dove love

baby update..... these two babies are so cute and big!

from some of the research I have found online.... some dove types mate for life! Unfortunately, I don't know my dove's species... but I'll put my money on monogamy for these Tweeters.

Doves make nests almost anywhere, the nest are usually NOT made of twigs or branches. From the time of "fertilization" it takes like a day to lay an egg - and then another day to lay the next one.... then about 2 wks to hatch. Then about 2 wks to grow up! And then momma bird can keep on laying eggs (it's not just once a spring) WOW!

here she is... perched on her nest, after coming back from a feeding.

two tiny heads.....

They grow pretty fast and I think in about a week - they should stop looking like the little ugly duckling... but if you ask me.... they are so stinkin' cute!

Today, our friend Nadia, stopped by... the boys and her peeked inside the nest. Daddy bird was keeping them warm while momma was getting her nails done on our pergola. She sooooo deserves that! The picture above was taken 2 days ago.... today they are bigger and cuter! I did spy a big bad black crow hovering around (today) and I had to go out and rush the tree it was in to scare him off... I think it worked - he has not come back.... shortly after, the dad came in for guard duty....

I can't wait till they start trying to fly. I recharged the camera's battery - so I am ready and standing by....

click, click, click,

amt

sweet tweets!

A few post back, I was tracking the progress of those 2 super sweet tweeters that were hatched over spring break. Well - no sooner than when they "flew the coop" did a new mama move in. Into their NEST!! It's been a flurry of activity over here at our nest!

These are the last pictures I have of the two younglings hanging out at our nest....

Here's the NEW momma! She another dove, a little more feminine than the last.... I have no idea how to tell if a dove is more feminine than the next... but she honestly looks it. She has a white chest and longer neck. She's just a vigilant as the other mommy.. she rarely left the nest, as much as I hawked her. So again, I don't know how many eggs there were. Yes..... were.... they ALREADY hatched.... 2 baby doves...... (sigh) - I am pretty sure they hatched today...

meanwhile in the front yard... we see a lot of this going on...... it IS what you are thinking.... We have a very busy house this spring.....

Love is in the air.....

xo,

amt

home "tweet" home

(sigh) what an amazing transformation these tweeters have made.......

the boys packed us up for spring break (a few posts to follow soon...) we left the birdies as pictured below....

We came home to this!!!

one young bird in the nest - one young bird on the fence..... and I thought my kids were growing up fast.... these birds do not waste anytime at all!! They still hang out in their nest (awwwe) Momma bird is either in the trees straight across from them or on the roof above them.... Daddy is in the pine trees a few yards away.... Whenever they fly off Momma is not far behind... It's precious.... when they are gone a little too long, Momma gets on the roof and coos for them. It's not really a nervous coo, just a sweet little coo to bring them back home.

I am sort of sad I missed the "first" attempts at flight and the daily watch at their amazing transformation... but I do suppose it was better for them... some quiet time to practice their flight skills, no kids or dogs to try and chase them off. To quote Martha Stewart "That really is a good thing" :)

Life is amazing, isn't it?

Happy Spring!!

xo,

amt

spring has sprung!

to my great delight....... I was checking in on Lovely dovey... (mamma bird) and I thought maybe she was sitting a little funny??? so I drug out the ladder and zoom lens.... lifted the camera REALLY high.... and shot about 50 shots... I looked closely at one picture.... and thought I spied a FUZZY little head!!

zoom in my friends..... Mamma hatched a baby birdie! (swoon!) I can't tell but there was another fuzzy body next to it... I think there's 2 but not quite sure yet.....

Truly a nest happening!
xo,
amt

(edited a few hours later...... there are 2 babies!! they are adorable and quite big! I am surprised at how big they are... I guess they have been hatched for a while and I just did not know!)

milestones......

our first born dog, Enzo, sometimes known as "that dam dog" (mostly cuz he's a master at counter surfing), turned 12 years last week....

his daddy bought him.... one really big bone.....

He is a lucky dog because he was born into royalty..... descendant of Sage Brush Roy..... from the wild wild west...... (boulder, wyoming) in the wind river range of the rockies.... he's 100% cattle breeding material.
Quite frankly as much as he drives me mad..... he also drives me madly in love with him. He's a hilarious dog, he thinks he's part human, he literally talks to us....He is a great companion and protector of our household. He holds the key our family's heart (sometimes we forget to enjoy his raucous behavior.....) Maybe we should have ordered up Caesar Milan for his bday???? He could use some dog whisperer.........

Here is the last day as a tigger....... now it's on to the "big dogs"...... summer has officially begun!


here he is ruthless and toothles .... grubbin out on bbq - thank goodness it's a holiday :)

happy memorial weekend....... let the games begin.......

embracing my inner nester

So I have been on a roll... using product packaging to make art...... this picture below was product packaging from my mom's house..... over spring break, we left dad in charge of the kids and crafted together, for a few hours..... I made about 6 cards using all her "stuff". It was fun to use someone else's loot..... I loved some of the cards I created.. but since my mom is a busy career woman I decided I would make all the cards for her to send to her friends.....maybe I'll get lucky and get one myself in the mail? (hint, hint mom) I digress...... anyhow, she had these love stickers in a heart shaped box....... we used all the stickers and were ready to recycle the box..... when I realized I loved the size of it...... hummmmmmm. Maybe I create some kind of 3d art from it?
here's what I came up with.......

I called it "love nest". I so, desperately hoped a birdie would find our backyard suitable for nesting this spring but it has not yet happened :( So - I made my own nest...... for Linda. Linda is my original nest queen..... she is a master of making GREAT scripture nest and made me realize my love for these beautiful creatures. While in NYC (a few months back), I visited a yummie store called Tinsel Trading CO - OMG - a store with nothing but embellishments - not just any embellishment BUT mostly vintage ones!!!! YUM YUM...... this was one of the few stores I had a spending spree in..... in the picture above..... you will notice a little yellow birdie..... I found him there...... the nest was already made (Michael's floral department) the flowers are prima - (wild wood coil mushroom collection) the patterned paper is anna griffin - the vintage tag is from tinsel town, too. Bonus.... there are REAL robin's eggs in the nest :) feathers, too.....

This picture is another recycled product packaging creation..... can you guess what it is? All patterned paper is Bo Bunny - "it's my party" line

What can you create from random product packaging?? My friend Laura from JUST PLAIN AND FANCY has created this AMAZING layout from some Tim Holtz packaging.......it's sooooo cool! GO see!!!!
xo,
amt

a quickie post......

Easter Egg dying party at Q's school....


Easter Egg hunt at Marz preschool.......




what I managed to squeeze in over the weekend.......
some sweet time with my boys.... we had fun :) cuddling, tickling, smiling, playing tennis and baseball, lego play, chocolate chip cookies and a couple of movies as well.......(can you guess what movie watched? hint.... check the shirt!)


a trendy book about a pair of SKETCHERS for Q....... turned out Qute......



some love scripture ATC's for Sharon swap at the CPA.....


Have a great week - we are off for our spring break......
Ciao!
Anna

one busy nester....

One busy family...... 4 baseball games a week, 5 days of school, couple of trips to the park, a couple of trips to the doctor's office, two therapy sessions, one birthday party....a few layouts, one mini album for a blog challenge, an ATC doll swap, and some card making from scraps.....

phew... I"m tired just about typing it...... I'm here..... just really, really busy. Thank goodness for spring break....... we will be headed north for the a while - so don't be alarmed if I don't post the next couple of weeks.....

here's a few peeks.... into our busy life...... (see last post for baseball pics)

mini tag album for the SS march blog challenge.......

a layout (lo) for SS design team.....

my first doll ATC.......

loads and loads of laundry........

the bday party.....a cultural event... our friends/ neighbors are from syria...... it was all out fun!! pony rides, middle eastern cuisine, cigar smoke, bouncy house, balloons, pinatas, cupcakes galore, face painting.....


when life gives you scraps...... make cards.... seriously - every one of these cards was made from my scrap pile..... and my "slice" - I even made MINI cards from the scraps of my scraps...... talk about going green.... sometimes I really rock :)

xoxo!

Mom, I wanna rock and roll

As a mother, one must show love equally to all her little ducks (in my case - monkeys!).....in order to have balance in the household.....

My imaginative, handsome second born child is a total ROCK STAR!

He is absolutely amazingly musically inclined. The other night, while dad was with big bro (baseball date) Marz and I were hanging out at home..... I LOVE music........ Marz - he is MUSIC....... Naturally, I had some tunes playing, while making supper and Marz after playing chef (he helped me make rice and veggies) says to me...... "Mom - I wanna rock and roll!"
Just about anything that comes out of Marz's mouth has something to do with his very active imagination..... I said - "OK go for it....." not knowing what would happen next......
He runs out from his room. Jumps on the coffee table and bust out a mean groove! I know you probably can't believe I let my kids dance on the furniture..... but if you read the last post..... you will know that we have had some challenges with my oldest son and well quite frankly ANY jumping/dancing/running is more than welcome at our house.... If it's on the furniture.... then .... it's on the furniture. I'm cool with it. Although now that they are getting older...... they are under the impressions that it's ok to dance on everyone's furniture..... (opps!) I'm working on respecting other people's property.... we are almost there......
So - I love this series of pictures...... everyday is an adventure with two active little boys. Usually I get all caught up in making sure they aren't saying "butt" too much or that they don't break a leg playing WWF. I sometimes forget to laugh and ENJOY downright hilarious moments my TWO beautiful boys bring to my life.....






If I had to guess..... what the sound track of Marz's 4 year old life would be..... I would definitely say..... James Brown.... I feel good! enjoy the tunes.... AND if you can for one minute today........ go jump on your coffee table and bust a groove in true Marcel fashion......

thank you.....
thank you very much........

Q gets some spectacles.....

My precious adorable first born son just got his first pair of seeing eye glasses.......

Does he not look absolutely delicious? here he is posing for mom....


then checkin himself out in the mirror and I'm pretty sure he thinks he looks as cute as his mama says he does......


We embarked on another journey with Q this week..... Vision Therapy. We began our first form of therapy with Q when he was 2 1/2 - speech.. he is still a stellar student in Speech and truly had come a LONG way.... he is fully verbal and actually talks too fast because he just so darn happy that he can communicate!! He has also endured occupational therapy and physical therapy - for some fine motor delays. The blessing in all of hard work Q has put in since 2 1/2 - it is seeing the joy brings to each therapist he gets to work with. They all LOVE him. For obvious reasons (hello - he's too stinkin' cute) but he's just about the most pleasant kid you can ever meet. He's super considerate and polite for a 6 yr old. He works HARD at every session and he meets his therapy goals with vigor. We have graduated from OT and PT (occupational and physical therapy) and it shows..... He's starting his FIRST year of "big boy" baseball, while he is not the "star player" by industry standards, he's able to keep up with all the kids. (btw - if you ask mom.....he is the star player.....). If you ask Q what his favorite part about vision therapy is..... it's being able to look like his daddy....

beautiful!
I love you super Q!!!
xoxo, mom

just another day at the old nut farm :)

Being a mother of two boys can keep one busy......
Being a stay-at-home-mom of two very busy boys can keep one exhausted! Welcome to a day in the life of a nester of two very busy boys......

The day starts innocently enough..... this cute little character winks and flashes his yummy dimple at me.....no worries mom.... you can take a break... I've got the situation under control.....

So I sneak off the computer.... for a quick blog/email check..... I get sucked into god knows what....... and I realize the boys are dressing up in to power rangers and pirates.... they come ask for some swords..... I oblige - buy myself a few more minutes on the internet..... They duel it out in the backyard.... sweet I hear them - they are running up and down the side yard.... cool - let's go see whose doing what on facebook...... (big mistake about 10/15 minutes...go by....) SILENCE.... where did they go?
proceed cautiously to the backyard... you never know when one might get taken captive by a rogue pirate.... hum.... let's try the side yard...... nothing...... try other side yard.... oh crap! they opened the gate to the front yard! RUN - my babies are in the front yard.. I hear other noises..... I can walk.. they are near.... here's what I see.....

Where in the world did that chair come from? Marz.... what are you doing?

Marz: I'm watching basketball......
Where's Q?
skateboarding.........

AHHHHH!
The next morning......he's sneaking out quietly to the backyard.....he's ANDY (as he says it....) aka... Indy....indiana jones....

note to self: GO make sure the back gate is locked!

and so the story goes.....

typical nest happenings.......

I was on my way to the doctor yesterday and ended up at the post office..... hum? the two locations are a few doors down from each other..... so I can see how this can easily happen but all long.... I was thinking doctor doctor doctor... I am so used to going to the post office I think I thought the postmaster was my doctor! (yikes!) So, I show up to the doctors office check in..... and the receptionist says.... Miss Anna... you don't have an appointment. Anna: Uh......what's today's date.... lady: feb 10 your appt is on the 11th.... (argh......) So I decide to go to the grocery store and stock the house with food......While waiting at the light to turn left.... I am next to Monsignor Sweet - of the catholic school where my youngest attends.... his license plate holder says..... "White Collar workers pray harder" (note to self: anna you need to pray harder....) Next to his car is a Mom-mobile...... her plate says "Honk if a kid falls out!" (note to self: I seriously need that license plate holder...)

Back to grocery shopping..... A trip to trader joe's is always a delight :) The people there are helpful, happy and pleasant to be around.... unlike the local von's where some 16 year old is packing the yogurt on top of my precious organic lettuce that I just payed an arm and leg for....... So upon my arrival home - I discovered that my child successfully sneaked in some jellybellies - without my consent... candy is rarely allowed at our house unless there is a birthday or holiday....(double argh!)

Since my doc's appt was not until the next day.... I have a load of errands I need to do in place of the time I though I had allotted as "free time" but no I have to go to my "actual" doctor's appointment. We hop back in the jeep and go down to the county office.... always a joy... going to a county office - get redirected to several different offices (all on the 2nd floor) until I find the right office to file my papers at.... all the meanwhile having the ride to elevator to the top floor then down to the 2nd floor....(several times just to the appease my 4 yr old in tow.....)

Next Errand: go to pool store to buy the part we need to fix the pool sweep...... what ends up happening..... prying kid out of a sweet jacuzzi spa all the while bouncing beach balls onto chemicals that are not to messed with..... (argh)

Next errand: Go to another doctor's appt for my 4 yr old... (ear doc) he swears he has an ice cube in his ear..... The doctor and mom were relieved not to find anyice cubes but find out my 6 year old needs ANOTHER set of tubes..... we are on set number 5. (note to self: I swear we will save for college.... next year - I promise!)

Next errand: Run to the candy store (See's) because G and P are coming to town for the weekend and we need sweets for Valentines day (ahhhh thanks goodness a holiday... we can have candy in the house)...... I am fully aware the my children are a cute as they can be..... but somehow the manager of See's befriends Marz..... because he is so stinking cute.... and somehow we left the store with more free candy (and a lollipop) than we actually bought! huh - not to mention the box of jellybellies we have back at the house.... did I mention a trip to the dentist might now be in order? (maybe we'll start saving for college in 2 years???)

Mommy Errand: at last, we go to the scrapbook store....... (note to self: never take the kids to your happy place....) as I knew it would be a challenge to manage a 4 yr old out of mickey mouse section so I could go an drool over the new lines of american crafts and basic grey and teresa collins....... I left with mr incredible stickers (pure bribery....) and a few sheets of the fore mentioned lines of new goodness and a pack of copper sheets by suggestion of a dear friend :) (thanks michelle).....a new toy/technique to play with for an upcoming EASY ATC SWAP at the CPA......

Finally we are home.......pull in the driveway.... Marz says.... When are we going to Aaron's house?
Me: huh? we don't know any Aaron's.....
Marz: yes mommy - you said we were running to Aaron's
me: no sweetie, I said we were running ERRANDS......
Marz: wahhhhhhh - I want to go to Aaron's house.....

Lord, hear my prayer..........

Nest-ability

I have begun altering my first book - It is not the one I originally intended! It's a mini book of Shakespearian sonnets. (measures about 4 inches by 3 inches) So it's going to be about things I love - and about love itself.....people who I love and people who love me :)


here's the cover - altered..... fun feathery soft and shiny! yum yum!


The book I originally intended to alter is one about a caterpillar on his journey to become a butterfly..... I have decided this book needs to have a fabric cover! so therefore - it's going to take me some time to construct it! I'll definitely keep you updated on HOPE.... once I get it going.....