Category Archives: memories

Apple Orchard // 2017

October 19, 2017

I feel like this fall has already gotten away from me! WHERE did September go. And now practically October! Between starting school, Ivy’s birthday, and trying to get Faye on a schedule, it’s flown by. But with this indian summer this week (loving these 70’s temps!!!), we finally made it out to the apple/pumpkin orchard (twice!)! Gimme all the caramel apples!

We usually go to one of the three festivals each year so that the kids can ride the ponies and choo choo train, but since those somehow got away from me, I just brought them on a random day, and we LOVED it. Having the place to ourselves was a miracle and I didn’t have to give in to buying unnecessary pumpkins and treats just to dodge a complete hysterical meltdown from one of the kids in front of hundreds of people. So nice having the place to ourselves and the kids running amok (amok! amok! amok!) all over the pumpkin patch. And Leo loved that the train was there. He was climbing all over it! Had it all to himself.

The kids would run from pumpkin to pumpkin trying to pick up which one they wanted. Ivy kept asking which one was a magic pumpkin that would turn into a carriage like Cinderella! Loving her imagination lately!

Went on to the apples and Leo devoured about 8 of them! Ivy’s style is more like wanting to find a “baby apple” (aka a little teeny apple) taking one bite, throwing it on the ground with the 57 other apples under each tree, then asking for another baby apple.

Yes. That’s a rock she’s carrying. No idea.

Must make a stop at the ponies and goats, and apple orchard complete!

Leave a reply

First Day of Preschool 2017

September 6, 2017

Ivy and Leo had their first day of preschool today! I can’t believe summer is over and Ivy is already back in school! And Leo! This is one for the books! Our little hardly two year old walking into his classroom, gah! Getting so grown up.

Ivy is at the same school as last year and even has the same assistant as last year, so she’s very excited for that! And Leo is at a different school for the Kids Day Out program for 2-3 year olds (He’s not old enough for Ivy’s school yet). Which means I’m running around with my head cut off to two different schools from 8:50-9 for drop off! Thankfully they’re just a few minutes apart, and Leo’s school opens doors a little early so I can get Ivy to her class in time. In and out of car seats though, UGH! #deathofme

At drop off this morning, Leo clung on to Daddy at first, then found some toys to play with and we jetted out of there before he could notice us leaving. Hope he was okay! And Ivy just strutted her stuff right into the classroom, so proud of her :)

I asked Ivy and Leo a few questions this morning to see how their answers will change as they go through the school year. I did this with Ivy last year (see that post here) and her answers were cute and funny!

What’s your name?
Ivy: IIIIIIVY
Leo: Yeo (Can’t quite say his L’s too good yet, haha)

How old are you?
Ivy: 3, but almost 4!! (October 1st, same birthday as her teacher!)
Leo: 2

What’s your favorite food?
Ivy: Chicken strips
Leo: Daddy’s cereal (He loves Daddy’s Wheaties!!!)

What’s your favorite color?
Ivy: Pink and purple and golden and silver
Leo: Blue!

What’s your favorite thing to play with?
Ivy: My lamby (she said this last year too and she did love it, but this year she just found it last night after all summer not playing with it and now is loving it again, so weird… I swear she probably just remembers these questions and remembers her response from last year! This girl doesn’t forget!)
Leo: Dump truck!

What do you love the most?
Ivy: Faye (OMG, so cute)
Leo: Trucks

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Ivy: A dentist
Leo: A mouse (Not quite sure he understood that career lesson that he hasn’t had yet, haha)

Happy First Day of School Kids! We love you! So good to be back into a routine! And I get some Mama time with Faye :)

2 Replies

Leo Turns TWO!

June 8, 2017

Leo man turns two today! What a celebration to share a day with his Mama (read birth story here)! Still can’t believe the rascal arrived ten days early to be born on my birthday :) Talk about a Mama’s boy! Ha! He’s grown up so much this year and gone through so many milestones, fun to think about everything he’s accomplished this year. He started walking, talking a ton, can count to ten, and is getting more and more independent every day. What a year he’s had! Love our little Leo man. Happy Birthday from Mommy and Daddy! We love you!

Leo is a total boy! He’s happiest with a truck, car, or ball in his hand. He loooooves anything that makes noise and I swear he can hear a lawn mower from a mile away. He loves to push his trucks and trains around equally loves to read about them as well. He LOVES to read! Huge plus if it’s a book with noise!

His personality is pretty much hilarious! He wakes up so happy and smiling and could just lay in his crib and talk to himself and cuddle with his blankie forever till we actually come and get him. It’s basically amazing. Then he always gives a HUGE smile and laugh and cuddles back into his blankie. He usually wants to be covered again and wants me to rub his back. Pretty cute! He seems to always be laughing at himself. So happy! And he is so proud of himself all the time. His favorite thing to say is, “I DID IT!!!!”

However, Leo can go from the happiest boy to a downright pain in the ass though! #twoyearolds #ugh He literally can just throw himself on the ground, butt in the air, crying over whatever he wants. TANTRUM. Then he wants to be consoled and cuddle even if it’s me who told him no. Haha. Again, pretty cute! But that’s rare to none as he’s usually a happy-go-lucky guy! So good at just playing and playing.

He loves to go wee-eww, wee-eww, like a fire truck. Says it all day long! Leo also LOVES his blankie still, so cute to see him cuddle with it. Oh and he still sucks his two right fingers. Never gonna quit that I feel like! Overall, total boy that is happiest with any boy toy! Especially riding his cars! Grandma and Grandpa got him this ride-on car for his birthday and I can’t wait see his face! He will love it.

Here are some pics from his two years, oh how he’s grown!

The day he was born! Oh what a little man!

Tehehe, Ivy! So proud of her new brother

Maybe my all-time favorite photo of him <3 – 2 months old

6 months

8 months! Photos by Amie Hansen – see more of this shoot here

8 months and crawling!

1st birthday! Leo’s Wild One – see party here

Leo walking! 14 months!

16 months – photos by Emily Mitton – see more photos from this shoot here

First haircut! 1.5 years

20 months

23 months

Birthday Buddies! 2 days before our birthday :)

Love you so much Leo!!! You’re so sweet and curious about everything! Always wakes up happy and ready for a fun day. Couldn’t ask for a better little boy, LOVE YOU!

Leave a reply

Last Day of Preschool // 2017

May 18, 2017

Ivy had her last day of preschool today! First year of school DONE! Looking back at her first day (see that post here) is such a tear-jerker! My how the time has flown by! It was so sweet seeing her walk out those doors and the teachers loving on her. She had so much fun this year and met some new spunky friends and learned so much! I was a teacher for 8 years before staying home, so I am passionate about learning and school, AND summer breaks :) Haha. I am excited to get her for the summer, especially since I think she’ll be a big help with baby girl on the way.

dress // sandals

Oh look how she’s grown!!! (TEARS!)

So proud of you Ivy! You were such a good student, never any complaints from the teacher and never in trouble, you are just as I hoped you would be! Love you baby girl!

I did the same questionnaire with her again to see how her answers changed. Here they are and here’s the video!

https://youtu.be/NpkJwnpMhoo

What’s your name: Ivy
How old are you: Three!
What’s your favorite food: Chicken strips (same answer! Obsessed!)
What’s your favorite toy: My lamb (same answer again. But so weird because she hasn’t touched her lamb in months! I would have thought she would say barbies, because she plays with them ALL THE TIME)
What do you like to do for fun: Play with my babysitters (Haha! Hilarious! Because I had just gotten home from getting my hair done and the babysitter had just left! Sooo, I guess, whatever, haha)
What’s your favorite color: Pink and purple! (same answer!)
What do you love the most?: My purple teddy (I liked her answer a lot more last time! She said Mommy and Leo, adorable. I swear she was just picking things out in her room at this point)
Who was your teacher? Miss Sonya!

Love you Ivy!! So proud of you!

Leave a reply

Easter Weekend 2017

April 18, 2017

Such a fun Easter weekend! And it was GLOOOORIOUS outside both Saturday and Sunday! I love when Easter is a little later into April, last year there was still snow on the ground in March! This Easter we had two days to celebrate. We went to lunch with the Easter bunny on Saturday and it was a huge hit! Leo was OBSESSED with the bunnies, following them around everywhere and giving them hugs. It was adorable. Ivy was more into the Easter egg hunt, running around to gather as many eggs as possible. She definitely got some practice, that was the first of three Easter egg hunts they got to do!

Easter morning was filled with beautiful music and a sentimental sermon at Church, followed by the second Easter egg hunt. Leo would stop to see what was in the egg each time, so he never gathered too many, which we didn’t need more candy anyways! We headed back to our house with my family and my husband John’s family to be together for Easter brunch. It was beautiful outside for the third and last Easter egg hunt, brunch, then drinks and socializing on our patio the rest of the day. So nice to relax and enjoy some sunshine while the kids ran around on sugar highs! :)