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.

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.

Welcome Fall.

The skeletons have arrived in Downtown Northville. We haven't walked around to say HI to them yet - that will come...but we did snap a quick picture by Edgar Allan Poe for Uncle Devin.

Fall also means it's soccer season and we spend a few hours every weekend OUTSIDE watching kids kick a ball into a goal. Good thing they are both good at scoring goals. Nolan doesn't care. A few weekends ago - he weighed in on his attendance requirements: Nope. At least we haven't had to break out the snow pants. Yet.

Ladies Who Lunch

While Jack was at camp - I decided to spend a morning with my Josie. We used to get LOTS of one-on-one time - but then Nolan came along... So last week Josie and I got dressed up and went downtown Northville for a play and lunch.

Our cute local theater is doing a production of Little Red Riding Hood. Josie LOVED it. She was SO into it...so much so that she yelled out at the Big Bad Wolf - not once, but TWICE...DURING the show. Eeeek. It was really funny. And luckily - we were far from Broadway. But she was SO into the play, she couldn't contain her excitement. 

After the play - we grabbed some lunch at a fun local diner and, of course, ice cream - because it was Josie's special day. 

Maple Syrup Tour

On Sunday afternoon Tyson had some work to do, so I loaded up my crew and headed off to the local farm for a maple syrup tour. We took a wagon ride out to the woods and the farmer taught us all about harvesting sap to make syrup.

Nolan, again, was along for the ride.

But these two enjoyed tromping through the woods. See the milk jugs hanging from the trees? They are collecting sap.

Nolan wasn't impressed with the lesson. He decided he needed to nap.

Before we left - this turkey provided us with some quality entertainment. He was pretty vocal with his "gobble gobble" and Jack was LOVING it!

And then Josie fell in love with the horses. She said she wants one. We will let her ask her "papas" (grandpas) for one.

Happy Halloween!

Last night was Trick or Treating in Northville. We had two ninjas and a last minute costume change, Josie decided to go with her Princess costume 100%. She was a pirate for school, but by 4pm her costume was trashed. Good thing we had some backup options.

 Nolan's FIRST Halloween. HI -YA!

 The red ninja is ready for candy.

It was cold. VERY cold. And windy, and rainy, and awful.

Tyson and I needed adult beverages to help warm us up! Our drinks got colder the longer we were out with the kids.

Success! Lots of delicious candy to rot our teeth!

Don't worry - Nolan didn't participate in trick or treating. He passed out candy with grandma & grandpa at home.

Fire Station Field Trip

Last Wednesday Josie, Nolan, and I joined Jack and his class for a field trip to the Northville Fire Station. Josie took it upon herself to join the class. She was an active participant.  Jack was, too, for that matter. He was practically giddy (because as you know, he was a fireman for Halloween - TWO years in a row).

The Fire Chief got into all of his gear to show the kids what a fireman looks like when he responds to a fire.

All of the kids got to get into the big fire truck. Josie showed her lack of school-ness, by butting in front of all of Jack's classmates. Big brother set her straight.

See how giddy Jack was - he struck a pose by the fire truck. 

It's Fire Safety Month! Don't forget to talk to your kiddos about two ways out of your house and a family meeting place! Oh - and check your smoke detectors! {that message brought to you by my former Insurance Agent Self}

Music Makers

My mom and I took the kids to the Northville Farmer's Market on Thursday. The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra was there with instruments for kids to try out. Jack played the violin and Josie tried out the cello. Jack decided after a few minutes he'd like a faster beat...perhaps he's more of a fiddler.

Not surprising - he was pretty dang good on the trombone! I'd rather not foster that one...

 Josie attempted the clarinet, but she has a lot less "hot air" than her brother.

After playing the instruments, we ate lunch and listened to members of the A2SO play for us! It was a very cool way for the kids to explore music!

Soccer Season Wrap Up

Blogging has taken a backseat to pregnancy...which is sad. My apologies. Between heartburn, leg cramps, and some pretty strong Braxton Hicks contractions...plus two kids and my Etsy shop...this mama is reaching her limit. If I make it to August, it will be a minor miracle.

My parents came a couple weekends ago for Jack's last soccer game. They brought these donuts with them...they're called Rise n Roll donuts. The are AMAZING. You can trust me, I know donuts. They literally melt in your mouth. My family refers to them as "crack." So, we may be under surveillance by the FBI... {NSA/FBI - again, just so we are clear, these donuts are addictive and unreal. I've never done crack - because Whitney told me it's whack... When I refer to "crack" it's either in reference to these donuts or my child's pants falling off}

 Moving on...Jack had his last soccer game and he was SO proud of his trophy. He had a great season and learned a lot about the game of soccer. He will play in a fall league starting in September.

Grandpa Jerry & Grandma Shirlee came for Jack's last game. He LOVES having an audience.

After soccer and the pool - we enjoyed lunch out in Northville, followed by ice cream.

Josie was just super pumped about her rainbow ice cream...because she's the girliest girlie girl I know.

Mother's Day

I had an AWESOME Mother's Day. But I felt a tad guilty...because I didn't spend the day with the people who make me a "mother." To be fair, I spend every waking moment with them - so I was actually thankful for the Mother's Day I had {not that I don't love my family...I do}.

Anyway - Sunday morning we woke up. I got some great gifts: a new candle, a teapot, some maternity clothes, and a pair of stay-at-home Mom pants {aka: yoga pants}...add in some hugs and kisses from my kids - it was already a great day. But then I packed the kids up & sent them off to the lake with Tyson (and Nancy). And I had an ENTIRE day ahead of me. I didn't know where to start.

I started with a project that began last August. This is embarrassing. Here it goes: I started painting Josie's room when we moved into our house in August. Basically - I got sidetracked...for MANY months and I also "lost" the can of paint in the garage all winter. So I decided Mother's Day was THE DAY to get that project finished. I spent the morning "framing" the baseboards, door, closet, window, etc. Then took a lunch break.

I ate lunch in a restaurant BY MYSELF - with a book. Amazing. Then I got a car wash - What's that I hear? Nothing? No screaming? Amazing. Then I vacuumed out my car - again...no one yelled at me for being too loud or that I needed to "rescue" a toy. Amazing. After that I was feeling very accomplished. I stopped at the nail salon for a pedicure. You guessed it - Amazing.

Back at home I kept working on Josie's room. Tyson called to say he'd be home around 9pm. I took the dogs on a walk, did some laundry, and vacuumed. Then I waited for the gang to arrive. Josie was REALLY excited about her finished room...and so was Tyson. And I was able to say, "See everything I can do when you give me an entire day?"

Here is the finished product. Still need to add new curtains. Maybe by...oh, next March - that will get done.

Busy Saturday

Saturday morning was Jack's 2nd soccer game! We were all happy to have warmer temps this time around. Jack played well and had fun! {seriously, how awesome is the pink skirt on the soccer field?}

After soccer we decided to take an adventure with Grandma Nancy to a nearby farm. We got to see lots of animals!

Nancy made friends with a llama. They chatted. I still think she should have taken him home. Denny would love having a llama friend around.

Jack got into a "conversation" with a hen & a rooster. It was hilarious. The hen would cluck, the rooster would cock-a-doodle-doo, and Jack would talk to both of them.

After a nice lunch out in Northville, we treated ourselves to some Mother's Day ice cream. Definitely a fun, but busy day!

Outside

Until we got - yet MORE snow - we'd been spending lots of time enjoying Spring. We took our first wagon ride through the neighborhood.

We spent a morning doing a RAOK for Christian at a local park. We picked up trash. Can you tell I'm not a germaphobe?

The kids have been spending lots of time on the play set and attracting other neighborhood kids - which in Jack's eyes, is awesome! Here they are eating some carrots for an afternoon snack... I may, or may not, have been sneaking Easter Candy from the kitchen.

And finally, Tyson & Jack held open tryouts in the front yard on Sunday. We're building a Little League Dynasty in Northville. You heard it here first.