Ever changing

I have never been a big fan of change but being a parent has forced me to embrace that life is, and always will be ever changing. As my children grow up right before my eyes I can't help but feel a mix of happiness and sadness. Happiness that they are healthy, happy, loved, growing, learning and thriving. Sad that the time that has passed as they are busy growing up, is just that...in the past. No rewinding or getting the time back :( There are many times when I wish I could just hit the 'pause' button on life and freeze time but I have to keep reminding myself that life is a journey not meant to be paused.
I am finding that as we approach the beginning of the school year, I am becoming a little a lot anxious and sad that my little boy is growing up so quickly. HE is ready for school to start next week, I'm just not sure that I am ready for that next step.
Another big change has been taking place this week. I am not exactly proud to admit this, but Grant has pretty much slept in our room (sometimes on the floor on a blow-up bed but mostly in our bed) since I was pregnant with Audrey, so it has been over 3 years now. As a result, this is what I see every morning when I wake up...Yes, he has become quite comfortable in our bed and I don't for one minute regret the special times that I have been able to spend with my little boy that I never would have had the opportunity to experience had he slept in his own room, BUT for some time now I have been feeling that it is time to transition Grant into sleeping in his own room. And up until this past Friday I didn't feel like any changes were going to happen any time soon. On Thursday night when Grant and I were settling in to bed I told him a story about how my blogging friend Carrie got her daughter to start sleeping in her own bed. Grant didn't seem phased by the story but to give him some food for thought, I told him if he would start sleeping in his own bed and if he could make it for two weeks, he could have his Birthday party at a indoor water park and a sleep over at a hotel (Something we were already planning, and his B-day isn't unit March, but why not use it as a bargaining tool! And can you believe my kids have yet to stay at a hotel?!)
Well, the story must have made an impact on him because on Friday night he ASKED if he could sleep in his own room!
Since Audrey has taken over his bed and the crib is still up but not being used, I just yanked the mattress out of the crib, and made a bed for him on the floor right next to his Sissy. Then he put on some jimmer jammers (another BIG change for him) and went right to bed without a peep. Fast asleep. The second night same scenario except he did end up in our bed around 3:45 am but when he woke up later that morning he INSISTED that I picked him up and carried him to my bed. I guess he didn't want that night to count against him!
Saturday night and Sunday night went off without a hitch and these pictures of him in his Christmas pj's are from tonight. I guess when he sets his mind to something there is no stopping him. I am still unsure if I am ready for him to grow up any more but this is one change that I am accepting with open arms...like sprawled-out-in-my-bed-with-no-bony-knees-in-my-back kind of open arms!

Painting helpers

These are my painting 'helpers'! And I use 'helpers' VERY loosely! We have a small shelf that Duke's Grandpa made that has seen better days, so the kids and I decided to take on the project of painting it so Duke could use it in his shop for the heaps and heaps of books and manuals that are currently stacked on our bedroom floor So, you see, this project is as much for me as it is for the Mr.!**Notice Audrey is once again donning one of her infamous 'faces'**
Well, the what I thought would be a nice little project for us to tackle last Saturday turned into an ALL day project that still isn't done!
I had only gotten a quart of white paint (not sure what I was thinking) and we ended up running out with still having to to a second coat on the inside of the shelving unit. I bet you can guess what we will be doing today!!! Yup, final coat. {{Lord lend me patience}}
Before we could get started, we make sure all of the prep work was done.
Then, let the painting begin!
Seriously, just painting the first coat of the back took over a half hour. I finally had to step in and smooth out the paint while it was still semi-wet. Then we had to wait a couple hours before doing the second coat and that just about killed the kids to have to wait!
Though it was a true test of patience for me to stand back and watch, it was really fun seeing how excited they were to help paint. I won't lie, there were times I had to try my hardest not to just grab the brush and roller and take over...but alas, I was able to restrain.
I went to the store this week and got another quart so the kids are excited about getting to paint again today.
Wish me luck (and a lot of paitence)!

iheartfaces - 'Beach Fun'

This weeks theme for iheartfaces' weekly photo challenge is 'Beach Fun' and what is more fun than a baby's first summer of enjoying the beach? The cool water and the feeling of sand between your {chubby} toes and all that sand that you can shovel in your mouth :)

Can you tell I have baby-envy...I keep posting pictures of my friends baby boys. But do you blame me when they are this stinkin' cute...
Make sure to head on over to www.iheartfaces.com by clicking on the button below to check out all of the other fun and beachy photos!

Big 'G', Little 'G', what begins with G?

Dr. Seuss is one of my FAVORITE authors. And if you have ever read 'Dr. Suess's: ABC An Amazing Alphabet Book' you may know that the page dedicated to 'G' reads; 'Big G, little g, what begins with G? Goat and goo-goo goggles, G...g...G'
Well, a couple of weeks ago my friend Lisa mentioned that she calls her two boys (that are just 369 days apart in age!) Big 'G' and Little 'G' so as to not call them each other's names. As soon as she said it, I immediately thought of the Dr. Suess book!
In Lisa's story, this would be 'Big G' aka Gage.
And this is 'Little G' aka Garrett.
Oh, and right behind Big G is another adorable little 'G'....Gabbie!
A day at the river, hanging out on the beach was the perfect time to squeeze in a little newborn photo shoot for Little G. He was such a trooper. I think he slept 95% of the time we were there!
Even though he slept like a champ and let his Mommy relax for a little (well, as much as you can relax with a just-turned-1 year old on the run) I did manage to catch Little G with his eyes open for a couple of shots.
I also captured some pretty cute pictures of the full moon that was out in the middle of the afternoon!Doesn't Gage' adorably chubby little self remind you of the Michelin Man? And we can just pretend that those are my tan, toned legs off to the left. Oh wait...that won't work cause I was taking the picture!
If you are curious how Big G gets such beautiful milky-white skin and plump buns, the answer is MILK...and LOTS of it!
Back to the newborn...
Would you look at this adorable little doll!?!
Makes me wish I had just one more little one to snuggle. Probably not going to happen but seeing little babies always gives me the fever!
I bet the one big question weighing on your mind is: "How on Earth did you manage to catch Little G smiling so much?"
Simple. You would smile too if you had just emptied your tummy all over the pesky photographers prop! (see the proof in the bottom right of the pic below!) ISH!Once the damage was done, we figured we may as well make the best of it and capture these adorable little smiles :)
Oh and after the shoot was over, Little Mister whizzed all over the sling too. Good thing it is white and could take a good bleaching :) I just love photographing little sleepy newborns. I recently picked up two new baby props that I can not wait to try out. Now I just have to get my hands on this little bubba again!

i heart faces - 'Got to Wear Shades'

It is no secret that my little man LOVES to dress up. It is also no secret that he often comes up with some purdy interesting (to say the least) get-ups! And this time, he did NOT disappoint! The other day I was outside watering my flowers when out from the house emerged this...Yes, my dear little Grant decided a hot summer day was the perfect time to dress up in his cowboy gear - Cowboy boots, a Dodge Ram bandanna tied around his neck, jean (shorts) with a belt of course, his sister's red cowgirl errr, cowboy hat, play pistol in hand and of course, don't forget a pair of shades to top the ensemble off! Hey, whatever floats his boat, I guess!
Make sure to head on over to iheartfaces by clicking on the button below to check out all of the other 'Got to Wear Shades' entries!!!

Munsinger Clemens Gardens

I moved to the St. Cloud area nearly 14 years ago to attend college at St. Cloud State University. The very university that is located directly across the Mississippi River from the beautiful Munsinger Clemens Gardens.

And can you believe that it has taken me nearly 14 years to take the time to actually walk through these gorgeous gardens?
My ulterior motive was to get some frame-able pictures of this little rug-rat...
As well as this little pip squeak...
I'm not completely happy with the pictures that I ended up getting of the kids but I did get a TON of awesome flower pictures.
Another reason I wanted to scope out the gardens is because this is also where I did the photo shoot of these adorable little girls.
My kiddos did enjoy exploring the gardens even though it was nap time and they were a bit grumpy.
They were also surprisingly patient while I snapped picture after picture of all of this brightly colored bliss!
ClematisDuring our exploration, Grant was all about the fountains. I would even go as far as to say he was a bit enamored with them.
Mostly because he was having fun throwing all of my change into them. He even found a lucky penny that he got to make a wish upon and toss into the water.I did NOT get even ONE good picture of the kids together! Either they wouldn't stand or sit by each other or they were making cheesy faces or the sun was too bright and they were squinting (some pics even had all of these things going on!)This one is not bad but Grandma and Grandpa need one that is up an down....argggggggggggg!This here is little Mae Mae's newest 'pose'. Nice, huh?!
We did spot this pretty fella in the tree above us. I think it is a peregrine falcon but not completely sure.
Russian SageOne of the sections of the gardens is the 'White Garden' I am usually one who LOVES color but there was something timeless and classy about this all white flower garden.
Hydrangea
I am also a huge Hollyhock fan...And I L-O-V-E me some lilies!
ClematisI spy...
...a Monarch butterfly!Goodbye!