Archive for May 2014

Friday, May 30, 2014

Print This: Summer List (of fun!) for Free!



Having a Summer bucket list has helped my family the past few summers. We often need a push to get out and try something new and are always looking for fun ideas to break up the long days. 

There are always items on the list that we do not get to and that's ok - we use the list more for suggestions, not have-to's. Besides, summer is supposed to be a little lazy, right? Right!

I'll post our finished list next week but thought it would be fun to make a blank printable list for you too. 


Enjoy!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

And we're off!


Vance was stepping up to the plate as I was walking up to the field last night. He was hit with the first pitch and ran off to first base before I could snap a picture but I wanted to capture 
the moment. 

Last night was a cluster of activities for both kids. Vaughn went from tap shoes to ballet shoes to softball cleats to flip flops. Vance went from tennis shoes, to soccer cleats, to baseball cleats. Thankful for this beautiful sunset for being a calming end to such a crazy day. 

Vaughn was quite proud of the dirt that she left at the bottom of the tub after she got out and called for me to come and see. It wasn't until 11:00 that we all got into bed and I think it's safe to say summer break has begun with a bang. 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Thanks for Playing! Baseball Birthday Favors

May is a busy month for everyone it seems. Little league games, graduation ceremonies and parties, a little of this and a little of that. Topping everything off, Vance's birthday usually falls during Memorial Day weekend, when many folks are out of town. What I'm trying to say is, planning his birthday party is a tedious feat with so many other to-do's on the calendar.

He celebrated last weekend with his school friends and even with 6 kids having to cancel at the last minute due to advancement in a flag football championship game, he still had a good turn out and a great time. 

. . . . . . .

Here are the baseball inspired birthday party favors that we handed out.  




I wanted to keep it simple so Big League Chew and a 16" inflatable baseball it is! I printed the bands out on a paper that is heavier than normal copy paper but not as thick as card stock. Using a paper with just a little weight to it helped old the gum and the ball together. I stacked the two on top of one another, wrapped the paper band around them, and used tape to secure it all together. 


If anyone is interested in the printable let me know!




Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The last golden days.

I just tried convincing Vance he is part robot. Of course, he didn't buy it and just looked at me funny. Geez, when did he grow up and loose his sense of humor?


He is home sick today, which sets me back because it's the last full week of school and each kid-free day is golden. I've been trying to do a bunch of shopping (hoarding) of household goods because buying toilet paper with 2 kids along for the ride is not fun. I've also made sure to get in some Target aisle-wandering time, get my hair done, do some shopping for myself, and browse Home Goods just for kicks. Today I was supposed to run to Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Hobby Lobby, and yet another Target run because I forgot that we had two birthday parties to attend this weekend. Fingers crossed that everyone feels well tomorrow and goes to school as planned.

Back to Vance. He feels fine but has a low fever. He is bored out of his mind and is wandering around aimlessly. While I was upstairs folding towels he tried to sneak out and shoot hoops in the driveway. Poor guy missed field day today. He'd been so looking forward to it.

Since Vance can't go to his 2 events tonight it looks like I'm still responsible for dinner. Gotta go get something figured out! 

What's on your menu for tonight?

Monday, May 19, 2014

Reclaiming the Dining Room: Part 2

I am relieved to announce that the wood is up and that I do not want to take it down. 


 It was scary, I'm not going to lie. When there were only 3 boards up Justin and I didn't like it all. We agreed to finish the right side and if we still didn't like it we would stop there and start calling drywaller's the next morning. (Each piece is screwed and glued. Removing it without drywall damage is not an option.)

Thing is, we would have preferred the whole wall to be the silvery-gray color but the wood guy didn't have enough gray boards at the time. We ended up picking out other boards that we thought would work but unfortunately, it was dusk when we were "shopping" and the browns looked more gray in the dark. Oops. 


Finding a pattern that worked took forever. Justin would hold boards up, I'd stand back and take a picture, then we'd decide which looked the best and continue down the wall. Plus, we wanted both sides to follow the same pattern so that limited our options, color wise, as well.
      
The roughness of each board added to the scare factor as well but I kept reminding myself that's why I like this look. It's not supposed to be perfect. 

The top picture seems to look more contrasted on the computer screen. I think it looks better in person. 

I wish I could say that the dining room is done, but it's not. It feels great to be one big step closer though! 

Here's what's left on our to-do list:
*crown moulding* *curtains* *art*
*deciding to paint the rest of the walls* 
I'm thinking black paint. Justin thinks I'm crazy. Am I? What do you think?

Linking to:

Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss

Friday, May 16, 2014

Lunch Box Correspondence: They Notice




I always put notes in the kids lunch boxes. Sometimes I even go bigger, throwing in a sticker for Vaughn as a surprise or trying to get a kick out of Vance with a fake bug. Some days I draw something with a food safe marker onto their sandwich. Something silly, fun, and unexpected to let them know that I'm thinking about them and to put a smile on their face. 

Only when I specifically ask them if there was anything exciting in their lunch box do they ever comment about the notes or the lunchbox shenanigans. Even though I'm unsure if they notice the notes or even like them I still keep writing them. I do it for me, in hopes they will appreciate the small gesture, and not for the applause that I'm hoping to get.   

Which brings me to yesterday. I asked Vance generally how lunch was (seems they can't remember anything about class but can tell me exactly what they did at recess) and he sadly said, "Fine. Except it was missing one thing. A note." 

That stinker. I did forget to write a note that day. Good to know that he does take notice and appreciates them. I'll keep on writing! 
. . . . . . . 

In other news, Vaughn has poison ivy. I think I've pinpointed where she got it and now that the rain has stopped we (and I totally mean Justin) can take care of it this weekend. 

The dining room wall that we've been covering with reclaimed wood is almost complete and I am looking forward to sharing pictures next week. 

Have a greet weekend! Happy Friday!







Friday, May 09, 2014

Butterfly Birthday Favors

Vaughn had her birthday party at The Butterfly House this year. They put on a cute birthday party for little girls and handle everything, so the least I could do was make cute little favors to pass out. 


I made these logos then printed and cut them out. (I really need to invest in a 2" circle cutter.)

I found these cute bags at Michael's and bought a bunch of wildflower seed packets at Home Depot.

I slipped the seeds in the bags and used a glue stick to attach the cut-out logo. 

Now the girls can plant the seeds and attract their own butterflies!  

I added a pair of wearable butterfly wings for the girls and decided these have been the easiest birthday favors I have ever done. A win-win! 

Glitter Letter Cake Topper

This has been the first year that Vaughn did not want something specific on top of her birthday cake. No Dora, no princess, no butterflies. All she wanted was a chocolate cake and something fantastic on top. Take it from me, when you're trying to impress a soon-to-be six year old girl the answer is always glitter. And the more the better.

I figured glitter scrapbook paper would be perfect because it's lightweight but heavy enough so the letters stand up. I first envisioned gold letters but I couldn't find the right shade of gold paper. I saw this deep shade of pink and knew it would be great.    


I typed out Vaughn's name (font Bebas Neue) into my computer, printed them out, then cut out the letters. I then traced the letters onto the scrapbook paper and, again, cut them out. I snapped bamboo skewers in half and used a small dot of hot glue to attach the skewer to the letter.  


I loved the finished product and Vaughn did too. 

Thursday, May 08, 2014

Just like that, she's 6

I knew this little baby was special but I had no idea that by her 6th birthday she would already be... 

an artist, 

a softball player,

and a blue ribbon, scholarship award winning scientist. 

She's the most well-rounded, colorful, creative, and fun person that I know. She's also the most difficult, most stubborn, and opinionated person I know but I wouldn't have it any other way. She's amazing and I'm lucky to be her Mama. 

Happy Birthday Vaughnie!        







Friday, May 02, 2014

Friday 5: Celebrating Simplicity

5 simple things from the week worth celebrating.

Here's to Vaughn's excitement for this softball game that was going on while we were waiting for Vance's game to start. She watched just like that until it was over.

Here's to braving the cold for Vance's last game. 
Nothing makes a baseball family bond like extreme temperatures!

Here's to the kids wanting to plant things and then leaving them on the kitchen window sill for sun. 
(Enough is enough now.)

Here's to the jet's that have been zipping around our house while practicing for this weekend's air show.
(So cool to see and so LOUD!)

Here's to a little project I'm working on for the birthday girl. (6 tomorrow and still can't believe it!)

Cheers! 
What are you celebrating this weekend?

 

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