Au Revoir Summer

It's been a good one. We did a lot of fun things, and had fun exploring our new city. The boys have made a bunch of good friends in our cul de sac, and are never lacking a playmate. Well, until today. Today all of those good friends got on the bus and headed to their first day of Kindergarten. (We have 10 kids at our bus stop, and 5 of them are kindergarteners!) Gabe is a little sad. He misses his brother, he misses his friends. He's stuck with Owen. I don't entirely blame him :) My 1st Grader :) Wearing NONE of his new school clothes! LOL

So handsome and big! How did he get so old?

Heart.Breakers.

The crew! (big bus stop, no?)

The bus!

Waiting for his turn

Bye Julian! Have a great first day of 1st grade <3

Ahhh! How do I have a 1st grader already? I'm pretty sure he was just born, like 2 minutes ago! Time flies. And to think in less than three months I'll have another, baby number four! This mama is overwhelmed :)

Sketch post and run

I launched my new website. I kind of love it. A lot.
www.christiapalizziphotography.com.
I'm giving away a FREE session on my blog! Check it out!
FREE SESSION INFO .

My kids are cute and funny and smart. And Julian's in kindergarten. Gabe starts preschool tomorrow, and Owen, is :sigh: 10 months old!

Barry's in Philadelphia taking boards today! It's all coming to an end. Our MedSchool journey. And I kinda can't wait for the new chapter in my life!

Reasons Why I Suck At Blogging

I'll give you a hint. There are 3 of them.

Reason #1

My big boy. He's going to kindergarten in less than a month. I'm trying to soak him up. Before he goes to school. Before he's officially a kid. He's been really sweet this summer, for the most part. He's super smart and is so excited to be learning every.day.all.day. And I'm a little excited for the break. He's still obsessed with Legos. He loves to play them with Gabe. They're BFF and it's darling to watch. I'm a little nervous, to be perfectly honest, for Julian to go to school for Gabe's sake. He's super into Star Wars. The other day, he asked if he could be a boxer when he grows up. I said, yes, of course, but I have no idea where that came from. He's an amazingly bright kid. So smart and determined, and seriously has the best memory ever. Last week he had bubble camp, which was super fun for him!

Reason #2

Gabe. My sweet Gabe. He's three. And anyone that has had or has a three year old knows what I'm talking about. He's the most considerate kid ever. Such a good sharer. He loves his big brother so much. He's starting to like Owen more and more, now that Owen is doing stuff. He likes Legos, Phineaus and Ferb, and following Julian around. He's obsessed with puppies, and repeatedly asks for one, daily.

Reason #3

He's 8 months old already. And so incredibly determined. Not only is he a full fledged crawler. He's pulling up and standing on EVERY.THING. Yesterday, in fact, he even let go of the couch and me and balanced there for a second. Wait a minute. Isn't he a newborn, born just yesterday? He eats pretty much any solid that is put in front of him. The exceptions being green beans and peas. And let's face it, who could blame him. They're not the most amazing veggies ever. He loves sweet potatoes, carrots, all fruits. He's so sweet and snuggly. The other night before I put him to bed, he was crawling all over me. He crawled over to me and gave me not one, but two slobbery baby kisses. To say that he makes me swoon hardcore would be the understatement of the century.

I'm so incredibly blessed to be their mother. Somedays I wonder how I got so lucky and why they got such a shaft. I've been busy hanging with my boys. Trying to get my photography assignment done. Finishing the LOST series, which was ZOMG AMAZING. Just busy. Blogging has taken a back burner. And that's ok.

Boys + Dirt

We started our 'garden' this year. Probably late, but whateves. We are definitely not relying on this as our sole source of food. Last year we had a big garden, and it failed, or I failed or something. In my defense, it was hard to be weeding being in my 3rd trimester.

Anyhoots, this time we're just growing things that are relatively easy, and will be easy to visualize the growth.

Here you have it. Our garden, for now. Once they get bigger we'll obviously transfer them to our little garden plot.

Pumpkins, pumpkins, sunflowers, sunflowers, and (for me) cilantro.


I'm really not sure when he grew up. But he's certainly not a baby any more.


They weren't too excited about me taking pictures. But they're cute.


Wish us luck! I hope that we are able to grow some sunflowers this year, and get some big pumpkins for the fall! And please, oh, please, let my cilantro thrive. I'm sick of spending money on Cilantro every week!

Fine Art-What?!

So I have all of these pictures on my computer. Seriously, a lot. And I had no idea what to do with them, how to share them, or if I even wanted to.

Well as it turns out, I DO want to. I want to share them with everyone. So they're for sale.

In my Etsy.

Lola Cate

If you see something in the shop, and use the coupon code BLOGGER it will get you 10% off!

We're Back.

So uhm, it's almost been a MONTH since my last blog post! OY!

WE're back, in Iowa, and adjusting well to our 'real life' :)

Owen has been starting the night in his crib, every night, and then at about 2 he gets cold or lonely and comes to bed with us. We love him. And it's so hard to believe he's almost SIX months old! He's a rolling machine, still toothless, and FULL of baby germs.




I had Julian's parent teacher conferences yesterday. He's doing really well, and totally ready for Kindergarten! Sigh, when did my first baby get SO big? He's really smart, and still loves Legos, and building. He keeps telling me he is going to be a builder like Grandpa Bob. He's a sweet boy, most of the time ;)



Gabriel is as sweet as ever. So sharing and caring, and nice. He's so abnormal that way, for a three year old. He's always giving me hugs and kisses, or running inside from the backyard (yay for sunny days) and just saying "I love you Mommy." He literally makes me swoon.



I did a total of five family photo shoots while I was in Washington. It was so much fun. I'm getting excited to expand my clientele in Iowa, and eager to finish my classes! If you're interested in a family shoot for a discounted rate (in Iowa) email me Christia.palizzi.photography@gmail.com and I'll hook you up!

I also started selling Scentsy. My little sister is a consultant, and I really love the product, so I decided to start selling it too! My website for that is Christia's Scentsy. Right now there's an "Introduction to Scentsy" party up on my site. If you purchase from that party, your name will be entered to win a warmer and bar of your choice! Awesome!

We Are Here!

In Washington, that is. The drive was...surprisingly not that bad. I mean I prefer riding in my car, with 3 kids, for 25 hours, to say a root canal. But my boys were AMAZING. Seriously. They were the reason we only stopped for one night, in Billings, MT. They were the reason that we stopped for a real lunch on the way here, and a real dinner vs. just fast food. They were sooo good. Seriously the trip down exceeded my expectations. Now I'm a smidge nervous for the drive back. We plan on buying some more new DVDs so that they're entertained. This DVD player is seriously worth its weight in gold, or something else highly expensive and worth lots of moolah! It's amazing.

Excuse Owen's crazy eyes in this one. Here's how the boys rode.


We've been able to see a handful of people since getting here late Saturday night. Sunday morning we went up to visit Grandma Ann and Al and the boys. Our boys had so much fun running around and seeing the neighbor's new chickens. Sunday night, my parents had dinner ready, Thanksgiving, yum! And we were able to see Aunt Angee and Aunt Jess and Preston. It was the first time either of them had met little Owen. Sunday night, Owen was a little fevery and a lot drooly. I'm betting he's teething hard core. So I gave him his first big boy bath. He looooved it.



Tuesday afternoon the boys and I drove out to see Carly. Owen needed to meet his little BFF.
Little Linc and Owen are just one week apart. I was so bummed and jealous when Carly went into labor at 38 weeks, and I was STILL pregnant. We were due the same day. The boys are almost the exact same size, Owen's a little bigger, I think.


The bigs, her kids are almost the same age as mine, had a picnic.


Look at this smile. Such a sweet boy.


And check out Carly's view! AMAZING!


Wednesday, the boys and I ventured up to Walmart to get some supplies, groceries, and of course, Diet Dr Pepper. Then while they napped for almost 4 hours!!!!! I went to visit with my old friend Shanda. She loved on Owen, and we were able to catch up. It was so nice.

Yesterday, the boys and I went down to my old stomping grounds, the Super Mall! Tere'sh a new bouncy place that was super fun, and Julian and Gabe went up and down the slide countless times. They played so well with Oliver and Tavin, and I was shocked to see how big little Jack is. I mean, I know. He's 1 now, but wow!

There's definitely something to be said about the Pacific Northwest. I'd almost forgotten what mountains look like until we were passing through them in South Dakota. It's SO green here. But with all of the trees and green comes allergens, which most of us are suffering with.

Barry's enjoying his rotation, though not the Washington traffic. Luckily he's going opposite the flow, and not hitting it to bad. He's been seriously spoiled by this year's rotations, I think.

Happy 4 Months Owen!

Yesterday, Owen turned 4 months. Instead of 1/4 of a year old, he's now 1/3. It's going by SO fast. I'm sure having 3 boys has something to do with it. Some days though, I just want to push pause. Keep him sweet and snuggly and smiley. Stave off those torturous threes for as long as possible.

At 4 months Owen is doing most of the typical 4 month things. He can sit up for a few seconds before toppling over. He laughs, mostly at me, sometimes his brothers and daddy. He smiles.all.the.time. He sleeps well most nights not waking until 5. I personally believe that's not an acceptable wake time, but he disagrees. Let's be honest though, he's the boss. He is thisclose to rolling over. I think he realizes he doesn't WANT to be on his tummy and stops. He's still wearing 3-6 month clothes, though the pants are getting short, he's a tall boy! He's by far my skinniest baby, with the least amount of rolls, which cracks me up since he was by far the biggest at birth! He likes to talk, and tell you stories. And one of his most cherished past times is baby germing his brothers.

Owen is so drooly these days. He's been 'teething' for months now, but all you feel on his gums are mounds. No white spots, so no evidence of teeth actually sprouting through, but you can tell he's a teether. He bites EVERYTHING. He drools SO much.

Here are some pictures I took yesterday, marking his 1/3 birthday!



The 4 month shirt I made for him


Those baby germs I was telling you about.


My 'smallest' baby :)




We have his 4 month appointment on Wednesday. I'm super curious to see how big he is! He's such a delight and I am just so blessed to be his mommy.

Why hello there!

I'm in post birthday party coma. Gabe turned 3. I have eaten more cupcakes than should be legal, but dang. They're GOOD!

We had a little party at my house on Saturday for 10 of Gabe's closest friends. It was so fun, and not TOO crazy, just the right amount of crazy. I did get mobbed at the candy table though, it did resemble a circus!

I'm ashamed to admit I haven't had a date with my friend Mr. Treadmill in a WEEK! Too much party preparations! But I vow that I will reunite with my friend, and continue working out. I have noticed a definite difference in my energy level since stopping my workouts. So tonight, I will work out!

The party was so fun though. The decorations were perfectly circus-y. I'm so thankful to have Stacy Jacobsen as my BFF! She designed all the graphics!



{left to right-Owen & Daddy. Delicious Carrot Cake Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing for Gabe's preschool class. Gabe's Birthday shirt. Sweet Heart Cupcakes, in circus colors. Finished Cupcakes, with toppers. Bean Bag Game with Tent graphics. (BEST GAME IDEA EVER! The kids LOVED it!) Lollipops with 3 graphic. Gabe's special cupcake. All of the cupcakes! Yum!}


{More cupcakes. Waterbottles. Waterbottles. Treatbag. My favorite of the graphics!}

Candy table!









The photo booth! SO much fun! All of the kids got into it (except for Owen, ha!)





Thank you so much to those that made this party possible! Thanks for spending my baby boy's 3rd birthday with us! It was sure fun! ;&hearts

Photo Shoot Fails

Gabriel's birthday is coming up shortly! We're having his party on the 26th, so I needed to get a photo for his invite, ASAP! Stacy designed it, and it is SO, SO, SO cute! The theme of his party is Circus, and it's going to be FUN!

So you'd think it would be easy peasy lemon squeezy to get just ONE picture of an almost 3 year old for his invitation, right? Not so much. It was an EPIC fail. Epic. The pictures are cute, most of them, but wow so not what I needed for the invite.


Then, if Gabe's pictures weren't enough, Julian tried to show him how it's done.
This

Is not how it's done.

This is how it's done.


In the end, despite mucho frustration on my part, we got a stellar picture that works perfectly for the invite! So I can't really complain. And here it is! The moment you've all been waiting for. The Invite.


If you are at all interested in a circus party pack for your very own ringmaster's party, check out Stacy's Etsy Shop. Dandy You

Whooooo is 3 months old?

Ok, cheesy, I know. But he is!


Yesterday my baby hit 1/4 of a year old! So insane! He's such a sweet boy, and learning new tricks every day. Especially how to make his mama melt! He always gives me thing biggest smiles!

I've been practicing my photography on him. I love natural light photography, and these pictures are straight out of the camera.

I know I told you last month that he didn't have any leg rolls, yet. They're coming, but they're still much smaller than both of his brother's at 3 months!


I really love his eyes




And his toes


And his nose


And his fist.


He's such a sweet, sweet boy. I'm so blessed to be his mom.