catch the moment 365: week twenty-three

Posted on June 12, 2014August 1, 2014 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!

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.

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.

161/365: 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 June 11, 2014August 2, 2014 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.

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

As 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.

I 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.

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

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.

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.

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

Yum, yum, yum.

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.

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~

catch the moment: week twenty-two

Posted on June 5, 2014July 30, 2014 by mommyinthemidwest

Linking up for Catch the Moment: Week 22 with Mindi at Simply Stavish, Stephanie at Behind the Camera and Dreaming, and Sarah at Nurse Loves Farmer.

This week has been full of fun, adventure, and surprises. Whenever I think about things that have happened in the last seven days, a few highlights (and maybe a few lows) might pop into my mind. But when I compile these posts – one tiny glimpse of each day of our lives, I realize and think about how much we really do pack into each Wednesday through Tuesday. The pictures trigger memories of other things that we did on the same day. I thought I would be losing steam with this project by now, but the opposite is happening. I look forward to putting the posts together, even if there are many days where I’ve just grabbed the camera for the sake of having at least one pic to post from that day.

Here we go…

148/365: May 28th. Just a laid back Wednesday afternoon of coloring while dinner was cooking. I love coloring. Before the boys, I hadn’t done it in years. Now I find myself still sitting at the table sometimes after they’ve long moved onto something else.

149/365: May 29th. One of those hit-the-brakes moments on my way to work when I saw this and many other beautiful poppies blooming in a field of wildflowers in front of a barn that I have photographed before. Love this picture.

150/365: May 30th. Friday morning drop-off at the babysitter and I spent a little extra time with the boys, letting them walk over to see the fishies. Ryan and I decided on the spur of the moment to head to Kings Island for the day and I knew I wouldn’t see them again until the next morning.

151/365: May 31st. Read all about Theo’s rise to stardom in this separate, dedicated blog post.

152/365: June 1st. What better way to spend the beginning of June than at the strawberry patch, picking berries for the first time? See and read more from our visit here.

153/365: June 2nd. Surprise! Nothing like coming home from an otherwise disappointing Monday to find belated birthday gifts from an old friend waiting in the mailbox!

154/365: June 3rd. One of those hurry-up-and-take-a-pic-before-the-day-is-over pics. But I like it. That’s my big little boy watching Sheriff Callie before dinner.

I really like all my photos again this week, but my favorite has to be that poppy in front of the barn on day 149. So many of these pics elicit warm, happy memories for me. Hope your week was full of warm fuzzies, too.

xo,

~C~