Growing Boys.

Where does the time go?

We took Ian to buy sneakers a couple weeks ago.  He is now wearing a size 10 MENS!!  YIKES!!  He is only 11 years old.  Not only does he have big feet, they are extra wide fat feet.  Makes shoe shopping a bit challenging.  My father, Jeff's father & Jeff's brother all wear size 10 mens.  I can only imagine what size he will be when he finishes growing.  (Jeff wears a 13.)

It got a bit cold here so we needed to pull out pants....NONE of Ian's fit.  I had just bought them last spring.

He is ALWAYS hungry.  I swear he never stops eating.

Ian walked over to me a few days ago and said, "see mom, I have a mustache!"

Holey crap!!  O_o

Wordful Wednesday

On Sunday we went with friends to the 2012 Wildlife Festival at the New York Power Vista.  It was a bit cold, but warmed up a bit by the time we left.

While we were there we saw these beautiful birds.

The golden eagle was just beautiful!

We also saw lots of different other animals, learned about electricity and watched a couple of shows.  Not to mention the yummy fair food we had. 

PS - Don't forget to enter the Pick Your Plum giveaway!


For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Seven Clown Circus  Parenting by Dummies, Project Alicia, The InfoMouse , Focused on the Magic & Fresh Mommy.

Congratulations Laura & Trevor

Friday morning bright and early we started our weekend adventure by leaving at 7am to drive to Saratoga Springs, NY to see Jeff's cousin get married.

It was a beautiful day and we made it to Saratoga in great time.

They got married at the Art Center on the Hudson.  It's a beautiful old church that is now an art center.

Congrats you guys!  We had an amazing time.  Thank you for sharing your special day with us!

I had to share this photo.  Her wedding photographer posted it on her facebook fan page.  She takes amazing photos.  Go check them out!!  She took her brother's wedding photos (they got married in Jamaica last year) and they were so beautiful!  I can not wait to see the rest of the photos she took for Laura & Trevor.

PS - Don't forget to enter the Pick Your Plum giveaway!

Recouping....

We have had one LONG fun weekend!

It started on Friday with this...

And ended Sunday with this...

PS - Don't forget to enter the Pick Your Plum giveaway!

$25 Pick Your Plum Giveaway

I am super excited to be hosting this giveaway.

I am a HUGE fan of  Pick Your Plum myself.

I am actually one of their faithful daily visitors.

I love to snag deals before my neighbor (and have even told my neighbor about some really good deals they might want themselves).

Lily's Merida skirt, pictured here, has pom pom fringe that was one of their daily deals.   

About Pick Your Plum:

Have you ever glued your fingers together trying to put a project together? Stayed up all night just to finish that last project before your kids wake up? Gussied up your home just so the neighbors could gawk over your detail? Borrowed an idea from the store knowing you can make one too?

We have. We know. Join us.
Get it before your neighbor does:

• We have limited supplies on some of the most swank supplies. We have agents out in the field who find killer deals on high quality products.
• We post one time a day Monday-Friday at 7 am (MST).
• We delicately slap prime-o pricing on crafting, clothing, baking supplies, home decor and other fabulous finds.  Stellar pricing.  Cool.
• We sell it 'til it's gone or 'til time is up.
• You leave feeling like you just won Martha in a crafting contest.
• The supplies arrive in 7-8 shipping days and you've just picked your 'plum'! Doesn't it feel good?

Sign up for Instant Alerts so you always know 'The Deal'.  Don't blame us if you overdose. We only sell products we would use ourselves. We enjoy quality.

Here are some more goodies they have had lately...

You can follow Pick Your Plum here:

website | facebook | twitter

Now for the giveaway.

One lucky reader will win a $25 Plum Box full of swank crafting, fashion, baking, and home decor swag!

(products may vary and open to US residents only)

Rafflecopter will walk you through all the ways to enter.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordful Wednesday - Creativity

Last Saturday we went to a friend's birthday party.  While there Ian made a boat with "people" (Lily & her friend) on board.

The girls LOVED that they were on the boat.  Gotta love his creativity and the fact he thought he should entertain the younger kids.

After that the girls tried making their own boats with people on board to set sail.  (Most of the ones the girls made were acorn caps with mini berry seed things that were used as people.

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Seven Clown Circus  Parenting by Dummies, Project Alicia, The InfoMouse , Focused on the Magic & Fresh Mommy.

What I made Monday...

Yesterday I showed you a tray of items I made on Sunday.  This is the tray of goodies I made Monday.

Today the plan is to finish baking these and fill another tray.  :)

Sunday & Monday

I spent my Sunday making these...

I am going to spend my Monday filling another tray.  (After I go through all of the e-mails I received this weekend.)

Dog Tag Giveaway

I am giving a Dog Tag Necklace over on my facebook fan page here.

Dear So & So Friday

Dear Melanie,
You missed a week....
Sincerely your blog

Dear Blog,
I know, I know.  Story of my life.  Get in line with the rest of my to-do list.
Melanie

Dear Jeff,
Thank you for finally cleaning up your tools.  The Florida Room looks soooo much better without the boxes of junk.
Love, me

Dear Ian,
Please STOP teasing your sister.  It's really really annoying! 
Frustrated MOM

Dear Lily,
I am glad you like school.  You have been doing great with everything.
Proud Mommy

Dear West Seneca Bus Garage,
Please get your crap together when it comes to the busing of my daughter.  I have been watching the route and clearly someone was on drugs when they mapped it out.  I also shouldn't have had to call to request my daughter have a seat to sit in when she gets on the bus.  She is 5 and in Kindergarten...she should be in the front and seated before you start to drive.  Also, being 20-30minutes late to pick her up every morning and dropping her off in the afternoon is ridiculous.  What is going to happen when there is snow on the ground?
Sincerely, one of the many moms who are going to be a thorn in your side because of this.

Dear Man On Top of Bridge,
You are a moron!  You climbed on top of the bridge to "check out the view," and once you got up there, you became too frightened to climb down?...Seriously!!  WTH?
West Seneca Resident that drove under you.

Dear Jeff (aka...man with super vision)
Thank you for pointing out the man on top of the bridge.  I thought you were going crazy when you said there was someone standing on top of the metal girder above the bridge.  Thank you for turning around and proving to me you are not crazy.
Your Disbelieving wife.

Oh and here is a photo of the MORON on top of the bridge.  (we drive over this bridge almost daily and it is really close to where I live.)  When we drove under him he was standing up there with his hands on his hips watching traffic go back and forth.  Cops finally were on scene a few minutes after we drove past him the 2nd time. We didn't stick around because Jeff was afraid he may be a jumper and the kids were in the car....they didn't need to see that.

Wordful Wednesday - Princesses

These are cake toppers I made last week for a special little girl's birthday.  Hope she has a magical day!

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Seven Clown Circus  Parenting by Dummies, Project Alicia, The InfoMouse , Focused on the Magic & Fresh Mommy.

9-11

{Dog tag bow center made by me, tutorial to come soon.}

As I took clothes out for my daughter last night, I grabbed for something red, white & blue for her to wear today.  Lily asked me why I wanted her to wear something red, white and blue....truthfully I couldn't find the words to explain to my 5yr old the sorrow of what happened 11 years ago.

We will never forget.  I still remember watching everything unfold like it was yesterday.  :'(

Photos

When looking through photos on my computer the other day I stumbled across these. 

They made me smile.  :)

They made me miss summer.  Brr....it got chilly here this weekend.

I took these last month while Lily was on a play date at the town pool.

Hidden

On the first day of school Ian found this little friend hiding out in our zinnias.  LOVE how he seems to be always looking for treasures like that. Aware of the tiniest details.  Like when he found the TINY snail...

Worldful Wednesday - New Beginnings

This week has been full of new beginnings. 

(This is picture of the flower I was taking when Ian got on the bus yesterday.)

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Seven Clown Circus  Parenting by Dummies, Project Alicia, The InfoMouse , Focused on the Magic & Fresh Mommy.  

First Day of School 2012

Today is the day. 

As I write this both of my kids are now in school.

I wish I would have gotten a photo of them together...but I didn't.  :(

I only got a few photos of Ian.  He really didn't want me to take photos...he thinks he is too old.  I say too bad.  ;)

Ian was picked up first.  He is still in the same Elementary building (ours goes K-6), he has been in since the first day of Kindergarten.  Long story short, they redistricted our street when Ian was in Kindergarten and we chose to keep him where he was, because he would have only been in school with Lily for 1 year.

Typically the bus is late the first week, but not today.  And in a blur, he was on the bus...

 (I was taking pictures of flowers when the bus came and he flew by me....I missed that moment...)

Then we had to wait until it was Lily's turn.  Her bus time is 35min after Ian's.

Lily picked out her outfit.  She was sooo cute.  I bought this set for our next Disney trip (yes, I am already collecting) and she asked to wear it. 

Her bus was late.  We waited for a while...

So she decided to twirl.  She LOVES this skirt because it twirls really well!

The bus was really late and she has no patience, so she went back up on the porch and pouted.

Finally the bus came.  She has to cross the street to get on.  Jeff & I walked he over.  

The bus driver seemed really nice and told her to turn around and smile so mom could take a photo.  ;)

I only cried for a little bit after the bus drove away. 

Both of my babies are in school now.  *sniff* 

Ok, now I am doing the happy dance.  WOOT WOOT!! :D