Toast 2 Mom

Flower Girl in Waiting

We leave today to head north for a family wedding. Our niece is getting married this weekend, and our big girl Syd is a flower girl. We have been talking about and talking up this role for months now!

There are endless cute stories detailing the discussions we've had leading up to this big event. The one story that stands out the most, though, is how after the big wedding, when the job is all done, Sydney gets to go to a party and eat cake and hit the dance floor with Daddio.

Sure she's shown excitement over the pretty dress she gets to wear, about the new shoes we bought, about the basket full of pretty flower petals that she'll get to drop for her beloved "Princess Bride Katie". All of those things have gotten a lot of mention, but none more than cake and dancing. This girl likes the party! (which scares me a little bit!)

So, my Mommy goal is to make sure that between now and Saturday, Sydney hits all of her bedtimes right on time and takes as many naps as possible. Or the flowers may get thrown, not delicately dropped...and there might be a photos documented forever of a little blond girl with a blood shot eyes, a wrinkly ivory dress and one shoe on, asleep on the dance floor with cake in her hair.

Hopefully happy pictures to follow...

The Hosers

Maybe I've mentioned this before, I don't do plants. I grew up in apartments. I didn't learn how to mow a lawn until I was an adult. My grandpa was a farmer, but I hacked my leg with a hoe trying to help my grandma in the garden. I like flowers. I like vegetables. I like the idea of growing these things. Plants are OK, I guess. But when it comes to me, being proactive, trying to grow and nurture all things that are green, it's just not my thing. I take care of furry kitties and fuzzy head kids.

So when it comes to watering the plants and watering the lawn, that's my Hubby's job... Welllll, he claims that he is the one watering the lawn. I have pictures to prove otherwise!

Here is a photo of my Syd at nineteen months, "assisting" Daddy with the hose.

And here is a picture of my Cheekers, just shy of eighteen months, demonstrating her hose skills.

Snack and a Show

Well it's actually my Sydney that asks me every day after her nap if I can get her a "snack and a show". However I couldn't resist this photo of the little father/daughter bonding between Cheekers and Daddio over sharing some veggie straws and watching a little cycling.

It Ain't Easy Being a Princess

Today we learned that being a princess is hard work...and sometimes it isn't all that it's cracked up to be...

A little friend of ours had a princess tea party today for her fifth birthday. It was a dress up tea party and filled with lovely, lovely princesses. There were several princess appropriate activities that the little ladies participated in.

They first enjoyed a princess snack consisting of muffins, punch, cheese and fruit. After getting some energy, the decorative damsels designed their own jewels by stringing all shades of pink and purple beads onto string. Then our gals each took a turn doing a whack job on a princess pinata. I must say, I was impressed by some of the power these little muscles possessed in order to take this princess down. Following the pinata fun, my Syd yelled across the courtyard to inform me that it was "time for cake!" A pink on pink cake shaped like a crown added some more juice to the somewhat winding down princesses. Following cake, the fun continued for awhile as the girls played in the playroom before the party climax...presents!

It was during presents time when we learned about the royal hierarchy. Imagine if you will a bunch of puffy dressed, sugar infused little girls sitting in the middle of a room surrounded by bright sacks, tissue paper and flowery wrapped boxes. While most of the little girls were trying to push the present they bought on the birthday girl, my little princess was digging through the pile trying to figure out which present was hers.

It seems there was some confusion about present time. At a recent party, Syd was given a goody bag that I called a "party present". She assumed at all parties she would walk out with something to open. When I explained to her that her gift was to come to this beautiful party, eat muffins, make pretty jewels, get candy from a pinata and eat cake, something was still missing for my little highness. The sugar rush disappeared... and tears appeared. I had to explain that today was not her day but that her birthday would soon be here. Her tear-filled response to me, "I don't think I want to come to parties anymore." Oh dear...the trials of a princess.

We graciously thanked our hosts and wished our friend a happy birthday. After buckling up in the van, we headed home for a much needed nap. It was a pretty quiet ride, but my pink girl did say one thing, "I sure did have a good time at the party." So I guess all present scaring is forgotten...for now.

Here are a couple of photos from our tea party...

 

Pool Piggies

We are thoroughly enjoying our new swimming pool. When we moved from the mid-west to the south, I have to admit, my husband and I both became "pool snobs". I'm not proud of this. We are not pretentious people. But when we moved to this warmer climate, and saw the number of pools around, well, we wanted one too. Having kids only made the thought more appealing.

Since neither my husband nor I ever had a pool, it took some time to adjust to the maintenance and safety precautions a pool requires. Now that we have learned more, I think we're all happy and grateful to have it...especially in the record high temps that seem to pop up our way each day during this sunshine filled summer.

Today the girls and I invited some friends over to play. It's so nice to have our friends come over and enjoy our space like we do. This morning we spent our time suiting up, kicking off our flip-flops, splashing, jumping, bobbing, sharing snacks, drinking juice boxes and lathering on the sunscreen...ahh, all the joys of summer!

Nice Kitty

Someone else is getting her turn at some lovin' time with Miss Clarisse...

The Cook's Night Off

I'm not sure if you have this problem in your household, but around here, I feel like I'm constantly struggling to break the kitchen monotony. As the main food provider of the household, I am always (always) looking for ways to add variety to our meals, make things not only interesting to eat but good to eat and good for you. Some weeks I feel like I craft a fun menu. Other weeks I just give up and stick with the boring basics.

One thing I told myself I would not do as a mom and meal provider was turn into a a short order cook and prepare a meal for each of my family members. Welp, no such luck. I have one kid that likes meat and one kid that likes chicken. One kid likes eggs. One kid likes bread. Fortunately I have a husband who likes cereal or a Clif bar or could not care less. For me, though, I enjoy cooking...usually. So what I would like is if I were able to make one glorious item and have it be satisfactory to all.

Summertime is particularly challenging to find good things to eat. I think in the heat, it's just harder to get a good meal in mind. And with the amount of heat we are now presently dealing with, I feel like I am constantly striking out. As a matter of fact, the other night I just wanted to throw in the towel.

We try to be a family that eats most of the meals at home. Going out to dinner is a "privilege" (as we try to teach the kids). Well the other day, motivation was low around our house; and personally all I wanted to do was dial 1-800-bring-me-a-pizza. But I bucked up, and didn't whine, and hit the kitchen to make some grub. Since nothing was thawed, and it was already dinner time, I whipped up some bean burritos for the Hubby and I and some noodles, a veggie and some fruit for the kids. This was not a time consuming process, but I chopped items, got out a couple skillets, used seasonings. I didn't just stick a meal in the microwave.

So when I was all done preparing the food, the plates got plated and placed on the table. It was dinner time... and basically I should have ordered that pizza. I think maybe two bites of food were eaten collectively off of everyone's plate. I was so peeved. It's one thing to struggle to get ideas of what to make. It's another to get up and get it made. Then to see your thoughts and work be looked at with an "ewwww" face, big bummer.

Ever since that night, I've been a little apprehensive to make anything lavish. I know it's not really fair of me. I don't mean to seem so bitter. I know it's warm. I know people have different appetites. I get it. Sometimes I just wish I was wearing a "kiss the cook" apron...and they wanted to.

Tonight, though, the cook has the night off! Ya-hoo! I'm joining some friends for dinner. Tonight I get to order from a long list of yummy options while someone else is sweating for my approval. I cannot wait!