"Fall"ing behind

Well it's the middle of October and my blogging has taken third or fourth, maybe fifth place on my to do list. With football and soccer and family life in general have kept us all pretty busy the last month or so. Kole's football season has ended for the year, hard to believe next year will be his last in the midget football division. Logan is keeping busy with soccer and even scored his first goal yesterday!! Only one more game before the teams break until spring. I am sure before we know it the temperatures will drop and the snow will be flying here in the midwest. Scout is keeping us busy as ever walking and now learning to run around the house. We have been told more than once that she has an "evil" laugh and I have a hunch that she may be taking after her big brothers in the naughty department. All three of them are definitely keeping us on our toes. :)
All in all things are good. Planning some winter projects around the house, and already dreading the aforementioned snow. :)
What would a post be without some photos? Enjoy and have a good day!!

I heart faces photo challenge

What can I say i heart photography, so I have decided to start participating in the Vroom, Vroom Photo Challenge it's all in fun and I am excited to get ideas and take more photos.. This week I entered "The Ditch"

I am also aware of how far behind I am on blogging.. another goal (now that I have my weekends back) is to catch up on it.. soon even if it's only temporarily haha.

Have a great Tuesday evening!

The big ONE is done ;)

We have had a fabulous, busy, amazing weekend! Scout enjoyed her first birthday party and it was so great to see everyone there. I can't believe all the people that showed up and took time to come celebrate with us. Thank you to everyone for coming!! Now enough with the talk, here are some photos ;) Thank you too penandpaperflowers for the gorgeous invites, OliviasPaperShoppe, threesweets, and DreamSpunKids (all Etsy Shops)
for their fabulous products!!!

Birthday Eve...

tomorrow is the big ONE. I am taking the day off to spend with my little girl. Planning a nice breakfast, possibly a movie, and too many pictures to look at in the years to come. I'm not sure where the last year went but it seems that we were just bringing her home from the hospital.. such a little thing she was. Now here she is taking small steps and saying new words, always ready to dance and usually has that beautiful smile on her face. Knowing that she is our baby, and seeing how quickly the boys have grown, makes me appreciate every little moment of her baby-ness that much more.. and now we are entering the toddler stage. As I look back it seems that Kole was just this age.. and Logan too.. this next week is going to bring big changes in our house.. not only is Scout turning one, Logan will be 7.. (7 already??? I swear he just turned one himself!)and we start a new school year. Kole is going into the Middle School, that fact alone fills me with apprehension. Not only because he is growing up, not so much a little kid anymore, he is a tween, a young man.. I miss the days of him playing non stop with his hot wheels, and the way he loved to paint with me. I worry so much, not only about the choices he is going to have to make, but did I do enough and teach him enough to make sure that he makes the right ones? Logan will be there soon enough too, a first grader, his big brother isn't going to be there to say hi too in the hallways, he loved that last year. He was always one to run up and give Kole a hug in the hallways. I guess it's time for Logan to be his own person, maybe have some time to shine on his own and not fall into Kole's shadow. Makes me a bit sad.. last year was the only year my kids will ever go to the same school at the same time. Can you tell I am full of emotions tonight?? SO much has changed in the last year, some for the better, some for the worse.. or it could just depend on how you look at it. Regardless there is no time machine to go back and revisit the past, so when you see me and my camera just know that I'm capturing the memories that will last me a lifetime, to catch the kids being kids, smiling, goofing, and turning one.. and seven.. and twelve.. and to look back at in the future when they go off to college, get married, or have their own little ones celebrating milestones.. to make me smile and maybe send myself back in time even if it's just for a few moments...

Scout's Sneak Peek!

What did I tell you! The most adorable photos and this is just a peek, so anxious to see the proofs!! Be sure to leave a comment about what you think of Scout's photos on The Simply Loved website! :)View them HERE DON'T forget to put those comments on ;)

The big ONE is getting closer

Today Scout & I had the opportunity to work with Ashley of Simply Loved Photography for Scout's one year photos. Yes yes I know we are a bit early on them, but Ashley seems to be quite the busy photographer and after working with her today and viewing her amazing photos on her website I can really see why. She was AMAZING with Scout, sang to her and did everything she could to get "the" shot. I am very excited to preview our photos sometime in the next week. Don't worry I'll share the link on here :)
Scout did fairly well, she definitely had her cranky moments this morning and the photographers patience with her really amazed me. It was a first for me to be told if we needed a break for her to get a snack or some milk that was okay. She even let me take a photo of her taking a photo of Scout for our blog/scrapbook, how cool is that! I will absolutely recommend her to anyone with little ones if they are looking for a great photographic experience.. so stay tuned for the sneak peek. I know I can't wait!

Mom, I'm bored....

As we have 5 more weeks until school starts, the boys are getting "BORED" so I have made an "Mom, I am bored" jar. So much fun and super cute. I found the inspiration, and the list of suggestions to put in it, here at skip to my lou although the post came from somewhat simple. The boys are going to "pick" one of the many possibilities out of the jar the next time I have the pleasure of hearing I'm bored. There are a range of fun things such as, make cookies, do an art project, take pictures of anything i want to the not so fun, pull weeds, take out the garbage, clean your room, and my favorite - pick 5 toys to give to goodwill. Hopefully it will keep them entertained and maybe outside playing, skateboarding, and just being kids. :)
We have started Scout on more table food, and I'll tell you one thing she LOVES turkey and potato's! OF course I had to add a few pictures from dinner this evening. She has also decided in the last week or so that books are her thing, and has found a new love of age appropriate legos. It doesn't seem possible that our baby should be growing quite so quickly. As I get everything prepared for her "big One" I find myself going back through photos of the last year and am amazed at how much she has changed and grown. Not just Scout either I guess, going back to photos of last August, I am in awe of how much the boys have changed in the last year as well. As my little girl is growing from an infant to a toddler, my boys, well they are young men. Kole amazes me everyday with his wit and intelligence, and Logan with his big heart and "I'm all boy" attitude. It doesn't seem that it was all that long ago that they were the ones about to celebrate their first birthdays and I just have to say I am so proud of the people they are becoming.
With everything else going on, I have to admit I am excited for fall. The cool mornings, the crisp air, the changing leaves, the beauty of it all. Maybe because my own birthday always meant school was right around the corner, it always felt like a celebration. A new year all of it's own. New clothes, football games, halloween, and so much time with family. So I am excited for what's to come in the next 5 weeks we've been busy and we're just going to get busier with football, soccer and everything else and i really just can't wait!!

Sneak Peak

Here is a little preview of what's to come in just a few short weeks! The invites were designed with Jess @ the fabulous pen n'paper flowers I had a lot of fun working with her, and she also inspired me to get in touch with my creative side so the toppers pictured are part of what I have come up with for her party on my own ;) Wanna see more?? I think you might have to wait just a bit longer for that! I have also designed some invites for a "milk and cookies" party - small small small party for the weekend after his birthday.. yes that would be the weekend after Scout's party. Tis' the birthday season!!

11 months, the 4th of July, and the middle of summer already?

We have had a great weekend and a busy one too. We have seen almost all of our family and definitely miss the ones we didn't get to see! (Grandma & Grandpa L. & Auntie J, and some of our KS family was missing as well!!)Hope everyone has had an amazing of a weekend as we have, time spent with friends and family and celebrating the birthday of our great country is always a good time. Speaking of birthdays guess who is 11 months old now? Hard to believe that only 4 short weeks and our little girl will be ONE! We (okay I) am having a lot of fun party planning and trying not too go too crazy over small details but it's hard not too. She's the only one that lets me do things for her and it's so hard to believe she will be a year so soon!!!
The boys are already counting how many days of summer vacation they have left, I'm afraid that it will be time for school shopping before we know it. They have had a great summer and I couldn't be more proud of them. :) Kole will be starting football up in another month and Logan with Soccer as well.. It's going to be that crazy busy time of year again & I can't wait!!

10 Months

Scout is now ten months old! We had a special ten month birthday as we were in Rapid City S.D. for the Crazy Horse Volksmarch. It was a quick weekend trip but something that we had wanted to do for awhile now. We went up with Mike's sister, niece and nephew, as well as his parents. Logan had been with Aunt J. for the entire week prior camping and roaming the hills of western Nebraska and Southwest South Dakota. We missed him like crazy but he had a great time and we were all happy to meet up with them when we arrived at Great Aunt C.'s in Rapid City on Friday and enjoyed a great BBQ with family at her home. :) Saturday was the Volksmarch and suprisingly we all made it up without too much complaining. :) We then headed down to Hot Springs, (with a short detour to Wyoming) and then thru Pine Ridge and to Ainsworth for the night. Sunday morning the kids woke up and swam for a bit and then it was off for home. A very fun and exciting weekend... and I'm still trying to catch up on some sleep! :)
Hope everyone has a great week ahead, and remember only 9 more weeks until Miss Scout turns 1!

Sunday & Summer has begun...

While yesterday was a bit windier than I like today has been beautiful! The weekend in general was just amazing. Started out Saturday morning garage sale-ing with mom and managed some fabulous finds! (including an antique iron headboard yipee! What to do with it hmmm). Today was enjoyed OUTSIDE. After the winter that we had I am more than happy to spend as much time outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather.. even if it is still a liiiiiiitle windy. :) The kids splashed and played, the dogs bathed in the sun, & Mike and I are content. Great weekend. It's not over yet either, tonight is the series finale of LOST!! I am excited, although I missed the last 8+ weeks due to having class on Tuesday nights :( however I am excited to watch the finale!!!!! Hope everyone has had a great weekend, hugs to you all and here's to a great week ahead!

A Saturday Afternoon - Scout

This Saturday Scout and I enjoyed some time together while she explored her room. It's a whole new world for her now that she is on the move. Watching her roam and discover things is so much fun and was worthy of some photos...

Great Weekend!

We have had a wonderful weekend! Saturday was spent out in the yard, where Kole helped me plant some flowers and Scout watched. Mike was busy organizing/cleaning the garage, & Logan took a very long, very much needed nap. Then Scout & Daddy got a nap in as well. Saturday night we went over to a BBQ at a friends house. Scout was not the littlest there! We got to see a baby that is just a few weeks old. Really makes me realize how big Scout is getting. The boys had a great time playing and Miss Scout enjoyed seeing other babies. There was a little boy there who is just about 10 weeks older than her, I was trying to get him to show her some tips on pulling yourself up. Haha.
Today was spent the way every Sunday should be, napping, lounging, & watching movies :)
We also are introducing Scout to a sippy cup now. She managed to chew quite the hole in her bottle on Friday so time to start with the cups I guess! Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a wonderful week!

Logan at the zoo

Mike and I were able to accompany Logan's class to the Omaha Zoo on Thursday. So much fun. The day started out a little cool but walking around and going in and out of the exhibits quickly warmed us up! The jungle was down right hot!! It's hard to believe that another school year is almost in the books. This next Wednesday is the boys' last day of school, hard to believe that Kole will be in middle school next year, and that Logan is just about done with kindergarten already. It seems that Kole should still be in kindergarten and that Logan should be Scout's age. Anyway here are a few photos from our time there. We got to see the new Madagascar exhibit, it was exciting, but I have to admit I thought there would be more too it. Anyway, a good time was had. :) I had to share a photo of the aquarium, it IS my favorite part!!

The boys' Spring Program

The boy's had their spring school program this last week. It was very nice, it had a patriotic theme and they sang songs about the 50 states and how proud they are to be Americans. Kole's class did a memorable song called "The President's Rap" and my favorite from Logan's was "Yankee Doodle Dandy". Very sweet and the entire program was a nice tribute to our soldiers present and past who have served our great nation. Hard to believe that the school year is coming to an end. I hear every day how many days are left (I think we are at 11??) Kole is getting ready to move on to the middle school and it's hard to think that Logan is going into first grade. I'll say it again.. where does the time go???

I forgot too mention...

Scout is crawling! Amazingly she started at home when Mike and I were both able to see her. :) I even checked with daycare too see if she had been doing it there and nope. She saved it just for us. The boys quickly came to see when we told them she learned something new. Let the baby proofing begin! We already have our baby gate up because of the new puppy to keep her from wandering up/downstairs unsupervised, now it works for Scout too. ;) We also noticed last night that she is getting in three additional teeth to the one that broke through last week. She now has the top and bottom two coming in, and yet she still maintains her happy baby attitude.

9 Months

Well Miss Scout has celebrated her 9 month birthday! Hard to believe that she is nine months already.. then again I think I say that with each passing month. She is just growing so fast and it doesn't seem possible that she will be 1 in just a few months time. Sorry for the delay with the post, it has a been a busy busy week!
Here are her photos... enjoy!

Scouts first tooth

Well it's here! Just one week before she turns nine months on April 26th her first little tooth showed it self. Scout has been in a much better mood and we are so proud of her and can't believe how much she has grown. We have been pretty busy here in the Brown house. The kids, school, work, and everything else in life is really keeping us on our toes. Along with RC. She is doing good, we are working more on house training and teaching her that Scout & her toys are not chew toys for the puppy. :) Hope everyone is having a great week and will post more next week!!