August Roundup

1. Mia started First Grade. She totally nailed the 1st day of school! Her first time riding the bus & she hopped on like it was nothing! She ate her packed lunch in the "capateria" which was a dream come true! The next day was even better bc she got to buy😂❤️

 I on the other hand was a neurotic person! I drove to her school right after she got on the bus to see her walk in & make sure she got there okay. I waited about 10 minutes, went inside to make sure I had missed the bus and they said "no the bus hasn't come yet, but we're aware they're not here." I told the ladies at the desk, "I'll be sitting out front waiting!". I sat on the curb and must have looked like a vagabond bc these cute grandparents drive up in a minivan & ask me if I need a ride bc they thought my car had broken down 😂😂😂 Keep in mind school started at 9:15. By 9:45 I go back in and the ladies at the front desk say, "oh all the buses are here." I said, "well that's funny because I've been sitting out front 🤦🏼‍♀️ They said, "Oh honey the buses arrive in the back!" I'm like great, could you have told me that before I sat out front looking like an escapee from the mental ward? #happy1stdayofschool #imthatmom

2. I hadn't read a book since the twins were born despite the fact we go to the library like every weekend. Not sure what happened but I tore it up this month and read a bunch!! I would highly recommend all 3 of these!!  We also watched the most recent  Game of Thrones which has been SOOOOO good. Pretty sure I'm going to be depressed when the series ends.

3. We took the big kids tent camping in Wayne National Forest. It was a ton of work for just one nite but we had an absolute blast! We stayed at Iron Ridge Campground #19.  I would totally snag this spot again. The next morning we spent kayaking on Lake Vesuvius. So happy to have checked this off our Summer Live List!!! I have a more to share about our adventure but I recently became a collaborator for the Columbus Moms Blog. I've got longer posts with tons more pics I'll be sharing over there!

 4. Wyatt & Grayson turned 17 months.  The theme of the month "So Much Screaming." Wyatt gives the most amazing hugs & is my adventurer. He loves to dance. He refuses to eat meat & just throws it on the floor if I attempt to give him any. He has been biting his brother to the point of leaving teeth marks although yesterday he tried to pin him down and possibly give him a hug. Grayson still loves to look at books esp Brown Bear, Brown Bear 🐻 He puts random toys up to his ear and says hello, hello? He'll eat anything we give him but loves to ask for "cookie," which is actually a Live G Free bar (treenut/peanut safe) from Aldi. They aren't walking quite yet but love to "go, go" with push toys or in the stroller. We've been taking walks almost every day to help w the witching times. Can't say witching hour bc there are multiple times/day where the only thing to do is get out of the house. Not an easy feat w a 6y/o, 4y/o and two 17 months olds.

5. We made it to COSI for Farm Days. The kids loved the giant tractors and we also had a blast exploring kid space. The have the cutest farmer's market play area, a chemistry lab & of course the water area for babies. Bring a change of clothes for sure. Wyatt had tons of fun splashing around (Gray screamed and had to be held) but ended up with some weird rash for ten days after.

Holy Fourth, I'm Tired

The holidays with kids & babies just keep getting better & better. It pushes us (even if we are beyond exhausted) to make the memories, because we want them to experience the magic. It helps us see the magic in the simple things. Sparklers, s'mores, friends, Gmas & Gpas,  parades fireflies & first slides were all completely magical this Fourth of July. Oh, and the nap I took after three glasses of wine at my mom's. That was magical too.

Happy 6th Birthday Mia Isabelle

Dear Mia,

This was a big year for you my love!! You became a big sister (again) x two, started kindergarten, got your tonsils out & learned to read. You went from a toddler to a tiny lady in milliseconds!!! You love Shopkins, roller skating & your favorite food is anything dessert!! Like mother like daughter! You always want to go, see, do & try anything new. You take swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School & gymnastics at the Y. You have aspirations of being a professional gymnast when you grow up. No more weather girl:( You love drawing daddy & I millions of pictures & are a total little mama to the twins.

 

I thought for sure getting your tonsils out would help get rid of your night terrors. So far no luck. They actually increased in frequency (like every nite) but they do seem to be shorter and less intense. After you had one every nite for two weeks, I said screw it and re introduced dairy into your diet. I figured if you're going to have a nite terror every nite you deserve as much ice cream & cheese as you want. For your cake you requested yellow writing (it's your favorite color) with smiley faces, hearts and flowers! I hope you loved it. You also requested a girls only date (which you ask for almost daily!). So after work I picked up Ivie & Ellie and we went to the movies to see Beauty & the Beast.

It Takes Two First Birthday

We canceled Thanksgiving during a bad bout of mastitis, had kids puking on Christmas day, so it was no surprise the twins had horrible colds the week leading up to their 1st birthday party. By some miracle the non stop screaming & snotty noses cleared and the party was on!!! When I  told Damon  I wanted to do an It Takes Two theme he said, Oh like Noah's Ark?' I was actually thinking more along the lines of Snoop Dog & Dr. Dre. We each picked our favorite duo & my BFF Brandi made us custom t-shirts to wear at the party. I chose John Lennon & Paul McCartney, Damon chose Kirk & Spock, Wesley, Batman & Robin and Mia, Mickey & Minnie. The twins wore the Best Friends shirts from Indie Nook.

When it was time for the smash cakes Wyatt had everyone laughing because he went crazy on his cake, eating it by the handful. He eventually picked it up with two hands. Like mother, like son. Grayson wasn't super interested. I think he was still feeling a bit under the weather.  Uncle Tony brought the traditional Mrs. Goodman's cake& I made the twins little cakes from a box after trying to research peanut free options. Honestly, I was pretty anxious the whole time they were eating it!!! We ate tacos & played with friends. All the kiddos loved snuggling with all their Grandma's. How lucky are they to have 3?

 

A few days ago I was scrolling through ig & came across a story. A mama was walking through a store with her 2 year old. An older woman approached & engaged the little boy. She looked at the mama who also happened to be pregnant & said I have a son who is 20. If I could go back in time for only one moment I would go back to hold & rock my boy when he was just 6 months just one more time. the sentiment gives me such a lump in my throat. I've said it before, time is a gift but also the most cunning of thieves. Happy Birthday Wyatt & Grayson, I want to squeeze you forever!!!!