Things About Three

Although she promised me otherwise, Harper went ahead and turned three.  A Minnie Mouse party was in the works, until Doc McStuffins suddenly and swiftly took over our lives and we all knew that we had to make it happen.

After binge watching a few episodes, I think we came up with a pretty solid Doc Mcstuffins plan.

On the menu:

Chilly's Chili

Doc McStuffins Cornbread Muffins

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doc Away Salad

Lambie-nade

Kisses For Your Boo Boos

Bandaids For Your Ouchies

"Vitamins"

....and of course my new go to, a Costco cake.

Pregnancy > Motivation to make a cute party, so it was in no way the most extravagant party ever thrown, or even my favorite, but Harper was a happy camper, which is all that matters in the end.

My goal for my next party is to actually remember to take pictures of the people who came.  I failed big this year.  Rest assured, there were in fact people at Harper's party.

Harper's birthday was similarly low key.  Early morning presents, meeting up with dad for lunch at Chick Fil A, and melting my heart by turning down an offer to go to the children's museum so that she could go to to Boondocks when Holden was done with school instead.  And ice cream.  It was a good day for everyone.

And despite all my complaining about three year olds, it's going to be a great year.  I can feel it.  And I'm practicing my deep breathing skills.

Fall Y'all (Speed Round)

I know we still technically have tons of fall left, but in my universe anything worth talking about in November gets lumped in with Christmas, so fall ends with Halloween.

Maybe that's part of the reason fall seems to fly by.  In honor of the fastest season of the year, you get the fastest blog post of the year.

Some minor setbacks and a few big decisions we needed to make caused us to bare bones things a little bit, but the State Fair is definitely a never miss.

Holden's birthday party is also a given.  Plants Vs. Zombies was the theme this year, complete with a Garden Warfare salad bar, a Pinata Party and the most disgusting looking brain jello I have ever laid eyes on.

Holden must have known the theme for Fall this year was simple, because his actual birthday request was a lot of arcade games and boxed macaroni and cheese for dinner.  Done and done.

Reo and I snuck in a couple of days in Vegas.

Before we halfheartedly celebrated Halloween and the madness that accompanied it.

P.S.  Harper was Daniel Tiger.  Which is not easily recognizable, nor can she say very well, so it was interesting.  I'm about 99 percent sure that next year she will be full blown into the princess craze, so we went with the obscureness of it all.  

We also spent a whole lot of time just living life, which is pretty good these days.  

A Midsummer's Night Blog

Summer is flying by, you guys.  And while we are literally running ourselves ragged trying to have the most fun possible (nothing like having a list to hold you accountable to having fun), I know I won't regret it come January.  

I won't regret going out as a family

to feed the ducks--

                 

or go to a baseball game--

And I also won't regret the times we stayed closer to home
having Lego building competitions--

or (semi-successfully) making taffy--

or getting our care package ready to send--

or even our half hearted attempt at a "science project."--

You know I never regret anything involving food
like our breakfast picnic--

or grilling pizza--

or various frozen treats--

 

(and yes, in case you were wondering, we are the mean parents that strongly encourage our kids to get the light colored snow cone flavors).

And I obviously never regret living in the water

at Lagoon-a-Beach--

 

or the Daybreak Pool--

No regrets on the 4th of July either

at the parade--

the candy aftermath--

barbeques galore--

and Holden's favorite, fireworks--

I do regret this lackluster attempt at a blog post, and I'm sure you are regretting reading it. What can I say, the siren song of Instagram makes blogging seem like a whole lot of effort all the sudden.  But rest assured, our Manning mini epic summer of awesome is coming along nicely, and mayyyybe the next update will be slightly more clever.

No promises.

Spring Things

Oh, Spring.  That magical season where you never know if you are going to wake up to shorts or snow.   At our house, we are so looking forward to our upcoming super awesome epic mini summer of fun (named by Holden), that it is easy for Spring to get overlooked.  Here are some Spring things we've managed to accomplish. 

St Patrick's Day--

Pictured- A selection of artwork from the day and Reo pleased as punch that thanks to his sister tracking down the long lost recipe, we were able to recreate the "green stuff" from his childhood.

Not pictured- Crazy tricks the leprechaun played on us throughout the day.  I'm quite sure the leprechaun had to get pretty creative to stay one step ahead of Holden.  

Enjoying warmer days at the park with my very oldest friends--

Pictured-Even though it feels like yesterday we were all hanging around the neighborhood, somehow we've managed to have a whole bunch of kids

Not pictured- One kid in school, one kid who couldn't be coaxed off the playground for a boring picture, and one not quite born yet (none of them mine, don't get any ideas).  Also the adults.

Trying to enjoy not as warm of days wishing warm weather into fruition by painting summer landscapes--
Pictured-Holden getting his painting skills on
Not pictured-Harper painting with water....Because she's two and I'm prone to anxiety attacks around messes.

Taking Lagoon by storm on opening day to finally utilize the season pass Holden has been waiting months to use--

Pictured-Some of the family favorites

Not pictured-Me coming thisclose to throwing up.  Multiple times.  Carny rides are no longer my jam. 

Getting a little Spring cleaning/organizing fever--

Pictured- A couple of completed projects for Harper's room to help me realize that no, I do not in fact hate my house and everything in it, I was just sick of looking at the same walls during snow day after snow day and needed a change.

Not pictured- The majority of my house that still looks the exact same.  I'm a slow decorator.  

Our first experience with baseball--

Pictured-Holden ready to go

Not Pictured-Holden's first hit, where he proceeded to run with his bat in front of him like a cane to first base.  Since he is 50 percent mine, this is actually pretty impressive.  Sports aren't so much my jam either, apparently.

In a perfect blog world, Easter and the events leading up to it would be it's own post.  But since my blog is in survival mode, getting lumped in with everything else it is!

Pictured--Against my better judgement, embracing all the crazy Easter-time activities.  Sugar cookies, egg dying, super overcrowded community egg hunts...we did it all

Not pictured--Me actually really loving all of that stuff.

The night before the main event, Holden left this note on the front door for our Easter Bunny.  

In case you don't read Holden, here's what it says..

Find eggs in living room.  Thanks! Happy Easter!  And P.S. I want to wake up to find my basket full of Peeps or you could do whatever you want your choice  Love: Holden

Pictured-The Easter Bunny delivering

Pictured- The kids ready to hunt for eggs.  Holden is holding a map he made to remind him where to look. Yes, we do currently go through a lot of paper at our house, if that's what you were wondering.

Pictured-The Loot....And what happens to Holden's leg when we do not provide him with enough paper.

Pictured-All dressed up and ready to celebrate the real meaning of Easter at church.  And not yet so hopped up on sugar that they can't hold still.  So, success!

And finally, it's not a holiday without a little family time--
Pictured-These two cousins having the best time together
Not pictured-Everyone else

Happy Spring!