eggs???!!!

We just had a very big moment here!  Eggs.  Scrambled eggs.  Actually, "Cheesy eggs" of the Baker household tradition.  And thus far, no reaction...  Wally has been so allergic in the past that we have completely avoided eggs for the past almost three years.  Fritz hasn't been exposed for fear of the same allergy.  Our cousin Ryan had the same drastic reaction on his first birthday.  Watching Wally put these bites in his mouth made me so nervous I thought I might get sick!  But, they both claimed to love the eggs, ate them right up, and our morning continues as if nothing has happened.  Certainly it was an out of the ordinary moment for this mama!  Hooray!!

yummy AND fun!

Tasty n Sons is delish, a new favorite haunt for sure.  Plus, how cute are Steve and Ali?  Love you guys.

joy of love: day 14

day 14: wedding bands.  Once upon a time we were young and in love.  An so it began... 

Now the wedding bands are scratched and dulled by time.  Matt's isn't even the same one; the first is long lost in the Willamette River.  Mine is in desperate need of cleaning; well dirtied with play dough stuck in the prongs.  A fall while skiing gave Matt a smashed and swollen finger and so his ring currently resides on the bathroom counter.  Jewelry aside, we have our two boys and each other.  

All is well in the world.  Grateful.  Blessed.

Happy Valentine's Day, my three sweet boys.

(Very belated!)

joy of love: day 13

day 13: "routines"

A wild and playful bath is a daily routine must around here.  They also take showers, but vastly prefer the splashability of the tub.  

joy of love: day 12

day 12: the eyes.

PLU Girls Reunion

Last weekend was SO much fun...

I'm so blessed by the friendship of these amazing girls.  Life rolls on at a fast clip, but some things never change.  Love you all!  

joy of love: day 11

day 11: dreams of accomplishing...

My boys dream of being "big guys", tough and strong and grown up.  Here they are with their first tattoos and feeling so proud of their muscles.  "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."  

PS.  Look at that dimple!

joy of love: day 10

day 10: Space-Where they are comfortable.  Here is Fritz, having a *rare* quiet moment, reading in his big boy bed.  He doesn't get to sleep in it yet, but we read there and lay down to snuggle there for a brief moment each morning.  I'm convinced his bed is the most comfortable in the house and have at least once fallen asleep there during a post-nap snuggle.  Little man wiggled out of my arms and off to play with his brother without me even noticing!  

joy of love: day 9

day 9: Passions and Hobbies.  Baking.  Cookies.  Cookie dough.  Sprinkles.  Anything sweet, really!  Side note-Wally ate cookie dough and didn't get sick from the raw egg.  A very hopeful sign for us!  He was told not to eat it, but was feeling kinda sneaky.  Who isn't sneaky when a bowl of cookie dough is under your nose...  

joy of love: day 8

day 8: love from the heart.  What they have said, promised, done, given...

Wally and Fritz' rotating art gallery.  Projects, paintings, writings from the month.  One of my favorite places in the house and theirs too.  They give these gifts with such pride and admire their work each day.  

joy of love: day 7

the joy of love, day 7: generations.  Nothing says this to me more than my mom, Gramma, baking with the boys every time we are together.  It is so amazing to watch a tradition grow and know that my boys will always remember that she loved to bake and taught them this joy.  Thank you, Mommy.  

a rainy morning with friends

Thank goodness for visits from friends to keep us entertained!  This morning we shared Valentine's with our friends Luke and Addy.

"Baby Addy".  She has Tana's heart and Tana has hers.  

Three boys playing farm.  What could be better?

2 out of 3 of my dear Allison's babes.  Dorm room antics to playdates.  Time flies...

old news

I am WAY, way behind in my Joy of Love posts.  It will happen, and some will show up hopefully tonight.  Ali is posting all of her beautiful pics for the same assignments on her blog.  I am watching for new ones religiously, all the while not updating my own.  She inspires me (on LOTS of levels and subjects!) and her encouragement today got me going.  Let go of the perfectionism, post a darn picture already.

In other news, I have meant to document one of Wally and Fritz' Christmas gifts, made by another talented friend, Autumn.  She sells these super cute, custom dolls in her etsy.com store.  Check them out... http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftymommy.  The boys refer to these little guys as "Wally doll" or "Fritzi baby".

joy of love: day 6

who they love:

Fritz love Alligator and Buppo. (Hippo is called Buppo by everyone in the family.)

Wally loves Monkey and Bear. (Or MonkeyBear as they used to be called because they are inseparable.)  

joy of love: day 5

what you love to hate: sticky fingers on windows.  i know they will someday be missed.

blog link up @ http://www.willettedesigns.com/?p=3308

joy of love: day 4

what they wear: super hero capes.

blog link up @ http://www.willettedesigns.com/?p=3297

Cousin's Club February

Super fun morning at the Children's Museum with cousin Ryan and Auntie Ali!  However, the 50mm lens was a bad choice.  Not to mention it is near impossible to get three toddlers in a picture together!

joy of love: day 3

day 3: then and now

joy of love: day 2

prompt

Capture your loved one at their best (or at their worst). Or both. What you’re trying to capture is the TRUE essence/expression/ attitude/posture that SCREAMS your loved one!

How they look: Squeaky clean Fritz.  

Blog link up @ http://www.willettedesigns.com/?p=3265

joy of love: day 1

What they "do": Eat snacks.  

Blog link up @ http://networkedblogs.com/dNerP

February photo challenge

Today I began as a participant in an online photography class.  Each day a new lesson and prompt for photos is delivered to my email in box.  I'm hoping to learn some new things, become ever more familiar with my camera, and just be inspired to keep shooting often.  The subjects for my challenge are my sweet Wally and Fritz, the objects of my affection each and every day.  Happy February!  

(Click the icon to link to the Willette Photography page if you are interested in joining the challenge!)

salted chocolate caramel cookies for the "baby shower"

I have attended two baby showers in recent months and Auntie Bridget came down to our house last weekend for a baby shower too, all leading to a bit of baby shower confusion around here.  The boys think every time I go anywhere alone, I am going to a baby shower.  We made these cookies yesterday for "Mommy to take to the baby shower" which was really just me going to see friends (and one new baby!).  The boys helped get out ingredients, measure, mix and roll the dough.  Most importantly, they got to hide the caramels inside the balls of dough.  Thankfully they are all out of the house now, because they would be tormenting me and my little sweet toothed boys today!  

mini golf with mini golfers

Getting ready to keep up with Grandaddy, Uncle Michael and Grandpa Bob on the links:

Fritz, the natural.  

Looks like a good one!

Putting, but  more like playing billiards!  

carousel

 We went for our first ride on the Janzen Beach "Historic 1921 CW Parker Carousel" with Auntie Bridget last weekend.  Walter had spotted it from the parking lot earlier in the week and had been waiting and reminding me diligently for his ride.  The thing went quite fast and I'm honestly surprised that neither Bridget, Matt or Fritz got motion sickness.  $2 is a pretty good price for a fun time on a beautiful vintage ride.