July Ends

I always get a little sad when the last week of July rolls around. In a few days, it will be August and then it's just a few short weeks until the beginning of the school year. And I know I'm spoiled with having my husbino home for the summer, but it's tough when he goes back to work. We just miss having him around. I know, cry me a river. So we've been making the most of our days by finding a nice mix of being around the house and also keeping busy outside the houses. 

Saturday we went to a wedding and also purchased some new phones. My old phone had died and I was stuck with a mini slider phone that even with my tiny fingers, was hard to text with. 

So we upgraded to the maximus and have some pretty fly phones. I got an iPhone 5!! I've been wanting one forever and I am very happy with it! My coolness factor is so high right now,  and then I realize it's been a few days since my last shower. 

Sunday I sat outside on BLVD's patio with my girl Ellen and we chatted and got caught up, because it had been awhile. The patio was gorgeous with some beautifully potted plants. How come mine never look like this:

Today we packed up the mom-van and brought the boys to the Children's Museum of MN for their first visit ever. There is a Dora the Explorer exhibit, and if there is one thing my 2 year old son loves is Dora! Although he has been much better, there was a time when the first thing out of his mouth in the morning was, Dora?! 

It was a lot of fun running watching Everett explore. And even Deacon got in on the action too. 

There was only one HUGE melt down at the water tables, but other than that, I would say for a 2 year old and a 7 month old they kept it together and had fun. 

First time drinking out of this amazing thing called a Drinking Fountain. It was a big deal. 

I can't be any happier and peaceful.

I feel so artistic

D & B 

"No, No ships"

Swiper you suck.

Pleased to meet you goddess and love of my life.

One with nature.

Back Stroke

Twinsies! 

St. Paul is better.

We of course HAD to go to Cossetta's for pizza while we were in St. Paul. I was telling my husband that when I used to live in St. Paul I probably ate there once a week. And although I love living out in the sticks now, I sure do miss my St. Paul life sometimes and mostly for the food!

We have a couple other adventures lined up for the week and then it's off to Michigan in a couple of weeks for our annual visit all our favorite people adventure!!! 

Makeover!

I gave my little ol' blog a makeover! It was much needed because I think I've had the same header for a few years now? I can't even remember the last time I've changed it up.
Speaking of makeover, I personally am in need of a makeover. You know when you wake up and your hair has been in the same bun it was in from two days ago... and you still leave it in that same bun? Yep. Makeover time! 

My hair is long and curly but mostly frizzy. I wear it up in a bun Ever. Single. Day. Mostly because I have a 7 month old who likes to grab a hold of it and rip it out. But also because, what else do I do with it??? It has no style. 


As you can see from this pic, my hair just hangs there with a lot of frizz to boot! 

What I am thinking about doing is going a lot shorter with cute layers. And also maybe some color on those locks would revive it a bit??? 


Sooo... I love this hair color: 

obaz

And this cut:

 AMF

Or even this short... (Doesn't D.J. look smokin'?!!)

posh24

Now I just need to go and do it! Wish me luck, and I'll post some pics when I get the new look! 

Road Trip Ready!

Every year for the past three summers we have taken a trip to visit family and friends in Michigan for several weeks.

(image from Zazzle)

And every year we our family grows and grows. With two kids we have twice the stuff to bring along now. 
Let me break it down what we will be travelling with this year 

3 Suitcases
1 Pack n' Play
1 Rock n' Play sleeper 
1 bin of toys
1 diaper bag
1 stroller
2 car seats
1 toddler
1 infant
and a partridge in a pear tree.

So one thing we are looking for when it comes to buying a new mini van is something with lots of extra storage space. I really like that the Kia Sedona has Split Fold-In-The-Floor 3rd Row seats. You can put the seats up or down depending on how much room you need for cargo\people. And right now we need a lot of cargo room for all our stuff. 
We also like that the Sedona offers a navigation system. Sometimes it's just so much easier to drive if you don't always have to look down at your cell phone or map. 
They also have this amazing feature called the Conversation Mirror, it gives parents the opportunity to monitor everything going on in back. Much needed for our little guys. 
And of course we love all the Safety features the Sedona offers. Gotta keep our kiddos safe! 

(Image from Edmunds)

We are excited to hit the road and see all our favorite people! There are so many memories we make each year and so our adventure awaits! 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

7 Months!

One more month older for our sweetie pie! Last Friday Deacon had to have surgery to repair a birth defect. Thankfully everything went very well and since it was out patient surgery, he was able to come home the same day. He is healing nicely and is almost always smiling. We love our little love bug so much! 

Animal Books 2 Year Olds Love

We read a lot of books are our house. There are piles upon piles and stacks upon stacks. It's just so much of who we are as a family and we are hoping to raise readers too. I get a lot of books at garage sales and thrift stores, but I always pick up a few at the library too. Books get rotated in and out, and one minute you're in and the next minute you're out. It's  tough to be a book in our house. Everett, our resident two year old  has a few favorites he wants to hear over and over... and over! All these books are quick reads with fun illustrations and lots of animals! 
What are your favorite animal books? We are always looking for more to read! 

Moose Tracks by Karma Wilson

Bear and Bunny Grow Tomatoes by Bruce Koscielniak

Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood

I am a Bunny by Ole Risom, Richard Scarry

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Mouse by Audrey Wood

But Not the Hippopotamos by Sandra Boynton

Spot's Birthday Party by Eric Hill

Ducks in Muck by Lori Haskins

4th of July Frolics

We had busy days leading up to the Fourth. Baby shower, cousin park outings, visits from former co-workers with baby in tow, BBQ with my besties from high school and a hotel stay with the Vlachs on the 4th. 

Photo Credit: Elward Photography
Everett and Teddy, cousins on the move

Piya, Kelly & Everett
Photo credit: vlach photography
Who forgets their camera when the boys have their first hotel outing and pool experience? this girl.  

Overall the boys did great sleeping in the hotel room with us, but they had the most fun in the pool. Deacon was in his element and Everett was brave jumping off the side of the pool. One of my biggest fears are my kids being afraid of the water. We are mermaids... mer-MAN, mer-MAN!

Happiest Baby on the Block
P.S. shortly after this pic was taken, he had a huge diaper blow out. It was so bad, I had to cut the onesie off of him.
No big deal.

July Love

You go to my head with a smile that makes my temperature rise, 

like a summer with a thousand Julys... 

Our morning...

Hands down, July is my favorite month of the year. It just reeks of magical summer awesomeness. Sunshine, water, lazy days, ice cream, picnics, barefeet, BBQ, s'mores, late nights, cold drinks, hot heat. LOVE. 

We made our bucket list of summer things we want to do. My husband is done with summer school and has the next two months off. The boys are at a fun ages where they can go places and be pretty cool about it. 

But mostly we just plan to chill in the kiddie pool, eat Popsicles on the deck, take walks, go to the park, sleep in (yeah right) and enjoy some memorable family time. We have our soundtrack for summer queued up and we are ready to rock. 
I love it. 

Over the weekend I made some really yummy food while my in-laws were here. One thing was good for you, one thing was not. But you take the good and you take the bad, you take them both and there you have TFOL.

The Pioneer Woman's Cowboy Quiche

Pioneer Woman

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad from The Skinny Taste

Skinny Taste

The quiche I will probably only make for special occasions like when my in-laws are here. But the Quinoa... oh sister, I could eat that everyday!!! Leave the Feta cheese out and you got yourself one slammin' vegan masterpiece! 

I saw World War Z & Superman. 
Hunks. Beefcakes. Hubba Hubba. 
And those were just the zombies.