Pink

This girl - and her love for all things pink. She gets to dress herself on Wednesday, Friday, and the weekends (unless we have something "special" to attend) - and she ALWAYS comes down head to toe in PINK. I try to be supportive, but it's hard...especially when you just don't love the color pink.

Josie: Mom, what's your favorite color?
Me: Hmmm...I really like blue.
Josie: BLUE? No. You like PINK.
Me: No, I actually like blue.
Josie: No. Pink.

Every day. Same conversation. Just an example of four year old mind games.

Nolan Eats

He eats often. All day. He's just really excited about food. This was a "Kids Eat Free" brunch. Yes, please.

 His current favorite food are bananas. And I can't be sure if he loves them because they're delicious OR because he can say "nana" and get what he wants.

If I open the fridge or the pantry - he's in it! Looking for something to eat.

Tis the Season

Christmas season is well underway - which means I've been buried in Etsy orders and FINALLY have that finished. Taking a much needed break for a week to enjoy time with the family. Our house is festive, so that's a start.

 We also wrote letters to Santa. He knows EXACTLY what everyone wants...today...

Nolan and I have made many trips to Target. He's obsessed with the red balls outside and MUST touch them or sit on them. Every.Single.Time.

And this is my pile of Christmas. It's embarrassing - but the truth. Boxes arrive and they get thrown on the mountain. I'll get around to wrapping...maybe.

She's 4.

This Sleeping Beauty (see what I did there?) is officially FOUR today! I just can't deal. Josie is a ball of energy. Mostly happy - or fake crying. She's funny - she legitimately makes me laugh every day.  She is feisty. Should have known - the baby girl who couldn't figure out how exactly to enter this crazy world - must be feisty. She's loud. She talks and screams and laughs LOUDLY. To her credit - with two brothers - she's just trying to make herself heard. She's "like a Boss Lady" every day. She directs me around the house and keeps all of us in check.

Josie has a free spirit, a love for learning, and a knack for making people smile. She's outgoing and friendly...fun to be around. She's the life of any party. She loves her brothers SO much...and her papas (grandpas), too. She can go from playing with her Princess barbies to throwing elbows on a soccer field (while wearing PINK, of course) - without missing a beat.

Josie - you are amazing. We love you just the way you are... Forever.
XOXO,
Mom

Happy 10.

Today we will stuff ourselves with turkey and pie...and a bunch of other deliciousness... And remember back 10 years ago when we said I DO. It was an amazing day. Thankful for this life we have created together. Thankful for your support and love. Thankful that you have always pushed me to be the best version of myself. Happy 10 year, Tyson! XOXO

Success!

This is what happens when you say, "Josie - look like a princess."
All credit goes to Sleeping Beauty.

We had a cold, but successful family picture session in Downtown Northville! There were a few tears, some pink noses, and one injury... But I will go ahead and call it MISSION ACCOMPLISHED because Christmas cards have been ordered. So there.

As you can see - we had our share of outtakes. Once pictures were finished - we turned them loose in the town center. I asked the photographer to keep shooting because I knew she would capture their personalities.

For a girl who threw a FIT about taking dance classes...Josie sure knows how to put on a show.

Christmas Cards will be in mailboxes soon...or at least before Christmas.

Happy Friday

We're HAPPY it's Friday! And hoping for some HAPPY faces this weekend as we take some family pictures. I'm not above using ice cream to bribe people to JUST SMILE for the dang pictures- Tyson included.

We can all take a moment to remember last year's debacle - when Josephine acted like we were torturing her:

Proof:

Remember that time I told you Nolan was a terror after 5pm? I wasn't lying:

This is toddler for: WHERE'S MY DINNER? {mic drop}

Dinner is Nolan approved

By 5pm (and even AFTER a snack or two) Nolan is a terror. Actually, he just terrorizes the entire kitchen - but LORD HAVE MERCY - he makes me crazy. He is into everything, yelling at me (I swear!), and looking to empty every cabinet he can. I'm just over here counting down the minutes until Tyson walks in the door.

Last night - Nolan was up to his usual antics...but then, it was SPAGHETTI night. And he had a serious attitude change:

He was one happy ONE year old. Mom's Spaghetti: for the win!

True Life: I'm the sister.

When your brothers think they're SO COOL and don't let you cruise in their police car. Girl, I hear you. I know. The feelings are real. Fast forward about 8 years and I'll be like, "Jos, get your flip flops, we're going to get pedicures."

Election Tuesday in the D

Yesterday was Election Day - and also "Teacher Work Day" at BOTH schools. Conspiracy. So I suggested we visit Tyson at work. We piled into my car and took off for Detroit. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. Gorgeous. We started off walking along the Detroit River and found a HUGE old steamboat called the Detroit Princess.

Make sure you click on this picture so you can see her true disappointment.

As we were walking up to the boat the conversation went like this:
Me: "Ohhhh, wow, Jos - look this is called the Detroit Princess. How cool is that?"
Josie: :SQUEAL: " I WUV PRINCESSES!!!"
We spend a few minutes looking at the boat as we walk past it. We are about to walk away.
Me: "Josie, sit down - I want to get your picture by the boat."
Josie: "I'm SO mad. I wanted to see the Princess."
Me: "It's not an actual princess, Josie, it's just a boat called Detroit Princess."
Josie: (as I'm taking this picture) "I don't like THIS princess."

We walked through Hart Plaza. It was pretty empty - but that made it even better for the kids to run through. Nolan took in the city sites.

After lunch at American Coney (because, when in Detroit...) we found the Detroit Water Ice Factory. You can read about it on the sign. Interesting idea. Love that it is benefiting the Detroit community. FYI - Josie got Pink Lemonade and it was super tasty! And pink.

I'd like to tell you it was a stress-free, fun-loving two hours with Daddy downtown - but you all know better. Why? Because. Kids.

We set off to spend time together: check.

Enjoy the weather: check.

And eat lunch: check.

Buh Bye, Halloween

I don't want to hate on Halloween - because we do enjoy it. But holy cow - this year - I feel like it lasted FOREVER. It was a LONG month. Last week alone - we had 3 different Halloween celebrations...all leading up to Halloween Night. Phew.

 Wonder Woman had a party on Thursday. She was rocking her costume like a true super hero.

Friday - Nolan, Josie, and I went to Jack's school to watch him walk in the school parade. He walked with his teacher, who dressed like a hotdog. Classic.

 Jack walked the whole way saluting people. It was hilarious.

 Then - finally - Saturday night it was GO time. It was also rainy and cold...which basically has come to mean HALLOWEEN in Michigan. (3/3 for COLD & WET.) As you can see - Charlie Brown was bundled WAY up. And please excuse the placement of Snoopy. Typical dog. Nolan was also the keeper of the Bud Lights. He got a pack of M&Ms from the first house we stopped at and ate them in the wagon for the rest of the trip. Easiest trick or treating participant ever.

Here is the Trick or Treating crew before we left. As you can see - Wonder Woman was upset. "Wonder Woman DOESN'T WEAR A COAT!!!" It's true, but I'm 99% sure she WOULD wear one IF she lived in Michigan.

And, finally, the loot. It was a fun night! But I don't hesitate when I say, "BRING ON THE PUMPKIN PIE!"

Soccer Starlet

This weekend marks the end of the fall soccer season. Both Jack & Josie had a great season and played really well. They would both be best described as "aggressive minded" players. Last week Josie scored a goal and then turned around and yelled "IN YO FACE!" - it was a moment in parenting when you want to crawl under a rock...but it's also slightly humorous. Slightly. We DID have a long talk about sportsmanship. But you can't say she isn't driven to win.

Jack will move right into Fall Indoor. So soccer season continues...

Happy Fall

 The grass is dying, the leaves are falling, and the air in Michigan is cool & crisp.

Despite the cooler temps - we are still trying to spend some time outside. Because soon - it will be freezing and we will be inside for the winter.

 Josie is officially a tree hugger. I'm guessing she will be a tree hugger both literally (as shown) and figuratively.

And in case you missed it - Nolan is walking like crazy these days. He's starting to look more sober when he walks - which is nice. And he is getting faster. Time for momma to lace up the running shoes.

Friday Flashback: Halloween

Throwing it back to Halloween 1988 or 1989?!? I was a Warsaw cheerleader, Joe was a robot, and Jon was a pumpkin. Good times.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Nancy!

Happy birthday today - to Grandma Nancy! We hope you have a GREAT day...after work is over.

XOXOXO

Muffin as big as your Head

While we were at my parents' house - Nolan discovered Martin's muffins. He insisted on having one and eating it like a big boy. I eventually made him share with his sister - but he wasn't happy about it.

Halloween Christmas in Indiana

Last weekend we headed south to Indiana for some family time. My grandparents are heading to Florida soon and we got together for a Halloween Christmas gathering at their house. My kids get SO excited for these get togethers...for a lot of reasons: 1) there are always so many kids to play with 2) Gigi always has plenty of sweets

We did some family pumpkin carving. Uncle Jon helped Josie gut her pumpkin...but somehow I ended up carving 3 pumpkins (one for each kid).

Josie had a blast with her cousins Amelia & Emma. And they all LOVED playing with my cousin Justin's daughter, Ada. Josie had her first "unofficial" sleepover with Millie & Emma. We went over after she was asleep to hang out with Joe & Gina...and then brought her home with us at 11pm. But she has made it very clear that she would like to move to Warsaw to live with them.

Nolan pretty much ate the entire time we were home. Here he was eyeing my pumpkin roll. He may have had a bite...or three.

 Hanging with Connor - Justin's oldest - and, yes, still eating...

Walking it off, playing some soccer with the big kids....exercising.

 Oh, wait, nope - never mind ...more eating. Grass anyone?!?

My three, plus Ada's twin - Owen. He and Jack did some wrestling in the yard. Jack was in heaven.

Of course, having Uncle Jon home from Florida was a highlight. He brought Cassie, too...so he was even more popular than usual.