Chunky Holiday Mini Album

I've had this small board book kicking around for awhile so since July 3rd/4th weekend was jammed pack for us-parades, fireworks, friends, patriotic treats, visiting "sisters" and my little cuties all decked out I decided to use up any red, white and or blue scrap and put together this "patriotic" mini-here are a few pages from it.

My patriotic cuties...

At the Chesapeake 3rd of July parade...
Chesapeake's finest...

Tasty treat Mike & I remember from our childhood as well as the pasta tee craft the boys made...

My PWU "sister" Kim whom I met for the first time while her family vacationed in VAB over the holiday!

Excuse the less than stellar photography! ; )

WIP: Valentines Mini

This work in progress again follows my theme of the year of being seasonally challenged! I know it's July and that Valentines occurred 6 months ago and I am just now getting to my mini but it's been a busy spring/summer for us as a family so I will just have to ease up on my OCD tendencies a bit and not give myself too hard of time for this!
Bear with me on the awful pictures but our weather has been terrible lately. Either 125 or storming like crazy so natural out of doors shots are just not happening.

The cover-Valentines Day is one of my favorite holidays (it was my favorite until I had the twins and now Christmas with them is simply the best!)

One of the inside pages-this is such an adorable shot of my two little Valentines-I just love it!

I will get this finished soon-next on my list is their preschool books and I want them completed before school starts again this fall! : )

Injured hero

One of Mike's former partners in the police department that transferred over to the fire dept suffered a back injury this week. Our boys are very close to "Aunt Faith" or as they call her Fire Fighter Girl. They are her biggest fans and she loves having her own personal fan club. For the longest time she has been threatening to make them fan club t-shirts just to annoy their father.
To cheer her up we made the shirts, brought her dinner and some "boo boo" (as the boys call them) balloons the other night. She was so happy to see her fans!

Fire Fighter Girls Fan Club

Giveaway @ i love it all

If you love Ali Edwards Week in the Life you are going to love Monika @ i love it all Summer in the Life mini! I loved her idea of documenting your summer-with beach trips, pool time, visits from out of towners, movies, etc...I have so much to scrap already from our summer and it's not even over yet!
Visit her post today one month of blogging to see her cute idea and for a chance to enter to win her adorable giveaway!

Summer vacation happenings July 1st-15th

Backyard bubble fun! We actually had a few bearable days where we could get out and enjoy the out of doors without the need of a pool, a sprinkler or the beach!
Bike riding tots! It's time to graduate to the next size of bikes for the boys!

My patriotic cuties all decked out for the 3rd of July

At the 3rd of July parade at Lakeside Park

Connor, Braden & Mommy at the parade

Three legged (ahem) five legged race!

We joined our pals Sarah & Brian for some after dinner fun at Chuck E Cheese before the fireworks show

Playing with their glow sticks

Fireworks!

My patriotic cuties enjoying a patriotic treat Rocket Pops on the 4th

My Police Wives Unite sister from PA Kim & her family vacationed in Virginia Beach over the 4th!

Our police hubbies

Our police kiddos

The little ones made fast friends and enjoyed the show!

A Sponge Bob treat break at the Y

The heat came back-full force-back to living in the pool at the Y

Family Fun! Trip to Water Country USA in Williamsburg

Mommy made the boys their own treasure chests and threw them a treasure hunt-they loved it!

Broken crayons & old silicone cups occupied the twins one morning

Their "new" crayons

SILLY BANDZ!!!!

Despicable Me

My little pirates dressed up to see the Moody Crewe Pirate program at the Greenbrier Library

Arrrggghhh! Their new pirate pal!

Simple Summer Wreath

I badly needed a "summertime" wreath.
Valentines Wreath. Check
St. Patrick's Day Wreath. Double Check
Easter Wreath. Check
Memorial Day/ Flag Day/ Fourth of July/Labor Day Wreath. Check, Check, Check, Check
I had nothing to put on our door for the end of July through August (I've got Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas covered. Check, Check, Check!) But not "summer" until I came across the cutest Felt Flowers tutorial on the Craftaholics Anonymous blog. Connor & Braden (of course) picked out the colors-their favorite's-blue & green but I love how it turned out. Very ocean. Living on the East Coast the ocean plays a big part in our everyday lives.

Pasta stamped fireworks tee's

This morning the boys made these super cute pasta stamped 4th of July fireworks t-shirts. Last night I glued the pasta to the cardboard pieces (I only burnt one thumb) elbow macaroni is tiny to hold & put HOT glue on!
We painted fabric paint onto the "stamps" and the boys stamped away on grey t-shirts. The key is to not push the stamps down very hard-use only gentle even pressure. They eventually got the hang of it!

Thanks for the idea Tara! : )