~ Wordless Wednesday ~

~ A Case of the Giggles ~ ;)

~ Fashion Plate ~

Hi Friends & Happy Sunday to you all!!!! Just stopping by on our "Staycation" to say Hi & give a few updates....enjoy! :)

I often think of both of my grandmothers...especially when I spend time getting Sailer ready or picking out her clothes....I have to admit, it's SO fun! A few of you may know this, but when I was pregnant with Noah, before I even knew that I was having a son, my maternal grandmother passed away. I was SO heartbroken...she was such a HUGE part of my life growing up, and the thought of her not meeting my child really....broke. my. heart. Then, a few years later, when I was pregnant with Sailer, my paternal grandmother passed away....and, it was just a few short weeks before Sailer was born...which was...again...heartbreaking. I was SO close to both of them, and I wanted...more than anything, for them to know my children and see me become a Mom.

Lately, I've thought of them more and more...for some reason. My paternal grandmother would always say to me..."Summer, you're a fashion plate. You know that? You love fashion!" :) She was right! I always loved to dress up, play with make-up, and look for the latest styles and trends...it's just FUN. Now, I look at Sailer, and even at 3, I see that she loves fashion too...in her own little way. I told her the other day...."You're my little fashion plate..." At that moment, I thought of my grandmother....it's the little things about them that I miss the most.

Can't wait to see both of them again one day in a perfect heaven! But, for now, I will enjoy my little fashion plate, and think of them both with a smile...:-)

~ Noah Turns SIX!!! ~

Sigh....I'm not quite sure where to even start with this post. I mean, seriously, I become emotional when I even talk about Noah growing up....even more so than Sailer...mainly b/c I've noticed so many changes within Noah over this past year, and I've spent considerable time lately concentrating on the changes that will be taking place within the next few months for him (and all of us). Transitioning from FIVE to SIX is UNreal. Really, it is! And, while Noah has gained a new perspective, a new maturity (although he's still a total goofball!), a little weight, a bunch of height, and a whole new set of opinions, he's lost that baby-ness that I always cherished so much...and, to be honest, I've tried to hold on to some of that....to no avail. I (think) I've come to terms with him growing up, and I've chosen to embrace his older, sweet self.....b/c I know that, before I know it, he'll be changing again.

Anyway, I believe I mentioned in an earlier post that we had to postpone our family vacation..due to Noah breaking his arm. So, since were IN town this week, we had our family over to celebrate Noah's 6th birthday on Wednesday....I'm always overwhelmed at how giving and gracious our families are when it comes to celebrating the kids. We had an absolute blast! This year, Noah and I filled a birthday bucket at Learning Express (one of his FAVE stores!), so each and every gift he received was something special that he picked out himself. He told me that his birthday was SO GREAT! In fact, he woke up at 6:30 a.m. the morning after his party (EARLY for him!) to put on his new Spy Gear that he received. lol. He even placed a motion detector by his bedroom door so he would be "alarmed" if a sneaky little girl felt a little snoopy....;)

This year...are you ready for this??? I made Noah's birthday cake....which was, of course, Spiderman! Jason thought it would be more special, and he thought it would be a great memory for me...and for Noah. Long story short....I gave in, and decided to take a stab at it, and although the Spiderman cake was super tedious to decorate, it turned out pretty darn good....I must say so! I used good ol' Funfetti cake mix, and it was very yummy! Then, we had an ice cream sundae bar for added sweetness....:) And, of course, plenty and plenty of pizza....if you know Noah, you'll know that pizza is his FAVORITE. It couldn't have been a more perfect party! I even had to paint my girl's twinkle toes with blue/red in honor of Spiderman...(Noah's idea!)...this girl would do anything for her big brother!!!!

The best part for us always is having our sweet family over....even though we all live close, we tend to get caught up in the craziness of our lives...and, at times, weeks go by without us seeing each other. Needless to say, it was time for a fun night! And, what's more fun than celebrating such a special SIX year old????

Noah, you're the absolute BEST son a Mother could hope or pray for!!!!! I love you with ALL of my heart and soul!!!!!

~ A Bistro Brunch ~

Talk about a hip & stylish brunch! This past Tuesday, we had a special reservation for 4 at the American Girl Boutique & Bistro! It's the perfect mix of cool fun & deliciousness. We arrived a bit early to explore the store & visit the picture booth for the 2011 Girl of the Year. I even got a couple of Christmas ideas...:) After we checked in to the Bistro, our lovely server brought out a pink booster seat for Sailer's doll, Mia. Lol. It was TOOOO cute. So, Mia was able to sit beside her mom....a.k.a. Sailer, during brunch. And, she was served also....a super small tea cup with a teeny tiny silver pitcher of water for Sailer to fill her cup with. Totally too much....it was SO cute! So cute! Next, we enjoyed a 3-course meal, with individual appetizers (veggie kabobs and cheese fondue), a turkey panini, bistro burgers, tic-tac-toe pizza, and chicken fingers for our girl...of course. Then, it was birthday cake ice cream for Noah and Sailer....Jason and I skipped on dessert...we were stuffed! The bistro has an AMAZING dessert bar, and the decor is just a dream! Taffy pink flowers and silver lighting and striped walls and huge jars full of candy and the absolute BEST Pink Lemonade a girl could ask for! Can you tell that I'm a fan??? :) We loved it! Next time, maybe we will visit the American Girl Doll Salon for a quick up-do and spa treatment for Mia...who knows? The possibilities are endless!

~Dream Come True~

Being a Mom is the greatest gift! It truly is! Here's just one reason why....tonight, while reading with Sailer, she says..."Mom, a Princess is a Dreamer..." Ah...be still my heart! Only a few precious words in her sweet voice can take my breath away! There's no doubt...she's my dream princess come true!!!!

~Wordless Wednesday~