These Are The Days

The moments.

I know I've talked about this before ... about people stopping you and saying "enjoy it, it goes to fast" in reference to little babies and growing toddlers.  I know recently a wonderful article circulated (I should link but I'm not searching for it right now!) about that very subject.

And although I tend to hear that sentiment in the tough times ... the times I'm wrangling 3 children screaming, crying and jumping out of grocery carts ... I humbly nod my head and give my understanding eyes.  Even though in that moment I'd likely rather pull my fingernails out one by one with vice grips.  However, I tuck those little thoughts and sentiments inside my little brain and pull them out in a moment much more appropriate.

Last night, after a day spent frolicking in the sun and sprinklers all day, the kids crept up one-by-one onto my lap for a snuggle.  There was some squirms and some jockeying for position but after the dust settled, a collective sigh could be heard.

I kissed each freshly washed head, breathed in their smells and hugged hard.  Mike turned the corner at that very moment to find us all deep in a snuggle.  Without my prompt, he grabbed the quick camera and snapped off a few pictures.  And I was grateful.  I was enjoying that moment, soaking them in and remembering.  I was taking the advice of those that have gone before me.  No, it wasn't in the grocery store when my kids are behaving like ANIMALS.  It IS in the quiet moments that I can take that advice to heart.

And soak it all in.  I am blessed.

ps. Noah and Luke had haircuts this weekend ... boo to my baby looking like a big boy. :(

Kickin' the Bucket ...

Well, kickin' off the Summer Bucket List that is!

Daddy had a "late add" to the Bucket list of things to do this summer.  His item to add?  A Flea Market.  I said, "you figure it out and we'll go."  Well sure enough, today was the day.  Did I mention that it is a monsoon here today?  I like to call this one "The day we went to the Flea Market in the monsoon and Noah cried the entire time!"

This Flea Market only happens on the holiday weekends of the summer -- Memorial Day, 4th of July and and Labor Day.  And this place is AMAZING.  Traders, sellers, craftspeople and vintage articles everywhere you look!  LOTS OF TREASURES!  We scanned and spied for treasures through the mud and muck of the rain, only taking cover in the barns when the rain was coming sideways and bringing with it thunder and such! :)

Luke, of course, LOVED IT.  However we had a "hands to yourself" and "we look with our EYES" problem with him.  Bella quickly got cold and jumped into the stroller and Noah ... well ... he was pretty pissed about the whole adventure.  We thought he'd give up the crying, but NO.  We then just started feeding him, as that always seems to work for the dude.

Me?  I thought is was AWESOME!  Treasures and goodies everywhere you looked!  I only wished I had more thoughts in mind of things I "needed" for our home or future projects!

And Mike?  Well if you don't already know Mike is a hoarder.  Not a "certified need to be on the TV show hoarder" ... but he has aspirations. ;)  His eyes were gleaming and his Flea Market dreams were all coming true (except that part about Noah screaming his brains out the whole time).

It was a good adventure.  I might even say great!  Now we know we want to go back, sans rain, in the future!  And, now that I know what kind of treasures exist here, I have room to dream (and scan Pinterest for ideas) and have a list of things I'm looking for next time!

The fun times are just beginning ... it can only get better from here, right? 

Milestone.

There's something special watching your first born crossing the stage to collect her diploma ... from Preschool!  Although it is only Preschool, you still sit in the audience holding back tears that it was only 5 years ago that you heard this teeny baby cry for the first time ... and all that came with that, which for us, was a LOT.  To say we are proud of Bella, is a complete understatement.  Like any parents, we feel that she is over the moon wonderful, gifted beyond measure and practically perfect!  And while she is special in every way, she certainly isn't perfect.  She's just perfect for US.

Here is our little graduate!

The lights were low in the audience and bright on the stage.  Getting a great shot is hard but the school is SO KIND with the parents and allow each child to shine in the spotlight for their moment!  It is really sweet and each kid just glows with excitement!

Afterwards, she ran to her daddy's arms and he gave to a big bouquet of flowers!  She was OVER the moon excited about the flowers ... we say "it's her thing."  That girl LOVES flowers!  And I had my chance to love on her too ...

We wisely got a babysitter for the boys so we could fully enjoy the graduation and give Bella our FULL attention.  Best.Decision.Ever.  Afterwards we celebrated with our Graduate and took her to a nice dinner.  We enjoyed all of our precious time with just her and it felt really special.  Hopefully, we can create this little graduation tradition with each of them in the coming years.

Although time flies too quickly and that tiny baby is already a five year old pre-k graduate ... we celebrate the milestones together and marvel at her/them every step of the way.

Is the summer BIG enough for all of the FUN I have planned?

Bella is over the moon excited about the Summer Bucket List.  Today she said, "tell me again what is on the list mama?!?!"  And we went over the list again, with anticipation brewing in her baby blues.  So sweet (and so able to keep mama accountable!)

Today the kids will come home from school to little treat sacks filled with a few goodies to kick off the SUMMER.  I want them to know that TODAY is our official KICK-OFF to summer and hence, the beginning of our bucket list!  Here is a shot of the sweet swag they are getting ...

Inside?  A watering can, super sweet squirt guns, a bubble machine, lunch kits, noodle blasters for the boat, a frisbee, a horseshoe kit, sidewalk chalk and something else I cannot remember ....  They will be excited!!!!

Here is a glimpse at our list.  I have it displayed in our kitchen on our magnet board.  Super simple, super easy.  I just used pieces of construction paper and wrote out each of the things on our list and drew silly pictures to go along with them ... nothing fancy.

And two other views ...

That little "2012 Summer Bucket List" was just a photo-shop thing I made to put on pictures.  If you want it too, email me! :)

So, here we go ... off to a FUN summer with LOTS planned and much fun in store.  I'll share every bit of it HERE.  The good, the bad and the ugly too.  I always keep it real, of course.  Happy END OF SCHOOL to you too!

 

Summer Bucket List 2012

It’s that time again!!!  Time to make your SUMMER BUCKET LIST!!!!  What?  Haven’t heard about the Summer Bucket List Challenge?  My friends Jenny and Josh Solar launched The Happy Family Movement in 2010 as a way to build and encourage happy thriving families!  Their entire principle and philosophy focuses on making the little things, FUN and celebrating the everyday aspects of life and having a family.

 I COULD.NOT.AGREE. MORE. with their entire philosophy.  I eagerly jumped on board and “liked” them on Facebook and subscribe to their quarterly newsletter.  They offer fun tidbits of info, great links AND great at home kits and projects!

 This is their second summer for the official “Summer Bucket List Challenge!”  The great news is WE CAN ALL JOIN IN!  Sign up HERE to be a part of the challenge AND win great prizes!  Today I’m (PhotoGazelle) is sponsoring the giveaway!  It’s a month of KiwiCrate!!  If you haven’t heard of KiwiCrate or tried it, it’s AWESOME!  A box chock full of fun stuff for you and your kids arrives AT YOUR DOORSTEP!

 I’m going to be joining the challenge and sharing all summer long here on my blog and on Facebook!  The first thing to do is to SIGN UP.  The second thing to do is MAKE YOUR LIST!  I involved my whole family on ours and included ALL of their ideas.  Then, display your list in a creative way!  I just put our items on brightly colored craft paper and put them on our magnet board in the kitchen!  Easy to see and fun reminders!  Last year Ashley made a big poster board and checked items off as the summer went on by … THEN, she made a great photo album of their summer bucket fun!?!? 

 What do you put on a Bucket List?!?!?!?!  ANYTHING!  Our list has simple things for the most part – try 5 news parks, tent out on the deck and hit the beach!  (I’ll be sharing my list tomorrow for our SUMMER KICKOFF with the last day of SCHOOL!!)

 I HOPE you will join me in the Summer Bucket List challenge!  (and I hope you enter to win the great KIWI CRATE giveaway too... wouldn't it be cool for a "PhotoGazelle reader" to win!?!?!)  Let’ me know if you are going to be joining and let me know some items on YOUR LIST!!!  I cannot WAIT to have a fun summer!  Woot woot!!!

 

ten on tuesday, ten sleeps edition

Ten takes from ten sleeps at Gaga’s House.

1. Gaga’s home is substantially bigger than ours … yet when we are there will fill it up in noise and space!  It typically takes about 2 days for everyone to adjust to us being there – kids and parents alike!  At first my dad was counting down the days then slowly that tapered off when he began to get used to us!  We GROW on them! ;)
2. My kids LOVE their grandparents.  Bella her Gaga and Luke his Grampy.  Noah loves his Mommy.
3. My mom and I never run out of things to talk about.  Never.  I would say that it is because we were busy planning and preparing for my sister to Graduate and planning a party but really, that is just how we roll!
4. Sleep is elusive.  In the past everyone has slept like little angels at Gaga’s … and for the first few days they did but somehow the boys forgot that message after 2 days and up by 6am every morning.  Boo.
5. Noah learned to scale the pack-n-play during sleep number 4 or 5.  UGH.  Endless trips putting him back to bed for bedtime and naps began.  I will say it was utterly adorable watching this sweaty little toe head toddle down the stairs after his sleep searching for us.  You take the good with the bad I suppose.
6. My parents (and sister) are so giving and forgiving.  The kids broke more on this trip THAN EVER BEFORE.  That fills me with guilt and angst.  I hardly have a break at home … but then I take the show on the road and wreck the place!?  I told my mom that it might cost us too much to visit again in the future!
7. Pack less and wash more.  I over-packed us.  Traveling in May can be dicey (as we learned last year with Steve’s wedding by NOT packing warm clothes and needing them!) so I packed a few long pants and jackets for everyone that we didn’t touch at all.  I really could have survived with 5 sets of clothes for 10 days and doing laundry along the way. BUT, we also had events to plan for that required “nicer” outfits.  That always presents a challenge.  Oh well, if I hadn’t packed the warm stuff it for sure would have been cold!
8. Managing special diets on the road can be exhausting and expensive.  I try to bring what I can from home but 10 days is a long time.  I did a trip to Trader Joe’s and had just enough to skim by the week.  I had to lax on Luke’s diet a bit to make it through.  However, it helps provide food for the week and that is good since we are there so long!
9. I love my parents.  They are so supportive of my mothering and me.  I couldn’t ask for better.  The love fiercely and reprimand appropriately.  They direct them to me in questionable circumstances and follow my lead in discipline.  I could not be happier with how they love the kids and me.  I suspect as a grandparent that is hard, and my parents do it beautifully.  I will say I am a STRONG advocate for respect to your parents/grandparents/aunts and uncles and what they say GOES…and I support their discipline 100%.

10. One might wonder how you could pull away from the house after staying for 10 days and still be sad … but I was.  And so was my girl.  I guess we both love it more than anything else.  The time makes us long to live nearer to them but the visits are SOOOOO good and fulfilling.  As we left my heart hurt a little bit, but I knew we’d be back (after a nice long break for them to forget how crazy it was!) … and the love will always be there waiting for us!

Happy to be home.  Happy to have had a great time with family.  Happy to sleep in my own bed ... even though my own parents were so generous in sharing all of the beds in her home! :)  Happy Tuesday!

 

True Mom Confession #32

I TOTALLY GET Polygamy.

While in KC for 10 days now preparing for my sister's Graduation, having photo shoots and entertaining the kids ... my mom and I have been tag-teaming on everything from laundry to dishes to childcare to grocery shopping to food prep and MORE!  I'm trying to help relieve my mom of as much stress as I can and keep my stuff and KIDS out from underfoot and from making things MORE stressful.  Not an easy task.

As I was cleaning up yesterday and my mom thanked me I responded ... "I'm just trying to be the best wife I can be to you!  I TOTALLY GET Polygamy."  We nodded in agreement!  YAY for a wife to help out around the house!  It totally ROCKS!!!

ten on tuesday, complete randomness.

1. There is one true way to see your kids as they truly are ... take them somewhere for a long period of time.  In your home you have the ability to cope and mend as you normally function.  On the road, true colors shine.  We've arrived at Gaga's and lost our rose colored glasses and it's the real deal up in these parts.  Schedules are wonky, sleeping is hit or miss and attitudes are a plenty. *sigh*
2. My mom has reminded me 3 times that "you are closer to being 40 ..."  This is when I speak of my wrinkle lines, get up to walk and cannot because of Planter's Fasciitis and think about my baby sister graduating.  I've been really kind and have NOT calulated her age back to her.  Insert pat on the back here.
3. Children, when expected to perform, will almost always not meet  your expectation.  I mean that in photo shoots and in life.  I've experienced BOTH this week.
4. I need to spend MORE time away from my children.  When I Ieave, they crumble a tiny bit.  Noah falls to tears, Bella turns on the whine and "but I'll miss you" and soon Luke follows suit.  This is for an hour or so at a time ... I've decided that I need to leave or step away MORE to remedy the problem.  Now, if only childcare were FREE!
5. Problems and hard days CAN be solved with a Bud Lime-A-Rita.  Crack that can and pour it over ice.  Don't call me when you get addicted. YUM.
6. Time is still measured in sleeps, even when we sleep at Gaga's house.  Before we go it is "how many sleeps until we go?"  And while we are here it is "how many more sleeps at Gaga's?"  OH, and don't forget the birthday sleeps ... we are narrowing those down too!
7. Trader Joes' guacamole is good.  And the sweet corn chili salsa.  Tell them I sent you.  OH, and pair it with the Bud Lime-A-Rita!!!
8. I've scrapbooked for my sister's album more in the last few days than I have for myself in all of 2012. :)  Good creative vibes are good, no matter how you get them!  
9. With that said, I am HAPPY to report I've kept up with my 2012 Shutterfly Project Life album. YAY ME!  It really is super simple and I am sometimes jealous of those crafty hand made albums ... but really, I know this is best.  No tactile satisfaction, but yet still so gratifying.
10. Days are becoming longer ... naps are becoming shorter.  Hmph.  Somehow that math doesn't work out for me!

Happy Tuesday friends.