Category Archives: Instagram

Our Life Via Instagram

Posted on December 7, 2013 | 4 comments

Confession: It took me way too many attempts to correctly type the four-word headline to this post so there will be typos in the following words you read (it also took me three attempts to type “words” – I am winning at blogging today).

Welcome to those of you who got our Christmas card this weekend and thought to check out the bloggity blog – I haven’t been as diligent about posting this year but there is still plenty to read! I also added three new sections: graphic design work samples (in case you are in need of a designer), inspirational artwork I’ve done related to posts on the blog (in case you need some words of wisdom) and information about the laid-back book club I started this fall (in case you like reading, talking, wine and good food – and happen to live locally). And for those of you who didn’t get the card (if you are out of the country – they are still coming, I didn’t have enough foresight to mail them in advance), well, thanks for reading and stopping by – I love having you here and am sending you a virtual hug (and card). Now for the pics – I was very Instagram happy in the last month!

Bathtime and making rainbow loom bracelets are the two times my boys always get along. Too bad we don’t let them take more baths.

The boys decided to make George a comfy spot for hanging out… doesn’t every 9-pound dog need a dozen pillows and assorted blankets?

While I was in the shower, Jack colored his entire hand red… can I just say that from inside the shower red marker does not look much different than blood!

I purchased this wine for the label. The bird with the hat on reminded me of my father-in-law, who, fittingly, was the bird man for the national parks in Australia.

My ninja, ever in constant motion.

The tree outside our front window. My favorite.

Watchdog, always hoping to see something in the backyard.

Perfect capture of both their personalities.

Date night with my main squeeze… sushi, dark beer and Thor. We’re wild and crazy like that.

Oh Liam, you crack me up.

Packages from Australia contain LARGE amounts of Vegemite (the jar on the left is the biggest we can get here in the States and costs 2- to 3-times as much as the larger jar on the right).

Throwback picture to me in high school. I loved a good sweater vest.

A get together with local-ish fellow “lucky fins,” a.k.a., a room full of kids with various limb differences similar to Jack’s little hand. What a treat to get to meet everyone!

They love their daddy best.

The tree just over a week later… winter is coming.

And winter took out the power… this screen cap was taken on Monday… note they say the power will return by the 21st which was a THURSDAY. Thankfully they are not so great with predicting such things and the power was restored that evening. Now, whenever Liam sees a prediction for bad weather he says he hopes he doesn’t have school again.

Liam’s hair is its own entity. While Jack can go to bed with wet hair and wake up with it perfectly straight… this is what happens when Liam wears a hat on dry hair for 10 minutes – that’s not static, it’s just a mess.

Liam and the neighbor boys had to sit at the big table to talk about important club matters. As far as I can tell the club doesn’t do anything but collect dues from anyone who wants to join that is older than 7.

Jack is also not in the club.

Someone has a hard time remembering who is in charge.

My Thanksgiving day game plan.

How can I ever say no to this face? Well… I do find it in me, much to his chagrin.

Pinkie up, hot chocolate on board. I miss our weekly afternoon dates, but the occasional Saturday morning will do me just fine.

Yes, I talked about Thanksgiving yesterday, but I included this so I could tell you about the Cheeky Churro, the drink pictured in the top right corner… it is just like drinking a delicious churro. Here’s how you make it:
Cheeky Churro
1 oz. Cinnamon Sugar Vodka (Smirnoff)
1/2 oz. Bailey’s with Cinnamon Vanilla
1/2 oz. Triple Sec (or Orange Liqueur)
1/2 oz. light cream/half and half
Shake with ice and serve with a dash of cinnamon.

The cousins made it through the holiday without being naughty (they define the term double trouble).

My husband cannot resist cleaning any time I tell him someone is coming over. This is a valued trait, but has a tendency to drive me batty.

Duplos can still provide entertainment.

This kid can turn up the pout like nobody’s business. A second prior he was laughing (or “lapping” as he pronounces it) and a second after this he was trying to tackle his brother. Do not fall for the face.

I adore hearing Liam read out loud to Jack (or out loud in general). These moments erase so many of the frustrating ones (not all, mind you, but many).

I ordered our cards back in October with grand plans to have them ready well before Thanksgiving so I could mail them on time because for once I had a goal of beating my childhood friend, Crista, to the punch with sending out cards (her’s is always the first one I get) and lo, her’s arrived Wednesday and mine still needed mailing labels on them.

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Posted in Family, Holidays, Instagram, Life in general

Friday Musings: Instagram

Posted on September 20, 2013 | 1 comment

Happy Friday everyone… for the weekend I’m looking forward to crafting with Sandy tonight, getting George back from the vet after his teeth cleaning and bladder stone removal – poor pup was a nervous wreck this morning when I dropped him off, dinner out and Over the Rhine Concert with dear friends and ArtPrize-ing with my parents on Sunday. Whew… now, if only I can get Liam to do all his homework tonight so we don’t have to worry about it over the weekend. I picked up a Kindergarten workbook for Jack from Costco, thinking it would be good to practice… where Liam fights me to do two pages of homework, Jack is begging me for MORE. May that kid always love learning as much as he does now!

It’s amazing how few Instagram photos I have to share when I do it more often… you can thank me now for saving your eyeballs.

Seen in the parking lot, of course this person works out with the personal trainers. This morning I stopped at a local cafe for coffee and baked goods for my co-worker and I and one of the trainers was behind me in line and of course order “Just an omelette, NO toast.” Ugh.

In our entry way at home… I want to figure out what else to put here but for now – our last name initial and LOVE. (Banner from Lisa Leonard Designs).

Hurricanes hanging by the kitchen window, photos of Italy from my sweet friend Andrea, tiny plate from Simon’s parents, a Lucky Fin Project ornament and clay artwork by Jack. These all make me so very happy.

The way we celebrate back-to-school? With lots of sprinkles.

First day of school for Liam… the second the bus came he ran for it and would not turn around for a photo. At least at the end of the day he always runs to me and gives me a hug – it makes up for the total disregard he shows me in the mornings.

While Liam would not smile for a first-day-of-school photo, Jack was more than happy to oblige.

Finally, a smile (and morning cuddles).

Chocolate Guinness Cake with chocolate ganache filling and irish cream frosting. It was good.

Ready for the big kid class in Sunday school.

I don’t mind living here at all.

More clay artwork by Jack… it is a fish, though Liam would argue it looks more like a dinosaur.

We got to the bus stop early (someone is overly-eager for his brother to come home) so Jack asked to have his picture taken by the pond.

Yes, we are those people who let our dog lick our plates when we are done eating. At least we don’t let him lick our ice cream cones.

Not pictured: our very first apple cider slushies which were DELICIOUS. We stayed to eat outside because Simon would most likely have a heart attack to think of the kids eating powdered sugar donuts in the minivan (and yes, I would, too).

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Posted in Instagram, Random

Instagram… Take 37 (or something like that)

Posted on August 28, 2013 | 5 comments

Abstract art or condensation on my water bottle…

New neighbors… we see deer in our back yard at least once a week and I don’t know that I will ever tire of it, though I might not end up ever planting anything back there which would be a bummer since having both a vegetable garden and a flower garden are on my life list.

We went to a water activity-themed birthday party and it was awesome! The grand finale was a super long slip and slide which was just the best!

There were also giant bubbles.

Friday night at the ice cream shop.

And after ice cream it was necessary to burn off a little steam at the fountain.

Haven’t heard this song for AGES but have heard it three times in the last month on The Coffee House station – you better up your game, XM. (at least it’s not something by Shawn Colvin – they love her, too, and I DO NOT)

A brief moment of brotherly love.

The covered bridge in Ada is a magical place.

How this is even comfortable, I don’t know.

Mumford & Sons on Pandora and feet up on the couch… perfect Friday night.

George agrees…

We visited the Farmer’s Market, we bought dill for making pickles. Jack clearly does not approve.

Peek-a-boo… someone likes to pop up when I am standing at the kitchen sink.

Saturday afternoon nap time… note the jeans and sweatshirt in JULY.

Jack’s new talent.

I so love it when they get along.

Date night with a stop at the Rockford Brewing Company… cider, raspberry ale and something very dark – all very good.

Hanging with some besties. Girls are a whole different deal than boys…

Liam’s birthday outing with his BFF, Alejandro… McDonald’s for lunch, Chuck E. Cheese’s for games and Krispy Kreme for donuts (instead of cake).

Just adding another “log” to the fire… it only took 3 hours to burn.

Playing catch with baby Ethan at Quinn and Chris’s summer house… we didn’t drop him even once 🙂

Nephew Mitch (who has a new radio show, BTW), by fire light.

I do just love that face.

Sun pickles… the best dill pickles EVER.

A cold, but gorgeous day at Duck Lake and Lake Michigan.

The personal trainer’s license plate (but of course)

Jack loves removing Lego heads and playing with just them… here, they face off with cars… we call this every day life.

Extreme close up.

My faithful companion.

The new IKEA catalog… swoon.

Driving to a friend’s house we happened upon a cat leading a string of ducks across the road… as our car approached, the cat turned around and walked back off the road and the ducks all turned to follow. What in the world?

File this one under “Can’t Possibly Be Comfortable”

I watch the VMAs… decided I was too old to be doing that because I continually exclaimed, “Are you kidding me?” but then Justin Timberlake performed (and reunited with ‘Nsync) and all was right for a moment. My favorite part of watching is also being on Twitter and reading snarky tweets aloud to Simon.

French macarons (or macaroons) brought to me fresh from Paris. Little bites of heaven. I had never had one before and my coworker fulfilled a life list item for me. So far, passionfruit with chocolate filling is my fave.

5 Comments

Posted in Instagram, Life in general

The last (ahem) two months in Instagram photos

Posted on July 16, 2013 | 3 comments

I’d say we are long overdue for a catch up on my world according to Instragram… the last one was TWO months ago… Life, it so gets in the way of blogging. Two gold stars and a hug for anyone who makes it to the end.

George likes to make sure we know he’s there… this is what my Saturday nights mostly look like. Well, now that we have moved, Simon and I sit on different pieces of furniture and George has to choose between us (I usually win – at least the dog likes ME best.).

One of the last elementary school pick ups…

The brothers at Millennium Park what seems like a millennium ago…

And rewarded I was with a house and new furniture, which was actually a reward for the past 10 years of work and smaller house living. Details. [Side note: I’m going to miss that boomerang counter top.]

Poor George does not like being walked but preschoolers.

Blurry but still pretty.

Little Einstein.

Getting so old and handsome.

Ten minutes earlier: “I’m not tired.” Ten minutes later: “I wasn’t snoring.” Lie and lie.

Cannot resist that face.

Banana Bread Brownies with Brown Butter Frosting… for real good.

The cousins three in Whitehall… soon Ethan will be running along with them.

First fire of the season.

The boys with their girl friends who they have known since birth and went to daycare with for years. Love.

Sitting on the potty, pretending to be pooping. In other news, still keeping it classy on the blog.

Perfect blue sky with white fluffy clouds. Pure Michigan.

Second to last day of school.

With his teacher and the beginning (top) and end (bottom) of the year. I didn’t realize how much her hair changed until I saw this; she is still just as adorable. Liam told me today, “It’s so far into summer I almost don’t remember my teacher’s name. Wait, I do!”

Simon and Liam… maybe related.

First and last day of first grade. Liam was officially a second grader and I just about teared up driving out of the parking lot.

Last day of school dinner celebration at Smashburger.

Screen time = five minutes of silence.

The first tooth finally came out thanks to Grandpa and his tooth-pulling skills.

A rare moment of brotherly togetherness. Not sure we can call it love, but I’ll take it.

And another real fortune. Still waiting for the thrilling time.

Someone got a misguided tattoo… olive oil made it come right off. Good to know.

A photo of a photo of my ancestors. A happy bunch.

Totally rocking swimming lessons.

Totally doing it wrong, person I have never seen before in my ~~old~~ neighborhood.

Finally getting serious with the packing… only leaving out the essentials. Vinegar, garlic salt and Jane’s Crazy Mixed Up salt for salads, cinnamon sugar for Jack’s toast and strawberries and honey for my Fage greek yogurt.

Swimming lessons are serious business.

Finally giving a smile and thumbs up on the last day of class.

Amore… delicious. Along with some fine gnocchi, we also had risotto fritters and I was in love.

Keys to the new house!

A final farewell to the church domes we saw every day on our way home to the old house.

A new TV means countless remotes and a very happy husband. I confess, I now hate our very old box TV we have in our room. I am ruined.

First play date at the new house… perfect for visiting our river access point. And perfect for burning the energy that multiplies when four boys are together.

The fountain in the pond across the street from the new house… it’s like we moved to paradise (just ignore the million mosquitoes and baby raccoons lying in wait).

Baby Ethan came for a visit… he also brought his brother and mother 🙂

George has a hard life.

The rules for Pokemon club… #4 is the best, though they are all pretty good.

Black on black, a study.

My new house key (Go State!) and manicure (Vexed Violette).

Getting cavities filled, sadly, Jack was just like a normal kid with extra smiles on the nitrous and they flushed it out of his system before he left the room so we didn’t get to laugh at him on the way home. We got back in two weeks for a second filling for Jack… now that he knows what is coming (decidedly not a fan of the “pinch” of the Novocaine needle) not sure how fun it’s going to be BUT the pediatric dentist was AWESOME so who knows… it might go okay. Ha.

Just another Friday night in the neighborhood. This is what I could get used to and since we’re not moving for another 25 years, I’ll have plenty of time to do just that.

Hello, baby Silas, welcome to the world (and Panera)… so loved getting to cuddle you.

All gussied up for a wedding… I think the Aussie is a keeper.

The three amigos… we have been friends for what seems like forever, made countless questionable choices (notably, every item of clothing in middle school and some from high school) but we clean up well and end the day smiling. Happy wedding day, Mrs. Kreisler! And lovely spending the evening with you, Po Po Lambchops.

I hate the hot. Why are the weather people never wrong about a heatwave? Just once I would love for them to predict 95 and humid and have it turn out to be 75 and mild. Then I would hate them a little less.

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Posted in Instagram

Our month via Instagram

Posted on May 15, 2013 | 1 comment

Before you get lost in the wonder that is my Instagram stream – I wanted to tell you that I hate mosquitoes and I hate that our crazy rainy/warm/cold/warm/hot weather seems to have created the perfect environment for them to thrive. Do not like.

This song, first thing in the morning means it’s going to be a good day.

Jack finds it impossible to take a normal photo lately. Right before this picture he tried to knock over the Statue of Liberty at Red Robin. Never a dull moment.

Liam loves the whipped cream at Spoonlickers, I could just get him a bowl of that with some sprinkles and I think he would be happy (and it would cost a whole lot less).

George, ever at my side, always ready to bark at whatever he sees out the window – a person walking, a bug, a dog 6 times his size – at eight years old he still acts like a puppy.

My favorite sight on our drive home – I’m going to miss seeing this on a daily basis.

Liam at his school music performance. They performed a bunch of songs but my favorite was their version of Rockin’ Frere Jacques where they must have been encouraged to dance however they wanted and my son threw horns like a good little AC/DC fan.

My boys and my dad – makes my heart happy.

We’ve rediscovered the park by our house thanks to house showings and needing to entertain ourselves with the dog in tow.

After wanting to do it for ages, I finally painted the door leading to our upstairs (from our kitchen) with chalkboard paint. It’s funny the things you do when trying to sell your house that you could have and should have done ages ago.

My birthday tribute to my sweetie – taken on Easter morning when he fell asleep while everyone else was hanging out in the living room – his ability to fall asleep in seconds and in the middle of chaos is admirable (if not slightly annoying).

Bayou Brownies – yes please.

I got to decorate my table for the last day of MOPS – proving I can sometimes be crafty given a deadline and opportunity.

One of my favorite things: Creamy Chicken Taquitos. This was a triple batch… perfect for making ahead and freezing.

See – the kid cannot make a nice face for the camera.

For some reason my kids love posing with sculptures, though I can’t get them to just hug each other and smile.

As good as his face will get for a picture.

I adore looking at Jack when he’s asleep – it’s so rare to catch him unguarded.

We’re also big fans of his sleeping in the car (and our own cheesiness).

My kick ball boys – a perfect Mother’s Day afternoon/evening at a local school playground and topped off with a visit to Spoonlickers for dinner. Doesn’t get better than that!