Friday, March 30, 2012

Easter Tree








I try to make the holidays fun around here. Just a little effort goes a long way with little kids. The kids get so excited about everything. For Easter, I love Easter trees. I have bought a few of them over the years. I kept buying them because they were never really what I was envisioning. So this year, I decided to just make one that was exactly what I wanted. I ordered manzanita branches from a florist in California, sprayed them white and then arranged them in a big pink vase. Summer helped me decorate it while Forrest was at school. We were pretty proud of ourselves. It turned out just as I had hoped. Our other tree I moved up into Summer and Forrest's playroom. And let me tell you, they LOVE having it in there. They decorate and re-decorate it daily. Having their own tree also keeps them off of our dining table playing with (in Summer's words) "our fancy tree". It's a win-win for sure.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Jane Magnolia

We were checking out the nursery at our local home improvement store and Summer yelled, "Mom, come here!" She was looking at a tree. Remember now, she's only 6. I walked back and asked her what she needed. She said, "Mom, isn't that the most beautiful tree in the world!" Ahhh, my heart sang! When I had Summer, not only did I get a little girl, but i got a girl who loves all things "girl". She will flip through my home magazines and find her favorite page. It really is so cute. The jane magnolia tree Summer saw at the store is now standing next to her. She loves it so much because it blooms pink and purple flowers.
Here's to many years of watching Summer and jane magnolia grow together.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Forrest

 

Yep, my boy is growing up too fast. In less than two months he will be 5 and that is so hard to believe. I regretfully didn't have a complete baby book for this one so here are a few things I don't want to forget...
Forrest's favorite song in the whole wide world is called "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" from the movie. It's on repeat at our house. I go to itunes, put the song on repeat and he's happy as a clam.
Every night before bed he always asks "When is it going to be (a holiday or day of the week)". Together we count down the days or months to that particular holiday or day of the week.
He's a daddy's boy. If he's in the room i might as well be chopped liver.
And speaking of food, Forrest's favorite food in the whole wide world is macaroni and cheese. And if he's able to be picky he LOVES the kind from Annie's.
Before bed he LOVES to have Dr. Seuss' The Lorax book read to him.
Forrest gives the world's best hugs and kisses. I get them all day long.
The best is when he gives me leg hugs. He just walks up to me and snuggles on my leg. I love it.
The main purpose of this blog is to keep a record of our family. Someday I hope Forrest will read this and know not just some funny things about his preschool years but how much his Mama has loved and adored him, even from the beginning.
I love you, sweet Forrest. I'm glad you're mine.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Dear Leprechauns...

Here was Summer's attempt this morning at what she called "A leprechaun jump kick". She was jumping and trying to click her heels together. Apparently leprechauns do that. Who knew?
  Before bed last night Summer started writing a note that she said she was going to leave for the leprechauns. She had a lot of unanswered questions. She asked me for an idea of something to ask them and I said to ask them how old they are. She looked at me with a confused look on her face and said, "Moommm, everyone knows all leprechauns are the same age and they are all 105." I had no idea! I then offered the idea to ask them if they go on vacations and if so where do they like to go. She again said, "Moommm, they stay at their rainbow and St. Patrick's Day is THEIR VACATION and the place they go is to all kids houses all over the world". Ok, then. She then sat at the table and carefully thought up her own questions. This morning, the first place she ran to was her note. And yes, the leprechauns did respond to her... in teeny, tiny writing since leprechauns ARE teeny tiny. Here were her questions and the leprechauns' answers.
(I can not even describe the pure joy that came over her when she looked at the paper and saw that the leprechauns had answered all of her questions.)

Are you a boy or a girl? A boy
When do you take a bath? At night before i go to bed
What is your favorite song? It's not easy being green by kermit the frog
Can you swim? No
How many houses do you visit on march 17th? 63,000,000,071 houses in one night. I'm tired.
How do you turn over the chairs? Lucky magic
He then wrote to both kids and told them to have a lucky day, not to forget to wear green to school and signed his name, Leo Leprechaun.
I love my Summer. She is the cutest, happiest little 6 year old. So imaginative and wide eyed about life.  Did I mention that I really love her? I do. A lot.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The leprechauns came to our home in the night. It was pretty exciting around here at 7:30 am. You would have thought it was Christmas morning. Last night before bed the kids made sure they had on green, they did NOT want to risk getting pinched. This morning they went downstairs to see all the rooms messed up. The chairs were tipped over, all the pillows were thrown off of the sofa, the kitchen cabinets were all opened and the leprechauns left rainbow jelly beans on the kitchen table. And let me tell you, the toilet water mysteriously turned green! Last night Summer wrote a note to the leprechauns.  I have the cutest pictures that I need to upload. Forrest made this leprechaun mask at school and this morning I went outside to find Forrest playing with it. Oh, how I love this boy.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Pretty

I walked past Summer this morning and the light was so pretty in our living room. Summer looked so cute watching cartoons. I love that she doesn't have school for the next three weeks. We usually race Summer out the door at 7:15 am to her school and turn right back home then head back out again in time for Forrest to start preschool at 9 am. For the next few weeks we can sleep in a bit and Summer can hang around in her pjs while I try to get things put back together around the house. I like this routine.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Super Hero

This Super Hero cape is Forrest's FAVORITE item in our dress-up basket. He puts it on every day at least a few times. And when he's really lucky, I let him wear it while we run errands. Here he is this morning -- I can't get enough. 4 1/2 never looked so cute.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Summer's Bed

When I saw this bed I could feel it screaming at me...
"Make me pretty!"
The best part was that I was able to restore it... one of my very favorite things to do. I found the manufacturer's label on one of the side railings that printed this bed was made in 1961 in Omaha, Nebraska. I love that this has some history to bring into our home. These pictures were taken after the original veneer were removed from the headboard and footboard. The railings were beyond repairable that I had David build a new one.




I scored this bed for $55. After eight cans of primer, a good gallon of white paint and lots of wood filler, this bed is given a new life. I love the look of four poster beds in little girls' rooms... always have.






I kept Summer's quilt from when she was a baby, switched out the fitted sheets and duvet cover with some fun patterns. I love how everything ties together. Most importantly, Summer loves it too.