Summer

I have wrapped another school year up.

Number 7 for me.

And it was a great one. I was very lucky this year. I had a super class.

They were eager to learn. Happy to be in school. Happy to be with each other.

A class I am sad to see move on to 3rd grade. A class I am very proud of and proud to say they were mine for a short 9 months.

I look forward to seeing them in August. As big 3rd graders. Who get to go upstairs.

I am also anxious to see who my 2o-some new kiddos will be.

Hopefully they will be as eager and excited about learning.

But until then I am going to enjoy my favorite 2. I have a feeling this little lady is going to show me a few new tricks this summer.

Look at her hold that head up so high. She almost rolled over the other night.

I think she is waiting for daddy to come home Friday to debut that trick!

I also have a feeling I am going to see these 2 bond even more this summer. She can't keep her eyes off him. And he can't help but love on his baby sister.

Gives her kisses. Hugs. Tickles. Toys.

Like how he set up her toys. He spent a long time on that.

And tried to teach her to say R2D2.

He just doesn't understand why she can't spit that one out yet!

Addicted

Yep, I have become addicted to sewing!! I realized this when Seth yelled up to me today and said, "Are you going to be up there all day?" I had been in this little corner of the playroom for several hours!! My sister came over and helped me make a dress for Saylor. I love how it turned out. I have a feeling Saylor is going to have a lot of these dresses. And what's great is she can wear them as shirts when the weather gets cold with a long sleeve shirt underneath!

The material is so unique, and not something you would see in a store. I also made her a matching clip for a headband!

Then my sister left. And I was on my own. And I attempted a dress. I even used coordinating fabric for the arm holes and the bottom. Don't look too close...it's not perfect! But perfect enough for me...on my first attempt without my rockstar sister.

I also made a matching flower pin. No hair bow for this one yet!

I thought I did pretty good. I just hope it fits Saylor. She was not in the mood to model, so I didn't even ask!

And then there are these. Love them. I have been eyeing flower pins on Etsy and some other blogs for a long time. I have bought one and I have loved it. So, I finally searched the world wide web and found lots of tutorials and started making some. I think they are pretty darn cute.




This one is on my $9 Gap purse. Makes a cheap, black purse a little more fun.

A different one...on one of Saylor's jackets.

This pink one was made out of ribbon. Also, a nice addition on my purse.


This is one of my favorites! Love the colors.

The nice thing about the flower pins..no sewing required! Just some thread and a needle!

I just love my new hobby, thanks again Ash for the sewing machine and help!

That mom

Yep, I am that mom. The kind of mom I was complaining about today. The kind of mom who doesn't read her child's papers from school very carefully. The kind of mom that didn't realize today was her son's last day of preschool. Yeah, you read that right...today was Dylan's last day of preschool and I had NO clue. And yes, I do work at the same school, and yes I still had no clue. Can I blame this on pregnant brain...nope. Lack of sleep because I have a newborn...no again. I can only blame myself. I got his newsletter a couple weeks ago. Just glanced at it, didn't really read the calendar. Why would I need to read the calendar..I know what's going on at school. I guess I don't.

Nine short months I sent my polo wearin` 3 year old off to preschool

I was a nervous wreck. I almost cried. He had no tears. Hardly said bye to me.

He was so confident. Ready. Excited. He was in school!

Then today...I have my almost 4 year old, monster truck t-shirt wearin boy. Done with his first year of preschool.

How did this year go by so quick. How is Dylan done with 1 year of preschool and ready for another year in the fall. He is growing so much. This year he has grown taller. He has gained a few pounds. He has made friends on his own. Learned new skills. Met a lot of people. It is still weird for me to think he did all of this without me by his side. He is growing up. He still needs me, but is also becoming more independent. Able to do more and more without me. Makes me sad and so proud all at the same time.

Good job Dylan! I am so proud of you!

30

My hubby is 30 today.

I am married to an old man (I like to tell him that...I will be 30 in 3 months

and no I don't think 30 is old!!)

He is pretty awesome.

He is a great daddy to our 2 babies.

He loves them.

Cuddles them.

Hands out hugs and kisses to them.

He is rough and all boy with Dylan and sweet as can be with Miss Saylor.

You can tell that they are wrapped around his finger.

He's a darn good husband too.

I am a lucky woman.

He loves me.

Takes care of me.

And knows just how and when to push my buttons.

Isn't that what husbands are for??

In honor of him turning 30...here are 30 things about Seth

1. He loves sports, especially KU sports

2. He is good at just about every sport he plays

3. He has bowled 7 300s. That's a perfect game!

4. I have never seen him bowl a 300. His first one was when I was shopping at Hobby Lobby with my mom.

5. He wanted to be a Marine when he was 18.

6. He lived in the same house for 20 years.

7. He is the youngest of 4 children.

8. He is good at math. Really good.

9. He loves learning about Egypt and all the tombs. But no, he's never been.

10. He used to never listen to country, only rap music.

11. He knows just about any classic country song and can tell you who sings it...not bad for only listening to country for the past 7 or 8 years.

12. He is a good dart player.

13. He can ramble off movie quotes.

14. He has a good memory for weird things, but can't remember that we need to stop at the store.

15. He drinks a Monster Energy Drink almost everyday.

16. He loves my mom (and I love that about him).

17. He loves his mom even more.

18. He gives a better bath to Dylan.

19. He never liked beer, only drank Captain and Coke. I turned him into a beer drinker!

20. He was a bad, bad boy growing up.

21. He asked my dad for permission to marry me--love that too.

22. He was VERY nervous on our wedding day.

23. He doesn't like how I load the dishwasher (yay for me!!)

24. He likes to play golf...and even beats my dad every once in a while.

25. He LOVES being a daddy.

26. He loves being a husband.

27. He hates when I whine.

28. He gets on the computer every night, but only to look at college sports stuff. And now facebook. He He He!!!

29. He dresses much better now than he did when I first met him.

30. He wears a hat EVERY.SINGLE.DAY

I love you Seth and Happy Birthday!

Being a Mom

Being a mommy to these two is the best job in the world.

It's also the...

most difficult

most rewarding

most fun

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms!
Enjoy your day with your kiddos!

Morning

When I have to wake Dylan up at 6:30 for school he isn't much of a morning person.
When he gets to wake up on his own on the weekends he is a lot happier.
His sister though...she's a morning person! I usually wake her up after I wake Dylan up and she is all smiles.
At least 1 out of the 2 are happy to see their momma so early in the morning!

But once you give Dylan some time to wake up he is a little happier.
And very sweet.
Every morning he has to get a blanket and soft toy for Saylor.
This particular morning she was in his bed while he was getting dressed.
He was kind enough to cover her up with his golden blanket.
Hopefully this is just the beginning of the protective big brother I hope he will be! And me...well I am a morning person. But I have to be...getting myself ready, 2 kids ready, bags packed, lunch packed...all by 7:00...there's no time for grouchiness!!

All Dressed Up

Friday evening Saylor got to get all dressed up to go to a Mother-Daughter Dinner with her best friend Lily! Lily's mommy and I teach 2nd grade together and we have become great friends during the past 2 years! Saylor and Lily are exactly 2 months apart--almost to the minute!! They also have big brothers that are becoming quite the little buddies!!

I have said so many times that I love the bond Dylan and I have. We still have that special bond. But there is something special about having a daughter too. I know all the things my mom and I love to do together, Saylor and I will one day do together. I hope Saylor and I have the special friendship that my mom and I have. I hope she calls me a hundred times a day like I do to my mom. I hope she calls late at night asking for fashion advice. I hope she calls to go shopping, get a pedicure, or to just have dinner. I hope Saylor always knows that I will forever be her #1 fan. I will support her and push her to try new things just like my mom has always done for me.
I love you Saylor Rene` and I love you mom...thanks for being such a great role model and friend.