Month: June 2014

father’s day q&a

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
This year, as part of Ryan’s Father’s Day gift from the boys, I decided to interview them. I simply googled “father’s day questionnaire” and printed off the sheets before asking the boys what ended up feeling like a million questions. I did it while they were strapped in their carseats so they couldn’t run off or get too distracted.  It took quite a while to get all the answers, but it turned out cute..
IMG_9966 IMG_9968 IMG_9969
Dexter’s answers:

My Dad’s name is: Ryan Dan.
He is 6 years old, 4 tall, and 5 pounds.
His hair is black and his eyes are blue.
He is smart because he knows how to play.
At his job, my Dad fixes my house.
My Dad is really good at playing games.
My favorite memory with my Dad is the playground playhouse with tables.
His favorite food is broccoli.
My favorite thing to do with Dad is playing toy Batman.
It makes Dad happy when I sing songs to him.
Dad always tells me to go to time out.
If he could go on a trip anywhere in the world, he would go to Target.
And he would take me.
I’m just like my Dad because I like to play Batman.
I really love it when my Dad comes back from work.
If I could give my Dad anything for Father’s Day, it would be a toy guy birthday party.
What I love most about my Dad is his blue shirt.

Theo’s answers:

My Dad’s name is: Daddy.
He is 5 years old, 13 tall, and 8 pounds.
His hair is brown and his eyes are brown.
He is smart because he knows everything.
At his job, my Dad makes money.
My Dad is really good at coloring and chopping boards.
My favorite memory with my Dad is the splash pad.
His favorite food is soup.
My favorite thing to do with Dad is playing Legos.
It makes Dad happy when I play with him.
Dad always tells me to do stuff.
If he could go on a trip anywhere in the world, he would go to outerspace.
And he would take ME! and Dexter.
I’m just like my Dad because I have brown eyes.
I really love it when my Dad plays with me.
If I could give my Dad anything for Father’s Day, it would be a kiss.
What I love most about my Dad is his iPad.

Pretty priceless! I hope the dads in your life had a special day!
xo,
~C~

catch the moment 365: week twenty-three

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Almost halfway through the year and this project. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

Sorry for yelling at you, guys. I’m just in disbelief. Earlier this week, I posted a blog about a fun summer festival we always go to.  I linked back to the blog posts from the same festival from 2012 and 2013.  I guess I’m feeling a little sentimental and wishing, wishing, wishing that time would slow down JUST a little bit. Seeing how much the boys change in one year, and especially over TWO years, is mind-blowing. Especially since it feels like just yesterday when we first discovered our little strawberry fest.

Okay, okay. Enough whining and crying and belly-aching.  It’s been another fun and busy summer week.  I am loving this time of year and subsequently, this stage of the 365 project. Great summer light and doing much more than sitting inside playing Legos. Yessss. Finally.

Linking up again this week with the three co-hosts leading this project and Facebook group, Mindi from Simply Stavish, Stephanie from Behind the Camera and Dreaming, and Sarah from Nurse Loves Farmer. Don’t forget — it’s never to late to join in! You can start a Project365 any day of the year!

155/365: June 4, 2014. Just acting silly between arriving home from the sitter and heading to the YMCA to burn some energy.  Dexter suddenly became obsessed with that blue bus he got as a souvenir from Disney World. Just as quickly, he’s over it. Dang.
156/365: June 5th. Quick trip to a new (to us) park we’d never been to before. Theo loves swinging. Dexter does not. Presents quite the conundrum when I take them by myself and Theo wants me to push him and Dexter is roaming off, climbing up some huge contraption.  Somehow we balance it all out.
157/365: June 6th. About an hour after I got to work Friday morning, I thought to check the FedEx tracking number for my wedding rings that were being shipped back from the jeweler in Tennessee. While at the jeweler, we had them size and solder the rings together. They replaced all four outermost prongs due to normal wear and tear.  They also did an amazing job cleaning them. Now I can’t stop staring at my pretty rings!
158/365: June 7th. First trip to the pool in 2014 was a smashing success.  That is an extreme grin if I’ve ever seen one.  What a great day at the pool…marked by the first time I didn’t have to worry about them running off, chase after them around, or constantly remind them not to run, not to take someone else’s toy, or splash grown ups in the face. Hallelujah!
6-08-14
159/365: June 8th. Some sweet neighbors down the street have boys a few years older than ours.  The mom has delivered previously enjoyed toys and art supplies to us several times.  On Sunday we decided to try this paint spinner thingamabob and it was really fun!  We ran out of paint. Otherwise, I think the boys would have made little masterpieces all day long.
6-09-14
160/365: June 9th. We watched our friends’ kids so they could enjoy a fancy anniversary dinner out. We walked to a nearby park, where I snapped this pic of 5 year old M running through a field.
6-10-14a161/365: June 10th. First night ever of soccer clinics. That was interesting to say the least!  Seeing 3-5 year olds stretching and trying to lead each other was pretty adorable. Unfortunately my boys were tired from staying up too late the night before and checked out about halfway through the 45 minute session.
This week, I think my favorite picture is the one of my wedding rings. Words just can’t express how happy I am to have them back. It had been about a month since the diamond fell out of my wedding band so that was definitely the longest I’ve gone in almost 11 years without wearing it. Now I feel complete once again. I also love the look on Theo’s face at the soccer clinic (day 161). Doesn’t he just look like he’s up to no good?
Which photo is your favorite from this week?
xo,
~C~

strawberries & fire trucks: 2014

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

A look back:

Strawberries & Fire Trucks: 2013
Strawberries & Fire Trucks: 2012

Apparently this festival is now a family tradition. How do we go three years in a row and not plan our return again in 2015?  We enjoyed another component of the festival this year — fireworks at 10pm.  The boys couldn’t stay up late enough the last two years but this time it worked out perfectly.

We went this year with some friends who had never been before.  The weather was comfortable – a change from the past two years when it was in the 80s and 90s.

IMG_9137 This year we went with our friends, Erin, James, and their little boy, L.

IMG_9153As I mentioned in my posts from the past 2 years, the festival is put on by the local fire department and what makes it so neat for kids is that they can see and talk to firemen and police officers, up close and personal. They also get to climb in and on fire trucks, ambulances, and even a LifeLine helicopter.

IMG_9169I know I’m feeling a little sentimental after looking at the past two years’ posts from this event, but … is it just me or does it look like Theo’s legs go on for days?? SO. BIG.

IMG_9173

IMG_9195 Waiting for the yearly extrication demonstration – my favorite part of the fest.

IMG_9204 IMG_9212 The firefighters rescue a “victim” from a crashed vehicle by safely removing the windows and doors using the Jaws of Life.  Very neat to watch them work.

IMG_9213 IMG_9245 While they are helping their “patient,” a LifeLine helicopter lands in the field. The patient is loaded onto the helicopter, then they fly away and circle back around, landing again in the field.  Afterwards, kids can climb through and take a look at all those cool knobs and buttons.IMG_9254 IMG_9259 IMG_9268 IMG_9290 IMG_9309

IMG_9314 And let’s not forget the tastiest treat around town – strawberry shortcakes!

IMG_9318

Yum, yum, yum.

IMG_9338 The kids played on the playground for awhile. Once it began to get dark, we found our perfect spot in the grass to watch the fireworks.

IMG_9341 IMG_9344 IMG_9371 Aside from a few fireworks that the boys saw at Disney World, I guess they’d never seen an entire “show.” They laid down flat on their backs and watch as the firecrackers exploded overhead. Their excitement and joyous exclamations each time a new color exploded above us was too cute.  Dexter even said, “Theo! It’s like we’re at Disney World!” Then my heart burst, just like those fireworks. Other than that, there was a lot of “LOOK! A BLUE one!” and “LOOK! A GOLDEN one!”  So super cute.

We had a lot of fun with our friends. The next day, Theo was still talking about the fireworks and how they were his favorite part of our very long, busy, fun day.  Another great time at the annual fire trucks and strawberry fest!!
xo,
~C~