fresh picked whimsy

The magical days of Nanny McD

Listen up William & Kate, step aside Mary Poppins, there's a new super nanny on the scene.  Katie has spent the last 3 summers nannying two of our favorite little people in the world.  And everytime she sends me a picture of their adventures, i giggle and marvel at the creativity and the memories they're making!

homemade slime...

super bubbles... 

 
lemonade stands...

fort building...

a little fun with the camera...slam dunking! ;)

silly video making...

  

water balloon pinata...

dotty manicures...

Lego towers...

it's not slave labor when you have them wash your truck, it's teaching them the value of hard work...

popsicles in the pool...

sometimes it melts faster than you can eat it...

arts and crafts...

making magic wands... {swish and flick}

movie time...

and putt putt...

homemade ant farm...

stopping by the local pet shop and sending their mom & dad pictures and pleas for a new furry friend...

a picnic in a backyard tent...

shaving cream and cheese doodle toss...on their heads

which turned into just good ol' messy fun with shaving cream...

making sure they find time daily for reading and math, even at a swim meet...

Brock loves math...

  

homemade sidewalk chalk...

early driver's ed...

and cool treats...

and finally, mummies.  Yes, i said mummies...

 

I just know these fun-filled days will be ones that Katie and the kids will never forget.  Truth is, she has had just as much fun as they have. 

 Is she gonna be a great mom one day, or what?! 

 

Let the games begin!

The Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympics is one week from today!  I LOVE watching the Olympics...my whole family loves watching.  In the US, it will be broadcast on several different channels at different times around the clock.  We can't wait!  We have Olympic fever.  Raise your hand if you do, too!  Of course we are Team USA, but we love following the personal, inspiring stories of the Olympians from around the world and cheering them on, as well.  I was inspired to make a few FREE Olympic printables.  You will always find them under the free stuff just for you button on the sidebar and you are welcome to print them and share them.  As always, they are for PERSONAL use only. 

The first one is for you to display your support for Team USA...Simply print it here and hang it for all to see...  {Did you know that there are 205 nations participating in the games?  I wish i could have made printables for all the countries.  Maybe i should start drawing now to be ready for the 2016 Olympics!?}

The second one is an illustrated American flag.  Print them here...

cut...

and tape the extra flap to a straw. 

Wave it proudly!

Lastly...award your champions with these fun Olympic medals.  Print them here and cut them out...

To make them a little more sturdy, i used a recycled thin cardboard box.

Glue them to the cardboard and cut out the medal again. 

Cut a small slit at the top of the medal the width of whatever ribbon you plan to use. 

Then, add the ribbon...

and you are ready for your own personal awards ceremony!

and DREAM BIG!!!!!!

 Download, print, share, pin and enjoy, friends! ♥

it's all sunshine and happiness

We got outta Dodge last week and hit the open road {actually, it was pretty congested and backed up!}...

This was the first time we have ever gone south for Spring Break.  But, this was not our typical vacay where we spend lazy days on a beach.  Nope.  This was a vacation on the go.  We packed a lot of action in our week.  We went to visit my parents in The Villages, Florida.  They had spent the winter there, renting a house and deciding whether or not they should make a permanent move there. It's a huge retirement village.  And, it is way cool. It's a golf cart community.  Everyone has a cart.  My kids LOVE this!

{typical sights in The Villages}

lots of fancy, tricked out carts, too...

I spied this one at Target down there and think i could rock it when i'm a golden girl someday...

My parents took us to a polo match in The Villages.  Never been to one before.  I wondered if i would need to channel Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and wear a brown/white polka dot sundress and large straw hat. 

But, no...we were golf cart tailgating at the match!  Wear your shorts, tshirts and pack a cooler!  My kinda polo match!  After the 5th chukka (time periods in polo - you are welcome for this new tidbit of knowledge), everyone goes out onto the field and stomps down the divots that the polo players and horses have made during the match.  {just like they say in Pretty Woman, "beware of steaming divots!} 

Then, these yellow hummer golf carts come out to the center of the field and everyone lines up and they pour you a free glass of champagne!  Nice!  Hooray for new and fun experiences!

These Villages folks really do know how to party!  Every single night there is live music, dancing and happy hour in the Village Square. 

I'm pretty sure we all packed on a few pounds, as Mom treated us to her amazing home cooking.  She spoiled me with my most favorite dish in the whole world, her eggplant parmagiana and we also enjoyed her famous macaroni and meatballs...

The Villages is in central Florida, so we took a day trip to Daytona Beach with my folks and my cousins.  We had never been there.  Driving on the beach was different and my kids had never been in the Atlantic Ocean, either!  They loved body surfing in the waves, but i think my Dad loved it the most...

PawPaw treated everyone to ice cream from this huge ice cream truck on the beach...

We also spent a super fun day in Disney World.  We were about an hour and 20 minutes from Orlando, so the trip wasn't bad at all.  {more on this day to come!}  We ♥ Disney World...never stops being magical for us!

We had so much fun visiting my folks, doing puzzles, watching movies, going on golf cart rides, easter egg hunting, hanging out by the pool and playing this hilarious game with our cousins...

 

Headbandz...have you ever played it?  We laughed and laughed!  Who knew it could take you an hour to figure out that you are a pickle?

The best part of our trip was just being together. 

{kids driving golf cart...when i found this one on my iphone...i cracked up.  Riley, keep your eyes on the road!}

 

Thanks, Mom & Dad for a super fun week!  We love you!

 

Welcome to Indianapolis...have a SUPER day!

 

{photo credit: Dave Duke}

All eyes are on Indy and we are so proud!  Even if we have to welcome the Patriots. It's good for our city.  So, we will offer our Hoosier Hospitality...even to the Patriots. :)

Indianapolis is all decked out and ready to show the nation the best Superbowl it's ever seen! 

{photo credit: IndyStarSports} 

Look at what they've done to the huge Dinos outside the Children's Museum!  So fun!...

Mark took the boys over the weekend downtown for the NFL Experience. 

It's an experience of a lifetime.  Indy may host the superbowl again sometime in the future, but most likely not during their childhood.  There is so much to see and do...

autograph session with Colts players... Riley was lucky enough to meet Colt's Joseph Addai while wearing his jersey...

the lines for the ziplines were hours long and it was freezing, so the boys opted not to wait.  But, it was cool to see...

It's so exciting to see all of the amazing results come alive from all of the hard work of the past few years.  We L♥ve Indy and we just know that our visitors will love it, too! 

GO GIANTS!!!!

that's a wrap!

i could not let the holidays pass without writing about one our most favorite holiday traditions of all.  It's our annual neighborhood-house hopping-progressive-wine tasting-home tours-Christmas party.  We really do need to come up with a snappier, easy name for it.  Regardless, we started it last year with our crazy fun neighbors and it has become one of the most festive parties of the year! 

We plop all of the little kiddos over at one house, under the expert supervision of Miss Mary...and her crew of tween helpers.  Cocktails and nibbles await us at each house. 

playing Left Right Center at our house...Stacey was the big winner.  Have you ever played?  it's a lot of fun...we play for money.

it's fun to see everyone's houses all decked out for the holidays...

apologies for the blurry pictures...did i mention cocktails at every house?...

have i also mentioned these are the best neighbors in the world... 

and some of them are hilarious...

{yes, that's a wine glass charm on Casey's ear}.  At the third house on the tour, Bill spilled cocktail sauce on his yellow sweater {and Casey, Bill & Amie really got into the Christmas spirit while singing Jingle Bells}.  So, Bill took his sweater off after trying in vain to use a stain stick on it.

By the fourth house, Gabe was wearing Bill's sweater and i'm not sure Bill ever realized it.

At Stacey & Jim's house, someone discovered this picture of Stacey, her amazing bouffant hairdo and her parents when she was little...

This picture then followed us from house to house for the rest of the night...

finally, some of these nuts posing with our neighborhood bear {read all about him here} between house stops...

Which brings us to the end of the holiday posts here on FPW.  Thanks for being patient with me while i caught up on my blogging.  Lots of exciting plans for my family and whimsy studios this year.  You'll be sure to read all about it here... happy new year, friends!

a perfect pair

 
 

This brand new print originated as a doodle of Griffin and his bff, who both ADORE Legos.  I know my little Lego lover is not alone, so i thought i would share it in the shop!  It's available in lots of different color combos and with or without lettering underneath. 

Have a great day, friends!

one summer night...

 
Our church is in our neighborhood and every year we have a parish festival.  It lasts for 4 days and nights and is such a fun, community event.

 
  Everywhere you look, you're among friends and neighbors.  I just love that!  Casino, beer tent, kids games, nickel pitch, fresh grilled sandwiches and corn and Bingo!  Katie and one of her bff's, Brendan worked in the kiddie game tent...

Riley ran in the 5k for Haiti on Saturday morning...a mere warm up for the upcoming week's 2-a-day practices for football!

 
 
About 3 years ago, i attended a church women's retreat and in a short period of time, became very close with the group of women that i attended it with.  We try to meet once a month for breakfast, for occasional gatherings and always volunteer to work the BINGO tent together.  i Love my girls.

 
 
My parents worked in the food tent and then came to play BINGO while i was volunteering.  My dad actually won, too!  He was so excited. 

 
Mark and I took turns working and walking around with Griffin and his bff, Thomas.  I actually really hate those carnival rides; they make me a nervous wreck.  But, i know it's a draw for the kids and we let him ride a few of the less lethal-looking rides.

 
 
They had a blast until they got on this one.  all smiles before it started...

 
When Griffin got off of it, he was green. 

 
okay, i may have exaggerated the green, but trust me, this kid was about ready to lose his carnival junk food.  Mark had him lie in the grass to try to settle his tummy.  Poor fella.

  
Despite the motion sickness, a fun time was had by all.  The church raised money for our youth ministries, Haiti ministry and other causes close to our hearts.  And even though it's arrival every year signals the winding down of summer vacation (school is one week away), it's an event we always look forward to with great anticipation! 

 

Our day to remember

On Wednesday, the big kids went to King's Island for the day and Griffin and I had a day all to ourselves.  Griffin got to pick where we went. 

 
No, he didn't pick the Lego store.  He picked his other true love...trains. 

 
We went to Forest Park in Noblesville and visited the Indiana Transportation Museum.  He was my little tour guide...telling me what kind of trains we were seeing, what they were used for, how they worked. 

 
 

 
 

Sadly, most of the trains there were just sitting there rusting.  There were so many of them!

 
We took a picture of this schedule sign and are going to try to reproduce it for his bedroom.  so many projects...so little time!

 
We also packed a picnic lunch and stopped at Holy Cow Cupcakes on the way to the park for our dessert.  Griffin got the chocolate cookies and cream stuffed cuppie and i got the old school vanilla with sprinkles.  mmmmmm

 
 
they have putt putt there at the park and we had the whole course to ourselves the whole time!  {evidently we were the only crazy people who were interested in putt putting in 96 degrees...huh, go figure}.  I kept trying to get a picture of the ball rolling by on the turf, but the sweat kept dripping into my eyes and this was the shot i got every time. 

 
Because we are not golf pros, we agreed we wouldn't keep score and would look the other way if one of us needed to have a "do-over".  We got lollies from the concession stand...

 
Then we decided we had enough of the heat and went home to our air conditioner and to snuggle up on the couch and watch reruns of Drake and Josh {we love them!}.  But before we left the park, we picked a rock off the ground at the 18th hole and decided it would be our souvenir from our day.  I used a paint pen to commemorate our adventure and i will keep it on my dresser.  It was one of those days that i think we will both remember forever.  ♥

 

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UPDATE!

My super sweet friend Jennifer McGuire, who asked me to illustrate that Erma Bombeck quote that i blogged about this week is giving one of the prints away on her blog!  Simply head over there and leave a comment and you'll be entered to win!  I'm blown away by the kind things her readers are saying about my work in those comments (over 200 last time i checked!).  wow!

just hanging out

Every vacation spot has that one restaurant that everyone loves...THE place to go for your favorite food and awesome atmosphere.  You know the place where you have to wait 2 hours just to get a table?  Well, in Gulf Shores, that place is here for us...

 
Only, we've figured out that if we head there for lunch instead of dinner, there is no waiting.  So, we pick one day, take the kids go carting in the morning {early bird lower prices and no lines} and then hit the Hangout for lunch.  Then, we head back to the beach for the rest of the day.  Works for us.

G was finally tall enough to ride the go carts solo!!!  He was so happy!!!

 
 
 
The Hangout is right on the GS public beach and completely open to the ocean breezes.  There is so much to do and see and eat at this joint.  I LOVE the gift shop...it's an attraction all by itself.  now i want a circus tent on my studio ceiling...

 
hanging from the ceiling in the kids section...

 
 
fill out a small slip of paper with your wish and find an open spot on the wish wall...

 
there are enormous working helicopter rotor fans hanging from the soaring ceilings...

 
and Mark says they have the BEST fish tacos he's ever eaten.  I'll take his word for it.  I am the lone turf in this surf n turf family. 

 
 surrounding the restaurant is a play area for kids and adults. 

 
these pails have white lights inside of them!

 
 
 
every so often sirens go off and all the kids come running to this machine that blasts suds for them to play in.  Just steps away are outdoor showers for them to rinse off in.  {kids wear their suits under their clothes}

 
They have live music every night on the outdoor stage, firepits, ping pong...fun.

 

 

 
My wish on the wish wall may or may not have had something to do with just that.  ♥ 

parting is such sweet sorrow...

why do they have to grow up?  why?  UGH! 

 
Like many of you...January for me is a time to clean out, de-clutter, re-organize.  We've started a renovation project here and it's multi-faceted.  We are renovating our Game Room, as we call it.  As we don't have a basement, the Game Room has been our playroom for the past 12 years.  We remodeled it 10 years ago (the year that picture above was taken) to make it super kid and baby friendly.  We've have had some seriously good times in this room.  It's been the site of girl scout meetings, giant GeoTracks layouts and monster truck rallies, birthday parties, fort building and playing house with American Girl Dolls.

Sadly...no more. 

Now, for the most part, the toy bins go un-opened and there is much wasted space.  These days this space is primarily used for video gaming, movie watching and the occasional nerf gun war.  It's been a gradual change, but one that is bittersweet.  The time has come to sort through the toys of their childhood.  Yes, we've purged over the years, had garage sales and handed down to friends and cousins, but this is a bit more drastic.  I've begun packing up the ones that i just can't part with and bagging the ones that don't make the cut.  This is such a difficult task for someone as sentimental as i am.  And Mark...he's even worse than me!  I have to get the bags to Goodwill before he has a chance to go through them and second guess me! 

It's time, though.  We are making space for our new teen hangout!  We have never really used this wet bar in the Game Room, except for storage.  Last weekend we tore it out and it is being turned into a small mud room.

 
 
 

The floor will be tiled, beadboard installed, lockers and utility sink installed.  This might even call for a spring roadtrip to IKEA!  Woo hoo!  We are going to paint, update flooring, furniture and the bathroom.  I will post updates as we work on it.  The goal is to have this all done by spring.  Wish us luck...we're not very good with staying on target for our project timelines.  We still haven't finished painting the exterior of our house (started almost 2 years ago!)

 

In the meantime, while the hammer is banging downstairs, i will be working upstairs in the storage room off of our bedroom trying to make space for the childhood treasures that won't see the light of day until we have grandchildren. It's a labor of love...as we continue to wade through this second chapter of parenthood; one filled with hormones, SATs, curfews, and college applications.  

Wow...time sure does fly when you're having fun...

pregnant with Katelyn...

 
{don't judge my pants...it was 1994 and i was about to pop.  Comfort was king}

pregnant with Riley...

 

pregnant with Griffin...

 

and many more happy memories to come!

♥