Summertime Fun in the Sun

The time of year for swimming is upon us once again. It's that time of year where you walk out the door, it's so muggy that you can wipe the moisture off. You have to love Kansas, one week its so cool that you are wearing long sleeves and jeans and the next you are so hot, you can't barely stand it! Yesterday was one of those days, that it was almost unbearable. I decided to go to Target and buy a new kiddie pool. Of course I wanted it big enough that I could sit in it too! After all, I have to be out there with them so why not join them?

Yesterday, as soon as I got the pool all aired up, a thunderstorm came our way. So instead we spent this morning filling the pool with water. Though I think we enjoyed spraying each other with the hose rather than filling the pool. The kids really got a kick out of splashing each other!! Once the pool was full, well mostly, we played in the water. It was COLD!! And it felt good! I tried to get the kids to dive for their fish with the little play net, but Bubbie didn't want his fish in the water. I don't think he fully understood the game, in time he will. Wasn't long after we got in, Bubbie tired of the water, though Boo did not want to get out at all. More than anything, I think Bubbie was tired of the cold water. With a little coaxing, I was able to get Boo out of the pool, she is my water baby. I don't think Boo could ever tire of the water! When we came inside, the kids snacked on frozen yogurt. Healthy, don't you know. Sometimes you just have to throw the rules out and just have some fun!! All and all I think the kids had fun this morning and I think later when the sun goes down a little, we will head out for a swim again!

Playing in the pool. Bubbie sporting his new summer hairdo.

I also found that Bubbie's net works great for getting leaves and BUGS out of the pool!! We found a slug in the pool this morning, YUCK!!

Weekend Trip to Grandma's and Grandpa's

Bubbie and Daddy waiting in the car, on the way home. I was taking Pookie for a potty break.

It's hard to believe that it's been a week ago already that we headed up to my Parent's house. Last Friday I had a friend graduate from JCCC and I wanted to be there to support him with his family. The kids stayed with my Mom, Daddy went to the Airport with my sister to pick up the BIL and Dad and I went to the graduation. It was quite the weekend! It started a well-intentioned weekend and ended up with Bubbie getting sick. Bubbie threw up Saturday night in my Parent's living room. Let me tell quite the experience for my Sister and BIL, as they do not have children.

I find it kind of funny because my Sister was talking about how my BIL wants to have kids, but I'm thinking this weekend may have put the kibosh on that. Bubbie was completely not himself this last weekend. He was combative and grumpy. He screamed and cried, for what seemed like the whole weekend! Of course we knew it was because he was sick, but still seemed out of the ordinary for him. Honestly, no fun to be around.

On our drive home, Bubbie cried and screamed the whole 2 and half hour drive. Yes, the WHOLE drive home. He also hadn't eaten since Friday evening. You can imagine how worried we were starting to get. Finally when we arrived back home, we decided it best to take Bubbie to the ER. After our visit, we learned that Bubbie had ear infections as well as a UTI. His first UTI and I hope his last. Poor kid. Once we got home, we put him to bed and he wasn't happy about that. So unhappy that he told me to, "Go away, I don't like you!" Hard words for a Mommy to hear. I told him fine because right now I wasn't liking him very much either! Finally I snuggled with him and got him settled into bed with three pillows so that he was half sitting, but mainly so that his ears were elevated. Important when dealing with ear infections!

Thankfully, Bubbie is on the mend now and back to his lovable goofy self. He is also thankfully eating us out of house and home. I suppose he has to make up for all the days he missed!

Catching Up Part VI: Little Home Project

The window in our front door has been weighing on me for quite some time. When we first moved into the house, the owners before us had some fabric hanging over it with two hooks. I thought this looked tacky so of course I took it down. Problem became that when people came to the front door, there wasn't any privacy. I had the choice of answering the door or hiding. Hiding was out if I was sitting on our love seat though, as it is positioned in front of the window.

So the debate became, what are we going to do about this window? Tint it? Stain it? Then finally one day I was watching some show about home projects and there it was! On the show they were decorating a plain mirror in the house using a window frost. Let me tell how incredibly easy this is!! All I had to do was tape off my glass and the stuff comes in a bottle similar to spray paint. I sprayed it on and one hour later, it was done! Finally we have our privacy and I can choose not to answer the door the next time a solicitor comes knocking. By the way, why do they always come at nap time? That is really annoying!

Before picture of the window after I taped it off.

After photo, once it had dried.

Later, I did end up frosting the border too. I did a lighter finish so that I can still see out, but they can't see in! I wanted to leave a border, but I found that you could still see in without much effort. Overall I think this is a great temporary fix until we are ready to replace the door.

Catching Up Part V: New Beds and Clean Rooms

You know the saying, "take a picture, it lasts longer"? Well this seems to be true when it comes to the cleanliness of Bubbie's and Boo's rooms. So I took a picture!! Of course I also took a picture to show their new "big kid" beds. I can't believe how quickly they grow. It's quite a shock to realize that there is no longer a crib in our house. Kinda weird. It in one way makes me feel a weight off of my shoulders to know I no longer have an infant to care for, but it also makes me miss my babies! I'm so torn.

Moving on to bigger and better things, I really have to thank my FIL for helping us to get Bubbie's bed. And thank you to my MIL for giving us the daybed for Boo's room. I also have to thank my Parents for giving us the mattress for Bubbie's bed. It's because of them we are able to move the kids onto "big kid" beds! I'm telling you, we have made out like bandits!!

BTW, notice how Bubbie has to find any opportunity to get in front of the camera! He cracks me up!!

Catching Up Part IV: Bathroom Makeover

We recently gave our bathroom a much needed makeover! We put in a new mirror and floors!! We also replaced our shower curtain, curtain rod and put down a new bath rug. It looks like an entirely new room and I find that I actually enjoy spending time in the bathroom now. I especially love how I don't have to worry about kids getting a staple in their foot or tripping on the old tore up flooring. It's always nice when a living space is finally a living space!

Here is the link to the post I did, before photos of the bathroom. In that post are also some photos of the hallways before and after, so you have to look past those.

Looking into the bathroom from the hallway. Showing off the new mirror.

Also looking in from the hallway.

Looking in from the Master Bedroom. There is a pocket door between the bathroom and MB. One of my favorite features of the bathroom.

The new bath rug. Much needed as tile is very slippery when you step out of the shower. We learned the hard way, hehehe.

The new shower curtain. I think this is my favorite shower curtain of all shower curtains of the past.

When it came to the bathroom, it was hard to decide what to do with the blue tile. I knew I didn't want the undertaking of tearing it out and replacing it. Besides I actually like the vintage tile, sounds crazy I know. We tried so many different wall colors, but none looked good with the tile. Then one day I was at a play date and one of the other Moms was talking about the tile in her bathroom, in a house about the same age as ours. One of the other Moms said something about sticking to neutrals and letting the tile be the accent color. Genius!! Why hadn't I thought of that?!

After having the idea strike me, we now have a neutral shade on the walls and the new floor tile had neutral shades with hints of blue. As well as I went with a neutral choice on the shower curtain and bath rug. I have to say, the bathroom almost has a spa look to it now. It's fabulous!! I should mention though that the pictures don't do it justice as they were taken with my cell phone, but it gives a good idea!

Catching Up Part III: Easter Follow-Up

As promised, here are more Easter photos. I was going to add them to the last post, but I found that it wouldn't allow me to. I did love the kid's outfits for this Easter, they looked absolutely adorable, though I may be bias.

Posing in their matching outfits, adorable!!

The Easter Bunny brought Bubbie Monster Trucks, his favorite!

And for Boo, My Little Pony! She loves MLPs!!

Below are the photos from our Easter Egg Hunt of which the kids absolutely loved. Bubbie was so helpful in making sure that Boo had her share of the eggs in her basket. He is so kind and good at sharing, most of the time.

And after the Easter Egg Hunt, it was time for Deviled eggs! Yummy!!

Catching Up Part II: Boo's Second Birthday

It's amazing how quickly the last two years have passed and even more amazing is that I'm now a Mom of two toddlers and still have my sanity in tact! Though some days may seem questionable like the days when I put the milk in the cabinet and the cereal in the fridge. I do have many a morning like that! As much as I would like to present an image of pure perfection, life is not without it's moments that make us real. Perhaps like my very embarrassing moment at Heartsprings this last week, oh that was a rough one. Now that I'm off topic, I'll bring it back to what this post is about, Boo's 2nd Birthday.

We had Boo's party at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. I have to say that this is probably one of the better Birthday Parties that we've done! Despite it's setbacks as I mentioned in a post before, it really was a great party. I think the best part was the doughnut cake!! It was delicioso!!

Boo especially loved the balloons. I think five or six of them were popped that day and each time, everyone in the store jumped. I'm sure Krispy Kremes was ready for us to leave when we finally did, hehehehe.

Boo sitting with one of my long time best friend's step child. R is such a cute kid and he amazes me with how well spoken he is and he isn't even three yet!! He and Boo became best buds at the birthday party.

Bubbie with his favorite person. Even more of a favorite over Mommy, but Grandmas usually are! They spoil you!!

Watching the doughnuts go by. Yum, yum!

Boo with her current favorite person, unless we are grocery shopping. Then it becomes Mommy because I don't make her sit in the cart.

Warning: Image may make you want to lick your screen. Or so I've been told anyway!

Doughnut decorating was the big hit of this party, other than the doughnut cake. The kids loved making a mess with the gooey chocolate and sprinkles!!

Time to blow out the candle!! Boo still needed a little help with that, but she kinda tried. Not really.

I think this picture pretty much sums up the deliciousness of the doughnuts, LOL!

When it came time to open gifts, I would say Boo was into it for about one minute and then when she was done, she was done.

This is Boo when she is done.

I really have to thank everyone that came out to help us to celebrate Boo, for her special day! You all really made the party fun and enjoyable!! Here is to another year that has come and gone and many more to come!