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Favorite Pins and Posts

Posted on May 17, 2012 | 2 comments

My goodness, I’ve been remiss in sharing my favorite Internets finds with you… it’s been since March, mostly I’ve been putting it off because I hadn’t caught up with my blog feeds in Google Reader (my feed reader of choice).

Favorite pins

Source: neverenoughhours.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Simply love the idea of this – I love personalized artwork and this is just so unique… I’d phrase it as You + Me = Them

Source: Uploaded by user via Michelle on Pinterest

Love this quote from C.S. Lewis.

Source: 20goingon80.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Simon’s been making pancakes every Saturday morning and this is a marvelous idea to simplify the process even more!

Source: nakamolchicago.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Just love this ring, have to keep myself from buying it for myself. Myself wants it.

Pins I’ve Done

Source: daveandjoi.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Made these as part of my gift to the ladies at my MOPS table.

Source: google.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Totally bought this stuff and totally love it!

Source: craveorcreate.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Another aspect of my MOPS gift – yarn wrapped bottles – turned out so cute!

Favorite Posts

Life Doesn’t Begin 10 Pounds From Now – We all need this reminder!
And this: Comparison Will Kill Your Joy Every Time
Ed Dobson’s Story
And then laughter with Crappy Pictures’ take on Guns & Swords
Inspire Someone by Anissa
So many things Tricia writes, I love: A Few Things I Know, Claim Your Tuesdays (want this, because life is easier done together), Picture the Scene (I will be thinking about this for ages – “Don’t do anything to jeopardize the beauty of that scene.”
Watch this pregnancy-to-birth video, it’s awesome
Stuff They’ve Taught Me by the terrifically named Jamie, the very worst missionary
And another important reminder: Motherhood. It’s Hard and Sometimes You Will Yell by Fried Okra
Simple cute video series kicking off, featuring Design Mom’s family: Olive Us!
And finally, Messiness of Life with Kids – can I just say DITTO!?

And for good measure, my favorite spam comment of late:

What light of day isn’t today? [really, that was it – what does that even mean?]

2 Comments

Posted in Favorite Finds, Life in general

My heart isn’t ready for this

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 2 comments

We were at Heidi’s house last night and my two boys were playing with her three girls while I got my baby fix holding the little Hutch-ster (sorry, just made that one up on the fly). The big kids were entertaining themselves running around the outside of the house (literally running in one big circle all the way around the house – we seriously need to get a house with an unhindered circular pathway for running, it’s awesome, apparently). After a while we heard conversation from the little cherubs about kissing… um, hold up a minute… Heidi and I looked at each other with our eyebrows raised and asked for a little clarification about exactly what they were talking about and what game they were playing. Liam explained that they were chasing each other and giving kisses, “You know, like a marriage game.” We were at a loss for how to explain to them that they shouldn’t be kissing each other since kissing isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just probably not an appropriate activity for five-year-old friends. We also had to laugh that they equate kissing to marriage (that’s right kids, don’t kiss anyone who you aren’t married to… just like we did!).

Then Liam piped up and said that a girl from his class had kissed a boy from his class – even though his teacher had told them they weren’t supposed to kiss each other. Oh my lands. Here, of course, is where I really shouldn’t be surprised because I remember that I had my first crush in kindergarten on Blaine Guest (such a dreamy name – I’m not even going to google him to find out what he’s doing with his life, couldn’t stand to have my illusion shattered), a crush which was formed after he came to my house for a play date and the next day he gave me a heart-shaped pencil-topper eraser (which I may still have squirreled away in a box somewhere). He was the boy we kindergarten girls chased around the playground and tried to kiss. So the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, amiright?

On our way home, Liam and I had a little conversation about who it was appropriate to be kissing on the lips (for the record, we settled on just mommy, daddy and grandparents). Other people we can give hugs to and I was quick to explain to him that if anyone doesn’t like how he is showing them affection, then he needs to stop. This whole subject is not one I was prepared for, my little boy is growing up!

But Ava and Liam are certainly smitten with each other. I’m not sure if Ava has elbowed Keila out of pole position in Liam’s heart, but he didn’t stop talking about her and how much fun he had all evening.

Now I just have to talk with his teacher about this kissing problem in the classroom during rest time(!). [Okay, let’s be honest, I probably won’t be talking to her because I am not that parent, but I will be grilling Liam about it a little bit more.]

2 Comments

Posted in Parenting

Summer plans, I has them

Posted on May 15, 2012 | 12 comments

I so LOVED that picture of myself growing up… actually, I loved what I remember feeling when that photo was taken. I thought I was pretty hot stuff with all that hair floating around me, that I was some mermaidic goddess in the bathtub. Hilarious when I think about it now because I was young and thinking I was so cool about such a silly thing. I’d blame it on the movie Splash, but I don’t think that movie had come out yet when this picture was taken (and I don’t care enough right now to check IMDB to see if that last statement is true – sorry).
That photo has nothing to do with anything but it was another one I found from our wedding slideshow and I’ve been saving it for a special occasion which today qualifies since I don’t particularly have anything to say (when has that stopped me before and I’ve just typed up quite a few words for having nothing to say and I’d guess I’m going to type up a few more).

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what my hopes for this summer are and really, if I have any in particular. I don’t know that summer for us feels too different than the rest of the year, aside from where Liam will be on the days Jack is in daycare (during the school year he’s obviously in school on Mondays and Wednesday but in the summer he’ll be at the same place as Jack where they offer a school age program with weekly pool outings and field trips) but otherwise Simon and I will both be working our normal schedules and with our vacation time gone for the year (Australia for 3 weeks), we don’t have anything big planned. But, I do still have some things up my sleeve… in no particular order (and now I have something to write about – go me!):

Annual Memorial Day get together with my favorite ladies and their families (minus a few favorite ladies who are not local – we miss you very muchly)
Weekend in Chicago with Simon (after my parents get back from Texas – this is how they can make it up to me for being gone for my birthday – how generous of me ;))
Day trips to Lake Michigan
Picnics at the park
Frog Hollow and happy hour at Sonic
Weekend at my niece’s cottage in July/August
Attempt a camping trip, hopefully with small group – though we have ZERO camping equipment
Saturday morning trips to the Farmer’s Market
Sun pickles!! Sun tea!! And strawberry picking (anyone want to do this with me and the boys?)
Sitting on Erin and Ryan’s lawn for a few FMG Concerts 🙂 I’ll bring sangria or mojitos!
Grilling out with friends at least two days Saturdays a month… anyone interested in joining us?
Cuddling lots of other peoples’ babies (babies in onesies with chunky baby legs all over the place are some of my favorite things)
Getting both boys in swimming lessons
Getting Jack fully potty trained (which really means getting Simon fully on the bandwagon since he’s our weak link – I’m just going to call him out on that one – let’s see if he’s reading the blog)
More neighborhood walks, even if I have to bribe the children with copious amounts of fruit snacks so they won’t whine the entire time (and perhaps to keep Liam’s non-stop chatter toned down)
Yard/landscaping makeover/improvements – anyone have a desire to help with this one because I am happy to follow someone else’s direction but have no idea where to start.

What are you planning for the summer?

12 Comments

Posted in Life in general

Music Monday: Recent Downloads

Posted on May 14, 2012 | 2 comments

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there! Hope you had a great day! We went to Lansing to spend the day with my mom since I already got my present two weekends ago when Simon gave me a Keurig coffee maker as a joint anniversary/mother’s day gift (I’d argue that the gift is just as much for him as it is for me, but I love coffee too much to argue about that and he did get me flowers when he took the babysitter home Saturday night). We had a great evening on Saturday with our small group and I got to cuddle an adorable 5-day-old baby so all is well.

I’ve been on a music downloading kick lately because I realized I’d had a credit in my iTunes account for WAY too long and what’s the point of that if there is music I’d like to listen to on demand and Liam’s asking for a new mix CD? Here are some recent downloads:

Yesterday | Adam Levine & Tony Lucca (from The Voice – despite my high annoyance with Christina and my mild annoyance with Lucca/Levine making digs at her through their other song choices, I do like this singing competition and I love this cover)