Thursday, September 28, 2017

31 Festive Halloween Activities


If there's one good thing about being sick, it's that I've suddenly found the motivation to blog. I was lying around on the couch, making my way through a box of tissues and browsing past Halloween posts to get inspiration for crafts and recipes, when I decided why not just combine it all in one easy-to-find spot? So I bring you four years' worth of Halloween activities, 31 of our favorites, to be exact. Most of these can be done anywhere, but the last four are specific to Southern California, although I do believe most zoos do their own version of Boo at the Zoo. I'm excited to explore Sacramento's local Halloween festivities this year, and we've already got a few on our radar. AND, I'm even more excited that we've got a Disneyland trip planned for next week! Eeeek!! We're not doing Mickey's Halloween Party this year. We have annual passes and it would cost extra to go to the party, but I'm just excited for the Halloween decorations, to check out the new Oogie Boogie spells at California Adventure, and, of course, all the Halloween-themed treats. I may or may not have a list of must-eat foods while we're there. Ok, who are we kidding? I definitely have a must-eat list. 

Aside from Disneyland, I'd say Ez's favorite tradition is our Halloween egg hunt. This will be our second year doing it, so it officially counts as a tradition now, right? Neither of the kids like the footprint crafts, but pulling those out each year is one of my absolute favorite traditions. What happened to their tiny little feet?? Decky likes trying to haul away the biggest pumpkins he can find at the pumpkin patch. And Joe will tell you he doesn't like holidays, but that doesn't explain why he's been trying to take us to pumpkin patches since August. (FYI, there are zero pumpkin patches open in August). What's your favorite October tradition? We're always looking to freshen up our list with some new ideas!

To Do:
1. Decorate!
2. Read books
3. Watch movies
4. Spooky indoor camping
5. Boo packages
6. Halloween Egg Hunt
7. Jump in leaf piles

To Eat:
8. Pumpkin cereal bars
9. Pumpkin smoothie
10. Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Banana Bread
11. Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
12. Apple Cinnamon Muffins
13. Pumpkin Beer &/or Hard Apple Cider (for mom & dad)

To Craft:
14. Footprint monsters
15. Frankenstein toilet paper rolls
16. Paint pumpkins
17. Carve pumpkins
18. Ghost footprints
19. Sponge Stamp Pumpkins
20. Festive T-Shirts
21. Contact Paper Pumpkin Wall

To Go:
22. Pumpkin Patch
23. Corn Maze
24. Harvest Festival
25. Pony Rides
26. Fall Foliage Hunting
27. Trick or Treating! (duh)

Go Big:
28. Scarium at the Pacific
29. Boo at the Zoo
30. Dark Harbor at Queen Mary (just for parents)
31. Mickey's Halloween Party

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

16 Favorite Halloween Books


Did anyone else just recently look at their calendar and realize this is the last week of September?? Anyone who knows me knows that keeping track of the days is not one of my strengths, so maybe I'm the only one surprised by the fact that next month is OCTOBER!! Which is officially holiday season! No offense to September, but it's basically just an inbetween month. In between summer and fall, in between hot muggy awfulness and crisp cool temps, in between lazy summer days and holiday festivities. In case you couldn't tell, it's not my favorite month. It doesn't help that we've been sick the last few days. So yeah, I am very ready to usher out September and welcome October with open arms. 

Out of nowhere, both boys suddenly decided they LOVE Monsters Inc. again. It was their favorite for awhile, then they moved onto Nemo, and most recently Moana, but it happened to be on TV this week and they were literally bouncing off the walls with excitement. They must know Halloween is in the air 🎃 That inspired me to dust off our Halloween books, and that got me thinking about which new ones we want to add to our growing collection this year. 

Here are our top 16 Halloween book picks, twelve that we already own, and four that I'm eyeing. What's your favorite? Let me know if we're missing any good ones!



  1. Little Blue Truck's Halloween
  2. Monster Trucks
  3. Spooky Wheels on the Bus
  4. There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider
  5. Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin
  6. Room on the Broom
  7. Peter Rabbit and the Pumpkin Patch
  8. I Love You Little Pumpkin
  9. Five Little Pumpkins
  10. Where the Wild Things Are
  11. Pumpkin Jack
  12. Where's My Mummy?
  13. It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse
  14. Duck & Goose Honk! Quack! Boo!
  15. Ten Timid Ghosts
  16. Five Black Cats

Monday, September 25, 2017

4 Veggie-Packed Smoothies



It's back to school season! And as we quickly found out, that means cold season. Ez made it a whole nine days before he brought home his very first school virus. This is definitely the part of having a student in the house that I was least looking forward to. Ez's cold quickly made the rounds to me, and then Declan. In an effort to avoid at least some of the colds going around, or diminish how long we're sick, I've been making a smoothie for Ez and I each day. (I'm still working on getting Declan to try one. Maybe one day my pickiest little eater will realize what he's missing out on.) These four recipes have all been Ez-approved and pack in a nice dose of vitamins to help out his immune system. Since Ez has already been sick I can't say these are full-proof, but his symptoms were a lot less severe than Decky's who avoids produce like it's poison, but will happily try to ingest ant hills and foam soccer balls... 😖

The nice thing about September (aside from the bipolar weather and icky germs) is that it's a nice in-between month for produce, which means you can get avocados AND pumpkin yogurt at the stores right now. It's the best of summer and fall and I'm definitely taking advantage of it while it lasts! 

 As you can see, each smoothie comes with a banana, and frozen bananas make the absolute BEST smoothies. I keep ziplock baggies full of banana slices in the freezer just for smoothies. I also use frozen berries and carrots for a better smoothie consistency. Obviously you can use any kind of milk you want, but that almond-coconut blend is perfect for the carrot cake smoothie (which is our #1 favorite smoothie, btw). I also like to add a dropper full of Enfamil's liquid vitamins to round out whatever vitamins we may be lacking. 

Berry Green Smoothie
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 cup mixed frozen berries
  • 1-2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 6 ounces vanilla yogurt
Carrot Cake Smoothie
  • 1 medium to large carrot (or about 1 cup of frozen carrot slices)
  • 1 pineapple tidbits cup (with juices)
  • small handful pecan halves
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 6 ounces vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup coconut almond milk
  • sprinkle of cinnamon
Avocado Smoothie
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 cup coconut almond milk
  • honey to taste
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 6 ounces pumpkin yogurt
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • sprinkle of cinnamon

To be honest, I don't really measure my smoothie ingredients, so add more or less to get your desired consistency. These all make enough for Ez and I to split, although sometimes he does finish all of his and then steals mine. #momlife

When we are feeling under the weather we like warm, steamy eucalyptus epsom salt baths, eucalyptus essential oil in our humidifier, lots of juice, throat coat tea (for me), and extra long naps. What are some of your go-to cold remedies and favorite smoothie recipes?? Something tells me this will not be our last round of colds over here... 😕 Wishing you all a healthy back to school season!!

Thursday, September 21, 2017

My Summer in Books


Joe and I have been on a book buying rampage ever since we moved to Sacramento. There are SO MANY great independent bookstores around here, many of them are secondhand and super cheap, and somehow we find ourselves wandering into one weekly and walking out with a year's worth of books. You know it's a bad sign when instead of reigning in the book buying, you find yourself looking for an extra bookshelf instead. We know it's a tad excessive, but my book loving heart just can't help itself. 


I love reading other bloggers book reviews (I'm looking at you, Whitney!) and I keep thinking I'll join in one day, yet somehow month after month goes by and I never get around to it. Since tomorrow is the official first day of fall, the tips of the trees are turning yellow and red, and the weather is cool and crisp, I decided what better time to talk about summer books?? 😉 This whole year has been filled with so many great books, and I feel like I've been on a roll for somehow finding ones I love with very few duds mixed in. One thing I believe about books is that you have to read them at the right time for you. A book may have a wonderful plot and beautiful writing, but maybe it just doesn't resonate with you at that particular moment, for whatever reason. That's why you won't find too many current best-sellers in my pile of books. 

This summer I read twelve books (two not pictured because they're library books), and I'm going to order them from my favorite to least loved. I'll link to Goodreads, but instead of giving a full synopsis I'm just going to give my brief thoughts on each book.


"Until I feared to lose it, I never loved reading. One does not love breathing."
  1. To Kill a Mockingbird - I'm not sure how I managed to get all the way through school without having to read this book, but I feel like I missed out. It was such a fast moving story with lovable characters and is sadly still so relevant today. I think it's hard to write from a child's perspective targeted to an adult audience, and Lee managed to do that beautifully. Fun fact: that tattered copy in that stack of books above once belonged to my grandmother, and this was her favorite book. Goodreads rating: 4.25 🌟 My rating: 5 🌟


"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you."

2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Yet another book I probably should've read by now, but hadn't. Maya Angelou's eloquence, and most of all, her resilience, are so inspiring. She lived through things nobody should have to live through, and she came out of it all with a love of humanity. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the near future. Goodreads rating: 4.19 🌟 My rating: 5 🌟


"But who can remember pain, once it's over? All that remains of it is a shadow, not in the mind even, in the flesh."

3. The Handmaid's Tale - I originally read this thinking I'd watch the hulu series, but sneaking in TV time is pretty rare, so I still haven't gotten around to that. The book was fantastic though. I liked the way the plot unfolded and details of Offred's past and the Republic of Gilead slowly became more apparent and horrifying. I felt emotionally drained after reading this, which is a sign the author did her job well. Goodreads rating: 4.06 🌟 My rating: 5 🌟


"That short time would be enough. A few days could contain a lifetime."

4. The Little Paris Bookshop - Any book that has "bookshop" in the title automatically piques my interest. Throw in the fact that this author also happens to share my first name, and obviously I had to read it. My good friend Courtney was kind enough to send me a copy for my birthday and I was excited to dive right in. I found the beginning a little slow, but a few chapters in it really picked up for me and the writing was so beautiful it wound up being one of my favorite summer books. Goodreads rating: 3.51 🌟 My rating: 4 🌟


"Black bears rarely attack...That doesn't happen often, but - and here is the absolutely salient point - once would be enough."

5. A Walk in the Woods - This was the quintessential summer book. It was an easy read, a nice woodsy setting, unforgettable characters, and it was hilarious. I was cracking up through most of the beginning, and, unfortunately for Joe, I found it so funny I had to interrupt whatever he was doing so I could read aloud to him several times. The first half is definitely the strongest, and then the story shifts settings and loses momentum, but I still finished it quickly and immediately wanted to read more of Bryson's work. Based on other Goodread reviews, you either love his sense of humor, or you hate it, but the same seems to be true of most author's writing styles. Goodreads rating: 4.05 🌟 My rating: 4 🌟


"People think a soulmate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life."

6. Eat, Pray, Love - This was my second time reading this book. The first time was much closer to when it originally came out, and was also at a time when I was going through a breakup, so it really resonated with me. At this point in my life I found it a lot sadder and overall less enjoyable, though it did give me the travel bug. Gilbert's detractors seem to find her completely self-centered, and I agree that her life choices aren't for everyone, but I don't read books to judge the author's/characters choices, as long as it's written in a way that I can put myself in their shoes for 200-300 pages. Fun fact: Elizabeth Gilbert  and I share a birthday. Goodreads rating: 3.51 🌟 My rating: 4 🌟


7. Another Little Piece of My Heart - If you, like me, have a special place in your heart for hippie culture, then this is a must-read. I wish I could go back in time to San Francisco during the Summer of Love, or to see Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Beatles in concert, but since that can never happen the second best thing is to read a first hand account by someone who wasn't only there, but actually knew many of the musicians personally, and is able to write about his experiences lucidly and eloquently. All the protests, the thrills, the free love, and the dark side of the drugs are in this book. It doesn't paint a picture of peace signs and flowers, but I love that it gives a real account of what it was like to live through the 60s. Goodreads rating: 3.69 🌟 My rating: 4 🌟


"You're not necessarily supposed to believe it...You're just supposed to believe in it."

8. Big Fish - I saw the Tim Burton version of this book a long time ago, and while it was ok, I didn't love it. Yet somehow I was drawn to this book when I saw it at the secondhand store. It's a super quick read, and I liked the mixture of fantasy with reality. Definitely a case of liking the book better than the movie, but still a middle of the road book for me. Goodreads rating: 3.64 🌟 My rating: 4 🌟


"That is how you know you've left childhood behind - when you wish for time to go backwards."

9. Here on Earth - Somehow I had never discovered Alice Hoffman until this year. I know it sounds like I've never read a book before this summer - I really have, I promise! I read Story Sisters in the spring and was hooked from beginning to end. Hoffman's style of writing is absolutely magical, even when she's talking about very real, often disturbing subjects. I preferred Story Sisters to Here on Earth, even though they both deal with dark subjects. I find no fault with the writing here, I just don't think I was in the mood for such a dark plot, and so it fell further down my list of ranking. Still looking forward to reading Practical Magic this fall though! Goodreads rating: 3.68 🌟 My rating: 4 🌟


"Close your eyes, cover your ears with your hands, and open your soul."

10. Ali and Nino: A Love Story - I admit, this is another book I was drawn to because Nino is almost Nina, and it's kinda rare I see my name on things. Turns out it was a hidden gem, and if I wasn't burnt out on reading it would've ranked higher on my list. It has all the trademarks of a book I would love: romance, adventure, natural writing style, historical, and it completely opens up a world that I know very little about. I liked learning more about the Middle East during WWI and I honestly can't say anything bad about this book, but like I mentioned in the beginning, timing is often just as important in reading a book as quality of writing and plot, and I think I should've taken a little break after Hoffman's book. Goodreads rating: 3.91 🌟 My rating: 4 🌟


11. July's People - This book was rough for me. Unlike Ali and Nino, which opened my eyes to a time and place I know very little about (the Middle East during WWI), July's People left me confused about the historical facts and what exactly was happening. I had to do a lot of googling about South Africa's race riots in the 1980s to fill in the bigger picture, and while I can see how this is an important piece of literature, I think you need at least a bit of background in South African history to get the most out of this book. Goodreads rating: 3.53 🌟 My rating: 3 🌟


"You have to grow about eight hundred grapes to get just one bottle of wine. If that isn't an argument to finish the bottle, I don't know what is."

12. Eight Hundred Grapes - I wanted to like this book, I really did. And I feel like I was this book's target audience, yet I still didn't like it. Something was lacking for me. It was predictable, there wasn't a huge transformation, or much depth to characters, and the writing just didn't click with me. The best part about this book was drinking wine to go along with it. Goodreads rating: 3.58 🌟 My rating: 2 🌟

And there you have it - my summer in books. What's your favorite book you've read this year? Currently accepting recommendations!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Ez's 1st Week of School


The transition of going from full time with mommy to a couple hours at school each day has been rough on Ez (and Joe and I). It's been so rough that I wouldn't even want to record it here except that I figure one day, like maybe when he's a teenager and wants us to drop him off around the corner so that none of his friends see us, we'll look back on this and laugh. Also, reading about other kids and parents going through a similar experience has made this a teensy bit easier on me, so maybe our experiences will have the same effect on someone else. A warning to the grandparents: this post may make you sad, but it gets better by day 4, I promise. 

Choosing to put Ez in preschool was a fairly last minute decision. We didn't officially enroll him until August, not because we didn't think it'd be beneficial, but because the cost was so substantial and many preschools seemed very serious, with one even guilt-tripping me for waiting until he was four and saying the only way he'd be ready for kindergarten next year is if he puts in eight hour days AND does homework each night. I can accept that kindergarten may be a little more advanced than it was when I went to school, but I'm not going to make my four year old work longer hours than Joe does. So we shelved the idea for a bit, and then something told me to keep looking. I wanted Ez to have a few hours a day to socialize with other kids without me present. I know he's a smart kid who will get the academic part of school with no problem, but the social aspect and independence would be a shock to his system. Thankfully my second round of searches went much better, and we found the perfect fit. Each Monday through Friday afternoon, Ez goes to a small class preschool with only a dozen students and two teachers. The main focus is on playing, but they also follow a schedule and have lots of specialized attention. 


Of course, knowing this was the best decision for Ez didn't make the first day any easier on Joe and me.  Sending your baby off into the big world brings up so many emotions. I mean, wasn't I just pregnant with him yesterday? Word of the wise if you haven't yet gone through this yet: DO NOT LOOK AT BABY PICTURES THE NIGHT BEFORE. Seriously. Don't. None of us cried during drop off, but my heart did break a little on the way home when I passed several garbage trucks and Ez didn't yell out from the backseat, "LOOK! A garbage truck!" Knowing that Ez is shy, quiet, and sensitive made leaving him alone on that first day all that much harder. But it's because he's shy and quiet that we wanted him to have this experience. I was the same exact way as a kid (and as an adult) and I remember loving school so much and I have faith Ez will feel the same way. As his teacher told us, preschool will be his first world that we're not a part of, but to have faith and trust in his ability to step out into the world and develop a sense of independence. 


Ez got the chance to check out his new school twice before the first day, once when we were still looking at schools, and another time at Open House the Saturday before school started. Each time we went Declan walked in like he owned the place, making himself right at home, going from activity to activity and joining in with other groups of kids. Ez, on the other hand, held back, tried to cling to my hand, and stuck with his standby favorites: cars and the wood chips in the playground. Playing with wood chips is one of his favorite things, and the teacher kindly let him know they were off limits, so that burst his bubble a bit. 


Leading up to his first day Joe and I told him all about the fun and exciting stuff he'd do and learn in school. I did my best to hide any of my own sadness and tried to make it exciting, but also not too much of a big deal. For the most part he'd ask to go to school, and seemed excited about it, but on the actual first day of school he did throw a small fit saying he didn't want to go. I told him all four year old boys and girls go to school, and that seemed to do the trick. We got there about fifteen minutes early so he could play outside and get some energy out. Decky was with us, and unfortunately right when the teacher came out to line the kids up Declan threw a major fit over having to leave the school's tricycle behind. I think that added to the chaos for Ez, and he was a little confused about what was going on as the teachers led him into the classroom. No tears, just innocent confusion, which was even sadder. 


The teacher let us know Ez was shy and quiet that first day, which was no surprise. She said the one time he spoke up loudly and clearly was when she asked him if he needed to go potty and he said, "No, I don't need to use the potty." Using public restrooms is typically a battle with Ez, and I'm hoping as the year goes on he gets comfortable enough to get over that fear. When we arrived to pick him up they were doing story time and the second teacher had to keep asking him to sit up because apparently he was over it and just wanted to lay down. Eventually she gave up and just let him on the floor, and then they began excusing the kids. As soon as the teacher said, "Ezra, you can go, your mommy's here," he popped right up and ran over, pushing other people out of the way to get to me. He immediately asked to finish his half-eaten apple out of his lunchbox. He showed me his art in his art bucket, and when prodded he said, "I like this school." On the way home he was singing songs from Puppy Dog Pals and Moana, and he was pretty much bouncing off the walls with excitement the rest of the evening, although he gave very few direct answers when asked about school. 


Day 2 was more difficult. There were sad, silent tears before we even left the house. And after listening to the Moana soundtrack the whole way to school Ez told me as he exited the car, "I'm not gonna be with these kids. I have to go find Maui's hook." As the kids lined up and marched into class Ez grabbed his backpack and ran toward me and I had to lead him into class where the teacher gently but firmly shut the door behind him. Back home the waterworks started full force for me. He looked so little and lost and confused, and it took a lot of reminding and pep talks that this is the best thing for him, and by the end of the year he'll be at a pro at school, which only made me cry more. That evening his teacher emailed us that he'd been sadly asking for mommy throughout the day, which broke our hearts. We're so grateful though for the small teacher to student ratio that allows them to give Ez a little extra love and attention when he needs it. 


Day 3 brought more tears, and a stronger refusal to walk into the school with all the other students. I wound up having to leave him crying on the floor in the hallway, which was heartwrenching. His teachers handled it so well, and I'm incredibly thankful for them. They even made a point of opening the sandbox for Ez at outdoor play time, because they know he loves digging in the dirt. When we checked Ezra's art bucket after school I found this heartbreaking note, along with his picture from his first day of school: 💔

Day 4 is when we turned a corner. After Wednesday's fit the teachers realized Ez would need a bit more coaxing than the other kids (did I mention we were the only parents getting daily email updates?) and so Miss Wendi came up with a new drop off plan where she would come out and take Ez's hand at 12:15, right when school starts and walk him around the playground with her for their five minutes of outdoor time before lining up and going into the classroom. I hid in a corner with some of the other moms and observed until the second teacher told me he was doing well and I could sneak away. Then I hid in the parking lot and observed some more, and he lined up with the other students and walked right in when they rang the bell. No tears or anything. In my nightly email update the teacher let me know he hung his backpack up and walked right into the activity room and participated in all their activities. He was comfortable enough to play on his own without being led around by the hand, and would often bring whatever he was playing with to Miss Wendi to show her. The school's director even gave me a friendly call to let me know he was doing much better and hadn't cried or asked for me once, which was such a relief to hear. 


On Day 5 Ez regressed a bit. He realized that when Miss Wendi took his hand, mommy would disappear, so he did circles around my leg, with his face buried in my pants, trying not to let Miss Wendi get his hand. When she did he threw himself on the floor crying and one of the moms led me out while another mom spied on him for me. He got over his fit pretty quickly, but when I drove away I could tell he was still teary eyed, though Miss Wendi was doing dances to cheer him up. When I got to school to pick him up he spotted me right away (usually I try to hide until the teacher begins dismissing students). He ran up to me and the teacher led him back to circle time until his name was called. He stared at me forlornly and then when she did call his name (like 30 seconds later) he threw himself on the ground crying. I walked away to the art room and he ran and found me and then cheered up when he saw all his art projects in his bucket. Miss Wendi said he didn't cry all day until he saw me at the end, and that he even participated in their dance time, which he'd been hesitant to do all week. We went for a mommy-son ice cream date and as we were driving away from the school he pointed out the window and exclaimed, "That's my school! Look! There's my playground." 

On Days 6 & 7 there was a bit of resistance before we left the house, but no actual tears on the way to school or at drop off. On the car ride Ez kept saying resolutely, "We're going to my school." and once we got there he pointed out Miss Wendi to me and willingly took her hand when she offered it to him. When I picked him up he sang me the Goodbye Song they sing at the end of the day, and then said, "We'll be back, school!"

I'm so impressed with my big four year old boy for all the improvement he's made in one short week, and in his resilience for going to school each day, even though it's been hard for him. Usually when he comes home from school he's in an amazing mood, which makes me think he loves school at least a little bit. Or he's super grateful to be home. Probably some combination of those two. I have to mention yet again how lucky were were to find this preschool. The low kid to adult ratio, the emphasis on playing, and just the love and care from the teachers and staff has made this transition as easy as possible. Even the other moms have been so caring and helpful, and although Ez may not agree just yet, we're so lucky to have found this sweet little community.


A few tips that have helped us through this transition:

If your kid doesn't adjust right away, don't blame yourself. Some kids are naturally introverts, or shy and quiet, and this has nothing to do with parenting and everything to do with personality. 

Have faith in your child to do hard things and learn and be brave. Even if it doesn't happen the first day, or week, they will grow into independent little people through this experience. (Cue more tears.)

Go over the school's daily schedule frequently. Whenever Ez showed signs of anxiety about going to school I'd let him know what to expect that day: activity room, circle time, art room, snack time, outdoor play, story time, and then I'd be there to pick him up as soon as they sang the goodbye song. I think knowing what each day would bring helped a little. 

Play up whatever their favorite activities each day were. Joe and I both spent a lot of time praising his artwork, and thanks to his teachers communication with us we were able to tell him he'd get to play with the animals he liked, and his favorite race car, and the sand box at school each day. 

Take it easy on everyone that first week. Don't plan a bunch of other extracurricular stuff, don't try to do hard mental tasks, read a book to pass the time while they're in school, or spend time with your youngest who gets to experience being an only child for the first time.

Stock up on wine (for mom and dad) and marshmallows for the new student (or whatever treat they particularly love). It's amazing what a couple marshmallows can do for morale.  

Learn the other kid's names and talk about them when going over the school day so that they become familiar instead of strangers. I also made sure to mention that they are all class mates and friends, and all of these kids are his age and being a student is new to them as well.

Take some time out each evening for family time and extra snuggles and love. You all deserve it!

I won't subject you all to another day by day post like this, but I hope to do another update a month or so in with much more positive news. I, for one, am so looking forward to Ez's first holidays at school. Give me all the pumpkin art and homemade ornaments. We've also got a few fun field trips in the next month that I know he's going to love. 

Parenthood is hard. To all you moms and dads out there, you're doing an amazing job. And to all the grandparents, I appreciate you more than ever now that I know all the stuff you went through! 

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Farm Fun & Fairytale Land


Never have weekends felt so sweet as during September with a new student in the house. Joe and I keep joking that Ez is the only one of us forced to go out and interact with society on a daily basis, and after a rough first week (more on that in another post), we wanted to treat the whole family to some upbeat, celebratory, fall-themed fun. Ez just so happened to fill up his entire chore chart this weekend too, so we made sure to tack on a few visits to his favorite places: Target ("it's not a toy store, it's TARGET") and "the blue toy store" (Toys R Us). Since we promised those were on the agenda he conceded to allow us to drag him to a farm to pick out our very first pumpkins of the year, and to Fairytale Land for a children's book festival. Despite a lackluster initial reaction to our plans, once we got to the farm and he found dirt to dig in, a hay tunnel which we lost both boys to for at least half an hour, and a mini pony that ate hay right out of our hands, his day was pretty much made. Fairytale Land was a huge hit too, with a couple hundred slides down Jack's beanstalk, and several slides down the tallest playground slide I've ever seen. Decky was content to hang out in a giant hunk of cheese, photo-bombing everyone else's pictures.