Have you ever seen anything cuter??
That’s how we found them last night after they finally got quiet 😍
I ❤️ baby spooning.
Category Archives: Raising a girl
Glamping
During the second weekend of September, we went on QUITE the glamping trip with friends. We packed up the kiddos and headed off on a 3-hour journey to a Jellystone Campground… but not for your average camping… because let’s be real, life is just a little easier with running water and a kitchen. And with 4 children under the age of 5, we were looking for easy & relaxing.
SO, we rented the grand Villa for the weekend and enjoyed all of the luxuries Yogi Bear & the Jellystone Park had to offer us, which was a bit less than normal, as we were a week or so past season.
The park-ground was a bit of a ghost town, but that made it all the better!
Our villa was a two-bedroom with a loft, full kitchen and a bathroom. See, glamping! AKA glamorous camping. To add to the hilarity, we actually had the kiddos stay in the bedrooms (our kids in one, our friends’ kids in the other) and the adults stayed upstairs in the loft, which featured 4 twin beds. This setup made our late-night camp fires easier.
The Jellystone theme for the weekend was “A weekend at the farm” and was filled with tons of activities from candy bar “horse races” to finding a needle in a haystack. We had such a great time!
The weekend itinerary:
I loved the early mornings strolling around the quiet campgrounds. It was one for the books!
Needle in a haystack:
Candy Bar Horse Races:
Swimming:
Craft Time with BooBoo:
ICE CREAM!
Playing with Friends Near the Villa:
Egg Toss & Playing on the “Foot Pool” Field:
Dinner, Smores & Spooky Stories Around the Campfire:
Bedtime Story with Ranger Smith:
Random Fun:
The Crew:
A little lunch & Yogi Bear upon arriving home:
Finter 2019
Somehow summer FLEW by and it’s suddenly what Wisconsin is calling, “Finter”… aka what should be fall, but is being overtaken by Winter. School has started and my sweet Char is deep into Kindergarten. Full-day school and the beginning of her true “childhood years.” I’m not crying, you’re crying!
Before too much time has flown by and I fall WAY too far behind, I figured I’d post everything from the first day of school until now. SO, prepare yourself for an overload of photos from my sweet crew…
First Day of School:
I don’t know how it’s possible, but despite the crazy, every moment that passes seems to get better and better. The kids are amazing. This summer we switched them into the same room, which has been wonderful and psychotic. They love the shit out of each other, which tends to get in the way of sleeping. Their routine is essentially to stay up late playing one night and then crash hard and early the next night… and repeat. We definitely have to figure out a way to get them more sleep, but I will say, I don’t hate hearing them giggle all night.
Halloween was a blast! Charlotte refused all of my ideas for family costumes with her BIG DREAMS of being a “beautiful princess who is beautiful and fancy with real magic circles on her dress”… I couldn’t seem to find real magic circles on Amazon, but we did the best we could! And, Mr. Henry went from requesting an “Owlette” costume (from PJ Mask) – because she’s so beautiful – to Blippy. In the end, he was transformed into even more of a cartoon character and should never wear anything besides that damn costume ever again.
As a side, it should be noted that we FINALLY let the kids pick some candy to eat from their trick or treat haul… this morning… first time. Let’s just say that Mark and I got busted for eating so much of it. Somehow C seemed to remember specific pieces of candy she had received… oops. Noted for next year.
After the most perfect day for trick or treating (and a weekend FULL of birthday parties for C), Finter kicked in and we had our first snowfall. Literally days later, on Halloween. It was bananas… and magical! The kids loved it!
For Halloween, we made a SPOOKY feast and had the best night!
Other Halloween Highlights (C’s classroom Halloween party & “Bring a Friend to Dance Class” – C picked Henry as her friend)…
& Here are some pics from more fun since the beginning of the school year!
Charlotte’s Fun Run to raise money for school:
Charlotte’s Farm Field Trip (& Mommy’s first time as a field trip chaperone… note: riding a bus at 34 is not amazing):
Henry’s Farm Field Trip:
Apple Picking with Grandma & Grandpa & Public Market Lunch:
Uncle Matt & Aunt Hannah Come to Visit:
Charlotte’s Dance Class:
Henry’s Robot Class:
Mommy & Henry Facetiming:
Fall Backyard Fun:
Family Date Night:
Taste of Mequon & the Color Run (Mommy’s first 5k):
Family Photos – Behind the Scenes:
Miscellaneous Fun with Friends:
Family Love:
Adult Fun:
BFFs ❤️
These two are everything. I love the way they love each other. A friendship for the books 👫
Goodbye School, Hello Summer
While Charlotte is still in her 4K school program with the public school, the kids’ Montessori school recently had their last day. Can you believe how much they’ve changed???
It should be noted that both of my children want to be parents when they grow up. Little sweeties. Specifically, Henry would like to be a “dad like my other dad”… aka like Mark. haha And my sweetie Charlotte’s favorite thing is her whole family.
And here are some other cutie pie pics from the morning…
Family Baseball
This past weekend, we had quite the living room baseball sesh. Soon both kids will be hitting the ball too hard for indoor play, but for now, these are the moments I absolutely adore.
Coffee with Char
Mark has been super busy at work lately, so instead of him driving Henry to school on Mondays and Fridays while I wait at the house for Nana with Charlotte, C & I have been taking Henry to school and meeting Nan at our favorite coffee shop.
Our little 3-way dates are adorable. Charlotte really shines in these moments. She’s talkative and expressive. Absurdly sweet and charismatic. She is just a total gem.
I love taking pictures of her in these moments. As she picks at her muffin or scone or whatever baked good she’s conned me into buying her… she’s like a squirrel nibbling at the most sugary parts first. As she speaks with full expression, hand motions and all. As she soaks in the undivided attention from Nan & I.
It’s such special time with my big girl.
Thanksgiving 2018
It should be noted that Thanksgiving 2018 was a lovely affair. Obviously I’ve neglected this special little blogging place of mine over the past two years, but wanted to make sure this got in the record books.
We’ve always done Thanksgiving at my mom’s house, which is lovely. I legit love Thanksgiving. This year, everyone had something going on. Bro was going to his wife’s turkey day, sis was headed to Door County. SO… we decided to head to California to see my favorite people on this earth. AKA my other “sister.” AND of course, my aunt & uncle and my cousin’s lovely manfriend.
The trip was magical and Thanksgiving was AHHHMAZING. It’s ridiculous how easy Thanksgiving is when you show up as a total guest. Normally, at mom’s, I am planning menus leading up to Turkey Day, helping cook and setting up the day prior, and there early that day to cook some more.
This Thanksgiving, all slaving was done by my incredible Aunt and my mom’s cousin, Melissa. And oh my did they go above and beyond. Not to mention the fact that Melissa lives in a little California dream of a house. It was FANTASTIC. We brought some wine and a centerpiece (made by the kiddos) and then boom. Done.
While poor Melissa and Aunt Helaine probably needed a week of sleep to recover, the whole thing felt wildly easy, relaxed and just perfect to me.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
It should also be mentioned that little C spiced things up when Mark forced her to taste the sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are her nemesis. She showed him when she instantly barfed right there at the Turkey Day table. Lesson learned.
The rest of the trip was equally magical. My cousin’s boyfriend’s brother & his gf were there visiting, too! They are absolutely adorable and all four of them crashed at our airbnb one night. It was just so much fun.
Photos from the travel to Cali…
