Little Pumpkin Baby Shower!

Last year, I hosted a Little Pumpkin Baby Shower for my fabulous neighbor, Rashida. It is SUCH a fun shower theme for this time of year! I did some research and then executed a fun and fabulous plan!

I ordered these ADORABLE invitations from Candles and Favors.com and matching favors tags too!


Made this cute little diaper wreath following Crafster.orgs Diaper Wreath Tutorial I used a double wire wreath form from Hobby Lobby and blue and brown ribbon that I weaved around the diapers. (The preemie diapers from Dollar General are perfect for this project!) The possibles for decorating this wreath are ENDLESS and its SUPER easy!!!

I followed Katydidandkid’s Banner Tutorial to make Baby David's banner!

My house was already decorated for fall so the Pumpkin theme fell right into place. (I found this little bib in the dollar section at Target. The had really cute lil pumpkin bowls but as usual, I forgot to take pictures of the food.)

I set up a little inspiration and advice station. Each guest had a piece of card stock to write on. After the shower I turned it into a little book and gave it to the mommy-to-be.



I LOVE fall and cannot wait to see Rashida and David's lil pumpkin turn ONE!

We will NEVER forget! God Bless America!

We love Tom and Jerry!

Bug and I have a little routine where we watch a few episodes of Tom and Jerry, before we read books. In the episode we watched tonight, there is a fireworks scene that ends with an American Flag. This is her favorite part..... "Mommy, watch for the air-i-can flag....See, there it is!" Insert her HUGE grin here. Tonight she had another observation that made me giggle. "Mommy, if you tie my hands to a candle and complode me, we can watch fireworks all night long and then you and daddy can put your hands together and catch me!"

Is this a dream or is my little angel really THIS sweet?? Thank you God for my life! :)

Hugs,
Tara

"The M says MMMMMMMM"

Tomorrow is day 2 of preschool and we are all ready to go. We baked the muffins for "M" day tonight. She is getting SO great in the kitchen.


She asked for the "exact same lunch as last time mommy." So, I packed it up with a few surprises like a flower shaped sandwich and a "M" lunchbox love note. I am having a BLAST with her lunches and made it tonight, while I was making dinner. FUN!!

It's been raining allllllll day here today, which is a welcome change from the 106 degrees we have had for the past month. Our second soccer practice was cancelled. Bug is now a member for The Amazons. (Try explaining to a 4 year old that an Amazon is a lady warrior. Our coach and his wife are very well educated. I guess they just couldn't live with a team called "The Popsicles" or "The Princesses.") Anyway, Bug wasn't as excited about her first practice as I thought she would be and I was TOTALLY not prepared for how to handle her "soccer practice meltdown." She was NOT very excited about the way the shin guards felt with her pink cleats. (She LOVES the pink cleats) She was NOT very excited about how tired she got. I was NOT very excited when she laid down in the grass and started crying and begging to go home to watch Tom and Jerry. (Clearly, we have spent too much of our 106 degree summer, in the house.) I decided to give her some water and encouraged her to jump back in to practice. She was NOT at all happy with that plan. Instead of "catering to her fit," I decided to take her soccer ball and join in on the practice. YES, I was spending the entire time wondering how in the world a "good parent" would handle this situation. YES, I wanted to sit down with her and cuddle her. Since I didn't have my "Perfect Soccer Mom Manual" handy, I decided to keep on "practicing." Thankfully, she decided to join me and afterwards in the car, she said she had fun and wanted to "practice more tomorrow." I look forward to seeing how all of this pans out. I'm thinking I may have a VERY girlie girl on my hands. She LOVES everything about ballet and tumbling BUT her preference for a Scooby Doo lunchbox throws me off a little bit. Being a former soccer playing, "tom boy" this will be very interesting parenting moment, for sure! Either way, we are committed to this season and will follow through on that commitment.
Where the hell is that Perfect Soccer Mom Manual" when you need it? Probably in the same place as the "Wife That Never Gets Tired Manual" My husband is insists that one exists ;)
Hugs,
Tara

First Week of Preschool

Actually, our first and second week are only one day. WOW, what an emotional rollar coaster. THANKFULLY, all went FABULOUS!!! I followed the advice to make her first drop her off a QUICK process, before she had a chance to get upset about me leaving and it worked great. I, however, didn't handle it very well....the tears started flowing before I got down the hallway. (Note to self. Always wear sunglasses on the first day of school.)
"Bug" ate every bite of her of her lunch. We sat down and "took her order" at dinner, the night before, and then I packed it up the night before.
This Fit and Fresh Lunch System I bought at Target was a HUGE helper for packing her lunch. It has a flat ice pack that fits in the center to keep her food cold and then the small containers fit in on top. Perfect for her Scooby Doo lunchbox. Wednesday is her second day of preschool. Its "Wear Your Favorite T-shirt Day." Bug wants to wear the princess t-shirt Pepaw bought her in Galveston. Funny, she has tons of cute t-shirts but that is her favorite. I LOVE it! (The bummer part is that when daddy was painting this weekend she brushed up against the wall. Favorite t-shirt now looks like ratty old paint shirt. She wants to wear it anyway. Ugh..one of those mommy moments where you have to grin and bear it!) They have also asked her to bring something that starts with the "M" sound. Bug has decided to bring Muffins. I love that the things that start with an M conversation has her pointing out all the "M's" she sees. So exciting to see her mind at work. I love this mommy stuff!!
Hugs
Tara