Summer Fun from Amazon

Gasp!  I'm back with another blog post for the month!  That makes two for the month - well, in fact that makes two for the entire year!  I'm killing it!  ;)

I thought I'd hop on over here to share some of our favorite tried and true non-technology goodness for summer!  I've got mesh bags for ya, colorful and fun spray foam, a unicorn and lots more!

Let's start with these mesh beach/shell/rock bags!  We've had these for yeeeears!  They've been to the tippy top of Michigan and all the way down to the white sands of Florida.  They're great for scavenger hunts, shells and rocks!  They're also a fantastic end of school gift for preschoolers and elementary students!

This little bubble machine has provided Jane with lots of happy memories!  We partake in a ton of dance parties in our kitchen and more times than not have bubbles going to intensify the our dance moves!  Ha!  The older kids have fun with it, too!  Set it by the pool and really turn it up a notch!

This mesh bag of beach toys has been awesome!  There are so many pieces and they've held up well,  It's so easy to carry, too!

 

This rollercoaster is awesome!  We don't currently have the unicorn version, but same idea.  We've used this in the driveway, garage and inside the house on snowy or rainy days!  A must-have!

We've had this Pony Cycle for a number of years now and it's always been a hit!  Henry who is ten years old can still ride it and Jane started to slowly get the hang of it when she was around 18 months!  Worth every penny - it's also a great Christmas gift if you're an early buyer. ;)

We bought this bumper car for Jane and it's so fun to see her move around on it, albeit she's still a little afraid of it.  A girlfriend of mine has one for her 11 month old and she just uses the remote control to move her little girl all around!  It's quite comical!

The neighbor boys have these wiggle cars and they've always had a blast on them.  Henry and Eliza love giving them a go anytime they can get their hands on them!

A few years ago Santa bought these scooters for the kids - best gifts EVER!  The kids use them all the time.  All.  The.  Time.  'Nuff said.

If you'd like to motorize it, look no further than this segway.  While I've yet to attempt a ride, Jon and the kids love these and if you follow me on the 'gram you know this to be true!  Be sure to wear helmets! 

 

The Easter bunny brought this foam this year and the kids loooooved it!  I plan to get more and have them spray the slip-n-slide - because we're dangerous like that!  This idea may also require helmets.  Ha!

Henry received a huge glider for his birthday a couple of weeks ago and while these aren't the *exact* ones, the reviews are AMAZING!!!  These gliders will be arriving to our house via Amazon by Memorial Day weekend!

I mean, what's summer without waterballoons?!  Load up now!  ;)

We've always loved a good water blaster!  Another fun find to use in the backyard, pool or beach!

Camping?  Rainy day?  A fun Friday night?!  Kids Against Maturity will provide you with tons of giggles!  Our kids love this game and you will, too!!!

Okay, thats a great place to stop - so much goodness

Thanks for stopping by and happy summer fun to one and all! 

Marie :)

*This post contains affiliate links*

Henry is 10!

It's official!

Henry is 10!  10?!  Double digits!  Two whole hands!

First of all, let me start off with the obligatory, "How am I old enough to have a 10 year old?"  It seems like yesterday..........all of it.

Oh, the memories we've made, my sweet Henry.  The memories that are forever engrained in Mom and Dad's brains and hearts of you being our first born, our son, the one who made us parents.  It's not favoritism by any means, however it does carry/play a different tune.  The moments were quieter, the days were soft, playtime was mesmerizing.  We watched as you played and we dreamed of all that you'd become during those innocent moments.  Who the heck were you?  What were you going to be like as a one-year old, two, five and now ten year old?

Ten years later and wow!  You take our breath away.  Mama tells you all the time that you're constantly losing teeth because it means your brain is growing. ;) I suppose the same can be said about your heart.  As you get older you seem to grow taller to my lips for a sweet kiss on the forehand.  Your heart is growing, my boy, and reluctantly for me, so is your body.

I've kissed you goodnight almost every night of your existence.  It's one of my favorite things.  How I'm going to miss those nights - your soft little boy cheeks, your messy hair and stinky breath, the Legos strewn about, your magic books hidden under your bed and your little pieces of paper which are all part of a game that you, Eliza and the neighbor boys love to play.

It won't always be this way.  I know that.  In the meantime, please stay silly.  Please continue to dance in the kitchen - you've ALWAYS been a phenomenal dancer (you get it from your Mama ;)).  Continue to love magic.  Grandpa George and I once pulled off an amazing impromptu trick that had you questioning the universe itself!  Please continue to "believe" - just for one more year....please-oh-please.  Please continue to put your shirts on backwards...at least a few more times.  We love it when you want to cook something yourself - keep doing that, too.  You can whip up scrambled eggs, you love to help cook "little meat" (turkey meat for tacos) and you and Eliza are professional brownie makers.  Your shoes are terrible.  I absolutely adore how sloppy your shoes look in the mornings.  I never correct it...not yet anyway.  We need to keep playing hide-and-seek and we promise to play Capture the Flag a lot with you this summer.  

You and Dad have a lot in common.  The two of you love to play Chess.  Daddy likes when you go to the track with him.  Apparently you arrive and no sooner are you off and running.  Dad loves exposing you to his knowledge of math, space and all things science.  He bought a DNA kit and microscope for you years ago in an attempt to expose you to his interests.  Please know how much your Dad loves and adores you.  Keep giving him the biggest of hugs and be sure to continue to tickle him from time to time.  ;). 

You love to cuddle.  I haven't been doing that as much lately.  Get ready for more snuggles at bedtime.  The days are fleeting.  

Continue to grow your confidence.  Confidence can go a long way, but use it wisely...keep some of it to yourself.  If done well, you'll build strong character.  A confident, radiant, smart and oh-so-loving and giving type of strong character.  Be good when nobody is watching and give without wanting anything in return.

Above all else, please take it slow for these next eight years.  Ten flew right on by and our hearts can't fathom how quickly this next chapter will go...

On our end of the deal, we promise to always be there for you.  Together we have a love for you that's greater than the black holes you love to read about.  How grateful we are to have you in our lives and how grateful we are for the lessons you have taught us.  You've molded us with patience, persistence, and with a love we didn't know existed.

Take it slow, take it easy, work hard and continue to soar!  We love you with all that we are and all that we have.  To the moon and back, to the edge of the universe and back, forever and always, love you more.  Happy 10th Birthday, our sweet Henry, Happy 10th Birthday.

Love,

Mama and Dad :)

*Mom is now sobbing uncontrollably*

Milk Carton Gingerbread House Garland

Well, well, well...  it’s been a hot minute since I’ve visited this little corner of the internet.  Without further explanation, ahem - cough cough ... 2020, I give you a sweet little craft Eliza and I worked on today... 

I give you - 

The cutest little cardboard milk carton gingerbread house garland the world ever did see!

This was so simple and fun to make, you guys.

I ordered these paper milk carton boxes from Amazon well over a year ago with hopes of making this garland waaaaaay back then, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I never got around to it.

The pen is just a chalkboard marker you can find just about anywhere.  I happened to find mine at the dollar store up the road.  But I've linked one here just in case you want to grab one via online shopping.

Next up, Eliza took a break from her virtual learning and we made up some "gingerbread houses" together.  We only drew on the same part/side of every "box."

I found this pom pom string in one of my Christmas totes.  I've had this one for years and if I do recall, it's technically yarn from Walmart.  I found this on - surprise - Amazon and it's pretty darn similar to what I used.

Next, I assembled the boxes.  Now, this part took me a few attempts, but I promise I was making it way more difficult than it actually was.  To ensure the assembly I added a dab of hot glue to the bottom, as well as some hot glue on the inside where you see that pom pom there and then I glued it shut. 

Lastly, I added another dot of hot glue (green - because kids) to the "opening" of the milk jug so that it stayed closed and so that the string remained in its place once hung as garland.

Tada!

A fun little Mommy and Me Christmas garland.  I won't tell you who made which ones.  They're all perfectly imperfect and that's what seems to be so dang perfect about them!

These could make the cutest little additions to an Advent calendar or instead of these boxes, sandwich bags could be used.  Heck, they'd look pretty as garland on a tree, too!  So many possibilities!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I do apologize for popping up out of nowhere, but this craft turned my brain on for the day and I just had to share!

Happy December 1st!

Marie :)

I'm linking up with Create with Joy for my first blog party link up in a very long time!

Christmas Festivities Recap

We've made it to the Christmas Festivities recap!

First up was a visit to the in-laws the Saturday before Christmas.

Henry had a basketball game that day.  I had finished <just about> all my wrapping the day before.  The gift wrapping I hadn't finished - my nephews'.  So once Henry finished with basketball we beelined it to the dollar store for gift bags, a few extra gifts and some diapers...because I was almost completely out (yikes).  The kids changed their clothes in the car and we all sat silently for most of the two hour trip as Jane got in her afternoon nap.  We were a bit late for dinner, but dang it, if we didn't try our best getting out and about and on the road!

Regardless, we were excited to get in some family time!

Jane opening her first gift - EVER!  I almost missed this because she had the gift before I knew it and then realized, "Marie!!!!!  Jane is opening her first gift EVER!  Document that, woman!"

Fun was had by all and we managed to get in some game time, too.

We spent the night, woke up the next morning and headed out to meet Jon's cousin, her husband and their little boy, Brigham.  Check out these adorable cookies Jon's cousin had had made for all of the kids!

Our Elves were sitting in the kids' seats earlier that morning but hadn't left a note suggesting what the kids should do about them being in their spots.  The kids flat-out refused to move them or even touch them unless they were obtained clearance by the Elves themselves.

Wouldn't you know it - while the kids were outside playing, the Elves somehow magically left a note telling Henry and Eliza to hold them all day!  ;)

Oh the magic.

We settled in at home and prepared for the days ahead.  Jon had to work the next day so it was just me and all three kids from 8-6.  It was a good day...

The Elves had left gingerbread houses for the Henry and Eliza to work on that morning.

Our neighbor had left gift bags at our door the day we had left to visit Jon's parents and we had never opened the bags to see what was inside.  Finally, FINALLY on Monday evening, we had a second to open them up.  How fun!

Christmas Eve had arrived and I had plans to do ALL.  THE.  THINGS!!!

AND ALL THE THINGS WE DID!!!

We made chocolate chip cookies from scratch.  Cookie making and baking on Christmas Eve has somehow become a little family tradition of ours!  I love, love, love it!

Ch

While the cookies baked we had multiple dance parties!  It was everything I could have hoped for!

Once the cookies cooled and the dance parties had ended I told the kids to decorate the chocolate chip cookies with sprinkles and frosting and all the sugary-goodness - because why not!?!

I was determined to do some art with the kids.  Some reindeer hands and a sweet little baby foot as Santa's sleigh!  I also did a clay handprint for Jane.  I have one for each kiddo for their first Christmas.  They're some of my most cherished possessions.

Another dance party ensued.  The kids wanted Jon to hold all of them.

This will most likely be the first and the last time that'll ever happen.  Be still my heart!

I cooked up a HUGE Christmas dinner; Ham, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn, Brussels sprouts...

I absolutely loved cooking up a huge meal and I'm already looking forward to it again next year!

Speaking of meals...

We couldn't forget about feeding the reindeer!  Eliza and Henry both have/had the same first grade teacher and she makes "reindeer food" with the kids before Christmas break.  It's so fun to watch them sprinkle it everywhere.

Our Elves had left reports and the kids had been given good marks.  Phew!  ;)

Speaking of Elves, ours came and dropped off pajamas at the front door and just like every year before, Elmer and Violet just POOF! disappeared!

How does that even happen???  ;)

We all immediately changed into our new Christmas cozies and then lots of pictures were taken.  Haha!

Henry spent time putting together traps for Santa.  My heart couldn't handle this...

We got in some family Christmas book reading, watched a little bit of tv, then the kids were off to bed.

Jon and I turned on, "It's a Wonderful Life," I poured myself some wine and as luck would have it, I managed to capture this photo before bed...I guess Santa must've been around when we weren't looking.  Hmmmm....

The kids somehow slept in until closer to 7:30, if memory serves me right.  Jane was first to be up and I just couldn't wait for our first Christmas as a family of five!!!

We opened gifts, had cinnamon buns and bagels for breakfast and leftovers for dinner.  Eliza had taken to wanting to help with the dishes - be our guest!  I caught her several times over break wanting to help.  There were even times I'd be nursing Jane in her room and I'd come upstairs and Eliza would  be hard at work - you go, girl!!!  For real....please don't stop.  Haha!

The weather was GOOOOOORGEOUS!!!  It was in the 50's - so we definitely made it a point to get outside!  I'm all for a white Christmas, but I wasn't about to complain about a warm Christmas Day!

Jane received two things for Christmas (other than clothes from me), that Activity Center and a bubble machine!  She loved both!

I found this in our fireplace.  Eliza drew this and I love everything about it!

Girlfriend sitting at her new vanity.  Her little faces - she's a crazy and lovable little six year old!  

The sky on Christmas night!  I saw some people a few doors door, renters at the vacation property, with ugly sweaters on and taking lots of pictures with this scene behind them.  It was so fun to see and the sky was the perfect backdrop for such a special day!