Our Omaha Zoo Trip

By now, you have caught on to the fact that I'm catching up in the blogging world - posting about things that have long since past, but still want record of.

By now, you have also probably realized that I blog more often for myself than for you.  I am keenly aware of how often I post things that the general public could care less about.  I pay no attention to the prime days and times and algorithms professional bloggers encourage - all in hopes of gaining more hits and followers.  I really could care less about those things.  I just like to write and I like to remember...and blogging is a format I enjoy writing and remembering on.  So shoot me, folks.

Here's another post probably only my family cares about, and yet another post that is a good year overdue.  You're welcome.

We had already planned to head to NE Iowa to spend time with my family over the Fourth of July, so we decided to take a little two-day detour and hang out in Omaha on the way.  I really shouldn't say "on the way" because it was very out of the way BUT, I only had to pack the kids and the car once, so we were #winning in my book.

We ended up visiting the zoo on one of the hottest days of the summer (at least it felt like it), but we had so much fun, we didn't hear any complaints.  Right when we felt like we couldn't stand the heat any longer, we'd head over to a biodome or the IMAX theater or eat in an air conditioned restaurant with a view of the monkeys.  It ended up being perfect.

I'm not sure if there is a scientifically researched "perfect" age to visit a zoo like this, but I would like to submit that ages 3 and 4 are pretty great.  Our kids were young enough to be absolutely enthralled with every exhibit, yet old enough to do a lot of walking on their own, skip naps and have an attention span conducive to getting our money's worth.  Hooray.

And speaking of money's worth, it would have been well worth it all to just visit the aquarium portion and see Will's reaction to it all.  He has been fascinated with the ocean for the past two years, so to see so many creatures in real life was a dream come true for him.  The best part?  Will excitedly, and breathlessly running around pointing out and naming fish before we could read the placards to him.  Who knew that was a lionfish?!  Or a anglerfish?  Will did, that's who.

Our hotel stay ended up being almost as fun as the zoo itself. 

The kids had just gotten new floaties and had so much fun figuring them out.  They were absolutely positive they were swimming on their own and so darn proud of it. 

We ordered food in, watched too many Toonies, and slept about as well as you could have with two wiggly toddlers along.  It was great.

A very special thanks to our Uncle Brent for gifting us hotel points!  We love you!

Friday Favorites

Sharing some of our favorites this Friday!

1. Charlotte is going through a spurt and outgrew ALL her shoes this season.  I had scoured the racks of some second hand stores in the area, but didn't find anything, so we splurged and bought THESE for everyday + errands, and THESE for dresses + church.  Every summer, I also buy each kid the next size of knock off Crocs at Wal-Mart - they are absolutely ugly and ridiculous looking, but they really do the job when it comes to messy, outside play!  Speaking of shoes, THESE are MY summer shoe purchase.  I had found a similar pair for triple the price that I was eyeing for months, but couldn't justify the money.  Target, to the rescue!
2. Every weekend, we let the kids wind down at night by watching parts of a movie.  Our entire family has loved Rio + How to Train Your Dragon (1+2).  
3. THIS spice on mashed avocado with chips > most guacamole.  Seriously.
4. I would like to declare Northwestern College as one of my Friday Favorites for giving several weeks paternity leave to their employees who are dads.  Thinking about having a new baby, and knowing that Mark will be much more available and "around" to help with our big kids this summer feels dreamy.  
5. THIS app makes keeping in touch at work and with family + friends so much more doable for a busy mama with crazy kids.  Thanks, 2018.

Way to Go! Cupcakes + A Freebie

We did it!  We made it through our first year of "real" school.  Will had a fantastic year at preschool in the best classroom I could have imagined for him.  We were blessed with the sweetest and most discerning teachers - he loved every minute of his time learning and growing.

I asked him if he'd miss his friends or teachers over the summer.  His response?  "Yes, but Mama, in the summer I get to sleep how long I want in the morning time!!"  Yes, yes you do, Champ.  The apple didn't fall far from the tree on this one.  Will and I are night owls that really hate getting up in the morning, so we are both rejoicing in sleeping in a little more these summer months.  (Although I'm guessing our new baby will change that situation for me in a couple of weeks...humph.)

Anyway, with preschool wrapping up, I was reminded of these cupcakes, which we technically decorated last year at this time for the end of his preschool co-op group.  Congratulatory cupcakes seemed to be in order.

Cheap Wal-Mart cupcakes for the win again, dolled up with some simple "Way to Go!" graphics on sucker sticks and extra sprinkles.  I usually like adding some extra cupcake wrappers too, which are totally unnecessary, but just add so much to the look and make me happy inside, so there's that...

The toppers are available on my "freebie" page, so print a few off and make your own!  I'd love to see your creations!

Pocahontas Dough

I was just beginning to feel the waves of "morning" (aka: ALL STINKING DAY) sickness with our third pregnancy when Charlotte started playing with this Pocahontas play dough kit.  Still, looking at these pictures make me a little nauseous.  Aren't associations weird?  I will ask the Lord about that one someday...

We had just watched the Pocahontas movie for the first time with the kids, and Charlie was enthralled.  I thought she'd have tons of fun with a new Pocahontas kit...and she did...but not in the ways I intended!

She quickly took Pocahontas and Meeko and played with them separately.  And then, took all the other goodies and made "sparkle gardens" and tiny "sugar cookies." 

Aren't they beautiful?

Regardless, this little ensemble came in handy when I was laying on the couch days and weeks and months later, sick as a dog.  I count that as a success! 

Friday Five

1) Our baby is due in about twenty days, so I'm beginning to think about hospital packing.  To each his own, but in my strong opinion, there are entirely too many maternity robes that are floral, made with silky fabric, trimmed with lace or crocheted pieces, or that are fuchsia.   Fuchsia. 

Let's all please think for a moment about what we moms will be doing in a hospital after having our babies, what sort of condition we will be in, what sorts of things we will be doing, and what sorts of bodily fluids we will be exposed to...  And then let's think for a moment about silky fabric and lace. 

I will be sifting through 12 million floral-dominated robes in hopes of finding something all black and cotton.  Wish me luck.

2) While I'm on the topic of having babies, please mamas, just do yourself a favor and skip the weird hospital underwear and pads that may or may not catch everything.  

Swallow your pride.  Like, really swallow it. 

Then, go to Wal-Mart, and buy yourself a pack of extra large Depends. 

You can thank me later.

3) Tiny leaves popped out of the buds on our trees overnight on Tuesday.  This reminds me that God is not only the Creator - the guy that originally got everything started.  He also enjoys creating - and joyfully does so constantly.  He just can't help himself.  I imagine him staying up late, excitedly unfurling every little blade and bud, placing it just so - anxious for us all to wake up and marvel at how something so beautiful and miraculous happened while we were sleeping.  I'm certain he does this in the fall too - painting all the trees in different hues and patterns...  Creating is so fun.  What a happy God He must be!

4) I am a LaCroix-holic.  Does that sort of thing exist?  The first step is admitting you have a problem, and boy do I have a problem.  I have been tempted to hide my pile of empties before Mark gets home from work, certain he will judge me for my gluttony.  Anyway, I've been earnestly trying to be a little bit more reasonable and thought the Pepsi Company "Bubly" brand might be my saving grace.  Same idea as LaCroix, fizzy, fruity-tasting sparkling water without the sugar - but cheaper, and thus easier to rationalize. 

I tried, I really did.  When Bubly was on sale at Fareway, I bought just about every flavor, thinking I'd surely find one that would do the trick, but no.  No, no no.  

My list of grievances include...  1) The flavors taste more like Jolly Ranchers and less like refreshing fruit.  2) The fizz is off.  I can't decide if some have been too fizzy or not fizzy enough, but it's just off.  I can't explain it.  3) The branding is kitschy.  That's a word, right?  Like, tries to be funny and cute, but just ends up being tacky and childish.  I'm sorry, but I care a lot about packaging and branding vibe, people.  4) The name Bubly drives me nuts.  I think it sounds dumb and hokey when it's said out loud and in print, it looks misspelled. 

Anyway, I'm declaring myself a LaCroix girl forever.  And, I'm allowing myself to be a gluttonous supporter of the brand until the baby gets here.  Then, though, I think I'll ration myself to a can a day.  That seems reasonable, right?  Hold me to it, friends.

5) When Will moved into a big boy bed with a real mattress, I bought a set of nice, waterproof mattress pads for it.  I will sum up a really frustrating situation by saying that those waterproof pads are not waterproof. 

I thought, the first time, maybe I had missed something or that one had been faulty, so naturally, I tried the other one I had bought.  Sure enough, he had another accident a few nights later, and we found out the other one was not waterproof either.  I double checked the packaging.  It says "waterproof," like a million times.  Yet, (I'll say it once more)...they are not waterproof.

Actually, now that I think about it, maybe they are waterproof, but they certainly are not PEE PROOF. 

Palm to forehead.

Excuse me while I do a different search on Amazon.  "Pee proof mattress pad..."  We'll see what I come up with...

Happy Friday, friends.

Rainbow Tea Party

Charlotte was BEYOND excited to have her cousins over for "tea."  Every year, Grandma Bev has "Cousins' Club" for a few days in the summer, and last year, we stole away for some extra girly time at our house while the boys went fishing.  

We started things off by making rainbow necklaces.  I fell in love with these silicone beads a few years ago when the kids were younger.  There are so many fun shapes and sizes and beautiful colors available on Etsy.  The best part?  They are crazy durable (made for teething babies) and super safe.  I found a store that included nylon string + break away clasps that were perfect for littler kids to string, knot, and get on and off.

Then we headed inside to get a little gussied up for the party.  Rainbow manicures, complete with some darling little rainbow nail tattoos I found online...  And, rainbow tattoos because WHY NOT?!

Charlotte and I set our tea party table pretty simply.  I wanted the colors to really pop, so we threw a big scrap of black linen-ish fabric over the table.  The "placemats" were big sheets of paper I had printed black + white (aka: super cheap) with a premade rainbow-themed pattern I found online.  Add a few markers from our basement stash, and you have a coloring project waiting to happen.

The paper plates are from Meri Meri brand, which are entirely too expensive for something so disposable, but I am willing to shuck out a few extra bucks when they end up making the whole decor.  #worthit

What's a tea party without favors?!  Skittles (taste the rainbow), glitter nail files for our manicures, silly glasses for our photo shoot, and heart stickers + bows from the Dollar Store.

Our food was pretty simple, too.  White cupcakes from Wal-Mart (so ridiculously inexpensive) with some extra sprinkles + washi tape flags I added, mini sugar cookies (again, thank you, Wal-Mart bakery), rainbow Goldfish (who knew they made them in different colors?!), and some rainbow fruit skewers I forgot to take a picture of, darn it.

Our "tea" was actually strawberry lemonade because what kid actually drinks tea?!  I think I have Joy DeJager to thank for this idea, but I like to buy great lemonade (we love this brand) and then add part of a little tub of thawed frozen + sliced strawberries.  Not healthy, but very, very yummy...

After tea + crumpets, we were off to do some crafting.  I may have been a little too excited to have a reason to buy new paint + glitter from Target.  I continue to love their Handmade Modern line!

Didn't they turn out cute?!

We had a little play dough kit for early finishers, too.  I posted a similar one on the blog HERE a while back.

We finished with a quick little photo shoot.  The props were enlarged graphics from the pattern I printed on the placemats, and then attached to some popsicle sticks.  Easy peasy.

Here's to many more Cousins' Club tea parties!  Thanks for playing with us, Hannah + Sam.  We sure missed you, Lydia!