Ahead of Schedule

Our Christmas Cards have arrived!  We typically don't do pictures until December and then its rush rush to get them out.  I am not crazy about Christmas cards with Summer photos.  BUT...Life has been busy and as much as I love getting pictures taken - I hate the actual work of it.  We got pictures done in September and I love how cute the boys look.  Granted we are in shorts and shirts which isn't so Christmas-y.  I figured as long as I picked out a fun and colorful Christmas card it would work.  No green, red or gold and I think I nailed it!  I will share it soon :)

And since I am way ahead of schedule I figured Hubs and I would head out and do some shopping tonight.  Kids are sleeping over at Grama and Grampa's.  My kids have some pretty big items ($$) on their list.  Which is fine with me.  That means a lot less little gifts.  We are outside everyday in the Summer riding something!  Bikes, scooters, power wheels, etc.  The kids saw a little go-kart, electric dirt bike and my oldest is dying for a motorized scooter.  So we are off to get those things.  And of course grab dinner with no kids!

And I think we are all on the hunt for the Paw Patrol Lookout Tower!

On sale at target right now!  Happy Shopping :)

Family Time

Another trip to Great Wolf done.  We love it there!  I hope one day my boys will take their families there and tell their kids how their parents used to take them to the lodge twice a year.  Although the thought of that breaks my heart just a little.

Cover up - Nordstrom  Boys Suits- Gap

We have never been at Halloween time before and it was decorated so cute.

The little boys (5 & 4) were green bracelets this time!  This means in addition to the kiddie slides and the family raft ride - they could actually ride tube slides with us.  And the weekend we went wasn't crowded at all.  No lines!  Brady my oldest dared me to go on the Wolf's Tail.  And since I am so cool and never one to pass up a dare - I did it.  It's basically a tube that is VERTICAL, the floor falls out from beneath you, you have to cross your arms and legs.  But when that floor drops I lost my form and just went with panicked, arms flailing and me screaming.  There are no pictures *Thank God* because I thought I was going to die.  It's a big nasal lavage with a side of shear terror. Here's a pic from the internet.  NEVER AGAIN.

We ended up ordering pizza and watching Sunday night football in our Halloween jammies.

Thank goodness the place has a bar!  Husband wasn't happy I booked it during a Bills game.  But he ended up catching the game, with some beers and it was a Bills win!!

And now that Brady is older he is the photog when I want to get a pic of me and the hubs.

 
I LOVE how casual it is at Great Wolf, people strolling around the lobby with coffee and pajamas in the morning.  We always do the buffet for breakfast.  A girl needs her Eggs Benedict!  I went to breakfast with no makeup and sweats - now that's my kind of place:)

New Motto

My father's heart attack changed me, well all of us.  I have let my kids miss school twice and its only October.  But it is SO important to spend time together as a family because you never know. Camping and Great Wolf and we enjoyed every second of those little trips.

That one hits me in the gut every time.

And speaking of buying shoes -- am I the last person to order these cute slip on sneakers?

I am always late to the party.  But I just ordered 2 cute Mindy Mae hoodies and they both have gray in them.  I own red flats, yellow, leopard, navy but nothing to wear with gray.  Obviously that needed to be fixed :)

Overload

Brutally honest right now.  I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately.  I know I am blessed - but I feel like most days I cannot make 1 more decision.  And the thought of 1 more decision could bring me to tears at any second.  My mind is so overloaded with stuff I literally cannot decide what toppings should be on the pizza!  So I don't order because I can't decide.  Does this sound crazy because I am feeling a little crazy.  I lay in bed at night and think of all the things I have to do the next day: pick up tuba, pack money for book fair, pack snack for older boys, bring snack for the smallest, cider in the fridge, email teacher, when did P poop last, call re: pediatricians bill, write out check for fill in the blank, get an inspection, pick photo for Christmas card, etc.  I try keeping lists or making notes but the weight of all the "stuff" is exhausting.  Anyway, I need a getaway.  We are headed to Great Wolf this weekend and I need it.  Just to get away from the calendars, swim and relax, snuggle with my husband and kids in a hotel room, eating pizza and ice cream, and watching football.

Gap has been killing me with all their cute pajamas lately.  My card is smoking from the swiping.  They trick me into thinking I'm saving soooo much money with the free shipping, promo codes and the extra 10%.  And then they send me a reward certificate and I mean how do you not spend those??
 

I never get to go to the mall.  I do so much online shopping.  I needed new foundation and you really have to do that in person so my sister and I went with little man.  Sephora girl talked me into trying the new Bare Minerals - Bare Pro.  So far I love it!!!  I didn't get the brush.  I am applying with a damp beauty blender and it goes on nice.

I walked into Loft and found the cutest dress and it was $12.  This never happens to me - ever.  It was adorable, size small fit nicely with no hemming and the price!  Anyway, you will be seeing this on the cruise in April.  I was getting a little nervous about finding new stuff to wear with our vacation being so early this year.  Well, 1 dinner dress done!

It's the 2nd most favorite of the year!

My kids are gone all weekend.  And while the hubs and I have been busy napping and going out to eat, some work still needs to get done:)  I decided to decorate for Fall, strip their beds, change over to Fall clothes and I am sticking pumpkins everywhere and I love it!!

Speaking of all things Fall - The Mums scent from Mrs. Meyers - OH MAH GAH!  Amazing.

We made it to the mall and saw these cute monster Pj's and had to get them!

Gap Kids

Pottery Barn Kids has been killing it with their bunting.  I snagged cute black and orange pom-poms and a Thankful one for November. 

J Crew factory had the cutest henleys for the boys with a touch of chambray!

Don't worry I didn't just shop for the kids - I got to go to sephora too!  

Have I mentioned I love this time of year?!?

And they are off!

1st Days of School over here  - for all my boys.

Big boys started Tuesday, little dude Thursday.  I'm a little worried about Pierce not being ready for all day, Brady just wanted to wear his new Jordan's and Reid was SO ready.  He has been trying to sneak into school for over a year!

Family photo op- dad made it home in time to put the boys on the bus the first day.

After we took Reid, mom and dad got to go on a breakfast date.  Which I hope is the first of many!!

Seeing that I have 2.5 hours to myself everyday maybe I should get that bloodwork from a year ago done :)

Give me all the Sweatshirts

It's Fall!  I have been dropping some cash on sweatshirts over here.  Nordstrom, Mindy Mae's - just
take my credit card.  Paired with leggings, boots or some Hunter's - Bring on the crisp air and cool nights.  I'm ready!

Birthday Post

Let's not even talk about how old I am.  Let's just discuss gifts!

My favorite color is yellow so....this hoodie from Mindy Mae's.  I am in love with so much stuff right now on her website.  I want every cardigan.

I need this gold pair of Kendra Scott Dee drop earrings.

So much makeup I have been wanting to buy myself from Sephora.  I have been holding off bc of all the back to school shopping I have been doing!  But mama needs some new primer.  And a new Kate Wallet like this.

I am obsessed with polka dots.

I just bought myself this adorable pink pot that I have been eyeing from Target.  Clearance for $24,99 - just in time for soup season!

I am actually working on my birthday because I am lame and never requested off.  I did manage to be off for all the first days of schools for my boys - what can I say I am a mama first!

Jellystone

We have gone to Jellystone for 3 years now and by far this was the best trip ever!  My dad came this year (last year he missed because he was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack, the boys were older which meant no meltdowns or tears which equals a lot less stress on us.  Camp was freezing though, so much for the End of August being hot.  Papa brought down a bag of sweatpants for the boys and for me which was a lifesaver.  I brought 1 pair pf pj pants which I would have been forced to wear everyday.  Meatball was the master packer like usual and did offer me a pair of adorable skull pj pants and socks.

My sister bought a projector, some crazy expensive cord to plug your phone into it and a sheet from Walmart - BAM!  Instant movies by the campfire.  The kids watched Sing, Lady and the Tramp, Minions.  And then when they went to bed we watched stuff we like - Adventures in Babysitting, Troop Beverly Hills and we watched the fight Saturday night for the dudes.  I haven't seen 1am in a long time.

The air mattress debacle.  Where to begin, the mattresses at camp are horrible.  Super thin, hard as a rock so I thought if we brought down our (used one time) air mattress it would help.  Well it would have - if it didn't have a hole in it!  We would blow it up everyday and then by night time it would go flat.  Ugh!  It did give us something to laugh about every night.  I found one on Amazon for $18 - so maybe they are one time use?

It was Halloween weekend which was so fun for the kids.  Any excuse to wear their costumes and they are happy!

My favorite part of camp was when the little ones would ask to sit on our lap every night by the fire.  They would be asleep in minutes which means I get to steal kisses and carry them to bed.  We already booked next year!

Summer Wrap Up!

Everything about Summer is lazy and I love it.  Our lazy Summer mornings spent lying in bed snuggling, no rushing downstairs to make breakfast, getting little ones dressed in a hurry before the bus comes, packing lunches.  And afternoons where I decide when I want to make dinner.  No hurry up and eat we have to get to fill in the blank.  Man I will miss the heck out of those and I am trying to savor every last one.  It's crazy how fast it went by.  Trips to the playground and riding bikes everyday and just having fun.

Our Summer bucket list has been getting checked.  Toronto, Lawn fete, Darien Lake, The Fair, and of course Jellystone is happening next week.  I started a camp tote and put things in it everyday when I think of them.  Glow sticks, smore's stuff, baby wipes, etc.

I have been shopping like a maniac between camp and back to school and supply shopping.  Next year I am doing the pre-made kit from school for all three.  I do like picking out fun supplies like baseball scissors and red glitter glue but seriously It is too much for me to handle with all three. Working 2 days a week and trying to keep up with everything is making me crazy.  While we were out school shopping the boys found these adorable wallets from the Gap!  And let me tell you the boys have been getting money left and right - apparently my family pays for hugs and kisses :)

 

Husband started nights, and I feel like I am a professional shusher now - every 2 seconds I'm like shhhhhhh.  I have been trying to get them out of the house so he can sleep, go to the playground, the store but it's making me crazy going from here to there.  It makes me feel even busier and there are days I want to lay around and watch Pioneer Woman in the afternoon.  What can I say I love Ree!

6 more days to snuggle my little ones...

Disney Again

I just realized I never blogged our trip to Disney this year.  The kids were so good on the plane. Check out this cool cat!  And he basically stayed this happy the whole 2.5 hours.

We stayed at the Yacht Club again and were upgraded (again) to a lagoon view room!  These rooms are the best - you can look out and see the boardwalk all lit up at night and you have an awesome view of the fireworks.  And we heard from staff they are re-doing all the rooms to make them even nicer.

We absolutely love this hotel for their sand bottom pool.  It just gives the kids a chance to play and not only swim without leaving the area.  Lazy river and water slides - it really is the best!

We went last year when our youngest was 2 and there were some epic meltdowns.  He hated riding the bus which is how you get around to the parks.  Most of those bus rides would end up with me holding him on my lap while he tried to headbutt me with the back of his head - yeah fun!  Well, holy crap what a difference a year makes.  He loved the bus this year and would just sit there in his own seat and look out the windows.  With the kids being 8, 5 and 3 - they were able to go on almost all the rides together, even the roller coasters.  It was so much easier this trip!  My fave ride with everybody was the 7 dwarfs mine train coaster!  We rode the teacups of course, went on a safari, rode Soaring.  Which by the way is breathtaking.  It takes you all around the world now instead of just inside the US.  Eiffel tower, Niagara Falls, a safari in Africa, etc.  I sat there and thought God made all of this....Amazing!

Food:  Hands down best dinner was at Ohana!  Not to mention the place is beautiful.  This is us in front of the hotel - the grounds are gorgeous.

We did another night at Cape May for the crab legs.  I had some pretty spectacular macaroni and cheese at Animal Kingdom and of course Dole Whip in Epcot.

Our dinner in France sucked (total mom fail) and the kids and the hubs were not happy.  I wasn't happy either but the planner always gets blamed.  We found an awesome ice cream shop at our hotel called Beaches n Cream.

And of course T-rex cafe - every single time.

We saw fireworks on the beach with the kids in their jammies.  We also saw them from the hot tub the one night too.

We saw a bunch of characters this year too!

All in All it was so much fun.  Next year we are doing a week long Disney Cruise and then I have a feeling we will be back to the parks :)

Till we meet again Disney...