Vroooooom

Forrest is like a little cartoon character to me. He is so expressive with his face and his little hands are just to die for. I love it. This boy loves to trek around the driveway in his little red Radio Flyer tricycle. Today he rode around while I unloaded the groceries from the car and he was making vroooom sounds around the front yard. I went out to get the mail and he followed me while pedaling. He is a lot of work and into absolutely everything but with his cuteness level off the charts it somehow makes it so enjoyable at the same time. It is not forever that I will be accompanied to the mailbox and around our house by the little red Radio Flyer tricycler. I need to soak it all up now.

Geckos

One of the best things about living right next door to nature is the exposure of wildlife and natural resources to our children. I love it when their curiosity leads them to trying new things. We have so many geckos around here, every time you turn you would see one. Summer is learning how to be quick to catch geckos, but not quite fast enough. She asks David to catch geckos for her so she could hold them as if they were puppies. She knows to hold it so gently. Forrest holds them, too! But he let his go too soon, so that he could come in the house to tell me, "Take a picture of us, please!" I didn't know what was going on until I saw a gecko in Summer's hands then I understood. I, of course, grabbed my camera. So sweet. I absolutely love it.

Trick or Treat

I love Halloween night. I remember being so excited about trick or treating when I was young that I would barely be able to eat dinner. I also remember loving Halloween because that meant my mom would put make up on me. Forrest and Summer lined up in front of the mirror before they headed out the door checking out their costumes. They were tickled! Our neighborhood is a really fun one on Halloween. Lots of kids, parents and grandparents trick or treating. I love it. When it got dark, I took Forrest and Summer up and down our neighborhood street while David passed out candy. We came home with bags full of candy and very sticky faces. A successful night for sure.

Fancy Nancy

thinks that Halloween is scrumptious.

My Pirate... Well, Bat Boy

My Forrest is hilarious. He cracks me up at the right moments whenever I need a "pick-me-up". For the longest time, Forrest had been announcing everyone that he was going to be a Pirate for Halloween. I spotted this adorable bat shirt and decide to take it home with me. Forrest would not let go of the shirt when I showed him, my mistake. The morning of Forrest's Halloween party at preschool, he stood by his bedroom closet with his finger pointing at the bat shirt, quite determined to wear it. I knew I could not change his mind. Here's Forrest trying to imitate "bat" with fangs and wings flying. 

My cute boy. He's even cuter as a bat.

Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch is an hour of fun time after preschool where the kids can stay and eat lunch with their friends. I make it special, because it is not often when they go. It costs an extra $5 each time. Summer and Forrest had been begging me to go since they started school. Last Friday morning, I told the kids they could go Lunch Bunch that day. The kids' faces lit up! They ran to the pantry, took out their lunch boxes and ran around the house squealing. Excited! Forrest was so proud of his box. When we got to the preschool he kept saying to the teachers, "I'm going to Lunch Bunch!" These little things make their childhood special.

Here's a quote I read last night that really stuck to me:

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." -Charles R. Swindoll

This quote made me beautiful, just by being their mommy. It doesn't matter how tired or glamorous I look. Knowing that I'm making their childhood special by doing these little things that are a big deal to them, makes me feel beautiful in a powerful way. I feel so much responsibility to my kids. I have been given these little ones to care for. To love and to teach them... to help them develop to their fullest potential. I am and always will be their number one fan.

Rainbow Pizza

What do you do with two grouchy (very) kids at 4:30 in the afternoon? Why, add sprinkles and craisins to their pizza, of course! It worked like a charm.

Forrest & Summer's Playroom

Our home isn't big, so to make a true playroom, I converted the dining room into a playroom. We almost never use the formal dining room, and since it being right next to the kitchen and laundry room where I spend most of my time, it was an ideal location. I am big on organization. I saw this cute picture from a Pottery Barn Kids catalog recently to get some ideas, here's what we did... David built these two shelves with scrap wood he had left in the garage. I painted summer's in white, and left forrest's natural wood. With a thick rug, mirror and pink/blue baskets from Target, wicker baskets for dress up things, table/chairs (Kidkraft) and an easel (IKEA), the playroom came alive. This is Forrest's favorite hang out place when we are home in the mornings while Summer is in preschool. I love the happy colors. It makes me want to be a little girl all over again and play with them.

Summer's First Sentence!

The look on my face when Summer read her first sentence by herself was unbelievably excited. After reciting the first sentence beautifully, Summer looked up at me and saw my face. She threw her arms up in the air in anticipation of a hug. I gave her the world's biggest hug. We both jumped up and down (and tried not to be so loud to wake up Forrest who was napping). I grabbed my camera and captured this very special milestone. We started on doing the Kindergarten curriculum, working on letters and small words in small steps in the afternoons when she's home from preschool. Summer was quite proud of herself. It is our time together and she's always excited to do "school" at home. I was reminded of how grateful I am to be a mom, Summer's mom. I am one lucky mama to call this little one mine.

Pretty Things

I admit I'm a sucker for all pretty things. I love simple things, yet meaningful. I went out shopping recently to decorate our home for this season with a (very) limited budget. I'm pleased how it turned out, but I think Summer was secretly hoping for those neon orange battery-operated pumpkins blasting brightly that she liked on the aisle while shopping at Home Depot. I have a feeling that when she grows up, becomes a mommy, she will go on the hunt for white and tiger striped pumpkins, orange flowers and simple candles. The kids' artwork are found among the decor... the pine cones they painted and forrest's painted pumpkin from preschool. They make me happy.