i made that {coat rack}

Okay, I didn't really make this one. My husband did. I, however, did have the vision for it. :)

Our entryway was b.o.r.i.n.g. and we needed a coat rack of sorts, but I wasn't finding anything I loved anywhere (yeah...even pinterest wasn't giving me anything!) Sorry, no before photo. Just imagine a blank white wall.  I had some old barn wood I got from a  friend of mine laying around waiting to be used for something.  Enter handy husband, plywood, drawer knobs, and barn wood.

 Jeff found some plywood at his parents house, we lined up the wood to our liking, he cut the plywood down to size, somehow fit the drawer knobs on there and screwed the whole thing to the wall.  Then he added the rest of the barn wood by nailing it to the plywood.

I am SO happy with the way it turned out!  We even made one by the back door for the boys' coats and hats too!

Now if I could figure something out for the rest of the walls on my main floor I'd be able to focus on the upstairs!

calling all superheros!

What do you get when you have a handful of 3-5 year olds, face painting, silly string, and superhero capes? A bunch of Superheros, that's what!  Check it.

Today was freakin' awesome.

 Roman's birthday was Monday the 28th. I chose to have his party the following weekend only because Thanksgiving gets crazy enough as it is, let alone throw a birthday celebration in there. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait!

 The Flash!

 The Amazing Spiderman!

 sweet girl.

 Watch out Bad Guys! You don't stand a chance!

This is so sweet. This photo was taken as we were singing 'Happy Birthday' and the joy in his heart was so visible on his face.  He even sang a long. :)  We were celebrating my Dad's 53rd birthday today as well, so we sang to him too! {I almost made my dad a cape...maybe still will for Christmas. Dad, do you want one?}

The Superheros refueling 

 Take THAT Sandman!...

...and Green Goblin, Lex Luthor and Dr. Octopus! 

Oh man. Can you tell we had fun?! My heart is so full of love for Roman. He is the most amazing, smart, laid-back, fun, hilarious Superhero. Ever. He brings such joy to our family!

Swoon.
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Not pictured was how the whole food table looked...which I'm so bummed I didn't get a shot of it before it was raided. But it looked rad. A blue tablecloth, spider-webbing all along the edges, red and blue balloons taped to the wall for the backdrop. Just to give you a visual. :)


Party Details:
Invitation and design: The Rippkes
Face Painting: Princesses and Pirates
Superhero Capes: me
Comic Book Posters: my brother-in-law
Popcorn Boxes: template here
Labels for popcorn boxes here
Cake: Hy-Vee...mmm. they make the best cakes.
Villain silly spray game: me
Bunting: me
Comics used for water bottle labels courtesy of Mayhem (free!)
Tissue paper pom poms and cupcake liner wreath: me

hey there, I'm behind...gobble gobble.

ahem, I started this post, like, a month ago....

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The boys and I were spoiled this year. We enjoyed three Thanksgiving suppers. Holla!

Part One.
Last Saturday we kicked off Turkey week and my Aunt's house in Ankeny. In years past it's been difficult to maneuver getting to all {three}sides of the family, so I was excited she was hosting another one in addition to her usual Thanksgiving Day meal. Added bonus, my mom, who always travels to Chicago with her husband for T-day, was able to enjoy a traditional meal with her side too! Side note, her husbands side eats chitlins, ham hocks and some other non-turkey-ish day food. :)

 Viggo adores books right now. And by adore I mean obsessed. I brought several books to my Aunt's house and he went from person...

...to person

...to person wanting them to read to him. I love that he has this obsession. He wasn't wanting anything to do with books for the first 14 months of his life. Then, like a light bulb, he realized the were awesome. So read we do!

 Roman was so happy to have his second cousins play 'you-be-this-guy" with him...pretty much the first half of the night.

Part Two.
On Thanksgiving Day my boys and I spent the afternoon with the Barton side. My SIL and her family from Cedar Falls joined us, as well as Grandma Toppenberg and Aunt Chris, & Uncle Jon. It was a small but large enough crowd. The cousins absolutely love playing together and the weather was unbeatable. 63 degrees? I'll take that any day! We got some great outside playing time and the oh-so-dreaded family photos. :)

the younger ones wanted out SO BADLY. So what do their older brothers do? rub.it.in. 

 ah, the stick. one of these may end up in the boys' stockings.

 poor dude. he did not want to sit next to his brother and cousin for a photo. 

Part Three.
My brother and his wife hosted Thanksgiving for the Bohn side the Saturday after T-day and it was delicious. My sister-in-law did a fabulous job on the turkey, and I brought some Pioneer Woman homemade stuffing. So good. For reals.

 this is seriously the best photo we got of all the kids with Papa. 

 Aunt Kim and the kiddos

blessed.

In birthday's past, I've had the mentality of 'me'. It's nothing I'm proud of, by any means.  Birthday's are an incredibly special day to me. Mine included.  However, I'd put so much importance on it (mine) that I'd only end up disappointed.

You see, I'm selfish by nature. Also nothing I'm proud of.  And I wanted my birthday to be all about...me. Some may be wondering why this is a bad thing, and to that I'd respond that it doesn't have to be a bad thing. But the way I'd go about it (in my head) was definitely not mature, if you will.

I look at last years, and am so thankful I am not there again.  It was possibly the worst one I'd ever had. Birthday's, that is. Long story short, I was at the peak of my PPD and was left alone with both boys for an entire weekend.  I was terrified to be alone, thinking I couldn't handle two boys by myself. I am so thankful for God's grace that carried me through that horrid time.  It is by Him alone I made it through.

So today I woke up and chose to be thankful for all that I've been blessed with.  Another year of life, day of breath. Two of the sweetest babies in the world. A handsome husband that loves me with all he has. A home, clean water, furniture, blankets, food, family. The list goes on and on.

So here's to another year full of adventure. I pray I am more intentional than ever in all aspects of this live I've been given.  I want to love the crap out of life. That is my goal.

And in thirteen days we get to celebrate another life. Swoon, baby.