility, and hated all the destruction and doom going on around him.

'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.

'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'

Ah yes, wise and thought provoking words to start off the new year.

{I know this isn't Gandolf, but I'm sure Yoda has some good quotes we could cherish too. Oh, and he was the final prize in our Star Wars advent calendar.:)}

{Holiday Fun}

Aidan was one lucky little guy this year! Some of you may remember my sister-in-law Tanya talking on her blog about how she made this cute little car tote. I was giddy when Aidan got one of these sweet gems she had made!

There's nothing but "comfort and joy" going on in these next pictures. Watch the faces on these little guys...you may just have to laugh out loud.

Yeah, we tried. The last picture is the best one...

Yes...my personal favorite...

{Sisters}

Coming straight from a funeral into the holidays is never easy. Especially when its your dear sister you've lost.

Here's my mom with her younger sister Lori. Both were mourning for the loss of my Aunt Carol this Christmas. She passed away suddenly and unexpectedly leaving 6 kids and ALOT of grandkids who will miss her more than words can say.

It really made me think about and appreciate my family this year...

especially my two younger sisters--Margo {Margie} and Stephanie {Stooph}.

I also cherished every mintute with my 95 year old Grandpa Johnson and my sweet Grandpa Peggy. We were so blessed to be with them both this year!

Oh, and my parents too...

yes, dad that is a nose.:)

Who did you cherish these past few weeks?

{Back into it}
And before we knew it we went back into the swing of "regular" life. Ethan entered a photo competition through the PTA Reflections. (You probably have kids that did too!) The theme was diversity...can you guess which photo he took?

I did not help him one bit, except for giving him stern warnings about being careful with my camera.;)

And if you have made it this far in the post, bless you. :) Here's my latest creation...

http://www.cameracoats.com/

And some of you will be happy to know that I will be sewing to get through the winter! So there will be more fun tutorials coming very soon!:)

Happy 2012!

Emily

Merry Christmas 2011!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.002-07:00

From us to you...have a Merry little Christmas, will you?

Love,
Aidan, Toad (Emily), Bob & Ethan

Quick Gifts & A Little Peek

2011-12-23T23:14:00.001-07:00

{Quick Gifts}
No time to talk, only time to share...

#1) Toad's Easy Owl Pattern. ($3.50) You can download it right now and staple that baby together. Perfect gift for a sewing friend!

#2 Pencil Holders.
Not the kind that your dad's has when he's fixing the sink. This are super cute and so easy you may be able to make them with your eyes closed. Well, maybe you shouldn't since you may use your hot glue gun.;) Great for anyone who has a pencil or a counter.;)

#3 Easy Apron.

If you have a few more minutes this a fun gift to give...especially when it will be put to good use with all of that holiday cooking!

#4 Wood Block.
Grandma if you're reading this, close your eyes.

I just made this today. It required wood, printing out a design on a regular piece of paper (no vinyl used!), and gluing the paper to the wood.

The quote was my grandma's request. Yes, she's a sweet, sassy lady!:)

{Ashby Christmas}
And if you're not off to finish those last minute preps, here's peek into our little home. Please excuse the lack of organization...we are in full swing of Christmas and would rather spend our time making hot chocolate and watching Christmas shows than keeping these orderly.

The boys are at the perfect ages to really soak up the Holidays. Everything is so fun. IFortunately I only had to apologize once to the Elf on the Shelf for touching him and both kids are on the nice list (at the moment).

If only I could freeze time...

This was our neighbor gift this year...a cookie kit. We baked and then put this together so they could decorate their own cookies!

Aunt Diane's cookies...

Games and drive through lights with Aunt Diane and family...

Me crafting an apron. PS Hot glue doesn't quite work as well as a sewing machine when making one of these...but I had to try.;)

A seasonal fave...

Best wishes to you and yours!

Love,
Toad

DIY Winter Trees & Snow!

2011-12-21T17:25:00.001-07:00

{DIY: Last minute gift!}
Still running around like a mad woman (or man?). Keep the kids busy with some fun winter trees and a snowflake garland!

Last minute gift? Check!

{For more ideas you can check out a little TV segment on the Ch2 (SLC) 5PM news featuring Ethan! (My little snowflake cutting machine.)}

All you need is some cardstock, fabric, scissors, tape, and glue!

If you don't have glittery fabric, no worries! Just grab an old white pillowcase, glitter, and make your own!

Roll the cardstock into a cone and tape it together. Trim the edges so that it will stand on its own...

Put your fabric into 1 1/2" strips long enough to wrap around the cone. As you work your way up the cone the strips will get shorter.

Put the glue along the top of the strip and put it onto the cone.

(Snowflake & Tree Garland)

Cute? Yep. Easy? Super.

And here's our resident snowflake making expert! To see Ethan in action you can watch this news clip.

And when I stop running around for 2 seconds I'll post a few more last minute ideas!

The countdown is on!
Toad

From Santa Tags

2011-12-16T01:06:00.001-07:00

{Under Cover Elf}

If you have little readers around you may want to have them leave the room for a moment. You see, your secret about Santa is safe with me...unless you have kids you can read this.

Two Elf tips:

#1 Use different wrapping paper for "Santa" or some littles my just suspicous.

#2 Use Santa tags that AREN'T in your hand writing.

You can thank me later.;)

I dedicate these tags to my friend Heather...who requested them.;)

Click here or on the tags to download:

{Years Past}
And a little flash back to last year's "neighbor" gift:

And if you need headwear for your shepherds...

{This Year}

Not sure where the last few weeks have gone. I love how the days in December went so slow as a kid. Boy do I miss that!

At least I know what I've been doing on Tuesdays...meeting Heather for lunch at IKEA. Kids eat free on Tuesday here. (Nice, I know! Just make sure you don't go around 12!) And it was on Tuesday in November that where I heard about IKEA's gingerbread decorating evening.

You sign up, pay $5 bucks, and show up to this...

a mother's dream...the houses where already put together and were all ready to decorate!

Not sure what Ethan is going to bite that house with!:)

I wonder if that's what I look like when I'm intensely working on a creative endeavor...:)

{Grandma Peggy}

We love her. Visiting us for a few days isn't enough.

{And on a sad note, we lost my aunt Carol a few days ago...we loved her. Its times like these when we realize how truly blessed we really are to have such great people in our lives. We are also so grateful for Heavenly Father's plan that allows us to see her again. Our thoughts and prayers are with Uncle Jerry and the cousins and their families during this difficult time.}

Not sure what to do about these monkeys! No, no, the ones on the right people!;) hee,hee

{Winter Waterland}

I decided that swimming is a perfect winter activity. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather be outside catching some rays, but I can't thank Brandon (our swim instructor) enough for burning a large deal of energy with the boys! Bedtime is so much easier on swimming lesson days...

And if you missed last year's Christmas Party, well you can see it now. :) This year has been a little too crazy for that sort of merriment in our home. More about that later though.

Don't forget to make yourself a nice cup of cocoa, cuddle those loved ones, and watch a fun Christmas show on TV together!

Love,
Your Secret Elfy Emily aka "Toad"

Free Holiday Tags & A Little Plug: Camera Coats

2011-12-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

{Camera Coats}

Are you in the full swing of the Holidays? If not, you'd better get on some merry measures...we're talking 2 weeks until Christmas Eve people! Need some tags? Hang on until the end of the post and you'll have cute tags a plenty!

I also have a little help for you if you know someone with a standard size SLR. You know, the "big fancy" cameras that people carry around their necks?

My latest wild venture: Camera Coats!

And HowDoesShe is having a giveaway for them right now! You can also get 25% off by using the code: HowDoesShe (Exp Dec 14)

For the somewhat exciting story behind them you can click here.

{Tag-O-Mania!}

The 12 days countdown is right around the corner! Here's some holiday tags that are sure to pep up your gift wrapping! (Click on the tags for the post with the download link. They're free!)

I posted these last year, but who would ever know if you used them this year! I like these gems:

And NEW this year!

These mod ornament tags! I mixed it up a bit with these ones and added some "Made with love by" and "do not open until dec 25" you might like!

Click Here to dowload these darlings!

(Happy Days!)

And what do you say we enjoy every minute of this great season!

It is after all the most wonderful time of the year! (Well, beside summer!:)

Love, Toad

Toad's Family Photo Tips

2011-12-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

{Disclaimer}
I must first declare that I am not an expert photographer by an means.

I do not have a Nikon D300,000 or a Cannon Rebel XZYSCSzzi.
Just a basic Nikon D40 with a 18-55mm lens.

However, the past few weekends I've been taking some fun family pictures for friends. And without getting too technical I have have learned a few things that you might like to hear if you're getting ready to take some holiday pictures.

{Postcard}
But before we get into the nitty gritty I have to plug how much I love photo postcards. I've blogged about them for the past few years, but I still have a huge crush on them. They are so easy and less-expensive to mail...just get a 4X6 and a post card stamp. So once you get that great family shot this is a great way to go!

For more ideas and information you can visit last year's post:

Family PhotoCards

Here's a little example...

{Color Coordinate}
My 1st little tip for better chances of a good family picture is to color coordinate.

Its great to have somewhat but not exactly the same colors. Mixing it up a little adds character to the picture without distracting from being to "matchy matchy". A cute hair bow for a girl can compliment a little guys tie and be super cute.

Case in point: Natalie. My good old backing Europe buddy and her sweet family! Coordinated and super cute!!

Note: I played around in photoshop elements to get the "candy" colors of their clothes to really pop...

And actually, you should be able to get some good ideas from these great gal friends of mine pictures in this post. {I say gals because I know their husbands are like mine...and probably could care less!} They all did a great job of dressing their families!

{Posing}
The hard part. One thing I've found is that I love when families are holding hands. Its a simple gesture, but something about it brings the family closer together.

I also encourage the gals (if they are a little sassy) to put their hands on their hips...adding a litte character and variety to the shot. (And its also flattering for mom's arms as well...)

I also love when kids are being themselves. Look at Kyler on the right crouching down and holding his mom's hand. Also, check out Kason's little hand on his mom's leg. I love it. I think its the little details that make a photo special.

Ah, hah! Holding hands and the sassy hand on the hip...

{Close Up}
Don't be afraid of a cute family shot that's not full body. When I get a Christmas Card in the mail its so great to be able to see the faces! (And sometimes we ladies even like it a bit better than the full body shot! Well, at least I do!)

And if you can get a good angle where you are looking up it creates a great shot as well...

I could ramble on about this all night, but I'd better not. Hopefully these few little ideas can make your next family pictures a little less painful!

{Faves}
But before I close, I also have to throw in a few of my favorites...

Good luck with those family pictures! Let me know how it goes!

XOXO

Toad

DIY Cute Holiday Gift Tags & Merry Measure

2011-11-29T00:22:00.001-07:00

{Glitter & Circles}

Yes, you can. And its super easy.

Just go gather up a few things:

Cool Cardstock (preferrably with lots of glitter;)
Holiday Stickers
1 3/8" Hole Punch or some scissors to cut circles with
3" Hole Punch or some scissors to cut circles with
A regular hole punch or some scissors to cut circles with
Some string

Optional: 1/4" sticky foam (you can find it at Joann's-its for the "3D" effect!)

{Picture Perfect}

Okay, I'm not going to talk your ears off during this one. (I know, I know...you can stop gasping!:) I just love how festive and fun these picture are so I'll let them do most of the talking!:)

{Got these darling stickers at Xpedx. They are from thegiftwrapcompany.com. I'm in love with their stuff.}

Wait a minute...Perry, how did you get in there? Oh, my 7 year old who couldn't resist taking a snapshot as soon as I set the camera down? Got it.

Back to business...

Sweet-a-lishious. And if you get a Camera Coat for Christmas you might just see one of these cute tags come to your doorstep!

{Winter Wonderland}
Oh, and for merry measure...

Riley Blake 2010 Colorful Christmas by My Mind's Eye. I'm thinking maybe a few festive pillowcases may be in order!:)

{Take a Breath}
I heard the sweetest words today. The ones that cause you to think about what you're doing with your time.

"Mom, can I cuddle with you?"

So here's a friendly reminder...
The million and one things we do this season will always be there.

Don't forget to stop and cuddle.

Oh, and Happy Tagging!

Love,
"Snuggle" Toad

Smelling Freedom

2011-11-24T23:09:00.000-07:00

{Just Smell It}

Today I'm thankful that my husband can smell like palm trees, sunshine, and freedom.

Isn't it great to know what freedom smells like?

Bah, ha, ha! Hope you had a great turkey day!

Toad

Thanksgiving Tags

2011-11-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

{Thanks time}

Regardless of what time of year it is we should always try to show appreciation to those around us. But if you want to step it up this year and make someone's day here's a few simple ideas and cute little printables to aid you on your way!

{The List}

1st, make a list of the people around you that make your life better. So many people have thank-less jobs and a little acknowledgement goes a long way. Here let me help you...

Great people: School secretary, the crossing guard, the nurse you always talk to at the pediatrician's office, garbage man, teacher's aid, bus driver, sunday school teacher, car pool mom's, your favorite babysitter, the piano teacher, hair dresser, etc, etc the list goes on and on...you get the picture!

One of our favorite people is Aidan's bus driver Kim. Love her. I'm so thankful for her and how great she is with my 3 year old.

Isn't she cute?

{Get Personal}
Once you have your list, its time to get personal. The best gifts are the ones that actually mean something to someone. They don't have to be big and elaborate to touch someone's heart.

If you're going to make cookies for the school secretary, find out what her favorite one's are. See your 1st graders teacher drinking Diet Coke, get her a 12 pack. (Hope Ms. Snow doesn't read that or her there will be no surprise next week!:)

Oh, and photos rock. You can do so much with them!

This is my aunt Diane. As you can tell, she loves her dog.

So, how's this for a fun little gift!

Super simple. Or if you have family and friends who live out of town you can always stick a picture in the mail or just attach it to an email!

{Tag & Give}
Now all you have to do is tag 'em and give 'em. Here are a few fun printables that might help!

Just click on the picture to download the tag.

There you go!

Just remember, the most important thing is to just say Thanks.

So, THANKS for being so great! Yes, YOU!:)

Love,
Your Toady

Dreams {Squared}

2011-11-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

{Tooth Fairy Returns}

If you thought your dreams came true by losing one tooth, than losing 2 is even more amazing.

Look out Edward!:)

Dreams Do Come True

2011-11-16T10:29:00.001-07:00

{Hello Tooth Fairy!}

Yes, its happens. Dreams do come true.

Last year when he was in Kindergarten Ethan would come home and be bummed that he hadn't lost a tooth yet. And now, in the 1st grade, his class is full of loose teeth, gaps, and goofy grins. Turing 7 a few weeks ago without losing a single tooth was just about all he could bare.

And then Saturday night...

The smile tells it all. So don't give up on your heart felt wishes. You're dreams may come true sooner than you think.;)

{People Appreciation}
If you're in the SLC area be sure to set your DVR for Friday at 4 PM on Ch 2 News...they have done it again! This silly little Toad will be doing a little segment on great ways you can show gratitude for the people around you. With a few tips from Toad, pretty new printables, and one of a kind ideas...well, I guess you'll just have to watch!

Last year's "Thank-ful for You" printable...

XOXO
Toady

Magical Fabric Kingdom

2011-11-10T22:00:00.003-07:00

{Be Warned.}

As a your friend, I have to give you a heads up. If you love fabric or trim or street tacos or LA, you must proceed reading at your own risk.

You may be physically and emotionally affected by these photos.

Don't be surprised if your heart begins to race, your jaw drops, sweat beads up on your forehead, or if you decide next time you visit CA you're travel itinerary must change.

I'm about to share with you one of the most life-changing experiences of my "sewing/crafting" life.

I had my very 1st visit to the LA Fashion District. Namely, the fabric/trim section which is around 9th and Maple in downtown LA. And I must ask you to refrain from spitting or cursing at Joann's next time you walk through the door with your 40% off coupon and think you're getting a deal.

(My Course}

My plan of attack consisted of the following:

1) Leaving the husband and boys back at the condo in Oceanside. Um, yeah...this part is self explanatory.

2) Charting my course. I found the blogs Lil' Blue Boo and MADE to be extremely helpful. (Thanks girls!) Running a into a local friend--my sister-in-law Tanya's sister Chelsea-- didn't hurt either! I know, totally random and awesome. She pointed me in the right direction of her favorite shops. (Thanks Chelsea! I also loved that we were both sporting these ginormous backpacks to stuff our treasures in.)

3) Driving myself to LA using my phone and my good friend Google Navigator GPS. (Yes, I went by myself. I guess my years leaving in the New Jersey/NY area toughened me up! Actually, it wasn't even as sketchy as I planned on, and I think its probably good for white girls living in Utah to feel like a minority every now and then!:))

4) Shop. I don't think my eyes popped back into my back until the next day.

5) Beating traffic out of LA. I literally ran around like a wild woman stuffing my backpack trying not to get stuck in traffic.

Running? Really Toad? I hear you, but I also think you would have running right along side of me. Now its time for you to see what all the fuss is about.

Yes, that's $.99 a yard...) And the whole day I shopped the most I paid was $2.50/yd, and that was for 100% organic cotton!

I decided that talking about this unbelievable place is like having a baby...you really can't explain it or know what its like unless you've actually done it. With that being said, I'll do my best to show you where you'll want to go next time your family takes a trip to the Magic Kingdom. Just go North to YOUR Magic Kingdom. :)

{Yep}

What do you do with all of this? I have no idea. But I love it.

I loved the helpers. (You know, the people who answer my random questions and cut the stuff.) Not only are were they a lot of help, and even posed for my pictures. Total keepers.

These were taken at a store called Target Trim. What a place!

And if you ever go in there, just will you tell Raffi "Hi" for me?

{Pit Stop}
I'd never seen a street hot dog wrapped in bacon before in my life. And I noticed that the locals LOVED them.

Here was my criteria for getting food off the street:
1) A woman had to prepare it. (Odds are they are a little more careful, although I know this is a stereotype--:))
2) The cleanest cart I could find.

And I found it.

My gal.

And my lunch choice. Steak street tacos. Ahh, I can't stop thinking about them. I should have eaten at least 3 more before I left. I'm not kidding.

{JJ's}

This is one of Chelsea's favorite places and it quickly became one of mine too. Not only did I go crazy on the fabric (my new batch of Camera Coats is going to be S.W.E.E.T.), but I got FOE (Fold Over Elastic=the elastic that everyone makes those baby headbands out of) for $.25/yd and they had every color you could imagine...and more.

The helpers at JJ's.

Carlos the cutter at Micheal Levine's. He helped me with that sweet cotton laminate that I'll be talking more about very soon. (NEW Rain Slickies here we come!!)

(Line Heaven)
And just in case you were wondering, we did make it over to the other Magic Kingdom. {Although for my husband it is less than magical...well, unless you're talking about the money in your pocket disappearing.;)}

But more about the fam's adventures later. Its time for you to start making a game plan for your trip to LA. Unless, of course, you live within a 2 hours radius of it and then you can tell us your game plan!! (And if you don't have one, shame on you! ;) Don't take it for granted another minute!)

Your fabric lovin' gal,

Toady

Birthday Banner Printable & 生日快乐!

2011-11-06T22:27:00.002-07:00

{Mrs. Lee}

Li lǎoshī = 老师 (Pronounced: Lee-Lou-Sh or something kindof like that!:))

Guess which 1st grade teacher had a birthday last week...

Yep, you got!

From day 1 I could tell that she was a keeper.

(These are little treats that Ethan to Ms. Snow -his language arts teacher- and Mrs. Lee after the 1st week of school.)

I'm pretty sure that there are many sad children in Taiwan because Mrs. Lee hopped a plane to come teach American kids Mandarin and math. She is not only an experienced professional and has her Master's degree, but is the kind of teacher you always wanted to have. She is challenges the kids, is sensitive to their needs, is kind, funny, and smart. The kids love her. I do too.;)

And little did we know the influence that she would have on our family...and I'm not just talking about the increase of Ninja moves and "Chiense Fighting" (as Ethan calls it when we wrestle).

I knew signing Ethan up for the dual-immersion program would bring a little culture in our home, but I didn't realize how amazing it would be. At parent teacher conferences last week Ethan read us sentences in Mandarin and he can already count to 100. I wish my brain had that kind of sponge left in it.

And who would have guessed that Utah would be the place that Ethan learns Mandarin? Not me. And who would have guessed why Mrs. Lee picked Alice for her American name? Not me, but it was fun telling her about the Brady Bunch. (It was also fun laughing with her about why everything in American is HUGE (including the livestock--I guess even the cows and horses are bigger)... except for the baby carrots! I guess they don't have those in Taiwan!)

{ABC}

And when you leave your husband and family to come teach rowdy American students, you deserve to have a little ABC. (American Birthday Culture as she calls it.)

And you know me, I took it upon myself to help her birthday be happy. So, along with a dollar tree bucket full of school supplies and mittens, she got some cupcakes from The Sweet Tooth with her face on the toppers, and a sweet little banner that was hung in her room...

And how cute is that face.

{The Banner}
I actually created the banner last year and had forgotten about it! So here's your latest printable! I dedicate this one to all of you who have fall birthdays that may be overshadowed by a few little holidays.:)

Click here to download the Happy Birthday Banner:

Enjoy! Oh, and curtesy of the Google Translator:

朋友生日快乐

(Happy Birthday Friend!)

Love, Toad

Why I Love 1st Grade

2011-11-02T10:02:00.001-06:00

{A Few Reasons}

Super cute treats. Oh, and that you get to have treats.

Posing for a class picture with your teacher is cool, and so is making funny faces.

You LOVE your teachers. (And we love both of ours! Ms. Snow (above) is our language arts and Lee-Lau-Shure (below) is our Math and Mandarin!)

You can pull any costume off...and look SUPER CUTE!

You don't have to follow a tutorial you found on a creative blog to make a cool craft!

You're an All-Star to everyone!

Anyone want to head back to the 1st grade?:) Well, I guess that's why they have "mom" helpers. They think its so we can help out the teachers, but now you know why I really do it!

{Ninja + Pirate = Ashby Halloween}
No Halloween pictures. Nope, I didn't take any pictures on Halloween...did I brake some sort of mommy code? Well, just picture Ethan in his Harry Potter costume and Pirate Aidan shouting "trick or treat" from the car as Ethan and I went a knockin' and you'll have a mental picture of our Halloween.

No homemade costumes. I know! The boys went straight for our dress up box in the closet and that was it! Although I did make the Harry Potter's scar on Ethan's forehead. (And just so you know I had to re-do it because I did it "wrong". I guess I'd better stick to sewing!)

However, in my lack of picture-taking defense I did take a few of the boys at the Neighborhood Halloween Party they had at the church last week...

And there you have it.

What a funny American tradition. Did you run with a pillowcase from house to house and get a big stash? Or at least get some good treats from someone who did...I hope so!

And even though 1st grade was long ago, I hope you enjoyed Halloween like you were 7 yesterday.

Love, Toad

LA and Last Minute Costumes

2011-10-26T14:31:00.000-06:00

{Hello!}

Are you out there? Sorry, its been a while since we've visited! But I guess my last post was long enough to keep everyone busy for a while...:)

I've had a life changing experience. Last week I made my 1st visit to a certain Fashion District in LA. I think my jaw is still dropped with the fabric, trim, etc that I was exposed to. I've never seen anything like it.

I'll post more about it later, I'm still recovering from shock and awe.

This is the was outcome...yes, these big black bags are completely packed full of fabric. You know what a wild woman I am.;)

(Last Minute)
So a few weeks ago the producer for the afternoon news (Ch 2 in Utah) contacted me and wanted me to come and talk about easy costumes you can make from things you have at home. So I grabbed a few of the sweetest 6 years I know...

And we had a handsome prince and a beautiful princess... but that's not all! Then they transformed into a shepherd and angel! Not only great for Halloween, but the big Nativity program coming sooner than we think!

The only thing that isn't pictured is the shepherds headwear I made out of a pillowcase. You can see my post about it here: Shepherds Headwear. If you need a last minute costume, here you go!

{Birthday Boy}
Since we had some Legoland tickets we had to use by next year, we decided to haul our little lego lover to CA and celebrate turning 7. More also coming...

{Free Cards}
And I'm not one to rush into the holidays--well, at least until after Halloween ;), but I had to share this great deal with you. One of my favorite photography blogs, I Heart Faces, has a sponsor called Paper Coterie that I'm in love with and they have quite a deal.

They are giving away 12 free cards you can go here to get more information: I Heart Faces.

I just finished this card...it actually folds up accordian style. They had so many cute choices I didn't even know where to start! Great holiday card inspiration!

We'll be back sooner than later! (Hopefully!:)
Have a great weekend!
Toad

Harry Potter Birthday Party

2011-10-09T22:29:00.001-06:00

{Magical Memory}
You are really lucky to be a wizard especially if your mom is only a muggle. And I bet every muggle mom who has a little wizard turning 7 wishes for magical powers. At least I do.

But since I don't have a wand, I just use Photoshop Elements and make sure to have an outdoor party. It just makes them more magical...or in other words...easier.;)

{Party Prep}

This is where its at. Thank-you dollar store. And here's a behind the scenes look at what we did before the little witches and wizards arrived...

Our little business wizard. He named the place himself. Once his shop was set up we were 1/2 way finished.

{Magic Money}

And here is the currency of the party. It was ready to be distributed to the kids as they "earned" it for things like...showing up, participating in the activities, and finding snakes and eyeballs (which will make more sense in a minute).

This was way easier than it looks...

Just bake the cake in bread pans, line up the cakes, and frost them. I used 2 cake mixes and store bought frosting. I love that frosting.;)

Stickers rock. They are so easy and add so much. I found this darling Harry Potter clipart on Etsy in a shop called DigiMyWorld ($5.99) and then printed them out onto sticker (or label) paper.

Note: That shop has some super cute stuff if you ever need anything!

Fizzy drink mix via Target ($4.99). It was a hit...all colored and bubbly.

Tip: Next time I would just buy Sprite and use the sugar Kool-Aid mix. I think it would be about the same.

Forgive me for the next few pictures...I love these little characters!:)

Potion Prep...simple. I just grabbed some empty little Costco water bottles and filled them with white vinegar. The cups had a bit of food coloring and baking soda.

The oldest and best ~~science experiment~~ magic trick in the world...

Troll Snot. Gak. Gross and gooey...One part glue to one part liquid starch. Add food coloring or glitter for effect. Once again easy, gross, and fun.

{And It Began...}
With Harry Potter theme music blasting, the kids arrived one by one and received their black sidesaddle bag. They were asked to wear it because they needed it to put their wands, prizes, magic money, and other treasures into throughout the party.

While waiting for everyone to arrive we found wands and make broomsticks. (Remember my last post? Yep! That's the one!)

Then the Potions Class. We were lucky to have my sister (who got some of the families magical abilities) to teach this class...

Thanks Marge! Your potions were amazing.

{Troll Snot}
After potions we moved right into Troll Snot. Yes, that's right. Sometime they sneeze on the trees in the back and this is what we get. Note: This is not for people with weak stomachs.;)

{Sing It!}
Magical sparks were shooting out of this wand as we sang...fortunately this little wizard had the spell to put them out!

{Warming Up}

Its true, my husband is a wizard. He got it from his father who is also very gifted. It sure came in handy at the party as he "wowwed" the kids with his card trick he perpformed! (Don't tell anyone that he learned how to do off of UTube the night before.)

{The Hunt}
For every eyeball or snake they found they could trade it for "magic money" to spend at Ethan's Prize Shop. Wouldn't you be running too?:)

{Great Day}
And when it was through we had some happy little wizards and witches.

And one happy muggle mom.

{Magical Movement}
And as for the little brother Aidan, he had quite the party too. After swallowing a 1" screw on Thursday afternoon (yes, a screw...the xray confirmed it) he expelled it during Ethan's birthday party in a "special gift" in his britches.

Our prayers were answered as the Lord truly looked out for him during the ordeal. There could have been some serious complications, but we are so blessed and grateful there weren't.

And yes, I am making him pay us back for the visit to the Urgent Care when he makes it big someday.;)

{The Muggle}
Our father is a wizard and mother is a muggle. In fact, have you heard of Bill the Magnificant? Yep that's him. For more you can see this post from our family reunion this summer.;)

I am a muggle, but my younger sister-who may now be called a witch-- truly worked some magic at this party. Thanks again for all of your help Marge!

Picture taken today by Ethan ...

And as for our little wizard...

Happy 7th Birthday! We love you!

Mom, Dad, & Aidan

Make A Broom!

2011-10-07T00:09:00.001-06:00

{A Witch Craft ;)}

We are in preparation mode. The theme for this year's birthday party: Harry Potter.

The budget: Not so much.

The good news: When you're turning 7 all that matters is having fun. :)

{The Broomstick}

Whether you're a witch that needs a new flying machine, or a muggle looking for some holiday decor this is a simple, fast, fabulous little craft.

Now go for a little walk and start collecting some sticks!:)

TahDah!

And if you are so inclined, grab your wand...

and off you go!

{Its here!}

Don't worry, more Harry Potter, and fall fun will be coming...but I had to share one last thing with you:

And the winner of a Camera Coat giveaway is the Rafahi Family! Congrats!

And wish us luck with the party this weekend! Have you guys have a great weekend.

XOXO

Toady;)

Like a Champ

2011-09-25T18:07:00.000-06:00

{"A"}

For those of you who may be new to my blog, I'd like introduce you to someone...

This is Aidan. He is my fun, fiesty three year old who has entered the world of "special needs" preschool this year.

(Background: When he was about 2 I started to notice that he wasn't speaking as well as other kids his age. After a few months of watching and worrying a little, I talked to you my aunt Diane who had early development challenges with my cousin. She encouraged me to have Aidan tested for a speech delay sooner than later because before they turn 3 kids qualify for early intervention therapy from the State.

He was tested and was in the 90th percentile for cognitive and phyical development and scored in the 1st percentile in speech. Because he didn't have any other issues (at least they anyone could tell) they said he had a "speech delay" and we started on our journey...

Until he turned 3 (August 7) a speech and language specialist came to our home 2X a month and worked with Aidan. We loved her. Abby, if you are out there reading this...you are amazing. Now that he is 3 he has an IEP and started preschool a few weeks ago! Now, back to our story...)

{The Mother's Battle}
If you've ever put a 5 year old on a bus you know how your heart beats a little faster and you hope and pray all goes well. When they told me I could put my 3 year old on the bus to go to school my heart about stopped.

Are you kidding? Put a kid on a bus with an adult I don't even know and send him off to school? Really?

He refers to himself as "A" (we are working on the whole name), he isn't potty trained (once our commuication has improved we'll tackle that beast, but we have enough to get frustrated over right now...), and he is still a baby (well, at least for me...:)) My mind raced just thinking of what would happen if he got lost or scared. Ahhh.

Once my heart started beating again and I pulled myself together...and I started to think it through.

If I could get him on the bus, our parting may actually be easier than if I was to drop him off at school myself. (Thoughts of dropping him off at nursery at church on Sunday flashed through my mind.)

Yes, if the bus driver is 1) a woman (less likely to be abusive), 2) has her teeth, and mostly importantly--3)gives me a "good vibe" (mother's instinct and God's guidance never lets you down) then I'll do it.

And guess what...all 3 worked out! (Thanks to the Big Man up above!!)

{1st Day}
Before I knew it the day had come. Getting up, dressed, and fed by 8 just about did us all in. Mornings have always been a struggle in our home. Okay, let me rephrase that...I'm not a morning person so mornings are a struggle in our home.;)

But once we got outside the smiles started and we were good to go. And if this Toad can give a few tips to any of you who may want them it is this...

#1 Straggly hair is awesome...on 3 year old boys anyway.;)

#2 If your child can't say their name, picture nametags are crucial. If the teacher/busdriver forget the face/name combo then at least we'll get the right backpack on his back.

#3) Nametag on the back. Obviously not a good idea for most kids, but when you someone asks Aidan his name and he says, "Blah, jabber, blah, choo choo, blah A" it may come in handy. Bless his little heart.;)

{Waiting}
Once he was labeled the whole family gathered with Aidan to wait for the bus. With special needs kids they come right to your driveway. Ethan, being the best older brother ever, was full of wise council and great advice about riding the bus and what to do at school.

Aidan insisted that everyone who was waiting with him also wear a backpack. And since all three of my guys will be in school this semester, getting backpacks on each one of them wasn't a problem.

And then we waited...

{The bus}
And it came. Please forgive the blurry pictures. Who even knows what I was thinking or doing. I was too worried about whether or not I trusted the bus driver to let him on the bus. (And yes, I followed right behind the bus all the way to the school.;))

And he was SO excited. After a year of watching Ethan get on the bus for kindergarten, he got his moment. This time, the bus was for him. He loved it.

And he marched right up to the door and got on the bus like a champ...

Now, to dispell any myths that might be out there...this was a normal, full sized bus. (Not like the short buses we knew growing up.)

These buses are also equiped with 3 point harnesses for the little kids. (Can you image if they didn't buckle these little ones down?)

And look at that smile!

And look how nice his bus driver is! (Sigh of relief!) My fears were dispelled as I met Kim (the driver) and saw that there was only one other child that would be riding the bus. (Who by-the-way is the cutest little African American gal you've ever seen.)

And off he went. I wasn't sure if I should cry or jump for joy.

Have you ever wondered why your kids were sent to you?

Would anyone love them more?!

I may not always love what he does,

but I doubt anyone could love him more.

Okay, except maybe his dad.;)

To let's hear it for brave little people, their lucky parents, and a great school year! And just so you know, as of last Thursday Aidan's teacher said: "his speech is really coming along, he follows directions well (I know! gasp), and he is alot of fun."

Tears are filling my eyes as I finish this post. I guess sometimes you just have to love them enough to let them go. Darn it.

We love you Aidan.

Love, Mom

I{Heart}Faces: A Touch of Sun

2011-09-19T10:55:00.000-06:00

{A Touch of Sun}
The moment. It comes and goes, but if your lucky you get to snap a shot you'll always have.

Camping in Oregon: A highlight of our summer.

The Shot: Ethan had just caught his 1st fish and Lucy was loving it. I love the sun setting, her raw expression, and that little hand just about ready to touch that fish. So glad I had my camera at that moment.

Big Game Parties & Products

2011-09-16T12:42:00.002-06:00

{Tailgating Fun}
Ah, football season...the great American fall pasttime. And this weekend is a big rivalry game in these parts...so the flags are flying and the parties are starting!

And you'll love this. Last week I randomly got a call from a TV PR guy. He was looking for a blogger to do a 3-4 minute segment on "Tailgating with Families" and then blog about the products.

My thoughts? Hmmmm. Could I make a complete fool of myself? Yep. But did it sound like fun? Yes! A little intimidating? For sure. Do I get to keep the stuff? Yes? Okay, I'm in!:)

You already know I'm kindof a wild woman so if you want some entertainment this afternoon, the segment is this afternoon in Salt Lake on KUTV Ch2...let's hope I don't say or do anything too crazy!:)

And here's the skinny...

{Camera Coats}
Yep! You'll want to take your camera to tailgate so here's a brand new way to protect your SLR! Forget carrying a big camera bag to the party...just put on your coat and throw your camera into your backpack, diaper bag, or food bag! Oh, and if you're wearing your camera and the weather changes for the worse {or drinks start flying:)} ...your camera will be nice and cozy inside its little coat.

Website: www.cameracoats.com (Retails: $35-60)
25% off until Sept 31. Discount code: cameracoatspioneer

{Little Griddle}
Want to vary up your BBQ party menu? Here you go. Throw this stainless steel griddle right onto your grill and you can make quesidillas, Philly cheese steak subs, veggies, or whatever your little heart desires!

Wesite: Sizzle-Q (Retails: $69.99)

(Drink&Plate)
Simple but very useful. I can't tell you how many time I'm at a BBQ, set down my drink, and can never find it again. Its either that or I can't find the black Sharpie to put my name it. The Drink&Plate keeps it all together. I bet it would be great for kids too...heaven knows how hard it is watching them try to carry their food from the grill to the table!

No, I did not take any of these next pictures...these are directly from their websites. :)

Website: Drink & Plate (Retail: 6 for $18)

(The Sport-Brella Products)
All I can think of when I see this chair is my dad. His lack of hair on the top of his head send him hunting for shade everywhere we go. The attached umbrella swivles 360...now that's handy.

And the Sport-brella shelter umbrella. We actually keep one of these in the back of our car, we use it, and I love it. Its huge and has stakes like a tent so that it doesn't blow away...even at the Oregon Coast!;)

Website: Sport-Brella.com (Retail: Chair ($39.99)
Umbrella Shelter: ($69.99)

{Have Fun}
So there you have it. And whether its a rivalry game this weekend or not, have a fun football weekend! Oh...and GO COUGARS!;)

XOXO,
Your favorite blogging cougar alum...
Toad;)

Camera Coats: Soft Launch

2011-09-14T23:31:00.001-06:00

{The Skinny}

In February of 2010 we took a family trip. You know how that is...bags, strollers, carseats, blah, blah... Since we were flying, our hands were especially full. I wanted to take my Nikon, but did NOT need another bag to carry onto the plane and didn't want to check my little bundle of joy. (Anyone nodding their head about now?:))

So, I went into problem solving mode. I had made a little fabric bag/holder/protector for Ethan's Leapster and decided my camera was more important...so I threw my camera in it, put it in the diaper backpack, and off we went.

It was life changing I tell you. It was protected and it didn't have to haul another bag around!

I kept that little cover on my camera (wearing it around my neck) as we went to the beach, the Magic Kingdom, and everywhere else. I was in love. My little "coat" protected my camera from the bumps of crowds, kids spills, sun, rain, snow, sand, and anything else that came my way.

Tanya wanted one. And thus, began my journey with Camera Coats.

{Soft Launch}
I'm calling this a soft launch because I'm not quite ready to conquer the world. I'm still working out some kinks, but I had to tell someone about my new, random adventure...and well, that's you guys.:)

{Giving Back}
One of my main missions with Camera Coats...and one of the things that is is driving me to bring camera coats to the world.... is because I really want to make a difference with them. Not only to protect cameras, but helping as many people as I can while doing it.

I'm excited. Crazy? For sure. But I figure I'd never know what I could do unless I tried.

{Cameracoats.com}

The website is up...barely, and the blog, facebook, and all of that good stuff are still underconstruction, but I really want to get this show on the road. Its been over a year and 1/2 for heaven's sake.

Want one? Ah, that's lovely.

You can go to the website now:

{Giving Some Away}

And you also know me...I'll be giving away some away too. I have a bunch of "not quite rights" that I've collected getting the coat just right. If you don't care that its not perfect, just go to the website: Cameracoats.com and "Like" me on FB via the facebook button. Oh, and leave me a comment letting me which one is your favorite so far!:)

I'll be randomly picking some lucky people to be the 1st to have one!

Looks like there's no turning back. :)

Makes You Think

2011-09-11T21:37:00.001-06:00

{Just do it}

Learning to live in the moment isn't easy. There will always be a million things on our minds and another million things we need to do.

But after hearing the wise words of so many men and women today, I decided I need to follow their great council and try harder to love and cherish those around me...especially in the moment I'm with them.

I also realized that I don't have very many pictures of me with the ones I love! Darn it. I'd really rather be taking the pictures than be in them (like many of you probably), but that needs to change. We need pictures of ourselves with the ones we love...don't you think? Yes, another change in my life will be coming...regardless of what my hair may look like.:)

Well, here's to learning to think a little differently and heeding the advice of those who really know what they are talking about. Our prayers are with you...

XOXO

Toad

September and Mo's Fish Tacos

2011-09-05T20:35:00.000-06:00

(Darn it)

I'm struggling with you September. Really struggling. Why did you have to come so soon? I still haven't posted most of my favorite beach memories from the summer! Now what do I do?

Just start posting?

Alright then...I suppose my little projects will have to be put on hold for a few more days, and lets start at the beach.

{Choo Choo}
I dare say this was one of Aidan's favorite parts of summer. And to avoid fits of screaming, he rode the train several times...and loved it.
He's not joking around when it come to the huff and puff of this little engine...

(Sand)

Some people hate it. Baby's eat it, it gets in your eyes, and its hard not to take with you.

I love it. It usually means that water is nearby. The salty, sandy type of water that calls this little Toad's name. This summer Seaside was hotspot for us, and it was especially fun when we hung out with Travis, Tanya, Trey, & Lucy. Ethan said it was one of his favorite things about our summer.

This could be one of my favorite things about summer, but also about being a mom. Cuddling and kissing on a cold body straight out of the pool. Love it.

Ah, Travis, Tanya, Trey, and Lucy. Tanya is about really to have that baby any day now. Can't wait.

{Fish Tacos...My New Love}
Watchout honey, I fell in love this summer. I never knew how much I was missing until I had a fresh fish taco.

Mo's at Cannon Beach was the place.

I started with a yummy shrimp salad and thought things were going pretty well.

But then I was introduced to these gems and my taste buds haven't been the same.

My brother Travis couldn't help but poke a little fun at me when I got about 2 inches away from my plate ans starting clicking away. I guess that's a sacrifice you make when you want to remember something that so great...

oh, and looky here...

someone else may have fallen in love with a dinner dish as well...

how about those closed eyes...just letting his tastebuds so crazy.:)

(Yeah, I'm thinking this could be a great facebook profile picture!:))

(Fun Times)
I'm forced to say goodbye to you summer. Although you won't be far from my mind.

And don't take it personally September. Its me, not you.

Your Toad

{Free} Baby Gift Tags & Berries

2011-08-27T22:38:00.003-06:00

{Tags}

You can't stop them. Babies, that is. They just keep coming.

And since I've embarked on my journey into the world of sewing making little baby things has been one of my favorite learning projects. They are simple {well, relatively speaking} to make, and I find that babies don't mind the crooked stitches or funky seams my machine seems to produce.

Plus, the mom's like the "handmade" gifts...I think its the way they just mean a little bit more. They have a little story behind them.

And I've been sewing a few baby "stories" of my own lately!

A few months ago I made one of the those "Car Seat Canopies" {you know, the fabric gals put over their car seats to carry their little ones around...} and was excited to give it to my sister in law. {Hope you don't mind if I tell this story "sister-in-law"... you know who you are...;)} Since I live out of state I shipped it just in time for her baby shower.

Time passed. And soon I received a sweet thank-you card from her...stating how grateful she was for the changing pad I had made.

Hmmm....

I called her to explain that it was actually a blanket you place over your carseat, and was sometimes called a "Car Seat Canopy or Tent". They are a dime a dozen around this family oriented, Mormon baby infested town we live in and so it never crossed my mind that she may never have seen one.

Lesson learned.;)

And from now on, I'm sticking a cute little descriptive tag on every gift I make. ;)

Those of you who have made one of these Car Seat Blankets may have had the same experience since it may not be a familiar site at the baby showers you attend.

{Sidebar: Yes, some of you may recognize this blanket. Its the Car Seat Blanket Epattern I have in my Etsy shop.}

And when you are as proud as I am about making something that actually turns out, its fun to sport a cute little tag anyway.

Another Sidebar: I'm digging these little pom-poms! This was the 1st time I used them and it was great. I just sewed them around a rectangle piece of flannel before I sewed the blanket together. Let me know if you want me to show you how I did it and I can post about it.

So, here you go. In true Toad style, here's a random assortment of cute little baby gift tags. Tag away.

CLICK HERE for the free download.

{Berries Baby!}

And now for one of my favorite posts of the summer. Oregon berries.

The U-pick, stuff your face, and make yummy things with kind.

Within hours of driving to Oregon we were out in the fields on the very 1st day of blueberries could be U-picked at the Fordyce Farm just outside Salem. {Love that farm.}

It was the 1st of approximately 8 trips we made to the fields during our 5 week stay.

Ethan was my steading hand picking. Aidan was a my "a car is coming" alarm system. They both filled their faces with berries ate themselves blue. I call it an inadvertant detox.

I'm powerless against the forces of these berries...

and I'm powerless over the need I have to create yummy things with them. {Recipe for the best blue berry pie and best crust I have ever eaten via The Pioneer Woman, of course.}

{Red Raspberries}

Moving on to the red variety, let me present to you these tangy little gems from Smith Farms in Hillsboro {just outside Portland}.

Once again, U-picking is the way to go. Its also great if the berry field supplies you a red wagon to ride in,

or to pull around.

And as with most things in life, these berries are even more fun with friends, or in this case cousins, who share your affinity.

Yep, I'd even say they love them as much as we do.

And once again, the end results provide a tasty treat. The next morning crepes were on the menu. {If you need a recipe you can check out this post from way back in 2009. Its my fave.}

{Tai Berries}

You may remember last year when I talked about Marion Berries {in my Marion Berries 101 post} and we got to know them a little bit better. This year, I'd like to introduce Tai Berries to you. Another tart, tangy treat from the blackberry family that is actually an "English" berry from what I hear. {Hey all of you Brit's out there, correct me if I'm wrong!}

Anyways, my mom planted some a few years back, and we enjoyed picking and eating them.

{Shake It}

We could talk about berries all day, but I'd better not. I will however share with you berries used in one of my favorite forms...the fatty shake. And although these shots may not be of the crazy good creations we love to make ourselves, believe me when I say they were as good as if we had.

Okay, and I just can't leave this picture out. No way.

{Farewell}

Don't be too sad our season has past, my little blue friends. Fortunately you are like babies and keep coming. We'll be back next year with the sweet Oregon summer...to pick and to love you.

And for all of you blog reading friends, may you leave this post and find happiness in "tagging" your baby gifts, relish one last berry, and cherish this last week of August. ;)

Love, Toad;)

Long Days & Dust

2011-08-24T23:20:00.001-06:00

{Day 2}

Me: "How was your day at school?"

Ethan: " I loved it!!"

(Talk about a HUGE sigh of relief as I wiped the sweat from my brow!)

Big steps for all of us. Although the days at school are longer {he said he couldn't remember which day was which because it took so long...and when we went to the pool after school he said there weren't very many people there because it was morning...time has really taken its toll already!} adjustments are underway...for all of us.

Added onto the longer school days is a new twist for our little 1st grader. He has begun a dual-immersion program. 1/2 the day will be spent in a classroom with an "English" speaking teacher and the other 1/2 he will be with the cutest little teacher recruited from Taiwan {pictures coming for sure!} and he'll be learning Mandarin {Chiense}. Yes, that's what most of the world speaks and believe me when I say it will be quite the adventure for all of us.

{Brotherly Love}

As Ethan left for school on Day 1 Aidan was still sleeping. On the way out the door he said Aidan would wonder where he was when he woke up. I assured him I'd let Aidan know what was going on, and then a few tears filled his eyes and he said how much he would miss Aidan.

And then about 10 minutes later tears swelled in my eyes as I dropped Ethan off to school and he marched off like a champ.

Cold lunch complete with Phinneas and Ferb fruitsnacks...check.

A big blue oversized backpack with hand santizer in the side pocket...check.

A super brave heart...check.

After school we headed to the pool and I cherished every minute of it.

{Summer Swimmin'}

Water and toads just get along. I guess tadpoles like it too.

We all seem to be a bit happier around the water. This summer has had water as one of our best friends.

When swimming lessons started they called Ethan's name 1st...Aidan immediately threw a huge fit and started running and crying as far away as he could from the pool and then threw himself helplessly on the grass to let the world hear is agony. Little did he know that he was also going to get in the water...they just hadn't called his name yet.

Once he realized this, and saw the cute swim instructor beckoning him to come join her in the water he was a different little man.

After that each lesson would start with him babbling on and on to his teacher and then actually trying to do what the teacher asked...most of the time.;)

{Going Again}

My lego sewing machine. Ethan was kind enough to make it and told me we could share it.

Some of you may be glad to know that I've dusted off my real machine and have been working on a few projects I think you might find fun.

My closet is full of fabric and ideas I can't wait to share with you.

And yes, its helping keep my mind off of wondering what is happening down the road in classroom 103.:)

The 2011-2012 school year is here to stay. Darn it.

XOXO,

TOAD

And Then He Was 3

2011-08-20T21:47:00.000-06:00

{Evolution}

I'm not a child expert, but I do need thank Aidan for helping me be a better mom and person. Without his help this past year I never would have understood what the term "terrible two's" meant, had that "lost child" feeling at least once a day, or been on my knees pleading for more patience and guidance.

He also helped me learn how better live in the moment. I didn't want to miss a second of that belly laugh or little arm around my neck. Taking a deep breathe and trying to figure out what was going on in his little world has help me live a fuller life.

Don't get me wrong, many nights I've gone to bed mad at myself for not being a more patient, loving, or kind. I hate that. But knowing I'll get another chance in the morning to love and kiss on Aidan {and Ethan too} helps...

Although his speech is not quite up to where most kids his age should be, he makes up for it with his ability to be as physical as any kid can be and flashes the sweetest smile ever. At least I think so.

{Trains & Cake}

Last year it was Buzz and Woody {which are both still high in Aidan's book}, but for this year's party we decided to focus on something that is constantly on this little guy's mind...trains.

It was a VERY low key family party. Simple and fun.

Once Aidan finally decided to come open presents the kids were thrilled. Look at little Lucy's face in the next few pictures...

Opening paper?

The funny thing is that he probably wouldn't have cared if that was all he got.

I had grand ideas of making a cool marshmellow fondant train cake, which totally bombed. The train cars were actually not too bad so that's what we ate...

and it was great.

{A Year in Pictures}

Using the potty, starting preschool, better speech, and being a "bigger" helper. This next year will be great.

But before we move on, I have to flash back to Aidan's life the past year. Isn't it great how pictures can bring back such great feelings and memories? I'm posting these in random order, and mostly so I never forget them, but you may enjoy them too.

My heart swell's with love when I look at these pictures.

Love you Baby.

Happy Birthday "A".

Love, Mom

Free Bus Printable

2011-08-17T22:56:00.001-06:00

{The Bus & It's Driver}

Sorry fall...I'm not quite ready to say farewell to summer. However, because I know that some of you have already started saying your "good-bye's" I'm re-posting this printable.

In my usual "last minute" style I made these last year, but since I didn't post them in a timely manner you may not have had a chance to use them. My apologies...now's your big chance.:)

If you'd like to have this cute bus printable you can CLICK HERE and visit last year's post. See, I really do love you.;)

Oh, and just to warn you...school may be starting for us next week, but summer will continue to live on in my heart and in my upcoming posts.;)

XOXO
Toady

Look out Harry Potter

2011-08-11T18:36:00.001-06:00

{BA in Magic}

Introducing Bill the Magnificant. Trained at Hogworts by Dumbledore himself, this gifted guy has been performing little magic shows as long as I can remember.

Grandpa's 95th birthday was the perfect venue for this performance. This wizard {aka Dad} kept us baffled...although he never ceases to baffle us in some aspects of "real life" too...;)

The kids were dazed, amazed, and somewhat confused at the tricks...

but I think everyone enjoyed the entertainment!

If you don't believe me, take a took as his beautiful assist on Bill's right {aka Mom}...I think her face tells it all.;)

Several people commented how good this witch's hat looked on me. Hmm. I'm still not sure I should take that as a compliment.;)

That night as I was tucking Ethan in bed we were talking about the fun day we had. Just as my dad walked into the room Ethan said, "Mom, I didn't know we had a wizard in the family!"

Not sure if my mom is a witch or not, but just in case you are wondering...I'm a true blood muggle. ;)

And if you've read the past few posts about the reunion, you may be waiting to guess which guys were my brothers...

Here you go.

Starting on the left...Matt, Travis {Trey and Lucy's Dad}, and Peter. Did you guess right?

{Oldest and Bestest}

Its only taken a month+ to get most of my pictures from this grand party up. Thanks for hanging in there. Hopefully you've been at least semi inspired to try something new or fun at your next family event!

The good old egg toss. Probably one of the oldest, cheapest, and greatest events in the world...and it was one of my personal favorites. I loved it not just because it made for great pictures, but it involved so many people and they all had such a great time {or at least they looked like it!}.

Sidebar: Stellar Inspirational T-shirt Idea

Check out his great shirt cute Camille had on.

Front: "Get in the Game 2011"

Back: "Who's on the Lord's side who?"

Love it.

Had enough eggs?:)

So, I've outdone myself sharing this family event...now let's hear from you.

What has been your favorite activity at a family reunion?

Can't wait to hear! Hopefully someone will leave a comment...;)

Free Jam Topper Printable: Made With Love

2011-08-04T23:50:00.000-06:00

{Retro}

Yes, I'm bringing this one back. My mom started canning and I started printing...

Do you know what these are? Currants. Evidently my mom found them growing out in the garden area of the yard and decided to make jam.

And look how pretty it turned out! Although its kind of interesting...when you open the jars it turns to a lighter colored sugary lemonade type substance.

No, the can pictured below is not the substance. But I just can't get it out of my head.

{Thanks Heather. You really did it this time. I'm a loyal Diet Coker, but this has stolen my little taste buds away from my standard. Only try it if you're ready to start buying cases...;)}

Ah, yes. I've brought it back...here's the flashback to last Christmas. Such a fun "neighbor" and teacher gift.

And have you seen this? Its totally sweet. My grabbed it on a newsstand and its FULL of super great pictures and some pretty creative recipes.

This is one {of many} I really want to try...

And this is just a cool design they used on one of the pages...wouldn't that make great fabric?

So, here you have it. A little printable to add to your cute little jars of whatever your little heart cans this year. Just remember that they can be used for much more than jam! Wouldn't they be cute as gift tags or little cards?

Click here to print:

You'll get this sheet of cute labels in a variety of colors. Enjoy!

{No Wind}

2 days ago my mom and I took a risk...we packed up the boys and headed to the beach. For some this may not seem like living on the edge, but if you've ever tried to predict the weather on the Oregon Coast you know exactly what I'm talking about. You just never know.

This time, we got really lucky. It was one of the BEST DAYS EVER. Bar none. Oregonians endure rain most of the year knowing that these special days can come.

Sunny, no wind...a pleasant 69 degrees. No, that is not a typo. The only terrible thing was that my dad, grandma, Tanya and kids, and all of you couldn't join us!

{The Babe}

I have never met a person like little man this in my life. He has totally rocked my world. Everyday he has me scratching my head which either makes me want to cry or giggle....or sometimes both.

The other day a lady at the pool asked me how I taught him to swim so well. Me? Are you kidding? I simply explained that I wish I could tell her I did something cool, but most of the time I have very little control over anything he does. Very little control.

I say come, he runs. I say eat, he says no. I say lets get dressed, he grabs my face.

Fortunately Ethan helps me a ton with Aidan...and for that I'll always be grateful.

Yes, our Aidan is a happy, healthy, speech delayed little guy who may make me crazy, but gives the best open mouthed kisses around. When his little arm wraps around my neck I melt. When he shouts "MAAAA" when he so desperately needs me I can't help but smile.

I just hope I don't brake his spirit in my attempt to be sane. He is definitely going places.

So, go make some jam and make me feel better by running after your 2 year olds.

'Tis the season.:)

Sweet Summer Wishes,

Emily

Rock Stars

2011-07-29T00:38:00.000-06:00

{Marge Style}
"Minute to Win It"

What's better than wrapping your 2nd cousin twice removed up in toilet paper?

Or knocking each other out of the way to catch whiffle balls into plastic containers?

Talk about great entertainment.

Margo would randomly call up people to compete against each other doing fun (and funny) little things...

and it was great.

{Remember a few posts back when I challenged you to try and guess which guys were my brothers? Well, here's one now...and its not the birthday boy on the left.;)}

I can honestly say I'd never seen my family quite like this before...they are rock stars I tell you.

In fact it was so exciting that...um, some old people had to get a little shut eye. (Or maybe that's just what Canadians do in the afternoon...eh, Mitch?;))

{Top Hit}
2 fun filled days fun of family, food, activities, chatting, & great times. I'm sure everyone had a "favorite" part, but I know for sure one activity that went to the top of the list for a bunch of kids.

The Play dough Creation Contest: hosted by my rock star 8 months+ pregnant sister-in-law Tanya.

Homemade play dough in forms you've never seen before.

These kids really went for it.

{And in true Oregon form, we got a little wet on the 2nd day of the party...as you can tell by the hoodies in every color.}

I guess I should give some props to my brother Travis for cutting out these totally sweet rolling pins. Great work Trav. The kids loved them.

Some kids made "self portraits"...

bats...

or whatever their little hearts desired.

Then came the highlight of the occasion...

The kids could hardly wait.

Each creation was judged and given an award. In fact, here is the judge now...how great does she look?

With Marge as the MC, each kid was called up to get their personalized award.

I've never seen anything like it.

How sweet it that?

One for the record books.

And just when you thought the reunion pictures were all posted...

there's still more to come.;)

{Super Speed}

I'm in denial, how about you. August really?

Let's make these last few days of July be full of sun, kisses, and dirty bath tubs.

XOXO

Toad

Water: I Heart Faces

2011-07-26T02:19:00.000-06:00

{Water}I Heart Faces. One of my favorite places to visit...and with this week's theme I could hardly resist.

About the Shot:
My little 2 year old tadpole and his proud papa in the best 1' 8" kiddie pool that Seaside had to offer. Swimming and diving down in the water--eyes open of couse--is our little man's new passtime.

PS: No, Bob doesn't have hearing aids {although that would explain our frequent miscommunication...;)}, the white things by his ears are actually the earphones for a waterproof MP3 player. I know, lap swimming just became a whole lot more fun!:)

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever catch up with all of the pictures I have to share with you. Darn it.
XOXO
Toady

Dip Me

2011-07-22T15:40:00.001-06:00

{Jesica's Dip}

Within hours after my last post my sister-in-law Mary send me a text. She couldn't wait to get this dip recipe. This may not seem like a big deal, but she just had a baby and the text was so long it was in 2 parts. Now that's drive.

Mary, here you go. Feed those post-pardum cravings.;)

Ah, Jesica. Thank-you. She brought this killer fruit dip and believe me when I say it "wowed" the masses at the family reunion. If you look closely you'll notice there isn't much left in that large bowl...and I wasn't the only one who put more on their plate--without any fruit.;)

Man, it was GOOD.

Jesica's Yummy, Yummy Fruit Dip Recipe

Disclaimer: Make and eat at your own risk. I will not be held responsible for the amount you consume or the consequences that come from it. ;)

Mix the following together:

1 8oz box of cream cheese {i assumed we'll want it room temp...}

1 jar of caramel

1 Skor candy bar smashed up into bits

The End

You'll never be the same.

{Unbutton}

Who needs that top button anyway.

You must know by now that I'm a lover of good food. Hence, these next pictures. Heaven forbid I don't document this part of the reunion. And who knows, maybe you'll be inspired like I was...:)

Giganto Pietro's Pizza. Memory made. This pizza hasn't changed since I was a kid, and it made my day--and I have a feeling I wasn't the only one loving it...

The grill and the future of our legal system...

This fall my brother {in the white} starts is journey with law in Arizona.
Good luck Matt.
Good luck Arizona.

Oh, and the hamburgers and hot dogs were superb.

{I-Scream}

I love the memories of my grandma scooping us ice cream for us in the summer. Just the plain old vanilla, chocolate, and if we were lucky, strawberry. And what kid {or grown up} doesn't love a good ice cream cone?

Messy? Yes. Worth it? You betcha.

{Blues}
While the guys went golfing the 1st day of the reunion a few of us decided to go pick some of those juicy, sweet, succulent blueberries.

It was cousin Ezra's 1st time. He caught on quick. Although he'd had a rough couple of days {check out his black eye -not to mention Aidan's teeth marks on the side of his face. Yeah, I know.}, but I think the blueberries hit the spot...especially when he figured out he could throw them. ;)

Oh Aidan...

If I had a choice I'd almost always choose chocolate cake over pie...but not when it comes to this fresh blueberry delight. Pioneer Woman is famous for a reason. I had 2 pieces for breakfast yesterday and didn't regret it one bit.

{More}
Next up in my reunion marathon is some more cute kids and great activity ideas...I know you can hardly wait.;)

See you soon.
Toad