Favorite Things

Here are a few of my FAVORITE THINGS from the month of May!

1.  Charlie's End of Year Teacher Gifts

I love this little goody basket. (Basket from the $1 section at Target.)  If your kids are still in school and you need a teacher idea you can find the printable here.

Charlie's 1st and last day of preschool.  What a sweetie he is.  Crazy the difference 9 months makes.  I am sure he will ask me, one day, why I let him go out of the house with a crazy haircut.  I will have to be completely honest with him and remind him that once he turned 2 he turned into a complete nut case whenever he saw a pair of sheers.

2.  This movie

I know I've already talked about it, but I really do love a movie that hits all my emotions.  This one did just that.  I can't get the adoption scene out of my mind.  Jennifer Lopez's character (love me some JLo) and her husband travel to Ethiopia to adopt a baby.  I sobbed while the child's caregiver presented the baby to his new parents. That scene definitely goes down in my "favorite scenes" folder. 

3.  This picture   

The boys have reached the stage where they play together, and I love it.  They are fully focussed on a truck episode of Bubble Guppies in this picture.  

4.  These flowers

My summer project!  And I'm keeping them alive...which is a pure miracle.  Hydrangeas are some of my favorite flowers and I love seeing them everyday.

5.  My newest pair of shoes

If you need a summer shoe, you need to get a pair of Jack Rogers.  They last forever and go with everything!  

During the month of June make note of your favorite things.  I'm thinking about doing a link up for your Favorite Things. (Last "week" day of the month)  Anything counts and you can have as many "things" as you want!

Jan, Feb, March, April

 

Memorial Day Weekend

We visited my family for Memorial Day weekend.  Somehow this is the only picture I took, but what a cute one it is!  I successfully got one shade darker than pasty this weekend and am still on a sugar high from all the chocolate cake, Lucky Charms, and Star Crunch I ate.  I also got whooped in a Friends trivia game, laughed at Siri's answers to ridiculous questions, and saw What to Expect When You're Expecting.  The movie was kinda awkward in the beginning but I ended up loving it.  All of the emotions highlighted in the film were spot on and really pulled at my heartstrings by bringing up all kinds of memories.  I definitely cried and heard sniffles all down the aisle.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

 

7 Months of Sweetness

This little guy is 7 months today.  I seriously can't get enough of him.  Look at those cheeks!!

Lately, whenever Walker starts to cry, I'll tickle him on his little squishy thigh or right under his arm, and he will SQUEAL with laughter.  It's probably the best thing I've ever seen.

Walker is rolling all around and gave me a sneaky look the other day as he pushed his knee forward to scootch towards a toy.  (He doesn't want me to think he's too independent...he's perfectly happy sitting on Mommy's hip.)

Walker has become Charlie's little buddy and they have the best laughs together.  I can't wait to see their friendship develop even stronger.  We love you, Walker!

 

Big Money

You know those car dealership ads that you get in the mail and usually just throw away?  The ones that say "You could win a car or BIG money!"  Well, last week I was feeling kinda lucky and scratched off the code to see that I was a winner.  (oh yeah!)  I decided that is was about time I won $25,000, so I took me and my crazy self down to the car dealership to collect my earnings.  I'm being so serious...I really did this.  And took my dad with me because, hello(?!) I needed an escort to the bank with all the cash I was going to get.  

The man handed me a Wal Mart gift card.  Okay...I can work with this.  Free diapers for life!!!  Called to check out my balance.

$3.

Really?  Not even $5?  Thanks for putting my kid through college, Car Dealership.

 

Alternative to Helium....

I am a huge fan of balloons, so this helium shortage is kinda cramping my style.  My friend had a baby shower this weekend, and although I couldn't attend because of a prior commitment, I did put these little centerpieces together for her party!  I thought they turned out to be pretty adorable.  I originally filled the vases with tissue paper but the paper was crumbly looking and I couldn't even handle it.

I am in love with polka dot balloons, (here and here), and get mine from The Party Shop in Cameron Village.  

 

There's No Place Like Home

Me and my sibs surprised my mom with a dinner on Monday for her birthday.  She was excited, but I don't think she was totally surprised, because none of us are very good at keeping secrets from her.  

We also got together last night to see Wicked, and my voice has cracked about 10 times this morning from honestly thinking I could pull off Defying Gravity.  We sat so close to the stage I could smell the actors (who oddly smelled like a sweaty Krispy Kreme doughnut).  This was my 3rd time seeing Wicked, and it never gets old.  The level of talent was insane and I do love being in the presence of fiercely talented people (hair toss, hair toss).  

 

Pop of Color

Top:  Express/ Skirt:  Old Navy/ Necklace:  Target

I feel like Ricky Bobby when I take pictures by myself because I'm so used to holding a baby, and have no clue what to do when my arms are empty.  I'm a big fan of statement necklaces and think that this one does the trick.  When I bought this necklace I thought I would only be able to wear it with a few outfits, but the coral has surprised me and somehow goes with everything.  I have my eye on another necklace and would ask for it for a belated Mother's Day present, but did I mention I got a summer trip to NYC?!

30x30 challenge   

 

Bachelorette Thoughts....

Could I BE any more excited about this season of the Bachelorette?

Well, I was until I saw the opening. 

Snooze alert.

Anyways...here are my predictions for her top 3.

And here are some of my random thoughts throughout the episode....

I almost don’t like her for doing this.....  A young daughter who has never known her dad, and she’s putting her dating life out there for the whole world to see. 

The pic of Emily and her daughter that shows up on every commercial is super creepy.

Her house?  Her car?  Single mom?  Thank you father in law Hendricks!!

Kalon.  “modern southern gentlemen”  Not my first impression.  Reminds me of Frank from Allie’s season.

All the guys are super well dressed. 

David.  Singer/Songwriter.  Awesome song  :/ ("Emily, oh Emily")  Kinda reminds of this one. 

Except Elmo did it a billion times better.

There’s a CHARLIE!!!  Good thing he’s sweet and has a bull dog because he is kind of unattractive.

Arie.  Racecar driver.  Super good looking.

Emily's welcome dress is absolutely stunning. 

Doug(!)  with the 11 year old kid.  Love their conversation.

Jef.  Like with one f?  You do realize that she is a mother and is wondering who is going to pick that skateboard up?  Get yourself together.

Stevie.  You and Jef.  Do you realize she does not want a child?

The guy with the slippers.  Is that a Manolo?  Prada?  Get that mess away from her.

Are you watching this season or were you too traumatized from Ben's mess up?  Who are your picks?!

 

You Know You're a Boy Mom When...

1.  Your minivan is most likely on stalk alert for driving around the fire station

 every day....

slowly.....

multiple times.

2.  You see trucks being pushed around in laundry baskets instead of babies in strollers.

3.  You really have no need for a broom....

4.  You roll your eyes every time you go into Gymboree, because really only 5% of their clothes are for boys.

(The clothes in the window?  Yeah, that's pretty much all they have for boys)

5.   You paint with cars and trucks instead of with paintbrushes :-)

6.  You say "train tracks" or "dump truck" or "construction site!", and point, even when no one is in the car with you.

Source

And...

7.  Your bath tub is often used as a car wash.

I love being these boys' mom!

 

Happy Mother's Day

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

~Abraham Lincoln

(No, this is not Walker dressed up in a pink bonnet and dress.)

To my beautiful, kind, and compassionate mother, a woman who exemplifies all the qualities I hope to have one day, Happy Mother's Day!

 

Playroom Makeover

I am in the process of turning what used to be a little study nook

...into a playroom/guest room.

I still have a long way to go, but I'm getting there.  Our bedroom had so much unused space, so it now has become the master bedroom/office.

Here is the progression of the playroom and the add ons to my to-do list.

Aren't these desks great?  They were mine and my brother's when we were little.  I tried the writing on the wall idea found here, but to say it looked terrible is an understatement.

I found this chair at the thrift store for $3.  Would have been a great deal if I didn't spend triple that trying to find the right spray paint color.

Noel used a kit for hanging pictures and put this up in a few minutes. 

Hopefully within the next couple of months I can get everything completed!

Have a fantastic weekend!

 

A Song For You...

25 seconds of absolute cuteness.  He will never let me video him for too long.  Always wants to see what's going on behind the camera.  I love it when he sings.

 

It Takes a Village....

This weekend was insane...but so fun.  

On Friday night, we went to Noel's best friend, Zach's rehearsal dinner.  

I then drove straight to Greenville (2 hour drive) to spend the night with my brother and sister. 

 On Saturday morning, I went to my brother's graduation, and drove straight back home to give my boys a kiss and head off to the wedding.

While driving, I couldn't stop thinking about how it really does take a village to raise children.  My mother in law and father in law kept the boys for the wedding festivities, and my new found friend, Lindsey kept the boys while I was at the graduation and Noel was doing groomsmen stuff.  (Lindsey is the wife of another groomsmen and so graciously offered at the rehearsal dinner to keep the boys the following morning.  How awesome is she??)  I'm so glad the boys have so many people who love them and want what's best for them...so grateful for my village.

Kara and Zach's wedding was insanely beautiful.  {Pinterest, eat your heart out!}  This couple really is a match made in heaven.  They had the cutest favor bags full of a s'mores kit.  After dinner, they set up a s'more station to make your treats!  Another cute idea was the seating chart arrangement.  They had a framed chicken wire piece with your name and table number clothes pinned to the wire.  

My brother the graduate!!  We caught him on the big screen!  I love the picture on the right....he's looking at the paper, thinking "THIS is what I get for graduating?  Thanks."

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!