November by the Numbers

November was a month full of magical, lifelong memory-making. It was a month we've been looking forward to all year long because....DISNEY WORLD!!!!! It seemed like it was forever away, and then all of a sudden it snuck up on us and passed us by way too quickly. Why do the best days always seem to do that? I'll do a more in depth post on our Disney trip, but I wanted to take a quick moment to recap November before we dive fully into Christmas season. 

We covered a lot of ground this month, on foot, by car, and in the air, and we made sure to soak up every single magical moment. Ez's excited squeals and dances when he met his favorite characters will be imprinted on my heart forever. As will Declan barfing when both Minnie AND Daisy came around for a visit. I've gotta give him credit for his impeccable timing. 

In addition to our Disney World trip, my mom and I took the boys for an impromptu trip to Disneyland just before Thanksgiving. We may be a tad bit spoiled and I think we've all forgotten how to function in the real world. What do you mean we can't walk around with Storm Troopers and Donald Duck day drinking festive cocktails and eating all the Mickey shaped treats? School schedules and appointments? I quit. Forward my mail to Disney.

These boys of mine have experienced some of the highest highs this month, as well as some of the most epic meltdowns. They make life fun and crazy and hilarious and did I mention crazy? I'm so glad we got to experience this amazing trip together, along with my parents and brothers. There's no one else I'd rather do a 3 am red eye 4 hour delayed cross-country flight with. I mean it.

Thank you Gangy and Grampa!! You spoil us! 😙

Summer by the Numbers

Summer is... dragon flies, starry skies, pool days, sweaty boys, evening walks, dirt, tan lines, white wine, and sunshine. 

We've spent our summer visiting with family, exploring, dipping our toes in every body of water we can find, discovering way too many amazing bookstores, and sneaking away from the kids every now and then for a few date nights (where we generally ate WAY too much sushi). We celebrated all four of our birthdays with three separate getaways in a three month span (and found snow in the middle of June!). The pool has become our second home and our evenings are best spent in the backyard. As much as I've loved all our big adventures, I've loved our evening family walks, long afternoons spent reading, and hanging out in our backyard just as much. It's been one of my favorite summers ever, and a part of me is sad to see it go.

A few things I won't miss though: triple digit days, smoky skies, and funky tan lines. 

Starting next week Ez begins preschool, and while half my brain can't figure out how my baby is starting school already, the other half of me is so excited for him to make friends his own age and bring home holiday-themed art projects, and hopefully develop a love of school that will last a lifetime. It feels a bit like the end of an era, where I had my boys all to myself for four whole years, but we're all so ready for this next adventure. I hope, anyway! Check back next week and see if I've changed my tune...

Fall by the Numbers

Fall was eventful and I'd be sad to see it go except: 1) we technically still have another three weeks of fall and 2) CHRISTMAS!!! Since I consider December it's own special season, I'm going to officially bid farewell to fall today with a little recap of the good, the bad, and the messy...all in numbers. Of course ;)

0 beds broken (but not for lack of effort).

Approximately 5 lbs of apples eaten weekly (mostly by Ez)

100% chance that if there is a leaf pile nearby my boys are stomping in it.

2 ponies ridden by two boys with very different opinions of said ponies.

2 official Halloween egg hunts which resulted in...

3,467 unofficial Halloween egg hunts until...

A dozen eggs disintegrated into rubbery, powdery nothingness.

Another 3,467 requests for more egg hunts.

4 foot radius covered in flour and baking powder after making muffins with my munchkins.

2 awestruck boys when they met Thomas and Percy (the trains).

1 child free Honeymoon weekend where it poured for...

2.5 out of 3 days but we still managed to see...

2 waterfalls and the most gorgeous fall foliage.

$200 - amount won during Honeymoon weekend.

$200 - amount lost during Honeymoon weekend. Sad face.

3 painting projects and only minimal amounts of paint eaten. Success.

4 trick or treating trips and only...

1 of them was a disaster. Success.

3 trips to pumpkin patches for...

8 porch pumpkins, of which...

2 were carved with exactly...

0 help from two certain boys.

1 billion: approximate number of lights at Lumination.

4 miles wandering around lost and confused in a corn maze.

50 approximate trips to the playground.

3 rainy day puddle stomping walks.

A dozen family members gathered around the Thanksgiving table.

You were good to us, fall. Wishing for an equally magical Christmas season for us, and for all of you as well!

July by the Numbers

I know I say this every month but July was a busy one! If I had to sum July up in a few words I'd choose cake, outdoors, vehicles, and wedding planning. We concluded our three month streak of birthdays, which means no more cake till next May. Each boy had their fair share of firsts this month, and it was so fun sharing in their excitement as they experienced new things. Despite my preoccupation with wedding planning we managed to cram in a lot of summer activities and build some family memories that I know will last a lifetime for Joe and I. Ez and Declan will just have to rely on photos and this blog for their memories, although Ez's 3 year old memory is getting surprisingly sharp. Here's a little recap of what we've been up to the past 31 days, all in numbers, of course:

71 facts shared about Joe and I in honor of our...

2 birthdays where...

3 cakes were consumed and...

1 disappointed boy learned not all birthday presents are for him.

2 (super hot) trips to the fair for...

1 vehicle obsessed boy to see dirt bikes and monster trucks. 

4ish hours driving to the lake for our bday getaway where...

2 little fish spent...

3 hours in the water followed by...

3 more hours napping. 

1 little boy had his 1st movie theater experience.
1 other little boy had his 1st fireworks experience.
2 parents got to enjoy a kid free night thanks to the grandparents.

6,432 hours spent scouring Pinterest and etsy for wedding related stuff.

25 tiny buttons on my dress - eek!!

31 salads consumed (to make sure wedding dress fits on the big day, and to balance out the cake).
5 items crossed off our Summer bucket list. 

As we officially enter the dog days of summer I'm wishing you all slow, lazy mornings, afternoons spent splashing and swimming, evenings filled with the ones you love, and probably a good dose of extra baths if your kids are as in love with rolling around in the dirt as mine are. Happy August!