A Post With No Pictures.

It was all in all a really good weekend. The kind of weekend where good things keep on happening and you look around wondering if this is real life. The kind of weekend that will luckily live on in memory because we were having way too much fun to stop and take a picture.

Backyard splash pad. Family movie night.

Swim lessons. The first family grocery trip ever. Picnic lunch at the park watching the ducks, geese, turtle and mermaids. (Painted mermaid figures.) Everyone took a nap. American Pharaoh won the Triple Crown!!! Made only more fabulous by the fact that M picked that as "her" horse at Kentucky Derby. An incredibly incredibly impromptu late night date night.

More naps. Family time. Kelli O'Hara finally winning a Tony Award. (Not a big award show fan but it wasn't bad this year!)

A hugely fun weekend filled with giggles and snuggles. Love it.

Today has started out okay as well. I took the kids to the children's museum and then we played outside in the backyard getting messy and sticky with a chocolate push up. After baths all around we had a lunch and now we're closing in on nap time.

We're on fire and there's no stopping us! I can't wait to see what the next few days will bring.

7 QT: Seeking Solidarity

Who wants to play a game in which I write down all the things I feel weird about and I am hoping there's someone out there who is doing the same? You do? Cool!


1. We left the house every day this week. Not like in playing outside (we did that too of course) but load the kids up, pack a diaper bag, get in the car leave the house. I am DONE.

2. Extended Rear-Facing. C is the only one of his friends still rear-facing. He still has 10 pounds to grow before his seat needs to switch. I KNOW that I am doing the best thing for us and I have the support of my Pediatrician but still... anyone else feel like you have the only kid still facing backwards?

3. I wear my contacts for a ridiculous amount of time, but then when I take them out and wear glasses for a few days I feel so refreshed. I swear that I will change my ways and then... nope. 

4. I cannot be the only one who does this ever? Right? I'm looking at you old acquaintance who spells minute like "minuet" every.single.time with at least 17 hashtags.

5. I know that it's supposed to be so controversial and whatever but I totally want (even now) the Barbie who said "Math Class is tough! Let's go shopping!" Because while I readily applaud all you females kicking butt in the STEM industries I am just sitting over here like: 

6. I just don't understand camping. Like at all. 

7. We watch Wheel of Fortune almost every day. I get irrationally mad when contestants jump up and down SHOCKED and THRILLED when they win $32,000 in the bonus round. Not that it isn't great, but it's the minimum amount for the round. If you ever go on the show... just don't do that. 

Seven takes. Seven things I'd love to find a fellow friend who feels the same! Linking up with Kelly. Happy Friday!!

Mo Fun!

The very last of the birthday presents arrived today.

I Will Take a Nap! By Mo Willems. Seriously you guys, I'm not even going to wax poetic about how wonderful I think Mr. Willems is right now because he apparently wrote a book to be released on the exact day I needed it. 

We tried going no nap but as it turns out C really needs to rejuvenate mid day. So we tweaked, adjusted and finally figured it out. It's a shorter nap at a good time. Only yesterday he revolted. And we are still paying the price. But the book came in the mail as a preorder and I can see it will help us, if only for today. 

What a different world we live in now that I can preorder a book months in advance and it shows up to my door (or Kindle) the day it is available. While I wouldn't trade the experience and exhilaration of camping out for a wristband, then the next evening standing in line to buy the Harry Potter books then running home to read them immediately...there's something to the idea that these days I just sync the Kindle at midnight and there ya go. 

Anyway...we love having another book for our Mo shelf. I highly recommend it. Especially if you have a someone in your life who likes to nap. (Or should.) 

Quick! Some takes! Probably about 7! Definitely 7!

Here we go:

1. I love the Google Doodles. I do. But when the actual Google logo gives me pause... maybe you should dial them back a bit. Seriously. I looked at this for a good 3 minutes the other day before agreeing that it was the actual Google logo. I thought it was a throwback or vintage version.

2. In Preschool News: since I had letter S this week I picked to read a few different Frog and Toad stories so we could talk about Snails, Seeds and Sleds. We water colored snails, planted sunflower seeds and decorated cardboard sleds before "sliding" down the S. (Painters tape in a giant S on the floor.) Rounding out with Strawberries and Sun Chips for snack. It was a fantastic S day.

3. C got a trike from my parents. I put it together all by myself. He is nearly there as far as just taking off. He can pedal but only real slowly at this point. He also got a license plate and a helmet. I think he's pretty cute riding it.

4. I didn't know these existed before his party but they have Minion Pillsbury Sugar Cookies. I have the fondest memories of these cookies when I was a kid. Back when they came in a tube with little notches of where to cut. I am happy to pass on the joy. The Minion Movie comes out in about a month now. We're loving the branded products.

5. The other night M decided bedtime was optional so she hung out with that baby in the mirror and Mom and Dad for a while. But then proceeded to sleep until 6:00 am without waking so... okay then. 

6.. Since I never posted a 7 month picture, here it is:

7. She only looks bald. She actually has long flowing locks. If by flowing you mean the wind can move it. On the top. 

Happy Friday! 

A Very Minion Birthday!

My big guy turned 3 on Tuesday! Tuesday is one of our normal preschool days and we had previously worked it out so we would host on his birthday for a small party. We had the letter S and the idea was to do Silly Minions and S is for Swim. 

But after a beautiful Memorial Day, Tuesday morning was a rainy mess. It down-poured at the exact start of the party. But we had backup plans galore! We started with a Silly Minion  craft which was kind of like Mr. Potato Head on paper. 

 

It went pretty darn well I think. Even though 4 out of 6 kids really don't know anything about Minions they still enjoyed picking out what theirs would look like. 

During the party we were pretty busy so we don't have any pictures of the other activities. But we also read 2 stories about birthdays/parties. We played with yellow and blue spaghetti noodles with spoons to find sea creatures. (It was still somewhat S themed too remember.) We had a dance party with balloons and then also played hot potato with the bananagrams banana. Because, as you may know, Minions love bananas. 

Then it was time for snack. I am SO SO glad I stuck to my guns and planned "preschool snack" and not "party food." Sure we gussied up the table more than normal but we still kept it pretty darn low key with a little bit of party fare. We had: Minion shaped Cheese Nips, Bananas and Minion Brownie Bites.

There were also juice boxes and bottled water as beverage choices. Because Edith has a juice box when she get's to Gru's house.

Just a box of brownie mix baked in a mini muffin pan. (and a few regular sized too) Frosted and then given a mini-marshmallow eye with a mini chocolate chip. They were really inexpensive, easy  to make and tasty!!

The local cheap grocery store brand bottled water just happens to have blue and yellow labels as a happy coincidence. It's where we shop anyway but I think it pulled the table together even more.

The big stuffed animal Minion was holding the treat bag bucket. You can kind of just make it out behind the bah nan ahs! sign.

I am not even kidding when I say literally, as the last guest was getting into their car, the sun came out. So after a lunch and a rest we made good on the chance for the birthday boy to swim. He just loves the water!

We had a pizza party dinner and of course a Minion Cake! He loved his cake and did a really good job blowing out his 3 candle. 

It was a WONDERFUL day spent with family and friends. We were so excited to celebrate our C. 

How Did He Get So Big?

My little boy turned three today. I snuck into his room right at 1:20 like I always do to take his picture.

I will probably continue this until it becomes too creepy but I love it.

We have a low key "party" for school today with a bonus 2 friends. Then other fun things to celebrate my newly minted three year old.

I love you little boy! I love being your mommy and I can't wait to watch you continue to learn and grow.

7 Real Quicks and a Short Dialogue

7 Quick Things About My 7 Month Old

1. Somehow another month has passed and she is actually 7 months old! 
2. She can crawl. 
3. She can pull herself up with a 98% success rate. (With the very beginnings of cruising.)
4. She can get herself down from standing with a 75% success rate. (And climbing.)
5. Loves to eat real food. (Sweet Potatoes, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Oatmeal) 
6. No teeth. Which drastically hinders #5 and her choices.
7. If there is paper on the floor she will find it and eat it. She has a sixth sense about this. 

And then because those were quick and I haven't got any pictures of her for you yet, I give you this funny exchange from my nearly 3 year old. (And expect a post about THAT in the very very near future.)

Back story: C doesn't really eat much meat. Occasionally a cheeseburger. We have been trying to coax him into trying more kinds of meat.

Sunday night before bed we were reading his tiger book and it was talking about how much meat a tiger eats. And that tigers like to eat wild pigs.

Me: Maybe tomorrow you would like to eat a tiger dinner? We could have tiger meat called pulled pork sandwiches. What do you think?

C: Maybe Tigers eat pizza?

Happy Weekend friends!