all day today.  just make a note {in the notes section} for free earrings {with any purchase} when you place your order.  shop here and happy friday!

david has developed a love for sand and water this summer.  and the combination can get really messy (think two bathes a day!).  lately he has been putting in his face in the water and blowing bubbles.  it’s a great trick and i’m surprised he’s willing to try it–but it also makes me really nervous and i am never anywhere but right next to him when he’s in the water.  we got a sand and water table as a surprise for him (shhh, don’t tell!)  david, we are proud of you for trying new things!

matthias had been reeeally into creative superhero costumes.  last week he was ‘super chef’ which included a chef’s hat, sunglasses, superhero cape, and steve’s old cycling gloves.  he came to me with tears in his eyes and said the other kids were laughing at him.  it broke my heart, but told him in all seriousness, if you are going to be a superhero and wear outfits like this, you’ll have to be strong.  it takes courage to be yourself.  i know his peers will help smooth out his rough edges and he probably won’t be quite as creative with his outfits soon, but i hope he always has the courage to be himself.

steve and i are away to celebrate our anniversary.  today i am going to slow down.   i’m going to sleep in and linger over coffee.  and not check email (too much). and not miss the boys (too much). and visit anthropolgie and take it all in.  i’m not going to worry about what’s not getting done.  today my to-do list is short.  1. slow down.  2.  enjoy.

good, good times.  the cousins (all 10) played and fought and slept hard.  most of the clothes are washed and ready to get dirty again.  have a great monday!

and i’m so glad you’re mine!  happy anniversary babe!!

and the two winners are

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julie long

My 3 kids would love, love, love this! What a fun idea!

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and kathleen g.

Oh, my. I’ve never seen such a cute house before! This is absolutely perfect. We live in a small townhouse. No yard. My son would love to have a little hideaway like this! Looks like something that would offer him a creative space to hide and play in.

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email me your addresses ladies, and we’ll ship off your house or rocket!

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and for the rest of you–use code ‘gift10′ for $10 off your order. that’s outstanding!!

now go visit color me house and get creative!

12 adults + 10 cousins + 1 cabin + 7 laptops (ridiculous!) + no tv (what?!) + 1 lake = ToNs of fun!

look what came in the mail yesterday!!  matty was beyond excited as i assembled his ‘color me playhouse’.  david refused to participate–little stinker!  the cardboard house is full of fun little windows to peek out of.  we worked for about an hour making it colorful and fun.  then once it dried, we brought inside and filled it with blankets, pillows and books for a hideout.  so much fun!

and color me house is giving two playhouses away.  one is a rocketship and one is a house.  aren’t you inspired??  leave a comment and tell us what you would do with a ‘color me house’.

and

i got to take pictures of my friend jeanette’s new baby girls.  yep, they are twins–lucy & jill.  and i totally fell in love.  those girls made me work for it!  i thought, ‘this will be easy.  we’ll pop ‘em in a basket and they’ll fall asleep.’.  uh, no.  they were squirmy and fussy and alternated cooperating.  i am actually sore today–seriously!  but it was totally fun, and i am so honored i got to spend some moments with them and bond.  please pray for jeannett, the babies and the whole family.  they’ve really been through the ringer lately.  they are finally home together which is a great start.

and i also got to play with big brother, henry for a while.  he stole my heart a while ago.  he was so easy to shoot–but then i photograph little boys all the time!!