In The Key of Life

... on being proud, parties and ummmm the potty!

...I'm happy to report that life is pretty darn good here right now! The kids are healthy and well behaved(see below), summer break is just 3 school days away, my hubby is working hard...and looking so stinkin' handsome as always...it's enough to make a momma feel pretty on top of the world! Yup, it's a good day! ...and it kind of puts me over the top when I kids ASK to do this...

... Another reason why it's a good day is that it's a MOPS(Moms of Preschoolers) day! Our meeting this morning was great...in it's usual greatness. If you're a mom of a preschooler and you're not a part of MOPS....please look into it...get your booty to a meeting!! You will forever love it and look forward to each and every meeting.....and not even want to think of the day when your little person turns 5 and you have graduated from MOPS.

.... Maybe I'll make my day even better by sneaking off to the sewing room at some point. My list of projects is starting, well I should say continuing, to grow. The growth is partly because I won a chance to host a Singer Sewing Party! It's pretty exciting! I've been wanting to have some friends over for a sewing circle type of get together for a while and now Singer made it happen. I received my big box of loot last week and am scheduled to pick up my rental machine on the 30th!

At the party we'll be making some organizer rolls (similiar to a crayon roll, but for moms to store knitting needles, crochet hooks, makeup brushes, note cards, etc.) SOOOOOO, that means making a prototype is first on my list.

Second on  the list is a hooded towel for my super cutey neice!
I've made hooded towels for all the kids in there family so it's only right that since this little lady is growing up, it's time she get hers too. I  love this tutorial and have used it for all the kids, including mine....then I make it fun. The first was a blue towel turned into a shark, then the green towel turned dinosaur, the pink 'Diva' towel.....and now..... a red and black towel combo turned.....LADYBUG! I'll be sure to post pics when I get it done.

...and there's a little person at our household that's getting bigger too! I'm happy to report that our little man has been 'dry' for the last two days. If you're a parent you know what I mean....and.... if you're not I'm sure it's TMI! But...too bad...it's a big event here. AND...being just over 2 years old...I'm pretty darn proud of that too! (big brother's a good helper too

....Lastly I'll let you in on a little kiddo behaviour report (and my oh so accidental secret weapon)! Dex has totally been doing a great job at being my good little boy...I know you suspect that he is always an angel, but he does a lot little bit of sassy-ness in him. In a moment of desperation over the weekend I said something like "WHAT?!? do you need like a jar of buttons to make you be good or something?" He said yes....so that's what we did! For each good thing he does he gets a button....when the jar is full he gets to choose a treat. This child has AMAZED me....when I used to have to beg him to get dresses, get ready for school and brush his teeth...he now does them all BY HIMSELF before he even comes to say good morning to me each day!!!!!! It took him about 3 days to fill up the jar this round and at the end he chose lunch at Cracker Barrel.  I happily obliged! 

Look at those little stinkers....too cute. That's Em there with his first thumbs up....see his first attempt here.

 ....oh now I just thought of another thing....EASTER!!! I'm having the in-laws over for a meal and I don't even have the menu set yet. GEEEZ I better get off of here and get to it!!!

SO...Happy Easter all...enjoy the time together, munch a few jellybeans....and REJOICE!!!

....festivities, family and freakishness

**Over the weekend we had an awesome time with friends and family as we celebrated Dexter's 5th birthday. Seriously, super super fun!! Having the party at a park with just cupcakes, lemonade and friends makes for a whole lot of playing, enjoying and just a good ol' birthday bash!

...there was abundant amounts of cupcakes eaten, tire swing pushes, high fives, bubbles blown, trees climbed and smiles spread across faces!

...and to top off the night...there's nothing like a supper at 5 Guys Burgers and Fries for our 5 year old guy...and his 5 year old buddy!!

Like I said....SERIOUSLY a super super fun day for the entire family! Brian, yes...Papa, even mentioned on the drive home that this was the best birthday party ever.  I guess I better start thinking of what to do next year NOW...because this one sure will be hard to top!!

*** We are so lucky to have our extended family in town! Brian's sister and her kiddos and hubby are here(and numerous other family members too!) and it's pretty much cousin-pa-looza every minute we are together! These kids are all at the perfect age and have the best relationship that it's like picking up right where they left off last summer. Boys will be boys, big brothers play awesome with all the littles and the cousin goodness overflows!!

...and the fact Grandma and Grandpa have a pool...it's also pool party almost every minute we're together!!

...that is until you need a snack....IN THE POOL...or out at the kid's table (which ever so happily includes parents to dote on the wee littles) which of course is only steps away from the pool!! NOTE: the goggles and swimsuits still on stand by for a quick dip upon finishing supper :)  (CLICK on photos to see them bigger)

It has been so much fun watching these kiddos(and us adults too) play together. I wish we all lived closer together, I really do. I guess we need to work on that. Summers in WI....hmmmm how could that work?? I'd do it in just about a heartbeat!!

*** and because this post is all about random thoughts....how about this.... I've been wondering...is it just me or am I a little freakish for changing out my kitchen hand towel multiple times a day.  Not like twice but like 4 (or more shhhh)times a day?? If it's moist, crumpled on the counter, on the floor, given to me from a child's hand...I toss it in the laundry. I don't know how it got moist, where it's been or what it's wiped.  

I'm not a germ-a-phobe by any means, but towels....that's my thing! Go ahead...just call me a freak! I've come to terms with my towel weirdness....I think. :)

*** OH....I finally knuckled under and bought a pair of skinny jeans....on major clearance at Target of course. I resisted for so long, but $4, FOUR DOLLARS...I couldn't resist!! AND...I've actually wore them TWICE since buying them. Dare I even say that they looked pretty awesome too. Coupled with my red flats from the clothing swap and a repurposed post baby sling turned hipster scarf, of course. Amazing, I know....I'm breaking out of the frumpy mom closet folks!!

***oh and it's berry season!! Our mulberry tree is producing like mad and I know one little guy who couldn't be happier!!

*** and I'm happy to leave you with just a tad more freakishness....check out this "Put your hands in the air" car dance party that we held right in our cozy dance floor of a Mothership!! Looking in that little mirror and seeing little two year old hands in the air makes me laugh out loud every time!! These boys are seat dancing fools!! Wonder where they get that from??? :)

*** and SERIOUSLY....who's the freak that writes a blog post this long thinking that people will actually read the entire thing???  OH YEAH, that's right....IT'S ME!!!

...on birthdays, boys and remembering to breathe

First off....what's on my mind most.....

...that boy....in the front....HE'S FIVE!!! He's still so excited that he reminds me to tell everyone his new age! He asks me almost everyday if he'll get another surprise present....he tries to con me into buying him surprise presents when he's at school so he has something to open when I pick him up.

*** and Pre-School....DANG....it ends at the end of this month! I'm kind of excited to not have to live by the clock, pick up and drop off times, tons of time to spend with my two little noodles doing cool stuff around town....but then again...Dexter and I ....um how do I say....we know how to press each other's buttons. I need to come up with a summer game plan FAST!!! It's going to be fun...but I must get organized.

** oh...yes...I'm so smart, thrifty, tricky and did I mention smart.... Here are Dexter's birthday treats I sent to school...

I had you for a second there didn't I?? NO, I would not send my child to school with 3 dozen eggs for a treat! BUT....I would send 3 dozen mini-cupcake cones complete with sprinkles and jimmies!! NUM NUM NUM!!! And seriously, finding the kid's cones on the same shelf as the big ones was an ever so pleasant and welcome accident. THEN...having them fit perfectly into an egg carton for delivery...yes, now that was sheer genious I tell you! ....and did I mention everyone loved them. I think  the teachers did most because when I handed over the egg cartons (yes they gave me a look) and said "They are cupcakes....they're tiny!" She smiled big and said "SMART, thanks!" SEE...I'm SMART! Even teachers think so :).

*** hmmmm....what else?? Today was our organic produce co-op day and we got strawberries. They were HUGE and delicious. YES, our share is gone! Dexter ate at least 3/4 of the 1 lb container...I had about 3 and Em the same. Sorry Papa...we asked! 

*** They are so cute!! I'm so lucky to have them!! See that little one?... over there with the mouth full of something....probably soda he snuck? Yup, you see him... he's been giving us a run for our money. A little stinker, strutting his two year old self. He's a charmer and the cutest little nugget, but he can throw a tantrum with the best of them. He hates a time out and I have to put him on a stool in the middle of the room!  Dude, I love him to pieces and just look at him ...CUTE (especially with his new big boy hair cut and eating big brother's birthday doughnut)!

*** I took the little bugger and myself to the beach this morning. It was a total spur of the moment thing. I was in a funk! Dropped off the big boy, pulled out of school lot and started driving and ended up at the beach. Since I keep our beach bag and towels in the car all the time, we were set. A little too overcast for swimming, but we did yoga, played on the rocks, explored a grassy nole (just past the tenants only sign...shhhh! REALLY, I just was chasing my little boy out of there....oh what, we aren't supposed to then hang out in the grass and look at the birds?) It was great for the mind and spirit! The air, the water and just following along instead of leading.

*** Now that I've rambled on and on about mostly nothing, and am now thinking this blogging this is way way easier now that I just spill my thoughts out onto the screen....I'll leave you with what cleared my head and got me breathing and thinking this morning. 

 

Remember to breathe this week folks! Life is crazy and doesn't seem to be slowing down so breathe it in.

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air"

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Five times round the sun!

He shook with excitement shortly after waking....we squealed with each gift...and had high hopes for the day!

The day only got better in so many ways! He had multiple present laden visitors, plenty of sweet treats and so many wishes granted.

We love you to pieces little man. The last 5 years has been quite the adventure and you've showed us again and again that you're in it for the fun, the challenge and you will continue to live life just the way you want to!

You're dyn-o-mite buddy...welcome to year 5.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Head over to SouleMama to see more {this moment} posts.