Photo blocks

I saw a version of these in a magazine years and years ago and have been wanting to make them ever since. After spending the afternoon at a vintage market with a very encouraging friend of mine a few weeks ago, I decided it was time to bring this idea to fruition.
These little blocks are about 1.5" and I can see them playfully stacked on a mantle or elsewhere, but I particularly like them held in a decorative bowl like this one.
It is no secret that I love photos and that I love to craft with photos. And as much as I love scrapbooking, the albums aren't out in the open all the time to see and touch. These little blocks are a fun and tactile way to show off family snapshots. The kids can stack them, hold them and count how many times they can find their own face. As much as I try to make that one even, one is always complaining that their brother shows up more times than they do.
I want to try these out in different sizes. I think if I can do a block that is about 4 or 5 inches, you would really only need one to make a statement.
This has got me thinking about other creative ways we could display photos, other than in an album or behind glass in a frame on the wall. Hmmmmmm.........

Thanksgiving in Whistler

It was so nice to be able to get away this weekend. It meant we had to turn down some Thanksgiving invitations but having time away from home with the 6 of us was really worth it.
It's been 3 years since we have been up to Whistler and not too much had changed. I thought there would be more new things since the Olympics were there last year but we didn't notice too much.
There was however a fantastic new playground right in the village, right near the Starbucks, which was a really great place to hang out. We spent quite a bit of time there sitting, drinking a coffee, watching the kids play. Really that was most of our weekend. Hanging out in the village, lots of swimming in the pool and hot tub at the condo, more hanging out in the village, lots of Starbucks and general family time.
The weather was just about perfect until Monday when the rain came in full force. That was our day to head home anyway so we didn't mind too much.
The weekend...in photos. What better way to share.

Breakfast at the condo. Ate all our meals here, except one dinner out. Even cooked our Thanksgiving dinner here. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, yorkshire puddings, carrots, beets, and corn. We went for a walk in the village afterward to get ice cream for dessert.

Seattle

With Tony having season tickets for the Seahawks this year, it means quite a few trips into Seattle. So far, the boys have all been taking turns going with him. This weekend was Hudson's turn but instead of just sending the two of them on their way, we all joined them and spent the afternoon in downtown while they were at the game.
We dropped them off by the stadium and all the crazy tailgaters. You can see by Hudson's smile here that this is a super good day for him. Football and Dad...nothing better.

Then we drove back the few blocks to find a place to park over by Pike Market. I haven't been to the market for years and years so it was fun to be there again and just hang out for a while, see all the fresh produce everywhere, bins and bins of beautiful flowers, and the smells everywhere of all the different foods being sold on every corner.



After we had wandered the market a bit we headed up Pike Street for Cooper. He really wanted to go to the Seattle Seahawks Pro Shop and Nike Town. Taggart did not enjoy this part of the day. Shopping is not his thing.

Luckily, Nana had an idea to go on the monorail. We took that over to the Space Needle and Taggart enjoyed the ride. His only complaint was that it wasn't long enough.

We didn't go up the Space Needle but there was enough green space over there to keep him happy until we headed back over to the Market area where we would soon meet up with Tony and Hudson.


Then we all reunited back at the market just before the rain started to fall. A perfect time to head home.

If you are asking "Where's Reagan?" She spent the weekend living it up in downtown Vancouver with some friends. We missed her but I think she quite enjoyed her 'brother-less' weekend.

  

Cross Country - Race 1

It doesn't seem that long ago when I was posting about Cooper's first cross country race, but that was 4 years ago and then two years ago I posted about Hudson's races.
Now it's Reagan's turn and she rocked it.
She has been practicing before school for the past few weeks and today was race #1. If she was nervous, she didn't show it.
Here they are, getting a few last minute instructions from their coach.


9th place!! Not sure how many racers there were but my guess is about 50 so we are super proud of our girl.

Season One

Taggart started his hockey career yesterday. He is still pretty shaky on his skates and it was a bit tough getting him on the ice at first. A little case of nerves.
But once he was on, he did great and came off with a smile on his face and was ready to get on the ice again this morning.


In the dressing room we stripped him of all his hockey gear and then dressed him up for soccer as that was where he was headed next. He only made it for the last half of his first game of the season with his soccer team and after all that falling and getting back up on the ice his energy level was a little low.

But this is what Saturdays are going to be like for the next few months and he seems to be good with that.

Just a day

Sometimes the day is over and, even though I felt like I was running all day, it doesn't feel like I accomplished anything.
Sometimes Tony asks "What did you do today" and I'm not sure how to answer.
Thought it might be interesting to record everything I do in a typical day.

6:15   Alarm goes - hit snooze.
6:24   Alarm goes again - get up even though I really want to hit snooze again.
6:25   Go wake up Cooper. He's got film club this morning and needs to be out the door
          by 7:45 and he's not a quick mover.
6:30   Shower.
7:00   Wake up Hudson and try to get Cooper out of the bathroom.
7:15   Go downstairs and turn on computer.
7:20   Clean up a few mugs from last night's tea.
7:30   Wake up Reagan and Taggart.
7:40   Still trying to get Taggart out of bed.
7:45-8:30 Make lunches. Help get breakfasts. Unload dishwasher. Say goodbye to Cooper
          and Hudson. Try to comb Tag's hair as he runs away from me.
8:30   Walk to school.
8:45   Kiss Taggart and Reagan goodbye.
8:50   In to school office to take care of some PAC things.
9:10   Walk home.
9:20   Call bank to clear up credit card issues.
9:30   Finish printing and cutting tags for Taggart's party goodie bags.
9:45   Email form to Tony's supplier. Email Tony to say 'I did it'.
9:50   Put in a load of laundry.
10:00 Grab my 'to-do' list and run out the door.
10:00-1:00 Do errands.
          Staples for more school supplies. (3rd time this week)
          Pick up clothes at CBC that Cooper forgot at camp.
          Starbucks. (definitely time for a coffee)
          Dollar store for Taggart's party supplies
          Grocery store for the things that I forgot yesterday.
          Mail a letter.
1:00   Home again.
1:05   Return a phone call to a friend to confirm dinner plans for Sunday.
1:15   Put away groceries.
1:20   Bake cupcakes for Tag's party tomorrow.
1:30   Wash dishes while cupcakes are in the oven.
1:45   Finish tying up Tag's goodie bags.
1:55   Take cupcakes out of the oven.
2:00   Change laundry over.
2:10   Send 2 emails.
2:20   Eat a nectarine.
2:30   Walk to school to pick up Taggart and Reagan.
3:00   Back home - drink a big glass of water. Hot out today.
3:05   Talk to boys about their day. Tony gets home from work to take Tag to soccer.
3:10   Make Taggart a snack and get his soccer things out.
3:20   Unpack lunch kits and put things in the dishwasher.
3:30   Get Taggart dressed for soccer.
3:40   Sit down and eat some carrots with dip.
3:45   Say goodbye to Tag and Tony.
3:50   Change laundry over.
3:55   Fold and put away two loads of laundry.
4:10   Eat a banana.
4:12   Got distracted and packed a few things that I will need for the party tomorrow.
4:13   Finish eating banana. :)
4:15   Call Dad.
4:20   Tidy kitchen from after school snacks.
4:30   Leave with Cooper, Hudson, Reagan, Noah, and Nana to pick up Taggart at soccer
          and go meet Mom and Dad at MCC sale.
9:10   Back home from MCC sale.
9:15   Put away cupcakes.
9:20   Make finger jello for party.
9:30   Help Taggart in the shower.
9:40   Help Taggart in to his jammies.
9:50   Bedtime story for Tag.
10:00 Say goodnight to Reagan.
10:15 Talk to Cooper and Noah about not getting to bed to late.
10:20 Tidy up the kitchen.
10:30 Sit on the couch with Tony to watch a bit of TV.
11:30 Head upstairs. Brush teeth, wash face, put on anti-wrinkle cream even though
          I'm pretty sure it isn't working.
11:40 Into bed to read. Make it through not even one chapter before lights out.

Whew!

Seven.

Doesn't he just look seven??

Taggart celebrated his seventh birthday with a family breakfast at McDonalds, playing outside, opening presents, playing outside some more, and then a family dinner at home. The menu, chosen by him, was steak kebabs, mini stuffed potatoes, corn on the cob, caesar salad, and an ice cream sandwich cake for dessert. Those in attendance were Mom, Dad, Cooper, Hudson, Reagan, Nana, Opa, and Daniela.
He seemed genuinely happy all day.

You always get to ride in the front seat when you are on your way to your birthday breakfast.




I don't think I even realized that he wasn't wearing his shirt until I looked at the photos. He has been shirtless a lot this summer, so I guess I am getting used to it.
When you are the birthday boy, anything goes.