She's All City

Maisie was all smiles till a sheep Baaaa-ed in her face.
 It was all over after that. She wouldn't even go in the barn with out crying. 

Fun Calan-isms from the U.P.

Before I forget them, I want to record some of the fun things Calan said while we were on vacation.

The first is the fact that he repeatedly very excitedly kept calling for my parent's dog whose name is Keeley, but of course every time he said it, it came out "Kiwi."

"Come on, Kiwi, Let's go."

"Stop, Kiwi, stop."

By the end of our trip, he had us and my parents calling her Kiwi.

After our late Sunday Lions' brunch in town, I knew that Calan would not be that ready for lunch, but I made a small lunch anyway before naps. When I asked if he was ready to eat, he looked at the truck he was playing with and said to me,"

"No thanks, mom, I got tractor."

Can't really argue with that logic.

While we were there a nearby town hosted a county fair. It was an experience in itself. Not quite like what we were use to. We stood out like a sore thumb, but Calan loved being able to get right up close to the animals. When we were looking at the horses, there was probably a 13- or 14-year-old letting Calan pet his miniature horse. Since he was wearing a cowboy hat, Calan kept calling him a cowboy. The boy's younger brother thought it was hilarious. 

"Sorry, Cowboy." 

"Ok, Cowboy."

And probably the funniest thing to me was when my mother and I were playing with the kids down by the water, one of the shovels started to float away. I asked Calan to go grab it before it got too far. Next thing I know, he is standing by the dock, punching fake numbers into his hand, and then pretending to talk on a phone. He said:

"Hello, Fireman Sam, Go shovel. OK. Bye."

He called his favorite Sprout show hero Fireman Sam to go rescue his shovel. Hilarious!

I am sure that there were more, but I seem to have already forgotten them. I need to be better at writing them down. He talks constantly, but honestly, I only understand about every 5th word. He is quite the ham, that's for sure. 

Car ride science experiment

Here is an easy science experiment using soap and oil that any toddler and 1-year-old can enjoy:

Water-bottle sensory toy

Supplies

• 2 empty water bottles
• Water
• Oil
• Dish soap
• Food coloring
• Glue

Directions

• Take the water bottles and fill about half way up with water. 
• Take 1 of the water bottles and add about a teaspoon of dish soap.
• Take the other water bottle and fill with a generous amount of oil. 
• Add a few drops of food coloring to each bottle. 
• Take the water bottle lids and dab with some glue. Twist lids tightly shut. Wait to dry.

I made these for the kids before our trek home from vacation. I figured that they would be sick of the car toys that I had been using for our vacation and knew that I needed something for our 5.5-hour trip home. 

I came across the idea at We Made That. It took me literally 3 minutes to throw them together. 

Calan calls them his "shakes." But, I think he liked the sound of the crinkling plastic more than shaking the bottles up. The soap one is his favorite by far, and even Maisie enjoys shaking them up and crinkling the water bottles. 

They were only about 5 minutes of entertainment in the car, but now I have them as another toy option when we are out and about. 

Starting School?

Our trip is nearing its sad end. We will head home tomorrow afternoon. My escape from reality is over and the harsh real world awaits me back home.

Once we get home we have a week till most public schools start around us. I've been thinking again on how I need to get back into a routine. My days need to again have goals and focus.

I am beginning to make some lesson plans for Calan. But how do I really teach my 2-year-old who has the focus of a gnat?

The fact is I can only do so much. I will continue to plan short lessons that hopefully he gains something out of. I do not have a teaching background, but I do know my son, so I will try to focus things around things that he is interested in.

It is going to be a shock to his system for sure. Our summer has been full of activities and relaxation. There has been little structure and our routine has been non-existent. That has been totally my fault and laziness.

I need to do better. Maisie and Calan deserve better.

My children deserve an engaging mother who helps them to learn about the world around them.

My children are by no means "behind," but I know that I can be doing more. I want to do more.

I am just famous for sticking with anything for 3 weeks and then giving up. I need to stay consistent. I need to stay on top. I am hoping to use this blog as a little accountability by sharing with you my lesson plans for each week.

I am hoping that Calan and Maisie will actually get something out of it.

I am hoping a lot of things, but the reality is that with a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old, you get what you get and all I can do is try.

I am getting geeked about it though. I have our first two weeks planned. I am excited to see what works and what doesn't. I am excited to see if I can actually teach them something.

I am a mom with lots of good intentions, but little follow through. I am praying that my inconsistency stays at bay and my children and I have fun.

So one week till school starts for us. Will I pass or fail?

How do you teach your toddlers? What advice do you have for this novice teacher-wanna-be?

Family time: Mackinac Island

I think Mackinac Island is one of Michigan's most interesting tourist locations. I have only been a handful of times, but each time, I am in awe of how beautiful and serene it is.

Late last night, we decided we would take the kids for the day. We weren't sure how it would go. There were a lot of variables that could lead to disaster. You never know what you will get with a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old, but we try to not let that stop us. But with an hour-and-half drive plus a 20 minute ferry ride plus missing naps, we really did not know how it would go.

IT WENT AMAZINGLY!

It was a great day filled with some great memories that our kids won't remember. But oh well, we will and it was great.

For readers who don't know anything about Mackinac Island, here are some fun facts:

• Mackinac Island is reachable only by boat or plane. 
• The modes of transportation on Mackinac Island are limited to foot, bike and horse-drawn carriage  Cars were banned in 1898.
• The Grand Hotel features 385 guest rooms, and no two are decorated the same. Five U.S. Presidents have lodged at The Grand. The Grand Hotel also has a 660-foot long porch — the world's longest porch.
• Mackinac Island is three miles long (to the east and west) and two miles wide (to the north and south).  The circumference of Mackinac Island is 8 miles.
• The entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
• Fort Mackinac was built by the British. The U.S. was given it through the Treaty of Paris of 1783. The British captured it during the first battle of the War of 1812. It was given back to the U.S. through the Treaty of Ghent in 1815.

Ready to go on the ferry ride from St. Ignace.



Our first stop on the island was to Fort Mackinac



Calan loved the kid center at Fort Mack, especially the larger than life fife.



Calan helping Bob dress up in the historic apparel.



Then we headed to lunch at the infamous Pink Pony.



After lunch, we rented bikes and a bike trailer to take the kids around the island.



Bob got the lucky duty of pulling the trailor.



We took it slow around the island and enjoyed all the views.



They lasted 2 miles and then slept the next 6. It was great!



As we neared the end of our bike ride, we stopped at the
island's public school playground so Calan could play for awhile.



Two tired but happy parents after a successful family trip to Mackinac Island.



Best buds

From birth, Calan has had a best bud. Born 10 days apart, his mom and I have watched them grow. We have watched them become two very different toddlers. We have watched them become friends.

They are so funny together. 

We invited Gavin and his family up for the weekend to my mom's where we still enjoying our long vacation in the Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

They stayed four days and the boys had a blast being boys. Running and chasing and playing and never stopping. They were on the move. 

Walking out to Lake Superior in Grand Marais. 

Playing with trucks at the public park in Grand Marais, Mich.

Having their first s'more together. (Please notice Maisie in the
background not enjoying being left out.)

Giving Gavin's dad a workout. 

Playing with footprints at the Seney Nature Refuge
welcome center.

Looking at swans at Seney.

Hiking a little through Seney. 

Helping Gavin out on the bike around my parent's house right
before they headed home.

We had a great time and were so happy the Leich family could join us on vacation. Till next year. 

Sleeping is less than desirable

Anyone else's toddler sleep horribly on vacation? You would think that all the fresh air and activity would have Mr. Calan zonked out every night and sleeping in every morning, but not so much.

My son is taking forever to fall asleep and is waking up in the middle of the night as well as supper early.

This horrible sleeping is killing me and aggravating me to no end.

His body rocking and singing is so horrible right now that I am considering having him fit for a straight jacket.

Nothing I do seems to be helping. I ignore him and he continues. I tell him to stop and he continues. I tell him to go to sleep and he sits up and rocks. I yell and he laughs. It is all driving me bonkers!

On a plus side, he is napping well and is not acting too cranky. He is in good spirits for the most part. I wish I could say the same for me. Each morning when I hear him at 5:30 a.m and the sun is not up, I have to do everything in my power to stay calm.

I, of course, don't want him bothering my parents, I can only ignore him for so long each morning.

The problem is that he is so loud singing and rocking. Maisie sleeps through most of it, but anyone else with ears can't ignore it.

Bob is finally heading up tonight. Hopefully him being here helps the situation. If not, I am sleeping with earplugs and a pillow over my head and will let Bob deal with it.

More dirt the better

Fun out by the water seemed innocent enough

Well, let's see what they are doing.

Oh, yeah this might be fun place.

Hmmmm. Not sure about this dirt. 

I love dirt. 

Is this awesome or what mom?

Who needs suits? Let's just try this out. I'll sit right here. 

Help Grandma, Help. 

The kids and I are having a great time. Despite some bad sleeping and Calan breaking my mom's eye glasses (yeah, that was fun), we are enjoying ourselves. We have played in the water, visited downtown, and eaten ice cream. Pretty simple pleasures that just make life great.

Pure Michigan

Well, I have escaped the craziness that is my life and have taken refuge at the most obvious of locations - My mother's.

I have been planning all summer this 2 week getaway with the kids in tow. I hope to make this trek every August from here on out.

It is a 5.5-hour drive without stops from my house. Obviously with kids, it takes a bit longer. I was pretty nervous yesterday driving up here all by myself without someone else to help take care of the kiddos. But like most things I worry about, I had nothing to worry about. The kids did amazing! I did not have one issue the whole way. We left around 10 in the morning and got up here just after 4:30 in the evening. We stopped for lunch and that was it. I could not have asked for a better drive. Amen.

As soon as we got up here, Calan has been attached to Papa Bill's hip wanting to do anything and everything that he is doing. So many guy things to do up. He is in heaven.

Maisie is, of course, just Maisie doing her own thing finding joy and happiness in the simplest of things.

Bob will head up Friday evening after work with our dog. As well as, friends of ours are coming up for the weekend with their children. I enjoy being able to share this special spot with friends.

Not sure everything that we will do while we are up here, but relaxing is definitely what the doctor ordered.

I hope that for years to come that my mom's house is the great place that my dad's parent's house was to us as kids. Since we are unable to see my family as much as my husband's, I hope trips like this feel special to them and are something that they look forward to every year.

I want them to enjoy nature and the simple life that my parent's house offers them. I love living in a city, and wouldn't move to the country for anything, but having places like my mom's to escape to is amazing.

Pure Michigan.

My view for the next 12 days. Not too shabby. 

The Big Reveal

So, I have been running myself ragged. I have been cleaning our house from top to bottom. I have been organizing, storing, and staging our home. It has been a bit nuts, but totally worth it. Our house looks great.

And we are doing all of this because ...... We have decided to sell our house.

As of yesterday, our house is officially on the market. I have not wanted to share the news till it was completely official and because we have no idea what we are going to do if it sells. We are leaving a lot up to God.

You see we bought our house in 2005 in Michigan right before the housing market dropped, and as everyone knows, it dropped FAR. We kind of figured we were stuck in our house forever or at least until we could not take it anymore. But something odd seems to be happening in the housing market right now in Michigan, there is little supply and lots of demand and with low interest rates, we just think it is worth a try to see how it goes.

We think that the prices, while still less than what we bought our house for 7 years ago, are at a point where we might break even (losing any money we already put into our house, but being able to leave our house without needing to bring any money to the table).

So we have listed on a whim. If we sell, great; we will figure out the next step. If not, fine; we will enjoy a nicely clean and organized house for a few more years.

So we will wait and see.

We will officially start showing our house on Monday when I head up north with our kids for 2 weeks. We figured that will leave the house open to and available for anyone to come and see it.

However, we did have our first showing yesterday after an agent called asking to see it even though showings aren't suppose to start yet (typical agent). I accommodated the request and we got great feedback, so who knows this might just happen after all.

If you have ever wondered what my house looks like, here it is:

Front view of our house. The obstacle of our house is that it is
on a corner of a busy street. The house faces a side street, but our
 garage and driveway are on a busy street.

You open our house into our dining room. 

We redid our kitchen in 2007. I love having a pantry. Definitely a luxury in
a typical bungalow in our area. 

I love having this work space and pass through that opens into our family
room where I can watch the kiddos.

We mainly redid our kitchen to add a dishwasher. I
could not imagine having children and no dishwasher. 

Our family room with a fireplace that is off the kitchen. The storage is
great to hide all the kids' toys. 

Our partially finished basement is what sold us on the house back in 2005.
We loved the extra living space. 

We use to watch TV downstairs more than upstairs, but with the kids,
I am mainly upstairs in our family room instead. 

This is our only bathroom. Yes, it is small, but there
is a lot in that space. A linen closet is behind the door. 

Our master bedroom upstairs in the bungalow. We moved
our room up there last year, and I love it. We should have done it sooner. 

The nursery that hosts 2 cribs, a dresser, a changing table, a chair, and a table. 

Our spare bedroom, which just is what it is.  

So, that's our house. All we can do is wait and see. We are totally fine with staying put. We love our house and actually get a little sad when we think about leaving it, but we know that we need to move on at some point.

My fingers are (kind of) crossed.

DIY $3 Dollar Store Wreath

I was pretty excited yesterday when I was at the dollar store and found this great flower and wood wreath combo. I needed something for my front door that wasn't too seasonal, but that was good for the in between times like right now when it isn't fall, but it isn't quite summer still either. 

I didn't want to spend more than $10 for something, and the $3 that this wreath cost me was exactly the right price for me. 

Supplies: 

• Wood wreath base
• Fake flowers (I used an off white flower and fake purple wine grape clusters)
• (Optional) Ribbon 
• Hot glue gun and sticks
• Sharp scissors or wire cutters

Directions:

• Take apart fake flowers into workable pieces. I used scissors to take apart the flowers and the grapes just pulled apart into good-size pieces. 
• If using ribbon, loosely wrap around wreath. Secure with a little hot glue. I had leftover ribbon from my wedding 6 years ago that I used for the wreath. A perfect compliment that has some meaning to it too. 
• Place flowers where you would like them on the wreath. I poked them through the wreath to get them to stay and then secured them with hot glue.
• Do the same with any other decorations. 

What great decorations have you found at a dollar store that you get compliments from guests?