with love, the fishers

Beach Babes

2012-01-12T21:10:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas I was able to spend a day with 2 of my best friends at the beach on an incredibly beauitful day.

The day honestly felt magical.

And the beach was breathtaking.
It made me really miss the summer...I am already counting down the days!

Trust

2012-01-10T08:05:00.000-08:00

I've hit the 4 month mark at my new job,

and I have to say honestly...it's not getting any easier.

There are some women who love working,

they love the independence, the money, the confidence their job brings...

and me,

well not so much.

I truly loved being able to stay at home.

I loved how lucky I was to be the one to care for my kids each day.

And I feel bitterness towards life and all the responsibilities it brings, for taking that away from us.

The day before I started my first day I was crying in bed thinking how sad I was that I wasn't going to be the one to wake Lucas up from his nap or see Ayden's smiling face when I picked him up from Kindergarten.

Those lil' moments haunt me each day.

It's so hard when you make a decision as a family that in order to make it,

mommy's got to go back to work.

All the sacrifices and guilt that it brings, is numbing.

You can't help but feel slighted.

When you've prayed so hard,

and wanted something so bad...

that it just doesn't happen.

Which is why this year I'm learning to trust more.

And not be so completely driven by guilt.

Because at the end of the day,

I know I'm still a great mom

and my world revolves around them.

And now I'm able to help them out each day in a different way.

NY Resolutions

2012-01-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

New Years Resolutions can be so cheesy,

but I love them anway.

It feels good to give youreslf a fresh start at something.

A break from the difficulties of the past year.

You can begin again.

And that is such a great feeling.

So my resolution for 2012 is too:

1) Love more

2) Trust more

4) Be the person I was made to be.

because I have so much to live for.

Happy New Year Friends!

NY Weekend

2012-01-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

I am always so grateful for the extra time I have at home these days.
And a 4 day weekend is just what I needed over the New Year's Eve holiday to live life.

My dear ol' dad had promised the boys a trip to his house sometime during their Christmas break and over the weekend they got their wish, and my dad got more than he promised for! My boys know how to have a good time! They wore him out!

With the boys away Kyle & I got to do a few trips solo...we always have so much fun together.

But not having my trio all together to ring in the new year made it feel like something was missing. So I'm gonna plan a surprise new year's party this Saturday just so we can have our own celebration!

We filled our weekend with 2 trips to the Honda Center to see the Ducks play (nothing like watching your favorite team get completely trampled by the opposite team) and a ton of time with friends.

Which honestly, I've needed SO MUCH lately.

My turn...

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

My beautiful carefree friend Carynn tagged me in an "about me" post...
so here goes.

1. What's the most important thing you learned from your mother?

My mom is a fighter. She has won so many battles in life: cancer, child abuse, poverty and she continues to show me faith and grace in all she does.

2. How did you/will you know you're with the right one?

I've known my husband since I was 16. Always friends, nothing more and one day something happened. I knew he was the won that was created in this world for me to love. He was/is my future.

3. What has been the most beautiful moment in your life this far?

The day each of my boys were born. I'll never do anything more amazing in my life than that. I felt like a superhero!

4. What do you believe is the coolest thing about women?

That we create life!

5. How do you get yourself to feel better when you're having an "ugly day?"

Red lipstick and a apple fritter from Starbucks.

6. What is the most beautiful thing about you?

Why is this the hardest question to answer? :)
Probably my heart...or red hair.

7. Who loves you?

My family and a few cherished friends in my life.

8. Why do you keep a blog?

To remember my most beautiful moments in life, which I'm sure I'll forget a few one day!

9. What song do you sing the loudest to in your car? (Post a youtube video!)

The Avett Brothers rock my world right now and this song makes me want to marry my husband again just so we can dance to this song!

10. Where do you go when you need to get away?

The gym or Target.

11. When do you think you became a grown-up?

I'm still waiting for that to happen and I'm 31. Maybe 99.

So now I tag each of my readers!
If you post answers to these questions on your blog, come back and post a link. I'd love to read them all!

Xmas Kids

2012-01-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

I hope you had a great Christmas!!

Xmas Morning

2012-01-04T20:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning is always such a whirlwind!
This was our first time celebrating Christmas in our new place.
But honestly we could all be in a carboard box under a pepper tree and it would feel like home. Crowded but comfy.

This year the boys got blessed with some pretty awesome stuff.
A few highlights were their brand new Ducks Hockey Jersies and new Nintendos.

Something I struggle so much with as a parent is raising children who are humble and appreciate all the awesome blessings that come their way, so when they say "thank you" and truly mean it...it rocks my world!

Here is a lil' glimpse into our morning:

Christmas Eve

2012-01-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was awesome!

We spent the day with our families, ate WAY too much food, got some pretty amazing presents and laughed a ton!

I'm realizing the older I get the more I see how incredibly talented my dad is in the "art of Christmas."
He would be a great Santa!

What made the day so special for me was hearing a beautiful letter my grandma wrote about a few people in our family who she wanted to honor for being "do-gooders."
And Brandon made the list...along with my amazing cousin Jeremy.
They both are pretty awesome souls and it was such a great moment to appreciate them for loving others!

Our tree

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

This year we trimmed our little aluminum tree with old glass ornaments from the goodwill.
They are so delicate and sweet.
I'm sure a few will be lost for the cause this christmas...but I'm gonna enjoy them while they last.

Ayden wasn't very excited about having a "short, silver tree."
I guess it's not really christmas in our house because our tree isn't green.
Don't you love when your little ones speak their mind?
It's pretty funny the things they come up with...
and I only wish I could speak my mind half as much as him!

I love this time of year!

Parade

2011-12-08T20:52:00.000-08:00

Redlands has a Christmas Parade every year,
which is honestly one of my favorite things to do during the holidays.
We get to sit outside, drink coffee and say Merry Christmas to just about every person that walks past.
It's awesome.
And it reminds me of how much I love living in this town!

This year though was even more special...
because Brandon played his Sax in the elementary school marching band! I have never been more excited in my life!

When I saw the band coming, I started taking pictures like a mad women in hopes that I would catch one of him & my camera was being slow as dirt. I was so afraid I'd miss this moment!!!
But when I went thru the photos at the end of the night I got the sweetest shot of him and I'm so grateful for it!

Searching

2011-12-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

SO I'm reading this new book,

and it's weighing so heavily on my heart.

Exposing so much of who I think I am, and how much of this person I don't recognize at all.

It's amazing what you start realizing about yourself when you start looking inward...

where your priorites lie and well, mine are pretty upside down.

I dream of a person who is completely selfless,

so full of love it shines out of me like the sun...

and as I read the words in this book I realize how far I have to go to get there.

Thankful

2011-11-29T05:29:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty convinced I don't deserve this life,
or these sweet little faces that I get to hang out with everyday.
Reason to be so thankful.

31

2011-11-28T17:27:00.000-08:00

Well, I turned 31.
Officially "in" my 30's.
I still can't believe it when I say it or when I have to punch my age into the elliptical machine at the gym.
I really do feel like a goofy teenager ...
Just with a lot more responsibility.

And so this year, we kept it simple.
I got my yearly birthday tattoo.
Ate lunch at Panera.
And then dinner at my mother in laws.
It was simple.
And very nice.

So long Spartacus...

2011-11-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

This is Spartacus (aka Jason).

He is our friend and he left us to fight some unfriendlies in a distant land far far away in the middle east.
We love him dearly. He is like family.
And so we celebrated with a pretty amazing going away party.

We are so proud of him.
And it makes what is going on over there so much more real!

So if you remember him in your prayers, we'd love it if you'd be so kind as to say an extra one for him.
He needs to come home safely, he has 3 sweet babies waiting for him when he get back.

Thank you so much!

Love us.

2011-11-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Saturday was our anniversary.

We have 2 anniversaries each year...have I told you that?

November 5th is the day we got married by our Pastor in his office with no one around but us.

It was something we wanted to do before the actual wedding day...

which was in May the following year.

We acknowledge our May anniversary,

but we really celebrate in November.

I feel so lucky to call him husband.

He's my favortie person in the world,

and I feel like I'd explode if he wasn't around for me to talk too.

He just is it for me.

My life & my future.

I couldn't ever imagine my life without him in it.

Happy Anniversary Husband!

Thanks for loving me so much & taking such great care of our family!

You are the best.

Even when you're grumpy :)

Happy Birthday Lucas!!!!

2011-11-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

We had our family over for a small birthday party for Lucas.
He turned 2 on Sunday.
And I really can't believe it.
But I say that every year as they get older and I imagine I'll be old & wrinkly looking at them thinking where did the time go someday...it's what parents do.

So onto the birthday!

Lucas loves the Happy Birthday song.
He's a singer.
And so we started singing it everyday during the week...

So when everyone began to sing him THE song, he lipsinked the whole way thru until he blew out the candles which he did like a champ!

Lucas we love you!

You keep us all on the edge of our seats.

You are tough as nails,

but as sweet as can be.

I thank God everyday that he let me be your mommy!

Happy Birthday!!!

Zombies & Exterminators

2011-11-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween was pretty awesome.

We always dream up really cool ideas,

and I totally look forward to making their costumes each year.

Ayden decided he wanted to be "Billy the Exterminator."

He was the best Billy I've ever seen, minus the mullet which he refused to wear.

Brandon begged for a costume from the store...insert: Scarecrow...but at the last minute he decided that my zombie costume was a way better idea. Agreed.

And Lucas was a bat.

I found it at the thrift store for $3...and couldn't pass it up.

We walked Olive Street as we do each year with our friends & their kids...

it's always jam packed full of people, but it's just not Halloween without it.

I hope your Halloween was great!

H-town Party

2011-11-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

This year we had our own little Halloween shin dig at our house.
It was spook-tacular (sorry, I had too)!

We ate mummy wrapped hot dogs, we drank dragons' blood, ate brains & bones dipped in chocolate & coffin chocloate cupcakes for dessert.

We played Halloween music (which is pretty much is The Ghostbusters Theme song, Nightmare Before Christmas and the Monster Mash) and danced in the kitchen.

Then we closed the night with The Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphy.

It was hands down the best Halloween party I've ever been too. Kids party WAY harder than adults.
I was so tired by the time the night was over.

(look at this kid. His hair is really this crazy...!)

Mountain Music Festival

2011-10-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

There are a few shows Kyle plays that I really love!
And the Mountain Music Festival is definitely one of them.

It's in Oak Glen at this amazing park, where you're surrounded by seniors and kids. Which in my world, is an excellent combination.

And there is something so awesome about being outdoors listening to blue grass and watching people take it easy, laying on their blankets with their shoes off.

It's a pretty sight.

Cocktails (Photo Overload)

2011-10-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

After we got back from our weekend in Palm Springs, I really wanted to have all our friends over for a retro cocktail party.

We've never had a "big kid party" at our house...
and it's way over due.
Plus it gave me an excuse to pull out all my pyrex :)
And to dress up.
For the drinks, we decided on making just one kind of cocktail, which was the one we had in Palm Springs called the Orbitini.

Here is how you make it:

2 shots of Sake
3/4 cup of cranberry juice
1/2 cup of orange juice

Serve over ice with an orange wedge!

(It's delicious)

We all had such a fun night!

Sprinkled with Love

2011-10-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, my friend Kelly and I put on a little "baby sprinkle" for our sweet friend Amber, who is having her 2nd baby.

It was simple and so sweet.
And we were so happy to do it for her.
We love her, and she means the world to us.

Bikers

2011-10-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

The boys live outside.

They’d be out there all day all night, if I let them…
And nothing is better to them then riding their bikes.
…except Lucas.

Who until recently only had a plastic ride on push cart as his mode of transportation. Poor kid.

He would try hoping on his brothers bikes every chance he could... once they were laying on the ground at his level.

So when I saw this Radio Flyer bike at the thrift store, I couldn’t pass it up.
He hasn’t gotten the hang of it yet, but I can tell he really loves it.

Weekend in Rewind

2011-10-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

We had a really good weekend over here in our neck of the woods.

Kyle did yard work and officially made our backyard, a yard.

Grass and all.

It looks lovely.

Nothing screams sexy then watching your man do yard work, let me tell you!

(to much information?... perhaps)

I woke up Saturday feeling so happy to be laying in bed with my boys with the sun shining thru my window.

Weekends really have been cherished lately.

We did venture out of our cave for a birthday party,

where Lucas ended up spraining his ankle on the world's biggest bouce house.

He shot out the bottom like a rocket...landing in a downward dog, rolling his ankle.

And nothing is sadder than seeing a baby with a limp.

But feels so much better now, thankfully.

We also had friends over for dinner,

which was so great and so very grown up of us.

We're slow learners, what can I say!

Ever since I started working, juggling it all has been a real challenge for me.

I've actually never been great at juggling it all,

let's be honest.

So the time I actually get to spend with friends I really cherish.

And it makes me realize we need to have people over more often.

So we decided to make it a recurring event.

So keep your eye out for a dinner invite :)

Around Here, Lately...

2011-09-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

Sack Lunch

2011-09-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Let’s talk school lunches, shall we? It’s been a hot topic around my house lately…

Ayden told me last night that he doesn’t want me making his lunch anymore.

He just doesn’t like the food we’ve got.

I told him, “Son, one day you’ll look back and feel pretty dang lucky that your mom made your lunch each day & your Halloween costume (for that matter)!”

Which my husband then said, “You’re pretty much just setting him up to be a nerd.”

A nerd?

What?

Really?

When did bringing your lunch become so “un-cool?”

And standing in line for the “cafeteria special” is now the hot alternative?

Here is what I remember about school lunches:

They tell you a lot about a person. Like being naked in front of a crowd, what your mom or dad packed in your lunch…shows the whole world who you are!

“The contents of your lunch said whether or not you and your family were okay. Some bag lunches, like some people were Okay and some weren’t. There was a code, a right and acceptable way. It was that simple.”

I remember having the same old boring lunch packed for me every day:

Bologna on white bread.

Grape drink. (no brand, just grape drink)

And a bag of BBQ chips.

I don’t think this lunch could be any worse for a girl growing up, and a chubby girl at that.

It was a fat man’s lunch. A fat man who works at a construction site and wears a hard hat.

I longed for peanut butter and jelly…

Only every time I opened up my lunch, there it was. Bologna.

Who eats that stuff? (Besides my grandma).

But even as I sat there and ate my bologna sandwich that after each bite would get stuck to the roof of my mouth… it still wasn’t as bad as cafeteria food: a flimsy plastic tray filled with food that was lifeless and colorless.

Insert soggy green beans, a chicken sandwich and a side of fruit cocktail…with all the juices flowing together like a broken levy. Gross.

And now it’s cool?

Maybe they’ve come a long way since I was a kid…

Because now my extremely picker eater is demanding it.

No more turkey roll ups, go-gurts, snack packs, cinnamon graham crackers, grapes or apples.

He wants floppy green beans and French bread pizza.

Well see how long this lasts…

Sweet Baby Boy

2011-09-20T21:26:00.000-07:00

Meet Tyler.
My sweet baby boy nephew.
He is SO beautiful.
My sister was a champ.
I was SO proud of her.
And she celebrated with her baby in her lap & an In & Out cheeseburger in her hand.

An Extra-Ordinary Life

2011-09-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite quotes...

such a perfect reminder to slow down in life and really cherish these fleeting moments.

And not let the stresses of life distract us from what life is really about.

Love.

"Sensing the ground shifting beneath my feet,

I resisted the new, unknown territory,

already nostalgic for what I'd so recently taken for granted.

I missed my old world and it's funny little inhabitants,

those great big personalities still housed in small,

sweet bodies.

I missed my sons' kissable cheeks and round bodies,

their unanswerable questions,

their innocent faith,

their sudden tears and wild infectious giggles,

even the smell of morning breath,

when they would leap, upon waking, from their own warm beds directly into ours.

I missed the person I had been for them,

too-

the younger, more capable mother who read aloud for hours,

stuck raisin eyes into bear shaped pancakes,

created knights armor from cardboard and duct tape.

Certainly my talents didn't seem quite as impressive anymore,

my company not as desirable as it once had been."

-(excerpt from The Gift of an Ordinary Life)

Week 2

2011-09-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I survived my first work week! (phew!)

The first day was a lot harder on me than I had thought.
I think it was rements of my night before my first day cry...
I just couldn't sleep, and thinking about all the little things I was going to miss out on now, made me really sad.
I thought the world would stop if I was away!
haha!

But honestly, the boys hardly know the difference.
Kyle changed his work schedule, so now he is the one that gets to take them all the school and he picks them up, and by the time they all get home...I'm back :)
Being off at 2 is great and walking up at 5 each morning really hasn't been too bad. It's peaceful, and I get to see the sunrise.

Except for early am drivers; they are the most rowdy, intense bunch of commuters! And I just don't drive fast enough for them! I think I've been honked at, yelled at and have had brights flashed on me each day...but I'm not getting a ticket for those crazy folks, so I'll keep on doing what I do.

Through all this though I'm learning such a valuable lesson to lean on my husband more.
I have a serious tendency to think I can do it all, so I constantly assume all this responsibility and become weighed down by it...supermommy syndrome.

But now the whole dynamic of our family shifted and it's honestly helped us more than it has hindered us...(at least for now anyway).

The Getaway

2011-09-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

Well we did it, Kyle & I got away for an entire weekend (thanks to my awesome and very brave mother in law)!
We planned our whole weekend around our favorite mid cent shops in Palm Springs and we even found the most amazing hotel right off the blvd that was built in 1947 and totally true to that period...it was heaven for a couple of vintage junkies like ourselves.
Checking labels every where we went...

The only thing on a agenda was the complimentary cocktail hour at 5:00.
We ate popcorn and talked to strangers...it was so much fun.

It was perfect. The place was just our kinda place.
We decided to make it a yearly tradition...

355 more days to go!!

34

2011-09-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday,
to my best friend,
partner,
and love of my life.

I'm so happy I get to live this life with you by my side.
I love you SO MUCH!

Happy 34th Birthday!!!
xoxo

Going back...

2011-08-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

Oh where do I start?

Lately, around here we've just been living life.
Since the boys started school, man, I just feel like I have no time to sit and blog AND I'm just feeling so uninspired at the moment (insert: dill pickle post).
So instead of boring you with more posts like that, I just haven't.
But it's been good.
I like just living life and not worrying about what I'm gonna blog about...or forcing things to happen so I'd have a good blog post...ya feel me?

But big things are happening around here,
like I start working next week.
Which is pretty bittersweet.

My life is being a full time mom. It's who I am.
I love seeing their faces in the morning,
getting them ready for the day,
seeing them off & picking them up from school...
but life can be hard and finances even harder...
and an opportunity came our way that we just couldn't turn down.
Plus, the hours are perfect and I'll be home by the time they are out of school.

Although bittersweet, I am so thankful that we've been given this chance and if it means more security the sacrifice is worth it.

I just need to remember that when my alarm goes off each morning at 4:30 am...

Dill

2011-08-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

The other day I made homemade pickles,

using this recipe.

and they were delicious!

She's having a baby!

2011-08-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

My sister that is!

So I threw a little shower for her & the daddy to be.
It was simple,
and so nice.

And we all can't wait to meet to the new baby!

Getaway

2011-08-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

Lately, all I seem to daydream about is a weekend away with Kyle.

It sounds so untainable, like winning the lottery.

But none the less, I still dream about it.

Googling "romantic getaways."

And living vicariously through the pictures of my friends on their weekend trips.

True Story: We never had a honeymoon...we got married & came home the next day.

And besides going on our mission trip 3 years ago,

we've never been away together for more than overnight.

And that hasn't happened since Lucas was born.

How do couples do it when you have more than one kid?

Having someone watch 3 kids for a weekend

sounds like a serious tall order...maybe too tall??

Things I love lately...

2011-08-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

1. These outfits from Ruche. On my wish list...wishing my birthday was a lot closer than it is.

2. Kyle & I started watching Whisker Wars on IFC. And it's amazing. Who knew men's facial hair could be so entertaining. Kyle is now dreaming up his winter beard. Big dreams.

3. I saw a commercial today for Ree Drummond's new show on the Food Network! I can't wait. New food shows get me every time.

4. Pictures of Gloria Steinem from the 70's. She was so beautiful and had an effortless style.

5. This documentary. Watching this journalist from New York on a quest to see if yoga can really change his life...was so funny and made me appreciate the beautiful art of yoga so much more.

Stuffed

2011-08-15T21:29:00.000-07:00

I made these lil' guys over the weekend.
And the monster worms make me laugh everytime.

As I was making them I was really hoping that the sweet faces I was giving these too as a birthday present... would love them just as much as I did...

Handmade translates to love (for me anyway), and I always worry that if it's not a light saber or a my lil' pony they won't love it...but they did!
They always give them alil' squeeze.
Which makes me smile.
Phew!!

My family

2011-08-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

Our friends from Magnolia Photography took our family photos in Laguna Beach last week, and they worked some magic.

They found the most amazing spots,
and the boys had so much fun.

And it shows.
Those pictures are my favorite.

Right now they are offering 20% off their photo shoots too!

All you have to tell them is the Fisher's sent you!!

You'll love them just as much as we do!

Today is the 1st day of the rest of your life...

2011-08-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

The boys survived their first day of school.

Ayden made a new friend instantly.

He told me the night before that was his plan.

Kids are amazing that way.

Brandon fell right back into his routine.

(ran off so quickly I could hardly snap any photos)

Met up with all his old friends,

and has came face to face to the serious business that is 4th grade.

This year is gonna be good.

Party before their 1st day!

2011-08-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

Going back to school always was a big thing for me.
It meant the end of summer, which is always bittersweet but the start of a new year always meant "new beginnings" and I liked that.

As a mom I want my boys to know how much I value their education and how important it is to take it seriously...
so we always start the new year off with a fun family party.
Nothing big, nothing fancy.
Homemade pizza & brownies & some awesome homemade signs by yours truly. Oh and a table cloth because that screams party!

Kate

2011-08-08T15:34:00.000-07:00

When Kyle & I met I was so lucky that he had some really amazing friends, who I instantly loved and Rachael Marshman was/is one of them.

Her heart is incredible and she inspires me daily on her blog to see the beauty in life and her gift for being a wife and mother is contagious!
Not to mention her & her husband are amazing photographers!
Ummm, is there anything they can't do?

We love this family.
They are just GOOD people.

And their goodness keeps coming;
now they have begun the journey of adopting a sweet baby girl from Ethiopia named Kate.

And in order to help fund this very pricey adoption,
they've started an online craft fair.
With some amazing handmade goodies from all across the US.

I've already eyed a few pieces that I love!

Take a peek at Kate's Craft Fair,
maybe you'll find something you love...
and in return help a great family bring home their baby girl!

Feel free to link up to their story and the craft fair blog,
the blogging community is an amazing place and always up for helping out those in need!

Thanks friends!

Back up

2011-08-04T23:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna lie...it's been one of those weeks.

Holding down the fort for the past 2 weeks while Kyle has been away working has been a rough one.

The kids always seem to get sick when I'm alone.

And Lucas got hit with a double dose of pink eye.

Which is the worst!!

Constantly touching, and rubbing...which you know is a major no-no!

So I've been lysol-ing & antibacterial-ing everything.

Always one step behind him...

quarantined in our house.

and in the mean time I am getting nothing else done...

Life just always feels off when daddy is away.

Like I have no back up.

Makes me feel vulnerable & I really hate feeling that way.

I'm really glad he is coming home tomorrow.

I'm excited for life to get back to normal.

I really love normal.

End

2011-08-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

I've been in such a funk this week.

I'm realizing summer is over,
and the boys start school next week.
I can't believe how fast it went.

I've loved summer.
I love them being home all day.
No schedule. Just us.
We've had fun.
And I'm sad it's almost over.

This new season brings big changes for us...

El Diego

2011-07-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

We drove down to San Diego to see Kyle since he's been away all week working.
The weather was perfect.
And we decided last minute to drive to the place where we got married, I still love it just as much as I did then.

We walked around.
Ate ice cream,
and then had dinner at El Camino's!
This place is so rad.
By far one of the coolest resturants I've ever eaten at.

After dinner we stood around and watched the airplanes fly over our heads!
The boys went wild. It really felt like we could reach out and touch them, they were so close.

It reminded me of the part in Wayne's World where Wayne & Garth were lying on the hood of their car as the planes flew over...classic!

A Trio Necklace

2011-07-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

I made this the other day.

A necklace: with sihlouettes of the boys.
It turned out better than I expected.
I love when crafts do that.

Curly

2011-07-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

My hair has been short for what seems like an eternity, and well I'm sick of it. I crave long locks. I have dreams of long red hair...
And lately you'll find me either in a pony tail (more like a little "spout") or I just let it air dry.

So on Saturday night I decided to try THIS.
After reading about it on this blog.

I was kinda afraid I'd wake up looking like Annie, but instead the curls were so soft and feminine.
And I kinda loved how it looked wrapped around the headband!

It's a perfect summer, too hot to blowdry, hair-do!

Vintage Book Journals

2011-07-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

My latest craft project has been making vintage book journals using old books.

Kyle bought a tub of them at a yard sale, 

and even though they really were worth nothing, the book covers were so cool.

They have the best titles and cover art...

So rather then collect dust on a shelf in my garage, I turned them into journals.

I used to write in a journal every night before bed but then I started blogging and well, now I'm thinking I have a great reason to start writing again, insert cute book journal with a cool title like: O' Doctor! 

Sweat

2011-07-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

We came home from vacation to a broken air conditioner.

And 100 degree weather.

Sweaty.

So besides frequent trips to the local water park,

we've been laying low, eating ice cream, and taking drives in our car to enjoy what it feels like to have cold air on your skin.

When the A/C tech showed up to fix our beast, he mentioned that he'd been here for the last 3 summers.
That didn't sound promising.
I'm just praying it survives the next few months.
Being sweaty, stinks.

9 3/4

2011-07-19T23:36:00.000-07:00

We love Harry Potter.

Like big love! 

Kyle thinks we are nuts, he says he's, "just not into hobbits with big feet."
But we love him, so we'll let him slide on his bad Lord of the Rings comparison.

So when part 2 came out I loaded the boys up with my sister & niece and headed to the drive in.
Where we OD'd on candy and said goodbye to an old friend.

Balboa

2011-07-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

We spent a few days at our friend's beach house in Balboa Island last week.

It was so nice and our friends were so great to let us piggy back on their vacation! 

The weather was perfect.

We walked to the beach everyday.

Brandon officially learned how to skim board.

Ayden swam in the ocean.

And Lucas didn't run away.

Oh & I took a nap and left with a tan.

I'd say it was a totally successful vacation!

Sew Funky Marketplace

2011-07-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I teamed up with my home girl Heather from Hello Bird! to do the Sew Funky Marketplace in Riverside.

This craft fair was awesome. Baby Renegade perhaps?

There were so many incredible vendors (which I'm going to post about tomorrow), I just wish I had more time to shop!

And for being one of the only vintage vendors there, I say we did pretty good.
I definitely want to jump on the craft fair circuit again, we actually met people who knew us from our booth at the Redlands Galleria! Which was so awesome!

Here are a few photos from our booth (taken my Henneman Photography):

Paper Books

2011-07-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

Every 3 weeks we have a date at the library.

I love the smell.

I love the free.

and I love the quiet.

I'm pretty sure it's the only quiet place left in my life.

Right now Ayden's favorites are Green Eggs and Ham, The Ant & the Elephant and Walter the Farting Dog. The classics!

Brandon has started collecting comic books, and he just won his very first auction at the library. He was so pumped, you'd thought he won the lottery which for him was 7 old school Spiderman's! 

I really love this place!

Mud love

2011-07-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

For Jess's birthday we all went to Glen Ivy.
We soaked in mud.
Ate mile high nachos.
And I'm pretty sure I never laughed so hard in my life.

Days like that always go WAY to fast!

Happy Birthday Jess!

2011-07-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite people on the planet turned 30,
and we celebrated in a room filled with antlers and twinkly lights. The only way to do it!

Her husband planned everything and kept it a total secret (!) and she was SO surprised!

We couldn't stay long though by 18 month old was acting like an animal on a stampede slash street fighter. I'm convinced the crazier his hair gets, the wilder he gets.

Good times!

Summer Music

2011-07-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

Kyle had a Millcreek Boys show at Riley's Farm for their summer music series. And it was awesome (except for the horse flies-I hate those things).
Outdoor music is another reason why I love the summer so much.
And some of our friends came out to watch with their kids.

They totally had the place to themselves; pretending to be coyote hunters, sliding down dirt hills and dancing the night away.
Their feet by the end of the night were insane.

If you are ever in the neighborhood you should come check out a Millcreek show!

Food on a stick

2011-06-30T13:59:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Father's Day for my dad over the weekend.

At my grandma's house, which has been the "place" for all our get together's since I was a little girl.

It's pretty cool to see my boys do the things I remember doing there as a kid. 

Like jumping in the sprinklers, catching lizards, playing hide & go seek... 

Her  yard was never ending fun, and now as an adult I sit  back on the porch in a chair watching them run & play. Having  the time of their life!

Ayden told me the other day that he never wants to grow up, he wants to be a kid forever...I told him I really liked that idea.

And then I see my dad surrounded with all his kids & grandkids,

and I get so happy for him. What an awesome feeling to be surrounded by so much love. 

We are lucky to have him!

Which is all the more reason to celebrate.

And that's exactly what we did...

With pulled pork sandwiches and frozen twinkies on a stick (my sister is pregnant & these were her master plan).  

Fox

2011-06-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

My sweet niece turned 5 last week and for her birthday I made her a purple fox.

It took me so long I (almost) gave up &

went to the store and bought her something.

But it's cuteness made up for the hair I was pulling out by the time I stitched the last stitch.

And she's definitely worth it!

Boots & Shadows

2011-06-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

Today I crafted all.day.long.

While my sweet pregnant sister sat next to me keeping me company.

I love days where it's just me & her.

(With the sounds of our kids playing together in the background).

She ate nacho fries,

while I sewed and made about a dozen mistakes.

Do you ever just have bad sewing days?

It's like a bad hair day.

Later that day the boys and I went outside to play.

Ayden & Lucas live in their boots,

And they will all skateboard for hours. 

While they skated, I practiced taking pictures (and doing cartwheels) in the magic hour, where the shadows are long and the sun is low.

It's my favorite time of day!

Have a great weekend!

Something Stinky Hiding in Here

2011-06-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

We had a seriously stinky situation in this room.

And it kept us all out for weeks.

Door shut, no entry allowed.

It was B-A-D.

Like eyes watering, holding your breath while pluggin' your nose bad. 

And involved a certain critter leaving this earth in the wall of Ayden & Lucas's bedroom.

Which if you've ever dealt with before (which man I hope you haven't), there is nothing you can do about it...except let it take it's natural course. 

Um, that's just disgusting.

But now we are back to sweet, clean smelling goodness.

Ahhh... 

I don't think I'll ever take the sweet smell of clean for granted again.

2011-06-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

My sister in law is always making something amazing. And her "little" side handmade business is not so little anymore.
And Ayden got to be a part of her photoshoot, which was seriously so much fun!
I'm so proud of her!
Not to mention it makes me alil' bummed I don't have a girl to dress in her fine frocks! < but not THAT bummed :) >

The photo shoot was done by some friends of ours who are AMA-zing photographers! 
They have a great eye for the little unseen details and anyone who can entertain 9 kids at once with a smile on their face is a hero in my book.

They are taking our family photos soon and I can't wait!! 

Our best daddy

2011-06-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

This Father's Day was a really good one.

We thrifted in the morning,

and hung out by the pool the rest of the day. 

 It felt good.

And it felt good to celebrate Kyle as a father. He works so hard for our family. Sacrificing SO much.

And sometimes we don't tell him as often as we should how much we appreciate all that he does for us. 

We are so lucky to have him. And I love being by his side watching him grow as father and seeing how in love our boys are with him.

He's our best daddy. 

I hope your father's day was great!!

Spooky

2011-06-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

Lucas got spooked while playing outside,

By his daddy-who popped up behind the fence,

Looking like this:

Lately it seems...

2011-06-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

I just can't get ahead of the laundry...it's piling up on me.

I'm pretty sure I spend the majority of my day cleaning up after Lucas. Yeah, that sounds about right.

Couponing is a lot more work than I have patience for, too much clippin' and sittin'. And why does it seem only BBQ sauce and pop-tarts are ever on sale?

Lucas only ever makes "this face."
They've learned to skateboard down hills...totally safe recreational activities.

And it's only Wednesday :)

My 5 minute face

2011-06-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago on Making it Lovely, Nicole posted about the products she uses for her 5 minute face and it was a great. I love reading about what women use on a day to day basis and you might even find a new product!

So I thought I'd share with you what I use each day, which seems like it might be a lot but it really literally only takes me 5 minutes.

Before I apply I always moisturize. It's a must.

top right: Loreal Studio Secrets Face Primer, I swear by this stuff. It's a great base and covers pores. And it's lightweight. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Compact, I break out so easily and this has great coverage without feeling heavy and cakey. Mac Pro Longwear Concealor is a miracle worker and a little bit goes a long way. And for cheek color I use Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel, I LOVE this stuff. I use Sun Kissed and you really look like you just left the beach. The gel is a fun transition away from powder blush, and it just feels so much nicer on your skin and lasts a long time.

top right: Mac Eyeshadow in Saddle, I use this for my eyebrows. For me it's the perfect color to compliment red hair. Then I apply Mac Eyeshadow in Vanilla on lid and as a brow highlight. Maybelline Gel Eyeliner is my favorite, it gives you the perfect winged liner look. And Covergirl Lash Blast in Very Black. It gives you seriously full lashes.

And for lips, it really depends on the day. Lately it's been lipstick in Siren by Covergirl, Maybelline's Coral Crush or Boots No. 7 Tangerine Twist lip gloss.

And that's it!

What are some of your go to make up musts?

Where did my chubby baby go?

2011-06-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

So much changes in a year.

Vintage Metal Trays

2011-06-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

I started picking up vintage trays at the thrift store with no real purpose in mind, except that I just really loved them.

And the other week I decided to hang them on the wall in my kitchen. It was the only wall space downstairs that I was having trouble decorating.

And I really love how its turning out.

Unconditional Parenting

2011-06-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up really tired.

Ayden started sleep walking and was mumbling about bees in his bed. The other night it was spiders... I'm pretty sure he is having night terrors. Scary thing for a 5 year old.

So I laid next to him to sooth him, and he tossed and turned all night.
Leaving me wide awake at 1:30.

But there is something so magical about being awake when the whole house is sleeping.

And it left me some time to think.

I've been reading this great book called Unconditional Parenting,
and it's opened my eyes to a lot of the ways society has programmed parents to discipline and love our kids. Some points are a little to extreme for me, but some ring so true.

The author bases his research on what he calls, "Conditional Parenting." Which is all based on rewards and contigent on behavior. And how we as parents don't really teach our children what it means when they make a bad decision, instead we punish and we move on, leaving them uncapable of understanding why they did what they did and that you still love them regardless of their behavior.

It's pretty mindblowing how much our relationship towards our children effects them for the rest of their lives. Which is why I don't take it lightly and am always trying to read different ways to approach being a mom.

We aren't always going to make the right decisions and we will make mistakes but it's our responsibitly to create an enviroment of love, peace and security for them. They deserve it.

I haven't finished the book yet, but I love where it's headed.

What are some of your go to parenting books?

He made it!

2011-06-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Ayden graduated from preschool on Thursday. 

It was such a hard step for me, I have to be honest.

I know he is so ready for kindergarten, but his preschool was so great and I really just didn't want this magical moment in his life to end. 

Crafting and creating art all day? Are you kidding? Who wouldn't want that to last forever...

Because his teachers were so great, I wanted to do something special for them, so I decided to make them my friend Carynn's lemon scrub and it turned out perfect. 

I added grapefruit to it, so the color was a little "fleshy" but the scrub was amazing. I really love the smell of citrus and it was so simple to make.

He made some really great friends this year too.
Look at these sweet boys!

At the end of the day I told him that I was so sad he wasn't going to be a rainbow anymore,

and he told me, "Ahh, it's okay mom...I'm still a Fisher."

I think he's pretty excited that he gets to go to Brandon's school now and not the baby school.
He's an official big kid.

Beach babies

2011-06-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

I was REALLY scared to take Lucas to the beach.

REALLY scared.

He is a runner.

And I feared that he'd either run straight into the ocean's grasp or down the coast and never.stop.

And I am a terrible runner.

So when we decided to go I was secretly shaking in my flip flops.

We set up our lil' spot in a corner of Laguna Beach.

And Lucas sat down and played in the sand,

the entire time.

I was actually able to sit down and relax,

which lately with Lucas hasn't been very often.
 

It was so amazing. 

And the boys boogie boarded the entire time.

We are planning a ton of weekly beach trips this summer!

8 weeks to a better me: Week 5/Having fun & Loving life!

2011-06-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

I could not love this weeks goals any more!

They are so perfect and exactly what I needed to read this week for an extra boost of motivation & inspiration!

Life has just been feeling pretty rough lately. 

And sometimes when it's rough it's hard to see that there is beauty in the world and that it will get better.

It has to rain before the rainbow, right? 

So here are my 3 goals for the week:

1) Spend time outside each day. Being outdoors is a great way to feel connected to something bigger. And it's a great way to calm your mind. Right about now my husband would be calling me a hippie!  ha!

2) Buy fresh flowers for the house, something small to make me smile.

3) And for my third goal, I love what Lauren said about not speaking negatively about your spouse. But not only your spouse I think it's important to not speak negatively about anyone you love. So this week I'm only going to speak words of love. 

xo!

Share it

2011-05-31T19:14:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading this book today and loved it, 

so much so I wanted to share it with you.

I learned so much about the comparisons between what you eat and how your skin looks.

And it's pretty amazing.

Ever since having Lucas, me & dairy don't mix. 

I eat it, but really shouldn't. 

And after reading this book she has a whole chapter on the effects of dairy on your skin and it's one of the biggest contributors to acne.

Which is probably why mine has not been looking the greatest these days!

She goes thru everything from what to eat, to vitamins, minerals,

and how it all breaks down into your skin. So fascinating and

if you love these kind of books or if you have trouble skin and want to read more about alternative ways to help, this book is great.

She also has a 28 day food plan at the back of the book to help you transition to a cleaner way of eating and I started it today.

I can't wait to see if my skin really improves after 28 days.

Because the before & after photos in the book are really incredible.

Helping

2011-05-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

The other day I was able to sit down at my sewing machine while Lucas took an extra long nap to finish a project for a friend.

She is having an online fundraiser to help raise money to bring home their sweet baby girl from Ethiopia and I was so excited to help.

I adore this girl & her family is so beautiful.
Not to mention her & her husband are amazing photographers.
They are taking our family photos and I can't wait!
And her blog is one of my favorite daily reads!

Sometimes we have opportunities to be a part of something so beautiful in the blogging community and this is one of those things!

Love!!

Lately on Instagram

2011-05-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

I love us

2011-05-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

The 20th was our wedding anniversary.

It always sneaks up on us.

We have two, and each year we always say we need to pick one but we never do.

And Kyle had to remind me this year.
Bad wife.

But my mom came over early Saturday to hang out with the boys so that we could hang out in LA before the going away party.

We had a good day. A solid 10 hours of alone time.

I can't remember the last time that happened.

While at the party our wedding song played,

(we picked a really long song) and we both got really excited.

I love when songs do that to you.

And it was a great way to end our day together.

I love us.

"Two people

who belong together

make a world."

-Hans Margolius

Saying goodbye...

2011-05-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Kyle & I drove out to LA to say goodbye to my best friend.

She is going on tour for the summer with her incredibly talented boyfriend, and then ending up in Massachusetts to stay for good.

The day was so perfect.

And I know it's not the end.
What we have is forever,
and nothing will ever change that.

But after hugging her for the hundredth time and walking away to our car, I couldn't help but cry.

I'm really gonna miss having her around,
but am so happy for what's in store for her.

I love you Lisa!!

This kid...

2011-05-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

is a wild child.

He has me going from the moment I open my eyes,
until the moment his eyes close at night.
Which lately has been way later than his usual bedtime,
leaving mommy with very little time to herself.
The nail polish on my toes and eyebrows can atest to the neglect.

With the rainy unpredictable weather we've been having lately,
having boys trapped in the house is like being in the cage with lions, so the second the rain lets up we head outside.
And that means Lucas takes off like the wind, with me running after him.

I'm still getting used to it.

Mud bath

2011-05-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday I was able to cash in my mothers day gift:

a spa day at Glen Ivy. 

It was either this or a Nook...

which was really a tough decision.

But in the end I went for the option that tempted me with 19 pools, mineral baths, mud baths, saunas, and the dream of taking a nap and finishing my book.

Wouldn't you?

Between sampling each pool, walking the grounds, eating, and lounging...the day went by in a snap.
I never finished my book and didn't take a nap.
I really regret that.

But I loved the art of doing nothing...
Since having Lucas I've only been away from the trio once for the day, can you believe that?

I missed them so much and was so happy to see their faces when I walked through the door.

Mom's need these days from time to time.

8 weeks to a better me: Week 3

2011-05-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

This week it's about eating healthy...which is something I definitely struggle with.
I blame it all on Diet Coke & Nutella.
And I've realized that if I did eat better all those hours in the gym will actually start paying off.

Last week one of my goals was to drink more water, and it wasn't too bad, I just added lemon and a sprinkle of splenda, so I think I'll keep it up this week too.

3 goals

1) Keep drinking lemon water, and less soda.
2) Eggs for breakfast and not the usual frozen waffle duo.
3) And I loved the idea of packing a healthy snack in my purse. The thought of having homemade trail mix as a snack versus a fruit snack that Lucas decided to share with me sounds so much better.

Butt boarder...

2011-05-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

He apparently likes to live dangerously and skateboard minus a diaper.

Melrose

2011-05-11T13:24:00.002-07:00

Kyle had a meeting in LA, so we tagged along.
It was spontaneous.
And sometimes with 3 kids spontaneity takes a back seat.

We walked Melrose.
Ate at Johnny Rockets.
And Ayden met James Durbin ("the rocker") from American Idol.
I'm hoping he wins now because he was sweet to my kid.
Yes, I know I'm a little biased.

I'm glad we tagged along.
We had so much fun.

8 weeks to a better me: Week 2

2011-05-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

It's week 2 of 8 weeks to a better me, and this week it's about staying healthy and working out, which I'm really excited about.

Last week I was definitely more motivated and excited to blog, and I did okay with my goals.

Actually I did really badly I'm not going to lie.

I missed 2 out of the 3.

But this week I'm gonna get all 3!

Week 2 Goals:

1) No more snacking past 8:00 pm. (Husband, please hold me to this!)

2) Drink WAY more water. And WAY less soda. 

3) Work out in the morning versus the night. I love starting the day after a work out and leaving the gym when the sun is out will be a great change of scenery.

I hope you do great with your goals this week! 

Recap

2011-05-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day rundown:

(Thanks honey for making my day so special.)

I hope you all had a great mother's day!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I get to celebrate being a mom to my 3.

And I'm really excited about it.
Handmade gifts,
and sweet poems are my favorite.

(I've had a few hints that they are good this year.)

Yesterday morning I woke up and Brandon made me waffles with apples and a tiny wilted cilantro leaf for a garnish.
And this was just Saturday...I can't wait to see what he makes me tomorrow.

I love being their mom.
They really are the best thing I have ever done.

8 weeks to a better me: Week 1

2011-05-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

The sweet and oh so adorable Danielle from Sometimes Sweet is starting a new series on her blog called "8 weeks to a better me."

The challenge is to set 3 small attainable goals for yourself each week for 8 weeks. Easy enough right?

The first series was on blogging, and although I blog enough it's not consistent and very sporadic, so 3 goals for blogging is right up my alley.

Here are my 3 goals:

1) Blog at least 5 times a week.

2) Capture and blog about some of my favorite things about my city.

3) Highlight a few of my favorite daily blog reads.

Let me know if you are doing it too! xo

Fast towel upcycle

2011-05-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

The other day at my friendly neighborhood thrift store, I ran across these very bright and oh so amazing vintage towels.

Normally I don't trust buying linens at a thrift store (I'm just not a huge fan of bed bugs) but these looked like they had never been used so I went for it. I live dangerously.

Plus I wanted them for decoration, not to wipe my wet fanny after getting out of the shower, so I spent the $2.00 they were asking for the set.

And I love them, but they needed more.

So I sewed on some white pom-poms.

And now I love them even more!

Plus it took a whole 5 minutes to do and those are the crafts that I love the most.

Mommy & Me

2011-05-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

Ayden's school had a special dinner for all the students and their moms.

Just "mommy & me."

We don't get to go on dates alone very often, so it was nice having him all to myself. 

He is so much fun to hang out with. 

Always the story teller, just like his dad.

We sat with my niece and sister in law, ate our chicken dinner, and then watched a special performance by all the kids. 

Preschoolers give the best shows.

I watched them singing these sweet songs about their mommies and I was thinking that this is all going by way too fast.

At that moment I wanted to just freeze time.

He only has a few weeks left of preschool,

and then kindergarten.

Where official big kid status begins.

(ummm, his face?)

 Oh & I got a special necklace and jewelry box.

Bonus!