Mother's Day Weekend

My entire family is in town this weekend for my nephew Caleb's high school graduation/party. My sister & her girls arrived on Thursday evening & the rest of my family came in on Friday afternoon.

We spent Friday night at my brother & sister-in-laws home celebrating Caleb who will be graduating from high school tomorrow. There were yard games, fun stuff for the kids to do & play with as well as a BBQ spread & yummy cake!

 

 

It was a great time hanging with our family as well as my sister-in-laws family celebrating the high school graduate!

Saturday we all went to Deanna Rose Farmstead so the kids could get out of the house & burn a bit of energy. There was a lot of fun had seeing all the animals, riding the horses, feeding the chickens, goats, ducks & playing on the playground!

 

Afterwards, we all headed back to my house where we grilled out & enjoyed cocktails & company on the patio! 

Sunday was Mother's Day. I tried out a new recipe & made a yummy breakfast honoring all the Mom's in my family. The Breakfast Sliders were a huge hit & were SO good! Will definitely be making these again!!

After breakfast my parents decided to head out & make there way back to South Dakota. After we all said our goodbyes, the rest of us all got ready for the day & headed to the zoo where we met my brother & his wife.

It was not the best idea to go to the zoo that day as it was hotter than heck out & I believe everyone in the Kansas City metro area also had the same idea to head to the zoo! We had to park over a mile away & not only were the kids crabby about walking such a far distance, the adults were also getting crabby!

Once we got into the zoo we all got some drinks, a snack & made our way. Everyone began to calm down a bit as we walked around & the kids had a great time! We were all a bit bummed that the stingray exhibit wasn't yet open. We will definitely have to go back in a couple of months to check it out when it does finally open!

 

After a long, hot afternoon we parted ways with my brother & all headed home. We had a low key kind of night hanging on the patio & the kiddos were all in bed early as they were all exhausted!

The next morning I dropped my sister & her girls off at the airport & I headed to work! It was a great Mother's Day weekend spent with my family & the kiddos had so much fun hanging out with their cousins!

Hope all the Mama's that read this blog had a wonderful Mother's Day as well! I am blessed & forever grateful that I get to be this ittle boys Mama every single day!!

Cell Phone Dump

Pics off the cell phone for the month of April

 

Was at the vet with Fiona & ironically behind me was a pic on the wallpaper of a white bulldog :)

 

Sick baby boy :(

 

 
Good news - not measles. Bad news - strep throat :(
 

Dinner with his bestie

Triple Trouble - Mase, Greyson & Beckett

 

Selfie with my little man

 

Celebrating Corie's 5th birthday

Crazy, scary selfie with little mister

 

Mmmmm - smoked ribs

Pre-K Graduation

As much as I wished this day would take a little bit longer to get here, it snuck up on me & here it is! Pre-K Graduation Day!! 

 

Mason's class had their graduation ceremony this evening & it was so stinkin' cute! Everyone gathered at the daycare in their main room which was all decorated for the graduation ceremony. Then the music started to play & one by one the Pre-K class all walked in with their cute little graduation hats on. 

 

The kids took turns leading their classmates in song, their teacher Ms. Becky told some funny stories of things the kids have said over the last year & then each one was called to the front where they received their diplomas.

I had tissues in my purse just incase this Mama lost it during the ceremony but surprisingly I didn't even cry! I think I was just so happy & so proud to see my little guy standing up there making it through the first of many milestones that I maybe forgot to cry!?

After the ceremony all the parents posed for pictures with their littles...

And with best friends.....

 

 

And lastly with the Pre-K teacher - Mrs. Becky....

 

Introducing.....the Day Brook Pre-K class of 2018

After the graduation festivities we headed to our local Mexican restaurant where we met the families of my Mama Tribe for a celebratory dinner.

The countdown is on!!! In a few short months we will be off to Kindergarten! We are looking forward to a super fun summer & moving on to the next milestone!

 

Disney Dance Party

This afternoon I ended up taking off of work early & headed to daycare to pick up my little mister! Little did he know that we had big plans for the evening!

 

We first headed to the kids salon for a much needed haircut & then afterwards we headed over to my friend Leann's house.

Leann had picked up supper for all of us & after we all ate we surprised the kiddos with tickets to see Disney Dance Party for the evening! To say the kiddos were SUPER excited was an understatement. There was screaming, dancing, laughing & hugs all around to the Mama's

We all headed downtown to the Midland Theatre (where the Cat & Nat show was held) & made our way to our seats. We were up in the balcony which ended up being perfect for the littles because they were able to see the stage really well.

There was dancing, singing & character appearances - even Mickey Mouse showed up for the dance party!

Mase & Olivia really got into the show & it was so stinkin' cute. They were singing along, clapping, doing the dance moves...they had a ball. Even the Mama's were singing along to all the theme songs :)

We all had so much fun & I am so glad I was able to take Mase to the show. He & Olivia absolutely loved it & it warmed my heart to see him so happy & beaming from ear to ear!!

Cat & Nat

Tonight I had me a Mama's Night Out with my girlfriend Sara. A couple of months ago I had told her to clear her calendar for this evening & that I had a surprise for her. I had bought us tickets to the Cat & Nat show. I don't know if I was looking more forward to seeing this show or for a much deserved Mama's night out :)

I left work a bit early, went home to get ready, picked up Sara & headed to a local mexican restaurant for margaritas & some dinner.

It was so nice to have some one on one girl-time with no interruptions from our littles & be able to eat a meal, drink a cocktail without having to rush.

 

After supper we made our way into downtown KC to the beautiful Midland Theatre for the show. As we made our way in I had forgotten how gorgeous the inside of the theatre was. 

For those of you who don't know who Cat & Nat are, they are a social media sensation of two best friends who are wives & Mama's that live in Toronto, Canada.

 

They are popular for their "mom truths" videos, live Facebook videos & Instagram feeds, sharing their honesty & humour among other moms. They share everything moms think but are too afraid to talk about. They decided to start the Cat & Nat Fun Show & go on the road in the US. We were fortunate enough to have them stop in our town & get to go.

 

There were lots of laughs, a few tears & many feelings of support & love from a room full of women who all have one thing in common.....being a mom. It was such a fun Mama's night out & I am so glad Sara & I were able to "escape" our crazy homesteads & our littles & get to go!! 





 

If you find Cat & Nat coming to your city I would highly recommend trying to go! I promise - you won't be disappointed!!!

Kindergarten Roundup

In 4+ months Mason will be headed to Kindergarten. I can't even believe that I am even typing this.

Yesterday he was like this.....

 

Today he is like this....

In a blink. Cue the tears.........

Today was Kindergarten Roundup at his new school & he was SO excited to go. We walked in through the big glass doors & as we walked down the hall Mase let go of my hand & ran ahead to the gym & didn't even look back. It was at this moment that I realized our little boy is no longer little. He is 5. He is soon to be a Kindergartner. Where the heck has 5 years gone????

There were teachers lining the hallway greeting all the parents & they were so welcoming. But despite their big smiles & happy faces I couldn't keep my composure. I looked over at Shane & tears welled up in my eyes. He just rolled his eyes at me. He pretty much thinks I am crazy but it was all I could do to keep it together. He tells me all the time that I should be happy he is growing up & I am but I am also sad about it. 

I really think it is different for a mother. My mind travels back to the day I first laid eyes on his little body & held him in my arms & how for the last 5 years I have been his Mama. His constant. The one he comes too for snuggles. The one he comes to when he gets hurt. The one he tells "I love you so much in my heart". The one who says " I will always hug you. Even when I am old like you & Daddy". I know I can’t keep him little forever. As much as I want to it just isn’t possible & that’s what makes me crazy.

I have known this day was coming for well, 5 years now but I’m still not ready to let him grow up. All his preschool teachers have been preparing him & he is MORE than ready but nobody has prepared ME & to be honest, I’m scared, sad & nervous.

I had butterflies in my stomach as I got out of the car & started to walk towards the school. During the introductions I sat there with my husband trying to listen to what the principal was saying but all I could think about were the new transitions that would soon be taking place for all of us & my mind started to wander. This is the conversation I was having in my head as I should of been listening to the principal....

"Wow - this school seems so big. What if Mase gets lost? I wonder if he will feel shy asking to go to the bathroom? That reminds me - I need to teach him to wipe his own bottom soon. Ugh, will he even know where the bathroom is? Wait, did she just say they have to carry a tray with their food on it at lunch? What if his little arms won't be able to carry the tray in the cafeteria? What if he drops it? We need to go shopping for his first backpack. I hope he will be able to make new friends. What if he gets bullied? God help the little sh!t who bullies my child. Oh gosh, did I just say that?! Wow - no wonder Shane thinks I'm crazy."

Ugh - all these butterflies in my stomach have now turned into knots. 

Now I know I am crazy but surely I am not the only first time mom who is or has felt this way? I know I should be happy that he is growing up & that he is so ready to embark on this new journey but the other part of me wants to hug his sweet little body & cry. 

It is truly bittersweet. A combination of sadness & happiness is truly how I feel when I think about him starting his very first day of school. Did I mention he starts Kindergarten on my birthday?? I have already put in my PTO request at work to have the day off. Between the tears & another year closer to 50 I am going to need it!!

Deep down I know he is going to do great in Kindergarten. He is a pretty fearless little kid. It is just me who is afraid. I know he will love school & make many new friends & I’m excited for him to learn & experience new things. As the year goes by, I know he will become more independent each day & flourish in his new environment. I just hope he knows that he will always be my baby & no matter how big he gets that is something that won’t ever change. I am ready to let him soar but it is going to be extremely hard to sit back & watch.

Summer is right around the corner & we have 4 months of fun to be had. I’m going to try & make the most of it with him before he starts school as well as prepare myself as best I can for his first day. It will definitely be bittersweet - full of happiness for him & sadness for me but I won’t let him see me cry. Because I know myself & I know on that first day as he walks away from me with his back turned excited to be walking through those glass doors, the tears will be flowing down my face & my husband will once again look over at me & roll his eyes. 

Hopefully after his eye roll he will reassure me that everything is going to be okay as Mase heads off into the great unknown. One thing I am sure of, I will be anxiously awaiting to pick him up all day to hear all about his first day of Kindergarten. 

Easter

Happy Easter to you all! Hope you all were able to spend this holiday with your families! We had an amazing day together as a family celebrating the meaning of Easter as well as the Easter Bunny's arrival :)

 

Last night we gathered around the kitchen island & did the annual dyeing of eggs festivities. This was the first year that Mason didn't need any "help" & pretty much did it all by himself! He was SO proud!

Then it was bath time, story time & off to bed so the Easter Bunny could make his arrival. The "Easter Bunny" stayed up WAY too late stuffing plastic eggs with candy & money, putting the basket together & then hiding the eggs throughout the house. I didn't get to bed until after 1130pm so this Easter Bunny was SUPER tired when this little guy woke up the next morning.

 

Luckily for me I don't have an "early riser" child so by 7am he was awake & waking Mama & Daddy up with all his excitement!

He had so much fun looking all over the house for all the eggs the bunny had hidden & was so excited to see a trail of eggs down the stairs to the basement where he discovered his Easter basket.

I told Mase that he must have been super good since Christmas because he got some awesome stuff in his Easter basket! Candy, toys, boxers, PJ's, swim trunks, pool toys....he loved it all!



After we opened up all the plastic eggs (& ate a few pieces of candy along the way) we got dressed & headed out to our favorite "hole in the wall" breakfast place Mom's Kitchen for an early breakfast & then headed back home to shower & get ready for Easter service at church.



Such a handsome little guy :)

 

After church we got back home, changed & headed to Main Event for some family fun. We took Mase bowling for the first time & we had so much fun!! Shane & I hadn't been bowling since we had dated 14+ years ago & had forgotten how much fun it was...especially with Mase. It is definitely something we will all do together again!

After three games of bowling we headed over to the arcade & played a bunch of games. Mase didn't want to leave but Shane & I were getting super hungry so we lured him away with promises of pizza for lunch. While we were inside it had started to snow outside :( Ugh I swear....April 1st & we are getting winter weather. SO over it!!

We made our way over to Minsky's pizza for a late lunch & enjoyed a yummy BBQ Chicken pizza while Mase got his own little mini-pizza. After we stuffed ourselves we headed home, got PJ's on & curled up on the couch & watched movies while eating Easter candy. It was a most blessed day!