halloween

I'm aware it's March. I'm aware you probably don't care about my Halloween anymore. But, I don't care. I worked super hard on my costume and I want to show you! Plus I have some cute pictures of the nephews I know you want to see.

I like Halloween...but I'm not a huge fan. I always feel ridiculous in costumes. Now as a kid of course this was the best holiday ever. Mostly because of all the free candy I got. This summer I was thinking that Halloween would be a blast with Miles, so I booked a ticket. Not long after that he said he wanted me to be Mary Poppins and he was going to be Bert with the band on his back. How can you say no to that? So I got to work. with some awesome Goodwill finds and some DIY, my costume came out pretty awesome! Rebecca also did an awesome job with Miles' costume!

For the hat I got black spray paint, daises and cherries from Hobby Lobby, and found the hat on Amazon. After spray painting, I super glued the flowers and cherries in the exact same way Mary Poppins hat was.

For the sash and bow tie for the shirt I bought different ribbons, hair clips (for the bow tie), and iron on letters. After a ton of gluing and ironing the sash was almost finished! It finished it off by folding the extra ribbons in half to make the circular bow at the end and topped it off with a gigantic white button from my grandma's button stash.

Finished product with Bert and the penguin waiter!

It was so cute. When I came upstairs dressed as Mary, Miles was so excited and got to shy! He couldn't even talk, he just looked at me with the biggest smile on his face.

It was snowing/raining/hailing/sleeting depending on the hour that day so we only lasted about 10 minutes before Miles was cold and wanted to go home. I was grateful because even with a jacket on, I was freezing! My hat kept getting blown off because of the insanely strong winds, so my hands out to be out of my jacket the whole time. They hurt they were so cold!

The rest of the trip was a lot of fun! It was spent playing with Miles and Atticus and hanging out with Michael and Rebecca. You wouldn't know it though because I only took pictures with the kids.

Obviously my photo shoots had to include Atticus. He will come to love them just as much as I'm sure Miles does!

baby atticus

I've been living my summer life over here and just realized I haven't posted in quite some time. Sorry, not sorry. It's been a crazy, and fun, past few weeks traveling all over. It started with visiting the newest addition to my family, baby Atticus! I had an awesome week playing with Miles, and holding Atticus every chance I got. (When Miles allowed it.) 

Miles was really sweet, every morning he would come downstairs and quietly open my door and gently shake me to wake me up. Just kidding. My mornings began with Miles coming downstairs and screaming outside my door to wake up. I guess that's better than him yelling in my ear to wake up. I thought it was pretty cute that he wouldn't open the door. I would just yell back at him to come in so I wouldn't have to get out of bed. He would also help me put on makeup and choose my earrings. One day I got ready without him and he was very upset I didn't want to wear earrings. 

We did a lot of fun things while I was there, but you don't care about that. I know you're just wanting to see pictures of Atticus, and more of Miles. So here you go. You're welcome.

chicago: part 2

We started the rest of our week off by playing with this insane bubble maker. This video I was able to get makes me so happy!

The next day we went to the beach! Apparently Miles could have cared less last year going to the beach. But this time he loved it! At one point he started jumping up and down saying, "It's fun at the beach!"

 Miles and I

 We stomped on castles we made.

 Dug holes and sat in them.

 And checked out the ladies that passed by.

 After we went home and Miles napped, he and I played in the backyard together.

He said he was done so we changed him into regular clothes. I guess he wasn't done after all. I think he did this one more time as well. Lesson learned? Dump out the pool when he says he's done. Or just don't ever change him out of his swim diaper.

I got to babysit him a few times while I was there, and we had a blast every time! We went to several different parks, chased after birds, chased each other up and down hills, played with the water fountain, and of course looked for cool sticks to take home. The first time we did this, I started laughing when we got home because he immediately opened the garage door and put his stick in a basket full of his sticks. I wonder what he does with them after collecting them?

Oh yeah, we also took pictures together. Duh.

The last night I babysat him we were playing in the basement, and he started doing this:

I laughed so hard he kept doing it, so I took a video. The last day I was there we headed to Little Gym for awards day, or show off your kid day, who the hell knows what it was called. It was bonkers in there! Tons of parents, and nannies, grandparents, and yes, an aunt. Miles and his best friend Jack couldn't care less about the class. They ran around doing their own thing the whole time. When it was time for the awards ceremony, Miles wanted nothing to do with the medal or standing on the "podium." We finally got him up there with Jack, and I took this funny picture of Jack telling Miles what he was supposed to be doing.

That afternoon Kelly and her little one, Annie, came for a visit! She was so cute, and it was great seeing Kelly! We got Miles' old bouncer thing out for Annie, and after awhile we decided to go for a walk to help her get to sleep.

When I came back from my walk Miles was awake and found a new spot to hang out. 

That thing looked like it was going to break under his weight! Rebecca and I were cracking up, and he was pretty pleased with himself. It was definitely sad to say goodbye to this kid!

Miles' (and my) favorite thing I taught him to say?


That's right kid. You stick around me, and I'll teach you what you need to learn.

chicago: part 1

My sister has been in love with Veronica Mars for years now, and has been trying to get me to watch it. I finally took her advice and watched the entire series in about 2 weeks. I know, that is redonk. But when I get hooked, I find myself doing nothing but whatever it is I'm hooked on. It's probably a good thing I've never done drugs. Otherwise I would probably be on that show Intervention instead of watching it. 

ANYWAYS, I recently found out a friend/parent at my school is the wife of the creator of that show, and when I told her how much I/we loved it, she hooked my sister and I up with some coozies. Koozies? However you spell it, we got them. I was so excited to give it to Rebecca, and she started using it immediately.

Meghan and I flew into Chicago together and it was fun spending the first weekend there together! We went on lots of walks, played at all the parks in walking distance, and generally had a blast.

In between walks Meghan and I enjoyed the deck.

Miles decided he wanted to join us.

It's wild having months go by between seeing Miles. He was talking so much more than the last time I saw him. What was even more exciting? You could actually understand everything he was saying and wanting from you! We had a lot of fun drawing with chalk. He told me what to draw, and it was so cute having him get so excited when I would draw whatever it was he requested.

On Saturday we went to Rib Fest. I love that once the nice weather hits, there is a festival every weekend, usually in walking distance. We ate a ton of food, and then headed over to the kids area. Who even knew there were kids areas at these fests? Apparently there are. One of the many things you learn when a little nugget is part of the crew.

He wasn't very good at milking the cow. I think he needs to spend more time in Texas getting back to his roots.

We finished the day with some deep fried chocolate covered bacon. And by we, I mean everyone but me. I'm sure it was disgusting with all that gluten in it.

It was such a fun weekend with Meghan there! It was sad when she left, but I was glad I was going to be there for another 5 days!

"Check back later for part 2 ladies." (That was Miles saying that, in case you weren't sure)

fancy furniture

As you know, I was in Chicago last week enjoying the cool weather and hanging out with Miles. Their house is incredible! Yes, I know, I've been there before. But I mean, for real, it's pretty awesome. Their kitchen is my favorite, and their fancy big couch and tv downstairs aren't too bad either. The fanciest of their furniture?

That would be their bed side tables! They are especially fancy in their guest bedroom in the basement with their matching tables.

Nothing says fancier than extra protection. Maybe they aren't empty and this was their little way to show they were wanting me to wear them so I wouldn't have an accident in the bed?