project life: wrapping up the year (part two)

Part two starts off with Hurricane Sandy and leaves off on December 9th...in the home stretch!
This has been such a rewarding process and I hope you enjoy this peek into our family's every day life. I'm looking forward to documenting the holidays with our two boys and capturing the little bits that, without this system, would surely be forgotten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

project life: bringing the year to a close with a huge update (part one)

I have kept up with Project Life this year. Kept up, enjoyed the process and am ready to go ahead in 2013! I haven't shared here since the summer (oops!) since I just didn't think to photograph the pages as I went along. So, here, part one brings us through the end of October...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

home preschool: getting started...

We are starting some organized learning around here this fall. Since we have been house hunting for a long, long time it didn't seem the best idea to enroll G in a preschool program, only to potentially pull him out or take on a longer drive mid-year. So, we've started some homeschool lessons.

We are focusing on the uppercase alphabet and sounds right now, pairing each letter with a book and letter craft project following the inspiration here found at Totally Tots. We are using library books (love our library system!) and fun foam, google eyes and a bit of imagination for our craft projects.

I present our first lesson, D is for Dinosaur:

G had a blast creating his dinosaur, using glue and making lots of loud dino sounds.

And, we loved this super cute book. An added bonus? G can now recognize and name a Triceratops and Allosaurus :)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen

project life: saying goodbye to summer, part 2

I promised an un-official end of summer re-cap and, sharing my Project Life pages from August through Labor Day weekend seems to be the easiest way to do so!  As of last night, I am current in my album through September 2nd, with a plan for the past two weeks (to be completed shortly). Part of the lag was that SO much took place in the past month. Thousands of photos to sort through and choose and many stories to tell. I got a bit bogged down in the process. So, here we go...

{Aug 6-12}
My in-law's left on a five week vacation and we sent them off with a barbecue, Jack turned 6 months
 

We spent lots of time outside and the US won the 2012 summer Olympics
 

{Aug 13-19}
The weather finally gave us a break, documenting some of the boys' personality traits right now,
George lost a beloved toy at the park and we found a cool yellow caterpillar at the park
  

Frozen yogurt, one of our favorite, easy go-to meals, the joy of a carousel and a visit from my parents
 

{Aug 20-26}
Jack's first time in a pool, more frozen yogurt, a conversation with George, and some favorite snaps
 

More from the pool, Jack tries (and loves) pizza crust, and a journaling card that still needs to be completed...oops!

{Aug 27-Sept 2}
A trip to a local farm, sunset strolls around town, and what we did during the un-official last week of summer
 

Weekend at the lake. a praying mantis outside of your house, and little bits of life that week
 

Part of the insert from this week with many more photos of family at the lake
 

And, with that, summer comes to a close and I am so much looking forward to autumn with our boys!

saying goodbye to summer, part 1...

Our family packed so much in to the last few un-official weeks of summer that I am still busy processing the memories, both in my head and in photographs. But, these? Two of my favorite shots from our first time setting up the little pool this year. It was Jack's first "swim" so, we let George at the pool first to go nuts and get all of the splashes out before his baby brother joined in. They both LOVED it. 

And, Project Life. With my in-law's out of the country for the past several weeks I've been a bit slower in keeping up. I have a few more weeks in my album to share but, need to get them photographed first.

{July 30 - August 5}

George's very first haircut and, of course, a few curls tucked safely in a glassine envelope, a little photo shoot with Jack and saying "bon voyage" to my in-law's before their long vacation.

 Jack's first solid foods, some favorite phone pics from the week and bit about the 2012 summer games.

Part 2 coming soon with photos from our trip to the lake, the Bronx Zoo and Jack at (gasp!) SEVEN months...stay tuned!

happy 1/2 birthday to jack!

Our sweet Jack turned 6 months yesterday. Half a year already flown by! His well visit happened to be yesterday as well so, his stats are up to the minute. At six months he:

• weighs 16 pounds and 26.5" long
• is wearing size 3-6 clothing and size 2 dipes (soon to be 3's)
• started solid foods this past weekend with sweet potato, followed by squash
• is sitting unassisted
• loves being outside for walks and our park trips
• is not even close to sleeping through the night
• is super ticklish and has the best belly laughs
• is super happy and smiley
• loves to play with his feet
• chews on his thumb or first two fingers
• has no sign of teeth but is full of drool
• is attempting to scoot around but, not quite there yet (I can wait!)
• reaches for us
• gets super excited when Baba comes home from work at night
• babbles and shrieks through the day
• likes to be cuddled and carried
• is strong and likes to stand (holding our fingers) for long periods of time
• is an absolute sweetheart!

project life: up to date...phew!

As promised, I photographed and am sharing the last five weeks of my Project Life album. Done. Through this past Sunday, July 29th! I've been keeping with my scheduled Tuesdays to complete each week and it's been a good plan.

You may notice in the last few weeks that I have been using many more digital cards and elements. Time is short and the most important thing about this project is that I document our life right now, record the bits that would otherwise be long forgotten and take photos each day. Using our computer as a "supply" to keep on top of this album is sometimes just an easier way.  As much as I love using all kinds of fun paper goods, I'm okay with that. Again, Project life is about documentation - however that works for YOU! One week that may mean lots of handcrafted elements and others it may be lots of typed journaling. I don't feel that my album has to have a cohesive design. The "design" is our family. It's what works for me.

{June 25 - July 1}
Play date with dear friends, Mr. Boom's lacrosse league, evening at the park, rainy day crafts and baby grins

Recording some of G's sayings right now, the Back to the Future date arrives, G's 2.5 year well visit, baby snuggles and turn-around camera fun

{July 2 - July 8}
Cousins play date, Jack almost sitting, portraits, good morning greetings from Mr. Boom in his full work gear

July 4th insert

Jack turns FIVE months - and that 5 die cut? An amazing new product coming soon from The Crafter's Workshop

 Pappou's birthday, a visit from YiaYia and Pop, meeting some February babies and moms at the mall, an update to our photo wall

 {July 9 - July 15)
My all time favorite photo (for now) of both boys, Jack's 1st time in his excersaucer, coffee with a friend and bath time

Park, Farmer's Market, muffin baking and Mr. Boom and I met 6 years ago this week

 {July 16 - July 22}
Jack is sitting (!!!), my CHA Summer projects were pinned on Pinterest, yet another heat wave, fun play date and a story about one of G's new sayings

Mr. Boom's Saint Name Day celebrated, G playing in his grandparents yard (about to greatly change), welcoming a new baby friend and a BBQ with lots of other February babies and families

   {July 23 - July 29}
The 2012 games begin, started buying baby food for Jack, a new park and children's museum trip

A surprise visit, a sighting in town, getting new toys and more from the children's museum

And with that, my friends, Project Life is up to date AND blogged :)