Tools for a Pretty Perfect Day

There really is no excuse to miss out on the perfect day. It doesn't have to cost much or even be that creative. 

1) One important factor is making sure you surround yourself with those you care about. This can really make or break your day. After that - it's just a matter of how you choose to spend your time with these folks. 

2) Find a local spot you'd like to check out - whether it's a park, a bakery, somewhere with outdoor seating preferably - and have a picnic. On this particular outing with Aimee (my first friend in Rochester!) we took the kids to the nearby park with a gazebo, swingset, room to run and a picnic table. Micah had grilled the evening before so we brought leftovers. I warmed everything up and wrapped in tin foil before we left - it was perfect when we got there. Corn, burgers, dogs etc. Addison and Gaius did their thing pretending the gazebo was a castle or a pirate ship. We hung out with Derek on the picnic blanket and chatted away. Maverick tagged along for the ride. After the picnic we walked on to our local bakery for some coffee and treats. They provide chalk (BEST IDEA) so the kids had fun with some hopscotch while we sat outside, again, catching up. When you're a stay at home mom, there is no end to catching up. Total cost for these daytime activities was about $5 for our buy one, get one treats at the bakery and our refillable coffees and all the satisfied smiles from the kids were certainly priceless!

Easy does it - your perfect day can roll right into a perfect night at home. Perhaps you have a small kiddy pool, a fire pit and some food to grill (with a grill to grill hehe). Kelly and Alyssa came by for a night of grilling, pool and s'mores by the fire.

Many parents already have blankies, chairs, bug spray and sunscreen on hand for days like this. Your only real costs are food to grill. You're looking at a perfect day/night for under $20. 

Nothin' Left for Me To Do But DANCE!

When I was a little girl, I danced. Then I quit at age 3. I eventually went back in 4th grade or one of those last few elementary years and I lost "it" completely. Flexibility gone, I had some bounce, I could do some tricks but I kept wishing for a long time afterwards that my parents forced me to stick with it so that I would be one of those girls doing flips at recess-such is life! Well, now I can "force" my daughter! I kid, I kid, haha. Addison and I started Mommy & Me classes at the local Dance Emporium last fall. We actually met our now dear friends, Kelly and Alyssa, at dance and Addison loves her classes, teacher, friends - the whole experience. Me? I get a patient little girl who lets me do all sorts of fun things with her hair before class. 

We are now in their summer classes month. The girls are taking Creative Movement I. This time around we don't go in with them so it's interesting to see them in a classroom setting without us holding their hands, literally. Here are some photos from the past season as well as their recital last month. 

 The dress rehearsal night was a testimony to dance moms everywhere. Kelly and I volunteered to take responsibility of the girls backstage. With extremely limited space (a blanket for our girls to stay on) and  long hours waiting we managed to survive the toddlers and all their potty breaks. We were under the impression the dress rehearsal would take less than an hour so we didn't bother to bring any of the snacks, juice and activities we intended to have for the recital afternoon. Thank God for other moms who supplied us after we realized we'd be waiting much longer than an hour and during dinnertime-you can only imagine ... The girls did great when they finally had their opportunity to rehearse onstage for the first time. We were gushing - it was pretty adorable.

 Recital Day! We were prepared with dvds, coloring books, crayons, snacks, princesses - oh my! When it was time for the girls to finally go on, Kelly and I walked them out to the stage. My little peanut got her first case of stage fright and proceeded to stand on stage looking to me backstage saying, "I want my mommy." hehehhe Fortunately, Addison LOVES her teacher and Ms. Siobhan was out there engaging Addison to dance with the other sweeties. They all did a fabulous job and it was worth everything "Awwwwww!" they received from the audience. I was glad to have recorded Addison at rehearsal where she had no problem! This was such a fantastic year. If only you could have seen them at their first few dance classes. What once were like loose wild monkeys attacking a dance facility, were now tamed and organized little girls with a whole routine on how to Shake Your BeanBag :)

Pool Days Make for Cool Days

We begin each prayer with our thanks to God for so, so many provisions he makes for our family. What appears to be a "fun in the sun" day is truly multiple snapshots of splices in life I am forever grateful. God has graced us with the most wonderful friends and when we get together like this on one of His gorgeous days you can SEE the joy! It is important when you view these photos that you SMELL the freshly cut grass, that you FEEL the splash of icy water, that you TASTE the chilly freeze pops and that you remember being a kid on a hot summer day with nothing to worry about other than rushing to the bathroom and back so you don't miss a moment. Enjoy!