So Long, Summer Camp!

Miss Roo

Monday: Dragons

Some cardboard, masking tape, a few glittery brads, and sliver spray paint later, Lady Riley! Much thanks to big brother for lending her the sword and shield.

The cutest knight in all the land!

Tuesday: Princesses & Pirates

Riley went as Zarina the pirate fairy. I had this costume in the closet for Christmas, but I had to let her have it when I heard they were having a pirate day. Can you blame me? The adorable was off the charts.

Wednesday: Circus, but she stayed home to see Rio 2

Thursday: Superheros!

For superhero day we decided Riley should be Princess Presto from Super Why. I re-purposed her Princess Sofia dress and shoes. Riley made me promise not to anything I couldn't undo (I wouldn't have of course). I printed tiny Princess Prestos to cover the Sofias on the dress and shoes. I made some green accents with ribbon and safety pins. I used fabric glue to attach green sequins to her purple star wand. She already had a cardboard Princess Presto crown from a cereal box. Mike drew the Super Why logo on a spare purple curtain to make her cape. It turned into a bigger project than I imagined, but she looked amazing.

Friday: Favorite Character

Riley went as Princess Belle. She had a lovely last day.

In order for Riley to continue to continue on to kindergarten at her school she has to be drawn in their lottery. I've know that was the procedure since we enrolled in PreK3. When I got home I had an email informing me that the application process for kindergarten for the 2015/2016 had begun. I was stunned! Needless to say I submitted her application lickety-split. Unfortunately, along with the dose of suspense turning in her application brought there was certainly a dose of reality for me. When did she get so grown up?

Isaac

Wednesday was a big day this week. I kept Riley home from school and we all went to see Rio 2. It was the last free kids movie of the summer. I told the kids that they had to earn the movie and if they where super listeners we'd get snacks at the movie. My children have never been to the concession stand with their parents before so this was huge. During summer kids movies they have a special deal, the kids get popcorn, fruit snacks and a small drink. The trays have little dinosaurs on them! They felt so special having their own popcorn to season as they pleased. Isaac dumped the nacho cheese seasoning on. I also smuggled in a small candy bar for each of them. As we were leaving the kids were given free Guardian of the Galaxy comic books, it made Isaac's day! After nap that same day I took them out for free root bear floats too.

Week Nine Video Wrap Up

Weekly Wrap Up Questions
1. What did you learn that you didn't know before?
2. What was the worst part of your week?
3. What was the best part of your week?
4. What was your favorite meal?
5. What was the weather mostly like?
6. What was your favorite activity/project?
7. How many books did you read?
8. What were they called?
9. Which book was your favorite?
10. Where are some places you went this week?

Cow Appreciating!

The tradition continues! We're good cows. Here's our first cow appreciation day, last year. Ta-da! Now, here's this year's cow-a-bration! We're always willing to cow it up for free chicken!

First Summer Play Date!

Our next adventure between school ending and camp beginning was to have some friends over. Miss Roo wore her Minnie Mouse dress and requested her friends do the same. Adorableness ensued:

After some bubbles, sidewalk chalk, tea parties and dolls it was time to beat the heat so we headed out to the pool! My pool was absolutely full of mermaids! Leeloo beat the heat by laying under my chair. It was beautiful day, the butterflies were out in force.

After the pool party broke up there was pizza and another viewing of Frozen. It was a wonderful day. Good friends are the best. Welcome summer!

After Roo's friends went home she had a nice long nap. It was in a nest again, in case you were wondering. After her nap she and I did puzzles. She's getting better and better at puzzles all the time. Her proud puzzle completion moment!

Last Week Dress Up Days

Somehow the last week of school arrived! Amazing. Riley's moving from Pre-K3 to VPK which means she'll move across the hall to a teacher she's familiar with. It will be her official year before kindergarten. She's excited to be in the "big kid class". In honor of the last week school they had dress up days. Monday was "Pajama Day", Tuesday was "MisMatch Day" and The last day of school was "What I Want to be When I Grow Up Day".

She picked her "Candy Princess" night gown. I did her hair in to two "mini doughnut" buns with candy colored ribbons. She even had the perfect pink sandals to complete her comfy ensemble. Unfortunately, she couldn't go on the bike to school because Daddy couldn't get her helmet on over her pretty hair do. She was a good sport and went in the car because...you know, priorities.

She decided one pig tail and one braid with a turkey barrette and a green birdie barrette was the hair style of the day. She had a purple butterfly shirt. An organe-y red heart necklace and some gold beads. A red, black and white ruffly plaid skirt. One leopard print shoe with a pink bow and one silver sparkly shoes with jewels. Ta-da!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I asked Riley what she wanted to be when she grew up. I was pleasantly surprised when she declared she wanted to be a paleontologist! I knew it would be fun to put that together. I was also super excited that she didn't say ballerina or any other option a hundred other kids will pick. I'm so happy with how it turned out. If there had been a prize, she would have won.

February Recap

I was debating which post to publish next and feeling completely unsettled about there only being one post in February. This morning I woke up with a painful swollen ankle. It's been bothering me off and on, but I'm starting to think it's tendinitis. Anyway, it seemed like my cue to stay in bed and write a recap!

I got this pedicure at the end of January, but I wanted it to be the first image. A little bit of pretty to start me off (Never mind my spastic toes). I went to a boring but necessary appointment and then before I went home I decided to have a pedicure. It felt so self-indulgent. They were having a 20% off all services special so I got a great price and they had amazing new message chairs. These were the first massage chairs I've ever encountered that slide forward. Short people there's hope! You can put your feet in the water and your back against the rollers! I had to get used to having my feet touched without jumping, but before I moved in with my husband I had pedicures twice a month. Since we're been together (almost 7yrs) I think I've had six pedicures. I treasure them a lot more now. Mike even joked about my "yearly pedicure." I love pretty toes.

Nerding it up! My kids are booth big readers and we have always made regular visits to the library. I always made regular visits as a kid and when I was single. I will never forget how grown up I felt when I got my very own library card. It was Isaac's turn! He was so proud.

Valentines day festivities! Riley signed all of her valentines this year!

Parties & Dress-up

Housework interrupted by cuteness

I had a birthday. It wasn't a huge significant birthday. I had a good time celebrating, but birthdays aren't as fun as they used to be. I'm not worried about aging in the typical "never ask a woman her age" way. I've always looked (and acted) younger than my age. It's about my body in a different way. Most people are born young and healthy and their bodies gradually react to wear and tear as they get older, but not me.

I started out tight, spastic and limited by my body from the moment I was born. It was always something I dealt with. I can't remember (aside from being hit by the bus) ever being laid up or having to skip something in my 20's. Since having baby I feel broken down more often. I hate that I'm sitting in bed right now because I woke up with a messed up ankle. This never would have happened five years ago. It's frustrating because I'm broken down and bemoaning the cleaning I can't do. When I was twenty I walked large cities and worked jobs on my feet for 8hrs and still managed to wash the dishes at the end of the day. Now, I take care of the kids and the house and then I break down. I'm not saying it's not a physically demanding job I just think when I was having adventures that would have been worth a day in bed I didn't need them.

30 Days of Gratitude: Days 8, 9, & 10

Day 8: I'm grateful for bad jokes! Like milk through the nose in front of a crowded lunch table stuff. The jokes that reassured you that your once charming boyfriend had truly transformed into someone's dad (oh, the puns!). Those terrible jokes that snap you out of reality for just a moment. The jokes that really should be followed by wah-waaah, but you're so taken aback you laugh. You're not really laughing at at the joke, but at the person who actually said that out loud! Those jokes.

Day 9: I'm grateful for dress up clothes and the silly girls who wear them!

Day 10: Childhood best friends! Honestly, what would we do without them? You'd never make it to adulthood without them. I feel as blessed by my own as I do by my children's. I mean, is there anything more wonderful? No judgments, no expectations just fun and silliness. Just thinking about it makes me want to watch The Sandlot (or it could be the s'mores we had the other night-I'm thankful for them too).

Don We Now Our Gay Apparel

Riley's way more fashion forward than I could hope to be I just try to keep up. We get all dressed up on Christmas Eve and go causal for Christmas day. Last year I wore my gray dress and sparkly shoes. Miss Roo wore her red velvet dress with sparkly silver tights, white dress shoes and red nails.

That's the best picture anyone got of me, but you get the idea. The 24th is fancy night and my little girl lives for reasons to dress up. I risked life and limb for her beautiful dress this year (shopped Thanksgiving night sale).

It's like some dress designer sketched something from Riley's head! I love it and I know she will love it. I've been keeping it hidden because there's no way she would be able to wait. The very idea of a new Christmas dress has been making her crazy. When she sees it for the first time it will be very dramatic (and she'll only have to wait a few hours to wear it).

While we were picking up some awesome Christmas socks (.88 a pair) Riley said "Mom, now you need a Christmas dress." I thought that was terribly sweet of her. I haven't had a new dress (non-wedding related) for two years. Not that I'd buy one for the sake of buying one, but now I was on the lookout.

I ended up spotting this in an ad and falling in love. I waited for a 60% off sale and snatched it up with rewards dollars, so no Mom guilt.

Isn't it fun? It reminds me of Tinkerbell. It's a smidge heavy with all the sequins, but I love it. Thank goodness for Christmas and an excuse to wear it. It's going to be a very fancy Christmas Eve all round.