"I'm riding with no trainging wheels!!!"

Monday night we gave the no training wheel bike riding a 3rd try. I told Dylan that he hasn't tried since turning 5, and that convinced him to get on and try again.
When we had tried in the past he wasn't quite brave enough to keep pedaling when daddy let go.
This time it was completely different.
We started in the grass (thank goodness for WONDERFUL neighbors who don't mind bike riding in their grass!!). He kept pedaling the first time!!
After a few minutes in the grass we convinced him to just try it in the street. Sadly we don't have sidewalks, but we don't have a bust street so it works fine. I can't tell you how many times Dylan and Seth went up and down our street all night long.
The longer we were out the there the better he was doing.

After a while they were going down the entire street. With Seth just running along and Dylan doing it all by himself!

I am pretty sure as he passed me this time he said, "How do you like them apples mommy!!"

This still happened, but he got back up every single time!

I was so proud of my little man.

We are now on night 3 and he doesn't need help at all. He gets on his bike and starts on his own. He is getting better at turning around too.

This is just another reminder that my baby boy is no longer a baby. He is really growing up and becoming such a big boy. Makes me sad and so proud at the same time!

Some local outings

We have been enjoying the last couple weeks of summer at some local places!! We have had some fun outings right here close to home.
Last week we packed up and headed to Kansas City. We stopped by and picked up our cousin Courtney so she could join us for all the fun.
We headed down to Crown Center and went to lunch at Fritz's. I have always wanted to take Dylan to this restaurant and I am so glad we went! It is a train themed restaurant so you start off with these fun engineer hats.

Courtney and Saylor decided to make a funny face for their picture!

You even get to order your food from a phone. Saylor thought it was fun to pretend to talk on it.

The coolest part...your lunch comes to your table by train!

Once your lunch comes the tray lowers and you grab your food.

Dylan loved being able to get our food from the tray.

After lunch at Fritz's we walked over to Kaleidoscope at Crown Center. I can remember going here when I was younger and was excited to take my art loving boy. He had a good time creating some masterpieces with Courtney. So happy she was there to be with Dylan so I could watch Saylor. It would have been hard by myself! The coolest part was the puzzle. He drew on a piece or card board and then sent it though this machine and it cut it into puzzle pieces.

Courtney also helped Saylor color on a card. Last week we went ride down the road to Washburn University and visited the Mulvane Art Museum. I can't believe I have never taken Dylan there. It was a lot of fun and had all of his favorite things..art and craft supplies!

Outside of the museum they had some...well some of these. I have no idea what they are called but Dylan and Saylor loved running through them! Inside they had an awesome Lego exhibit. Tons of statues and figures made out of Legos. It was very cool!

Then we headed to the basement. They have an art lab for kids. This was the cave area. Saylor's favorite for sure!
building blocks
they had a lot more for the kids to do, but I put my camera away after getting a few shots so I could create with Dylan and Saylor!

Outside they had more art. It was a VERY hot Kansas afternoon, so they ran around for a couple minutes then we headed home!

And the last one..a road trip with my bestie and her 2 kids!

We planned on going to Deanna Rose but it was raining.

We went to Fritz's again, but at a different location!
All the kids (except Saylor) grabbing the lunch!

After lunch we went to Little Monkey Bizness

SO.MUCH.FUN

It was a fun day and a great way to spend one of our last days of summer!

Being Crafty

I love being crafty.
I am not always a good crafter.
My things sometimes look like mess and they go right in the trash.
Other times I am IN LOVE with them.
I am also a short-cut crafter.
There are often steps I leave out because I don't have time or I think it's a useless step.
Sometimes it works...and sometimes it is a big fail!
This next one..it could be better, but it will do..
I was inspired buy a canvas I saw that was covered in fabric with the words "Be You" sewn on it.
I knew right away I wanted to make one with love or family. But before making one for our living or dining room that everyone would see I thought I would try one for Saylor Girl's room. I had a frame that I wasn't using and some fabric that goes perfectly with her room. So, this was FREE!!!! I like how it turned out and I will be making another one for sure. Next time I will...
1. use a canvas, it will give it more depth. This was a thin piece of wood.
2. Make sure the background material doesn't show through the words.Monogram P
This was a random thought I had while I was trying to sleep one night.
The next day I was in Walmart and picked up a cheap black frame.
Then while in Hobby Lobby I picked out 2 pieces of scrap book paper.
Came home, cut out a P and put it all together.
Easy.
Cheap.
And nice addition to my mantle that I am reworking!

Picture collage frames
I have had these pictures hanging in the playroom for a long time.
As you can see he is very young in these photos.
I didn't want to reorder large prints so I decided to change it up a bit.


I bought some material that goes with the wall color in our playroom and added it to the back of the frames.
I then picked out some photos and arranged them until it was just right.
Taped them down.
Put the glass back on.
And I was done!
Cost...about $5!!


I love how they turned out and I can't wait to hang them back up. Now Saylor won't feel so left out when she goes in the playroom!

Lemonade Stand {fundraiser for cancer}

A little over a year ago a young man I had as a 3rd grader was diagnosed with cancer.
He was the type of kid in class that everyone loved.
I always said, the girls loved him and the boys wanted to be him.
He was funny.
Smart.
Kind.
And as sarcastic as they come at that age.
I don't have favorites.
But..if I did he would be my favorite from that class.
One of my all time favorites.
When I got the email that the achiness in his leg was actually cancer, I sat and cried.
No one deserves to go through cancer.
Especially not a 10 year old.
So sad and such a helpless feeling.
Throughout the entire school year he was in an out of the hospital.
He went through chemo.
He lost weight.
Lost hair.
But didn't lose his spunkiness and sarcasm.
I loved that about him whenever he would wheel through the hallways at school.
I am lucky and my classroom overlooks the playground.
Whenever I happened to glance out my window during recess times I always noticed that if he was out there in his wheelchair, there was also a big group of girls around him.
Even during the hardest year of his life, he still found ways to charm the girls!
A couple weeks ago as I was reading his mom's online journal, I read that the cancer was back.
He just got the news it was gone and he was in remission and bam..it's back.
After much consideration and talks with doctors and family, they decided that the best choice would be to amputate his leg.
Wow, what a life changer.
But, in his normal ways he came through it all with his great character in tact.

And through all of this I would mention it to Dylan here and there. Hard thing to explain to a 5 year old.
At the same time Dylan had been begging me to have a lemonade stand.
So, a lemonade stand we had.
And to my surprise Dylan decided to give all the money to the "boy from my school that is sick and in a wheelchair".
Wow, really Dylan...that's awesome!

Getting our lemonade mixed and ready to serve.
Making our signs to advertise our sale.

Bringing in all the customers.

Loving every moment of his lemonade stand.

Not only did my little guy raise over $100 for this young man, but he also learned such a valuable lesson.

It was one of the most enjoyable afternoons we have had this summer.

Just the 2 of us.

Outside and enjoying each others company.

I loved every minute of our 3 hours together.

So proud of you Dylan Man!

Disney World: Day 1

Oh Disney World, how we love you!
We took Dylan to Disney World 2 years ago.
He was almost 3 years old.
We always told him we would go back when Saylor was 3 also.
Well, we couldn't wait!
Actually, Seth and I were planning a trip to Vegas and then a small trip with the kids.
We decided not to do Vegas and do Disney instead.
So happy we made that decision.
I love Vegas, but Disney World is so much better.
And since Saylor is only 1, she flew free and got in all the parks free.
She also isn't old enough to beg for toys and things, so that was nice!

We left bright and early Monday morning. The kids had fun hanging out in the airport.
We had a couple hours to kill and luckily these huge windows and airplanes kept them busy.
They are such sweet siblings, always hugging and giving kisses...we don't even have to ask them to do it, they just do it on there own!
Daddy and his babies! I am so lucky to have Seth. He did almost all of the diaper changes while at Disney World (the ladies line always had a long wait and no line on the mens side!!), held a sweaty baby in line for rides, and carried the stroller on and off the busses about 100 times!

Oh my Saylor Girl...you make me HAPPY! That is all I have to say!

Dylan was so into making funny faces on the trip. He did a real picture then a funny face picture. Such a funny kid!

Playing their games while waiting. What a nice big brother to let Saylor play his game.

And on the airplane..they did AWESOME!! Played, slept, and looked out the window.

Our hotel! We stayed at the Disney All Star Movie Resort, it was wonderful. We requested the Toy Story rooms and I am so happy we did. Every morning we walked out to a huge Toy Story play area. So fun for our kiddos!





Next up..Magic Kingdom!

Dinofabulous Painting Birthday Party

My little man is almost 5!
I can't believe it!
This year we had to do his birthday party a week early.
Because on his actual birthday we will be celebrating with Mickey Mouse and friends!!
Dylan loves Potwin Pottery. It is a little shop that you get to pick your own pottery and paint it in your own style!
I have always wanted to do his party there, and this year was the perfect time to do it.
He invited some friends from school along with some other friends.
He also wanted this to be a dino party...so I made up these adorable invitations!
I love the way they turned out! They have the dino and painting theme!
The day of the party Dylan and I created this masterpiece! I have always made my kids' birthday cakes, and I want that tradition to continue. They don't always look perfect, but they are so special!

We also made some awesome hats! Do you see the spikes on the side? Dylan loved them and had fun helping me make them.

At Potwin Pottery! All ready to celebrate his birthday!

Working hard on his ice cream cone bowl and spoon. The kids had several options to choose from and Dylan picked out 6 colors for everyone to use.

All of the kids painting away! They all had so much fun!

Singing Happy Birthday!

The Birthday Boy also gets plate that says Happy Birthday Dylan and his hand print. So cool!

All of the kids! Dylan had a lot of fun with his friends and I loved watching him interact with everyone!

Happy 5th Birthday Dylan Man!