chalkboard decor tutorial.

Of all our wedding décor, the chalkboards were truly a hit. We've had many people ask where we got them and when I say, "they are handmade," I get asked how we made them. I figured it would be best to just right a post with all the details.

I originally saw the chalkboard idea on a wedding blog. Have you heard of Wedding Chicks? If you haven't and you are planning a wedding I highly recommend looking at their site. It is filled with wedding yumminess and ideas galore. They also feature wedding, budgets, vendors, etc. Our wedding is actually going to be featured which is more than a dream come true!

Once I had an idea of what I wanted, my mom and I decided it would be most cost effective to make the actual boards ourselves, and then find someone else to do the typography.

We went to our local craft store and found stickers in the shapes of the boards we wanted. The stickers (just plain ol' scrapbook stickers) were ranged in size from about 2" to 4". Needless to say, size didn't matter, just look for shapes you like.

Next we took a projector and blew up the shapes of the stickers on white butcher paper. This allowed us to create any size of shape we wanted. This becomes the template for the wood cutouts.

Cut the paper out in the shapes you traced.

We were fortunate enough to have a family friend who cut all the wood boards from the templates we made. He rounded all the edges and used an electric sander to make each board silky smooth. He also built our 8'x8' wall.

When we received the boards back we painted them with chalkboard paint and a sponge roller. We used Rustoleum Brand paint, and it seemed to work pretty well. Most boards took two coats of paint, some needed three layers in a couple spots.

Now for the fun part...

I wanted large scale chalking done on the 8'x8' wall and I new I needed help. This was not a task I wanted to conquer on my own. We have a local coffee shop here in Vancouver, called Thatchers, that has a large chalkboard wall with HUGE lettering. I knew whoever did that wall would be perfectly capable of doing our boards. I went in and asked for their reference. The gal who did theirs was unable to do ours, but she recommended us to Jordyn Sorrell and her husband, who just happen to be totally amazing at lettering.

I told Jordyn my ideas and let her "chalk" up a few of her own. She did an AMAZING job and I'm happy to reference her to anyone. The boards were exactly what I wanted and truly pulled much of the wedding together. They also made our wedding unique from most others I had been to previously.

I'm so glad they were such a hit and happy to share any more specifics with anyone.

Now to find another reason to make more...

what i wish i could tell myself then.

I recently read a blog about what a girl had wished she'd known at 25. Well I'm not 25 (just yet), but there are a few things I wish I had known after having Lakai...

I remember the moment I found out I was pregnant and after the initial shock wore off, I was elated. I'd have clear skin, the perfect pregnant body, I'd only gain the recommended 35 pounds... F*&^ was I wrong. I was terrified to even begin thinking about what would happen after the baby. How was I going to survive? Even after two kids I'm still trying to embrace the below list. It's hard sometimes as a new parent to keep up with real life and the expectation you had before having children. Well here is what I wish I had known sooner...

1. After giving birth, you will still look five months pregnant for roughly five months post partum. THIS IS NORMAL. I remember giving birth to Lakai, looking down and thinking, "Why the hell do I still look pregnant?" Give your body time to heal itself. Not only is it a miracle making a baby, but the way a body heals itself after baby is an equal miracle.

2. Do not compare your experience to that of celebrities. There is an expectation that women in Tinsel Town need to look just as they did before having a baby. This has shifted towards all women. We think celebrities just "bounce back", but it's not true. They have trainers, planned/cooked meals, strict diets and some resort to surgery. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. It takes nine months to put it on and sometimes even longer to work it off. Don't be bothered by this. You are a sexy, full bodied woman who just performed one of the most difficult workouts of your life. Whether you are a size 2, 12, or 22, embrace how beautiful you are.

3. The house may need to be cleaned, the laundry may need folding, meals may need to be cooked... Shit, your house may be burning down (well you might want to react to this one), but nothing is more important than sitting with your sweet child in your arms and trying to burn every detail of their tiny body into your brain. Your children will only be this small in this exact moment. They are forever growing and changing. Unfortunately, no one has made a serum to stop them from getting any bigger, so cherish it. Any anyways, your husband will love having a reason to wear his Crossfit attire even more than he already does, right?

4. Make time to be alone. I mean all alone, without even your husband. You need this time to process and reboot. I have told my husband time and time again that I LOVE grocery shopping by myself. Not only is it ten times quicker than with kids, but it is also my time to be alone with my thoughts. Just think. Make time for just yourself. You need it, but even more, your kids need it. You will be a better momma for it.

5. Don't forget your girlfriends. We had children young, and many of our friends are still years off from even marriage. I used to think my friends and I are just at a different place in our lives, we have nothing in common. This may be true in some cases, but many of your friends are just as excited for you as you are for you. Let them in, don't shut them out. Plus, you need your young, single, non-parent friends there to remind you you can still shake it and throw em' back every once in a while.

6. It takes just as long to put on jeans and a tee as it does sweats. When my husband first said this to me I was pretty pissed. I should state, in the context of our conversation he was not trying to upset me, but what he was saying was completely true. The number one way to feel frumpy is living in yoga pants with spit-up on them.

7. Don't worry if you can't give your children everything and more than you had. This can be especially hard in the materialized society we live in today. When your children are young they will never remember how much money you made, but they will cherish the time you spent with them. Don't regret not spending enough time with your children just so they can have the newest clothing or technology. They won't remember that hipster tee anyways.

8. You aren't just a parent, you're a teacher. Yesterday, Lakai and I were driving to preschool. He kept sneezing and finally said, "I have blush-yous coming out my ass." Okay, I've NEVER said that, but it also made me realize that I really dislike him talking like that, and he learned foul language from us. Your children are part of you; not just your anatomy, but your character. You don't have to go to church or take etiquette classes to learn right from wrong or manners (although those things are great too). As parents, we lead by example... I should probably clean up the language in this post as well. Whoops.

9. It's okay to let them scream it out. Countless times I've been at the store with a crying child. Lleyton is a perpetual screamer (super high pitched, ear piercing scream). Don't leave the store. Continue on with what you are doing. Every time we go to Target Lakai asks for a toy, and typically I say, "not today buddy." Well, in the eyes of a four year old, this response will not suffice. He'll start crying and begging. Don't give in and don't leave the store. Lakai needs to know that this behavior will have no effect on me. He needs to learn how to express himself and at this time in his little life he doesn't understand why it makes him so upset. Even though it can be embarrassing, if other shoppers have had children they understand and won't judge.

(Quick disclaimer: you should only follow no. 9 if your children are having a laps in judgment. If they are tired or hungry, you should fulfill that basic need stat.)

10. Let your husband (or any support person you have) bond with your child and then thank them for it. I can't express how easy it is to completely lose yourself in your new bundle of love. If you're breastfeeding it is even worse. My husband would just standby while I nursed, changed diapers, cuddled, cleaned up fecal matter... And it wasn't by choice. I didn't let him. Dad gets the short end of the deal. Not only do mothers get to feel their child wiggling inside them (by far my favorite part of pregnancy), but our babies NEED us. In infancy, babies do not need fathers for their basic needs and it is easy for our significant others to feel lost. Let dad do as much as he can. Let him give baths, change diapers, cuddle your little to sleep. He needs to feel involved, and when he's done, remind him how much you love him and thank him. It will work wonders for your relationship.

And one BONUS tip... If your child has a blow-out up their back, change their diaper with them faced down. Try it, you'll thank me :)

I can think of plenty more things I wished I known sooner, but this was a good start.

dear lleyton.

My Sweet Little Llyeton,

I hate admitting this, but you just aren't so little anymore.

The past few weeks I have been telling everyone that I think you may be getting a little tooth. I've rubbed you cute little gums many times and I know I've felt that bump growing. But you never seemed like you were teething, and after weeks, a tooth hadn't appeared. I still was convinced it was coming though, and last night I saw it. That adorable little white gem, peeping out just beneath the last thin layer of gums.

You just aren't so little anymore. You don't know how much I'll miss your sweet, gummy smile. It isn't just your smile changing though... You climb. You climb on everything. You are walking around furniture. You make a squishy face that is to die for. You say "mama" and "dada" ("dada" much more). You observe the world in a way I've never seen. You truly take things in. You are sleeping in your own bed, and although I miss you tender little body next to mine at night, I know you need this sleep to grow even more.

It breaks my heart knowing you're my last little. As I felt your sweet kicks in my belly months ago I imagined holding you and watching you grow, and I just don't feel ready. If I could stop time for you and Lakai I would. Just so I could hold you in this moment a little longer and savor every ounce of your littleness, because you just aren't so little anymore.

Love you for always,
Momma

do i really have to share?

Lakai starts back to preschool next week and it is a little bittersweet. The past few months I've been able to relish in him...

7:30 am Lakai sneaks down the stairs, ninja style, like a snake (umm, yes these are two different things, I know). I hear a little giggle and go running to the bottom of the stairs to greet his sweet smile. He jumps into my arms and we sit, ever so still, for just a moment so I can breathe him in.

7:40 am We discuss what to make for breakfast. Correction, Lakai states he wants pancakes for breakfast. I try to sell him on something else. I make pancakes.

8:20 am Lakai and Chubby hop in the bath. Lakai fills a bath boat with water and pours it on Chubby's belly while saying, "mmmm, maple syrup." Clearly he loves pancakes. I suds the boys up, Lakai tried to convince me his hair does not need washing and I convince him that I can only do silly hair-dos with bubbles. It works. He is clean. Lakai will play in the bath until he appears to be a 90 year old man. We giggle about how wrinkly his hands and feet are.

9:10 am Lakai picks up a toy from his room, brings it into our room, plays with it for 37 seconds, sets it down on our floor and repeats at least 25 times. I fold laundry.

The next fews hours are filled with play dates, running errands, working, napping, and just about whatever else we can fit in. Oh, and sometimes this is when I attempt to get ready for the day.

3:00 pm Lakai throws a fit because he didn't want lunch, but now he wants a, "yittle treat." I say not until he eats something good that will help him be strong like daddy. He cries and says his belly isn't telling him he is hungry for something healthy. We repeat the conversation three times. At this point in the day I know he is tired.

3:15 pm I find a reason to get in the car and drive in hopes he will fall asleep. My attempt fails.

5:00 pm I call Ryan and ask when he is going to be home.

5:30 pm Ryan walks in the door and I lay on the floor of the living room exhausted.

6:30 pm We eat dinner. We try to convince our picky eater that veggies will turn him into a super hero. He is too smart and our attempt fails. We succeed in getting Lakai to eat his chicken.

7:00 pm Lakai starts to wind down and becomes cuddly. This is one of my favorite parts of the day. It makes the bumps in our day fade away.

Somewhere between 8:30 and, ummm later than I want to admit (we are on summer sleep schedule which has resulted in a horrible lack of an actual bedtime). Lakai snuggles with us in our bed. During the day Ryan and I say he will be moved to his room, but we just can't help it. We love his warm little body near us. He won't be "yittle" for long and I can't bare watching him get so big so fast.Chubby is on my right, snuggled into my chest and Lakai is on my left, breathing ever so softly onto my arm. Ry snuggles in and I feel full and ready to repeat the next day.

I'm going to miss him while he learns and grows, but I know this is what he needs and he will astonish us with his smarts. Last year he loved seeing his friends and telling me stories from the day. I can't wait for that to be added back into our schedule. I cherish that in this moment he loves talking to me and asking questions. I know that there will be a day when this isn't so. I know there will be a day when I ask him how school was and he will say, "good." and then I'll ask what he learned and he will say, "I can't remember." and a little piece of my heart will break. It will only be temporary I know, but right now I'm going to soak him all up. I'm going to savor this last week before I have to start sharing him again.

weekend wrap up.

This past weekend was quite a whirl wind. We went to the Willamette Country Music Festival with family and friends, where we drank too much, slept very little and listened to good music for three whole days.

I think Lakai was right in his element. That boy has far more country in him than I thought. He loved being able to pee outside, stay up late, eat crap food and head bob to blaring tunes, not to mention he didn't have to bathe for far longer than I prefer.

So that there beer in my hand is by far one of the best brews I've had. If you like lighter beers you must try Grapefruit Schofferhofer. Du-freaking-licious!

Does it get more hillbilly than this over sized chairs? I think not. #honeyishrunkthekids

This show stopper made us many friends. Booze and Mega Jenga went hand in hand this weekend. Our camp happened to be right at the entrance on the festival, and as people walked by they would stop to get a kick out of our drunken strategy (well actually Ryan and my old man's drunken strategy).

Lakai mooched this kick-ass cowboy hat out of my dad and wore the damn thing all weekend. It was totally appropriate for the occasion and he had lots of folks saying, "right on" as he walked by. 

The only way he could see the concerts was if Ry held him up. Man oh man did Lakai loooove himself some Carrie Underwood. As we were walking back to camp the conversation went as follows:

Lakai: Mom, does that girl have a house?

Me: I'm sure she does.

Lakai: Can we go over there some day to hang out?

Me: Why?

Lakai: Because she has a really pretty face. 

Me: Uh, Oh.

She made a surprise appearance the next night with Brad Paisley and that kid lit up like a damn Christmas tree. 

It was great weekend and I know Lakai had a blast running a muck. Clearly by the end we were all running on fumes. I'm most certain it was worth it though and we will be heading back next year.

 

starting fresh...

It's about damn time, I know. Finally (not sure this is the appropriate word) the baby making and wedding planning is over and I can get back to bloggin'. Slowly but surely I will dive back in with family updates, favorite products, recipes and whatever else I can ramble about.

Since our wedding two days ago, I've had many questions about how we pulled it off and what vendors we used. I've had questions about products and the like. Stay tuned, I will fill you in. I just want to make sure I have pictures before.

Lastly, we will be getting a blog makeover around here. Being that I live in a house full of boys, it is only appropriate to change the blog name and maybe include the other gentlemen in some heading pictures... who knows what else I can concoct.

And now I leave you with this... only the single most amazing ring shot. I'm pretty sure this shit will go down in history as one of the prettiest pictures I've seen of rings. We used Aimee McAuley as our wedding photog and she freaking rocked it! I'll be checking her blog hourly for our "sneak peak"!

family outing.

 Two weekends ago, our family had the privilege of going up to our friend Ty's cabin. I was a little hesitant at first because it was very last minute and I'm a planner, but the boys had an amazing time and it was fun watching these two "peas in a pod" gallivant.

I had to throw in this last picture because those buns are just too cute!

b is for boys.

How blessed am I? Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for the boys in my life...

Today I was reminded just how lucky I'm for the these boys. Last night Lakai made a side comment that he wanted to come to work with me. I smiled and told him he'd have to wake up super early to come with momma; then the day went on as normal. Well, little man crawled into bed with us last night and this morning, around 5:00 am Lakai started to stir. Soon his little peepers opened and I knew this could be bad for a very sleepy daddy. I snuggled Kai up and we cuddled for some time before I knew I just couldn't put off getting up any longer. Kai said no words, but gave me the sweetest kiss and then rolled over. I assumed he was going  back to sleep, so I got up and made my way to the bathroom, closed the door ever so quietly and got myself going for the day. It wasn't more than fifteen minutes before I heard the door open behind me. I looked in the mirror and saw only my reflection. This meant one thing... little man was awake. I turned around and scooped his tiny frame up. We breathed each other in for a few more minutes, then made our way down stair so I could get him some breakfast and daddy could keep sleeping. As I was about to go back to getting ready I heard the sweetest, raspy morning voice say, "Mommy, remember yesterday you said if I got up early I could go to work?" I should have known. Lakai's big sleep eyes gazed at me for an answer. I just sat there with a half quirked smile, truly amazed by him. He looked so innocent in that moment... well he is, but it was that innocence that reminds me that he looks to Ryan and I. That this little boy is growing and although he sometimes tests my patience, he brings innocence to our lives and makes us all the better. In a world full of negativity and temptation, our three year old has brought us love, sanity, perspective and a home of pure oasis. He truly has been my salvation when daily distractions tempt to derail me. I'm so lucky.

But there are numerous reasons these boys bless my life:

1. Ryan helps me... A LOT. Not just as my companion, but he helps our family get through the day. He's my rock.
2. Lakai renews my soul with his imagination. Although stuffy, laying under blankets playing "car" has become a regular activity that brings us lots of giggles.
3. Ryan brings adventure to my life and pushes me in ways I don't push myself.
4. Lakai has taught me all about "boy stuff", yet just the other day he said, "Mommy your dress is beautiful." and he reminds me that mommas help boys see the beauty in the world.
5. Ryan listens to crazy music. I often have to be in the mood to enjoy it, but I know if I ever need a good song to move to, I can come to him. His eclectic taste in music has also allowed me to broaden my horizons. When commercials come on my favorite county station, I can sometimes be found listening to JAZZ... What has gotten into me?
6. Lakai's curiosity teaches me something new daily. I also have become quite the story teller thanks to the question, "why?"
7. Ryan isn't the most romantic man to have ever walked this earth, but he pet named me "Tender" and it just about melts my heart every time he says it. It never gets old.
8. Lakai's excitement for EVERYTHING reminds me to not take the little things for granted. Our family is truly blessed by all we have and sometimes, in a busy world, it is easily forgotten. Lakai gets excited when he sees a snail and he has love for just about every creature and material object known to man. He brings meaning to those things I typically forget about.
9. I have seen quotes and stories before, but Ryan told me that the best way he can be a father is to love his children's mother and I feel truly blessed by this sentiment because I know I'm loved by Ryan. Even when life gets crazy and we don't see each other as much as I like, I know this man is a good man, great father and will be a fantastic husband. He loves us and that's one of the greatest blessing he could give me.

10. Soon we will have another little man in our lives. That is a blessing in itself. I always thought it was inevitable that I'd live in a house full of boys and now that it is finally happening, I'm not sure I'd have it any other way. The two men in my life have given me so much to live for and my life so much meaning that I can only imagine what it will be like with three rascals!

Welcome to the family baby boy! We can't wait to meet you and see how just like your brother, you will change and bless our lives :)

the boy in denial.

Lakai is in denial... plain and simple.

A few days ago I asked Ryan to pull the bins of Lakai's old clothes from out of the garage. He's such a champ and I didn't even have to ask twice. Now that's a good man right there. Well, Lakai and I decided to sort through the bins last night and this is what happened...

Those swim trunks are a size six months. He is in denial of how big he actually is. As soon as he saw the trucks I couldn't get his hands off them. He HAD to put them on. The funny thing is, my three year old did it... he got them on. It was a tight squeeze, but he did it. I could not convince him to take them off though and by the end of the night he decided maybe those small shorts weren't his brightest idea. He had red undie indentations on his scrawny little hips.

He was quite the helper though and I think he even got excited that if he has a baby brother, his little bro will get to wear some of his old clothes. It was nice spending that time talking to him and explaining that he used to be itty bitty. We held up some of his old clothes to him (like the outfit we planned on taking him home in until he pooed in it) and my heart melted. I still can't believe how big Lakai has gotten, or that in a few short months we will have another itty bitty.

We find out Friday whether Lakai will have a little sister or little brother and the anticipation is just about killing me. I've have two dreams about the sex. In one we were having a boy and in the other we were having a girl. Basically I still have not an inkling as to what we are having, although Ryan is royally convinced he'll have a princess (I'm not so sure about that).

So for now, we will keep waiting. Be looking here on Friday for the official word :)

hot showers.

Just yesterday was my sweet friend Aly's baby shower. She had little Laylah at only 26 weeks and what a miracle baby Laylah has become, truly defying to odds.

My momma held the shower at my parent's home and I helped decorate. We thought it was all pretty cute, and their back yard turned out to be the perfect back drop for the shower. It was 95 degrees out and I will tell you now, this momma was a sweatin'! It was not cute, but Aly sure was. Her bubbly personality soared (like any new mom of course)! We were so happy with the turn out and that people could help Aly and her family celebrate this sweet bundle of joy!

 As soon as I found out my sweet friend Heather was coming I messaged her, calling dibs on holding baby Weston first! I had to get my baby filling since my baby hormones are clearly raging!

 And what would a blog post be without a few sweet pictures of baby Laylay? 

Just to put into perspective how tiny Laylah still is... Those slippers are from the American Girl store :)