Day 1619 | Babies!

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Two of my closest friends had babies within eight days of each other. And let me tell you, these are some cute babies. The whole gang has yet to meet the newest little one but the boys did get to hang out with the older one and even got to hold her! This was the first time the boys have held onto a tiny baby. It melted my heart to watch them. It didn’t last long (they had other pressing obligations), but it was adorable just the same.  

Congratulations, friends! I’m so excited to watch these babies grow—and to help out in any way possible! I already love them so much. 

Day 1618 | Fabulous Florals and Fine Art

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I forced the boys to check out a local art exhibition today and I totally won them over. The Fabulous Florals and Fine Art exhibit at Pablo Center was an impressive collection of different types of local art (glass making, paintings, photography, quilting, etc.) and then floral arrangements inspired by each piece of art. The boys and I had a lovely time talking about each of the pairs and coming up with what the similarities were between them. I remain very impressed with the caliber of artists in this community. 

Day 1616 | Beauty and the Beast

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Our local children’s theater put on an amazing production this past weekend. We took the boys to see Beauty and the Beast in the new performing arts center. The boys managed to stay enthralled through the entire 2.5 hours of the musical. That’s when you know it’s good. I couldn’t convince them to take their photo with any of the cast so you’ll have to accept this pre-show selfie. 

Yay for local theater! 

Day 1612 | The Melting Begins

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This photo was taken last Sunday before Chase’s piano recital. I’m happy to say that *I think* this is as high as the snow will get this year. The snow bank is about as tall as me—in case that’s not obvious. Luckily, we’ve had some warmer temps this week and the snow piles are receding. Now we get ready for flooding...but that’s something future Chris and Sara can worry about.  

Day 1609 | Dress Shopping

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I snuck out of the house this morning for some bridesmaid dress shopping with my mom. Yep! I get to be a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding and I’m SUPER pumped about it. I wish I lived close to them so I could go shopping with the bride, but my mom and I managed to have a great time solo. 

Trying on fancy dresses is so fun. I feel like there should be more reasons to try them on on a regular basis, you know? At the end of the excursion I found two dresses that I definitely like (the bride is letting us choose our own style). Now just to make the final decision. The wedding is in August so you’ll just have to wait until then for the big reveal. 

Day 1606 | A Final Line

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On March 1, 2019, I wrote the last entry in my one-line-a-day journal. For five years, I have struggled and fretted over this journal. One sentence every day for five years. That’s no joke. I didn’t do it every day (that was probably my problem). I would forget or be too tired and there would be days (even weeks sometimes—eek!) that I would have to use my blog to catch up on the entries. I did it, though. The journal is complete and I’m happy to have the record of the somewhat mundane but also memorable moments of our life. 

I’m not going to lie, though. It feels really good to check this little journal off my to-do list forever.  

 *Side note: the journal is pictured above with the amaryllis plant that my mom gifted me and I’ve managed to rear successfully for the past few weeks. It’s huge and beautiful and a sign that maybe spring will come eventually.  

Day 1604 | Little Faith

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I don’t read nearly as much as I’d like, but somehow when my favorite author drops a new book, I can make the time.

Little Faith is officially on bookstore shelves and I’m betting it’s going to be pretty great—I’m only two chapters in so I can’t offer much additional insight. Nick is not only an amazing writer, he’s a dear friend, and also family. If you’re in the market for a new read, consider this one, will you?

Day 1603 | Happy 5th Birthday!

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Our little nugget is five today. FIVE. I love birthdays. I love thinking back to that day of their births and how our whole world changed in one minute. I love showering them with gifts + special treats + attention. I love coming up with a day filled with whatever makes them happy. I just love it all.

Robbe’s activities of choice on his big day? Present-opening immediately upon waking up, French toast for breakfast, watching Bolt (in the morning!), mac + cheese lunch at Panera bread, attending a community theater production, serious playtime + Lego assembly, pizza for dinner (with pineapple and pickles on the side), a mystery game (created by Chris), a bingo game (created by me), and this yummy Oreo ice cream cake for desert. Add in some family to the mix and the day was pretty much perfect.

UPDATES ON 5 YEAR OLD ROBBE

  • He's still rocking speech therapy. At this point, Robbe is seeing the speech therapist at his school just once a week and he's surpassing all of his developmental milestones. We've got his annual IEP check-in in about a month and rumor has it he might graduate out of his IEP altogether!

  • Potty humor gets him every time.

  • Favorite meals: yogurt + berries with granola (breakfast), anything on pretzel bread (lunch), french toast with berries on top (dinner)

  • Robbe is almost exactly the same height at 5 as Chase was when he turned 6.

  • He loves Legos (like, really LOVES Legos), but rarely puts them together. He prefers to play with them, not assemble. It's a good thing there are other friends in the house that really enjoy the assembly part!

  • Chase is his best friend and favorite playmate. There is nothing that brings me more joy.

  • He can’t wait to eat lunch at school (next year). I’m worried the idea of this is not going to live up to the reality of it come next year.

  • Robbe’s answers to a few questions:

    • What is your biggest fear? Tarantulas, snakes, and scorpions

    • Favorite person? Chase (without hesitation)

    • What makes you laugh? Funny jokes (obviously)

Day 1600 | 1600!

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Sara

FAVORITES: Pilates sessions, oat milk + decaf lattes (still going strong despite an oat milk shortage earlier this winter), sunshine on winter days, listening to the boys play happily together again (after the rough patch in the fall), puzzling with my #1 guy (we’re just more picky about the selections these days), wearing vests inside (they really do keep you warm even if your arms aren’t covered!), my Yeti mugs (I had no idea how often I was drinking cold beverages)
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: Coming to terms with not hosting birthday parties for the boys this year. They opted to celebrate at the waterpark last weekend instead. I’m relieved and saddened to not be dealing with all that stress + excitement right now.
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: One week of a normal schedule without sick or snow days. It’s been at least five weeks since that has happened.

Chris

FAVORITES: Drinking water (lots of water), playing the Nintendo Switch, puzzling with his #1 gal (he’s recovered from the great Eagle Puzzle Incident), Salted Nut Rolls, not having to shovel, playing board games (Catan is the current favorite)
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: Having to drive home in 6+ inches of snow on a regular basis
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Soaking in the sun on the beach in Mexico (we’re going again over spring break)

Chase

AGE: Almost 7 (just over a month to go)
FAVORITES: Playing the Nintendo Switch with his Dad, anything on the iPad, Lego Ninjago (still going strong), his new winter boots, everything about school, reading chapter books (currently we’re very into Peter and the Star Catchers), his cousin Eli, equality with everything related to his brother
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: Making time for practicing piano (he’s just too busy playing to fit it in)
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: Losing more teeth. He’s down four already and only two have started growing back in. Even still, he’s ready for additional visits from the Tooth Fairy—I can’t imagine why.

Robbe

AGE: Almost 5 (four days to go!)
FAVORITES: Snow days (he’s by far the biggest proponent in the house), Ty Beanie Boo characters, planning his birthday festivities, his Pokemon blanket, playing Legos, visiting the library, honey wheat pretzels, his sandwich recipe (pretzel bread, peanut butter, and flat pretzels), drinking tea, vitamin C drops, constantly requesting things to eat, his new sloth stuffed animals
BIGGEST HURDLE TO OVERCOME: Keeping his undies un-bundled. This kid does not have time to slowly pull up his pants so that his undies lay flat and are comfortable. Instead, he pulls everything up together in a wad and then spends most of his day with bunched undies. How does that not drive him crazy?!?
DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE: To be as old as (or older than) his brother. I *don’t think* this one is going to come true for the little man, but that doesn’t stop him from requesting it.

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