Look Who Passed the Texas State BAR Exam!

I am so proud of him!
Looks like we get to keep our house after all! ;-)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

It's off to pack I go!

Didn't I just do this?

I mean, really!

I've started to pull out the boxes and every time I think of what I have left to do, it sets my heart fluttering all over again.

This time it will be worth it though because I know we'll be in one place for longer than three years.

In our very own house.

With our very own garage.

And our very own backyard where we can throw rascally boys who won't walk the plank ;-)

But in the mean time...

It's STILL packing.

With a baby that could come at any time.

And with a toddler who says "Up!" all day and wants to know what I'm doing with all of those lovely boxes that look like such fun to explore.

Wish me luck.

I need it!

First Morning Light

As soon as the first rays of sun pierce the blinds, we hear a soft knocking at Peyton's door. We open it to find a tousle haired little boy clutching his water bottle and blanket while rubbing the sleep from his eyes. It's not long before he's wide awake and the pitter patter timpani of his feet can be heard echoing in the halls and around the living room.

His mission: To follow Dad as closely as possible until he leaves for work.

Mission: Generally accomplished.

These boys are the best of buddies- they are often wrestling around, chasing each other, going for 'rides' together which can either mean Peyton sitting in the laundry basket which is then pushed by Dad or a climb onto Dad's back for a makeshift pony ride. Then again, it might be a ride on Peyton's "Beak" {bike} that they share together. Whatever it is they are doing, they are usually inseparable.

They also share breakfast {and dinner} together. Peyton has been known to reach a hand out while sitting in the chair next to Dad and to grab the portions that he'd like the best. After commandeering the tidbits he wants, he quickly stuffs them in his mouth. No need to call 'dibs' here!

Other times, he settles for nothing less than sitting in Dad's lap to be in direct line with 'the goods'. In the blink of an eye, he'll grasp the marshmallow's from Dad's bowl of Lucky Charms and just as quickly, they disappear into a pint sized version of Troy.

Breakfast over, the pitter patter resumes as he follows Dad; from kitchen to bedroom, bedroom to bathroom, bathroom to closet, closet to living room and back to the bathroom again.

Once he sees Dad don his work shirt and slacks, he knows it's time for his friend to leave, and he chirps "Bye, bye!" Then as Dad heads out the door, he stands at the top of the stairs, sometimes following even to the bottom step all the while calling out "Bye, bye!" A small flicker of sadness crosses his little face as he watches his Dad and his very best friend walk out the door for the day.

All I can think is: I know how you feel Peyton. I know.

And The Winner Is...

This fabric combo! The bottom of the bag will be the fabric swatch you see on the bottom; the top will be the blue, gray and red floral.

The handles will be the red polka dots and there will be a sky blue ribbon/bow that separates the bottom fabric from the top. So just ignore the blue polka dots because they don't figure into the equation. :-)

The inside will be a sky blue lining with either the polka dots or the wallflower {which is what the name of the bottommost swatch is} and will make the inside pop!

I've decided not to monogram this time because:

A.) It was always weird when strangers called Peyton by name and I wondered how they knew it when I hadn't said it or introduced him. Kind of creepy sometimes {depending on the person}.

B.) I didn't want the embroidery to get lost with all of the patterns and colors going on.

Whew! That was a tough choice!

Thanks for all of your help!

Guess Who I Get To See Soon?

These lovely sweaty people!

This picture was taken back when my belly didn't resemble a bowling ball. *Sigh*

At least I weigh less right now than I did carrying Peyton...now that IS a relief!

♥ Mimi's Custom Totes ♥

Mimi made my diaper bag for Peyton before he was born. I adored that bag and basically wore it to pieces and still got compliments on it 2 years later when it was ragged with holes and the handles were shredded and falling apart.

The following year after I had first bought my treasured tote, I bought my Mom her very own bag for Mother's Day because I just loved my diaper bag so much.

Now it's time to choose a new bag since my old one served me well and is now resting in peace somewhere.

So...

New bag + new fabric = new dilemma.

If you look at Mimi's site, you'll notice that she likes to pair two patterns together. One is the master fabric which draws the eye in and the other one is the secondary fabric which is usually the more subtle of the two so you can have a monogram or a name embroidered on it if you wish.

The floral patterns below are the ones I'm debating about using for the master pattern and the polka dotted patterns are the secondary fabrics.

Which one catches your eye?

Also, do you like patterned diaper bags or do you prefer a more subtle selection; perhaps an over sized purse that will fit all of baby's needs instead?

#1


#2


#3


Green Polka Dots


#4


Red Polka Dots

Shhhh...

I have a secret.

Do you want to know what it is?

Come closer...

Just a little bit closer...

Ok.

Are you ready for it?

I listened to polka music when I was a kid.

No lie!

It was all my Grandma's doing- I would visit her in Wisconsin and she would play polka music in her car {on cassette tape!} as we ran errands around town and sometimes we'd hear loud notes of it float over Katinka Lake from some Oktoberfest party in the evening after the sun had set. We'd sit outside and watch the lightening bugs flit through the trees, the loons cry on the water and marvel at the heat lightening in the distance all while we tapped our toes to the beat. My favorite song was the ever so cheesy yet catchy tune called 'The Pennsylvania Polka'. I would even catch myself humming it sometimes {and maybe I still do!}

One year, my Grandma sent me my very own cassette tape of polka music and sometimes when the mood would strike, I would wait until everyone was in bed, turn the volume down low and play myself some polka waltzes. I had to wait until everyone was in bed because it was embarrassing! I mean, how many of your friends were listening to polka music when you were a kid?! Can't think of any? See what I mean?!

My other favorite thing to do growing up which I also attribute with my Grandma was to play Gypsy Princess with her. I have no idea how this started! But one summer she came up to Alaska and she rented us a little cabin and nearly every night, I'd put on a long gypsy skirt, wear lots of bangle bracelets with long dangling earrings and don fake press-on nails and we'd roast hot dogs and eat s'mores over our little campfire off to the side.

It wasn't until I was a young adult that she finally fessed up and told me that she couldn't stand hot dogs to that day since we ate so many on that adventure and didn't much care for them even back then but she did it for me anyway. That's love! From there on out, she would call me her 'Gypsy Princess' and she was 'Zee Queen'. That nickname has still endured! Sometimes when I talk to her she still calls me her little gypsy princess.

So there you have it.

I am a polka listening Gypsy Princess from Alaska who likes to roast hot dogs and eat s'mores.

Now it's your turn!

Out with it!

What are your childhood secrets?

Which One?

This one:

Or this one:

One is sweet and fun, the other elegant and formal. I like them both for different reasons!

Which one would you choose?

Will Work For Bananas

Need a delivery boy?

Mine is fantastically skilled quick to learn. Although, he may or may not drag the produce across the walk just to hear the rustle of the bag against the cement sometimes.

Secretly, I think he does it on purpose when he thinks the lady of the house isn't watching! ;-)

Look! You even get service with a smile!

You can borrow him if you'd like- he accepts payment in the form of bananas, milk or hot dogs. Just make sure he's in by eight or he swears like a pirate and kicks like a kung fu master!

A Place to Rest Her Sweet Head

I am starting to get into panic mode about Chloe's nursery. For some reason, every time I look at bedding I just can't commit to anything I see. Plus, my usual go-to source for baby bedding; Pottery Barn Kids, has been lacking in the cuteness factor for a while. I'm wanting something vibrant and pretty, but not overly froufrou and frilly.

I kept envisioning dainty pinks with spring greens or cherry reds with sky blues but I came up empty handed in my search. I am liking this however {click to see bigger}:

It isn't vibrant like I had imagined, but it is precious and just the right amount of girly without being too gaudy and overdone. I can't decide if I'd pair it with a mobile like this:

Or perhaps a wall decal like this: {you can choose two colors for this one!}

Or maybe this one instead as a nice vignette over the crib:

And maybe a nice floor rug, not necessarily this one, but something that ties all of the chocolate and pink together.

And what about saving the ultra girly froufrouness for a chandelier?

And a white, tie up curtain at the window to let the rays of sunlight peep through...

What do you think?

Meeting the Easter Bunny

On Easter morn at early dawn before the roosters were crowing,
I met a bob-tail bunnykin and asked where he was going,
"Tis in the house and out the house a-tipsy, tipsy toeing,
Tis round the house and 'bout the house a-lightly I am going."

"But what is that of every hue you carry in your basket?"
"Tis eggs of gold and eggs of blue;"
I wonder that you ask it.

"Tis chocolate eggs and bonbon eggs
And eggs of red and gray,
For every child in every house on bonny Easter Day."

He perked his ears
And winked his eye
And twitched his little nose;
He shook his tail-
What tail he had-
And stood up on his toes.

"I must be gone before the sun;
The East is growing gray;
"Tis almost time for bells to chime."
So he hippety-hopped away.

-Rowena Bennett

Picnic near the Marina

On Friday, I got the picnicking bug. I was at Target picking up a few things I needed for Easter dinner, so while I was there I dropped a few extra things in the cart to make a fantastically tasty picnic lunch for Saturday.

I told Troy my plan Friday evening when he got home from work, and he was all for it! We woke up Saturday morning to another windy, cool day, but I just layered up {the boys love it cold!} and away we went. We headed towards Lake Ray Hubbard and staked out a spot near the Marina so we could watch the sail boats and motor boats ride the waves.

This is my favorite picnic food ever! How can you go wrong with a turkey sandwich on a croissant, chilled watermelon and crisp kettle chips washed down with strawberry lemonade?!

The boys took time before lunch to whip out the kite and to fly it in the perfectly windy, blustery spring air.

I don't which part Peyton was more excited about; that the kite featured Elmo, or that Dad let him hold the string and fly it himself for a bit. Did you know it's also great fun to chase Dad as he's getting the kite to fly?

We had a great time eating lunch, playing with the kite and Peyton's mega tricycle from Uncle Bruce while watching the boats from the edge of the shore, but pretty soon, it was too cool outside to stick around for much longer and the little guy needed a nap. We headed home, tummies full and with smiles on our faces; ready to do it again soon. We're definitely looking forward to when it gets a little warmer so we can play outside and picnic for longer!

What do you do and where do you head for when you go on a picnic? Any favorite picnic foods or snacks you love to bring along for the trip?

Whew! I'm Tired!

In the past three days, I've:

♦ Gone on a picnic {turkey, cream cheese, lettuce and cranberry sauce on buttery croissants, cool sweet watermelon, maui onion kettle chips, snickerdoodle cookies and strawberry lemonade...yum!}

♦ Taken pictures of the boys {Troy and Peyton} flying a kite and playing on Peyton's mega tricycle

♦ Stopped by the house so Troy could take measurements in the dining room to make sure our new 8 seat formal dinner table will fit {it does}

♦ Supervised while Peyton got his haircut so that he could look sharp for Easter

♦ Made Jeni's recipe for carrot cake with deluxe cream cheese frosting

♦ Baked two Spinach and Gruyere quiches with bacon thrown in for flavor {and made with homemade pie crusts!}

♦ Baked up a batch of rolls

♦ Tossed up a salad for Easter dinner

♦ Surprised Peyton by showing him that the Easter Bunny came to visit

♦ Made blueberry muffins

♦ Went to church on Easter morning {with Peyton in a new preppy outfit}

♦ Had dinner with new friends from our new church in Rowlett {10 adults total, 7 kids romping around, and three babies on the way!}

♦ Packed Troy his lunch for work {gotta love Easter left overs!}

♦ Scrubbed two toilets and two bathrooms

♦ Done 4 loads of laundry

♦ Unloaded the dishwasher

♦ Reloaded the dishwasher

♦ Cleaned the kitchen

♦ Swept, mopped, dusted, vacuumed

♦ Made the beds with fresh linens

And I still need to:

♦ Take a shower

♦ Go to the grocery store

♦ Fold the clean laundry

♦ Start watching 'Pride and Prejudice' so I can get it back to the library before it's due date

♦ Make dinner

Oh, and

RELAX!

Our Easter was fun {and busy!}

How was yours?!

Hippity, Hoppity, Happy Easter Day!

Hope you're having a good one with your family and friends!

A Day of Play

'You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again.' ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

All

Play

and No

Work

Makes Peyton a happy boy!