Michael's Big Boy Room

Unlike Sophie who was thrilled with her new room immediately, Michael took a little more time warming up to his.  Thankfully, he has also been sleeping pretty well, but it has taken a little more snuggling and storytelling to settle him in.  

The beds were Mike's when he was growing up, and his parents were gracious enough to let us paint them navy blue (Royal Navy by Valspar).

Speaking of paint, Michael's room looked pretty feminine when we moved in.  I'm glad I didn't give in to the pretty purple walls and delicate windows that suggested it could be a better choice for Sophie.  I knew their furniture would fit better the way we have them.

His dresser was part of a set we picked up at a garage sale years ago for $60 (the longer dresser is now our family room TV stand). The lamp is from Ikea and lived in our old basement family room for years.

The airplane and double-decker bus pillows came from Etsy. The quilt sets are from Target. I have a number of ideas for wall art for both kids' rooms including a box of industrial gears from eBay for Michael's.  I hope you'll check back in to see those details down the road.

Sophie's Big Girl Room

While Michael and Sophie's rooms still need art for the walls and window coverings, I'm pleased with how they're shaping up!   On tours of our new house Sophie literally jumps up and down with excitement to share hers, so I think I did well.  She also goes to sleep and stays asleep in it almost every night and nap time.  Hallelujah!

We painted our kitchen, family room, and both kids' rooms Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (color matched by Lowe's/Valspar).  Perhaps we'll get more playful as time goes on, but so far it really is the perfect neutral it is often touted to be on Pinterest.  

Sophie's bed is from Ikea, cost about $100, and I love the idea of painting it another color one day. Red has been on my mind, but we'll try it out as is for a while.  We chose to go with a queen so it can function as a guest bed and would allow the kids to sleep in the same room if they ever request it.  We weren't sure how this transition would go, but so far no loneliness issues.  (Michael has two twin beds for the same reasons...another post is in the works.)

It took a lot of online shopping for me to get a vision for Soph's room. While reading this book at bedtime in the weeks leading up to our move, I told Mike I would be thrilled to find a quilt like the one in it for her.  I wanted to get away from the pastels of the kids' nursery but still create a room that clearly belonged to a little girl. 

I was thrilled to discover this quilt here and loved the bold colors that are also youthful and girly--that was a tough combo to find.  I like it even more in person.

This lamp was a $1 garage sale find, already painted the perfect robin's egg blue (that color is sneaking it's way into a number of places in this house--mildly obsessed at the moment). The shade is from Ikea.  The side table is a treasure, one crafted by Mike's grandpa.

Sophie's dresser is obviously the tall one from the kids' old room, complete with the same accessories on top, for now at least.

I can't wait to share Michael's room with you as well!  Stay tuned.

Apple Picking

We should probably be packing.  However, yesterday was an orchard day.  It just was, and packing would have been an insult to mother nature.  And doughnuts.  Must not insult the doughnuts.







The kids' clothes just came home from my MoMs club's mom-to-mom sale.  You know you're buying from friends when you don't even feel the need to wash the loot first. :-)  I tried to convince Sophie to wear her new jeans instead, but she wanted to be fancy.

Their shoes are new as well.  They were delivered on Friday, and I thought for sure they looked too big when I opened the boxes.  Nope! My kids are just getting bigger faster than I realized.

Toledo Zoo 2013

Remember these from the fall of 2010?



We hit the Toledo Zoo over Labor Day Weekend that year.  Funny, the kid's didn't remember. :)



We went back last weekend.





Did you notice that the bear is different?  When we walked up to get our pictures last weekend I thought wasn't that bear furry last time?  Apparently, yes, he was.

Did you notice what isn't different?  Mike's shirt!

The summer when they were three

As all seems to be progressing well in our purchase of a new house, this is probably the last summer we will spend in this one.  The season somewhat unofficially ended on Friday.  I went into work to get my classroom organized, and the kids went to their child care center and started in the preschool classroom.  They're in the same building with the same kids, some they've known since they were four months old.  But they're in a new room with new teachers and no diapers.  Big kids.

I'm going to miss this summer, the PB&J roll-ups at the picnic table after gymnastics and the remarkable disappearing act that a pint of blueberries can perform in one sitting.  I'm going to miss tricycles in driveway circles and serving up lattes (water) and bagels (pretend) from the deck stairs.  I'll miss the jump-hugs Michael has perfected that nearly knock me over and Sophie's daily need like mine for socks before getting snuggly-wuggly with stories before nap.  I'm going to miss the library mid-morning and driving to have lunch with Grammie while listening to Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.  Silly old bear.

I'm going to miss the summer when Michael and Sophie were three, just like I mourned the ones that came before. I know this ache well now, and I know it tends to soften as summer gives way to fall, and we fill our time together with a new season's worth of memories.

Go Tigers!

Earlier in the week it seemed Michael, Sophie, and I would be spending Thursday, our last full day of summer vacation together, going to the dentist and doing laundry.  The dentist part held true (and went great), but in the afternoon the kids and I joined Mike at the Tigers game.  Laundry can wait.

It happened to be a Kids Day at Comerica Park, so my lucky ducks got to run the bases after the game.

I could just eat that proud little face!

Michael and Sophie also rode the carousel at the stadium for the first time.  It was too cold the one and only other time they've been to the park.  It took actually seeing the carousel for them to believe me that the whole thing was tigers, no horses or anything else.  At one point they thought that meant only one kid could ride at a time. "We have to take turns on the tiger, right Mama?"

Up at 636

With some extended family in town, we journeyed to my uncle's house for an afternoon barbecue.  The house he lives in was my grandparents' home for over fifty years, where my mom and her four siblings grew up, and where my bother, cousins, and I played as a kids.  It was pretty special to see Michael and Sophie enjoying that yard as we did.

Watching the bees with Uncle Joe

Hide and Seek

Peek-a-boo!

Get ready...

...get set...

...fly!!!

Father's Day 2013

As I cleaned up dinner one night this past week, I caught a glimpse of Mike and the kids in the living room.  He was on his hands and knees with Michael on his back, giving him a horsey ride.  Sophie was walking beside them, leading Mike along and calling him Tinkerbell.

In moments like those, the decisions like what preschool, which house, and what the heck is for dinner tomorrow all seem equally insignificant.  I got the most important choice right for Michael and Sophie, and I couldn't be more grateful.

To Mike, my dad, Mike's dad and grandpas, and all men who give their time and hearts to our young people, happy Father's Day!  Thanks for all that you do.

We took this picture right after school/work one afternoon, Sophie with paint on her shirt and a random bow in her hair that disappeared at the child care center weeks ago. Gotta love a little authenticity!  I got the idea here.

Some snapshots

The school year is almost over.  Just a few half-days of exams and a couple days of grading to go!  Then I hope to blog a little more regularly again.  Until then, here's a little phone dump.

One night recently a couple of tigers helped me make dinner (Michael and Sophie made the masks at school that day).

Tricycles + Squirt Bottles = Three-year-old Bliss

Twin club picnic fun!  

He's a handsome little punk, isn't he?