Funky Lunch

I'm dying over the creations over Funky Lunch. If you haven't already seen these, you've got to go over there and check 'em out.

{Via Hostess With The Mostess.}

How Charming

I ordered custom silhouette charms for my Mama for her birthday. {Shout out to Kami - thanks for that link!} I may have also ordered myself a set, but they are being held hostage as a future gift. I love the way they turned out - they are absolutely darling. And I can't believe how similar Mason & Simon's silhouettes are - crazy! Simon's looks a little like Alfred Hitchcock, don't you think?

Dapper Fella

I think I'm going to try my hand at making one of these. Seems simple enough, even for me. {Well, I shouldn't get too proud of myself. I'm the one who made a gigantic mess with fusible fabric the first time I used it.}

The fact that it comes from a blog called "Crap I've Made" only makes it cuter.

Edward Is Watching

I'm not necessarily so huge on Twilight. But that hasn't stopped me from CRACKING up over this. Please buy it, one of you fanatics. That is just too hilarious.

Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Programming

{Chris & I trying to figure out how to take still shots on the webcam...}

I took an unscheduled blogging break this past week. Can I just say that having a kid in school is going to kick my butt?! Holy cow. Getting up at 6:30am is for the birds. I haven't had to do that on a consistent basis for years now. And it's going to take some getting used to. I was not one bit productive this past week. Just tired. Soooo tired. So to get all caught up...

• Maya super digs Kindergarten. Starting at day #2, she wants nothing to do with me walking her to class. Through the front doors of the school, but that's it. After that, she's off on her own. Luckily, she will still give me a big hug and smooch.
  
• The number of "big kids" I see walking in holding Mom's hand makes me happy. I hope my girl is going to like me for a long, long time.
• I really enjoy the walk to the school in the morning. It's the only time of day that's it's bearable to be outside right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a sweaty mess when I get back, but the walk itself is downright pleasant.
• I do not really enjoy standing out in the 100 degree sun at 2:30 for pick-up. Simon doesn't like it, either, since he used to nap at 2:00. As usual, that kid is the best sport ever and is just adapting to fit the new normal.
• While Kindergarten itself is awesome, the serious "play time" time-crunch is not awesome. At all. Poor Maya just can't get all of her play time in. It's going to take some adjusting for all of us. I miss having that girl around! But she's been great at doing her "checklist" and getting everything done that needs to be done. She was super-stoked for Friday night, though! No checklist required!
• Maya likes to buy school lunch. I think she's just kind of like her mother, and likes to buy stuff, in general. I told her she can buy MWF, but on TuTh, when I have to pack lunch for Mason (preschool starts next week!), she'll have to make do with just buying her chocolate milk. She's really enjoying being a "big girl".
• So far no BFF, no "boyfriend", no one driving her crazy. She says she's "friends with everyone", which is just what I love to hear!

In other news...

• I have been utterly unproductive. Have I mentioned? I think when I get tired, I just sort of freeze up. Come home and see all there is to do, don't know where to start, so I choose to do nothing instead. I gave myself the week off, so to speak. This coming week, I've got to be back in action!
• Chris left Thursday for Oregon to run the Hood to Coast race. I had to mend my ways at the last minute...I was not feeling very supportive, because it seems so totally ridiculous. Running 8 miles. Uphill. On gravel. At 2am? (In the rain, it turned out.) And that's just one of his 3 legs. Who would chose to do such a thing voluntarily?! But I did come through with some fabulous "good luck" cards (Jonas brothers from Maya, Cars from Mason and a recordable Superman card from all of us) and goodies in the end. I hope he makes it back in one piece. Every time I talk to him, he seems to be having a fine time, but it sounds miserable to me! (Spending 2 days either in the car or running a leg...sitting in race traffic...sleeping a total of 40 minutes in 24 hours?! Seriously! Why?)
• Mason is so super excited to start preschool. I think he's going to do great. I'm happy that it's Maya's "old" school, because he's used to going in and out of there and I think he'll feel really comfortable there. I can't believe my little guy is already that BIG!
• Simon has started to say "bye bye" and wave, and it is pretty much the cutest thing ever. EVER! He's got at least one more tooth. He's 10 months old today! I can't believe my baby will be 1 in 2 short months. How time flies!
• I have lots of projects and ideas and things in mind. Fall is my favorite time of year. I've got 2 parties to throw in October. I'm already scheming about Halloween costumes. I've got a bee in my bonnet to make at least some of my Christmas gifts this year. So much I want to do! Just got to get back in the saddle and embrace the new normal!

I'll be back posting next week! Happy weekend to you!

Kindergarten!

Sending Maya to Kindergarten has been giving me the blues for a month now. Such a crazy milestone. New stage in life. I was excited, too. But feeling a little sad about my girl going off into the real world. Okay, I know the "real world" is a little scarier than Kindergarten, but you know what I mean. A big step...for sweet little girls...and for (not so sweet) Mamas!

We were super stoked to get the news that Maya would have the very famous Mrs. Leigh as her teacher. We've had good friends speak so highly of her...and that really helps. Mrs. Leigh is also a part of the STAR program. I don't know too much about it yet, but from what I've heard, it's a mentoring program the Kindergartners do with the Pre-K kids. And if anyone was ever cut out to be a mentor, it's Maya! I'm sure she'll have a lot of fun with that.

It makes it easier to send your baby off when she's so ready to go! Maya has been so excited for Kindergarten, so ready! She's already a good reader and can count to a million (or close to it) and do math on her fingers and toes, so I'm not so concerned about what she'll learn - I just want her to have so much fun and start off her school-life by loving school. I think she's off to a good start this year!

Heading out the door with her shadow. Poor Mason spent the day making mental notes of all the things he was going to tell Maya when she got home.

He intended to be in every photo...

...but Daddy kicked him out so we could get one of the big girl herself. (Mason will get his own photo op next week when he starts preschool!)

It was fun having Daddy there to walk Maya to school.

Out in front of the school. The chosen outfit: striped purple (of course!) dress with leggings and her Lelli Kelli's.

Mrs. Leigh's spot in the cafeteria.

Poor Simon had to be drug down to the school in his jammies. He wasn't too stoked about it, but he's a good sport, as always. Little family photo op before Maya headed to class.

A couple shots with Mommy. I was surprised that she allowed my paparazzi moments without any protest. Usually this sort of behavior would be utterly embarrassing. Maybe she was a little nervous. She gave me lots of hugs, waved and waved and even blew me kisses.

I look skinnier than I actually am in this photo,so I had to post it. I love a trick shot.

Love this photo, Maya peeking out from the crowd. If you zoom in on me, I may or may not be doing the ugly cry. Not too extreme, just a little bit. As you can see, the children weren't washed away in a flood of my tears or anything.

And there they are, about to head off to class. Maya did awesome, had a fabulous day, can't wait to go back. And I'm feeling better about things, too. Hooray for Kindergarten!

It's A Natalie Thing

Tib sent this pic from the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport, I think. Hello, jealous! Someday I'll have my own candy shop. But not in an airport. In an awesome, quirky small town.

That passion for treats must be a Natalie thing!

"Almost 6", 3 + 1/2, 9 Months

Things I Want Week: Doorknob Necklace

A necklace replica of the (awesome) doorknobs on the Salt Lake Temple, where I was married. Sentimental, sweet, and cheap. Perfect.

Next Time I'm In The NYC...

...I want to hit Sweetiepie. Maybe for lunch. Maybe for a Sweetiepig. Or a Sweetiepiglet, since the HUGE version costs $75 and might be too much for me to handle on my own. If I broughtChris, though...hmm.

To make your own Sweetiepig at home, I'm told you get the biggest, tallest dish you can find. And then fill it up. With "many, many" scoops of ice cream. Any kind of cake you want, cut into chunks. Fresh strawberries and bananas. Hot fudge. Whipped cream. Sprinkles.

Layer it up until it looks just crazy enough. And there you go. Sweetiepig.

But if you make it at home, you don't get to sit in the gorgeous red booths.

All Dressed Up, No Place To Go

When my brother and his family was in town last week, we decided to go out to dinner with the whole fam'. Maya took this opportunity to get totally decked out: fancy dress, sparkly shoes, beaded purse, furry tiara - the works. So she was pretty bummed when we told her we were going to a place called Dirty Martin's. And even more bummed when it turned out that Dirty Martin's was not just a clever name...but was, in fact, rather dirty. (Good burgers, though.) Not the fancy digs she was hoping for.

Things I Want Week: My Own Lemonade Stand

How incredibly dope is this lemonade stand? I totally want one! So! Much! Fun! I may have to adapt this for a birthday party or something. Anyway. Love it. Want one of my own!

Things I Want(ed) Week: Headband

I wanted this cute thing bad enough that I actually bought it! (I'm actually not that great about making real life purchases. Hemming and hawing. Yes. Blogging wish lists. Definitely. Pulling the trigger on an actual purchase? Not so much.)

I'm not totally convinced that I can actually pull it off. We shall see.

{Via somebody. Darned if I remember who.}

Blowing Bubbles

My kids get annoyed when I paparazzi the heck out of them, so I took some shots of them outside blowing bubbles from the kitchen window. The look that the screen gives makes me a little dizzy, but it looks kind of cool-ish, no?

I did eventually venture outside and they were more welcoming than I might have expected.

We're getting excited for fall! Then we'll be able to play outside after 9am. Three cheers!