Preschool or BUST!

Two weeks down!  And mom is super pumped when he gets into the car wearing the same pair of pants!  Potty training rocks! 

Dad did his hair super special...as usual for any important event:)

 And mom tried to get him to give his best smile...

 We've had a lot of alone time since Lauren is now gone ALL day and at times he is driving me bananas, because I know he is a bit lost with Lauren gone.  But after two weeks I feel like we are getting into our rhythm.  It's been the Lauren show for awhile, it's time that William became the starring act.  We had a great mom and Wills day today...a few errands, but he was so happy to be with me.  He got his haircut and while waited he told me stories and we read books, and then came home to POOP...cuz you know, that's a big deal when you are still training!  And then headed to the grocery store to sample everything and anything he could, and then had lunch while hearing all his tall tales...and then walked to play on the playground and get Lauren from school.  This may sound insanely boring, but we were so engaged with each other.  He needs the one on one time and even if it's the grocery store, William still loves to be with just me.  I need to remember this...stay sweet dear boy!

I just love this picture.  I'm pretty particular about graphic tee's, hiding the ones I hate.  But I splurged on this spiderman shirt from Nordstrom because these are all he wants to wear!  It is crazy soft, I fine myself hugging him extra when he is wearing this!  This one may be our next purchase.

Enjoy the weekend, enjoy the changing season!
XOXO
Aubrey

Kindergarten Round Up

We survived the first week!  

Mostly smiles from everyone, and only a tiny bit of tears from me.

Kindergarten is tiring though...even for me!

It's great to be back into the routine and Lauren has been very independent each morning with little motivation to get moving and get her tasks complete.  She seems to love her teacher and recess, and buying chocolate milk at school.  No reservations about helping herself and telling me I needed to set up an account for her to buy it.  Fast learner.

 As for me, it's been hard to have her gone all day.  I was completely READY for school to start, but didn't realize that I wasn't ready for all day.  I haven't lead on that I missed her, but am looking forward to a lot of time together this weekend.  

And Billy was so happy he could see Lauren off on her first day to his elementary school alma mater.  Two Trombly Terriers right there!

But this little guy was a complete mess...crying and fighting us before we even left the house.  He didn't want sissy to start school.  He eventually calmed down and seemed happy to have mom all to himself. 

 It's going to be a great year...adjustments for all of us, but excited to see her grow and learn!

Have a great weekend

XOXO

Aubrey

 

  

Fun on the Riverwalk

Most of us here in Michigan said goodbye to summer yesterday and hello to school this am.  Were you ready?  I thought I wasn't, but starting our routine felt so good.  William still has one more week off and our first full day for Lauren is tomorrow.  Full post Wednesday!

Labor Day weekend was a little football, a little pool, family time, date night, and even getting stuff done at home.  That extra day really helps!  But our first stop is one we should have made a long time ago.  We needed to get out of the house and wanted to take the kids on a little adventure.  I looked up a few things in the area, including the Riverwalk in downtown Detroit.  I've seen several facebook posts from friends, but had never been.  We have been missing out!

The heart of the Riverwalk is about a 10-15 minute drive from our house and parking was surprisingly so easy.  A free 2 hour lot was located right near the pavillion where the playground, concession and merry go round is located. 

 The kids thought we were on vacation.  Everything was so pretty and the views were perfect.

 Comfortable chaise lounge chairs were everywhere and I wish I would have packed a picnic lunch.  There were tables and plenty of spots on the grass!

 And these little libraries were everywhere.  We grabbed a copy of Dumbo, sat on a bench and enjoyed a story.

But this was the highlight!  It wasn't very warm, but I grabbed their swimsuits and a towel just in case.  Lauren and William were totally surprised when I said their suits were packed.  The pictures tell the rest...

 

  We ended our little adventure with an ice cream and were wishing we had found this little gem sooner!

XOXO

Aubrey

Summer Fun {Finding Neverland}

About a ten minute drive from our house along Lake St. Clair is the former Edsel Ford Mansion.  The home and grounds are now open for tours, weddings, and other events.  This summer they were hosting character weekends with a Neverland theme.

I didn't know anyone that had been to the event, so I wasn't sure how age appropriate it was.  But it was right on the money!  You were given a map to help you find clues and hidden letters that would eventually make a word and you could turn in to receive a prize.  Lauren and William can't read, but with us reading the clues, they could find them!  Along the way we met Wendy and Tinkerbell...pixie dust away!!

One of the little cottages on the grounds were transformed into the Darling's home.  It also included a pirate/peter pan room and mermaid room where the kids could dress up.

 We also got to step inside Tinkerbell's house!

Behind her house were missing shadows, games, and a craft!

 While looking for the clues, Lauren became very interested in finding the mermaids...wouldn't you know, there was an actual mermaid lagoon!

 

 Look closely, I think there is one hiding way back there;)

Enjoy your Sunday!
XOXO

Aubrey

Summer Fun {Ooh La La Beauty Salon}

Remember when I surprised Lauren with some pampering at the Ooh La La Beauty Salon?

She has wanted me to recreate that afternoon for awhile now, but with friends.

Billy was out of town and a few other dad's were away, so it seemed like a great time to host a few girls for a little salon fun!

 The set up was simple but impressive to the girls (and Wills).  I snipped a few flowers from our garden, picked up a bottle of sparkling lemonade and had chairs for them to sit in while they waited for their "appointment."

Enjoying a beverage before the fun began!

 This time I made the banana and honey mask that Fancy Nancy references in the book and we applied it while they were "relaxing" with cucumbers on their eyes.  They enjoyed the mask for all of five minutes, but I think it added to the whole experience:)

While soaking their feet they got to enjoy a parfait...also part of the story and a touch Lauren wanted me to include.  But again, so easy.  Vanilla yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola.

 They picked the color they wanted and the mom's painted away! 

  Red, purple, and pink piggies for all the little ladies and Wills too!

Maybe next year we'll add manicures;)

XOXO

Aubrey

Summer Fun {Greenfield Village}

As promised, another post from one of our favorite places.  

Greenfield Village never disappoints and even though we've been there a ton, we keep finding something new on each visit!

 On this visit we rode the Model T cars for the first time, I'm not sure why I bypassed this before, as the wait wasn't too long and the kids loved riding in the old car.

There is also a new playground that just opened last fall.  The kids could have stayed there for a good part of the day.  It's designed to resemble a 1930's construction site, but has so much of what kids want today.  The boiler below is interactive and sprays and mists water depending on what you touch, and what parent doesn't love the rubber surface for safer landings!

William had great aspirations to conquer this rock wall, but it wasn't working out for him.

Kids seemed to be hovering around this hand pump water station.  I wish I had snapped a large picture showing how the water travels down through the wood basin.  The whole playground was very interactive and a great addition to the village.

It was just the kids and I on this trip.  We've gone solo, in a small group, and in a large group.  We always have fun, but the visit seems more special when it's just us.  We seem to get to see more and I get to enjoy the one on one time that can sometimes be lost when we're home and a zillion things start to distract me.

Because it was just us, there was time to stop and smell the flowers.  The gardens outside the chapel were beautiful!

Puppet show!

And of course, the carousel ride!  

Lauren picked a rather famous horse...one that Clint Eastwood (we were told) took a ride on!

And of course, a stop for ice cream!

Posting these pictures and reliving our visit has me wanting to head back this fall.  It might just be a trip for Wills and I, with Lauren at school.  Shhhh, don't tell her!

Thanks for letting me share our day at Greenfield Village again!  

You can see other visits here, and here

XOXO

Aubrey