Summer To-Do List: Walk to Poppy's

Poppy is my dad (Sally's grandpa) and he lives about 2 miles away. One thing I wanted to do this summer was to walk over to his house. 2 miles over, 2 miles back...not so bad :) So one day last week, that is exactly what Sally and I did. We woke up early and headed over after breakfast. We went past a small pasture that had a mommy and baby horse in it. They were very friendly and the baby was very curious about Sally.

We had a great time and my dad was happy to see us. It was HOT on the way back! It will be nice to do this again once the weather cools off. 

Katelyn's Baby Shower

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a baby shower for my dear friend (and old neighbor), Katelyn. She is having a sweet baby girl in June and we are so excited for Sally to have a new playmate. I am positive that Sally and Abigail are going to be great friends!

Thoughtful Thursday

Summer To-Do List: Finger Painting!

I attempted to make my own finger paint, but it did not go as planned. While I was at Michaels this weekend I picked up a pack of colors. I hate that I can only find primary colors. I want some hot pink, lime green and turquoise. Is that too much to ask. 


I was a little nervous about having Sally finger paint. What if she eats the paint? What if she rubs the paint everywhere...including her hair? I had seen several tutorials on Pinterest and decided to make my own.

I picked up a canvas at Hobby Lobby (with a 40% off coupon thank you very much), the finger paint at Target and got the painters tape out of the garage. I knew I wanted to make a word with the tape. Possible choices: Sally, an "M", Moske....I finally decided on LOVE. Since I had a square canvas, I decided to make the tape with LO at the top and VE at the bottom.

Just putting the tape on the canvas isn't enough. The lines were too straight so I pulled it all up and cup the letters a little bit more fancy with the scissors. 




Then came the time to paint. I stripped Sally down to her diaper and put her in her highchair. I had the wipes (and camera) ready! I started out by putting some globs of paint randomly around the canvas and then I set it down in front of her. She stuck her finger in it and immediately put it in her mouth. YUCK! Luckily this paint is non-toxic :) I had to show her how to smear the paint around and then she quickly got the hang of it. She had a lot of fun but when she felt like she was finished, she wanted it out of her way.

I let it get almost all the way dry and then very carefully peeled the tape off. Some of the paint had bled under but that's ok. I think we both did a great job for our first time finger painting!

I love the way it turned out :)

Guest Post: Summer Traveling with Your Family

I have a fussy baby, a hubby who has been out of town for over a week, and a zillion errands to run. So....blogging will have to wait for me. Luckily for me, I have a fabulous guest post for you to read. Check it out!

Today I am featuring some travel tips from Kendra Thornton. She is a full time mommy of three and a former director of Orbitz Travel and Communications. Kendra has traveled to 28 countries and 6 continents which think pretty much makes her a travel extraordinaire! 

Summer Traveling with Your Family

There is no better way to end your summer than with a fun, memorable family vacation. Spending quality time with the family is perhaps the most essential ingredient to raising a happy, healthy family. However, good intentions alone will not guarantee a fun, successful family vacation. Being prepared, well informed, and open to pertinent travel tips will ensure your entire family experiences an enjoyable, hassle free excursion. Whether by road or air, transporting your family to your destination of choice does not have to be a stressful, complicated ordeal. Here are some helpful tips that will get you out of the mundane and into family bliss without skipping a beat:

1. A Fabulous Flight

Booking the flight for departure during your child’s routine sleep schedule will allow you and your youngster to enjoy a peaceful slumber before you are immersed into a fun-filled adventure. Long flights are best scheduled during the early morning or evening hours, while shorter flights work during naptime. In addition to facilitating a peaceful journey, honoring your child’s sleep schedule during the flight will encourage a productive day upon arrival. It helps to start the day energetically and not unproductive. Sleep deprivation is never a good thing for anyone.        

2. Slide Through Airport Security Unscathed

Maneuvering easily through airport security will help ensure you and your family starts the trip on a high note. Remember to invest in a carry-on bag that is easy to repack. Keep liquids in airport-approved containers and in a separate compartment to prevent an unnecessary delay. Additionally, slip-on shoes are essential in order to guarantee a speedy security check. Another helpful tip: leave the belts at home!

3. Play Where You Stay

Choosing suitable lodging that caters to families is a vital part of the planning process. To start, pick a family-friendly hotel or resort that offer recreational activities and kids clubs. When planning my family’s vacation, I used Gogobot to find a great list of Orlando hotels that were both fun and family friendly.  Activities like swimming, arts and crafts, outdoor games, and events are things that are sure to keep the little ones entertained and happy.

Additionally, look for local off-site attractions such as amusement parks, a zoo, museums, and kid-friendly restaurants that are convenient to get to and easy on the wallet. Allow the kids to be part of the planning by giving them some options to choose from. They will appreciate the gesture, and are more likely to embrace the final decision.  

4. If It Works at Home…

Sticking to the thought out, make-your-day-run-smoothly routine that you enforce at home should be upheld on the road as well. Continue to incorporate naptime, bedtime, and set eating schedules while on vacation. Though you might opt to wait for the dinnertime buffet, kids need to eat regularly to avoid the newly dubbed “hangry” episode. Happy tummies and well-rested children equates to happy times. Also, remember to keep your family, and your feet, comfortable.

5.The Road Less Travelled

As the price of flights rise, people are opting to hit the road. A fun way to spice up the journey and avoid the repetitive question, “Are we there yet?” is to involve the kids by letting them choose a fun attraction to stop at along the way. Get a map that has a clear route to your destination and let the kids highlight interesting places to visit. It will give them something to look forward to while breaking the monotony that often accompanies a long road trip.

I hope these travel tips will be of benefit to you and your family the next time you head out for a vacation this summer! Remember to have fun and safe travels!!

Baby Sally: 16 Months

My sweet little soul-

You have been on this Earth for 16 months and each day just gets better! You have the cutest personality and have really been talking up a storm. You have been so silly and playful and you always have the biggest smile on your sweet face. The last thing I do before going to bed at night is sneak upstairs and tiptoe in your room to get one last look at you sleeping so peacefully like a little angel.

You are the love of my life, little one!

We celebrated Mother's Day by going out to lunch and to the zoo.

Here is a video while we were waiting at the Dr.'s office....such a silly girl!

You love riding your frog!

Here you are just being silly.

We went to the beach. You did great in the car....loved the DVD player and Disney movies. This was your second time at the beach and you were just so excited. You weren't scared of sand or the water.

You love "driving" your push car. You look so cute trying to turn the wheel. You have been making a lot of animal noises. The ones you know best are duck, monkey, kitty cat, and lion. 

You had a play date with your future husband, Brody. 

You love to get on beds and kick your legs and roll around on the pillows.

You have been a good little eater. Favorites include: pizza, crackers, cookies, strawberries, yogurt, cheese, dried cranberries, green beans, avocados, applesauce, cereal bars, and waffles.

 You love to shake your head "no" with a big smile on your face. You have your daddy's sense of adventure....you aren't scared of ANYTHING! You have mommy's sass! You seem to be "testing" mommy and daddy lately...seeing what you can get away with.

You love to swing outside and play peek-a-boo! Other favorites: playing chase, hiding, playing with blocks, throwing balls, reading books and playing with your babies.

You have started giving me kisses....open mouth. It is the sweetest thing when you bend down to get a kiss :)

You have gotten 2 molars and have not been too fussy when they came in....you are a tough girl!

You still like TV. Your favorites are Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Club House and Yo Gabba Gabba.

Here you are trying to watch TV.

Then you got mad because I was in the way.

You took swim lessons for the first time and did great! At the end of the week you got a ribbon and a sucker (your first one!!).

You got your first free cookie at the grocery store. You were so excited for this special treat!

You love playing with your blocks and are quite the little builder!

You are a good little shopper. We are always on the go. You are always waving and saying hi to everyone!