when it's too hot outside - stay inside and have a photo-shoot...

Alara - 16 weeks 

Lucas - 3 years old 

TGIF

When your three year old announces at breakfast that he "broke his day" you know it is going to be a rough one. Upon hearing his announcement I brewed an extra large and strong cup of tea. I knew I was going to need it...

This week has been challenging. I haven't been at 100%. Some mornings I woke up and was able to get things done. I felt great, energetic, ready to conquer the day! Other days...not so much. Some mornings all I want to do was sit on the couch, turn on Netflixs, cover my head and go back to sleep.

Or as my overly dramatic son would say "Mamma, I need a new day!"  

I hear ya!

Some days I've got it together, and others..not so much.

My toddler is the same way. Some mornings he wakes up, fresh and ready for his day. He's got his lightsaber and jedi robes all ready to fight off Darth Vader. And other days..well...he wakes up and announces that he "broke his day."

We - including my toddler - all have our good days and our bad days.  I need to keep in mind that grace and forgiveness that I want on my bad days is the same that I need to give my husband and kids when they are having a bad day.

...and if all else fails..its an early bedtime for everyone! 

labor day project

Happy Labor Day. 

Below I've posted a before and after picture of my latest messy (yet satisfying) project. 

 I'm not sure what Lucas is more excited about..that I'm finished working and now we can play or that he found the ladder to his firetruck. 

Alara is 3 months old

 

Alara at three month 

• Alara's two biggest accomplishments this month are lifting her head during tummy time and cooing! 
• She strongly dislikes long car trips. Alara considers anything over twenty minutes to be a long trip. After about twenty minutes in the car she starts fussing, then screaming. I've learned to plan my errands carefully around nap time or just stay home and shop from Amazon. 
• She is a natural-born snuggler! 
• She is such a Harrison! Her farts keep big brother entertained for hours. 
• Speaking of big brother..Alara watches Lucas like a hawk. She follows him with her eyes and will often rotate her head to get a better view. 
• I've heard her laugh twice and it is a wonderful sound! 
• She prefers to suck on her middle and ring finger than use a paci. 
• She tries so hard to roll over! 
• She loves bath time. 
• Alara has blessed me with several full nights of sleep! I'm crossing my fingers that her sleeping through the night becomes a more permanent thing. If not..I'll take what I can get. 

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" retold by Michael Rosen

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" retold by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury has been one of my favorite children's books for many years. I bought this book for my husband (at that time he was my boyfriend) eight years ago. We worked at a summer camp together. One of the camp fire songs we sang was "We're Going on a Bear Hunt." It was a fun song with sillyhand motions - a camp favorite among campers and staff. I gave this book to him as an anniversary gift.

Much to my delight Lucas has discovered this book. He loves the part where family tromps through the mud, swims through the river and tip toes up to the bear cave. Hand motions and voices are a must with this fun loving adventure book.

The author's use of repetition is catchy and engaging which encourages young readers to join in. I like how the author uses vivid descriptions -long wavy grass, a deep cold river, and thick oozy mud - to encourage the readers imagination.  The illustrations are beautiful. I like how Oxenbury switches back and forth from black and white drawings to color drawings.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt is a fantastic book for readers of all ages.

beach trip

Before I had kids packing for the beach was a piece of cake. My needs were simple..a compfy blanket, snacks, shade, a book and a butt-load of SPF 50+ sunscreen. Add a toddler and newborn to the mix and suddenly things got more complicated. I have a perpetual fear of forgetting to pack something important and or necessary for a family beach trip. I tend to over stress, over think..and I usually forget something..ie: sunscreen.

To keep myself sane, and able to enjoy the day I knew that I had to get organized and implement a better system for getting everything ready for the day.

Here's what I came up with:

• Pack and prepare the gear and lunches the day/evening before our trip. This cuts down on the"things-mamma-has-to-do" in the morning before we leave list. 
• I will put everything on the dinning room table, or just outside of the front door. This way my husband can easily scoop up what is going and whisk it away to the car with little interference from our toddler. It makes things so much easier for him if all I have to do is say.."pack the car with these items on the table."
• I love lists! I created a list of everything that needs to be packed/prepared for our day trip. Having a physical list where I can check off items that have been packed, prepared and put in the car helps me keep on top of everything. And I know that if I need too I can hand over my list to my husband and he can continue where I left off. 

By using this system our summer beach trips have been less intimidating. It's great to know that I've got everything covered and I can relax and enjoy the day. 

...4 years...