William's Two and a Saint Patrick's Day To Do!

With almost a week until William's birthday, I still hadn't made any plans for his party. Very unlike me.  My wheels are normally spinning months in advance, but this whole house up for sale thing had consumed me.  A quick decision and an email invite later, and I was in business planning his little party.

In an effort to keep things simple I reused last year's Saint Patrick's Day theme and why not!?!

I think William had a great time and loved having a few buddies over to celebrate with him.

I love having parties for the kids at home, but there is a lot work that goes into it.  I'm usually stressing and regretting the day of but not yesterday.  Besides reusing the decorations, I kept the menu simple and didn't have the stress of cleaning the house because it already was!  This may have been our last party at this house so maybe that even added to excitement of wanting to host.  Thanks to all who came and celebrated!

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Even before I picked up the clearance train track, William has been loving all things trains...or "choo choo" as he says.  So, I decided to add one little touch in honor of his choo choo obsession.  I combined the two themes and I'll share that tomorrow!

XOXO

Aubrey

First Snow

If you live anywhere near me you woke up to a light dusting on Sunday morning.  When you have two little ones, you wake up to an "IT SNOWED!!!"  Last year, was the mildest winter I've ever seen and not that I'm complaining, but if you were a kid...you were robbed.  It may have been a dusting, but it was William's first time playing in the snow.

Even snow angels can be made in the lightest of snowfall.  

I know the pictures can sometimes paint a more magical experience.  But truth be told, it was freezing and they lasted all of twenty-five minutes!

And in those twenty-five minutes, William's mittens came off once every two minutes.

Mittens or no mittens, he really did love the snow.  He was having a hard time getting around in all the gear...

and all I could think of was this!

"I can't put my arms down."

via

Even though it was short lived, hot cocoa and marshmallows are always a must.  I do hope that this winter will bring some sledding and building snowmen, but be careful what you wish for, right?

XOXO

Aubrey

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Remember William's long, flowing, DARK locks?

The rule of thumb seems to be to wait until a baby turns one before cutting their hair.  I was pushing for his first haircut right after six months, but Billy fought me.

 He finally gave in after several people insinuated he was a girl.  Right around eight months he had his first haircut. 

 And since then William has had eight or nine more haircuts.  More than Lauren, she hasn't had her hair cut since March!

After his last haircut I started to notice that he was becoming a little blondie.  I must admit that I love blondes, probably because I'm so dark...I mean look at how dark my hair is compared to my kids.  I'd say he is all Crawford there, but my brother is and always has been a toe head.

And before you say it's just sun kissed, I'll stop you.  

Wills keeps those locks covered when he's catching rays.

For all the readers who know we've had feeding and weight issues with William, I'm so happy to say he's gaining more weight and most days we can get him to eat three meals a day.  The doctor suggested we start supplementing with pediasure once a day and it's seemed to help his appetite overall.

XOXO

Aubrey

Backyard Fun

 I don't have a lot of words from our Saturday morning.  

It was warm.

And this is easy and entertaining.

 

Teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini

Lil dude's trunks just wouldn't stay up!

I probably said "don't drink the water" twenty times, before adding "if you do it again, I'll dump the pool."  Did they stop?  Nope.  Did I dump?  Nope.  

 

I'll be back tomorrow with a mini-project I did for William's room.  Tick, tock.


XOXO


Aubrey

Summer Lovin'

We've been going on vacation around Memorial Day the last few years and it always ignites this need to make this summer the best one.  I don't know if it's because summer is short and winter is long or having kids, but I never want it pass me by.  

We started strong this week.  We bought a zoo.  Membership, that is:)  Sadly, we never made it there once last summer (using new baby excuse) but plan on visiting a bunch this year.

It's five minutes from our house.  And dad has a pass too, so he can take the kiddies without me.  Bonus!

Never the less, I'm making a summer bucket list.  Wanna join in?

I've done it before and even carrying a few things over from years past.

We get busy.  And between vacations, summer camps, and swim lessons, I want to make sure I do a few things for me and for us.  I'm not just someone who picks up the kids and takes them strawberry picking because it popped into my head.  We'll go, but I will have researched it online and had it on the calendar for a week.  Not all the time, today I  surprised myself.  We took a long walk and stopped so Lauren could "climb trees," then dragged out all the water toys and had a backyard picnic lunch.  A+ for this mom!

I can get sidetracked with an open calendar.  Lost in my everyday responsibilities.  And while I'm rarely spontaneous, I'm gonna make it look like I am to my mini-me planner in training.  I'm finishing the list and will post next week.  

I'd LOVE to hear some things you want to do this summer.  Do share!

Trip photos?  They're coming.  We swapped memory cards and I just now have them all.  All 692!  Yeah, um, yeah.




XOXO


Aubrey

Lovey.

Publicly he's known as Wills or William.  Semi-publicly we slip in a Buddy, Broski, and I can't even tell you how I gave him this nickname, Big Money.  But privately and only to me, he is Lovey.  My little lovey guy.

He is communicating more and more with us, even doing things he know will get a laugh.  As well as doing things he knows are wrong, like repeatedly pulling wine bottles off the rack.  I brought back "danger," because I mama's gotta have her wine, not the fear of broken glass and bare feet.

He can say mama and dada, plays picaboo and clap his hands.  He babbles a ton and with so much inflection.  Sounding much like me if I were trying to be a ventriloquist.  And today, he saw me giving Lauren some chips from a bag.  Well, Big Mon's wanted chips too. He pointed and grunted.  I'll take it.

 "I'm thinkin' this isn't the right way, but I always do EXACTLY what she says."

These pictures just make my heart happy.  

Growing up we had a similar entryway in our house and Sean use to look out of the window and wait for my dad to get home from work.  

It's his new favorite spot, and I think he loves it more when Lauren isn't there.  He is a busy guy and constantly exploring, but William explores just by taking it all in too. I'm lucky because he is usually such a sweetheart when I run errands while Lauren is in school, just happy as can be while I grocery shop.  If only I could be that happy grocery shopping.

Wills wanted to be right in the middle of the reading action, a very rare moment for him.   As soon as his bottle was finished, he was on the move.  He may be still in his stroller, but when you know you'll be caged for the next ten hours...brother's gotta move while he can.

I know Lovey.  Sometimes, love does stink.

XOXO

Aubrey

Summer...come back!

I should just be happy that spring is here, but the tease we had last week is making me lust for all things summer.  Living in Michigan, we usually get a 48 hour heat wave that has us dreaming about summer BBQ's and sandals, not actually doing it!  

We enjoyed a picnic at the park, several walks even into the usual cold evening hours, and some patio cocktails.  But because the warm weather stayed so long, I took it a step further.  

If you've ever paid a visit to our backyard you know it's a good 10-15 degrees warmer than the surrounding areas.  The Beacon of Heat is what I like to call it, so while it may have been 70 degrees most places, it was at least 80 degrees in our yard.  

When in Rome, right?  I pulled out some summer water toys, put the kids in their bathing suits and like most middle-aged white males....put my shorts on too:)

The fifteen day forecast isn't looking that sunny, but it's not snowing either. 

XOXO

Aubrey