Beachin' It

Monday is a beach day.

87 degrees on a day off = a hands-down beach day in our book.

It will be Newbie's first OFFICIAL beach day because it will be the first time we attempt the full tilt sunscreen, beach blanket, and cooler adventure with a "let's see how long we can swing this" attitude.  That's right:  We're rockin' out a beach day with a one year old and choosing to believe that if we pursue it in the name of family memories and kick-off-the-summer-fun, it won't be a massive FAIL.

Newbie's been out to the lake before, but never the big lake. 

Never the sand. 

Never the real deal "pack yourself a lunch and soak yourself in sunscreen and splash along the shore for hours and hours" beach day.

Wish us luck.

And don't worry.  We're bringing hats.  And shade.  And sunscreen.  And possibly even a portable fan I found at Hobby Lobby.  (The Hob Lob has always been good to me in the random summer accessory department.)

-----------------------------

Have a happy Memorial Day, and a huge thank you to all the men and women, friends, and family who have served and continue to serve in the US armed forces.  We are so blessed by the freedom you have fought to give us.

A Toothy Little Grin

Lately we've been wading knee deep in the teething trenches, and let me tell you something: it ain't for the faint of heart.

Whining all day.

Whining all night.

The eyes and nose crunch where Newbie cranks everything together in one twisted facial scrunch that just screams "GET THESE TEETH OUTTA HERE!" (See above photograph.)

We've seen it all. 

To further express his agony, Newbie employs the use of his new tantrum trick where he bends over and plants his head on the ground forming a little arch with his teensy body, then he really lays on the whining.  For the past two weeks he's done this when I tell him no or when he doesn't get his way with something. It was relatively funny because it was the first time he's ever outright protested anything, and it gave the Hubs and I a good chuckle as we explained why its not OK to play with the laptop power cord.  But when he's throwing a fit like that out of sheer frustration because his little mouth hurts so bad, it just breaks my heart. 

So we snuggle.

And we cuddle.

And we read some books.

But bless his heart, sometimes there just isn't anything that gets his mind off of how crummy he feels.

It makes one wonder if this whole teeth-growing thing is altogether worth the trouble. 

Then, out of nowhere, out pop two pearly whites. 

Then another two. 

And all of the sudden a gummy little smile has turned into a toothy little grin, and you realize the pearls are worth the price.

Because there's nothin' like a tiny toothy smile on a one year old.

...even if it is a little bit of a cranky smile. =)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, friends!

The day I legitimately could not do laundry and other glorious things

Don't you love when you run out of laundry detergent and you can literally say that you CAN'T POSSIBLY do the laundry?

And doesn't it just get better when you have to put off grocery shopping one more day and therefore have to skip out on laundry AGAIN?

It. is. awesome.

And it is my reality.  Yesterday and today.  I legitimately can't do laundry, and I'm loving it.

Yesterday Newbie and I called up his grandma and asked her to hit up the gardens with us.  Newbie loved hanging out in the sun and had a ball playing with the boats while running barefoot and fancy free.   We had a really fun afternoon together, and Newbie took a super-awesome nap when we got home.  Win win!

Remember when I mentioned Newbie and I went over to G-Mama and Grandad's last Friday? 

(Some ingenius person decided to pull a Survivorman and eat himself a dandelion to ward off pre-dinner hunger pangs.  Like, pluck it from the yard, stick it in his mouth, chew, and swallow.  Oh yes, that happened.  This, my friends, is just one of the many reasons why my dad is so cool.)

We're going for round two tonight, but we're bringing the Hubs along for some Texas style fajitas- YEEHAW!

In other news, Aunt Corndog and Uncle J are having a fabulous time at Disney World, minus a car that wouldn't start yesterday.  (Boo!)

(I've never been able to figure out how she swiped both the pretty and the skinny from the family gene pool, but I'm here to tell you, it ain't fair, baby.)

It's a good thing Aunt Corndog has this fond memory of Newbie hugging her goodbye to think back on as the tow truck hauled their car away last night.

He's nothing if not making endearing memories before bedtime.

Tonight the Hubs and I are getting caught up on The Biggest Loser finale.  Thank you, hulu.com. DON'T TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!  We are SO excited to see who wins and what all of our faves looked like at the finale.  I tell you what, those sisters had me sobbing like a baby the last three episodes.  The Hubs just looks over and laughs at me.  I try not to hold his emotional constipation against him.

Well, I'm off to not do some laundry.  Which means I'm probably in line for some seriously good rounds of "dump out all these toys and then dump them again" or "lets see what happens when we flush the toilet four times in a row".  Newbie knows how to have a good time, folks! 

Y'all have a happy Wednesday!

We love us some green grass and sunscreen

Oh, the weekend we had! 

It involved lots of green grass and sunscreen and even a trip to DQ.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Last week was so busy for my little family that we were more than happy to plunge head first into a fun weekend together. 

Friday:
Friday the Hubs worked late, so that afternoon Newbie and I met up with G-Mama and went to the nursery to get some flowers for her yard.  I almost threw a hissy fit when I got out of the car and realized I had forgotten my camera.  It doesn't get much better than a one year old in plaid overalls running in and out of rows and rows of flowers, and I don't trust my memory to hold on to the adorable picture of him kicking his legs in the cart as we wove in and out of shelves and shelves of flowers.  He *loved* it, and I am determined to go back and snag some pictures when the Hubs and I go to get some flowers for the backyard.  It was such fun to watch my boy enjoy doing something I have always adored doing with my mom.  Gardening is just a fabulous time, no matter which way you slice it.

After flower shopping, it was back to Grandad and G-Mama's house for some fun out in the yard and some BBQ chicken.  Grandad and G-Mama know how to show Newbie a good time!

Saturday:
The Hubs had the whole weekend off, so we spent Saturday out on the town snagging some items for our vacation in a few weeks and getting Newbie his first bike helmet.  We've been itching to try out the little bike trailer he got for his b-day, and we had to get the right accessories so our little man could ride in style. Daddy-O treated us to lunch at the mall and then took us back home in time for naps all around.  Saturday night we had a quick dinner and met up with Aunt Corndog and Uncle J to pass out a couple hugs before they left for Disney World.  Newbie LOVES his aunt and uncle, and I'm sure he'll be devastated in a few years when he is old enough to know they took off for Disney World without him. =) 

Sunday:
We started off with early service at church where Newbie boycotted nursery like it was his job.  It was awful.  He didn't even stop crying when I stormed the nursery gate and went in there to play with him.  Ugh.  So we went into "big church" to worship together and then slipped out as the sermon started before Newbie started squawking over our pastor's voice.  We'll try again next week and hope for better results with Round 9!

After church we zipped over to the ballpark to have a picnic lunch before heading in for the game with our friends Mr. B, Miss A, and sweet Baby B.  We had such fun with these good friends, though the boys didn't last for long.  I think we made it through the bottom of the 4th before the raging heat chased us all back to the AC in our cars.

A few of those pictures crack me up because you can tell the little boys were just begging for some naps and AC! Ha! This one really says it all...T-minus 2 seconds before we threw in the towel:

("Are we seriously still here?!"......why is this picture sideways??? I can't get it to flip- sorry!)

Newbie was wiped out after the game, but a poor transition from carseat to crib left us with a tired sunscreened baby who didn't want to nap.  Totally my bad.  Never, NEVER should have tried to change that diaper mid-nap.  Boo! 

Whats a mama and daddy to do when its 80 degrees outside and the baby boy won't nap? Why, strip the baby down to his diaper and toss him and the puppy out in the yard with a water table, of course! 

Newbie thought the water table was an absolute riot on the heat.  He splashed and hauled toys out of the table and over to Opie and back again.  He must have made 40 laps around the backyard before the afternoon was over.  He got a kick out of carrying buckets of water over to Opie to drink, and he loved trying to squirt his daddy with the canon in the water table. 

By the time we headed back inside, we decided it was the perfect afternoon to skip a nap. =)


Dinner was a less-than-perfect homemade BBQ chicken pizza.  I can't determine what went wrong other than the fact that our cooking sheets from college could probably stand to be replaced.  Because the cookie sheet was so worn, I lined it in foil and BOY HOWDY was that a bad idea.  Cheese, chicken, green pepper and aluminum on that pizza, sir?  No problem. You've come to the right place.  Yuck!

Last night Newbie crashed super early and the Hubs and I had our first movie night in a long time. the Hubs made a DQ run for Oreo blizzards and we had ourselves a grand 'ol time. Then we hit the hay early because there's nothing like a long weekend playing in the sun to wipe you out. 

This afternoon Newbie is still busy recovering from his long weekend.  He's taken two naps today, and it's only 1:30.  I think the little guy might be working on his two front teeth because he's been a little out of sorts today.  The sooner he pops a few more pearly whites, the sooner he gets to chomp on some cookies, so the more the merrier!

We have a busy week ahead.  We're kitty sitting for the sibs while they hang out with Mickey, and we're planning on trying to dodge the rain and squeeze in a couple play dates despite the chance of showers throughout the week.  For now, I'm off to switch out the laundry that was neglected all weekend...oh yes, big plans today.  Big plans.

Happy Monday!

Everyday *LOVE*

L.I.F.E

(Crashed in our bed on a warm May morning...AM snuggling is the best!)

(Newbie sporting his new swim suit before swimming lessons Thursday morning.)

(Givin' his mama some love.)

(Oh, hi, guys.  Business as usual, huh?)

(There are about 30 health code violations going on here.  Typical.)

(This is what 10 minutes playing with a candle and a glue gun will get you.  At one point I heard myself ask the Hubs: "Can you get me a bowl of water in case something goes awry here?  ...Like, now? Because I'm pretty sure I've caught on fire three times." He loved it.  Naturally.)

(The boys getting in touch with their inner artiste.)

(Shortly after this picture was taken, Newbie and I had a spit bubble blowing contest.  Because that's whatcha do when you're mothering a boy: You blow spit bubbles, and it is more than fun. We locked eyes and blew spit bubbles across the table from one another until the fun became too much for us and his smile bubbled up into his eyes and we both burst out laughing.)

I am in love with the everyday.

Head over heels in love with it.

Happy Friday, friends!

The Quiche

I am here to announce that I made my first quiche this morning.

I feel like its some right of passage I finally accepted.

Or like I've arrived as a wife and mother.

A quiche, people.

A quiche!

TA DA!!!

The middle was even fully cooked.

It was delicious.

The Hubs went back for seconds.

That is saying a lot for a woman who burned two grilled cheese sandwiches yesterday and usually sticks to pancakes or cereal for breakfast.

=)

Happy Thursday!!!

My day. In letters.

Dear Today,

Though you started off a little early, you redeemed yourself with a mid-morning nap for Newbie and I. Thank you. 

And I have to say I was discouraged by the gloomy weather outside until I realized a rainy day is the perfect excuse to bake some peanut butter cookies.

Thankyouverymuch,

Me
*****
Dear Peanut Butter Cookies,

I love you.

Yours truly,

Me
*****
Dear Self,

You rock for taking out the trash and the recycling in the Hubs' absence today.  Because you know what?  That was seriously disgusting, and you dominated that three-days-over-due garbage bag.  Rock on, sister.

xoxo,

Me

PS- You DOMINATED that late-night-diaper-oh-crud-we-are-out-of-wipes situation.  Operation Midnight Stink Bomb Sans Adequit Hygienic Tools: Accomplished. 
*****
Dear Women Who Take Out the Trash on a Regular Basis,

I salute you.

That is one nasty job, and you, my friends, are awesome. 

Admirably,

Me
*****
Dear Gymboree,

Thanks so much for the awesomesauce sale last week. I have had my eyes on the marlin swim set for three months now, but I've been holding out for such a sale as this.  Newbie's seven dollar swim trunks and rash guard came in the mail today, and they are exactly what I have wanted since February...and less than half the price!

Happily,

Me
*****
Dear Aunt Corndog,

You saved the day with the buggy ice pack you gave to Newbie several months ago.  We busted it out for the first time today after he took a spill on the stairs and sliced his bottom lip on his (two!) front teeth.  It was no fun to see blood pooling in his little mouth while he wailed and wailed.  The cute ice pack, however, did offer some comfort (and kinda gave me the creeps).

 Before long he was back at it chasing Opie...

...and even returning to the scene of the crime to finish what he started: putting Opie's toy up on the steps where his furry friend can't reach.

xoxo,

Me
*****
Dear Hubs,

How do you feel about me digging through your scrap wood pile this afternoon and man-handling the cordless drill all in the name of cute Do-It-Yourself home decor?

Get back to me asap.  Because that's happening.

love love love,

Me
*****
Dear Dairy Queen,

It's been a long day.  Do you deliver?

Regards,

Your Biggest Fan
*****
Dear Potential Home Buyers,

Stop holding out on us.  Why don't you mosey on over here and buy this humble abode already?  She's a beaut!  We'll even throw in a complementary puggle.  Serious.

Still Waiting,

Me
*****
Dear Opie,

I was totally kidding about selling you with the house.  Still, the break-the-huge-glass-lampshade scenario?  Not cool, man.  Totally not cool.  If you had pose-able thumbs I would have made you vacuum all the shrapnel.  Instead it was me.  And it took two days.  And it was not a good time.

You lucky stiff.  You got out of the aftermath this time...but don't think you're not mopping up the next unfortunate "accident" in the kitchen should you choose to forgo the outside restrooms again any time soon. Because I am not doing that again.

I love you.  Really.

Me
*****
Dear Mom,

When is school out?  I miss having you to play with every day.  It's been 9 months already.  Let's get on with it. The beach is calling our name.

Bored and lonesome at nap time,

Me
*****
Dear Vacation,

How many more sleep-agains until you are mine?

I miss you.  I want you. I need you.

Longingly,

Me
*****
Dear Readers,

You rock my socks off.

Remember when that was cool to say?  Yeah, I still say it.  I also still say "hankerin'," and I have a feeling that one dates back to the stone age.  Or maybe that one never even hit the cool status.  Regardless, I like to rock it out every once in a while anyway because [insert profound reason to justify using out-of-date vocabulary and catch phrases here] I'm nothing if not slightly quirky.

I hope you have a dandy Thursday Wednesday (how is it only Wednesday?) and a fabulous evening!

Signing off,

Me
*****

It's raining books...helves

Yesterday morning I woke up at 5 am.  It was hot. Newbie had managed to hitchhike a ride to our bed at 4 am because it was so warm in his room. I love snuggling, but not when its roasting hot or when I'm trying to sleep and chubby little feet are kicking me in the shoulder. On one side was the clock silently telling me it was 5 am, and on the other was a little boy, face relaxed, head resting against his daddy's arm, and legs sprawled all over his mama's side of the bed.

So I threw in the towel.

I got up and had a granola bar and cleaned the house.

That. Happened.

When I had finished, it was 6:30 and both boys were still asleep upstairs, so I pulled out the laptop and started plotting.

Fast forward five hours later, and we were checking out of the Home Depot with a 10 foot vinyl gutter and some big plans.

Safe to say the Hubs will never sleep in again. I need supervision in the early morning hours.  My mind is too fresh at 6 am, and the creative juices are just sure to start flowing.

Which explains the rain gutter bookshelves that are now assembled in the playroom!

(A little catewhompus?  Perhaps.  But I like to think it gives them character...)

I'm not going to say the process wasn't painful.  "I really don't want to put anymore holes in this darn wall" may or may not have been said multiple times in the course of the installation, but the Hubs pressed on, and Newbie's got a couple of fun new bookshelves.

The mom in me loves these because they are cute and fun and they were less than 20 bucks.  The teacher in me loves them because they are accessible and make it easy for Newbie to see his books and explore them more frequently.  Win win, baby.

Newbie is such a bookworm and is always dumping his books out to sort through them and look at the illustrations.  I've got a hunch he's going to adore seeing his books on display at his height.  So, so stinking fun! 

And now for the how-to:

I've heard of this idea since I was in college- Lots of future teachers swapping ideas and all of us just itching to make a rain gutter classroom library someday. Then I found several pictures online this morning by googling "rain gutter bookshelves," and that's when I decided today was Home Depot day. 

We bought one 10 foot gutter (for $5.23!) and had one of the Home Depot dudes cut it up in to two three foot and one four foot pieces.

We also bought four end caps for our two shelves.  Those were the priciest pieces of the whole sha-bang, ringing it at 3 bucks each.

Then we bought a few tacos at Taco Bell.  (The Hubs works better on a full stomach.)

We used some extra screws the Hubs had from previous projects, but if you're not into the whole keep a stocked workbench thing, you'll need a few screws....in my opinion, any over an 1 1/4 inch should work.  But that's totally ballparking it.  Ballparking home decor projects works for me.  It may not work for you.  So don't get over zealous.  Ask your Home Depot dude first if you're feeling uneasy about using a ballpark estimate. I certainly won't hold it against you.

Next, I sat back on the couch and let my husband install them. 

But I took notes, just for you.

He sat back and listened to where I wanted the shelves placed.  Then he used a pencil pen (oops) to mark the top of the shelf on the wall, double checking with a small level to make sure they were straight.  But I'm telling you right now, if it had been me at the helm, I woulda just eye-balled it.  Because I am all about the ballpark home decor projects.

Then he used some molly bolts to put some seriously large holes in the plaster walls before finally abandoning those and embracing his wife's ballpark/wing it approach.  Then he used about four screws for each shelf and drilled them in right through the plastic of the gutter about an inch from the top edge and into the wall.  Truth be told, molly bolts are a great idea because they'll provide substantial support in heavy book situations, but they are not ideal when your house is 100 years old and sporting walls made of plaster.  Ahem.

Then he just popped the end caps on each end of the gutters and said, "WAH LAH!"

And I jumped up and down with a delightful combination of literary and interior decor enthusiasm and began filling the new shelves with all of Newbie's board books. 

And that, my friends, is how it is done!  Super quick, super easy! If you'd like to check out a more detailed tutorial, I found this one online. You know, in case you're not a fan of the ballpark it approach. =)

After Newbie checked out his new shelves (which he LOVES), it was time to break out the water table...



Opie and Newbie had a good time. Newbie reaches into the table, grabs a toy, tries to feed it to Opie, Opie runs into the house with it, Mama chases after him.  Rinse and repeat.  Over and over and over again.

Then we had to mow the yard.

After all the toys had been chewed on and the lawn had been mowed, we packed up a dinner-to-go and headed over to my high school's varsity rugby game.  The Hubs was stoked, and I was looking forward to a fun night outside with my boys. The weather was great and it was fun to see some rugby for the first time in a while.

Newbie spent the first half like this:

And he spent the entire second half like this:

He was cheering his little heart out- yelling at the boys on the pitch and clapping his hands.  When he wasn't cheering, he was waving at the fans around us.  It was so fun to watch him get into it and cheer on our team.  I think we might have a sports enthusiast on our hands. =)

Today Newbie and I are off to do some shopping for our trip to the cottage in a few weeks.  Somebody needs a swimming pool and a bigger pair of flip flops.  I love baby feet in flip-flops...

...and his little piggies are almost hanging over the edge of these. Which is funny because they were big for him when I bought them a couple months ago.  He's sprouting up fast!  We had his 12 month well child appointment this week (I called a little late and couldn't get him in around his b-day) and he checked out A-OK, measuring 50th percentile for height and weight.  A whopping 22 pounds!  I can't believe how much he's grown. 

So it's off to Old Navy for some flip-flops today.  I love a good trip to Old Navy.  And I really love two dollar flip-flops. =)

Happy Weekending, friends!