Just Buggy

We celebrated Jack's last day of school today.  His last day of pre-school.  That's a tough one to swallow {especially when your hormones are already raging}.  Graduation tonight is going to do me in.

Clearly, I never anticipated all that would be going on in my life when I volunteered Cristina and I as party Moms for this end of year celebration.  And it's a good thing I didn't because I might have missed out on co-planning the best {and most important} bug party ever.

We decided to forgo the anticipated and expected end of the year "beach" theme and add a little twist...BUGS.  However, we didn't want to forgo the water that the beach theme generally entails, so we had to get a little creative.

I am happy to say that I think the mission was accomplished.  The kids went buggy {and that's my pun for...had a great time} and all of the details were way cute.

At least I think they were, check it out...

The first activity was a bug hunt.  We had this great idea, but expected to go on a wild goose chase looking for inexpensive bug catchers.  Nope, as luck would have it, my local Dollar Store had a shelf full {until I got there and cleared it out}.  Score!

I got some buggy foam stickers and foam ABC's {in the white baskets} for the kids to decorate their catchers with.  Then on a second trip to the Dollar Store, I found these large magnifying glasses.  

And this is what it looked like as the graduates hunted for bugs {plastic ones, from the Dollar Store, as well}.  Way cute and they had so much fun!

The second activity was "Bug Spray!".  Cristina made antennas for the kids {they chose the colors and assembled them} and decorated water bottles.  The kids chased one another around while spraying their bug selves.

Jack was on a mission to catch his buggy friends {but he refused to wear his antennas, something about them being girly?!?!}  This by far was the biggest hit with the kids.  They were pretty soaked by the end of their turns.

The third activity was a Bumble Bee Toss {in a swimming pool}.  The kids loved throwing the squishy, stretchy, plastic bumble bees on the floating frisbees.  But, if they missed they got a giant splash {which, of course was their favorite part}.

So clearly the Dollar Store was our best party planning friend.  Found these there too...bug bubbles! {along with those squishy bumble bees above}

And I couldn't resist these bug chalk holders I spotted at Michaels.  There was a bumble bee, a ladybug, and a grasshopper...perfect!

And the menu was just buggy too!  I found lots of ideas on Pinterest and Parker's mommy took the reins on putting it all together.

But, wouldn't you guess the party hit was the Dirt and Worms Dessert.  

And I could never forget about my Maggie.  Today was her party day as well.  I hated that I couldn't be there with her for the entirety of her party.  But, as Jack's Party Mom, I had to fulfill my duties.  I don't think Mags was one bit disappointed though.  She painted her cookie with a giant smile on her face {yes, that is colored pudding...totally edible}...

...and got to snuggle in close to her Daddy at her End of the Year celebration.  Next year it's my turn Magpie, I promise.

Maggie's Big Girl Room

I am happy to announce that one room in our house is finally complete.  And that is Maggie's big girl room.  Her very pinkilicious big girl room that is.

Mags has been such a trooper in this process.  The process has been a good 6 week one too.  It started with the arrival of her bedding, then most of her furniture was delivered {but sat in holding until her bed from another vendor was delivered and set up}, we waited patiently on her back ordered rug, her room finally got painted {again more waiting--we wanted the rest of the house to be paint ready first}, and finally her curtains were picked up from the seamstress and hung {along with her table skirt and bed skirt}.  Whew..that was a process.

But, absolutely worth every minute of waiting and wishing.  Maggie's room is heavenly {just like her}.  I joke that it is the one room in the house that I don't want to leave.   That's either due to the construction everywhere else in my house or the fact that it is just so lovely and...well, pink.  And my, how I love pink.

However, I must admit that I did try to convince Maggie that we should go with green paint on her walls, but she insisted on pink.  I couldn't argue with that sweet face.  So pink it was and I crossed my fingers tight.  And yes, it is very pink, but Maggie was right...us pink lovers, think it is absolutely divine.

There was no grace period with Maggie's big girl bed.  Nope, she came home from school one Tuesday afternoon and there it was.  Bye, bye baby bed.  We did forewarn her, but not sure how much she was getting.  Either way, she was ecstatic.  She was giggling and bouncing from one end to the other.  And believe it or not, she napped super that first day.

So here is proof of that nearly two month process...she's got her new bed and bedding.  But...poor girl was still sporting her nursery yellow walls {not to mention her nursery curtains...that was an interesting look for a few weeks--it was starting to scare me how used to it I was getting}

But finally, it all came together.  I ordered her duvet from Serena and Lily, but had her table skirt and curtains custom made.  Her bed skirt was also custom made and is a precious pink and green polka dot. Wish you could see it.  Her big "M" pillow is from Pottery Barn Kids.  And underneath that damask duvet are soft pink sheets.

We took the white glider out and put it in the new nursery, it was just too big {not to mention I need a rocker for those late night feedings...ugh}.  But I found another downsized white chair.  The pillow was made by the same seamstress who did the other work in her room {if you need a seamstress, let me know, she is fabulous, I've used her a lot}.  That pink/green polka dot fabric on the pillow is also the bedskirt fabric.  The little pictures on the wall are frames from Michaels and a few fabric swatches I collected on the way as I tried to design Maggie's room.  I love the shabby chic feel they give the room.  The white iron curtain rod is from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child.  

Excuse the awful color on this picture.  But, if you can't tell, her book shelf is a distressed antique white {from the same local store as her dresser below}, and her little basket covers are green with white polka dots.  Those are from Pottery Barn Kids as well.  The pictures above and the mirror below are from one of my favorite local home boutiques.  {and I adore how my Maggie had to hang up her plastic jewelry on the bird jewelry tree above...such a girly girl}

And here is the lovely pink dresser that I fell in love with the moment I laid eyes on it.  I wrestled if whether I could get away with it while all of the other pinks in the room were so light.  But, I took the plunge and am so happy I did.  It is such a charming piece and looks great in Maggie's room. 

If you can't tell in the pictures, you will just have to trust me on the above.  And here is that rug we waited 6 weeks on.  Finally, my baby girl has a soft place to play.

And the final detail I will share with you.  I'm always trying to jazz up those awful bi-fold doors.  This did the trick, don't you think?

Next on the agenda...get Jack moved into his new giant room, move Mommy and Daddy downstairs to our half complete room, and get the nursery set up in baby's room.  And all of this is scheduled for Friday of this week!

So ready to be settled again one day.

Rain, Rain Go Away, It's Mother's Day

We celebrated a very rainy Mother's Day today.  Every day can't be perfect....and apparently neither can my kids.  

But...the weekend was certainly worth noting and had many finer points.  

For one, my Mom, Grandma to the kids, moved to town.  Yes, you just read right.  After discussing this for say, 4 years, she finally did it.  Jack is in heaven and Maggie is getting use to the idea.  {and only because she is a Momma's girl to the core}.

With Grandma in town, Clay planned a nice little get away for just the two of us.  We headed downtown Saturday night and had a heavenly dinner.  {sans kids and after the early bird special}  We stayed at the Intercontinental, which was perfectly plush, and I enjoyed a much needed facial at the spa.  Saturday was pretty much perfect.  

The kids had a little vacation of their own.  Only theirs was at home with Grandma.  They conned her into an after bedtime movie and ice cream.  All of this would be perfectly fine, if not for the fact that Jack was on night two of missing his bedtime.  You see, Grandma invited him over for a sleepover on Friday night also.  Those two can't get enough of one another.  So sweet!

However, a bit bittersweet.  My little kiddos were what I like to consider a "lack of proper sleep" mess by Sunday morning when Clay and I returned.  Although, I can't solely blame their little funk on the sleep thing, part was due to being away from Mommy and trying to get all those emotions back in check upon my return {this mainly applies to my darling Magpie}.  All that fun from one weekend finally caught up with us on Sunday aka Mother's Day.  Wouldn't you know?

But, we survived.  We made it through a delicious brunch, melt my heart presents, and a try at some Mother's Day pictures  {by the way, "try" does not do the moment justice}.  And then I put those kids straight to bed for a looooong nap.

Maggie and I took the first picture while Jack sat on an opposite bench trying to "collect" himself.  Maggie was plenty happy.

Grandma joined us.  Maggie continued to be happy and Jack continued to try to collect himself.

Then Jack decided he was ready.  Clearly he wasn't.  {but he loves me and I know this because of the way he tried so hard to nuzzle up to me in that picture}  Sometimes my big boy just needs a little love.

We tried for just ONE Mother's Day picture with the loves of my life.  We soon gave up and headed inside for our brunch reservations.

After brunch, we tried again.  Jack was collected and happy!  Yay!

But...now Maggie was not.  And this my friends, is what being a Mother is all about.  How could I ever ask for more?  I adore these kiddos....happy, sad, rainy, or sunny.  What a beautiful gift.

We nixed the group photo idea.  Maggie got Daddy's iphone and all was well with her.

Jack requested to do a few "superhero" poses for the camera and all was well with him.

Well, until he looked at the camera screen and realized he was smiling in the first shot.  He wanted a "do over", because Superheroes don't smile when they pose...duh?

Like I said before, how could I ever ask for more?  I love you Jack and Maggie {and new baby}.  I adore being your Mommy!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you ahhhhhmazing Mothers out there.  Hope your day was full of sunshine!

Fancy Breakfast

Look who I got to have breakfast with this morning...

Getting downstairs for breakfast seems to require prep work these days on Maggie's part.  This morning proved no different.  It started with the Minnie Mouse hat...

then the purple tutu,

...followed by the, "I want my Belle fork", demand as her final accessory.  {someone has recently realized they are two at my house}

And don't think for a minute big brother doesn't dress the part.  This morning?...Batman jammies, a cape {velcroed to the back}, Toy Story slippers, and Batman undies.  And it all must be "just so".

I am one lucky Momma with two fancy kids.  What a lovely breakfast date I started my day with.