October II: Isobel's Birthday Party

Here we are in the second installment of the Brookstinobelude October series! Huzzah!

We held Isobel's birthday at Artquest, an art studio for kids downtown. Last year was a church friends party, so this year was a school friends party. And I'm not gonna lie, it was so much easier to do it somewhere other than our house. Artquest had a party coordinator who kept the kids pretty well entertained. They made birthday crowns, then ate pizza, then made play-dough, then had cake and finis! Very low stress for mommy and the other parents, and lots of fun for the chilrens. So without further ado, the photos:































I love looking at these photos! Isobel is lucky to have so many good friends to celebrate with her. Yesterday she said "Mommy, I wish I could go to school every single day," and I know it's because she loves all of her friends (and her teacher) so much. I can't believe she's four already! Such a big girl. I am so proud of her.
P.S. - Note which hand Jude is using to stab that play-dough! I suspect him of being a southpaw.

October I: Nana and Grandad visit for Isobel's Fourth Birthday

Oh boy, it's been another month! And what an eventful October it has been. I was going to do one huge monster post, but I got overwhelmed just thinking about it. So I'm going to do a series instead.
My fantastic parents came to visit for Isobel's birthday, and we did lots of fun things. One of those things was visiting Pilot Mountain State Park.

















This was my dad's first time ever visiting North Carolina, and my mom hasn't been here since Jude was a newborn. So we were especially excited to have them here.

Here are some photos of the actual birthday day:

Why do I have so much trouble coming up with post titles?

Yay, it's time for our monthly Brookstinobelude update! I'll start posting more when we have more news (which, actually, could be soon) and/or when I have more free time. Stay tuned, bear with me, all that junk. Until then...













We haven't had too many opportunities to hand down clothes from Isobel to Jude, so it's pretty exciting that these skeleton jammies are seeing their second Shiffler family go-round. I love them. I also just really like Stella in both of the photos with Jude. She's like a doggy model or something. Isobel is fresh out of the bath in that photo, so that explains the slicked-back mullet hair.

I don't usually think the kids look much alike, but seeing them at around the same age and wearing the same clothes, I can kinda see some resemblance.

Here they are on the first day of school! I've spread this picture around a bit, so it may not be new to you. I like it because it captures their attitudes toward school and their personalities in general. Isobel is eagerly looking to the next exciting thing; Jude is warily clinging to something solid and safe.

Actually, it's not fair to simplify Jude that way. He's very loving and enthusiastic once he warms up. He totally digs school now. And both of my kids are wonderfully easy-going if we're considering the broad spectrum of neuroticism.

I guess Jude is a sitter and Isobel is a rover.

Moving on, I'm going to post a few images I've been using to make greeting cards, in case anyone wants to use them. Aaaaand, I was going to post "via"s, but I'm too lazy to find the pictures all over again. So I hope nobody gets too mad.



I used the first for a first birthday card, with a number one on the chalkboard. The second and third were for new baby cards, for a girl and boy respectively. I actually upped the exposure and contrast on the girl one to get rid of the gray- let me know if you want that version and I will gladly send it to you. Enjoy!

OBX 2011: Photos

Wherever you go, there you are!

So... remember how I mentioned in my last post that we were in Utah? Well, guess what! I forgot my camera on that trip. That's why the professional photos are the only ones we have. But then, a couple of weeks later, we went to Pennsylvania and (huzzah!) I remembered the camera. We had some good times at the Army heritage trail, despite the abominably hot, HOT heat. In that first photo everybody is taking a relaxing break in the relatively shady life-size replication of a WWI trench.




My children were terribly uncooperative. They just didn't appreciate the many adorable photo opps around all that period stuff. Luckily, Johanna and Caroline obeyed me and posed for a photo. Aren't they pretty!

And Jude, since he was restrained, didn't really have a choice. He gives a good stink eye, doesn't he?







Speaking of Jude, he had his first haircut while we were in Carlisle! Well, technically this was his second haircut; my grandma sneak-attacked his bangs while we were in Utah, thereby accentuating the mullet and encouraging us to finally get our shaggy boy cleaned up. Here's the before and after.













Other highlights included swimming in Grandma and Papa's pool and watching a movie with the cousins. (The pool photo was taken before the haircut, by the way.)













Back at home, Stella puts up with Isobel's love and Brooke plays our NEW (to us) PIANO!!













I found the "free to a good home" piano on craigslist. It needs some work, but it has a beautiful, rich tone and it looks GREAT in our living room. After we get back from our trip to the beach, we're going to have it tuned/repaired. I'm pretty much giddy with the idea that we can FINALLY make music in our own home. Hooray!

I'm pretty sure there's a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking.

A thousand thanks to Kelly Anderson, who took these beeeeeautiful pictures about a month ago at the Meibos Family Reunion in Bear Lake, UT. She made us look so good! Go ahead and click each pic if you want to get up close and personal.

And my favorite photo of all: