Making Memories at the Circus

I think one of the best parts of being a parent is seeing things through your child's eyes. Tonight Ben and I were lucky enough to get to experience seeing the circus through Drake's and Charlie's eyes.

Drake was so excited to go back to the circus again this year. He still talks about last years circus and he was hoping to see some of the same things again this year.

What I'm Loving Right Now-Fall Edition

I love the crisp fall air and the taste of pumpkin spice lattes. I love sweatshirts and yoga pants and covering up with big heavy blankets. I love everything about fall!

Here are some of the other fall things that are topping my list right now:

The TV Show The Blacklist

Has anybody else started watching this show? We watched the first 2 episodes on Hulu Saturday night and I was left wishing I had a whole entire season to binge watch. I can best describe the show as having the suspense of Scandal and the twists and turns of Revenge. I am so excited that a new episode is on tonight!

Ponte Pants from Target

These pants are genius! They are fitted like leggings but made of a thicker material. I wore mine yesterday with a sweater that did not quite cover my whole bottom. I could not have pulled that look off with regular thin leggings but these pants are thick enough that they are more pants than legging. I want a pair of these in every color! The best part is that they are very affordable. I bought mine for $25.00. You can order online here.

My Grandma's Apple Cake

I don't usually like fruit cakes, pies, etc but this cake is so yummy! I think the thing that makes this cake outstanding is the fact that it is not dry whatsoever. You can eat this cake plain or serve with a little ice cream or dollop of whipped cream. You must make this cake soon!

1/2 Cup margarine(can sub- 1/2 c. applesauce & 1 TBS. oil for a healthier option)
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup milk
21/2 Cups flour
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda&salt&vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 Cups chopped and peeled apples

Cream margarine and sugars, add beaten eggs and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients. Add to creamed mixture alternately dry ingredients and milk. Add apple last.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 min in 9x13 greased pan. Bake for 22 min for muffins.

Painted Furniture

I always get so excited when I decided to do a project that I forget to take a before picture every.single.time and this project was no different. Our desk used to be a dark wood and although it looked nice, it was getting pretty scratched up and the dark color made it seem so heavy in our small room. The coat of white paint is just what it need to make it brighter and give it new life. The desk chair was a medium oak and although it was beautiful I wanted a color that would really pop with the white desk. I think I accomplished my goal with the sunny bright yellow color!

Drake's School Papers

I sometimes wonder how Drake really feels about Charlie. At home he seems pretty annoyed with him and really does not pay very much attention to him so you can imagine my surprise when he brought this home last week...



Incase you can't read it clearly it says "Drake was so happy when he spent time with Charlie."  Yep, I think it is safe to say that he loves his little brother just as much as we do. I love watching the relationship between my boys bloom and it has become one of my absolute favorite things.

What are you loving right now?

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Giveaway!

Remember how I told you last week that I would have a giveaway for you this week? Well I'm back giving away a four pack of tickets to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged, Gold Edition show of your choice!

The Circus is Coming to Town!

The Circus is coming Des Moines!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Fully Charged, Gold Edition will have 5 performances in Des Moines

Friday, October 18 – 7:00 PM (Opening Night Seats Are $17 Excluding VIP Floor and VIP)

Saturday, October 19 – 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Sunday, October 20 – 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

What I Don't Want to Forget

I have to start by saying I am so, so happy I have this blog. I love looking back at all my posts over the last five years and being taken back to a time when Drake was just a baby and reading about the struggles we had with reflux or flipping to the post about how the doctor could not find Charlie's heartbeat at the first appointment and the relief I felt after I finally heard it. I love being able to revisit moments again and again just through the words I have written. I don't write this blog for you or my family or even for my boys. I write it selfishly for me because I never, ever want to forget these days.

What I don't want to forget right now....



The look on Drake's face as he lined up at preschool for the first time. How his face was a mix of excitement and nervousness as he stood waiting to walk to his class. How after the teacher's helper asked what his name was and started to look for his name tag and it took just a little too long for Drake's liking he looked her right in the eye and said "It starts with a D. D-R-A-K-E." How I had to fight the warm tears from spilling down my cheeks as I smiled at him with pride.

I also don't want to forget how Charlie makes me feel so crazy and happy all at the same time. How he runs into my room and grabs 2 necklaces out of my jewelry chest and runs around the house twirling them around like a mad man. How he will run as fast as he can to the toilet when you are not looking just to splash around. How he has a temper but a charm that could soften the hardest of hearts.

I don't want to forget how Drake has been saying the sweetest and most thoughtful things. "Thanks for making me cookies, mom." or "Thanks for the special date night, mom and dad." He seems to really appreciate when people do something nice for him and it could not make my momma heart happier.

I don't want to forget how Charlie loves to read this interactive book about castles and how he can't get enough of the "evil laugh" button. He pushes it over and over and over and every time the evil laugh recording stops playing he does his own evil laugh. He then does that same evil laugh about 100 times a day as he does all of the crazy things he does.

I don't want to forget the nights that I let Drake sneak into our bed and cuddle and talk long after he is supposed to be in bed. How he told me would maybe like to be a doctor like Papa when he grows up but he thinks he better be a baker instead. How his little body still fits perfectly all curled up next to me.

I don't want to forget how Charlie loves to eat. How he could spend his whole day bringing you snack and says "please" over and over again until you open it. How he gets the biggest smile on his face when you give him what he wants and how it is next to impossible to resist his sweet little voice.

I don't want to forget how Drake and Charlie are as brothers. How they love and adore each other. How Charlie can pretty much take down his big brother at any time but his big brother does sneaky naughty things like push Charlie when he thinks I'm not looking. I don't want to forget how Drake thinks that he is Charlie's boss and tells me "Charlie is naughty but we still love him." or "Charlie will never learn" as he shakes his head over something Charlie has done.

I don't want to forget the sounds that come from downstairs as my husband plays with our boys as I fold laundry. How our boys adore him and how he loves those boys with his whole heart. How he kisses their cheeks a million times a day and lets the words "I love you" flow freely. How he comes up with impromptu breakfast dates out for donuts and how he would spend his whole entire day on the floor playing trains and cars and superheros.

These days...I just don't ever want to forget.

Be...

Dear Drake-

In 6 days you will start preschool. I will walk you into the building, give you a hug and kiss and watch over my shoulder as you start out on this brand new adventure. I know you will do wonderfully as you are already so excited to start this journey. I also know this will be way harder on me than you. As I think about you starting preschool, I can’t help but think of the things I hope and wish for you as I send you out a few hours a day into the world of school. A world that is exciting and scary and happy and sad. A world that will teach you so much and try and break you down. As I send you off these are the things I want you to know and carry with you, not just while you are in preschool, but through your whole life.

Be Curious

Never be afraid to ask questions. Dig for the answer if you have to. Have a desire to learn. Read books on all different subjects. Be curious about the world around you, there is so much more out there than this little town that we live in. Try new foods.  Explore new places. Ask why things work the way that do.  Always be willing to learn something new and you will be amazed at the things you will find out.

Be Brave

There will be times when you are afraid. There will be times when you don’t want to do something. Be brave. Try new things. Make new friends.  Do scary things once and awhile. Sometimes life is easier when you don’t take risks and when you play it safe-don’t always do that. Some of the greatest gifts and memories in life come from doing things that make us uncomfortable.

Be Kind

Be kind to the kid on the playground that nobody else is nice to. Be kind to your teachers and treat them with respect. Be kind to your brother and love him no matter what. Be kind to animals, especially Skinner, as he has loved you without condition your whole life. Be kind to property and take care of your items. Be kind to us (your mom and dad) as we always have your best interest in mind and love you more than you know. Kindness is a quality that people like and recognize. Being kind will make you a better person and has the ability to change other peoples lives.  Please, always be kind.

Be Yourself

This is the most important thing I can teach you. You are wonderful Drake, absolutely wonderful. You are made the way that God intended you to be and there is not one single other person in this world who is like you. Don’t change for other people, if they don’t like you the way that you are, they are not worth your time. Always let your morals and values be your compass. Stand up for what you believe in and don’t let other people tell you that you are wrong just because you think differently than they do.  I promise you that there will always be so many people who love you just because you are you.

Those are my wishes for you…my prayers for your life.  As you start out as a preschooler those wishes are going to mean very different things to you than they will as you walk into your first day of high school, but being curious and brave and kind and mostly importantly being YOU will carry you far in every aspect of your life.  You already carry every single one of those qualities with you and make me so very proud. I can’t wait to watch you grow. Now go and soar!

Our Charlie at Almost 18 Months

Our sweet Charlie Bear is fast approaching the 18 month mark and I wanted to take a little time to talk about what he has been up to these days.

Charlie has a huge personality with a mischievous smile to match.

He has a little evil laugh that he unleashes as he does something he is not suppose to.

He makes Drake cry almost everyday by beating up on him or just bugging the heck out of him.

Charlie very rarely cries  as it takes a lot to get under his skin.

He takes a 2-3 hour nap every afternoon and sleeps from 7 pm to 7 or 8 am.

He loves his blankie and his paci and can often be found sneaking both out of his crib.

He is talking more and more everyday. His favorite words are  dog, momma,  side (outside) and uh-oh.  He probably knows at least 40-50 words and sometimes puts 2 words together.

He still likes to eat and would probably live off of cheese, bananas, and go-go squeezes if I let him.

He really likes to drink out of a straw.

He likes to play cars and superheros with his brother. Skinner is his best friend and the first thing he asks for when he wakes up. Charlie could spend all day outside if we let him.

Our Char-Char is sneaky and loves to throw things in the toilet or the trash requiring us to never take our eyes off of him.

He loves to be held and points to things he wants us to take him to see.

Charlie could spend all day outside if we let him. He loves to swim and swing and has learned how to climb the ladder of the swingset and go down the slide.

Charlie loves to go shopping with me. He sits in the cart and flirts with every person we pass by.

This boy is full of spunk and charm. We just love him to pieces and have had so much fun watching him and grow.

Love you Charlie Bear!