It's beginning to look a lot like....

Thanksgiving is over! I cannot believe it. It saddened me to take down my autumn decor this afternoon, but I am getting excited about replacing it with pretty Christmas items. {Although I am already making mental notes on what I want to do next Thanksgiving, e.g. a thankful tree, which you can see here, here and here.} There are so many things I am thankful for this year, one of them being that I have a vacation day tomorrow and plan on spending much needed cuddle time in pjs with my handsome toddler!

Although I hate saying adieu to all things fall, I look forward to welcoming Christmas.

Here are some pretty Christmas images I found on Pinterest for inspiration:

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What is inspiring you this holiday season? Have any toddler friendly Christmas craft project ideas? Please share!

Come Back Here

Matty likes to run. And he likes us to chase after him. He also saves us time by yelling "come back here" as he takes off running. Too cute. I know one day that I will reflect on this and hear my little two-year-old mocking me and part of my heart will be calling "come back here" to those moments that passed way too quickly.

I love the sentiment expressed in Ashley Campbell's diy here. I definitely want to make it and hang it in our home as a reminder that "this too shall pass." As comforting as that statement can be in troublesome times, it is equally as important in regard to embracing all of the positive in your life. After all, that's what gets us through the tough times.

Today we "gained an hour." Nonetheless, I still have an unfinished to do list. Life can be overwhelming and busy, but I don't want to miss the moments that matter most. I want to be present. Easier said than done. It's hard to not feel guilty about not checking off as many items as possible on your to do list, but playing, kissing, hugging and loving should be at the top of that list! I constantly have to remind myself of this so that I don't just "go through the motions" of spending time with my guys. I want to devote quality time to them, shut off my mind and just. simply. be.

Vacation Day

Matty had his 2 year check up this a.m., so I made a vacation day of it and got to spend extra time with my love. As we walked into the Dr.'s office this morning, I suddenly got choked up remembering the first time we ever brought him there when he was just a week old:

Oh my! It's crazy how quickly time is passing and how Matty has changed, but one thing remains the same: he is a beautiful, healthy boy!

After the appointment was over, we met up with Nana and cousin Juliana and headed to the Lehigh Valley Zoo. It is very tiny, but it is perfect for a 2 and 3-year-old like Matty and Juliana. It was a little stressful in that Matty will not stay in the stroller for very long and also does not like to hold hands for any extended period of time. He just takes off running in the direction he wants to go, which makes for a very tired mama tonight.  I definitely decided that we will be waiting another year to visit a major zoo like the Philadelphia Zoo.  I would never be able to keep up with him in those crowds and restraining him in his stroller the entire time would just lead to a screaming toddler...who wants that? No thank you. I'll stick with Lehigh Valley Zoo until next year.

We have a busy weekend ahead: an Easter egg hunt tomorrow morning as long as the rain holds off and a kid's fishing tournament on Sunday afternoon. Also, wanting to do some organizing, cleaning, crafting, reading and writing. And fingers crossed that I'll have a new nephew to meet!

Enjoy your weekend family time everyone!

Music Monday

Jack Johnson is a family favorite in our house and tonight I chose to showcase his song, "Banana Pancakes."  Matty and I love when dada makes us banana pancakes for breakfast! Being that it's Monday, this song makes me long for the weekend.  It's all about relaxing, forgetting responsibilities and obligations and living in and loving the simple moments. It's just a super cute, fun song that makes my heart happy. Often times when there's music on (which there usually is in our house}, Matty grabs mine and hubby's hand and wants the three of us to dance. It is one of my most favorite family moments. I can't wait to dance with my boys to this song!

Oh So Thankful

When I went to bed last night, I was thinking about my Thanksgiving Day post, but when it was time to get up, less than 4 hours later, I was feeling anything but thankful. I was tired and cranky, but after a few cups of coffee, I was able to remember why and for what I am oh so thankful :)

Just a few of those things:

my son and my husband {my little family makes me so happy and constantly reminds me of what really matters at the end of the day.}
my parents
old friends
new friends
second chances
forgiveness
hope
love
apples
music

Speaking of music, I missed my Music Monday post because I've just been enjoying my out of town family, but here is a song by Jonny Lang that is perfect for today.  I hope you enjoy it.  Have a wonderful day with friends and family and eat A LOT!

My Version of Christmas in July

The weekend is finally here. In my eyes, every Friday night is like Christmas Eve. Endless possibilities await us, wrapped in shiny paper, too pretty to open.

Have you ever received a gift that you wished you hadn't unwrapped? One that was much more lovely with its tucked corners and perfectly placed bow?

Sometimes I feel like that about the weekend. Don't get me wrong; I am in love with the weekend, but I have this vision of what the weekend will be and when I tear open the paper, I am disappointed. Not because the gift itself is a let down, but because it doesn't completely belong to me. I always have to give it back on Monday.

My intention is always to balance family fun, household chores and some "me" time. On Saturday morning, I am very positive and energetic with many goals in mind. I think to myself, "I can totally clean the entire house top to bottom, spend quality time with Matty and hubby, read a book while working on my tan, write a poem and maybe even work on one of hundreds of artsy project ideas that I have running through my head."

By Saturday at noon though, my plan has already unraveled, which is completely fine and understandable. Having a 16-month-old and a 31-year-old (love ya honey ;) means expect the unexpected and adapt to it. But when Saturday evening arrives, the sadness sets in as I think to myself, "only one more day until this WBSAHM's fairy tale is over." And I still have toilets to clean, floors to scrub, laundry, etc. Apparently, the fairy tale is Cinderella and my glass slipper is lost somewhere under the piles of clothes that need to be folded. I get upset with myself because I can't live up to the ideal of keeping a spotless home, being a perfect mother, wife, and being ready to face the corporate world come 7 a.m. Monday, all with a smile.

"The art of living a pleasant life is constantly adjusting to circumstances."

This weekend, I will try hard not to let the little things eat me up. If I do, when I am spending time with Matty and hubby, I won't truly be enjoying myself because I will be thinking about all of the things I didn't accomplish instead of realizing that I am accomplishing the most important thing: making memories with my two favorite guys.