365:Day 120 ~ MORE Splish Splashin'...

Okay. Let me start by asking how in the world it is ALREADY the last day of May? Another month passed quickly by and I can barely believe it!

Anywaaaaaaay … we went over to my parent’s house to take a dip in the pool today. The girls were so excited that they could barely stand it. And in this shot, you can see the excitement! Macy was busting at the seams! I caught this picture as she was jumping up and down in the hot tub! I love that little grin through the splash!

Well. I guess next time I see ya … tomorrow - same time, same place … it will be JUNE!

365:Day 119 ~ All About ... ME!

This morning, the girls and I headed out to do a little summer shopping for the unexpected … me. For those of you who know me well, you’re aware of the fact that I find it difficult to spend money on clothes for myself. I usually feel like there is something more important for us to purchase than something for me. But, I’ve had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket that my parents gave me for Hanukkah! {Thanks, mom and dad!!!}

We ran around to several stores and then headed to the mall. When we were pulling into the parking lot Macy asked which stores we were going to. I rattled them off and she said, “Wow Mommy, this day sure is all about you!” I laughed and said, “I guess it is! That doesn’t happen very often does it?!” And she said, “Nope ... {pause} ... I like it.”

Case
in
point.

She’s such a sweet genuine girl. And so observant. Love her more than words can say.

Anyway…this is one of my favorite purchases of the day! Ooh, and I even have a whoppin’ $14 left to spend! Wonder what I can get with that…

365:Day 118 ~ Splish Splash!

Today, Carly and I met a group of bloggie friends at the splash park in Allen! We’d never been before and it was really pretty cool! Carly had a great time splashing through the water! It was the perfect day for it too … high 80s and super sunny! We played in the water and had a picnic!

And of course, Macy is devastated that she missed it! Only one more week left of school and she will be able to attend these fun outings with us! :)

365:Day 117 ~ Mobile Artwork...

So…today Carly Anne Bixie Loo Hoo came home from school with more paint on her than she ever has – EVER! On her school calendar for today it said “Cactus Art” as part of today’s activities. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that it had something to do with green and brown paint. I know it’s a shot in the dark and all, but I just thought I’d thrown it out there! :)

This picture actually only highlight’s the bulk of the paint that this cute bod was sporting. In addition to the green paint on her shorts and legs {as shown here}, there was also green and brown paint on the front and side of her shirt ... brown paint on the inside of one of the leg holes of her shorts {how does that even happen?} ... and green paint all over her arm.

All I could do was chuckle. And wonder how in the world she managed to get the paint EVERYWHERE! I sure can’t wait to see the finished “Cactus Art” product!!!

Preschool rocks!

P.S. Are you lovin' the blur as much as I am???

365:Day 116 ~ Shake It, Sadie, Shake It!

So I was playing around with the new lens again today, and I got this cool picture of Sadie. Actually, they were all pretty cool, but this one was my fave. It is crystal clear and I love how everything but her paw is blurry! LOVE IT! Now I just can’t wait until I have more than just a few minutes to mess around with it! I highly recommend it to all you DSLR peeps {they make one for Nikon, too} because it’s an inexpensive lens that packs a lot of punch! Here’s to happy clicking…

365:Day 115 ~ WOO-HOO!

I am so excited to report that the rest of my Mother’s Day gift arrived TODAY! My 50mm lens in here!!! YIPPEE!

I took it out back to play around with it before dinner and I have to say that the colors are so much more vivid, the pictures are more crystal clear, and I seriously love the blur effect!!! NICE! I can’t wait to get in some more practice … this time on my two favorite little girlies! I’ve only had the lens for 3 hours and already I’m IN LOVE!!! :)

365:Day 114 ~ Our Resident Plumber

Three questions…


1. Isn’t this the cutest widdle panty-wearing buns you’ve seen all day?

2. Does this picture “crack” you up? {Pun totally intended!!! I kinda just cracked myself up!}

3. And, don’t you want an explanation of this pic?


Well. You’ll have to stay tuned to find out! :)

365:Day 113 ~ Bye-Bye Dipees

Welp. This is Carly’s last diaper. Which I’m finding a little bit bittersweet, to be honest.

I know what you’re thinking. After all the complaining in this post, this post, this post, this post, AND this post … you would think that I would be glad to see the diapers gone.

I am glad. That they are gone. But, I’m also sad because it means that Carly is growing up. I know, I know. I mention my kids growing up all the time, but it’s not my fault. They just will not stop. They’re always growing and changing, and are becoming such little girls. No more babies in this house. Babies wear diapers. And I don’t have anyone wearing diapers now.

I guess we’ll move on to Pull-Ups at nap and bedtime. And yes, I do realize that Pull-Ups are basically diapers. But they’re not called diapers. They’re called Pull-Ups. Which automatically makes them more grown-up. And not babyish.

Good grief … how in the world do y’all keep up with me? Sometimes I get on my own nerves. Oof.

365:Day 112 ~ Forget Papa Johns ... Move Over Pizza Hut ... Outta the Way Dominos!

In our house we like MAC Pizza!

Pizza made by Macy, Ashton, and Carly that is!

Tonight, the Bryce girls came to hang out with us so Erin and Bobby could celebrate their 11th anniversary! On the menu was homemade pizza! Each little girl {except LP of course} got to make their very own pizza! And they had a blast doing it! Don’t they look deeelish?

365:Day 111 ~ The People on the Bus Go Up and Down!

…up and down, up and down! The people on the bus go up and down - all the way to the Outdoor Learning Center!

Today I went on my very first field trip as a PARENT {not a teacher}, which also happened to be Macy’s very first field trip EVER!!!

I have to admit, I kind of dreaded riding on the bus with a bunch of kindergartners again, but it turned out to be really great! It was a short and sweet little bus ride, and the Outdoor Learning Center was pretty cool! Stay tuned for all the details on our family blog…

365:Day 110 ~ She Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore...

This morning both Bill and I were able to go to Carly’s end-of-the-year class party at school! My co-room parent and I planned a “Summer Fun” party for the kiddos … and their craft was to paint their very own sea shells! I think Carly's turned out BLUEtiful!!!

365:Day 109 ~ SLAM!

For several months now, when the girls are playing in one of their bedrooms, they have started closing the door. Today it just happened to be Macy’s room. They were playing vet, school, Polly Pocket, and baby dolls this afternoon, and I was vacuuming. Apparently, I was a bit too loud for their liking.

I heard the door shut and couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. I love that they have their own secret language in their own “private” little world. They are precious sisters … especially when they are getting along!!! :)

The door isn’t always closed when I have disrupted them; sometimes it’s closed just because. Because they are sisters. With their own gig. Love it. Love them.

Wonder if I’ll think it’s this adorable when they are door-slamming teenagers?!?!

365:Day 108 ~ It's Hard to be 6!

Macy has been having a little trouble with some of the girls in her class for a few months now.

Girls are SO DRAMATIC {including my 2} and get upset over SILLY things. And this is no exception. Several of Macy’s little friends have started battling it out over who will get to sit by her during snack, lunch, school assemblies, etc. Yep. I said that this is all over who gets to sit by her. See…silly and dramatic!

Anyway, Macy has asked us for advice on how to deal with this problem on several occasions and we’ve given her our best suggestions. But today when I picked her up, she looked absolutely devastated. Devastated. She said that she was having some trouble because of who she sat by at lunch and that two little girls stopped talking to her. Which, of course, hurt her feelings…and rightly so.

Just before we were going to walk out the door to dance today, Macy jotted this note down to take to one of the little girls in her class. It.broke.my.heart. Poor sweet girl. {BTW...I didn't let her take the note to school. I thought it was better for her to just get it off her chest in the privacy of her own home!}


* It’s so hard to understand why little girls act the way they do ... especially when it would NEVER occur to Macy to act like that.

* It’s hard to be 6.

* It’s hard to be the parents who have to come up with suggestions on how to deal with situations like this {and not tell her to just slap these little girls when they are mean to her ... ahem}.

* And it’s hard to watch your kid be sad … especially over something as silly as who gets to sit by who ... and even when it's a life lesson.


I know what you’re thinking … this is only the beginning. oof.

365:Day 107 ~ Tell Me a sTori...

My mom leant me this book about a week ago, and I finally started reading it this afternoon during Macy’s gymnastics class. I actually didn’t get that far into it {I was too busy chatting with other moms}, but I’m surprisingly really intrigued from the little bit that I read. Any of you read it?

Those of you who know me well know that I love anything Hollywood related! However, I’m not a fan of Tori Spelling. She actually really bugs me. But…so far I’m pretty interested to see her perspective on her life. Her reality ... as apposed to what I’ve read in US Weekly and People.

Yep. Nothing better than reading something mindless while sitting in carpool every day. I’ll let you know what I think…

365:Day 106 ~ Toe Jam!

Today, we cleaned the house from top to bottom! When I was in the playroom helping the girls get things organized, I somehow kicked the trampoline and either broke or jammed my toe! OUCH! It’s hard to say if it’s broken or just jammed {I can’t bend it or put much weight on it today … we’ll see how it is tomorrow}, but either way it HURTS! I’m such a klutz. I seem to have this trend of breaking a toe every 5 years or so. I think I really need to watch where I’m going…

365:Day 105 ~ Girlie Girls!

I know that this is no surprise to any of you, but our little chickies are girlie girls in every sense of the word! And lately, playing dress up has been happening on a daily basis. They never stopped playing dress-up, but these days it has been a multiple-time-of-day event! Goose and Peanut are constantly covered in lovely outfits, complete with jewels and shoes!

Bill snapped this pic today of our two little Fancy Nancy’s … some dress-up clothes, some “real” clothes {from big sissy’s closet}, snazzy sun glasses, fabulous jewelry, dress-up shoes, “real” shoes, and even a new way to wear a robe.

And you know what? We can’t get enough of these totally delicious little girlie girls … and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

365:Day 104 ~ SPLASH!

Today Bill and I were volunteers at Macy’s first FIELD DAY at school! Both of us remember loving field day as kids and were happy to get to see Macy in action at her very first one!

This year’s field day was literacy based … all the games somehow tied into books. We were in charge of the Winnie the Pooh water game. Yes, I said a water game! I guess that the newbie kindergarten parents get stuck with the water games every year! It turned out to be a lot of fun! It was the perfect weather – mid to upper 70s and slightly overcast. Not too hot, not too windy!

We had a great time … and managed to stay dry! :)

365:Day 103 ~ Plush Green Carpet

My hubby definitely has the green thumb in this family. I have no desire – at.all – to work in the yard. Bill does a great job and actually enjoys making the outside of our home look good! {I prefer supervising the landscape choices myself!} :)

It’s no surprise with all of the rain that we’ve had in the last few weeks that our grass is green, but I have to give my husband a little credit. Our grass is definitely greener and much more plush than our neighbor’s yards. He has nicknamed it “plush green carpet” and asks the girls if they like our plush green carpet each and every time we’re in the car.

This pic doesn’t actually do it justice…GOOD JOB, BABE!

365:Day 102 ~ Goodie Bag

So, today was Macy’s very first “drop-off birthday party”. I knew that it would happen eventually, but thought that we might make it through kindergarten without it. But. Today was the day. One of the little boy’s in Macy’s class had a party at Boomerangs, and it was during Carly’s naptime. After much deliberating, we decided that dropping her off would be the best and easiest option. {Plus, Boomerangs is literally 3 minutes from my house.}

Macy was instantly – instantly – on board with me dropping her off. Not a moment of hesitation. Not one. W.H.A.T.?!?! I thought that she’d at least be a little apprehensive and I’d have to talk her into it a little, but nope. Excited really. Happy to be dropped off. Whatev.

But I digress…the point of this is to say that everything was totally fine. It felt pretty weird leaving her there, but I managed. And Macy Gwynne. Well, she had a BLAST! She was zipping down the giant blow-up slide when Carly and I got there to pick her up, and informed me on our way home that she now LOVES bounce houses {something she has spent the last 6 years avoiding}. And…she got this goodie bag full of candy! She loved every minute.

This girl is growing up.
So fast.
Wow.

365:Day 101 ~ Messy, But Yummy!

Can anyone explain to me why making spaghetti for dinner requires SO MANY POTS AND PANS?

I mean the clean-up is overwhelming. Good thing it was delish!!!

365:Day 100 ~ A Little QT...

Today is my 100th post for my 365 blog. I truly amazes my how fast 100 days goes by.

Know what else amazes me? How fast 11 years goes by.

That’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen my sweet friend, Erin. Paige and I spent oodles of time with Erin and our other friend, Kaley, our junior and senior years of college {two words come to mind...bowling and gambling}. And oddly, I haven’t seen Erin {or Kaley} since we graduated…11 YEARS AGO!

Erin is in town for work for a few days. She has a full few days, but tonight we squeezed in a yummy dinner and a lot of chatter! It was great to catch up with her. We were having so much fun at the restaurant that we decided to come back to my house to continue blabbing! And, she got to see Bill and take a sneak peek at my slumbering kiddos!

I’m so glad that I got to see you, Erin! I can’t wait until you can come visit again! Next time the kids will be awake! Oh, and Bill and I really need to make a trip out to San Francisco! I’ll work on that, I promise!!! :)

{I think that a picture with an old friend is perfect for my 100th pic.}

365:Day 99 ~ bliss.

This pic is taken about 3 minutes after I woke up this morning. At almost lunchtime. YES!

For those of you who know me well…you know that I love – dare I say adore – sleeping late! And now it’s even more of a precious thrill since it almost never happens!!! Bliss. Perfection. An amazing way to start Mother’s Day! :)

365:Day 98 ~ yuk.

Mama is a little under the weather. I hate colds.

365:Day 97 ~ Kids-n-Art!

Carly and I went to a fun playgroup today with a HUGE group of mamas and kiddos at a kids art place. {Details to follow on our family blog!} I just couldn't resist this picture of Carly’s cute, green hand…

365:Day 96 ~ MNO

yummy Mexican food
+
delicious sangria
+
chit-chatting and laughing with sweet bloggie friends
=
a perfect Mom’s Night Out!


What more could a mama ask for? :)

365:Day 95 ~ Try Not to be Jealous...

…but you see this basket of crap? Well, I’m about to go organize it. It’s my catch-all basket on my kitchen counter and it is long overdue for a bit of TLC. I've been on an organizing binge all day and this is the last stop on my hit parade.

I know that right know you are all just too jealous for words. I don’t mean to rub it in. I’m going to organize this basket tonight. Oh, and watch Brothers and Sisters. Man, do I know how to party or what?

365:Day 94 ~ Showin' Some Love

It’s Teacher Appreciate Week at Macy’s school this week and we decided to do a little something for her classroom teacher each day, but we also decided to make all of her “specials” teachers (pe, art, and music) a card … dictated and drawn by one Macy Gwynne Leonard!

She did two of them last night and finished the other five tonight! I think that they turned out great! This is just a shot of the outside, but she drew each of them a picture on the inside, as well, in addition to a note that she dictated to me that I typed up for her. {AND she even chose the fonts that I used!!!} Macy has such a tender heart and meant every word that she said to each teacher! And her artwork is so stinkin’ cute! She put paint brushes, crayons, and paint on the art teacher’s card, music notes on the music teacher’s cards, balls from various sports on the pe coach’s cards, and flowers and hearts on her classroom teacher’s card.

I remember what a tough job teaching is … especially the younger grades … and I want Macy to know how important it is to let her teacher’s know just how much we truly appreciate all that they do for her! I’m proud of her for being so heartfelt and caring with her words. Though I’m not a bit surprised…

365:Day 93 ~ Something Else to Add to Our Menu!

Tonight’s dinner menu in our house was quesadillas! It was the first time we made Carly some with her dairy-free cheese and SHE LOVED THEM! It makes us so happy when we find something else that all 4 of us can eat together as a family!

This was sort of a happy accident … we had leftover tortillas from when we had breakfast for dinner on Saturday night, and a leftover steak from last night’s dinner. I was just trying to improvise with what we had and decided that quesadillas would be fun! They’re a favorite of Bill, Macy, and I … and now Carly can join in the fun, too! YEA!

365:Day 92 ~ So Long ... Long Sleeves

Due to the super-duper inconsistent Texas weather, the girl’s closets have been busting at the seams for the past few weeks. Having both their fall / winter AND spring / summer wardrobes is just TOO MUCH! So today I just decided that I’d had enough. I moved most of the girls fall / winter stuff into a dresser drawer {so I can still access it if randomly necessary} and put all of the short sleeves, tank tops, and sun dresses into their closets. FINALLY! Their closets seem SO much more spacious with only one season hogging the space!!!

Now … let’s just hope that I don’t have to bust out any of their long sleeve stuff again until the fall! Gee, I wonder if the cooky Texas weather will back me up???

365:Day 91 ~ Gamers

It was GAME NIGHT in the Leonard casa tonight! After we had breakfast for dinner … we did a 100 piece puzzles, played Jenga, played Chutes and Ladders, and finished off with one more giant puzzle! The girls had blast and were SO sorry when bedtime reared it’s ugly head!

And. Well. I don’t mean to brag, but I did win Chutes and Ladders. It’s called skill, people. Mad skill. What can I say? :) I mean ... not that winning is what's important. Ahem.

365:Day 90 ~ And the Winner is...

Queen Clarion

…yeeeees after much deliberation, our potty-going Bixie Loo chose Queen Clarion to be her special toy for filling up her potty chart! Seriously…it took her like 15-20 minutes to figure out what she wanted at Target this morning. She did not take this decision lightly! :) It was down to a ballerina Barbie and Queen Clarion ... and at the last second the Queen won out!

I *guess* I’m okay with not being the only queen in our house. Just don't tell my hubby!